From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
IDF says troops battling Hamas above, below ground in Gaza, killed several Oct. 7 terrorists
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says troops continue to battle Hamas operatives above and below ground in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, as well as carry out raids in the northern and central parts of the Strip.
Meanwhile, an overnight airstrike in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist who participated in the attack on Nir Oz during the October 7 onslaught, the IDF says.
In western Khan Younis, the IDF says the 98th Division is moving to clear out new areas, both above and below ground, from Hamas operatives and infrastructure, and is encountering numerous operatives moving around in civilian clothing.
The IDF says that over the last day, troops killed dozens of operatives and captured some 80 terror suspects in western Khan Younis, including several who participated in the October 7 massacre.
During the operations, the IDF says snipers of the Givati Brigade killed more than 15 operatives; troops of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade spotted and eliminated a Hamas lookout; and troops of the Paratroopers Brigade and elite Egoz unit located a cache of weapons, including assault rifles, RPGs, and anti-tank explosive devices.
Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, the IDF says observation soldiers of the Border Defense Corps’ 414th unit spotted four Hamas operatives placing surveillance equipment in the Beit Hanoun area, in what appeared to be an attempt by the terror group to restore its capabilities. The cell was struck by an attack helicopter, the IDF says.
During raids, ambushes, and battles in northern and central Gaza, the IDF says the Nahal Brigade killed dozens of Hamas operatives, and the 401st Armored Brigade killed some 15 operatives.
In one incident, a Navy missile boat spotted a Hamas cell close to the Nahal troops on the coast of central Gaza. The IDF says the cell was then struck by the Navy, Israeli Air Force, and the ground troops.
The 401st Brigade, with the IAF, also struck a building used by Hamas to fire at troops and store weapons, the IDF adds.
כוחות אוגדה 98 ממשיכים להילחם במערב חאן יונס, לטהר מרחבים חדשים מעל ומתחת לקרקע ונתקלים במחבלי חמאס אשר נעים בלבוש אזרחי ונערכים לתקיפת כוחותינו במרחב. ביממה האחרונה חיסלו הכוחות עשרות מחבלים ועצרו כ-80 חשודים במעורבות בטרור, ביניהם מספר מחבלים שלקחו חלק בטבח הרצחני ב-7/10 >> pic.twitter.com/h87wYl9NpG
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 6, 2024
