TEL AVIV, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - Israel's air force destroyed on Monday a Palestinian smugglers' tunnel connecting Egypt and the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces' press service said.

The bombing, in which no one was reported hurt, was a response to Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks on Israel, which resumed at the weekend after almost a month break.

A rocket fired by Palestinian militants landed in open ground in Israel's south, and a mortar attack on the Erez border crossing was launched as sick Palestinians were being taken out of the enclave for treatment at Israeli hospitals.

The military discovered six mines on the Palestinian side of the border, which caused no damage. Two militant groups - Popular and Democratic Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine - claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The military statement said that since early 2009, militants have attacked Israel with more than 700 rockets and mortar rounds. The most destructive bombings occurred in January during Israel's land assault on Gaza.

Underground tunnels providing the blockaded enclave with various items, including weapons and explosives as well as food, petrol and household appliances, are frequent targets of retaliatory Israeli strikes.