GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - A hardline Islamist group claimed a rocket attack against southern Israel on Thursday, in a statement that condemned an historic visit by US President Barack Obama to the region.

In a statement received by Agence France-Presse entitled "The demolition of Sderot by rocket bombardment in reaction to the visit of the dog Obama," the Salafist Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis group said it was responsible for an attack launched from Gaza.