CrossFireArabia
The Palestinian resistance has begun to translate into reality the warnings issued by the Israeli occupation army, a few days ago, of the possible escalation of operations against its forces inside the Gaza Strip, according to military expert Major-General Fayez al-Duwairi.
Al-Duwairi explained on Al Jazeera the military operations in al-Tuffah area, east of Gaza City, the “Breaking the Sword” ambush east of Beit Hanoun, followed by another ambush in the same location falls within the context of these warnings.
He said the resistance is still able to survive because of the method of battle it is waging and adapting to the movements of the Israeli army. He noted the resistance forces “are not operationally offensive, but rather tactically offensive…”
Al-Duwairi’s statement comes after the Hamas al-Qassam Brigades, announced, Sunday, it detonated an anti-personnel bomb targeting a number of Israeli soldiers, confirming they were killed and wounded east of the al-Tuffah neighborhood.
As the Qassam Brigades announced the targeting of an Israeli Merkava 4 tank with an Al-Yassin 105 missile east of Tuffah, the Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad targeted a military barracks and a number of Israeli soldiers in a house with a guided missile.
The military expert emphasized the resistance factions maintain a high level of preparedness, “albeit varying from one battalion to another,” in his comment on the intensification of operations against the Israeli army.
According to Al-Duwairi, the new Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir came up with exaggerated expectations and an approximation of “zero losses,” based on the deployment of forces in the buffer zone and then a cautious and gradual advance under intense fire.
But, the resistance began targeting Israeli forces and vehicles with ambushes and anti-personnel and anti-tank missiles as the Israeli army began to deepen its incursion into built-up areas and their rubble.
A few days ago, the Israeli Walla news website quoted military sources as saying the Israeli army reinforced its defenses at its military positions in the area.
According to these sources, the army warns of a possible escalation of Hamas operations against its forces, as the movement’s militants are expected to launch guerrilla-style operations.
The Israeli army estimates, according to Walla, that Hamas is likely to launch targeted sniper attacks, ambushes, and other complex operations.
