The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have killed Anas Muhammad Saadi Masri, the commander of the northern sector of the rocket unit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the IDF confirmed on Tuesday.
“An Air Force aircraft, guided by intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman), the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, struck and killed Masri earlier this month," the statement said.
Masri was described as “a significant figure responsible for executing numerous terrorist operations, managing and directing actions by the organization that targeted Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.”
The statement added that since October 7, Masri had been actively commanding rocket fire from northern Gaza into Israeli border communities.
“Prior to the strike, extensive measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision weaponry, accurate intelligence, and aerial surveillance,” the IDF emphasized.
“We will continue to strike anyone who promotes or engages in terrorism against Israeli citizens and will work to achieve the objectives of the war," the IDF concluded.
Eliminated Nukhba commander
Late Tuesday night, the IDF added that it had killed Abd al-hadi Tzavach, the Nukhba commander of the Western Khan Yunis battalion, who also was among the leaders of the invasion and killing of Israeli at Nir Oz on October 7.
Critics of Israel have said that many of the IDF airstrikes continue to kill sizable numbers of Palestinian civilians with the military not being transparent about those numbers.
Israeli supporters blame such casualties on Hamas using human shields.
In addition, the IDF announced on Tuesday that the Nahal Brigade, which has spent several months fighting Hamas in Rafah in deep southern Gaza is being given a period to refresh itself, with the 4th Kiryati Brigade taking over its role in that area.
In another update, the IDF said that Hamas had managed to fire off one rocket from southern Gaza into the Gaza Corridor, with an IDF Iron Dome interceptor seemingly missing the rocket, but the rocket also not causing any harm.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist partner of Hamas that operates in both the Gaza and the West Bank, is currently holding some of the Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas during the terrorist group's October 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel.
In addition to holding hostages and launching attacks on Israel, the terrorist group has began launching attacks against Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank in recent weeks.