In their 11th day of ground assault in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) encountered significant challenges. The IDF confirmed the loss of their 34th soldier, while an Israeli airstrike resulted in the death of a top Hamas special operations fighter, Jamal Musa. The IDF’s airstrikes on Hamas strongholds continued relentlessly.
The IDF stated in a Monday announcement that their fighter jets, guided by intelligence from Amman and the Shin Bet, had eliminated several Hamas commanders, including Jamal Musa, responsible for special security within the organization.
The IDF’s strategy has followed conventional military tactics, focusing on pounding Hamas strongholds, targeting infrastructure and tunnel networks, and isolating militants in Gaza City. The goal is to cut off their power center from the south before engaging in close combat with Hamas.
Even before the final phase of direct face-to-face combat, the IDF had already lost 34 soldiers in 11 days, underscoring the challenges they face in an urban environment chosen by Hamas.
Since Hamas militants breached the fortified fence separating Gaza from Israel, approximately 348 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives. This breach occurred on October 7 and resulted in the death of about 1,400 Israelis.
The threat of additional fronts opening up, particularly with Hezbollah increasing attacks from the West Bank and Lebanon, is being addressed with a substantial US naval presence in the region.
The Pentagon released an unusual image of a nuclear-capable Ohio-class submarine in the Suez Canal and another of a nuclear-capable B-1 bomber operating in the region. These actions are rare because they involve revealing the locations of strategic assets with significant deterrence value. Nuclear submarines, capable of staying underwater for months without surfacing, are difficult to detect.
Two US aircraft carriers, the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, have already been deployed to the region. This deployment serves as a warning to Iran and its proxy groups not to become embroiled in the ongoing conflict.
Alongside these aircraft carriers, a supporting naval fleet, including destroyers, frigates, and submarines, has been dispatched. Together, the two aircraft carriers can carry more than 135 fighter aircraft, including F-18s. The situation in the region remains fluid and complex, with the IDF facing formidable challenges in their Gaza Strip operation.
