The Israel Defense Forces announced that it killed Khalil Jamal Khalil Mana'a, a commander in Hamas's production staff, and Asama Walid Dib Makhareb, a platoon commander in the Nuseirat battalion, in precision airstrikes in northern Gaza. Mana'a was involved in rocket launcher production, and Makhareb was in possession of explosives intended to target Israeli forces, according to the military.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Friday evening the elimination of two Hamas commanders in the northern Gaza Strip, identifying them as Khalil Jamal Khalil Mana'a, a commander in Hamas's weapons production headquarters, and Asama Walid Dib Makhareb, a platoon commander in the Nuseirat Battalion. The strikes were carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, according to the military. The IDF described both as posing an immediate threat to Israeli troops operating in the area.
The announcement came at 17:32 Jerusalem time on Friday, with the military initially reporting the killings without naming the operatives before providing their identities. The identification evolved through multiple statements, with the IDF eventually specifying that Mana'a was involved in rocket launcher production and Makhareb possessed explosives intended for attacks on forces.
The operation is part of a broader pattern of Israeli precision strikes targeting Hamas commanders across the Gaza Strip. As The Zioneer reported on June 15, the IDF killed two Hamas cell commanders in central and northern Gaza in a similar operation. The Zioneer has also documented other targeted killings of Hamas operatives in recent weeks, including a cell leader in southern Gaza on June 6 and a Nukhba cell commander on July 5.
The IDF's account of the strikes remains the sole source of information. The specific locations of the strikes and the extent of damage to Hamas's production capabilities have not been independently confirmed. The status of the operatives' planned attacks and whether they were successfully prevented remains a matter of military assessment.
5 developments
- DevelopingIDF kills two Hamas operatives advancing attack plots in Gaza over the weekend
- DevelopingIDF, Shin Bet kill three Hamas commanders in northern Gaza strike
- StrongIDF eliminates senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders planning imminent attacks in Gaza
- ConfirmedIDF kills two senior Hamas commanders in northern Gaza for ceasefire violations
Source and signal
- Internal intake