GAZA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The armed wing of Islamic Hamas movement, known as al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Tuesday that its militants seized an Israeli army drone after shooting it down in southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

"Al-Qassam's militants had foiled overnight the mission of the Zionist army drone east of Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip," the group said in a press statement published on its website.

Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian security sources said that Palestinian gunmen shot down a small Israeli aircraft in southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army confirmed that a small drone crashed in the southern Gaza Strip.