JERUSALEM (AP) — The military says assailants have carried out three consecutive attacks in southern Israel near the Egyptian border, killing and wounding a number of people.

The attacks on Thursday targeted a passenger bus, a private car and a group of soldiers. The number of dead and wounded was not immediately known.

Military spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai says Israeli security forces tracked down some of the assailants and exchanged fire with them. He says the attackers used heavy weapons, possibly mortars or anti-tank weapons, and explosive devices during the attacks.