New Delhi:
Israeli forces have carried out local attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, ahead of an expected ground offensive in areas controlled by the Hamas group.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, showing them bombing Hamas rocket sites as the projectiles were launched.
“The IDF conducted raids on Gaza territory to eliminate the threat from terrorist cells and infrastructure. Soldiers collected evidence that will help locate hostages,” the IDF said in the post.
The video shows multiple rockets fired by Hamas near a beach in the Gaza Strip. Moments later, those spots disappeared in a thick cloud of smoke and dust. All the while, an Israeli jet or drone keeps the camera locked into the area.
“The IAF (Israeli Air Force) continued to attack Hamas terrorist targets and anti-tank rocket launchers in Gaza immediately after they were used to attack Israel,” the IDF said in the post.
🔻 The past 24 hours:
The IDF conducted raids on Gaza territory to eliminate the threat from terrorist cells and infrastructure.
Soldiers collected evidence that will help locate hostages.
The IAF continued to attack Hamas terrorist targets and anti-tank missile launchers in… pic.twitter.com/QEr9KCM7R7
– Israeli Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2023
Friday’s local attacks by Israeli forces came amid relentless Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, with Hamas firing back with rockets.
“Over the past 24 hours, IDF (Israeli Armed Forces) forces have carried out local raids on the territory of the Gaza Strip to complete efforts to clear the area of terrorists and weapons,” an army statement said. “During these operations, efforts were also made to locate missing persons.”
War broke out between the two sides on Saturday when Hamas attacked communities in Israel and killed more than 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians. Hamas also took an estimated 150 Israelis and foreigners hostage.
Retaliatory attacks on Gaza have killed around 1,800 people and caused mass displacement.
Israel today warned the 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to flee ahead of the expected ground offensive, a move condemned by the UN.
With input from AFP