Source: Arutz Sheva
Elad Benari
The Israeli Air Force struck several targets in Gaza on Monday night, the IDF Spokesperson reported.
The targets included a weapons manufacturing site in central Gaza, two terror tunnels in northern Gaza and a third terrorist tunnel in southern Gaza.
According to the statement, the aircraft scored direct hits and all safely returned to their bases.
The Spokesperson noted that the attack comes in response to recent firing of rockets and mortar shells from Gaza into Israeli territory in recent days.
“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers and will continue to act against anyone who uses terrorism against Israel,” the statement read. “The Hamas terrorist organization holds responsibility” for any attacks on Israelis, the statement added.
Monday night’s attack comes after an IAF attack Friday night on a terrorist cell in Gaza. The attack came following a mortar shelling attack on the Western Negev and another attempt to plant bombs at the security fence.
The IDF said aircraft score a direct hit on the terrorists, but Hamas claimed no one was injured.
Hamas and other terrorist cells have attacked Israel with at least several rockets and mortar shells the past three weeks. On Sunday, a Qassam rocket launched by terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza landed in an open area of the Eshkol Council region. There were no reports of physical injuries or damage.
Last Thursday night, two Qassams were fired from Gaza towards Israel, one exploding in the western Negev and the second one in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. There were no physical injuries or damage in either attack.
Terrorists have also made numerous attempts to plant bombs intended to blow up army jeeps on the patrol route next to the Gaza security fence. Last week, aircraft and tanks killed at least two terrorists who were planting bombs.
______________________________________________
Dan Friedman: "This just in. An email from a knowledgeable friend who lives in Israel (emphasis mine)."
We face a classic military strategy decision. Yet it is not a Sun Tzu, Alexander or Julius Caesar war of conquest setting. The US is arguably defending its oil and financial interests and Israel has a single objective with no interest on conquest or control.
As I type several war ships cross Hormuz and again "talks" between Soetoro and the Iranians proceed.
That cycle follows the old libretto and is not likely to do much other than gain time for Teheran.
I am not sure if Israel's leadershi...p is up to it.
The US military as an arm of the present administration at this point must be viewed as an enemy in the context of the Iranian theater and in the Middle East in general. We have widely different interests and objectives.
I will venture to say that the administration is not overtly planning to defeat and destroy Israel, but its military and political actions are conclusively opening that option for others. No normal country can accept that.
The US attempted to station a local blocking force and has been partially neutralized. 9000 GI's and some equipments w/o air support and isolated in the ground are sitting ducks against a 400000 force army. Israel so far is correct to ignore the GI's even if local elements will draft them for internal purposes.
The US is now deploying a massive sea based armada basically armed with military aircraft, cruise missiles and theater missiles. Relatively small amount of troops on the ground and those are in the midst of an inimical population.
11 US carriers deploy about 700 aircraft and Israel has no business to try to engage that on its way to the isolated objectives in Iran. It does have to cause that force to be at least partially focused away from its assignment.
Israel must be swift, low key and decisive but not act through the US defenses it set up here for Iran.
More like Rommel and Patton than like Eisenhower and the British command in the European theater.
We generally follow the US Military 9 point strategic axioms. Our officers train there. Even purely technological experts such as I was with the US Military are at one level or another offered training along those lines.
Deceit, surprise and careful selection of tactics.
The US armada must be avoided and misdirected.
We must use totally unexpected procedures, timing, scope.
We are neither intent on controlling a country or resources or fighting long wars.
Personally I see the "12 hour heads up" agreement between Israel and the US as a lead to deceit.
If it is true there is no point of even trying to get there. It would constitute an open and closed act of high treason in that case.
Further. We regretfully do not have in Netanyahu a War time leader at all. He is as credible as an overused sponge as leader in time of War. He may be a tramping politico here, but that does not play in military terms.
The person is NOT by any means a Ben Gurion, Sharon, Begin to a point.
Soetoro is not much better but even with that handicap, the US military can thump us if we do not operate correctly. And even if we do.
The net winner on this, if we do not shift "things" upstairs, will be, islam.
We had 25 years to defang Iran, 6 of them under Netanyahu, the most years for an active politician, and nothing of consequence was done. The results speak for themselves.
Zvi
