The IDF announces: two of the Hamas battalions in Rafah - on the brink of a decision, so far operational control of 60-70% of Rafah's territory has been achieved.
With two other battalions a continuous battle is being waged and they will be decided later.
According to the IDF, 50% of the Rafah Brigade in Hamas has been defeated, and now the forces in the field are working to continue and complete the mission. The assessment: It will take a few more weeks to complete the Rafah Division's decision.
The IDF located in Rafah the "most complex" underground space located in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war.
This is an underground route located in the NPK neighborhood, which belongs to the commander of the Rafah Brigade in Hamas, and the forces went in to conduct an underground battle, during which they encountered terrorists and many explosives. All the terrorists were eliminated - and there were no casualties to our forces.
The NPK neighborhood is defined by the IDF as the "Hamas stronghold" in Rafah, the forces located there many types of IEDs, lathes, large combat complexes that were completely captured.
A senior officer described it this way: "Captured houses became trapped neighborhoods. There were houses with passageways in the walls and closets, cameras in almost every alley and in every room - to help terrorists who wanted to harm our forces.'
So far since the beginning of the fighting in Rafah, the IDF has gained operational control over several areas: the neighborhoods of Brazil, Shavora, NPK, the Philadelphia axis all the way to the sea, and the area between Philadelphia and Tel Sultan.
Division 162 has so far eliminated about 550 terrorists in Rafah, during 40 days of fighting.
The division located in the area 25 routes of underground tunnels that reach the Egyptian border, and it is estimated that these are smuggling tunnels that cross into Egypt. A total of more than 200 underground shafts were located in the area.
The division lost in Rafah 22 fighters who fell in the battles.