As counter-terrorism operations against Hamas entered the third day, the IDF is rising up to its full strength amid reports of a possible large-scale ground operation against Hamas and its allies in Gaza.
“The Israeli government approved the recruitment of 360,000 reserve soldiers, many of whom already answered the call to duty within 48 hours,” the Israeli TV channel i24News reported Tuesday. “In addition, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made special flights to pick up reserve soldiers from different destinations abroad, using Hercules transport planes.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli death toll from Saturday’s terrorist attack has crossed 1000. Among hundreds of wounded 3 were reported to be in critical state, while 126 were in serious condition.
The Israeli military and security forces have taken back control of southern Israel and secured the border with Gaza, the Israeli media reported citing IDF sources. Around 1500 Hamas infiltrators, who crossed into southern Israel on Saturday, have been killed after four days of fighting.
“Israel’s military said about 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israeli territory as, as it said it had largely gained control in the country’s south and “restored full control” over the border on the fourth day of fighting following an unprecedented surprise attack,” the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
With Hamas threatening to start executing over 100 Israeli civilian hostages, including elderly, women, and toddlers, the Israeli air force hit terrorist targets across Gaza. The Times of Israel reported.
The Israel Defense Forces says it struck more than 200 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight.The IDF says the sites include a weapons storage site in a mosque, an apartment used by Hamas’ anti-tank guided missile forces, and a high-rise tower used by the terror group, among other military installations.The military releases footage showing several of the strikes.
The IDF has started receiving U.S. military and intelligence support for the ongoing counter-terrorism operation, the Israeli media reported. The news website Ynet reported Tuesday:
IDF spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari said early on Tuesday that the military is receiving assistance from the U.S. CENTCOM including coordination of intelligence and operations. “The Americans stations assets with naval vessels that can help protect Israel,” he said. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi spoke with his U.S. counterpart for the first time overnight and was assured of total support.
As IDF hits terrorist targets in Gaza, the Palestinian jihadists are trying to open a second front from Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon. On Monday, terrorists belonging to the Iran-sponsored Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a close ally of Hamas in Gaza, tried to infiltrate into northern Israel. The attack was repulsed, but an Israeli military officer was killed in the terrorist incursion.
Ynet reported Tuesday morning:
Israel named 300th Brigade Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Alim Abdullah as the IDF officer who died in a clash with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists at the Lebanon border Monday afternoon. Abdullah, 40, was a resident of the Druze town of Yanuh-Jat and was scheduled to conclude his military service this coming Sunday. Six of his nephews received emergency military call-up orders, but returned home following his fall in battle. Abdullah’s funeral will be held on Tuesday.His family has been notified of his death and a mourning tent was established in his community Monday night. The IDF said, “We share in the family’s grief and will continue to support them.”Abdullah and his soldiers responded to an alert about a border breach. They encountered four suspects, engaged in a confrontation and neutralized two, while the third suspect fled back to Lebanon.Six Israeli soldiers were injured in the ensuing shootout to varying degrees, including Abdullah, who was critically wounded and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah denied involvement in the attack, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for it.In response to the border clash, Israel launched a series of retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah military posts in Southern Lebanon, including airstrikes and artillery shelling, killing three of the organization’s operatives there.
After a decade of funding Palestinian terrorism and incitement, the United Nations chief is ‘upset’ that Israel was carrying out operations against Hamas targets across Gaza. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was “deeply upset” over IDF’s “complete siege of the Gaza Strip” where the perpetrators and masterminds of Saturday’s terrorist attacks are hiding
“I remind Israel that military operations must be carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Guterres warned.
Reuters reported UN chief remarks:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was “deeply distressed” by an announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas over the weekend.”I am deeply distressed by today’s announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in – no electricity, food, or fuel,” Guterres said.Guterres said the situation in Gaza was “extremely dire” before the surprise assault by the militant group, adding that it will “only deteriorate exponentially.”https://twitter.com/Israellycool/status/1711460543154758049
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