Israeli Air Force Lashes Gaza in Airstrike Bombardment

In the days since Islamic militant group Hamas staged a multifront surprise attack, the Israeli Air Force says it has dropped 6,000 bombs.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 06:45 PM ET

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Dozens of fighter jets and helicopters attacked a series of terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Air Force said Thursday. [Credit: IAF]

Key Takeaways:

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is conducting extensive "retribution" air campaigns in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack, dropping approximately 6,000 bombs on over 3,600 claimed Hamas targets, leading to widespread destruction.
Humanitarian groups and the UN Human Rights Office are calling for a cease-fire and expressing concern for Gaza's densely populated civilian areas, noting strikes have hit residential buildings, schools, and UN facilities.
The IAF leadership has vowed to pursue all participants in the initial attack, while an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson asserts that the air force's operational readiness remains unaffected despite previous reservist protests.

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The sky over Israel was filled with a near constant stream of warplanes flying combat sorties to the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as the country’s air force pilots and government focused on a singular mission: retribution.

The air campaign bombardment directed on the occupied Palestinian territory—one of the most densely populated areas in the world with a population of about 2.3 million in an area of about 141 square miles—prompted calls by humanitarian groups for a cease-fire to spare civilians.