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Military and strategic expert Major General Fayez al-Duwairi ruled out the occupation army fighting decisive battles in the built-up areas in the city of Khan Yunis (southern Gaza Strip), stressing that the battle is confrontational and zero-sum and is based on working "behind enemy lines."
During his analysis of Al-Jazeera, Al-Duwairi stressed that the battle in the south will be harsher than its counterpart in the north, and pointed out that it will be "wider, more violent, targeted and fierce, despite the horror of the first phase."
He also added that it will be more difficult for the Gaza community in terms of killing, destruction, firebelts and bombing of towers with the aim of "forcing residents to flee and leave outside Gaza," citing the bombing of the residential Hamad City.
The military expert believes that the occupation army is trying not to repeat the mistake of the north, especially since the southern region has agricultural areas and towns, "so it may depend on imposing a reality on the ground through the positioning of its forces and then developing its operations through the policy of gradual nibbling of areas."
He stressed that the battle in the south is difficult and differs in its field data from the north, but with his conviction that the Israeli losses will be higher, and said that "the first drop of rain," commenting on the statements of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
He attributed this to the existence of distances between them in the south, and therefore the scenario of Beit Hanoun (in the northern Gaza Strip) and Juhr al-Dik (east of the central region) looms on the horizon through continuous and intensive targeting of Israeli soldiers and vehicles.
He reiterated that the Khan Yunis Brigade is one of the strongest brigades in the defensive formation of the Qassam Brigades, as it inflicted woes on Israelis in 2014.
He pointed out that the occupation army is likely to surround Khan Yunis from two sides, north and south, to separate it from Deir al-Balah and Rafah, pointing out that it is racing against time to search for a military achievement in another area that it presents to the Israeli street as contributing to the release of prisoners in Gaza.
Regarding the reasons for the occupation in many ambushes inside the Gaza Strip, al-Duwairi recalled that Tel Aviv is fighting "an unknown enemy, a black box, and ghosts" who are underground and have an effective intelligence network capable of identifying and eliminating targets.
It is noteworthy that Al Jazeera obtained satellite images revealing the axes of the Israeli incursion into the southern Gaza Strip, dating back to the third of December, and showing the stationing of Israeli vehicles at the intersection of Salah al-Din and Kissufim streets.
The photographs also showed between 70 and 100 Israeli vehicles of various kinds stationed near the mills area north of Khan Yunis.
Source : Al Jazeera