Less than a month into Operation 'Strength and Sword' in the Southern Command - the main achievements of the IDF and Shin Bet...

The opening strike: On March 18, 2025, Operation 'Strength and Sword' began, in which senior government officials and mid-level commanders of Hamas were attacked.

The opening strike was based on intelligence gathering and in-depth research, in close cooperation between the Intelligence Division and the Shin Bet. At this stage, it can be determined with high probability, based on the information available to the IDF and Shin Bet, that 8 senior government officials in Hamas were thwarted in the opening strike.

In addition, a number of terrorists were thwarted at the mid-level and in various units, including the General Security apparatus, the Internal Security apparatus, and in units that operated and significantly supported the production and strengthening plants of Hamas and the Gaza Strip.

THE ATTACK ON SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIALS

Since the beginning of the war, the security establishment has been working to thwart senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip and beyond. 11 senior Hamas officials were thwarted as part of Operation Might and Sword.

The thwarting of senior Hamas political bureau officials and internal Hamas officials harms the government's conduct and the coordination between the political and military arms of the organization. These actions significantly advanced the dismantling of Hamas's government and military capabilities.

Targeted thwarts and additional attacks as part of the operation
To date, as part of Operation Might and Sword, approximately 1,200 terrorist targets have been attacked from the air by 350 IDF fighter jets and aircraft The air force carried out more than 100 targeted assassinations and thwarted hundreds of terrorists and military commanders of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.

The most important of them: a deputy brigade commander, five battalion commanders, a deputy battalion commander, the head of Hamas military intelligence in the southern Gaza Strip, 15 company commanders and other terrorists who raided the country's territory and participated in the murderous massacre on October 7.

MANEUVER OF DIVISIONS 36, 143 AND 252

IDF forces continue to thwart terrorists and to work to destroy Hamas's terror infrastructure above and below ground, even in areas where our forces have not yet operated. The forces are locating weapons, destroying underground hideouts and Hamas's terror infrastructure. The IDF is prepared to expand ground maneuvers in accordance with operational developments.

Security area and Rafah Brigade clearance
These days, the IDF is expanding the Morag axis that cuts between the Khan Yunis and Rafah brigades. As part of the operation, the IDF has completed its operational grip on a number of areas and central axes throughout the Gaza Strip. Approximately 30% of the Gaza Strip is used as an operational security area.

The IDF and the Shin Bet will continue to operate against Hamas.

***