Gaza, MINA – The Israeli Occupation Forces 36th Division has begun a significant ground operation in the city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, as part of its ongoing military actions in the region, Palestine Chronicle reported.
This marks the Israeli army’s first major ground assault since the end of a ceasefire two weeks ago, according to Hebrew media sources.
The official Israeli broadcaster confirmed that the ground operation commenced early on Wednesday morning. The escalation follows an announcement from the Israeli occupation forces on March 18, marking the resumption of its military campaign against Gaza.
As part of the broader strategy, the Israeli forces have been working to expand their control over southern Gaza, specifically to establish a larger “security buffer zone,” which has been described as a “defensive security zone.”
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On Monday, the Israeli occupation forces issued evacuation orders to residents of Rafah, warning them to leave immediately as airstrikes began to intensify.
Since the early hours of Wednesday, the Israel has launched a series of heavy airstrikes targeting various locations throughout Rafah.
Earlier in March, the Israeli occupation forces deployed its 36th Division to the Gaza Strip border after completing its military operations in southern Lebanon. The Israeli War Minister, Yisrael Katz, confirmed that the expansion of the military offensive is intended to seize large areas of the Gaza Strip to be annexed into Israel’s control. []
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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