Israel announced that it had killed one of the Hamas officials responsible for carrying out the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people. The news came after Israel shifted its focus toward the southern half of the Gaza Strip almost three months into the current war against Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) announced that it “eliminated” Adil Mismah, a company commander of a city in Gaza. On Oct. 7 the terrorist leader entered several Israeli towns and led a significant massacre against Israeli civilians.
The commander was killed in an airstrike.
IDF troops continue operating in Gaza:
šŗELIMINATED: Adil Mismah, the Nukhba Company Commander of Deir al-Balah who took part in Hamasā October 7 invasion and massacre and attack on other communities surrounding Gaza.
šŗIn Shejaiya, troops struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorā¦
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 1, 2024
The shift also came after the IDF announced that it expected the current war to continue through the end of the new year.
The Israeli military also announced a number of other strikes, including destroying a terrorist cell responsible for attacks. The IDF also destroyed a rocket launcher.
Separately, the Israeli military moved thousands of troops from the northern part of Gaza to the region’s southern portion. The news came after Israeli forces seized much of the territory’s more populated north, including Gaza City.
The shift could result in a significant change in the ongoing conflict in the region. Israel currently occupies about half of the territory, including a portion of the south.
Currently, much of the fighting is centered around the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which was the center of some of Hamas’ operations.
Israel has been dismantling a number of tunnels used by Hamas to ferry fighters and weapons. Israel has flooded some of the tunnels with saltwater and destroyed others using explosives.
So far, Israel has suffered 172 soldiers killed during the current operation against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
With the fighting continuing in and around Gaza, Israel has also exchanged fire with the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has launched a number of attacks against northern Israel.
Israel reportedly killed a high-ranking Iranian general in Syria last week. Iran is a key backer of both Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as a number of other Islamist groups in the region.
