IDF mobilizing 10,000 reservists after Israel targets senior Hamas commanders

After overnight air strikes, cabinet approves measure to call up reserve soldiers to replace currently serving reservists as rocket fire continues to batter southern Israel.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) near the border with the Gaza Strip. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) near the border with the Gaza Strip.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The IDF has called up 10,000 reservists, who will replace other reserve forces that are being sent home for rest.
The cabinet approved the measure after the air force carried out an overnight targeted assassination of two senior Hamas terrorists and a lower ranking terrorist in the Gaza Strip.
A total of 86,000 reserves have been called up since the beginning of the conflict this summer, and many of them replaced conscripted ground forces in the West Bank, who were rotated to the Gaza border. Some reserve units have also taken up positions around Gaza.
Meanwhile, the IAF bombed 40 terrorist targets since midnight on Thursday. Half of the targets were struck after being detected in real time by a range of electronic sensors and intelligence gathering capabilities.
Targets struck by the IAF over the past 24 hours include an Islamic Jihad operative in southern Gaza who fired projectiles at Israel, and several terrorists in northern Gaza who fired from a cemetery at Israel.
Gazan terrorists fired 60 rockets at Israel on Thursday. Iron Dome intercepted nine rockets heading to built up areas, and 48 fell in Israeli territory, including one that injured a man and damaged structures in Eshkol. One rocket launch in Gaza failed.
The IDF stated on Thursday evening that more than 300 rockets have been fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since Hamas broke the cease-fire on Tuesday afternoon.