The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched an extensive armored military operation in northern Gaza, as reported by the IDF. The operation, conducted overnight, aimed at preparing for the next stages of combat, according to the IDF’s statement.
During the operation, IDF tanks and infantry targeted multiple terrorist cells, infrastructure, and anti-tank missile launch posts. Thermal imaging footage revealed roughly a dozen heavily armored vehicles, primarily Merkava tanks, following bulldozers that breached Israel’s border fence with Gaza.
This military operation comes in the aftermath of unprecedented terror attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, which resulted in the tragic loss of more than 1,400 lives and left over 5,400 individuals wounded. Shockingly, more than 220 hostages are reported to remain in captivity within Gaza, according to The Jerusalem Post’s latest figures.
Hamas, the group responsible for the attacks, managed to evade detection during the two years it took to plan these assaults. They employed various clandestine methods, including hardwired landlines inside an extensive network of underground tunnels. Prof. Joel Roskin, a geomorphologist and geologist at Bar-Ilan University’s geography and environment department, noted that Hamas’s tunnels initially served for the smuggling of goods, later transitioning to weapons smuggling, and eventually evolving into attack tunnels.
The extent of these underground networks allowed for discreet meetings and planning, with only a limited number of individuals within the organization privy to the exact attack plans.
The IDF’s operation signifies a robust response to these recent acts of terrorism. While this military operation is a cause for concern and raises tensions in the region, it reflects the ongoing conflict between Israel and groups like Hamas. The situation in Gaza remains complex, with international efforts often aimed at achieving a long-term resolution and maintaining peace in the area.
In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza.
IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts.
The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory. pic.twitter.com/oMdSDR84rU
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 26, 2023
