NNA - Israel's military said Wednesday that it had launched "targeted ground operations" in Gaza after conducting a series of air strikes on a scale not seen since a ceasefire began in January.

"Over the past 24 hours, IDF (military) forces have begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south of the Strip," the army said in a statement, adding that troops had "taken control and expanded their presence up to the central Netzarim Corridor". -- AFP

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