Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Israel Goes After Islamic Jihad In Gaza

A day after Islamic Jihad fired rockets into Israel, Israel struck back, launching an airstrike against Islamic Jihad leaders and against the smuggling tunnels.
Palestinian sources reported on Wednesday evening that two Palestinians were killed and at least four others were wounded in an IDF strike in northern Gaza.

The IDF confirmed the attack was a joint operation with the Shin Bet to target senior Islamic Jihad operative Khaled Khareb Khaled Sha'alan – who the army said was involved in the firing of rockets towards Israel, including the attacks against Ashkelon in recent days.

According to the Palestinians, Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile towards a vehicle near a mosque in the town of Beit Lahiya. The two killed apparently belonged to the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF got its man. Israel has shown itself to have excellent intel on those involved in the rocket war against Israel, but political considerations have limited Israel's ability to strike at those terrorists responsible.

It is the political failure that undermines Israel's deterrence capabilities.

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