The IDF and Shin Bet announced Friday that they have killed the commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad�s Shejaiya sector in a recent airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

The slain terrorist, identified as Fadl Abu al-Ata, had risen from deputy commander to head of Islamic Jihad�s regional unit during the October 7 assault on southern Israel. According to Israeli authorities, Abu al-Ata �was one of the key coordinators between terror organizations in the Shejaiya sector� and orchestrated �numerous terror attacks against IDF troops.� He is also accused of infiltrating into Israeli territory alongside other militants at the outset of the war last year.

In a separate operation, the IDF reported that they eliminated Hamed Kamel Abd al-Aziz Iyad, an explosives expert in Islamic Jihad�s Turukman Battalion. Israeli officials said Iyad �was responsible for planning and executing terrorist and explosive attacks against IDF forces.�

The strikes form part of ongoing Israeli efforts to target senior Islamic Jihad operatives in Gaza. Both Abu al-Ata and Iyad were considered high-value targets due to their roles in coordinating cross-border incursions and attacks on Israeli soldiers.

The IDF said it will continue its campaign �against those who threaten Israeli civilians and soldiers� and emphasized the precision nature of the strikes to minimize civilian harm.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)