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IDF: Hamas fighters beginning to desert
A senior Israeli military commander involved in Operation Cast Lead said on Saturday that Hamas militants are suffering from exhaustion and are deserting battle. Geez, they must be cutting back on the days off. The commander told reporters that Amir Mansi, the commander of Hamas's rocket-launching program in the Gaza City area who was killed by the IDF on Saturday, fired mortars himself after junior Hamas operatives refused to go outside, fearing an Israeli strike. To the last drop of somebody elses blood, right, boys? The IDF official estimated that more than 300 Hamas operatives have been killed since Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza one week ago. This is the highest estimate provided thus far, and the IDF said that Hamas has purposely refrained from releasing casualty figures among its military wing. The commander added that the army is working to tighten its grip on the northern section of the Gaza Strip. The IDF earlier on Saturday killed Mansi, an expert with regard to long-range Grad rockets. He was identified by Israeli troops on Saturday firing mortars from Gaza. The soldiers opened fire, killing Mansi and injuring two Hamas operatives who were with him. Posted by: tu3031 2009-01-10 |
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