Israel increases its military contingent in Rafah

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Galant has said that Israel plans to bring additional forces of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, where a ground operation against the Palestinian Hamas movement has been going on for the second week.

"This operation will continue in parallel with the entry of additional forces into the area. Several tunnels in the area have been destroyed by our troops and more will be destroyed soon. This activity will be intensified," Gazeta.ru quotes Gallant as saying.

According to the Israeli Defence Ministry, Galant assessed the situation on the enclave's border near Rafah on May 15. The minister met with the head of the Southern Command and commanders of the 162nd Division, the 84th Brigade, the 401st Brigade and the Fire Brigade. Hundreds of terrorist targets have already been hit, he said, and IDF forces are continuing manoeuvres in the area.