Israeli forces operating in the southern Gaza Strip destroyed Hamas rocket launchers a day after they fired a heavy barrage at the Tel Aviv area, the IDF said on Tuesday.

Monday's missile attack triggered sirens in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Rishon Letzion and Holon. No injuries were reported, though several cars were damaged.

The launchers were destroyed by Israeli Air Force strikes directed by ground troops. One of the destroyed launchers was deployed alongside mortars ready for firing, the IDF said.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued operating in and around Khan Yunis, killing terrorists and seizing weapons. The city, Gaza's second-largest, is regarded as a personal stronghold of Hamas leader in the Strip Yahya Sinwar.

In central Gaza, a squad of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades was eliminated by a drone strike after being spotted advancing towards Israeli soldiers.

The IDF reported more terrorists killed and weapons seized in northern Gaza and the Shati area of central Gaza.

The military has killed or wounded at least half of Hamas's estimated 30,000 terrorist operatives in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to the southern border on Monday.

"We have already killed a quarter of the Hamas terrorists, at least, and the same number are wounded," he told IDF Artillery Corps reservists. "Terrorists remain, and we are fighting against pockets of resistance … it will take months, not one day."

The remaining half of Hamas' terror army has limited supplies, ammunition and reinforcements, he said, noting that it is becoming harder and harder "for them to take care of themselves" and "their wounded."

Gallant reiterated that "we have three goals for this war: to eliminate Hamas, to return our hostages and to preserve the unity of the Israeli people. We're in a long war, but in the end, we will break Hamas."

Since Jan. 21, the army has been mounting a massive assault in Khan Yunis, killing scores of terrorist operatives, including company commanders. The battle force includes parts of the IDF's Givati Infantry Brigade, the 7th Armored Brigade, paratroopers and commandoes.

On Jan. 23, Israeli ground forces completed the encirclement of Khan Yunis, killing dozens of terrorists in the process.

Israel's Ynet website on Monday cited a senior security official who said the IDF had destroyed two of the four Hamas battalions operating in the Khan Yunis area. Troops have already killed approximately 3,000 out of the 4,000 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in Khan Yunis during battles above and below ground, the report added.

Republished with permission from Jewish News Syndicate.