The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet have issued a joint statement confirming the targeted killing of Muhammad Uthayn, commander of Hamas’ Daraj Tuffah Battalion, in an airstrike near Gaza City in northern Gaza. Uthayn took part in the October 7th Hamas-led incursion into Israel and was responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks against IDF forces in Gaza. According to the IDF, his death deals a major blow to the operational capacity of his battalion and is expected to significantly disrupt its ability to conduct further attacks on Israeli troops in the area.