From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 23, 2023
Five commanders of Hamas air defense force killed, IDF says
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israel Defense Forces says it has killed five commanders in Hamas’s aerial forces in strikes in the Gaza Strip in recent days.
The Hamas aerial array, according to the IDF, is responsible for air defenses in the Strip, and also took “a significant part” in the October 7 massacres in southern Israel.
On October 14, the IDF announced that it had killed the head of Hamas’s aerial array, Murad Abu Murad.
In the last few days, the IDF says it has killed four more commanders in the aerial array.
IDF says it has killed five commanders in Hamas’s aerial forces in strikes in the Gaza Strip.
On October 14, the IDF announced that it had killed the head of Hamas’s aerial array, Murad Abu Murad. In the last few days, the IDF says it has killed four more commanders in the… pic.twitter.com/Sgsqhf17Bi
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 23, 2023
The IDF names them as Moathe Abed al-Rahman, responsible for the unit’s training; Othman Hamdan, commander of air defenses in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood; Muhammad Alrifi, responsible for the unit’s supplies in Gaza City; and Ghassan Shakfouh, responsible for the unit’s training in northern Gaza.
The IDF publishes a video it says shows a strike against three of the aerial forces commanders, as well as a number of other operatives in the unit.
Hagari says the Air Force targeted Hamas staging grounds in the Gaza Strip today, killing dozens of terrorists.
He says the airstrikes are focusing on neighborhoods surrounding Gaza City.
“We continue to strike with full force,” Hagari says.
