An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration. (photo credit: AMIR COHEN – REUTERS)
On May 19, the Israeli Air Force announced that its fighter jets had carried out a series of airstrikes on the Hamas Movement’s “Metro” tunnel network in the Gaza Strip.
According to the Air Force, 40 underground targets in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip were targeted by 52 fighter jets within 25 minutes.
“The strikes combined a number of elements: Surface-to-Surface targets, underground targets, command and control centers, and Hamas posts,” the air force said in a statement.
The targets of the recent wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza included:
- a weapons depot located in the Hamas internal security headquarters in Khan Yunis;
- a military infrastructure located in the residences of two Hamas commanders;
- the Hamas command and control center in Rafah.
Israeli fighter jets also bombed targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including a rocket situation room, facilities for surface-to-surface array located in operational apartments, and a command room used to fire rockets.
Overnight, IAF aircraft struck the ‘Metro’ tunnel system, located in Khan Yunis and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, in a fifth stage of strikes. pic.twitter.com/hrsoKcmBq1
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 19, 2021
A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck a military compound of the Hamas terror organization’s Technological Department. The compound was located in a building in the area of Jabalia. pic.twitter.com/RqVKs5yIFp
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 19, 2021
A short while ago, an IAF aircraft neutralized a Hamas terror organization operative immediately after firing rockets towards Israeli territory from the eastern Gaza Strip. The IAF also struck a rocket launcher belonging to the Hamas terror organization in Khan Yunis. pic.twitter.com/pXf3EEqBur
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 19, 2021
לפני זמן קצר, חיל-האוויר תקף עמדת תצפית ובה פיר מנהרה של ארגון הטרור חמאס. העמדה הינה חלק מתשתית המנהרות של הארגון במרכז הרצועה. pic.twitter.com/RJSxLDV8U5
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) May 19, 2021
While Israel claims that its strikes are only targeting armed factions in the Gaza Strip, the civilian death toll in Gaza continue to rise.
According a new statement by the Palestinian Heath Ministry, Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 219 people, including 63 children, so far. More than 1,500 others were injured.
Despite the high intensity and precision of Israeli strikes on Gaza, Palestinian factions are still launching rockets from the enclave. So far, more than 4,000 rockets were launched. A total of 11 people in Israel were killed.
Several recent reports suggest that Israel and Palestinian factions are approaching a ceasefire. Officials from the two sides are yet to confirm this.
