IDF Kills Hamas Khan Younis Brigade Commander Yazouri

The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Muhammad Yazouri, commander of Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade, in a precision strike in southern Gaza Thursday. Yazouri was responsible for directing terrorist operations and orchestrating attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

According to a joint statement from the IDF and Shin Bet, Yazouri was appointed brigade commander after holding a series of senior positions within the unit, including deputy brigade commander, commander of the combat support battalion, and head of the brigade's intelligence division.

In recent months, Yazouri had been working to advance dozens of terror plots against IDF forces while attempting to rebuild the brigade's capabilities, which suffered severe degradation throughout the war. The IDF emphasized that the elimination was carried out to remove the immediate threat he posed.

Two additional Hamas terrorists from the Khan Younis Brigade were eliminated in the same strike: Khudayfa Mamar, a company commander, and Muhammad Bahjat Raji. IDF forces under Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operating to remove any immediate threats.

The elimination follows a series of operations the IDF has conducted in recent days across Gaza. Last week, the IDF eliminated Muhammad al-Qadi, a Nukhba Force company commander who led the raid on the Sufa outpost during the October 7 massacre and participated in holding hostages in Hamas captivity.

Earlier this week, IDF and Shin Bet forces struck three separate locations across Gaza, destroying three Hamas weapons storage facilities that housed firearms, explosives, anti-tank missiles, and additional combat equipment.

IDF forces in operational activity (Photo: IDF)

Defense officials stress that operational activity in Gaza continues with the aim of degrading the terror organization's military capabilities and preventing the restoration of combat infrastructure. Forces continue to operate decisively to thwart any Hamas attempt to rebuild its military capacity or maintain combat assets intended to harm IDF forces and Israeli civilians.