GAZA STRIP — The Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades announced Saturday the start of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israel and launched thousands of rockets ahead of a surprise air, land and sea attack against Israeli settlements in southern Israel.
اضافة اعلان
The Commander-in-Chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Muhammad Al-Deif, said - in an audio message - that the first strike of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” exceeded 5,000 missiles that targeted Israel, media source reported.
Palestinian resistance factions launched intense missile barrages from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in addition to land and sea infiltrations, while sirens sounded in many areas, including south of Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Ashkelon.
By 11 a.m. Amman time, at least seven Israeli settlements were under the control of Palestinian fighters. More than 30 Israeli soldiers and civilians were taken hostage.
At least 25 Israelis were reported killed. Israel launched air strikes against Gaza killing at least 7 Palestinians.
Palestinian rockets rained on Ashkalon, Ashdod and Jerusalem. Thousands of Israeli reservists were called for duty. Israeli media said the surprise operation represented a gross intelligence failure.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was in a state of war.
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