Diminished Hamas switches to full insurgent mode in Gaza
- Hamas fighting force reduced by half - US officials
- Group relying on ambushes, improvised bombs, they say
- Such tactics could sustain a lengthy insurgency
- 'There is no quick fix,' says Israeli military
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - Hamas has seen about half its forces wiped out in eight months of war and is relying on hit-and-run insurgent tactics to frustrate Israel's attempts to take control of Gaza, U.S. and Israeli officials told Reuters. The enclave's ruling group has been reduced to between 9,000 and 12,000 fighters, according to three senior U.S. officials familiar with battlefield developments, down from American estimates , opens new tab of 20,000-25,000 before the conflict. By contrast, Israel says it has lost almost 300 troops in the Gaza campaign. Hamas fighters are now largely avoiding sustained skirmishes with Israeli forces closing in on the southernmost city of Rafah, instead relying on ambushes and improvised bombs to hit targets often behind enemy lines, one of the officials said.
You talking about civilians?
I read it as thinning out hamas fighting force. You know.....like the story is about.
Insert guy holding a butterfly "Is this hamas?" meme
Exactly, fuck Hamas
Title says Hamas.
Actions up to this point say “any Muslim”
Evacuating civilians, calling phones and dropping leaflets to get civilians further from harm is a strange way to do that but ok.