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The Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting more than 70 locations across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported.
The offensive aimed at crippling the infrastructure and operations of Palestinian militant groups amid ongoing ground maneuvers by Israeli troops in several strategic areas.
The IDF’s air campaign focused on weapon depots, terror infrastructure, and buildings affiliated with militant groups. Among the high-profile targets was a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operative in Rafah.
Identified as the head of logistics for the PIJ in southern Gaza, the operative was reportedly responsible for preparing defenses against the IDF’s maneuver in the city, according to the military.
In eastern Rafah, Givati Brigade troops engaged in close combat, killing an RPG-wielding militant in a building. The brigade conducted multiple raids in the area, uncovering caches of weapons.
Concurrently, the elite Egoz commando unit identified and neutralized a rocket launcher positioned in a building used by terror factions.
The northern Gaza town of Jabaliya witnessed intense skirmishes as the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade engaged and eliminated several gunmen in a series of confrontations.
The 7th Armored Brigade discovered a primed rocket launcher and killed additional gunmen during battles, while the 460th Armored Brigade found several tunnel shafts and neutralized another RPG-armed operative.
The central Gaza region, specifically the Netzarim Corridor, remained a focal point of conflict as the 99th Division engaged in continuous clashes with militants.
The Division frequently called for air support to target entrenched enemy positions. One significant incident involved the 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit, which spotted a cell that had fired RPGs at IDF troops. The unit directed a drone strike that successfully eliminated the operatives.
The recent escalation comes as part of Israel’s broader military campaign aimed at dismantling militant capabilities and preventing rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
The IDF’s multi-pronged approach involves coordinated air and ground operations designed to systematically degrade the operational capacity of militant groups.
The airstrikes and ground assaults have compounded the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been under a blockade for over a decade.
Civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure have drawn international concern and calls for de-escalation. The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have urged restraint and emphasized the need to protect civilians amid the ongoing conflict.
The IDF maintains that its operations are necessary to ensure the security of Israeli citizens and to neutralize threats from militant groups operating within Gaza.
“Our forces are operating with precision and determination to dismantle the terror infrastructure that poses a direct threat to our country,” an IDF spokesperson stated.
As the conflict intensifies, the international community remains watchful, urging both sides to seek a peaceful resolution.
However, with no immediate signs of a ceasefire, the region continues to brace for further violence and its repercussions on the civilian population caught in the crossfire.
This article was created using automation and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our staff editorial members