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Middle East conflict

Israeli military says Hamas lost control of northern Gaza

Several battalions of the Palestinian group suffered significant damage in terms of their operational combat capability, the army press service reported

TEL AVIV, November 13. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces said Hamas’ military organization has collapsed in the north of the Gaza Strip.

"As of now, the Israel Defense Forces has focused the military operations of its ground forces in the north of the Gaza Strip. As part of them, Israel Defense Forces ground units are fighting in areas where several battalions of the [Hamas] terrorist organization are holed up. The battalions have suffered significant damage to their operational capability and Hamas military organization in the northern Gaza Strip has essentially ceased to function," the IDF said.

According to the Israeli military, before the start of hostilities, Hamas units in the Gaza Strip numbered 30,000 fighters, which were grouped into five regional brigades, 24 battalions and approximately 130 companies. They possessed combat skills in engineering, anti-tank warfare, sniping, and had anti-ship and air defense units.

"By now, the Hamas terrorist organization has suffered significant damage to its command system, at the level of junior commanders, battlefield equipment and intelligence assets," the IDF said.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas regards the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and has started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank. Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari on October 27 said the ground operation in the Gaza Strip was expanding.

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Palestine Israel

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