On this day, 2 years ago, one of the world's most heavily armed guerilla armies, alongside several other militant factions, launched an invasion of Israel from the Gaza Strip. Approximately 6,000 rockets were launched in the first week of the war, completely overwhelming one of the world's strongest air defence networks, while hundreds of hostages were taken back into Gaza. Over 1,000 Israelis were killed, in an effort not only targeting the Israeli military, but also as many civilians as possible.

Two years later, tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians lie dead, in a genocide and ethnic cleansing that is only just beginning to be recognised. Most buildings in the Gaza Strip have either been flattened or are heavily damaged. The health sector continues to operate at a bare minimum due to constant attacks and restraints on aid and fuel.

Hamas and its allied factions are a shadow of their former selves. Incredibly degraded from constant Israeli attacks, most of their original fighters are dead, wounded, or captured, with untrained and young recruits making up the majority of their ranks.

But arguably the most significant events that resulted from this surprise attack was the spillover. Israel has since attacked Lebanon, Syria, Iran, the West Bank, and Qatar, resulting in rising tensions across the region, and the beginning of a systematic (and successful) effort at dismantling Iran's "axis of resistance", which now lies in ruin.

On the other hand, Israel's image on the world stage has changed drastically. 20 new countries have recognised a Palestinian state, while widespread condemnation and global awareness was brought to Israel, and Israel's actions.

Today, peace negotiations are once again underway, despite failures in all the previous ones. Even if Israel secures what they want in Gaza, it will be interesting to see if this will have any effect on the events to follow.

A before and after of Northern Gaza, two years since October 7.

Possible Iskander launch from Crimea

Iskander on Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

30 seconds

Explosion in Pavlohrad

Correction: The explosion occurred in Vilnyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast

The near-exact trajectory of the Iskander-M ballistic missile.

Vilnyansk was targeted by long-range Smerch/Tornado-S MLRS yesterday.

Russian forces have captured the village of Novovasylivske, Hulyaipole direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Pre-war population: ~73.
Total land area: ~0.33 km².

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 NEW: Hebrew media reports a 'security incident' in Gaza, with Israeli casualties evacuated to 'Soroka' and 'Sheba' hospitals. At least two soldiers have been reported as 'seriously injured.'

@Middle_East_Spectator

Those high rise buildings in Pokrovsk are not only still in decent condition and positions can be estabilished there, but they also have very good basements below them where they can hide extremely effectively and accumulate safely.
Civilians still remaining in the city are also a big problem, as there are cases where they help hide Russian soldiers.
So, if they were to gain a stable foothold in Shakhtarsky, it would be very hard to knock them out of there

By the sounds of it, there is a fairly large grey zone in southern Pokrovsk. Most of Lazurnyi District is under Russian control, but Shakhtarskyi and Sonyachnyy Districts are mixed.

The current Russian foothold is not critical for the Ukrainians, but rather the infiltration of units further north towards the highway is. If those groups can be eliminated in the coming days, then the situation will greatly improve for Ukraine. Otherwise, the Russians will be able to made much more progress through the high-rise blocks and begin clearing the low-rise residential areas towards the city centre.

Genuinely, why is it that Ukraine had to name dozens of their settlements the EXACT SAME NAME!!!

> "Russia captured Stepove!"
> "Which one??"

Now we have what is probably the 20th Vesele coming up in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Who named these, and why are they so unoriginal??

Also, as you may notice, just south of this new Vesele is the 50th Zelenyi Hai. Fascinating.

The situation on the northeast flank of Pokrovsk is becoming increasingly fluid and complex. Russian forces have attacked and made progress toward Vilne, Volodymyrovka, Shakhovo, and Sofeyevka. Meanwhile, AFU forces counterattacked and retook control over parts of Dorozhnye and Novoye Shakhovo, and drove the Russians back northeast of Sofeyevka.

👉Rumours on the streets have it that Ukraine is busy pulling out of some parts of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd, not a total pull out, but a definite pull back. Very reliable information from a good source.

Lines up with recent Russian advances in Pokrovsk, but its far too early to say anything for certain.

Russian forces have captured the village of Okhotnyche, Hulyaipole direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Pre-war population: <10.
Total land area: ~0.06 km².

Russian forces have captured the village of Novohryhorivka, Pokrovske direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Pre-war population: ~231.
Total land area: ~0.68 km².