For the first time since September of 2005 Israeli Special Forces have reentered Gaza. Ground forces were involved in an offensive against Qassam missile sites in northern Gaza after a missile struck an Israeli military base wounding an IDF soldier.

Monday evening Palestinian forces launched Qassam rockets at southern Ashkelon striking an IDF military base and lightly wounding one soldier. The IDF retaliated with ground forces and helicopter fire and then the force was airlifted back into Israel. Palestinians report that 8 PA soldiers were injured in the fight.

The IDF views the escalation of violence in northern Gaza and the continued fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border to be linked with Iranian supply of weapons and training. Former IDF intelligence officers report "Iran-trained Hezbollah officers and instructors are busy stirring up aggression against Israel in both sectors, arming the Lebanese Shiite group and the Palestinians alike with weapons and the technology for upgrading their aim and fire power."

This escalation on both fronts is just the beginning of a combined effort against the nation of Israel. Iran has been a strong supporter of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Israel's northern border as well as a supplier and instigator in the Gaza strip on Israel's southern border. On May 28 Iran supplied Hezbollah with Katyusha rockets that have a much greater range and accuracy. Many question what will occur when Iran is capable of producing weapons grade nuclear material.

Israel is in a fight for survival and an insurgence of ground troops back into the Gaza strip is indication of their determination to secure their borders and protect their citizens.