Israeli Defense Forces said it has confiscated some 6,000 weapons used by the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza and reports striking more than 15,000 "terror targets" in the Gaza Strip since the war began Oct. 7.
"Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has struck over 15,000 terror targets in the Gaza Strip and located 6,000 weapons, including anti-tank missile launchers, anti-aircraft missiles, rockets and mortars, explosives, ammunition, and more," the IDF said Friday in a social media post on Telegram.
"In recent days, combined IDF forces have continued to strike numerous terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including operational command centers, terror and rocket infrastructure, weapons and logistics depots, launch posts, terror tunnels, numerous Hamas terrorists, as well as command, control, and intelligence targets."
In the post the IDF said a Patriot missile intercepted a "hostile" drone before it crossed into Israel near the city of Eilat.
"The coordination between aerial, naval, and ground forces continues, as hundreds of targets, guided by intelligence and infantry, are struck in short timeframes by the IAF and Israeli Navy," the IDF's post said.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said during a press briefing Friday that Israel remains "on high alert on all fronts the State of Israel" as it concludes two weeks of military operations after the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks that left more than 1,400 Israelis and others dead and another 240 civilians kidnapped by the terrorist group and taken into Gaza as hostages.
"Last night, we operated in Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, Gaza and the area of the Red Sea," Hagari said during the briefing. "Our enemies are trying to divert our attention from the ongoing operations in Gaza, where our hostages are being held and where Hamas is located. Hamas, the terrorist organization that we must dismantle. We remain focused on our mission, focused on Gaza."
Hagari said IDF forces are currently operating in the "heart of Gaza City" and are dealing with Hamas terrorists hiding and using tunnels under the city.
"We are fighting the terrorists in the tunnels, utilizing grenades, avoiding their traps, destroying tunnel openings and damaging underground infrastructure," he said. "This type of combat is complex and difficult. Our troops are operating extensively from the air, from the sea with the primary operation on the ground, by our armored, infantry and combat engineering forces, slowly dismantling Hamas' terrorist strongholds. Their extensive operations are destroying the enemy. In every such battle, we have the upper hand."
Hagari said Israel is "working around the clock" to bring about the release of the hostages, but admitted the situation is "complex."
"These processes are complex, they are not final, they are not complete, they take time and will take more time. We will not miss any opportunity to bring hostages home," he said. "Not operationally, not on the intelligence front, nor on the civilian front. I call on the public to take information from the official Israeli reports only. If and when we have anything to report, we will first report it to the families and then to the general public through the media. This war is far from being over. It will take time and there is still much work to be done."
Charles Kim ✉
Charles Kim, a Newsmax general assignment writer, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in reporting on news and politics.
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