IDF expands operations in Khan Younis, destroyed homes of terrorists who participated in Oct. 7 attacks

In recent days, Israel Defense Forces have been expanding operations in Khan Younis, as it continues its mission to destroy the Hamas terrorist organization. Soldiers eliminated terrorist squads with the support of sniper fire, air and armored forces units. In addition, large quantities of weapons and tunnel shafts were found in the area. 

In one incident, a terrorist carrying an RPG towards soldiers was spotted by an IDF aircraft. The location of the terrorist was given to an IDF tank squad, who eliminated him before he could fire at the soldiers. 

In another incident, IDF troops working to dismantle Hamas terror infrastructure saw a terrorist attempting to retrieve an RPG. They fired on the terrorist, killing him. 

Two different squads of terrorists were seen by forces hiding in structures near IDF troops. The soldiers called in airstrikes, eliminating the squads. 

In a raid conducted by the Kfir Brigade combat team and the 98th Infantry Division on homes of Hamas members in Khan Younis, soldiers discovered an olive green uniform, stuffed to resemble a person. The stuffed uniform was thought to be used as a decoy to lure IDF fighters into an ambush by Hamas terrorists. 

In another home, soldiers found weapons, including grenades, vests, cartridges and intelligence materials in a children's room. Some of the weapons, including grenades, were found inside a child's bag. 

Several houses that were searched during the raid were booby-trapped. The soldiers also found an IED manufacturing laboratory with improvised explosive devices and old computer equipment, which was scavenged for electronic parts for making IEDs. 

On Friday morning, the IDF also announced it had conducted operations in the Khuza’a suburb of Khan Younis, across from the Israeli community of Nir Oz. Operation Nir and Oz was aimed at uncovering the tunnels and other infrastructure used by terrorists in the Oct. 7 raids on Nir Oz and the surrounding communities. 

Israeli soldiers and IDF engineering units have discovered dozens of tunnel shafts through Khan Younis –including in the homes of Hamas terrorists – and weapons caches with Kalashnikovs, grenades, mines, rocket launchers and RPGs. 

IDF Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Avi Rosenfeld told the soldiers: “On October 7, terrorists came from Khuza’a who committed the most horrifying crimes imaginable. The attack by the Gaza terrorists from Khuza’a was aimed at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community of people of work and peace.” 

The tunnel shafts were destroyed, along with the weapons and rocket launchers.