The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officers as saying that "the ground offensive was originally planned for the weekend but was delayed by several days, partly because of weather conditions".
The source explained that adverse weather prevented Israeli pilots and drone operators from providing air cover to ground forces.
Israeli tanks move in foggy weather near the Gaza border on October 12. (Photo: Getty Images)
The ground operation will involve tens of thousands of troops, including commandos and tanks, backed by warplanes, helicopter gunships, drones and artillery fired from land and sea, anonymous officers also confirmed to the New York Times . The goal is said to be to completely destroy the leadership of Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
According to the New York Times , the planned ground offensive into the Gaza Strip would be Israel's biggest operation in more than a decade. Along with that, there is a big question mark over whether the Israelis will run Gaza or establish a new Palestinian government if they succeed in overthrowing Hamas' control.
Israeli officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that a ground offensive, if it takes place, could take months because they would have to clear a "vast network of underground tunnels" run by Hamas.
Commenting on Israel's ongoing air strikes against Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had unleashed "unprecedented force" but stressed "this is just the beginning".
According to the latest estimates, Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 left at least 1,300 people dead and nearly 3,500 injured. Dozens of people, both Israelis and citizens of other countries, were taken hostage by Hamas.
In Gaza, at least 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in subsequent major Israeli air strikes over the past week, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that the country would respond if Israel launched a ground operation in Gaza.
Hoa Vu (Source: actualidad.rt.com)
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