Israel Matzav

IDF spokesperson: Iron Dome has shot down 17 rockets tonight, ground operation possible

I resisted the temptation to post a picture of Ahmed Abu Jabari's dead body that I found online. For those of you who would like to see it, it's here. Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.

Besides, Blogger seems to have issue posting pictures right now.

I was on a Bloggers' briefing with Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich  through the IDF spokesperson's office. Here's some of what she told us:

1. The IDF undertook this operation for two reasons: To protect Israeli civilians and to cripple the terror organizations' military capabilities.

2. Ahmed Abu Jabari was the most senior Hamas military officer and had a lot of Israeli blood on his hands.

3. The IDF also destroyed 20 underground launching sites for long-range rockets (range over 40 km) including the Fajr 5.

4. The IDF has an assessment and will need to decide how to continue. All options are on the table, including a ground operation.

5. Iron Dome shot down 17 rockets this evening.

During the question and answer session:

a. She refused to confirm a report that IDF special forces are already in Gaza.
b. She refused to confirm a report that armored battalions are massing outside of Gaza (both these reports have been all over Twitter).
c. She would not comment on what action, if any, the IDF would take in response to rockets coming from Sinai today; she said we are focusing on Gaza.

For the record, Egypt has withdrawn its ambassador from Israel, and after he was summoned by the Egyptian foreign ministry, Israel's ambassador to Egypt decided to head home.

Labels: Gaza, Hamas, Hamas rockets, IDF, Palestinian terrorism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:18 PM