Israel launched a new offensive named "Operation Pillar of Defense" today with about 20 air strikes on Gaza, the New York Times reports. The Hamas military commander Ahmad al-Jabari was killed in a strike as he traveled down the road in his car. The Israeli Defense Force warned in a tweet, "We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead."

Since the strikes, Israel's missile defense program the "Iron Dome" has intercepted 13 missiles, according to the IDF. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas immediately called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League. The strikes come as the Palestinian bid for a UN statehood was gaining increased support among UN members.

Meanwhile, the top story on Google News? The Petraeus "scandal."