CBS News was given a look into the conflict with the paratroopers of the IDF’s 551st Airborne Brigade.
Israel Defense Forces troops inside the Gaza Strip late last month, launching a new phase in Israel’s war against Hamas. CBS News was granted an inside look into the conflict with the paratroopers of the 551st Airborne Brigade, among the first forces to invade Gaza after Hamas militants launched a deadly surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7.
Gunners kept lookout as the brigade crossed the desert scrubland of northeast Gaza until it reached Beit Hanoun. As CBS News arrived, the sound of ongoing gun battles could be heard nearby.
Beit Hanoun had an estimated prewar population of more than 60,000 people. After weeks of heavy bombardment causing widespread destruction, it was completely deserted.
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