Attacks on two buses in southern Israel left several people dead Thursday, according to Israeli television reports.

Three gunmen in a car opened fire on a civilian bus traveling on a highway north of the Red Sea city of Eilat, near the Egyptian border. Shortly afterwards, they fired on a second bus.

The Jerusalem Post reports that 7 people were killed in the attacks, while VOA quoted Israeli officials as saying 40 people were wounded.

Security forces were in pursuit of the gunmen.

Security sources told the AFP news agency the gunfire in the initial incident appeared to come from the Egyptian side of the border.

The Israeli police spokesperson's office said "shots were fired at a bus on Highway 12 leading to Eilat from Mitzpe Ramon, near Netafim checkpoint," reported Al Jazeera.

Israeli radio said a vehicle carrying the gunmen followed the bus, before up to three men jumped out and opened fire with automatic weapons.

Most of the passengers on the first bus were said to be Israeli soldiers who are residents of Eilat. They were returning from their bases to go home for the weekend.