De Israelische slachting gaat door.'Massive artillery, aerial bombardment precedes invasion by IDF ground forces
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff
The forces that entered the Gaza Strip last night represented the largest ground operation in the coastal territory since Israel withdrew in the summer of 2005. Palestinian sources reported massive artillery shelling and air force strikes accompanying the advance of the infantry, armored and combat engineering corps. The ground invasion was preceded by large-scale artillery shelling from around 4 P.M., intended to "soften" the targets as artillery batteries deployed along the Strip in recent days began bombarding Hamas targets and open areas near the border. Hundreds of shells were fired, including cluster bombs aimed at open areas.
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The IDF has not aimed its artillery at the Strip for over two years, since a November 2006 strike on Beit Hanoun killed 18 members of a single family due to an aiming error. Before the artillery strikes, the Israel Air Force struck three targets on Salah a-Din street, a major road running from the northern to southern ends of the Strip. Such a strike could disrupt reinforcement efforts from various parts of the Strip. Transportation from the southern to northern parts of the coastal territory is already difficult, particularly in the wake of an IDF strike on a bridge at the artery's northern end. Yesterday morning aircraft fire killed Mamdouh Jamal, a senior commander of Hamas' military wing in Gaza City, while he was driving in his car. Military sources said Jamal was responsible for firing Katyusha rockets at Israel. The homes of three other senior Hamas figures were also targeted, but the operatives themselves were not home at the time. The IDF Home Front Command instructed those responsible for security and rescue efforts in communities surrounding the Strip to maintain a high level of preparedness, for fear that Hamas may respond with massive rocket and mortar strikes on the entry points to the coastal territory.'
Lees verder: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052331.html
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