From the Liveblog of
Thursday, November 7, 2024
IDF says two large tunnel networks in Gaza destroyed
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says troops demolished two large tunnel systems and killed several Hamas operatives, including two who participated in the October 7 onslaught, during a recent operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
The operation was carried out by the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, along with the Desert Reconnaissance Unit, commonly known as the Bedouin Reconnaissance Unit.
According to the IDF, the operation began with airstrikes on Hamas anti-tank missile positions, booby-trapped buildings, and observation posts in southern Gaza.
The military says combat engineers, along with members of the Shin Bet, uncovered two Hamas tunnels in the area, which the IDF describes as attack tunnels. Together, the tunnels were over two kilometers in length. They did not cross into Israeli territory.
The tunnels featured around 10 exit shafts, some of which were booby-trapped with explosives, the IDF says. The soldiers also found weapons inside the tunnels.
During the operation, the troops exchanged fire with several gunmen who emerged from the tunnel system. The IDF says some of the Hamas operatives were killed by the ground forces and others in airstrikes.
According to the IDF, two of the Hamas operatives killed in the operation participated in the October 7 onslaught. They are named as Baha Abu Qarshin, a Hamas Nukhba Force commander, and Muhammad Ibrahim Sateri, a member of Hamas.
