HAMAS TUNNEL CRACKDOWN: IDF Eliminates 100 Terrorists, Destroys 8 Kilometers of Tunnels
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say troops have eliminated more than 100 terrorists and dismantled approximately eight kilometers of Hamas tunnels during a four-month operation in northern Gaza. The operation was conducted by the IDF’s 99th Division east of the Yellow Line, where Israeli forces targeted what the military described as Hamas infrastructure used for command activities, operational planning and attacks against Israeli troops. According to the military, the campaign involved locating and destroying underground passages, command centers and sites used to coordinate attacks. The IDF also reported that those killed included individuals it identified as participants in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, captors of Israeli hostages and operatives allegedly preparing explosives against Israeli forces. The figures and descriptions were provided by the Israeli military, and independent verification of the full operational claims was not immediately available.
The IDF said its forces also targeted Hamas operatives attempting to plant explosives intended to strike Israeli troops, highlighting the continuing threat posed by concealed weapons and underground infrastructure in the area. Military officials regard the destruction of tunnel networks as a key part of efforts to weaken Hamas’s operational capabilities and prevent further attacks, although the extent to which the network has been dismantled remains difficult to establish independently. Following the completion of the 99th Division’s reported four-month campaign, the IDF’s 162nd Division is continuing operations in the area. The transition indicates that Israeli military activity in northern Gaza remains ongoing, with further operations focused on locating militant infrastructure and addressing threats to troops. The latest announcement underscores the continuing intensity of the conflict and the strategic importance both sides place on control of territory and underground networks in Gaza.