From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Troops ‘deepening’ control of Khan Younis as gun battles against Hamas continue, says IDF
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Dozens of Hamas operatives have been killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip over the past day, mostly in the Khan Younis area where much of the fighting is focused, the IDF says in a morning update.
The IDF says the 7th Armored Brigade killed more than 30 Hamas operatives in the western Khan Younis area in the last day, as troops “deepened” their “operational control” of the area.
Also in western Khan Younis, the Paratroopers Brigade spotted and killed two Hamas operatives who tried to move under the guise of a group of civilians, according to the IDF.
בנוסף, במרחב חאן יונס איתרו לוחמי יחידת 414 מספר מחבלים ששינעו מטענים על גבי אופנוע. הלוחמים הכווינו כלי טיס שתקף וחיסל את החוליה.
מכלול האש של אוגדה 98 הכווין תקיפות של שני מחסני אמל"ח שמוקמו בתוך בתי מחבלים>> pic.twitter.com/cYqqu6rjiL— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 13, 2024
It says one of the gunmen aimed a handgun toward an IDF armored vehicle, and the paratroopers immediately opened fire.
In another incident in western Khan Younis, the IDF says the Border Defense Corps’ 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit spotted a number of Hamas operatives moving explosive devices on a motorcycle. The soldiers then called in an airstrike against the cell.
The IDF says it also struck two weapons depots in the homes of Hamas terrorists in the Khan Younis area.
Meanwhile, in central Gaza, the IDF says the Nahal Brigade killed around 10 Hamas operatives over the past day, including a cell spotted while preparing to carry out an anti-tank missile attack.
