Israel, Hamas using Twitter to report on Gaza skirmishes

Update: 1:42 PM PT The Israel Defense Force has been using Twitter to offer updates on the latest round of fighting along with border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

But Hamas is fighting back with its own volley in the information war. The organization's military wing is also using Twitter today as the pace of cross-border violence picked up. The sides have been locked in low-level violence for several days. The fighting intensified today following the assassination of Ahmed Jabri, a senior military leader accused by Israel of being responsible for several terror attacks.

A cyber sampler of what's coming over the transom:

@idfspokesperson Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves)

— Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012

Ahmed Jabari: Eliminated. twitter.com/IDFSpokesperso...

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

Al Qassam mourns the death of its top leader Ahmed Jabari who has been assassinated by #Israeli drones in #Gaza #Hamas

— Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012

Iron Dome successfully intercepts 13 rockets fired from the #Gaza Strip. #PillarOfDefense

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

Al Qassam shell an Intelligence base 8200 with dozens of mortars, 20:50 pm #gaza #gazaunderattack #hamas

— Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012

More than 12,000 rockets hit Israel in the past 12 years. RT if you think #Israel has the right to defend itself. twitter.com/IDFSpokesperso...

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

Clarification: Although this may be a first for warfare in the Middle East, it's not a first in the annals of warfare. In Nov. 2011, Kenya's military spokesman used Twitter to warn resident in several Somalian villages that they "will be under attack continuously."