IDF Hits Hard: Hamas Commander Neutralized in Targeted Attack

On August 22, Israeli Air Force jets, guided by precise intelligence from the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet, conducted a targeted strike in the Gaza Strip, eliminating Mahmoud al-Aswad, a senior commander in Hamas’s General Security Apparatus for western Gaza. Al-Aswad, a pivotal figure in the terrorist organization, was a key source of operational expertise, playing a central role during the ongoing war and for years prior. The strike is part of the IDF’s relentless campaign against Hamas and other terror groups across Gaza, as forces intensify efforts to dismantle their infrastructure.

In northern Gaza, the IDF’s 162nd Division continues operations in Jabaliya and Gaza City’s outskirts, focusing on destroying military infrastructure and neutralizing terrorists. Meanwhile, the 99th Division targets underground and surface-level terror facilities on Gaza City’s periphery, demolishing several observation posts in the past 24 hours that posed threats to Israeli troops. In southern Gaza, the 36th Division, operating in Khan Yunis, collaborated with the Air Force to eliminate multiple terrorists advancing toward IDF positions and destroyed both above-ground and subterranean terror infrastructure. Additionally, the Air Force, directed by the Israeli Navy, struck a maritime weapons storage facility and a repair site in Khan Yunis, crippling Hamas’s naval capabilities.

The operations reflect Israel’s multi-front strategy, with over 4,000 Hamas targets hit in 2025 alone, per IDF data, amid efforts to prevent a repeat of the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,195 Israelis. The campaign also aims to secure the release of 50 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are presumed alive. These actions underscore the IDF’s commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military network, which has exploited Gaza’s civilian areas, including hospitals and schools, for terror activities, according to regional reports.