The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reinforced regular infantry and artillery combat forces in the southern and northern directions in order to prepare for a possible escalation of the situation and against the background of ongoing shelling of the country’s territory from the Gaza Strip, the IDF press service said.
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“In accordance with assessments of the situation, we will increase the regular combat forces of infantry and artillery in the northern and southern commands in order to strengthen the defense in any possible scenario … The IDF is combat-ready, ready and prepared for its tasks – the offensive actions that we carried out tonight are more than than two directions are clear evidence of this. We hold the State of Lebanon responsible for everything that happens on its territory, as well as for the shooting carried out by Hamas from there – we will not allow Hamas to operate from Lebanon,” israeli Army Secretary Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.
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The Times of Israel reports, citing Hagari, that 44 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel overnight. Nine rockets did not leave the Palestinian enclave, 12 were fired into the sea, 14 landed in an open area in Israel, one hit a residential building in the southern city of Sderot, and eight were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
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Hagari also said that the Israeli Air Force had hit more than ten Hamas targets in Gaza in response to renewed rocket attacks, using about 50 tons of ammunition.
