Israeli Air Force Strikes Over 170 Targets as IDF Expands Offensive in Gaza City

By: Fern Sidman

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday that its forces had struck more than 170 targets across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, marking a sharp intensification of the latest phase of operations against Hamas. The air campaign, coordinated with advancing ground divisions in Gaza City, illustrates Israel’s determination to dismantle what military officials describe as the “remaining core infrastructure” of Hamas and to prevent the militant group from regrouping or launching further attacks on Israeli territory.

According to the IDF, the Israel Air Force (IAF) directed concentrated strikes on terror operatives, weapons depots, booby-trapped buildings, and tunnel networks across the enclave. Gaza City, long described as Hamas’s central stronghold, bore the brunt of the assault as Israeli troops pressed deeper into contested neighborhoods.

Among the most notable operations were those conducted by the IDF’s 98th Division, which is spearheading the advance into northern Gaza. The division directed precision drone strikes on approximately 20 separate targets inside Gaza City.

The military confirmed that one of the strikes eliminated a senior Hamas operative who had been preparing a bombing attack against Israeli forces. In addition, other gunmen were killed in the drone campaign, and one strike destroyed a weapons depot believed to have stored explosives and small arms for use in urban ambushes.

Commanders emphasized that the use of drones allowed for rapid, surgical action against threats in densely populated areas, minimizing risk to Israeli troops on the ground while enabling constant surveillance of enemy movement.

The IDF further reported that the 162nd and 36th divisions have been engaged in parallel operations in Gaza City, clearing buildings and neutralizing Hamas infrastructure. Both divisions, seasoned in urban warfare, have confronted a maze of tunnels, barricaded positions, and improvised explosives designed to slow Israel’s advance.

Over the past day, these units killed additional operatives and demolished key Hamas outposts that had been converted into firing positions. One senior officer described the campaign as “methodical and relentless,” intended not only to degrade Hamas’s capacity but to assert control over areas long considered ungovernable.

Complementing the ground and air operations, the 215th Artillery Regiment carried out a series of strikes on Hamas positions that had been prepared for ambushes against advancing IDF troops. According to the military, artillery fire was used against open terrain and staging areas, ensuring Israeli ground forces could continue their advance with reduced exposure to hidden threats.

The IDF has consistently emphasized the integration of its various branches — air, ground, artillery, and intelligence — in order to maintain operational tempo and ensure that no single unit is left vulnerable to Hamas’s guerrilla tactics.

The strikes represent one of the heaviest single-day bombardments since the current stage of fighting began. Israeli officials say that Gaza City, with its dense urban terrain and extensive tunnel systems, continues to serve as the command and control hub for Hamas’s leadership.

By directing such a large volume of strikes in a single day, the IDF aims to disrupt Hamas’s ability to coordinate attacks, resupply units, and sustain morale. The destruction of depots and command centers, combined with targeted eliminations of field operatives, is intended to deliver a decisive blow ahead of further Israeli advances.

While the IDF has long maintained superiority in the air, the scale of Thursday’s strikes illustrates a shift toward more aggressive synchronization with ground operations. Military analysts argue that Israel’s strategy in Gaza City now combines three complementary aims:

Neutralization of Hamas’s fighting force. This includes direct strikes on operatives, targeted killings of mid-level commanders, and disruption of logistics networks.

Destruction of infrastructure: Hamas’s reliance on underground tunnels, fortified buildings, and hidden depots has allowed it to survive previous rounds of fighting. Systematic demolition of these assets is now central to Israel’s approach.

Support for advancing troops: By maintaining constant pressure from the air and artillery, the IDF seeks to shield its soldiers from ambushes while sustaining momentum inside hostile territory.

An IDF spokesperson described the effort as “a comprehensive offensive, above ground and below ground, against the heart of Hamas’s operational capacity.”

Despite these advances, Israeli forces continue to face formidable challenges. Hamas’s extensive tunnel network allows its fighters to reemerge unpredictably, while civilian areas remain interwoven with military sites.

Israeli commanders stress that their units are employing precision weaponry and intelligence-based targeting in an effort to distinguish combatants from non-combatants. Leaflets, text messages, and phone calls have also been used in recent weeks to encourage civilians to evacuate active combat zones.

Nevertheless, the risk of civilian casualties remains high, and international scrutiny of Israel’s campaign continues to mount. Military officials insist that responsibility lies with Hamas, which deliberately embeds operatives and weapons within civilian neighborhoods.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that Israel’s operations in Gaza will not be curtailed until Hamas’s capacity to wage war is decisively broken. The IDF’s announcement of 170 strikes in one day — combined with the elimination of specific operatives preparing imminent attacks — underscores Israel’s determination to maintain pressure on the group.

For the families of the 48 hostages still believed to be in Hamas captivity, each new phase of the campaign carries both hope and dread: hope that the collapse of Hamas’s infrastructure may accelerate negotiations, and dread that the hostages remain vulnerable as combat intensifies.

The IDF has made clear that the offensive in Gaza City is far from over. With three divisions now engaged in simultaneous operations, military planners suggest that the coming weeks could see a decisive phase of combat aimed at eliminating Hamas’s central command.

Whether the group can withstand such pressure remains to be seen. But Thursday’s campaign, with its scale and precision, reflects Israel’s growing confidence in its intelligence and operational capabilities.

As one senior officer told reporters, “Every day Hamas loses more operatives, more weapons, more ground. Their ability to project power is shrinking, and our determination is growing. This is not just another round of fighting — this is a fight for Israel’s long-term security.”

The past day’s events mark a significant escalation in Israel’s war against Hamas. With more than 170 targets struck, including operatives preparing imminent attacks and the destruction of critical infrastructure, the IDF has demonstrated both its reach and its resolve.

The combination of drone strikes by the 98th Division, ground maneuvers by the 162nd and 36th divisions, and artillery fire from the 215th Regiment shows the full spectrum of Israel’s military power brought to bear against Hamas’s entrenched positions in Gaza City.

For Israel, the offensive is as much about safeguarding its own civilians as it is about reshaping the strategic landscape in Gaza. As the campaign continues, it is becoming increasingly clear that the IDF’s objective goes beyond temporary deterrence. The goal is nothing less than the dismantling of Hamas’s war machine — a mission that, judging from the scale of Thursday’s operations, is being pursued with relentless focus.