From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 31, 2023
IDF chief tells Gaza troops air support strong, after ministers allege it is lacking
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Speaking to reservists in southern Gaza’s Khuza’a, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says that “every move you make will be supported by the strongest possible fire,” apparently alluding to criticism by some ministers of alleged lack of air firepower for ground forces.
“Khirbat Ikhzaa (Khuza’a) also conducted terror here for many, many years, and the attack on Nir Oz was led from here. And we are both killing the terrorists who participated and also killing the terrorists who will want to commit terror in the future,” Halevi tells troops and commanders of the 5th Reserve Brigade.
“We are organizing a security region here so that the return to Nir Oz will be safe, and will be safe for many, many years,” he says.
“Every move you make will be supported by the strongest possible fire. Plan it with the abilities you have, always push forward with strength… and use the open-fire regulations with common sense,” Halevi says.
He says the open-fire rules are not “tying anyone’s hands. The open-fire regulations come to protect us from ourselves as well.”
The commander of the 5th Brigade, Col. Tal Kuritsky, says cooperation with the Air Force is “not trivial” and “excellent,” in a video released by the IDF.
