Israel said its forces carried out a series of operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon that resulted in the deaths of several Hamas operatives, the killing of a suspect linked to the death of an Israeli officer, and the destruction of an underground Hezbollah tunnel complex.
The claims were announced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in separate statements and have not been independently verified.
IDF Says Hamas Naval Police Commander Was Killed in Gaza
According to the IDF, Israeli forces eliminated Mansour Sami Mahmoud Shahtout, whom it identified as the commander of Hamas’ Naval Police in the Central Camps area of Gaza.
The military said two additional Hamas commanders were also killed during the same operation.
The IDF stated that the three men had recently been involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops. It said they were traveling in a vehicle while armed when they were targeted, adding that they posed an immediate threat to Israeli forces operating in the area.
No further details were released regarding the identities of the other two commanders or the precise location of the strike.
Search Operation Leads to Suspect Linked to Officer’s Death
In a separate announcement, the Israeli military said troops located and killed a militant they believe was involved in an encounter that resulted in the death of Captain David Hazutt overnight.
The military said extensive searches were conducted around Deir Siryan in southern Lebanon following the clash. During the operation, soldiers reportedly found the suspect hiding inside a structure close to the site where the confrontation had taken place.
The IDF said the individual was killed after being discovered inside the building. It did not provide additional information about the operation or the identity of the militant.
Israeli Troops Destroy Underground Hezbollah Tunnel Network
The IDF also reported dismantling what it described as a major underground Hezbollah facility in the Majdal Zoun area within Israel’s designated security zone in southern Lebanon.
According to the military, the tunnel complex stretched for more than 200 meters and reached depths exceeding 25 meters below ground. Israeli officials said the network had been built using technology and engineering expertise supplied by Iran.
Hundreds of Weapons and Launch Sites Found Inside Tunnel
During the operation, Israeli soldiers said they uncovered hundreds of weapons stored inside the underground facility.
The military also reported finding four launch shafts that it said were positioned to fire toward Israeli territory. The IDF described the complex as part of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and said its destruction was intended to reduce the group’s operational capabilities near the border.
Neither Hezbollah nor Hamas immediately commented on the Israeli statements.
Operations Come Amid Continuing Regional Tensions
The latest announcements come as Israeli military operations continue across both Gaza and southern Lebanon, where clashes with Hamas and Hezbollah have intensified in recent months.
Israel maintains that it is targeting militants and infrastructure it says pose ongoing security threats, while armed groups in the region continue to accuse Israel of carrying out strikes that escalate the conflict. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side remains difficult due to the conditions on the ground.
