Houthis launch missile at Israel, IDF kills terror officials in widespread strikes in Gaza
PIJ spokesperson killed in strike • European, Middle East officials condemn strikes • Netanyahu: Nothing will prevent Israel from achieving its war objectives
Operation Strength and Sword: IDF carries out massive overnight strikes on Hamas in Gaza Strip
The air force attacks are designed to degrade Hamas's renewed military capabilities after it was leaked that the terror group has returned to a force of 25,000.
At around 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) started conducting dozens of extensive air strikes specifically on mid-level Hamas commanders and some senior Hamas political officials in Gaza. It was unclear if they were targeting senior Hamas commanders like Mohammed Sinwar, who might be holding Israeli hostages nearby.
Nearly eight hours after the IDF renewed the strikes, Hamas hasn't managed to fire a single rocket into Israel.
At around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee sent out a message to Gaza residents to move further into Gaza, away from the border with Israel, to avoid being attacked as part of the renewed hostilities.
The red zone, defined as a combat zone by the IDF, wraps around all Gaza from north to south, seeming to cover between one-third to one-half of the Strip's area, including Beit Hanun, Harvat, Hazza, and Abasan.
More specifically, the IDF said that civilians should move to the western parts of Gaza City in the north and of Khan Yunis in the south. No more specific instructions were given in central Gaza.
Go to the full article >>Israel reportedly strikes Homs, Syria
The Israeli military reportedly struck Homs in western Syria, Army Radio reported on Tuesday night.
This is a developing story.
Go to the full article >>Hamas claims it did not reject Witkoff's framework for ceasefire deal
Hamas claimed on Tuesday it had not rejected US Middle East envoy Witkoff's framework for a hostage-ceasefire deal.
Go to the full article >>IDF delivers swift blow: 80 Gaza targets destroyed in 10 minutes
Part of the purpose of the operation was to prevent Hamas from rehabilitating its fuller scale military capabilities and structure.
The air force struck 80 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in approximately 10 minutes from 2:10-2:20 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
In fact, most of the targets were hit in the first two minutes.
Throughout the day there were other waves of attacks.
Go to the full article >>Israel's new Gaza offensive: What's different this time - analysis
Is the change in the White House the primary difference?
Israelis awoke Tuesday morning to the dramatic news that the IAF launched an extensive surprise attack on Hamas in Gaza. Many likely wondered why a military offensive now would be any more effective in forcing Hamas to release the remaining hostages than it had been over the last 16 months.
Go to the full article >>'Hostages are not posters': Freed hostages call for return of Gaza captives
The remarks came as the IDF initiated Operation Strength and Sword in the early hours of Tuesday, which saw widespread strikes on the Gaza Strip, ending the ceasefire.
Freed hostages Sasha Troufanov, Iair Horn, and Keith Siegel called for the release of the 59 hostages held in Gaza captivity during a rally at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Go to the full article >>WATCH: Nothing will prevent Israel from achieving its war objectives, Netanyahu says
Netanyahu made it clear that this was just the beginning. "We will continue fighting so that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.
Nothing will prevent Israel from achieving its war objectives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Tuesday evening.
Go to the full article >>IDF updates defense guidelines for Gaza border area, Western Negev
The Home Front Command updated the defense guidelines for the Gaza border communities, Western Negev and Western Lachish areas.
Go to the full article >>Houthis launch missiles towards Israel, sirens sound in northern Negev
Yemen's Houthis launched missiles toward Israel, causing rocket sirens to sound across the northern Negev, starting at 6:56 p.m. on Tuesday.
This is a developing story.
Go to the full article >>IDF publishes footage of IAF strikes in Gaza Strip
The IDF published footage of Israel Air Force strikes carried out in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
An Israel Air Force jet takes off. March 18, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military to take "strong action" against Hamas in Gaza in response to the group's refusal to release hostages and rejection of all ceasefire proposals.
Israel at war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Supernova music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
- 59 hostages remain in Gaza.
- 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
- The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4 a.m.
- Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 17, 2025.
- 735 terrorists will be released as part of the hostage deal.