The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue counterterrorism operations in Rafah, targeting Hamas infrastructure and weapons networks that persist despite the declared ceasefire. Operating under the 143rd Division, Israeli troops have uncovered extensive terrorist equipment east of the Yellow Line — including a 15-tube rocket launcher and multiple storage sites used to conceal munitions and combat gear.

According to IDF reports, soldiers also destroyed several tunnels that militants had been using for movement and ambush operations in the densely built Rafah sector. These tunnels, often located beneath civilian areas, form part of Hamas’s extensive underground network used to smuggle weapons, shield commanders, and launch attacks on Israeli forces.

During the clearing operation, several armed terrorists were observed emerging from tunnel openings and firing at IDF units. The troops responded with precision fire, neutralizing the threat without sustaining Israeli casualties. The confrontation highlights Hamas’s continued violation of ceasefire terms and its exploitation of humanitarian pauses to regroup and rearm.

Israeli defense officials emphasized that these operations are strictly focused on defensive objectives — eliminating active terrorist threats and preventing renewed attacks on Israeli civilians. “Every rocket launcher dismantled, every tunnel destroyed, means fewer Israeli families under threat,” one IDF spokesperson said. “Even during a ceasefire, our duty to protect remains absolute.”

The IDF’s progress east of Rafah follows weeks of systematic operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s remaining command infrastructure in southern Gaza. Despite international aid efforts and ongoing humanitarian coordination, Hamas operatives have continued to engage Israeli forces, reinforcing concerns that the terrorist organization is exploiting ceasefire conditions to rebuild its military capability.

Israeli intelligence sources say the recovered Hamas equipment and tunnel layouts are being analyzed to locate additional underground routes and weapons stockpiles. These findings will feed into broader regional counterterrorism coordination led by Israel and its allies — including the U.S.-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center monitoring post-conflict activity across Gaza.

For Israel, the mission remains unchanged: neutralize terrorist networks while minimizing civilian harm. The IDF’s operations in Rafah are a continuation of that mission — a blend of precision, restraint, and resolve designed to ensure that Hamas can no longer threaten Israeli lives or stability in the region.