'Israeli' pilots dropped 'unused bombs' from Iran interception over Gaza: Report
Initially introduced as a voluntary move by pilots aiming to "support" ground forces in Khan Yunis and northern Gaza, the practice was quickly formalized into daily policy by Air Force Commander Tomer Bar.
The report states that pilots on missions to intercept Iranian missiles and drones were equipped not only with air-to-air weapons but also with air-to-surface munitions. After completing their Iran-related tasks, pilots contacted Gaza command centers offering to release leftover bombs on pre-approved targets in the enclave.
Air Force leadership swiftly adopted the initiative. Within hours, it became standard procedure across squadrons: before landing, pilots would coordinate with ground forces in Gaza to strike so-called Hamas targets using their remaining payloads.
Military officials reportedly viewed the policy as a strategic advantage. 'Instead of launching new sorties, aircraft already in the air completed the bombing runs,' a military source told Maariv. 'It saved resources and boosted airpower.'
The outcome, according to the report, was 'waves of powerful air strikes' across Gaza—strikes unrelated to the Iranian front. The Israeli army confirmed that dozens of jets took part daily, unloading their surplus bombs over the besieged territory.
While the tactic was promoted as resource-efficient, it effectively turned Gaza into a secondary battlefield in a war in which it had no operational role. The strikes were coordinated with 'Israeli' ground forces already active in Khan Yunis and northern Gaza, escalating the intensity of bombardments in areas already devastated by months of conflict.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
2 hours ago
- Roya News
UN expert: What's happening in Gaza is not war, it's genocide
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said the 'Israeli' military campaign in Gaza goes beyond the definition of war, describing it instead as a 'campaign of genocide.' She accused institutions and corporations of profiting from the destruction and targeting of civilians in Gaza, and called for urgent international action to halt support for what she described as an "economy of annihilation." 'Over the past 20 months, the Israeli army and settlers have destroyed vast areas of Palestinian land, while the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange continued to post profits,' Albanese said. She added that genocide is being committed 'under the pretext of distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza,' and reiterated her calls for a global arms embargo on 'Israel' and the suspension of all trade agreements with it. Albanese urged over 1,000 companies to cut ties with 'Israel' or face accountability, stating that 'the time has come for corporations involved in the economy of genocide to stop profiting at the expense of human rights.' The UN official stressed that the only path forward is for states to abide by the standards set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). She said entities participating in the economic support of the 'Israeli' campaign should have boycotted 'Israel' instead of continuing commercial relations.
Roya News
5 hours ago
- Roya News
France says Iran sanctions hinge on release of detained citizens
France said Thursday that any decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran will depend on whether Tehran releases two French nationals accused of spying for 'Israel'. 'Freeing Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris is an absolute priority for us,' said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. 'We have consistently told our Iranian counterparts that any decisions regarding sanctions will be conditional on resolving this issue.' Kohler and Paris were arrested in Iran in 2022 and have been charged with espionage, allegations that the French government has firmly denied. The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and European governments, and growing pressure within the EU to take a tougher stance on Iran's domestic repression and foreign activities.
Roya News
5 hours ago
- Roya News
'Israeli' military used 500-pound (230kg) bomb in Gaza cafe strike: Report
The 'Israeli' military used a 500-pound (230kg) bomb, a powerful weapon that causes massive blast waves and scatters shrapnel over a wide area, when it struck a crowded beachfront cafe in Gaza on Monday, according to evidence reviewed by The Guardian. Ordnance experts identified fragments recovered from the ruins of the al-Baqa cafe as parts of an MK-82 general-purpose bomb, a US-made weapon widely used in recent conflicts. The large crater left by the explosion further confirmed the use of this heavy munition. Medical officials reported that between 24 and 36 Palestinians were killed in the attack, including a well-known filmmaker, an artist, a 35-year-old housewife, and a four-year-old child. Dozens more were injured, among them a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. International law experts told The Guardian that using such a large bomb in an area known to have many civilians, women, children, and the elderly, is almost certainly unlawful and may amount to a war crime. Under the Geneva Conventions, military forces are prohibited from launching attacks causing 'excessive or disproportionate' civilian casualties compared to the anticipated military advantage. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) said the attack on the cafe is under review, emphasizing that 'prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians using aerial surveillance.' The al-Baqa cafe, a family-run business nearly 40 years old, was a popular spot for Gaza City's youth and families. It had two floors, including an open upper deck and a lower floor with large windows facing the beach, features clearly visible from the air.
