Israeli campaign may include ground troops

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip "may last for a long time" and expand to the use of ground forces, a senior Israeli military source said on Saturday.

The source told reporters that Saturday's aerial bombardment of the coastal territory, that killed at least 205 people, was "the opening step of the operation."

"We should be prepared for an ongoing operation that may last for a long time," the source said. "We don't have time limits for that and we are determined to go all the way if needed with all of our options, air, ground, whatever."