World News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called the incursion “the second stage of the war.” He did not describe it as an invasion, and the maneuver appeared more limited than some experts had predicted.

The initial decision to undertake limited ground incursions rather than a full-scale invasion appears to follow guidance from top U.S. military officials.

The group denies the accusation, saying Israel has offered “fabricated” evidence.

Military officials did not describe the troop presence as a full-scale invasion. A widespread blackout in Gaza sparked fear among residents and made it difficult to discern the extent of the military action.

The tit-for-tat raises questions about whether groups backed by Iran can be deterred after a flurry of attacks targeting American troops.

Israeli military officials declined to say if the newest incursion was the start of an anticipated ground offensive. In New York, police arrested protesters after hundreds flooded Grand Central Terminal to demand a cease-fire.

A “Shiite Crescent” stretches from Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and back down to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces had launched an intense attack with artillery and with missiles fired from warplanes aimed at destroying underground “terrorist infrastructure” in the Palestinian enclave, a military spokesman said.

Israel said it had briefly sent tanks into Gaza, while the European Council pledged more aid efforts for the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Adding to regional tensions, the U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes on two Iran-linked sites in Syria.

In a rare show of public criticism in wartime, families of missing Ukrainian soldiers are pressing the government for information on their status.