According to The Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that fighting broke out between forces and Hamas militants during their ground operation in the Gaza Strip overnight.
There were no reported injuries among the soldiers during these encounters. The IDF thinks that during the operation, they destroyed Hamas terrorists’ infrastructure in addition to killing a number of terrorists.
As of now, IDF infantry, combat engineering forces, and tanks remain inside the Gaza Strip, indicating that the ground operation is ongoing. The IDF has referred to this operation as an “expanded ground activity” rather than a full ground offensive.
Additionally, the IDF fighter jets attacked about 150 underground targets in the northern Gaza Strip tonight. During the attack, terrorists of the terrorist organization Hamas were eliminated and combat tunnels, underground combat spaces and other underground terrorist infrastructures were destroyed.
Israeli fighter jets also struck Asem Abu Rakaba, the Head of Hamas’ Aerial Array. Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas’ UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense.
IDF said Rakaba took part in planning the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts. Palestinian reports from Gaza have become scarce due to disruptions in internet and phone services caused by Israeli bombardment.
