Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, May 18: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday said it has killed a senior Hamas operations commander, claiming he was involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops and civilians amid ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip.

According to the IDF, Bahaa Baroud—described as a commander in Hamas’s operations headquarters—was eliminated in a targeted aerial strike carried out under the Southern Command.

The military said Baroud had been active throughout the conflict and had recently been involved in advancing multiple operational plans against IDF forces deployed in Gaza. It added that he was considered an “immediate threat” and was struck using precision-guided munitions.

The IDF further stated that measures were taken prior to the strike to reduce civilian harm, including aerial surveillance and the use of targeted weaponry.

In related operations, the Israeli military has reported continued strikes against militant infrastructure in the region. Last week, it claimed to have destroyed a weapons production site and storage facility allegedly used by both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The IDF said these facilities were part of broader networks used to manufacture explosive devices and store weapons intended for attacks on Israeli civilians and military personnel.

Over the past month, the military also reported the destruction of approximately 14 kilometres of underground tunnel infrastructure in northern Gaza. According to the IDF, these tunnels were part of an extensive subterranean network used for militant operations and logistics.

Engineering units, including the elite Yahalam unit, have been operating alongside infantry forces under Division 252 as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle underground infrastructure in areas such as Beit Hanoun.

The IDF says these operations are part of a sustained campaign in northern Gaza aimed at degrading militant capabilities and eliminating operational networks used during the conflict.