The Israel Defense Forces have issued an update on what officials describe as an ongoing and intensive operation inside the underground tunnel network beneath eastern Rafah, where an estimated 200 Hamas fighters were previously reported abandoned.
According to the IDF Spokesperson, forces from the Nahal and Golani brigades, supported by Yahalom combat engineers, continue to advance through the subterranean system. Military officials say nine additional Hamas operatives were identified and killed during the latest sweep.
The operation is being supported by a combination of targeted airstrikes and specialized engineering equipment designed to collapse and block tunnel routes. More than 30 armed fighters have reportedly been killed while attempting to escape through secondary passages.
Despite the ceasefire framework currently in place, Israeli forces remain positioned across operational zones. The IDF said it will “continue to act against any immediate threat,” maintaining readiness amid concerns that Hamas operatives embedded underground may attempt further attacks.
The tunnel campaign remains one of the most difficult and strategically sensitive components of Israel’s military effort, with commanders suggesting the work could extend for weeks as units dismantle remaining routes in the Rafah sector.
