JERUSALEM, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Three Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were wounded in a bombing by Palestinian militants along the southern Gaza border early Tuesday.

The IDF said in a statement sent to Xinhua that one of the soldiers sustained moderate wounds and the other two were hurt lightly in the blast, which took place near Kibbutz Nirim.

Palestinian sources in nearby Khan Younis reported hearing the blast, and said there were heavy exchanges of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants, according to the Ynet news website.

The Israeli troops fired smoke grenades in return during the fight, the army source said, adding that it holds Hamas, which rules the coastal enclave, as "solely" responsible for any attack emanating from the Gaza Strip.