Israeli military jets have successfully targeted the Hamas commander responsible for orchestrating the deadly attacks on the borders on October 7 during the early stages of the expanded ground operations and incursion into Gaza. Reports, citing Israeli authorities, confirm that Nasim Abu Ajina, formerly in charge of Hamas' Aerial Array and involved in the development of drone and paraglider warfare, was eliminated in the airstrikes, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces.
This targeted operation is a significant blow to the efforts of the Hamas terrorist organization to disrupt the IDF's ground activities, as reported by USA Today, quoting the IDF statement. Nasim Abu Ajina served as the commander of the Beit Lahia Battalion within Hamas' Northern Brigade and was suspected of being the mastermind behind the border attacks.
The IDF has reported striking nearly 300 targets on Monday, including anti-tank missiles and military compounds located inside underground Hamas tunnels. Israeli soldiers engaged militants on the ground, while the air force targeted their terror infrastructure, as stated by the IDF.
An Iranian general had previously acknowledged the existence of a vast underground tunnel network in Gaza, stretching over 400 kilometers, making it a challenging task to locate and eliminate these tunnels.
Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, outlined that the ground operations in Gaza primarily focus on the northern areas, including Gaza City, which is suspected to be the epicenter of Hamas's military offensive. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to target Hamas commanders and infrastructure wherever it's deemed crucial.
Additionally, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud at the White House on Monday, as the Biden administration escalated efforts to prevent the Hamas conflict from escalating into a broader theater of war in the Gulf region. A statement released by the White House highlighted the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and stressed the significance of building a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians, building on the work undertaken between Saudi Arabia and the US in recent months.
(With Agency Inputs)
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