Israel begins ground operation in Hamas stronghold of Rafah, expands activities in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces said a ground operation was taking place in the "Shavura" neighborhood, as well as parts of central and northern Gaza. 

In recent months, Hamas terrorists exploited a site in northern Gaza, which previously served as the "Turkish" hospital, as a command and control center, from which they directed and carried out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israel.

Furthermore, over the past few hours, the Israeli air force has continued to target and dismantle terrorists and terrorist infrastructure throughout Gaza.

Israel resumed military operations against Hamas this week following a short-lived ceasefire after it said the terror group repeatedly rebuffed offers to release the remaining hostages it took on Oct. 7, 2023. 

The IDF also struck a military site containing an underground terrorist infrastructure site in the Beqaa area in Lebanon, as well as another site with rocket launchers in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah terrorists actively operate. 

On Thursday night, siens blared across a number of areas following a projectile launched from Yemen, the IDF said. 

A holy site for Christians, Muslims and Jews also came under fire from Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have attached commercial shipping in the Red Sea and U.S. naval forces in solidarity with Hamas, the IDF said.