Hamas gunmen breached an Israeli army encampment in southern Gaza's Khan Younis yesterday, engaging soldiers in a battle that lasted no more than 10 minutes before the operatives attempted to flee. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the breach as a "failure" but stated that troops successfully repelled the attack, resulting in the deaths of at least five Hamas operatives and injuries to three Israeli soldiers, one seriously. According to an updated IDF probe, Hamas operatives emerged from a previously known tunnel about 40-50 meters from the military post, which housed troops from the Kfir Infantry Brigade and the 74th Armored Battalion. The gunmen split into three groups, with two breaching a building within the encampment. During a five-minute exchange of fire inside the building, soldiers killed at least one gunman, while another fled and was killed outside. Additional fighting occurred outside the building with other gunmen. The IDF reported that a tank from the 74th Battalion shelled an unoccupied building that gunmen had entered after observing RPG fire, killing at least two operatives. Another Hamas operative preparing to fire an RPG was killed when a tank rammed into him, and a fourth was killed by armored forces nearby. Approximately three hours after the main engagement, a fifth gunman was spotted attempting to flee and was killed by armored forces. The seriously wounded soldier's condition has since improved, with two others sustaining light injuries. The IDF probe indicated that part of the tunnel used in the attack had been previously demolished. The fighting concluded with the gunmen attempting to retreat back into the tunnel.
