The bodies of nine terror operatives were located by Israeli troops operating in eastern Rafah — an IDF-held area in the southern Gaza Strip where dozens of Hamas fighters were believed to be trapped in tunnels.
The military says the operatives were likely killed as a result of “intensive and focused IDF operations in the area,” which included airstrikes and demolitions of the tunnel routes.
The bodies of the nine operatives were located in the area of the tunnels by troops of the Nahal Brigade and elite Yahalom combat engineering unit, the army says.
In recent weeks, the IDF has reported killing over 30 terror operatives and capturing a further eight, after they tried to flee from the tunnels in Rafah.
The IDF has vowed to kill or capture all the remaining operatives on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, separating Gaza in accordance with the October ceasefire agreement.
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