Israel Launches “Operation Protective Edge”
- Russ Jones Christian Press
- Updated Jul 08, 2014
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Tuesday morning, Israel launched what it is calling “Operation Protective Edge.” Government officials say the aim is to secure an end to weeks of Hamas rocket fire.
The Guardian reports that in a combined effort of both aerial and naval forces, Israel Defense Forces targeted overnight approximately 50 terror sites and targets across the Gaza Strip.
“We are entering into a long operation," a senior IDF source told The Guardian. "We are only at the start. Patience is required. We are preparing further steps and a gradual expansion of our order of battle."
The IDF targeted dozens of terror sites across the Gaza Strip, including concealed rocket launchers, launching infrastructures, a weapon storage facility, training bases, terror tunnels’ shafts and further targets.
“In the past weeks, residents of southern Israel were forced into an unbearable reality – a situation they haven’t encountered in these scales since November 2012,” said IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. “In light of these circumstances, the IDF commenced operation ‘Protective Edge.' We are determined to lay a significant blow on Hamas’ terror capabilities and infrastructure, eliminate any threat on Israeli sovereignty emanating from the Gaza Strip and restore stability to the southern region. Terrorists perpetrating the aggression against Israel have a personal price to pay and will bear the consequences of their actions.”
Lerner maintains that Hamas has accumulated about 10,000 rockets, including long-range missiles that can reach "up to Tel Aviv and beyond.”
As tensions between the Arabs and Jews increase, Israel has called up some 40,000 troops.
Publication date: July 8, 2014