The Pentagon has verified the deployment of drones over the Gaza Strip. This operation is part of a broader range of support the U.S. Military has provided to Israel since October 7 in its continued operations against Palestinian militias.
On November 3, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder confirmed the drone operation, which was initiated on October 7. Alongside this drone deployment, he acknowledged their advisory role in lending to Israel during their hostage recovery operations.
Flight tracking websites previously recorded the presence of MQ-9 Reaper drones circling Gaza, marking their inaugural exercise over this region. Several U.S. officials, as cited by the New York Times, mentioned that these drones will share potential leads with the Israel Defense Forces if hostages held by Palestinian militias are located. Analysts speculate that additional information amassed by these drones will likely be handed to Israeli forces.
During the ground operations, notable successes against Israeli armor have been reported by Palestinian militias, who are responsible for neutralizing multiple Israeli aircraft recently. This places American Reaper drone operations in a potential risk zone.
In the past, Reaper drones have been implemented across the Middle East. Notably, Russian fighter aircraft intercepted these drones multiple times when they trespassed into Syrian airspace. In January 2020, a CIA-operated Reaper drone played a key role in the elimination of Iran’s highly decorated military officer General Qasem Soleimani.
Numerous Middle Eastern media outlets stated in late October that 5000 U.S. Military personnel were relocated to assist the Israeli operations in Gaza, a claim refuted by American officials. Nonetheless, America did confirm sending high-ranking officers with proficiency in counterinsurgency and urban warfare to guide the Israeli forces.
As per retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas MacGregor’s statement on October 25, Israeli special forces operations into Gaza were accompanied by American special forces. He stated: “In the last 24 hours or so, some of our Special Ops forces and Israeli Special Ops forces went into Gaza to reconnoiter, to plan for where they might want to go to free hostages and make an impact, and they were shot to pieces and took heavy losses, as I understand it.”
Ali Barakeh, the Hamas political leadership representative, indicated a growing involvement of the U.S. in the war, stating the party’s surprise at the level of U.S. response. He said, “An Israeli response? Yes, we expected that… But what we’re seeing now is the entrance of the U.S. into the battle, and this we didn’t count on.” He referred to an intensification of U.S. military presence in the region, including expanding military facilities in Israel, attacking Hamas-associated forces in Syria and Iraq, and substantially multiplying its regional military presence while renewing Israeli military stocks.
The United States’ NATO ally, Turkey, has also observed an escalating attack on Hamas’ ally Syria from jihadist militias like the Al Nusra front, known to be under Turkish influence, since the onset of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities.
The ‘Rocket War’ in 2021
In May 2021, tensions rose as Israel prepared to send ground troops and armored vehicles into Gaza, prompting international calls for peace.
Gaza tested Israel’s air defense system, Iron Dome, with a barrage of missiles. Rocket strikes also came from Syria and Lebanon. Hamas relied on its Qassam rockets.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted 90% of the missiles. They countered with extensive air raids, damaging Hamas’ underground network in Gaza.
By the end of the conflict, Israel reported it had killed 120 Hamas and over 20 Islamic Jihad members. The total number of Palestinian casualties was 232, including 65 minors. It’s uncertain if this tally includes the alleged Hamas fatalities.
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