IDF strikes Islamic Jihad command centers, rocket launching positions

The Israeli military says air force jets struck two command centers belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Saturday morning, as well as a number of rocket launchers, and mortar launch positions.

The IDF says one command center was used to plan and oversee terrorist operations against Israel and served as the headquarters of the brother of top PIJ commander Baha Abu al-Ata, who was assassinated by Israel in 2019.

Muhammad Abu al-Ata is a senior member of PIJ’s rocket unit operation, the military says, adding that in times of emergency, he “usually abandons his headquarters and takes up residence in Shifa Hospital” in Gaza City “as a hiding place among the civilian population, while continuing to act and attempt to direct terror operations against Israel.”

Israeli aircraft also attacked another command center, one headed by senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad member, Khaled Azzam, also of the rocket unit in Gaza.

The military says this center is used to direct rocket fire across Israel.

IDF says it struck two Islamic Jihad command centers and a mortar launch site in the Gaza Strip overnight, as rocket fire resumed on the south this morning. pic.twitter.com/PtkCC52YJl

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 13, 2023