Good thing Obama assures us the world is tranquil. That makes me feel better.
The Jerusalem Post reports:
The purpose of the operation was to destroy the Gazan terror tunnels leading to Israel, according to a statement released by the prime minister's office.
"Israel is committed to act to protect its citizens. The operation will continue until its goals are reached: To bring quiet to the citizens of Israel for a long period of time, and to seriously harm Hamas and other terrorist organizations' infrastructure in the Gaza Strip," the statement read.
Prior to the commencement of the ground invasion, the IDF launched a massive wave of combined air and artillery strikes on Thursday night.
The IDF said that the operation will involve infantry, engineering corps, and tank units combined with air force and naval support and intelligence.
Palestinian sources said strikes occurred up and down the Strip, adding that one strike targeted a motorcycle apparently carrying members of a rocket launching cell on their way to an attack on Israel.
At around 10:00 p.m. rocket sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area, and in the Shfela. Iron Dome made a number of interceptions in the Tel Aviv area.
Hamas bombarded Israel on Thursday with rockets after the end of the humanitarian truce, firing over 100 projectiles after 3 p.m. Eighty one rockets landed in open areas, two fell inside villages, damaging two homes, and 20 were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system.
I'll agree with a comment Rob made to me a few minutes ago. If I were Netanyahu, I'd take the same approach as Putin. Obama obviously doesn't have the will to do anything, so gloves off. Hamas can launch attacks but there's no way they can win a real military engagement with the IDF. Hamas counts on pressure from the more skittish elements in the West to keep urging "restraint" on Israel every time Hamas blows up thing and people. But following the lead of the West in exercising that "restraint" only makes sense if you're going to get something you need as a result.
What do you get from deferring to Obama? Not much. John Kerry shows up and makes declaration. That's worse than nothing.
I suspect there won't be much left of the infrastructure Hamas depends on after this operation is over.
Meanwhile, Obama's stop at the burger joint went great, and he's very much looking forward to tonight's fundraisers.
