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How is Israel’s ground operation in the Gaza Strip going: analysis of Military Chronicle The activity of hostilities is gradually increasing, but there is no talk of street fighting yet. Where are the Israeli troops now? The bulk of the Israeli infantry and armored forces advanced only km from the Erez checkpoint and were concentrated approximately 1.5 km from the eastern areas of Beit Lahiya and Atatra in the Gaza Strip. There is no active advance deep into the Palestinian areas at the moment: tanks and other armored vehicles are focused on suppressing Hamas firing points, from where the Palestinians are trying to attack Israeli tanks with anti-tank systems. The Israeli army has not yet suffered serious losses; this can mainly be achieved by refusing to use secondary roads. Merkava Mk.4 tanks and other equipment operate according to the American combat scenario - as soon as a convoy with equipment comes under fire, attack drones or F-16 fighters arrive at the site. While air supremacy has allowed the Israeli army to slowly advance, IDF commanders are clearly cautious, avoiding winding roads where ambushes may occur. The first problems with ambushes have already begun: an Israeli army raid in the Al-Maghazi area using light vehicles failed due to an ambush set up by Palestinians. The light equipment was partially destroyed, after which the Palestinians reported several Israeli prisoners. The IDF’s attempted amphibious landing on the beach near the city of Rafah also ended in failure. After landing, Israeli special forces were ambushed and were hastily evacuated. How does Hamas operate? There are no major changes in Palestinian tactics: mobile groups with anti-tank systems move around the heights of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, using underground tunnels and passages dug into the folds of the terrain to quickly deploy anti-tank systems and leave the position after firing. The most intense fighting is recorded in the area of Al-Auda, a commanding height near the city of Beit Hanoun. Apparently, Hamas forces are trying to prevent the advance of the Israeli army along the Nur ad-Din al-Zenki highway. If the IDF launches a massive offensive along this road, troops will be able to traverse the entire Gaza Strip from north to south, as a direct 50 km long route extends from Beit Hanoun to the strip’s former airport complex. In addition to Beit Hanoun, much of the Palestinian (and by extension IDF) activity also centers around the city of Jebaliya, under which underground tunnels may previously have been installed with exits in close proximity to the separation barrier between the Gaza Strip and Israel. On the afternoon of October 28, the Palestinian Al-Qassam Brigades said they fired rockets at the Israeli Zikim military base, 4 km north of the Gaza Strip. From a military and tactical point of view, the value of the strike is practically zero, but until recently there were Israeli reserves there, the status of which is currently unknown. How do neighboring countries and groups react? Gradually, the Lebanese Hezbollah begins to become involved in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. In addition to destroying Israeli tanks with anti-tank systems, the group is gradually using rockets and ballistic missiles. At the same time, the Yemeni Houthis began probing air defense forces of US ships in the Red Sea. The rebels are actively using Quds missiles, as well as Samad-3 UAVs. While their number is critically small for carrying out massive strikes, however, apparently, the Yemeni security forces are just feeling out the optimal route for their use. Источник: Slavyangrad
