Seven Israeli soldiers were killed on Tuesday when an explosive device detonated beneath their armored vehicle in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) confirmed in a statement released Wednesday.
The blast occurred as Israeli troops continued operations in the volatile enclave. According to IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin, rescue helicopters and emergency units were dispatched to the scene, but the mission to extract the trapped soldiers was unsuccessful.
“This was a complex and difficult event. Rescue efforts were made, but sadly, all the soldiers inside the vehicle were lost,” said Defrin.
The explosion marks one of the deadliest single incidents for Israeli forces in recent months and pushes the total number of Israeli military casualties since the October 7 Hamas-led attacks to over 860.
Tuesday’s attack coincided with reports from Gaza-based medics and residents that over 40 Palestinians were killed across various neighborhoods in the strip. Among them were at least 19 individuals reportedly shot while seeking food aid at an Israeli-established humanitarian zone.
The humanitarian tragedy continues to mount as Israel issues fresh evacuation orders in parts of Gaza, intensifying fears among civilians already displaced by months of warfare.
The Gaza fatalities came just hours after a ceasefire was declared in the separate conflict between Israel and Iran. The 12-day air war between the regional rivals ended with both sides agreeing to President Donald Trump’s proposed truce. During that confrontation, Israel launched widespread strikes across Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since claimed that Israel’s strikes have substantially degraded Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“I can say here that the estimation is that we have significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we have set it back for years,” said IDF’s Defrin during a televised update.
However, a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment leaked to media outlets appears to challenge Israel’s confidence, suggesting the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear advancements by only a few months. The White House quickly dismissed the report as “wrong,” with President Trump affirming that the U.S. component of the operation had “completely destroyed” three key nuclear sites.
The back-to-back conflicts and mounting death tolls in both Gaza and Iran highlight the fragile security climate in the region, despite temporary diplomatic breakthroughs.
As military investigations continue into Tuesday’s blast, pressure mounts on Israeli leadership to reassess operational risks while navigating simultaneous crises on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, the humanitarian fallout in Gaza remains dire, with aid agencies warning of worsening food shortages and rising civilian casualties.
Amnewsworld will continue monitoring this developing situation.
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