by Nasra Ismail and Biodun Iginla, BBC News

The Israeli military has confirmed carrying out airstrikes over the Gaza Strip following a deadly series of attacks in southern Israel.

At least six people were killed in the airstrikes, Palestinian sources said.

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel would respond with "full force and determination" after attacks on vehicles near Eilat.

Israeli officials said Gazan militants were responsible, though Gaza's Hamas government denied involvement.

Reuters news agency quoted the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a faction in Gaza that often operates separately from Hamas, as saying its head and four other members had died in the airstrikes.

Palestinian sources, also quoted by Reuters, said two people had been killed in a house in Rafah after Israeli drones - often used for airstrikes - were heard overhead.