The residence of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which was used as terrorist infrastructure, was hit by an airstrike on Wednesday night as IDF troops continue to operate in the Gaza Strip, the IDF revealed.
Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, is based in Qatar but his Gaza residence often served as a meeting point for Hamas's senior leadership to direct terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.
The Israeli military also announced that during the battle to control the Shati refugee camp, IDF troops located and destroyed a Hamas naval forces weapons cache, containing diving gear, explosive devices, and weapons.
IDF troops also struck terrorists and located weapons including explosive belts, explosive barrels, RPGs, anti-tank missiles, comms [communication] equipment, and intelligence documents.
Fallen soldiers
The IDF also announced two fallen officers on Thursday morning. Cap. Asaf Master and Cap. Kfir Itzhak Franco were named by the IDF as having fallen in battle in Gaza.
Both were officers in the 401st "Iron Tracks" Armored Brigade. Master, 22 from Kibbutz Bahan, was a captain in the 601st Battalion; Franco, also 22 and from Jerusalem, was a captain in the 51st Battalion. Engaged to be married, he is survived by grandparents, parents, and two sisters.