The Israeli air force has increased the number of missions over the Gaza Strip in what it is calling Operation Protective Edge. After carrying out some 80 strikes July 7, Israeli forces followed with 273 strikes on July 8, and in the early morning hours of July 9, they have carried out 160 airstrikes. The overall casualty count has increased to at least 27 people killed and 130 wounded. Among the casualties is a leader in the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad. The militant was reportedly killed in a strike that hit his home in Beit Hanun. The targeted killing of militant leadership in Gaza will probably push militants in the Gaza Strip to increase their attacks. They have already fired more than 225 rockets since the latest round of fighting began, according to Israeli military reports, with 40 of the attacks being intercepted by the Iron Dome.
The Israeli navy also appears to have joined the bombardment and is maintaining a tight cordon around Gaza from the sea. However, five Hamas commandos managed to infiltrate and landed near the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon in an apparent attempt to raid the Zikim military base. Israel Defense Forces, however, with the help of air power, quickly detected and intercepted the attack once the fighters landed.
Militants in Gaza may resort to commando attacks on Israeli forces surrounding the strip, but their most potent weapon remains their rocket arsenal, specifically the long-range missiles that make up a small percentage of the estimated 10,000 rockets in the strip. Alongside a number of long-range M-75 and Fajr-5 rockets, Hamas has reportedly launched what appears to be a Syrian-made, 302-mm Khaibar rocket that landed in Hadera, 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Gaza. This represents the farthest strike by Gaza militants into Israel to date.
The rockets are inaccurate, and with the presence of a number of Iron Dome batteries across Israel, the rocket strikes have so far failed to cause any casualties. The Israeli air force's heavy presence over Gaza also constrains the militants' ability to effectively fire the rockets in large salvos, which would be more effective in overwhelming the Iron Dome defenses.
The Israeli government has made it very clear that all options are open, including a ground incursion. As a prelude to this possibility, heavy airstrikes are expected to continue over Gaza, with the potential of ground artillery and naval vessels to increasingly join in on the bombardment. Armored units and reservists already appear to be heading toward the border with Gaza, but such a buildup is likely to take at least a couple of days if a full-scale assault such as Operation Cast Lead is being contemplated.
