| Follow us on Twitter |
An IDF statement said,
"The objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas, in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians."
The operation has been dubbed "Cast Lead."
This is considered the second stage of an operation that began eight days ago with Israeli airstrikes into the Gaza Strip.
Israel Defense Forces Maj. Avital Leibovich said:
"We have just a short while ago launched the second stage. We have many, many targets, and therefore to my estimate it’s going to be a lengthy operation."
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Channel 2 TV:
"We will do all that is necessary to provide a different reality for southern Israel, which has been under constant attacks for the past eight years."
Both U.S. President George W. Bush and U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon spoke in favor of an internationally monitored truce. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to visit the area next week to try to arrange a truce.
Posted January 3rd, 2009 by Michael Santo
