Israel launches ground operation in Rafah area of the Gaza Strip
Israeli forces have launched military ground operations in Gaza, specifically targeting the Hamas stronghold of Rafah in an effort to dismantle the terror group’s infrastructure, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the ground operation was underway in the “Shavura” neighborhood, as well as in parts of central and northern Gaza.
According to the IDF, the operation aimed to destroy several terrorist infrastructures in the area. In recent months, Hamas militants had been using a site in northern Gaza, previously known as the “Turkish” hospital, as a command and control center to carry out attacks against IDF troops and Israel. In response, IDF forces took action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure at the site.
Furthermore, the Israeli air force has been targeting and dismantling terrorists and their infrastructure across Gaza in recent hours. The military operations resumed against Hamas after a brief ceasefire collapsed, following the terror group’s refusal to release hostages taken on October 7, 2023.
In addition to the operations in Gaza, the IDF also struck a military site containing an underground terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon’s Beqaa area. Another site with rocket launchers in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah terrorists are active, was also targeted by the IDF.
During the military operations, sirens blared in several areas as a projectile was launched from Yemen. Senator John Fetterman, who recently visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shared a video of the sirens going off. He expressed solidarity with Israel and highlighted the challenging conditions faced by residents living under the threat of rocket attacks.
Houthi rebels from Yemen, backed by Iran, have targeted a holy site revered by Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The rebels have also attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea and U.S. naval forces in support of Hamas. The IDF reported the deaths of senior Hamas leaders and members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group during the military operations.
The escalation of military operations in Gaza underscores the ongoing conflict between Israel and militant groups in the region. The IDF is committed to degrading the infrastructure of terror organizations to ensure the safety and security of Israeli citizens. The situation remains fluid, with developments in the region closely monitored by authorities.
