Israel Ar War Monday March 17

Israel at war day 528 

Israel resumes Gaza war..

- Israeli reporter: "The complex operation was planned by the Air Force to maximize the elimination of as many terrorists as possible, by surprise, simultaneously.  Israel leaves room for continued negotiations on a deal - at this stage it appears this is an air operation, not a ground operation"

-Report from Gaza:  Hamas Deputy Minister of the Interior has been eliminated.

- There are reports that ground forces are preparing to deploy in Gaza at any moment.

-Apparently Hamas threatened to attack IDF soldiers and Israeli civilian communities prior to Israel’s decision to renew fighting in Gaza.  Channel 14 reports that the fighting is not a one-off affair.  It may last for weeks.  

- Senior Hamas political and Military terrorists killed in targeted strikes 

- The IDF estimates that Hamas does not have the capacity to launch heavy barrages of rockets, but is still preparing for renewed rocket fire, and in recent days the Iron Dome system has been put on full alert. (Noam Amir - Channel 14)

-According to Axios, Israel notified the Trump Administration prior to the wave of airstrikes tonight on the Gaza Strip, while briefing them on their objectives for a resumption in fighting.

-Message from Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz: "Tonight we returned to fighting in Gaza due to Hams' refusal to release the hostages and threats to harm IDF soldiers and Israeli communities. If Hamas does not release all the hostages, the gates of hell will open in Gaza, and Hamas murderers and rapists will meet the IDF with forces they have never known before.

We will not stop fighting until all the hostages return home and all the war goals are achieved."

-Initial reports of 100+ killed so far in Gaza - including many senior Hamas leaders

- Tonight GAZA WAR RESUMES

Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We have instructed the IDF to act forcefully against Hams - the IDF is currently attacking targets throughout the entire Gaza Strip."

- US Department of Defense: 3 US aircraft carriers are going to the Middle East.

- A urgent security consultation was held with the Israeli Prime Ministers in the Department of Defense in Tel Aviv, with the participation of all heads of the security system. Military censorship allowed the publication that Israel had identified an unusual event in the Gaza Strip that indicates that Hamas is organizing for another attack on Israel.

-The U.S. 5th Fleet has now entered a phase of “sustained combat operations” within CENTCOM’s area of responsibility.

- Sky News in Arabic: "White House agrees to Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, on a condition that Hams will be removed and fully disarmed. The Trump administration statement is expected soon.”

- President Trump threatens Iran: It will be held responsible for any Houthi firing; the consequences will be severe. Iran pretended to be the "innocent victim" of rogue terrorists over whom they had lost control - but they are not

- IDF Jerusalem Brigade's Special Operations Command eliminates three terrorists in Gaza who are planting an IED in the perimeter

- The escalation between Hezbollah and the new Syrian regime is at a new stage now. Lebanese President: What is happening on the eastern and northeastern borders cannot continue, and we will not allow it to continue. I have instructed the Lebanese Army to return fire at the sources of fire in Syria.Now, it is officially a conflict between the Lebanese Army and the Syrian Army.

- Syrian report: Israeli forces advance into the villages of Zubaydah and Majduliya in the central rural area of Quneitra

-Houthi military sources told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar this morning: "Sanaa's military preparations for confrontation with American and Israeli aggression are now much greater; the Houthis have many surprises at sea and in the air."