The IDF reported that its forces engaged in what it described as a logistical airdrop for the first time during the ongoing Iron Swords War in Gaza to destroy the Hamas terrorist organization. The IDF also moved its artillery batteries into Gaza territory for the first time as the war entered its third month.
The IDF said that the airdrop into Gaza included parachuting about 7 tons of water to hundreds of IDF soldiers engaged in combat in Khan Yunis (located in the southern Gaza Strip) and it took place over the last few days. IDF forces did not begin to move on Hamas targets in southern Gaza until after the “pause” in fighting for the release of hostages ended. This is Israel’s “second stage” in the war.
The “special” supply operation, as it was described, was carried out using the “Shimshon” (Samson) aircraft of the Israel Air Forces 103rd Squadron in a joint operation with the Technology and Logistics Division and the aerial supply unit of the Marom Brigade.
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The Shimshon is an American made Super Hercules C-130J four-engine cargo plane.
The “Guided Supply” system, as the IDF described it, is an advanced operational system that enables parachuting equipment to ground forces using precise navigational capabilities. This is the first operational use of this system and the first operational airdrop carried out since the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
One of the unique operational capabilities of the 98th Division (paratroops) is its independent logistical capabilities when sending supplies on land is not possible. All the elements of the division practiced joint use of the system to achieve precise delivery capabilities via parachute.
As for the IDF artillery units, several batteries were deployed within the territory of the Gaza Strip, marking the first time this has happened since the start of the war on October 7. In fact, the IDF has not brought artillery batteries into Gaza since Israel withdrew from the area in 2005 and during the many conflicts with Hamas since then has sufficed with having its artillery batteries sit outside of Gaza.
The IDF only now revealed that recently forces of its artillery 282nd “Fire Brigade” crossed the border and operated in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with elements of the 188th Armored Brigade in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City.
During the operation, over 20 terrorist targets were attacked, including munitions warehouses and military infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hamas.