Jerusalem [Israel], October 31: After announcing the transition to a new phase, Israel launched a concentrated attack on the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas.
Violent attack
Last night (October 30), The Guardian reported that Israeli forces appeared to be advancing in two directions around Gaza City (in the Gaza Strip). In the northern Gaza Strip , Israeli armored forces appeared near the Mediterranean coast, while Hamas forces said they were "fiercely fighting with the occupation forces" in northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, also according to The Guardian , some witnesses described Israeli tanks cutting the main road south of Gaza City and appearing in the suburbs of this city. If confirmed, cutting the main road above will show that Israeli forces are trying to cut off the route connecting the city to the south, in order to isolate and surround this urban area.
Previously, on the morning of October 30, Reuters quoted an announcement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense saying that the country's army had attacked about 600 military targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the past few days, and was increasing operations on the ground. . Israel also announced that it had destroyed dozens of Hamas gunmen, including four leading figures of this force.
On the same day, Islamic Jihad forces - fighting on the same side as Hamas - announced that they were clashing with the Israeli army in Gaza City. However, neither Israel nor the Palestinian military forces participating in the conflict responded to the information given by the other side.
Meanwhile, according to international media, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier battle group is about to arrive in the waters off the Middle East. Thus, the US deployed a total of two aircraft carrier battle groups, including USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gerald Ford, to this area. Among them, the USS Gerald Ford battle group was present in the area early. Along with that, the amphibious ready combat group led by the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan also arrived near the Mediterranean and carried the expeditionary combat group, and also had the participation of the ship landing USS Mesa Verde.
The US dispatching such a powerful force to the region is intended to deter Iran and Iran-backed forces, which are believed to be involved in supporting Hamas.
Israel's plan
Responding to ThanhNien last night (October 30), a US military intelligence expert analyzed: "The first phase of Israel's ground attack on Gaza began a few days ago when hundreds of headquarters were destroyed. Hamas command posts, tunnels and important strongholds in the north."
This expert assessed that the first phase of Israel's attack had two purposes: One was to suppress the Hamas defense forces and the other was to eliminate key points to pave the way for the main attack.
"The much larger attack started on the morning of October 30 (local time in Gaza)," the expert assessed. He pointed out that the main attack would take place along three axes: Advance from the north to the south; Advance from the east to prevent Hamas forces from retreating south; Israel moves to occupy Gaza port by sea and predicts that the Israeli navy will attack important facilities and targets of Hamas.
"In addition to being able to capture Gaza Port, Israel's attack will not advance quickly but will focus on attacking strongly with infantry supported by air force, artillery and armor. Israel will not fight quickly but in a layered manner." lang. In particular, the battles in Gaza City (in the Gaza Strip) will be intense in each small area. Casualties for both sides will be much heavier than before. Because this is the characteristic of war. urban areas," the expert predicted.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper