IDF says it killed commanders of Hamas battalion that carried out Be’eri massacre

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The commander of Hamas's Nuseirat battalion, Ismail Siraj, (left) and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, who were killed in an IDF airstrike in Gaza on January 6, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
The commander of Hamas's Nuseirat battalion, Ismail Siraj, (left) and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, who were killed in an IDF airstrike in Gaza on January 6, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

The IDF and Shin Bet announce that the commander of Hamas’s Nuseirat battalion, Ismail Siraj, and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, were killed in an airstrike this evening in the Gaza Strip.

Siraj previously served as a commander of a Hamas Nukhba force company, and was also involved in manufacturing rockets, according to the joint statement.

Wahaba, his deputy, was appointed to the role after the previous Nuseirat battalion deputy commander was killed by the IDF in the first weeks of the war.

The Nuseirat battalion, in the central Gaza Strip, carried out the massacre in Kibbutz Be’eri and other border communities on October 7.

The IDF says the battalion has also been involved in firing anti-tank missiles and drones at troops operating in Gaza in recent months.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.