The Israel Defense Forces stated they are operating in full coordination with United States Central Command, aligning military efforts and information sharing as the situation in the region evolves. This coordination underscores a shared understanding of the challenges on the ground and a commitment to joint defense objectives in the region.
Earlier, President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that touched on ongoing security support. The White House indicated that the United States has provided aid to the Israeli military to assist in its operations, reflecting a long-standing security partnership between the two nations.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale attack, firing thousands of rockets toward Israel and signaling the start of what was described as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response to the escalation, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced a state of emergency across the country, signaling the seriousness of the situation and the government’s readiness to mobilize all necessary resources.
Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly stated that Israel has entered a state of war. The Israeli Defense Forces named their campaign against Hamas as Iron Swords, and the retaliation involved air strikes targeting multiple Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip. The operation led to the engagement of numerous facilities and infrastructure associated with Hamas, as part of a broader campaign against militant networks in the area.
In the course of the ongoing military actions, earlier air strikes had targeted a substantial number of Hamas facilities, with reports indicating that about 120 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip were hit in a single wave of attacks. This pattern of air power illustrates the intensity and scope of the operations conducted in response to the escalation.