From the Liveblog of
Friday, November 21, 2025
Five terrorists killed in IDF strikes after emerging from tunnel in Gaza’s Rafah
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Five terror operatives who emerged from a tunnel in eastern Rafah, an area in southern Gaza held by the IDF, were killed in airstrikes a short while ago, the military says.
According to the IDF, troops of the Nahal Brigade spotted the five operatives emerging from the tunnel and approaching forces stationed in the area, “in a way that posed an immediate threat.”
The Israeli Air Force, directed by the ground troops, struck and killed the five operatives, the military adds.
Some 100-200 Hamas terrorists are estimated to be holed up in tunnels in southern Gaza on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line. The US has pressured Israel to allow them safe passage back to Hamas-held areas of Gaza, though Israel has not agreed as of yet.
צה״ל חיסל חוליית מחבלים שיצאה מתשתית טרור תת-קרקעית ברפיח
כוחות צוות הקרב של חטיבת הנח״ל זיהו לפני זמן קצר חמישה מחבלים שיצאו מתשתית טרור תת-קרקעית במזרח רפיח מעבר לקו הצהוב, והתקרבו לכוחות צה"ל הפרוסים בדרום רצועת עזה, באופן שהיווה עליהם איום מיידי.
חיל האוויר בהכוונת הכוחות… pic.twitter.com/D92evisxkk
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 21, 2025
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