IDF says it’s ‘expanding operations’ in Khan Younis area in southern Gaza

The IDF says it is “expanding the operation in the Khan Younis area,” with troops launching an offensive against Hamas in the southern city.

It says that in one incident, soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade spotted a Hamas operative coming out of a tunnel shaft with an RPG, and in response threw grenades at him and into the tunnel.

The paratroopers also identified Hamas gunmen inside a building and directed tank shelling against them, the IDF says.

Also in Khan Younis, troops of the 7th Armored Brigade identified a Hamas operative some 100 meters from them, and directed a drone strike against him, the IDF says.

In another incident, the soldiers identified a group of Hamas gunmen in a building and directed a fighter jet to carry out a strike, it adds.

Meanwhile in northern Gaza, the IDF says the 460th Armored Brigade killed dozens of Hamas gunmen in a number of battles, including with airstrikes, sniper fire, machine gun fire, and tank shelling.

לוחמי צוות הקרב החטיבתי 460 חיסלו במהלך היממה האחרונה עשרות מחבלים בהתקלויות שונות, בתקיפות מהאוויר וע"י ירי צליפה, מקלעים וטנקים.

באחד האירועים, כלי טיס זיהה מחבל האוחז RPG ורץ לעבר הלוחמים, הכוחות חיסלו את המחבל בירי טנקים בטרם ירה לעבר כוחותינו >> pic.twitter.com/5537OMvsqL

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 29, 2023

In one incident, the IDF says an aircraft identified an RPG-wielding Hamas operative running toward the troops, who opened fire and killed him.

In Jabaliya, the 261st Brigade (the Bahad 1 officers’ school in wartime) searched the home of a Hamas operative, locating weaponry and Hamas documents, the IDF says.