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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday evening the elimination of two Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre during a focused operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
The operation, carried out over recent weeks by the IDF’s Southern Brigade and Bedouin Special Forces (585), targeted critical terror infrastructure and dismantled significant portions of underground tunnel networks, the IDF reported.
According to the IDF’s statement, the operation began with a series of airstrikes launched by the Israel Air Force, aimed at neutralizing anti-tank positions, booby-trapped structures, and observation points posing immediate risks to Israeli ground forces.
These airstrikes were the precursor to a coordinated ground offensive, which saw multiple IDF units join forces to eliminate strategic threats in the area.
As the ground offensive unfolded, the Gaza Division’s engineering unit, in cooperation with the IDF’s elite Yahalom unit and Israel’s intelligence agency Shin Bet, uncovered two extensive tunnels reportedly used for offensive operations.
These tunnels, stretching over two kilometers, contained nearly twenty exit shafts, several of which were booby-trapped, with various weapons stored inside.
In the midst of the operation, a number of armed militants attempted to exit the tunnels, posing a direct threat to the IDF’s advancing ground forces. The IDF reported that its troops neutralized these militants, including through the use of airstrikes.
Among those killed were two prominent Hamas operatives linked to the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians: Baha Abu Kreshin, the Nukhba force commander within the Shabura Battalion, and Mohammad Ibrahim Stry, a seasoned operative in Hamas.
“This operation demonstrates the IDF’s ongoing commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and preventing future attacks on Israeli civilians,” an IDF spokesperson stated.
The operation in the southern Gaza Strip is part of Israel’s broader response following the October 7 assault, which resulted in significant civilian casualties and heightened tensions in the region.
The IDF continues to focus on neutralizing terrorist strongholds, with a particular emphasis on the destruction of tunnel networks used by Hamas for militant activities and the movement of operatives.
As operations proceed, the IDF has reaffirmed its strategic objective of eliminating terrorist threats through a combination of intelligence-led planning, airpower, and coordinated ground forces.
The Southern Brigade’s collaboration with special forces units and intelligence services underscores Israel’s focus on precision-targeted strikes aimed at minimizing civilian impact while achieving tactical goals.
The targeted elimination of Abu Kreshin and Stry highlights the IDF’s concentrated efforts to bring justice to those responsible for recent attacks and maintain the security of its border regions.