The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation along the northern coast of the Gaza Strip near Beit Lahiya early this morning, a military spokesman announced.
Troops from the 252nd Division pushed into the coastal highway and deployed in the area in recent hours, the military spokesman said. Two tank battalions from the 188th Armored Brigade are leading the operation.
In preparation for the operation, the IDF carried out airstrikes against approximately 40 targets in the Beit Lahiya area, including tunnels, anti-tank missile launch sites, Hamas operatives, and other threats.
In addition, the IDF carried out strikes last night against dozens of targets belonging to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations.
Fighter jets and other Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted terrorists, buildings used by terrorist groups, weapons, and other infrastructure that posed a threat to Israeli fighters, the Israel Defense Forces and the Shabak intelligence agency said in a joint statement.
The military spokesman indicated that attacks are currently continuing throughout the Gaza Strip.
So far, there have been no reports of clashes since Israel resumed military action in the coastal enclave early Tuesday morning.
How can it be that in Beit Lahiya, after almost a year and a half of fighting, there are still active tunnels?