Baghdad,The Israeli army announced today, Saturday, the readiness of its forces to implement a wide range of offensive operations plans ,with increasing expectations of an imminent invasion of the Gaza Strip, a week after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel.
The army said in a statement that its forces were deployed across the country, increasing operational preparations for the next phases of the war, “with a focus on large ground operations.”
It added, "The plans may include coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land" on the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he visited Israeli infantry soldiers around the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The office published a video recording accompanying the statement, in which Netanyahu appeared telling them, “Are you ready for the next stage? It is coming.”
The recording did not offer clarification other than to show the infantrymen nodding their heads in response to his question.
The Israeli army mobilized thousands of reserve soldiers and dozens of tanks on the Gaza border, in conjunction with demands from residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate and head south, in what appears to be preparation for ground action.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
