BOOM! goes the airstrike:

FOX NEWS – An Israeli airstrike killed the commander of the military wing of Gaza’s Hamas rulers Wednesday, Hamas officials and Israel confirmed, in a dramatic resumption of Israel’s policy of assassinating Palestinian militant leaders.

Ahmed Jabari was the most senior Hamas official to be killed since an Israeli invasion of Gaza four years ago. Jabari has long topped Israel’s most-wanted list and was notorious in Israel, which blamed him for in a string of attacks, including the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in 2006.

Witnesses said Jabari was traveling in a vehicle in Gaza City when the car exploded. Crowds of people and security personnel rushed to the scene of the strike, trying to put out the fire that had engulfed the car and left it a charred shell.

Hamas police cordoned off the area around a hospital where at least one body from the strike was taken. It was draped in a white sheet, with a burned leg poking out. Hamas said another man was killed in the airstrike.

Hamas police said three other airstrikes hit other targets in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah.

Israeli officials had said that they were considering assassinating top Hamas officials following a wave of rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip at southern Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes. The exchanges appeared to be waning on Tuesday, but the killing of Jabari is likely to re-ignite the flare-up.

According to Haaretz, more rockets have been fired from Gaza into Ashkelon following the assassination of Jabarai:

Also, according to Jerusalem Post’s live blog of this escalation, Islamic Jihad calls the assassination an “act of war”. Funny, I thought firing rockets into Israel was an act of war.

UPDATE: Via Jerusalem Post’s live blog:

Breaking update: The IDF has in recent minutes struck over 20 underground rocket launchers belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in an airstrike. The airstrikes targeted long-range rockets in the possession of terror organizations, such as the fajr-5 and other rockets that are capable of striking Tel Aviv from Gaza.

IDF spokesman Yoav Mordechai said that Gaza is a “forward Iranian base,” adding that the latest campaign of air strikes targeted most of the long-range offensive capabilities in the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

He added that columns of smoke were visible around Gaza.

UPDATE 2: IDF says ground operation possible:




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71 comments
DCGere
DCGere

Good for Israel! Bibi isn't playing games anymore.

colliemum
colliemum

Just watch the live blog - scoop has given the link.

The Israeli Navy has been targeting sites in Gaza.

May God protect the innocents on all sides.

colliemum
colliemum

Well - this is it.

Ehud Barak has authorised the call-up of all reservists; the name of this operation is 'Pillar of Defense"; the iron dome defense system has dealt with 15 rockets on Beersheba this evening, and another jihadi terrprist group is now shelling military installations around Beersheba with mortars.

All info from the JPost liveblog.

Darkbella007
Darkbella007

Anyone with brain cells knows this is only the beginning.

NYGino
NYGino

I'm sure there has already been assurances from the White House to Hamas that the United States had nothing to do with this and deplores such aggression. Maybe the White House has even offered to send an ambassador or two to the area to help ease tensions.

Darkbella007
Darkbella007

You are probably right Gino. I bet that was their first thought. They got away with it last time amiright?

UnCL3
UnCL3

Netanyahu, leader of the free world! I can't wait to hear the MSM and OLoser proclaim the Jooooooz as the agressors, and their acts "illegal"...and then send Hamas more American $$$

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

Nailed it. Normally, I'd not like to see stuff like that, but in cases like this, I can only say, YAY!

colliemum
colliemum

Same here, but I linked the video because it's from the IDF, and they do not show gratuitous violence and destruction.

This video also tells me that the IDF have not been sitting on their hands since Operation Cast Lead.

I bet there are some in the Pentagon who'd love to learn from the IDF. Thanks to that POS in the WH they'll have to do their own homework ...

TJinNJ
TJinNJ

God bless Israel...watch out for Obamaladen's armed al-qaeda force coming from Syria as well.

BHliberty
BHliberty

Perhaps Egypt as well! Some ally, huh!

stage9
stage9

I'm glad I'm not the only one who made that connection. I was thinking about that this morning. We're sending the Syrians 34 million dollars; it's suspected that we sold them guns; and now they're threatening our closest ally.

The US is stupid!

TJinNJ
TJinNJ

Add 20,000 or 30,000 Shoulder fired missles that could take out alot of plances and you could have a field day...Then again they could use on US.

colliemum
colliemum

While I keep praying for Israel and their brave defense forces, it occurs to me that Bibi would be fully informed of which of those jihadi countries has got what, how prepared they are, and has prepared both the people of Israel and the IDF as best he could.

As I've said in an answer to ABiC: the video released by the IDF shows me that they most certainly have not been sitting on their hands.

PVG
PVG

GO BIBI!!

Booker T.
Booker T.

It seems Bibi took my advice from yesterday. /sarc

colliemum
colliemum

I pray with all my might that God protect Israel and keep the people safe, especially all those who fight for her.

Having said that, I can't help but think: well done IDF - take that, Hamas scum - and may all who think of attacking Israel take note: don't mess with the IDF!

When will the muslims learn ...

maynardb50
maynardb50

I am sure Obama is on the phone asking Netanyahu to "stand down".

colliemum
colliemum

I think Bibi just put the phone down.

NYGino
NYGino

Yes, that's it. He put the phone down and went into another room to have lunch with some friends. Told Obama to beat it out the back door.

NYGino
NYGino

Right you are Wolfie, thank you for watching my back.

Wolfie
Wolfie

You misspelled "Conman n' Thief"

NYGino
NYGino

The sad thing is he represents the American people. (At least in theory).

colliemum
colliemum

Yeah - the respect shown to him by those to whom he bowed is absolutely overwhelming!

NYGino
NYGino

Our "Commander in Chief" carries such respect and admiration. Doesn't he?

colliemum
colliemum

From the JPost liveblog linked by scoop in the original post above, we learn that the POS in the WH actually spoke to Peres.

Looks like Bibi really put the phone down on him, teeheehee.

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

And I hope Bibi, even though he is much too gracious, would say, "Bite me."

Libertyship46
Libertyship46

Why do I get this feeling World War III is about to begin? I wonder how far along the Iranians really are in getting their nuclear bomb? I also wonder how they will decide to re-inforce and re-supply the Islamists in Gaza? Keep your eyes on what Iran does in the next few days. That will determine how wide and how bad this all gets. And also keep your eyes on Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. If they decide to join this fight, we will have a full-blown war here, espcially with what's going on in Syria. If Iran makes its move, they want to widen the war and they may also be closer to having their nuclear bomb than any of us thinks.

Rocco11
Rocco11

Obama will not be pleased, Hamas is a big supporter of his.

Learnedsmtn2day
Learnedsmtn2day

Dear Moderator. I made an innocent comment telling people here not to get so excited about a wimpy response to something that's been going on for over a month amounting to hundreds of rockets fired into some real peoples backyards< Why has it not been posted!!!!!!!??????

Rshill7
Rshill7

Ahmed, meet Allah. Allah, Ahmed.

Allah: "How do you do?"

Ahmed: "Not so good. Where are the virgins?"

Allah: "Right over there...great bunch of fellas huh?"

Courtesy of the blue and white. Yay!

Haywoodjbl
Haywoodjbl

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.....that's 6....that's all it would take

denbren52
denbren52

Notice how this attack was done with such precision that only one vehicle and 2 men were destroyed. On the other hand, Hamas has been lobbing rockets into Israel without any regard whatsoever as to where they land or how many innocents are in the way.

colliemum
colliemum

Yes - the video shows this in exemplary fashion.

And the left here was bellyaching about how a Spectre airship would do soo much collateral damage to the poor terrorists that the WH never even tried sending it to the rescue of the brave Navy SEALs in Benghazi.

Wolfie
Wolfie

See NObama!? THATS how you take care of business!

Coming soon: NObama's condemns Israel for strikes... Goes on Apology tour again.

3D 81
3D 81

funny, I read that as " nobama's condoms Israel"...

Understandable mistake as condoms seem to be his answer to everything.

Good thing too. Hope the liberals contracept themselves out of existence.

E. Lee Zimmerman
E. Lee Zimmerman

Yeah, I was wondering myself just now if Hamas was aware that Showbama had a scheduled press conference this morning, and the cynic in me says they did. Here are his allies, helping him out with yet another distraction from U.S.-specific scandals he and his cronies could be implicated in.

Brian Jones
Brian Jones

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Freakin' AWESOME Israel!!! Keep it up!

StandingGround
StandingGround

Gosh, I just love Israel and Bibi, don't you? They know how to get things done!

Brian Jones
Brian Jones

I absolutely LOVE Netanyahu! I really wish WE had a leader of his caliber in America...oh wait, we've got Obama as CiC and John Kerry coming on board as SecDef! Color me consoled...

tshtsh
tshtsh

Cannot believe it they found a bigger chickens..t, coward and hater of the military than b.o. to directly insult our warriors.