Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces began the next phase of Operation Swords of Iron.

Three weeks have passed since Hamas launched its heinous October 7 attack, and the IDF is beginning to move troops and armored vehicles over the border into the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Israeli troops engaged in a series of battles with Hamas terrorists in Gaza, according to the military. Dozens of militants were killed in these overnight raids, and the fighting is ongoing. An IDF spokesperson said, “We are carrying out an expanded ground operation into the Strip… forces are moving towards the terrorists, the terrorists are barricading themselves in staging grounds, and we are attacking them from the air.”

Israel has held off launching a full-scale ground incursion since October 7 in part due to U.S. requests. American citizens are among the hostages held in Hamas’ underground network of tunnels.