(JNS) The Israel Defense Forces announced early Wednesday morning, Nov. 1 the deaths of nine additional soldiers in the Gaza Strip, bringing to 15 the number of troops killed in action after the losses the previous day.
“We are in a difficult war. This will be a long war. We have so many important achievements but also painful losses,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world. The entire people of Israel embraces you, the families, from the depth of our heart. We are all with you in your heavy sorrow. Our soldiers have fallen in the most just of wars, the war for our home. I promise the citizens of Israel: We will complete the job, we will continue until victory.”
“The fall of IDF fighters in battle against Hamas terrorists in Gaza is a hard and painful blow. Our hearts and thoughts are with their dear families,” said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “The significant achievements of the heavy fighting in the depths of the Gaza Strip unfortunately exact a heavy price. We are prepared and ready for a long and complex campaign that requires courage, determination and perseverance. We will win.”
The IDF continued to pound Hamas assets in Gaza from the land and air overnight Tuesday, striking terrorist cells and command and control centers. One of the latter was located in a multi-story building deliberately located next to a school and medical office, according to the Israeli military.
Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, the IDF has hit some 11,000 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported on Tuesday that U.S. commandos are in Israel to help authorities locate the hostages.
Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity told the newspaper that several dozen American special force operators have been sent, in addition to a team that was already in the Jewish state for training.
The U.S. troops have not been assigned any combatant roles in Israel and will only be deployed to evacuate and secure embassies in the region if necessary.
The report added that several Western countries have covertly moved special forces to the region over fears that Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon could enter the war.
