US Officials Expect Gaza Ground Operation to Conclude by January, as Biden Administration Raises Concerns over Israeli Tactics

US officials expect Israel's ground invasion of Gaza to last several weeks before transitioning to a more targeted strategy by January, narrowly focusing on specific Hamas militants and leaders. The Biden administration has privately warned Israel about its tactics, urging them to do more to limit civilian casualties and avoid devastating tactics used in the north. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin publicly admonished Israel, stating that it can only win in urban warfare by protecting civilians. The US has conveyed to Israel that global support for its campaign is waning due to the increasing number of civilian deaths. Israel aims to weaken Hamas to prevent future attacks, but this objective is unlikely to be achieved by the end of the year. US officials hope Israel will transition to a more targeted approach resembling the US campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.