Hamas Rafah Brigade Commander Killed in Gaza Airstrike
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Hamas announced the killing of Samir Abu-Younis, commander of its Rafah brigade, in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on November 15. Abu-Younis, who joined Hamas in 1991 and was involved in planning the October 7 attack, was appointed to his current role in September. He is the latest in a series of commanders to be killed in recent months, with the IDF and Shin Bet confirming strikes on senior Hamas figures.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Samir Abu-Younis, commander of Hamas's Rafah brigade, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on November 15.
- Hamas stated Abu-Younis was involved in planning the October 7 attack and had a long history with the militant group.
- Abu-Younis was appointed brigade commander in September, succeeding Nael Abu-Abid, who was also killed.
- The strike targeted Abu-Younis's vehicle in the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi.
- This killing follows the reported death of the Khan Younis brigade commander on November 12.
- Previous commanders of these brigades were also killed in recent months.
Hamas's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced on the night of November 15 that Samir Abu-Younis, commander of the Rafah brigade, was killed. The strike reportedly targeted his vehicle in the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis. Abu-Younis, also known as Abu-Mahmoud, was appointed brigade commander in September, succeeding Nael Abu-Abid, who was killed in the same month. Abu-Abid had replaced Mohammed Shabana in May 2026, who was killed in Khan Younis along with Mohammed Sinwar, the then-head of Hamas in Gaza. According to Hamas, Abu-Younis joined the military wing in 1991, spent many years in Israeli prison, and was involved in numerous sabotage operations. He was described as an active field commander during the "Swords of Iron" war and previously led the western battalion of the Rafah brigade. Hamas also stated he was "one of the most important commanders involved in planning the October 7 attack." Earlier, the IDF and Shin Bet had announced a strike on a "senior terrorist of Hamas's military wing," promising further details later. This follows the reported killing on November 12 of the commander of the Khan Younis brigade, Khaled Abu-Anza (Abu-Usama), who was allegedly hiding near Al-Nasser hospital. Abu-Usama had held his position for about two months, replacing Mohammed al-Yazouri (Abu al-Khatam), who was killed on September 11. Prior to al-Yazouri, Rafa'a Salameh held the post and was killed in July 2024 alongside Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas's military wing.
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