The IDF's Twitter banner. (Screengrab)

In what is surely a weird moment for Twitter, bastion of cat-fights between tech bloggers and hashtag memes entirely devoted to stupid crap people do when they drink, Israel's Defense Forces today announced a major operation against Hamas. As Fast Company noted, this "was the first confirmation made to the media of an official military campaign" via Twitter.

The IDF's announcement is serious business. The tweets speak for themselves:

The IDF has embarked on Operation Pillar of Defense.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

All options are on the table. If necessary, the IDF is ready to initiate a ground operation in Gaza.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

The IDF has embarked on an operation against Hamas, an Iranian proxy responsible for terror attacks on Israel. #Iran #Gaza

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

Earlier Wednesday the IDF tweeted that it had struck it's "first target," Hamas military leader Ahmed Al-Jabari.

Hamas confirmed Al-Jabari's death and according to the Telegraph, said the official's death had "opened the gates of hell."

At 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Hamas was a top-trending topic on Twitter in the United States, just behind "Marlins."