Enlarge image
An Israeli soldier in an exposed Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip
Photo: Jack Guez / AFP
The Israeli military (IDF) has released new findings on the Islamist Hamas' extensive tunnel system in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestine Square in the center of Gaza City plays a decisive role, the army said. From there, "offices and apartments of the political and military leadership of Hamas" were said to have been accessible underground. On Sunday, the army announced the excavation of a network of tunnels in the northern Gaza Strip.
After the takeover of an area in Gaza City, further details of the "strategic tunnel route" were revealed, the army said. In addition to stairs, elevators also made it possible to descend into the underground system. In some cases, food, water and electrical infrastructure were found. "In this way, Hamas terrorists were able to flee as well as remain in hiding for long periods of time," it said.
According to the report, the tunnel network was used by senior figures of the organization, Ismail Haniya, Jihia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and others, "to manage Hamas' operational activities."
Attacks on Syria and Lebanon
Following renewed rocket fire, Israel's military has attacked targets in Syria. The launch sites of the four rockets as well as a Syrian military post were shelled, the Israeli military said in the evening. It was initially unclear which group was responsible for the shoot-down from Syria.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed Israeli strikes following rocket fire in the border area. Reports of victims were not known at first.
According to the IDF, the Israeli Air Force also attacked positions of the Shiite militia Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's "terrorist infrastructure" and military facilities were hit, the army said. In addition, "a number of terrorists approaching the security fence from Lebanon along the border in the Metula area" were shot at." Confirmation from Lebanon was initially pending.
The Lebanese Hezbollah militia had previously reported several attacks on Israel. Among other things, Israeli soldiers were shot at near the border town of Metula.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, there have been repeated confrontations on Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Israel's military had warned Hezbollah, which has close ties to Iran, on Monday against an intensification of hostilities on the border. "We are closer to war today than we were yesterday," said military spokesman Jonathan Conricus.
czl/dpa