Israel killed a leading Hamas commander in a strike on Tuesday as significant conflict erupts between Israel and Hamas.
“We just killed the commander of the Hamas anti-tank missile unit, Iyad Fathi Faik Sharir,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. “He was in charge of carrying out anti-tank missile attacks on Israel. Our aircraft are currently striking additional terror targets in Gaza.”
We just killed the commander of the Hamas anti-tank missile unit, Iyad Fathi Faik Sharir. He was in charge of carrying out anti-tank missile attacks on Israel.
Our aircraft are currently striking additional terror targets in Gaza.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 11, 2021
The Islamist terrorist group Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, including targeting Jerusalem. Israel then launched strikes Monday, hitting over 130 Hamas installations, as well as intelligence and weapons manufacturing sites.
“Overnight, in response to continuous rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory, the IDF struck over 130 terror targets belonging to terror organizations in the Gaza Strip,” IDF said in a statement.
“In the first and second stages of the strikes, IDF fighter jets, attack helicopters and aircraft struck weapons manufacturing sites belonging to the Hamas terror organization. In the third stage, targets belonging to the Hamas terror organization and the Islamic Jihad were struck, including: weapons manufacturing sites and military facilities belonging to the Hamas terror organization and the Islamic Jihad. A Hamas battalion commander was also targeted,” IDF said.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., was accused of “stoking tensions” by Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan.
“Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib maybe you should open your eyes to the whole picture? Islam’s 3rd holiest site is being used to stockpile Molotov cocktails and rocks that are being lobbed at the police and at Jewish worshippers praying at the Western Wall, below the Temple Mount,” Erdan tweeted.
Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib maybe you should open your eyes to the whole picture? Islam’s 3rd holiest site is being used to stockpile Molotov cocktails and rocks that are being lobbed at the police and at Jewish worshippers praying at the Western Wall, below the Temple Mount. 1/4 https://t.co/gsdiXL6BSY pic.twitter.com/5OtcBKgUle
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) May 10, 2021
As reported by Axios over the weekend, Israel told the Biden administration to remain on the sidelines of the conflict, citing a lack of trust that the U.S. would help. Israeli officials said Israel’s National Security Advisor Ben Shabbat allegedly instructed the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that “international intervention is a reward to the Palestinian rioters and those who back them who were seeking international pressure on Israel.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday the U.S. is “deeply concerned about the rocket attacks” Hamas fired after it issued an ultimatum to Israel to remove police from Jerusalem. The Israeli military summoned 5,000 members on reserve to active duty amid Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel will “increase both the intensity of the attacks and the rate of attacks” to combat the terrorists.
Former President Donald Trump reacted to the conflict Tuesday, noting the attacks highlight how the world is becoming “violent” and “unstable” under the Biden presidency.
“Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies. America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the U.S. will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself,” Trump said in a statement. “Unbelievably, Democrats also continue to stand by crazed anti-American Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others, who savagely attack Israel while they are under terrorist assault.”
