Israeli Army Radio: 'Ground operation in Gaza to be delayed until additional US forces arrive'
Israeli Army Radio reported that Tel Aviv has decided to "postpone the ground war" in the Gaza Strip until additional US forces arrive in the region.
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In a report broadcast by Israeli Army Radio, it was stated: "The US has informed Israel that it plans to send additional American forces to the Middle East in preparation for a ground maneuver, amid concerns over increased attacks on Iranian forces in the region."
The report noted that an agreement was reached to wait until the additional US forces are deployed and to postpone the ground operation accordingly.
EMPHASIS ON HOSTAGES
While it was conveyed that Israeli officials stated this is not the only reason for the postponement of the operation, it was pointed out that there are other factors, such as increasing the operational readiness of military forces, finding a solution to the issue of hostages held by Hamas, and the possibility of implementing additional release agreements.
The report stated that sending more US forces to the Middle East is certainly in Israel's interest, as these forces would help coordinate responses to attacks that may increase in the later stages of the war.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had stated in his remarks yesterday that "the ground operation in Gaza could last for months."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a program he attended on the NBC television channel yesterday, had reported that the US is prepared to protect American forces and personnel in the Middle East in the event of an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Blinken emphasized that the US "expects an escalation" of the Israel-Palestine conflict "through Iranian interference," and stressed that the Biden administration is "prepared to respond" if any US personnel or armed forces in the region "become the target of any hostile act."
ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT
The armed wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on the morning of October 7, dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood."
While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel, Palestinian armed groups raided and seized the Beit Hanoun-Erez Border Crossing on the Gaza-Israel border.
Armed groups later entered settlements inside Israel from there, and the Israeli army launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets.
It was reported that 1,400 Israelis, including 306 soldiers, were killed and 5,132 Israelis were injured in the attacks from Gaza.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that 4,700 people, including 1,873 children and 1,023 women, had been killed and 14,245 people injured in Israel's attacks on Gaza.
It was stated that 90 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.
18 journalists lost their lives in Israel's attacks on Gaza.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border since October 8, 24 Hezbollah members and 4 civilians, including one journalist, have lost their lives.
3 Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian also lost their lives in attacks carried out from the Lebanese side.