Tuesday War News: Operation Cast Lead — Day 18 — Heavy Fighting in Gaza City, Northern Gaza, At Least 13 Rockets Fired on South, Jordanian Soldier Fires at Border Patrol in Eilat; IDF Nabs 16 Terrorists, Terrorist Attacks 3 Soldiers in Kiryat Arba, 108 Illegals Nabbed, Molotov Hurled at Car Near Jerusalem

Excerpts;

Military sources said that the objective of Operation Cast Lead – the weakening of Hamas and the restoration of Israel’s level of deterrence – was not yet accomplished, and that Israel would continue its push into Gaza City in an effort to hunt down Hamas operatives and infrastructure.

Sources would not confirm whether the latest effort was the implementation of the so-called “Phase Three” of the operation.

In addition, Palestinian sources reported that Israeli tanks were for the first time since the beginning of the operation taking up positions in Gaza City.

Earlier, four IDF troops were wounded in an explosion in a booby-trapped house overnight Monday during the advance towards the city.

One of the soldiers was listed in moderate condition, while the other three were lightly hurt, the army said. The IDF also reported that 30 Hamas gunmen had been killed in overnight battles on the outskirts of Gaza City.

Elsewhere, two booby-trapped tunnels and a weapons cache were discovered by troops next to the security fence in northern Gaza, the army said.

In another overnight incident in northern Gaza, Hamas gunmen fired at troops from a mosque. The soldiers returned fire and the IAF then bombed the mosque’s courtyard after spotting the armed men.

The air force bombed some 40 targets in overnight air raids, including seven weapons storehouses, 15 Kassam launching pads and 10 Hamas outposts.

Related reports;

IDF Troops Wounded [Overnight Monday in Northern Gaza] in Explosion of a Booby-Trapped Home

Excerpt;
“A large weapons cache was uncovered while searching the house, including a machine gun and a bulletproof vest.”

Gaza: Officer Critically Injured [in Explosion of a Booby-Trapped Home], by Hanan Greenberg (Ynet News)

Excerpts;

IDF forces hit over 30 gunmen during the night and exposed two booby-trapped tunnels near Gaza. The Air Force struck some 60 targets, including a hotel housing terrorists and 15 tunnels on the Philadelphi Route.

Sounds of the battle could be heard clearly before dawn Tuesday around the city of 400,000 as the Israeli forces, backed by artillery and attack helicopters, moved into neighborhoods east and south of Gaza City. Israeli gunboats shelled the coast from the west.

Gaza: Soldier Severely Wounded [3 others Lightly Injured in North Gaza] in Friendly-Fire Incident, by Hanan Greenberg (Ynet News)

At Least 13 Rockets Fired at South [by Mid-Afternoon Tuesday, Hitting Ashkelon, Sderot, Eshkol and Sha’ar Hanegev Regions. No Wounded, No Damage Reported]

Rocket Hits Ashkelon School as IDF Closes in on Gaza City, by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (Israel National News)

[Justice Minister] Daniel Friedmann: Any Gaza Agreement Must Include Schalit’s Release [and What about Jonathan Pollard?? ]

Rocket Lands in Western Negev; None Injured

[Daily Humanitarian Pauses Continue] IDF to Hold Humanitarian Pause in Gaza from 9 am – 12 pm, by Hanan Greenberg (Ynet)

Excerpt:
“Some 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid will be transferred into the Strip through Kerem Shalom crossing during the pause.”

Palestinian Terrorists Fire Kassam Rocket at Eshkol Region; No Wounded

Palestinians Fire 2 Kassams at West Negev [at Sdot Negev, Sha’ar Hanegev regions]; No Casualties or Damage

Two Kassam Rockets Strike Sha’ar Hanegev region; No Wounded Reported

Jordanian Soldier Fires at Border Police Patrol on Frontier [Along the Israel-Jordan Border Near Rabin Border Terminal in Eilat], by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)

Related report and Comment; [Sunday Night] Gunshots Fired from Syria at Golan [at IDF Vehicle Along the Syrian border], by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)