Daily Archives: January 15, 2009

IDF Targets Senior Hamas Leader, Summary of Today’s Events, 15 Jan 2009, 22:10 IST

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DOTZ

January 15th, 2009

IDF Targets Senior Hamas Leader Said Siam

Summary of Today’s Aerial Attacks

In a joint IDF and ISA operation in Gaza City early Thursday evening, the IAF targeted a building in which the following senior Hamas operatives were residing – Said Siam, Ia’ad Siam and Salah Abu-Sharah. The forces reported a direct hit.

Said Siam, born in 1959, served as minister of interior affairs in the Hamas government and oversaw its armed forces – including the Hamas Executive Force, its police force and its naval force. Siam was a zealous extremist, who liaised directly with Hamas’ military wing and the terror organization’s senior leadership in Gaza and abroad. Ia’ad Siam is the brother and right-hand-man of Said Siam. Salah Abu-Sharah is the head of Hamas’ interior security apparatus.

Approximately thirty five armed gunmen were hurt in the fighting today. Ground forces directed aerial and artillery forces that attacked different targets. In one of the incidents, forces came under RPG fire, returned fire and identified hitting the armed gunmen.

Since the early morning hours the IAF has attacked over 40 targets, including nearly a dozen armed cells, 21 rocket launching points, 2 mortar launching points and 2 weaponry storage sites.

More than 25 rockets were launched into Israel today.

Summary of Overnight Events, 15 Jan. 2009 08:30 IST

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DOTZ

January 15th, 2009

Summary of Overnight Events

At least ten rockets and mortars fired from Gaza hit Israel this morning.

More than 195,000 liters of fuel and 170 humanitarian aid trucks are expected to be transferred to Gaza today. The trucks’ contents include medical equipment and medicines, food and other supplies.

IDF forces operating in Gaza hit approximately 35 armed gunmen during the night, mostly in aerial attacks directed by ground forces.

The IAF attacked approximately 70 terrorist sites, including:

  • A mosque in Rafah used to stockpile rockets that served as an assembly area for senior operatives involved in launching rockets.
  • 14 cells of armed gunmen.
  • 14 sites used to launch rockets and mortars at Israeli communities and cities.
  • Five weapon storage facilities located in houses of Hamas operatives.
  • One tunnel located under the house of a Hamas operative.

The Israel Navy accompanied the ground forces and provided assisted in attacking Hamas outposts.

11 IDF soldiers were lightly wounded during tonight’s operations.