Breaking news has come in from Israel as Hamas terrorists launches a mass array of rockets into the country on Saturday morning, October 7. In response, Israeli military forces have begun fighting in over two dozen locations along the border of Gaza.
The offensive, called “Operation Swords of Iron” by the IDF has resulted in at least 300 Israelis dead and 1,500 wounded in Southern Israel while 200 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory strikes according to Gaza health officials.
AT WAR: Former President Donald Trump condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and encouraged the United States to stand strong with its ally. pic.twitter.com/7ufEJBftBM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 8, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with the Israeli government’s security cabinet on Saturday night, following which he declared “We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack. The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved.”
This marked “the initiation of ‘Operation Swords of Iron,’ which is the name for its ‘large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas this morning.'”
To further protect its citizens from rocket fire, Israel deployed its robust missile defense system called Iron Dome. Reports estimate that anywhere from 2,100 to 5,000 rockets were fired at Israel since Saturday morning – though many were blocked thanks to Iron Dome’s effectiveness.
In addition to using advanced defense technology like Iron Dome, Prime Minister Netanyahu mobilized reserve forces with four divisions headed immediately for Gaza along with tanks and other artillery to deal with mortar strikes and potential new rocket attacks. According to IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari,”Wherever there are Hamas terrorists, they will be found and eliminated.”
Israeli officials have highlighted Iran’s involvement in these latest attacks as well – noting that both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are working as proxies of Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime in Tehran.
Lior Haiat, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Fox News Digital Saturday: “Iran is trying for years…to have a terror organization…attack Israel and Israelis…[and] without a doubt…[they are] behind the scenes” of this war against Israel. The White House also made clear their stance calling out Iranian-backed terrorist groups for their actions saying there is “never any justification for terrorism.”
Republicans in Congress echoed similar sentiments pointing out that just weeks before these attacks occurred President Biden had frozen $6 billion in Iranian assets – raising questions about how closely his administration has been monitoring Iranian activity during his term so far.
