25th day of the war, October 31st, status update and major events:
– Heavy airstrikes in the Gaza strip. The IAF bombed a large gathering of civilians in the Al-Jabaliya Refugee Camp, resulting in possibly hundreds of deaths. Humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, but Egyptian aid is expected soon.
– Throughout the day, Hamas carried out at least 5 different rocket barrages into Israel, including Tel Aviv. Settlements located close to Gaza such as Ashkelon and Sderot have been registering more direct impacts due to a shortage of Tamer missiles for the Iron Dome, which forces Israel to focus its defenses on major population centers, considering there are not enough stockpiles to defend all of Israel at this point.
– Ground situation in Gaza: Israeli forces control the beach area of As-Siafa in the north-west of the strip, as well as most of the farmland on the outskirts of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in the north and north-east. Today, the IDF penentrated into the middle of Gaza by entering Wadi Gaza with armored units from the east. As a result, they established control over Salah Al-Deen road, the main road connecting Gaza City to the rest of the Gaza strip. The IDF is trying to push west through the middle of Wadi Gaza to capture Al-Rashid street, the last route that still connects the north of Gaza to the south.
– According to the available information, the IDF has suffered a considerable amount of casualties in Gaza so far. Hamas claims that the Al-Qassam brigades have destroyed 22 IDF vehicles until now, and some sources estimate that a few dozen Israeli soldiers have been killed, although no official figures are available except what the IDF releases. Most of the casualties occured while penentrating Gaza from the middle of Wadi Gaza, to capture the Salah Al-Deen road.
– The Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun outskirts have not offered much resistance, because the area consists mostly of farmland and is not suitable for fighting a superior enemy, as opposed to an urban environment.
– Yemen's Ansarullah (Houthis) carried out four attacks on southern Israel with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Most of these were intercepted above Eilat, and at least one missile fell in Jordan. The military spokesman of Ansarullah vowed to increase attacks against Israel as long as the agression on Gaza continues.
– Hezbollah targeted the IDF in the settlements of Al-Jardah, Branit Barracks, Al-Marj, and Al-Khazzan Hill with ATGMs, leading to several confirmed casualties and the destruction of a Merkava tank with its crew inside.
– The IDF shelled South Lebanon and carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah targets.
@Middle_East_Spectator