IDF to cut off north and south Gaza tunnel systems, efforts to destroy Hamas infrastructure continue

As part of the IDF's ground operation' in the Gaza Strip, a special effort is being made to expose and destroy tunnels of the Hamas terrorist organization. 

Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that its combat engineering troops have located and destroyed about 130 Hamas tunnels since the beginning of Operation Iron Swords.

IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari tweeted: "The activity of the engineering warriors within the combat teams fighting in Gaza includes destroying the enemy's weapons, locating, exposing and detonating tunnel shafts. With the expansion of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the fighters are thwarting the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas.” 

פעילות לוחמי ההנדסה בתוך צוותי הקרב הלוחמים בעזה, כוללת השמדת אמצעי לחימה של האויב, איתור, חשיפה ופיצוץ פירי מנהרות. עם הרחבת הפעולה הקרקעית ברצועת עזה, מסכלים הלוחמים את תשתיות הטרור של החמאס >> pic.twitter.com/2C8mAAAVOD

— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי - Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) November 8, 2023

The IDF has an estimated map of the Hamas “Metro” - the IDF's term for Hamas' network of tunnels. The engineering forces use various methods to neutralize or destroy the underground routes. 

According to the IDF, Hamas’ “preparation for a prolonged stay in the tunnels can be seen based on water and oxygen means found in the tunnels.”

The anti-tunnel operations also have the goal of cutting off the underground connection of northern Gaza Strip to the southern part. Israeli forces do not destroy all of the tunnels but make the decision based on a variety of consideration.

One of the primary IDF teams focused on the tunnel system is the 460th Brigade's combat unit, in particular, the brigade’s engineering forces. 

Throughout the ground operations, many terror tunnels have been exposed and destroyed by engineering forces. 

In the Hamas training grounds in Jabaliya, captured by the IDF on Oct. 31, there were several tunnels connected to the training compound leading to other areas in the northern Gaza Strip. 

Israeli troops from the 7th Armored Brigade identified an anti-tank launching post and an observation post, which were connected by tunnels to a weapons storehouse. The troops called in an airstrike, damaging the infrastructure. The terrorists then escaped to the roof and were killed in an additional strike. 

The IDF announced on Wednesday that for the first time since the First Lebanon War in 1982, an entire reserve division, the 252nd Division, has been operating in the Gaza Strip. 

The division helped to secure the area of Beit Hanoun over the last few days, both by fighting Hamas terrorists and destroying terror tunnels.