Israeli commandos dressed as women have eliminated senior terror commander Ahmed Sarhan in a dramatic raid in southern Gaza.
The IDF special forces targeted Ahmad Sarhan, a commander in the military wing of the Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees, the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades.
The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) is Gaza’s third-largest terrorist organization, after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group. All three participated in the Hamas-led invasion of Israel and massacre of 1,200 people, alongside the abduction of 251 others, on October 7, 2023.
The PRC also took part in the 2006 abduction of then-IDF soldier Gilad Shalit together with Hamas and the Salafist ‘Army of Islam’ group.
Arab media reported the fighters traveled to Sarhan’s home in Khan Younis wearing Arab women’s clothing – including some who were veiled — in a bus with local plates disguised as transport for displaced Gazans.
Once they left the bus, the “women” commandos stormed Sarhan’s home and opened fire, killing him. They then arrested the terrorist’s wife and children.
The Israel Air Force provided intensive air support for the operation, which took just 20 minutes from start to finish.
According to Palestinian Authority media, the safe exit of the special forces was covered by more than 30 air strikes, plus additional fire from combat helicopters and tanks. Dozens were allegedly killed and wounded during the extraction of the forces.
“The kidnapping of the wife and son of the martyr Ahmed Sarhan and their use as human shields during the withdrawal are a violation of international law and international conventions,” Hamas said in an official announcement responding to the operation. “We call on the international community to act immediately for their release.”
Hamas Khan Younis Battalion Commander Mahdi Kawara was also eliminated at around the same time. Due to “fog of war” it is unclear whether he was taken out during the same operation or in a separate battle.
Also on Monday, the IDF issued a strongly worded evacuation warning to the residents of Khan Younis declaring the entire city and the eastern area of the governorate to be a combat area.
“Urgent to the residents of Khan Younis, Bani Suhaila and Abasan Governorates: The IDF will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organizations in this area. You must evacuate immediately west to the Mawasi area,” the warning read.
“From this moment, Khan Younis Governorate will be considered a dangerous combat zone.”
