The U.S. is moving ships, jets, and an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean and will supply additional equipment and ammunition if needed as Israel has declared war after Hamas launched hundreds of missiles at Israel. Hamas surprisingly attacked Israel with no warnings, and American President Biden called it an “Unprecedented and Appalling assault.” Israeli officials claimed around 700 people were killed, and a US National Security Spokesperson expressed several US citizens were among the dead. Palestinian officials said More than 400 were killed in Gaza as a result of counterstrikes by Israeli forces. The US has stepped in and pledged to support Israel.
Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary of the United States, said the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, four missile destroyers, and a missile cruiser were heading to the region, and US fighter jets would also reach for additional defense assistance. The White House said they would send more military aid to Israel in the following days and that the US would make sure no Israeli enemies take advantage of the current situation.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said they supported Hamas’s attack and said Israel needed to be Neutralized as it was endangering the region. Hamas said Iran helped them in carrying out the attack on Israel. They said the aid included militants on para-gliders, rockets, and drones. Hundreds of fighters broke through the Israeli border defense line around the Gaza Strip. US Secretary of the State, Antony Blinken, said they have no evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the attack, but he said Iran had been supporting Hamas militants for years.
US Says Iran Supports Hamas
Blinken said Hamas wouldn’t be Hamas without years of Iranian support, and they had no proof that Iran was behind those attacks on Israel, but it was clear Iran was supporting Hamas for years. A news agency reported that in the UN Security Council meeting, Iran denied its involvement in the Israel attack. US State Secretary said their officials were investigating the reports that Americans were caught up in the invasion.
Source: Web
Furthermore, according to the Palestinian militant group, Hamas has held many Israeli soldiers and citizens hostage. Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said many captured people were considered dead and some alive. He added the elders, children, older people, and women were all taken hostage. Hamas said they seized dozens of Israelis and carried them throughout the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said Hamas was responsible for everything, and he said they would counter everyone who harms them.
Hamas Militants Made Dozens Of Israeli Citizens And Soldiers Hostage
Several videos on social media show the Hamas fighters taking the Israeli citizens. A news agency confirmed a video that a truck took the hostages with Gaza Strip carrying the hostages. It is also being said some hostages were not far from Gaza and were taken from an outside party. Militants entered the area and started firing. In a video, it is visible that one woman was kidnapped by Hamas militants and taken on a motorcycle.
Israel declares the attack was 9/11 for them. In a short time, two senior Israeli officials called the Hamas attack just like the 9/11 attack on America at the World Trade Center in 2001. This is the worst case for Israel as there were not so many Israelis killed in a single day, and this massive surprise attack killed more than 700 in less than two days.
Additionally, the former head of Israeli Intelligence Services said their security strategies collapsed on Saturday. A Politician from Israel’s opposition Labor Party and ex-chief of the Mossad spy agency, Danny Yatom, said everything failed, and no one had any idea of the massive attack Hamas struck. He added that Israel’s second layer of defense was insufficient.
