Update (1515ET): Hamas has claimed to have it repelled a brief Israeli ground incursionin what marks the first of its kind direct fight on the ground between two sides in Gaza. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters destroyed two Israeli military bulldozers and a tank as part of an ambush amid “limited” IDF incursions into the strip.
“The soldiers of the Zionist force who fell into the ambush of Khan Younis they left their vehicles and fled on foot to the east of the fence”, the wing of Hamas said in social networks. As expected, the IDF did not confirm the claims, saying only that “shots were fired at IDF soldiers operating west of the Gaza Strip security fence in the Kissufim area” . Instead, the IDF said only that “An IDF tank hit the terrorist cell that fired on the soldiers,” but confirmed that its forces were operating inside Gaza at the time of the incident.
It appears that the IDF has started taking casualties and the major ground offensive has not yet begun. An IDF statement quoted in a new one is important to note Time of Israel The update appears to support Hamas’ account of repelling the IDF ttouch and excavators:
One soldier was killed and three others were wounded on Sunday after Hamas attacked troops carrying out an operation on the western side of the Gaza border fence.near the southern community of Kissufim.
The operation was part of the military searches for the bodies of missing Israelisand clear the area for Israel’s next ground offensive.
The Israel Defense Forces said one The anti-tank guided missile was fired at an Israeli tank and engineering vehicle, and the troops responded by bombing the terrorist cell. The terrorist group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Elsewhere, the IDF announced it had carried out a very rare airstrike in the West Bank. It said its planes struck a mosque allegedly used as a “terrorist compound of Hamas and Islamic Jihad” in Jenin.
Meanwhile, Israel has issued a formal apology to Egypt for inadvertently hitting an Egyptian border outpost, injuring several Egyptian military border guards. Al Jazeera describes:
Shell fragments from an Israeli tank have hit the Egyptian border, injuring at least seven people, including several Egyptian border guards.according to the military of both countries.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, with the Israeli military confirming that it “accidentally” struck the Egyptian position near the border with the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have struck the Rafah crossing area several times at this point, with Palestinian officials claiming it was a deliberate act.
🚨JUST IN – Gaza Ministry of Health Spokesman:
– If the IDF follows through on its threat to bomb Al-Quds hospital, a major massacre will occur.
– The international community should not remain silent in the face of Israel’s threats to bomb our hospitals.
– The remaining amount of fuel… pic.twitter.com/3t6CHSNR80
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 22, 2023
In Washington, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US does “Worried about possible escalation” in the Middle East, and confirmed that US assets were deployed to the region to ensure the safety of troops:
“We are concerned about a possible escalation. In fact, what we are seeing is the prospect of a significant escalation of attacks against our troops and our people throughout the region, and for that reason, we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our troops are on the right, in a good position, and protected, and that we have the ability to respond,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”
All eyes remain on Israel’s northern border, where attacks against Hezbollah continue to increase.
***
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman announced over the weekend that Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks against northern Israel, which risks “drag Lebanon into a war.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the same words on Sunday in his own warning to Hezbollah, saying it must avoid making “the mistake of its life” by deciding to join the war in partnership with Hamas .
“If Hezbollah decides to enter the war, it will long for the Second Lebanon War.” Netanyahu said in remarks made before an elite commando forces unit in northern Israel. “He will be making the mistake of his life. We will hit him with a force he cannot even imagineand the meaning of this and the Lebanese state will be devastating.”
Since the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, there have been a handful of casualties on both sides of the Lebanese border. In at least one case so far, Hezbollah directly hit an IDF military vehicle, which likely resulted in the death and injury of Israeli troops. The Iran-backed group uploaded the video to the Internet to show off its advanced capabilities.
Israel, in response, has sent artillery and missiles against Hezbollah positions, as well as some residential areas in southern Lebanon. Americans and other foreigners have been heeding the warnings to get out of Lebanon while they still can.
Normally, if a wider conflict involving Lebanon breaks out, Israel strikes Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon’s only commercial airport, as it did in 2006.
Israel and US hawks want to use it to deliver a “death blow” for Hezbollahwhich by all accounts is a more formidable and better armed force than Hamas in Gaza, com the guardian stresses: “The Israeli government is under increasing pressure from the hawks of the security establishment launch a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon – but faces strong opposition from the US, which fears that a two-front war could lead to a major regional conflict.”
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, a former member of Sayeret Matkal, speaking to Israeli commandos near Lebanon: “If Hezbollah goes to war with Israel, it will make the mistake of its life.”pic.twitter.com/QNbEhbymtI
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) October 22, 2023
Others want Israel to focus on Gaza, so as not to get bogged down in a conflict that could overwhelm Israel’s military:
But President Biden used his time in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, and visits by top US defense officials in the days before, to urge Israeli leaders not to risk such a pre-emptive strike on the Iran-backed militia, the the New York Times reportedand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually cooled to the idea.
Still, Israel is clearly taking steps to prepare for a possible all-out fight on its northern border, at which point it has evacuated dozens of communities that lie within two kilometers of the border.
On Sunday, the Minister of Defense confirmed it Another 14 towns and villages have been told to evacuate, in addition to the 28 initially ordered to do so last week. “According to the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, the 14 communities being added to the list are: Snir, Dan, Beit Hillel, She’ar Yashuv, Hagoshrim, Liman, Matzuva, Eylon, Goren, Gornot HaGalil, Even Menachem , Sasa, Tziv ‘on and Ramoth Naftali,” Time of Israel details.
An active battlefront…
The hostilities between #Hezbollah & #Israel leveled up today, tonight, the @IDF hit with the heaviest artillery bombardment yet, across parts of the south #Lebanonwith reports of an airstrike #Jezzinedeeper inside.
An active battlefront now. pic.twitter.com/MXxAxQ8KUO
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) October 21, 2023
Hezbollah has not only been using anti-tank missiles, but has launched guided missiles amid the fire exchanged between both sides. Israel has also recently been accused of using controversial white phosphorus shells.
A wider war would likely bring Iran and Israel into direct conflict, and possibly Syria as well. On Sunday, Israel attacked international airports in Damascus and Aleppo for the third time this month.
#Hezbollah hit an Israeli military base in the #Israel–#Lebanon border pic.twitter.com/6ilXZ6FuBI
— EHA News (@eha_news) October 22, 2023
The scenario becomes even more dangerous given the presence of US aircraft carrier strike groups in the region and, more recently, some six Chinese warships in Middle Eastern waters, keeping a close eye on the situation. And, of course, Russia has a strong military presence in Syria.
Loading…
English 
Español de Venezuela 