Israeli army says it killed four Hamas members in northern Gaza airstrikes

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said airstrikes in northern Gaza over the past week killed four members of Hamas's military wing and destroyed positions used by the group. According to a written statement, the four were identified as Va'il Mahmoud Ali Lebed and Muaz Muhammad Hasan Ahmed, both part of a Hamas anti-tank unit; Sameh Abu Kmeil, described as a unit commander in the military wing; and Akram Eshref Hammad Lebed, identified as a sniper with Hamas's military wing. The military said the four were killed while carrying out operations they had planned against the Israel Defense Forces. It did not provide further details on the specific incidents in which they were targeted. In a separate strike on Monday, the military said it destroyed tunnels and launch ramps that Hamas had used to carry out operations against Israeli troops and civilians. The statement did not say whether anyone was killed in that operation. The military added that troops under the Southern Command were deployed in the area under the existing agreement and would continue to neutralize any threats. No further details were immediately available on whether the operations took place within the framework of any current ceasefire arrangement.