Military announces seizure of Gaza boundary with Egypt.

Middle East Conflict - Military announces seizure of Gaza-Egypt frontier.

Israel's Military Gains Control of Entire Border Area with Egypt in Gaza Strip Operation

Israel's military has gained control over the entire stretch of the border with Egypt in the disputed Gaza Strip, as per its own statements, accomplishing a vital objective in its controversial Rafah operation. The Islamist organization Hamas had been using the infamous Philadelphi Corridor for the smuggling of weapons, claimed Israeli Army spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

Spanning approximately 14 kilometers, this region holds around 20 tunnels leading to Egypt. The veracity of these claims couldn't be confirmed immediately. Some of these tunnels were already known to both Israel and Egypt, while others had only recently been discovered, according to the Wall Street Journal quoting an Israeli military official. If confirmed, this recent development could result in escalated tensions between Israel and Egypt.

Egypt's state-affiliated TV station Al-Kahira News reported that the reports regarding the tunnels on the Egyptian border were untrue, citing a high-ranking source. Egypt had allowed the flooding of tunnels in the past, following claims that weapons from the Gaza Strip had reached extremists in the Sinai Peninsula via the tunnels.

While the Israeli military official informed the Wall Street Journal that Israel had notified Egypt about the newly discovered tunnels crossing the border, a high-ranking Egyptian official contradicted this to the US newspaper. Israel is using these claims, "to justify the continuation of the Rafah operation," the official asserted.

In early May, Israeli forces pushed into parts of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and seized control of the only border crossing from the isolated coastal region to Egypt.

USA: Israel's Military Limits Operations to Gaza Strip-Egypt Border

The Israeli military has, so far, primarily focused on retaking the border region with Egypt in Rafah. The area is less populated than other parts of Rafah. The US government has been warning Israel for months about the potential risks that a military operation in the densely populated city areas could pose to the civilian population, but has not observed any signs of a large-scale ground offensive by the ally in that area yet.

"I can't confirm whether they have taken over the (Philadelphi-)Corridor or not, but I can tell you that their movements along the Corridor were not surprising to us and were in line with their plan to target and contain Hamas," stated John Kirby, communications director of the US National Security Council.

Israel's Army had controlled the Philadelphi Corridor in 2005 before withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, it had been run by Hamas, which gained power violently in Gaza in 2007. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in March that the corridor must be controlled by Israel after the war.

Only then can the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip be ensured. Israel's military has discovered not only tunnels, but also dozens of Hamas rocket launchers in this area, reported Hagari further. Just a few days ago, according to Israeli military reports, several rockets were discharged from Rafah towards the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv.

In the majority of the Philadelphia Corridor, Israeli soldiers are now stationed, stated Israeli media, quoting the army. A total of 82 tunnel entrances are alleged to be in the area. In a time when Israel's army destroyed a 1.5-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel system close to Rafah, Hagari reported that the entrance was mere 100 meters away from the border crossing to Egypt. The Hamas used this tunnel system to attack soldiers and transport weapons. In the tunnels at varying depths, they found rockets, explosives, and other weapons, along with several rooms and bathrooms.

"The Hamas is in Rafah," remarked Hagari. They also hold hostages there. Consequently, we will continue to advance in the city. Supposedly, three Israeli soldiers perished in a landmine explosion in a building in Rafah. Since the start of the war on October 7 of last year, as per the army's figures, 639 Israeli soldiers and soldiers have lost their lives.

On the Palestinian side, over 36,100 people have perished, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas. This authority does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its count. The trigger for the war was a massacre committed by terrorists from Hamas and other groups in Israel on October 7. The war is predicted to last until the end of the year, stated Israel's National Security Advisor. "We expect at least another seven months of fighting," revealed Tzachi Hanegbi to the Israeli broadcaster Kan on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in northwestern Syria, according to human rights activists, two purported Israeli strikes killed a child and three members of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. In the port city of Banias, the detonation of an Israeli missile and a Syrian defense missile resulted in two explosions, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in Britain.

There was also an assault on a military base in the region around the city of Homs. The deceased Hezbollah members were said to be Syrians, claimed the activists. The Israeli military declared that it would probe the allegations.

The Israeli Air Force has been regularly bombing targets in Syria for quite a few years. Their goal is to stop Iran and its militia allies from gaining a stronger foothold in the neighboring country. Iran is a crucial ally for Syria. Ever since the start of the Gaza war, the frequency of these Israeli attacks - which are rarely acknowledged officially - has grown.