According to the Israeli military, Israeli aircraft launched strikes in the early hours of Tuesday on targets belonging to Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the group claimed that three of its senior commanders were killed in these attacks, the Associated Press has reported.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported casualties resulting from the airstrikes but did not provide further details.

The Israeli military clarified that the airstrikes specifically targeted the residences of three high-ranking commanders from the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group.

Witnesses reported an explosion occurring on the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City, as well as a house in the southern city of Rafah.

Airstrikes continued during the early hours, focusing on sites used for militant training.

The Israeli army named the operation “Operation Shield and Arrow” and stated that its airstrikes aimed at Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for the northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the intermediary between the group’s Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad’s military council.

The Israeli military added that these three individuals were responsible for recent rocket attacks launched towards Israel.

Written by staff