TEL AVIV – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced the elimination of Ahmad Mansour, a senior Islamic Jihad operative, in a targeted strike. Mansour, a central figure in the terror group’s rocket array, participated directly in the deadly incursion into Israeli territory on October 7, 2023—a day now recognized as the gravest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. He was also implicated in subsequent rocket attacks on Israeli civilian areas during the ongoing conflict.
According to security officials, Mansour’s removal represents a critical blow to the operational capabilities of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, one of several armed groups in Gaza pursuing Tehran’s regional objectives through sustained attacks on the Jewish state. The elimination aligns with Israel’s broader strategy against a network of terror organizations operating under Iranian guidance, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and additional proxy elements in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
In parallel with the targeted strike on Mansour, the Israeli Air Force conducted more than 200 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 72 hours. These operations focused on terrorist squads, rocket launch and sniper positions, weapons depots, and buildings repurposed by militants for combat and logistics. IDF officials reported that these actions are part of intensified efforts to neutralize imminent terrorist threats as Israel remains under near-daily rocket and infiltration attempts from Gaza.
Heightened ground activity by the Gaza Division further eroded terrorist infrastructure in Rafah, particularly in the Shaboura and Tel Sultan districts. Footage and military reports confirm that Israeli soldiers uncovered and destroyed arms caches containing grenades, ammunition, and other military equipment. Notably, Division 36 operating in the Rafah corridor intercepted additional weapon supplies and demolished key Hamas installations, directly engaging militants in several confrontations resulting in their deaths.
Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, Division 252 identified a group of terrorists sheltering in a building with subterranean fortifications. Utilizing aerial intelligence and precision munitions, the IDF destroyed the site and several sniper positions that posed immediate threats to Israeli ground forces in the area.
The scope of the IDF’s campaign in Gaza reflects the widening conflict Israel faces from multiple directions. Since launching its defensive campaign after October 7, the IDF has encountered and dismantled tunnel networks, command centers, and logistical assets routinely located beneath civilian sites—a tactic employed by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad to exploit their own population as human shields. Israeli spokespersons emphasize the IDF’s adherence to international law, even as terror groups persistently violate these norms by staging operations in residential areas, hospitals, and UN compounds.
The frequency and intensity of rocket barrages since October have left Israel reliant on its multi-layered air defense array, notably the Iron Dome, which has intercepted thousands of rockets targeting civilian communities. This ongoing threat underscores the asymmetric warfare Israel faces: while the state acts to safeguard its population and restore quiet, terror militias persist in attempts to inflict mass civilian harm, using Iranian-supplied munitions and tactics.
The international response remains a balancing act—supporting Israel’s right to self-defense while calling for humanitarian access to Gaza’s civilians and the release of hostages. Israeli authorities continue facilitating humanitarian corridors but maintain that responsibility for Gaza’s suffering lies with its terror rulers, who divert and confiscate aid shipments for militant use. Over a hundred Israeli and foreign hostages remain illegally detained by Hamas and allied factions, their plight at the forefront of Israeli diplomatic and military priorities.
Beyond the Gaza Strip, the broader war imposed by Iran’s proxies continues to test Israeli deterrence on several fronts. Hezbollah’s periodic rocket and drone launches from Lebanon have triggered evacuations of northern Israeli towns, and pro-Iranian forces in Syria and Yemen threaten broader regional security. Israeli leaders have affirmed that military operations will persist as long as necessary to dismantle terror networks and restore the security of Israeli communities.
In summary, the targeted elimination of Ahmad Mansour and the expanded IDF operations mark the latest phase of Israel’s campaign to counter Iranian-backed terror networks. Each action serves not only to degrade immediate threats but to send a clear deterrent message: Israeli self-defense is unwavering, and those orchestrating terror against the Jewish state will be held accountable.
