Israel Protection Forces infantry confronted a fierce battle within the Gaza neighborhood of Shujaiya between December 12 and 13, when ten IDF troopers have been killed, together with the commander of the Golani Brigade’s 13.th battalion, lieutenant colonel Tomer Grinberg. Grinberg had been interviewed a number of instances within the wake of the October 7 assault on Israel by Hamas. Golani, certainly one of Israel’s infantry brigades, suffered heavy casualties on October 7 and has performed a key function in operations in Gaza.
The heavy losses in Shujaiya make the battle one of many costliest since Israel started its floor maneuver in Gaza. Israel has misplaced 115 IDF troopers in operations in Gaza and a complete of 444 because the battle started. A number of hundred troopers have been killed within the first few days of preventing throughout and after the October 7 shock assault. The IDF mentioned on Wednesday, December 13, that Israeli forces are “working deep” in Shujaiya and that “the troops have been concentrating on terrorist infrastructure and operators within the Shujaiya Kasbah.” This space of the neighborhood is closely built-up and Hamas terrorists nonetheless function out of tunnels, the IDF mentioned. “That is a sophisticated stage in our efforts to clear the realm of Hamas terrorists and dismantle its capabilities.”
The troopers have been killed whereas working in a residential constructing. Members of Hamas’ Shujaiya Battalion proceed to pose a risk on this space, though they’ve suffered heavy losses over the previous month. The battalion is certainly one of 24 Hamas battalions, every of which has a whole lot of fighters. The IDF estimates that as much as 350 terrorists have been killed in preventing in Shujaiya, a few of the estimated 7,000 terrorists killed in Gaza. The IDF continues to search out weapons akin to RPGs and sniper rifles on this space.
As well as, the IDF mentioned on December 13 that it had uncovered terrorist infrastructure close to a faculty in Khan Yunis. “Within the space of the college, troops discovered long-range rockets and an underground preventing space. Moreover, IDF troops directed an IAF strike in opposition to the realm and extra statement and management facilities belonging to the Hamas terrorist group.” Terrorists additionally fired on the IDF from the college, and the IDF launched a video exhibiting the aftermath of the shootout with terrorists. Within the video, terrorist victims are seen between partitions adorned with drawings and cartoons indicating that the constructing is a faculty.
Hamas has used civilian areas for canopy in Khan Yunis and Shujaiya. The IDF additionally mentioned 116 rockets have been fired from a chosen humanitarian zone in Gaza. This space is near the ocean within the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF estimates that round 1.4 million folks in Gaza have fled areas of preventing because the battle started. Some have gone to this humanitarian zone. “Hamas continues to make use of the humanitarian zone to hold out terrorist actions, additional endangering civilian lives in Gaza and the State of Israel,” the IDF mentioned.
Israel confronted threats on two different fronts this week. In northern Israel, Hezbollah continued to hold out assaults on 13 December. The group focused Rosh HaNikra, a group on the Mediterranean and alongside the border with Lebanon in northern Israel. The IDF responded to the Hezbollah assaults with strikes inside Lebanon. The IDF additionally responded to rocket hearth from Syria directed at Israel. “IDF plane and tanks hit quite a few army posts and army infrastructure belonging to the Syrian Military on Syrian territory,” the IDF mentioned.
In southern Israel, the Iran-backed Houthi threats in opposition to delivery additionally led to the deployment of one other navy ship within the Crimson Sea as Israel’s president cracked down on the Houthis for his or her assaults. “The Houthis have crossed a purple line within the Crimson Sea,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog mentioned. “The US-led worldwide actions in opposition to the Houthi terrorist pirates should be strengthened and strengthened within the type of a real worldwide coalition,” he famous. He referred to as on the worldwide group to behave within the wake of quite a few Houthi assaults on ships within the Crimson Sea. The Houthis have additionally attacked Israel with missiles and drones since mid-October.
As a part of Israel’s bulletins about its protection preparations close to the Crimson Sea, the Israeli Ministry of Protection launched new photographs of Israel’s Iron Dome air protection system in southern Israel. Since October, Israel has used its Arrow 3, an air protection missile that intercepts long-range ballistic missiles, and F-35s to intercept threats from Yemen. The Protection Ministry mentioned on December 13 that Iron Dome has additionally had profitable interceptions lately in southern Israel.
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