IDF launches ground operation in Northern Gaza as strikes intensify 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip, targeting the coastal area near Beit Lahia, military officials confirmed. The operation, which began in the past few hours, follows a series of coordinated airstrikes by the IDF and the Shin Bet aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure in the region.

Ahead of the ground incursion, IDF and Shin Bet forces struck terrorist facilities and anti-tank missile launch sites operated by Hamas in Beit Lahia. The preemptive attacks were designed to neutralize threats to Israeli troops as they moved into the area, according to a military statement.

Simultaneously, overnight operations saw IDF fighter jets and aircraft pound dozens of terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip. The strikes hit operatives from various terrorist groups, military buildings, weapons caches, and other infrastructure identified as threats to both IDF personnel and Israeli civilians. The military reported that these actions were part of a broader campaign to dismantle terrorist networks in the region.

“Our forces are actively striking throughout the Gaza Strip at this very moment and will continue to target terrorist organizations to eliminate any danger to Israel’s citizens,” the IDF said in a statement. The dual-pronged approach—combining ground maneuvers with sustained air assaults—underscores Israel’s ongoing efforts to neutralize threats emanating from Gaza.

The operation comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with the IDF and Shin Bet vowing to maintain pressure on terrorist groups. Further details on the scope and duration of the ground mission in Beit Lahia were not immediately released, but military officials indicated that operations would persist as long as necessary to ensure national security.