IDF Destroys Terror Tunnels in Gaza, Arrests 60 Militants in West Bank Operations

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported significant operational achievements across multiple fronts over the past week. In the Gaza Strip, the Southern Command successfully destroyed over one kilometer of Hamas terror tunnels, primarily around Khan Yunis, as part of a systematic technological and engineering effort to dismantle underground infrastructure. Approximately 20 militants were killed in direct combat and airstrikes, including individuals involved in rebuilding Hamas’s military and logistical capabilities and some confirmed participants in the October 7 massacre and hostage-taking.

In northern Israel, the IDF neutralized a complex underground tunnel used by Hezbollah forces in the Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun. The Engineering Corps completely destroyed the tunnel, while the Air Force conducted four targeted strikes against militant cells posing immediate threats to Israeli forces and attacked three Hezbollah operational headquarters in southern Lebanon.

In the West Bank, the Central Command, in cooperation with the Border Police and Shin Bet, carried out dozens of targeted counterterrorism arrests in refugee camps and Palestinian cities. Over 60 wanted terrorists were detained, including those planning imminent attacks, Hamas affiliates, stone-throwers, and arms dealers. During these operations, the forces seized numerous weapons, including advanced M-16 rifles and pistols, five reconnaissance drones, chemical materials for explosives, incitement materials, and approximately 162,000 shekels in cash intended to finance terror activities.

The IDF emphasized the comprehensive nature of these operations, which combined ground, air, intelligence, and engineering efforts to disrupt terrorist infrastructure and prevent attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. The military continues to maintain heightened alertness and operational readiness across all sectors.