IDF Kills Hamas Rafah Brigade Commander in Southern Gaza Airstrike

The IDF and Shin Bet announced Sunday morning that Samir Mahmoud Hassan Abu Younis, commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, was killed overnight in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the joint statement, Abu Younis had assumed command of the brigade just two months earlier, following the elimination of his predecessor, Nael Abu Obeid, on September 15. Before his appointment, he held several senior positions within Hamas's military operations in Rafah, including deputy brigade commander and commander of the Tel Sultan Battalion.

Senior Hamas Commander Led Operations in Rafah

The IDF and Shin Bet described Abu Younis as a key figure in Hamas's military leadership in the Rafah area. In his role as brigade commander, he was allegedly responsible for directing operatives and planning and advancing attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.

Beyond overseeing military operations, Abu Younis was reportedly involved in efforts to rebuild the Rafah Brigade's military capabilities and restore Hamas's fighting forces. These efforts followed significant losses sustained by the organization during the war, which damaged its infrastructure and weakened its operational capabilities.

IDF Says Southern Command Forces Remain Deployed

Israeli security officials stated that Southern Command forces remain deployed in the area in accordance with the existing agreement.

The IDF and Shin Bet emphasized that they would continue operating against immediate threats to Israel's security.