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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
IDF official: Army ready for ground op in Gaza
2012-03-13
Iran encouraging Islamic Jihad to fire rockets at Israel, escalation could prompt ground incursion, senior officer says. IDF hasn't used all measures at its disposal, he says
Perhaps they'll show good sense and expel them this time.
Per the discussion in the Burg yesterday, it just might be time to evict all the Gazooks into the Sinai. Let them wander for the next forty years or so. Or perhaps their brother Arabs will take them in .. to Mauritania...
Is Gaza war in cards? The current round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian terror groups could prompt Israel to launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, a senior IDF official said Monday.
 
The comments were made as Gaza terror groups continued to shell southern Israel communities with dozens of rockets and mortar shells Monday.
 
Two such rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system over Ashkelon Monday evening. Military officials said the advanced system shot down 85% of the rockets fired from Gaza in the past four days. Meanwhile, the IDF struck several targets in Gaza, killing at least two terrorists Monday night. 
 
The official said that Iran and the Islamic Jihad's headquarters in Damascus "are encouraging the terrorist organization to continue the current round of rocket fire until they obtain a significant gain."
 
The recent escalation in Israel's south, which has seen more than a million residents come under heavy rocket fire, has already been described by the IDF as "unprecedented in scope." According to the senior officer, there is "no end in sight" to the current round of fighting.
 
"The IDF is prepared for any development, including a situation where we are forced to launch a ground operation," the IDF official said. "We have everything we need and are ready to step it up if needed. There are many measures that we haven't employed yet."
 
"There is no effective control in Gaza, and no clear distinction between the political and military wings of Hamas... we are prepared to turn it up a notch," he said
 
Tel Aviv at risk? 
Military officials have stressed that Hamas' lack of involvement in the current round of aggression points to the dominance of the Islamic Jihad, which has enjoyed rising popularity in Gaza.
 
"They haven't been paying attention to the Hamas for the past two years, because it can't rule Gaza or enforce the law," the official said, adding that the terror group also enjoys the support of its headquarters in Damascus and is being portrayed as the "defender of the Palestinian people.'"
 
So far, the official noted, 22 terrorists have been killed in IDF airstrikes, including Islamic Jihad mid-level commanders. In addition, three civilians were killed in close proximity to rocket-launching sites.
 
"This points to a cynical exploitation of civilians, and so far we have acted with utmost precision to prevent the loss of innocent lives," the official said.
 
Asked whether there is a possibility that the rockets will reach the Tel Aviv-area, the senior officer said that terror groups "are always contemplating whether to fire their (long-range) Fajr rockets, but they realize the consequences and make the cost-benefit calculation."
 
However, this could change should the fighting continue, the IDF official said.
 
"If we boost our offensive activity in Gaza, I suppose they won't keep their Fajr missiles as museum exhibits," he said.
Posted by:trailing wife

#5  I dont believe the IDF will go in this time.
Most of the real targets are not in the Gazzo strip anymore.
The real ammunition depots, manufacturing facilities, training camps, and terror infrastructure are dispersed in the Sinai peninsula in what used to be egyptian territory in Mubarak's day and has turned into the "wild east" where there is no law and no significant Egyptian military presence.
If we want to destry the terror infrastructure we will need to invade the Sinai in a full fledged reocupation war.
Eventually this will most probably happen but not now and not untill we settle the Iranian problem.
IMHO if Iran is successfully defanged, Israel will have to retake the Sinai peninsula within 5 years in order to provide a buffer zone and protect Israel's southern border because the Egyptians are not going to do a thing about this hellhole.
Posted by: Elder of Zion   2012-03-13 12:43  

#4  Might be a good idea to clear the decks before the balloon goes up with Iran.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2012-03-13 11:32  

#3  A quarter football field is better than a full one?
It will not matter what happens. Israel will get dragged in some way, any way.

Everyone knows this.
Posted by: newc   2012-03-13 02:45  

#2  My guess is it would be a repeat of 2006 only with a "twist". Iran encourages Gaza to crank up the missiles to precipitate a land incursion by Israel. As soon as Israel does that, Hezbollah starts firing missiles from Lebanon in order to provoke a land attack into Southern Lebanon.

Once that happens, Syria claims the entire country must "come together" to defend Lebanon from Israel in a last ditch attempt to put down the uprisings and attempt to rally the country around Assad.

In other words, precipitate an Israeli invasion in order to distract the Syrian rebels and possibly even justify Iranian intervention.
Posted by: crosspatch   2012-03-13 01:58  

#1  Just, if you must take the ground; make sure you inform them that it is not the Gaza strip you are invading, it's Gush Katif you are re-claiming.

Gaza was a launch pad.
Posted by: newc   2012-03-13 00:30  

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