Hamas’ Head of Aerial allegedly killed in overnight Gaza strike
Hamas are said to be in “complete disarray” as the mastermind of last weekend’s massacre in Israel was killed yesterday.
Ali Qadi, a company commander in the terror group’s Nukhba unit, was killed in a drone strike following intelligence from the Shin Bet security agency and Military Intelligence Directorate.
The Israeli Defence Forces last night released a statement saying that “IDF is gearing up for a comprehensive offensive” involving “air, sea, and land”.
Consisting of more than 170,000 regular troops, 300,000 reservists and 300 tanks, they were ready to launch what promises to be the region’s largest military assault since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
No timings were given but the “IDF battalions and soldiers are strategically deployed across the country” and the soldiers have “a strong emphasis on a substantial ground operation”.
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It came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video on X/Twitter showing him visiting and talking to soldiers.
He told infantry personnel outside the Gaza Strip: “Are you ready for the next stage? The next stage is coming.”
The killing of Qadi was a hugely significant development for Israel. He had been arrested in 2005 over the kidnapping and murder of Israeli civilians and had been released to the Gaza Strip as part of the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
His death followed the killing of another commander, Merad Abu Merad, who directed Hamas’s aerial system in Gaza City. He was successfully targeted by IDF fighter jets on Friday.
Israel has pledged to “completely dismantle” Hamas following last week’s surprise attack, which killed 1,300 men, women and children and injured 2,215.
A Palestinian carries a child in Khan Yunis (Image: Getty)
And last night official sources claimed their air strikes had already had a devastating impact on the terrorist organisation.
“Hamas is in a state of complete disarray. They have no idea about the situation above ground because they have escaped to their tunnels,” said an IDF spokesman last night.
While the Muslim world has so far resisted Hamas’s calls to act against Israel, Iran-backed Hezbollah was poised to expand the crisis by launching attacks from the north.
Last night, Tehran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that Israel would suffer “a huge earthquake” if it did not stop its attacks on Gaza.
But an IDF spokesman said: “We have taken steps to deal with any problems from Hezbollah.” Having already divided the Gaza Strip into two, Israeli forces will prioritise securing the cities of Rimal, Jabalia and Beit Hanon.
The armoured legions of Merkava main battle tanks were positioned near the border last night but were not expected to cross until today.
Special Forces have already launched the first stages of an operation partially planned by the SAS, which has soldiers based in Israel.
They will remain there in case they are needed to help liberate the 17 Britons believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas.
Special Forces soldiers from the elite Sayeret unit – which regularly trains with the SAS – had already used drones to carry out night time “probing missions” on the edge of Gaza, identifying threats and collating intelligence to support the ground invasion.
The 2,000-strong unit will target five main areas where intelligence suggests prisoners are being held. Israel’s main aim will be to neutralise the secret tunnels which give Hamas refuge and quick access to every part of Gaza.
Though it is difficult to assess the size of the “Gaza Metro” network, it is believed to be 25 miles long and seven miles wide.
While power to Gaza has already been cut, Hamas leaders are said to be charging mobile phones with solar panels.
The Special Forces group will identify areas for helicopter assaults as well as sites for command headquarters and forward operating bases.
Palestinians look for survivors (Image: Getty)
The group also includes electronic warfare operators who will search for the voice signature of 25 Hamas leaders listed as high-value targets.
Tank commanders will find progress slow, as they must cross land liberally sprinkled with Hamas mines, IEDs and tunnel bombs. To overcome this and ensure foot soldiers are protected, their advance will be preceded by D9R armoured bulldozers.
Nicknamed “Teddy Bears”, their three-man crews are protected by bullet proof glass, allowing them to clear debris quickly.
Troops will also be protected by Israeli F-35 and F-16 fighter jets which will expand a sustained bombing mission. Aside from the SAS, British military deployment includes a 120-strong task force of Royal Marines from 40 Commando aboard the support ships RFA Lyme Bay and Argus. The latter vessel is also carrying a field surgical team and a small force of engineers.
There are also three Merlin helicopters and RAF RC-135 intelligence and P8 maritime surveillance aircraft, which have been sent to the US Naval Air Station in Sigonella, Sicily.
In Cyprus, the Yorkshire Regiment has been placed on high readiness, while a Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, is expected to arrive within days.
