Israel Goes on Offensive Against Hamas as U.S. Warns Hezbollah Not to Engage – WSJ

ALONG THE ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER Israel prepared for what could be an extended ground assault in the Gaza Strip, and the Pentagon warned Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to think twice before joining the conflict and said it was prepared to come to Israel s defense.

Dozens of tanks and hundreds of Israeli soldiers fanned out along the Gaza Strip border Monday, while Hamas threatened to execute Israeli hostages it seized some 48 hours earlier during a devastating invasion.

A U.S. aircraft carrier strike force is due to arrive in the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, a deployment a defense official described as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who were weighing joining the conflict.

Those adversaries should think twice, the official said.

Israeli sniper teams honed their aim on hillsides overlooking Hamas-controlled territory amid the constant buzz of Israeli drones flying overhead. Missiles destroyed Palestinian buildings on the horizon, while Hamas rockets slammed into Israeli towns still reeling from Saturday s attack.

via www.wsj.com