FLASH
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Israel's military said on Friday that its ground forces were expanding operations in the Gaza Strip and that the army was nearing a full ground assault on the territory.
Against Admiral Daniel Hagari, the army spokesman, said that airstrikes were carried out, targeting Hamas tunnels and other targets.
"Following the attacks we have carried out in the last few days, the ground troops are expanding their intervention during the evening. We are intervening with great force to achieve the objectives of the war," he said.
Palestinian phone company Pailtel says internet service in Gaza has been disrupted due to Israeli bombardment.
The service was disrupted on Friday night, following a series of heavy airstrikes in the territory.
Israel has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops to the border with Gaza, ahead of a possible ground attack against the militant group Hamas.
Israel's defense minister said on Friday that Israel expects to soon launch a long-term and difficult offensive with ground troops in Gaza, adding that the attack will also include the destruction of a number of tunnels used by Hamas militants.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign reporters that the attack "will take time" and will be followed by a long phase of lower-intensity fighting for Israel to destroy any points of resistance.
His comments appeared to signal a new phase in the war, three weeks after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. Israel has retaliated with heavy and continuous bombardment of Gaza.
Israel says it intends to eliminate Hamas, but how it will do so remains unclear. Israel says it does not intend to govern the tiny territory with a population of 2.3 million Palestinians, but not who will govern them, although Mr Gallant hinted that the forces could face a long-term insurgency.
US warplanes, meanwhile, carried out airstrikes on targets in eastern Syria following attacks on US forces by Iran-backed fighters, adding to tensions in the region fueled by the three-week conflict in Gaza.
Since Israel launched airstrikes in response to an attack by the militant group Hamas on October 7, the number of Palestinians killed has risen to more than 7,300. More than 1,400 Israeli residents have been killed, most of them civilians, during the group's surprise attack. Hamas militant, sanctioned as a terrorist organization by the United States. 229 people, among them foreigners, were taken hostage by Hamas militants and are being held in Gaza. 4 of the hostages have been released. /VOA
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