Word: gaza
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...ground operation began late Saturday with a massive artillery barrage all along the Gaza boundary, designed not only to destroy whatever fortifications Hamas fighters have built but also to signal that Israel has once again broken its own restraints on military action in Gaza, willing to go hard against the Hamas leadership no matter where they are and no matter the consequences to security along Israel's own southwestern frontier. Already in recent days, Israeli forces struck a house of a Hamas leader while civilians were inside and bombed a mosque at Beit Lahiya believed by Israel to have been...
Armored columns began moving slowly and methodically into Gaza Saturday evening, each preceded by an armored bulldozer and supported by helicopters and drones giving Israeli commanders real-time images of the battle space for thousands of yards ahead of the lead bulldozer. Although Hamas had hoped to draw Israeli forces into hand-to-hand combat in the narrow warrens of Gaza's densely populated cities and refugee camps, the Israelis appear instead to be heading for the high ground, looking to seize strategic hilltops that would allow them to better control those parts of Gaza in which Hamas fighters...
...Calling up extra reserve troops also sends the message that Israel's operation could be long term - the military forces currently operating on the ground in Gaza are supplied to remain there for between one and three days, after which they'd have to be rotated out - and the fact that many of those reserve troops will be deployed along the northern border with Lebanon is intended to let Hizballah know that Israel has the resources to respond forcefully to any attempt by the Lebanese radical group to attack in solidarity with its allies in Gaza. The reserves also give...
...case of Hizballah during Israel's 2006 offensive in Lebanon, Hamas has all along believed it will "win" the battle of Gaza simply by remaining intact and on its feet. Although Israel has no intention of taking control of Gaza and getting stuck there, the purpose of its ground invasion is to make Hamas commanders believe that even their goal of surviving and remaining in control of Gaza after Operation Cast Lead is slipping beyond their grasp, in the hope that this will make the organization more likely to accept Israel's truce terms. The armed "negotiation" over Gaza...
Almost 24 hours into Israel's ground offensive in Gaza, Israeli military officials say they are ahead of schedule in achieving such objectives as securing positions on the clear ground around the main urban areas, especially Gaza City, in the north of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, they are receiving an early taste of the guerrilla tactics, including kidnapping attempts, that Israeli soldiers most fear...