An IDF aircraft bombed a Hamas arson squad on Thursday, killing 22-year-old Abdel Karim Radwan, the leader of the terror cell and injuring three others as they were preparing more incendiary balloons to fly towards southern Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces sent an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to attack the terrorists, who were operating near Khan Younis in southern Gaza near the Rafah close to the border with Sinai.
“Earlier today, a Hamas terrorist squad was launching arson balloons from the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a statement. “In response, an IDF aircraft fired towards the squad.
“The IDF will continue to operate decisively against Hamas-led terror activities, and views any kind of this activity with great severity.”
Mortar shells were [subsequently] launched at IDF troops who were engaged in operational activity near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. “No injuries to IDF soldiers were reported,” said the IDF Spokesperson.