IDF releases video of airstrikes that killed Islamic Jihad senior members

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Israeli Air Force takes out Iranian backed terrorists in Gaza

Israel's Operation 'Shield and Arrow' shows video of a strike on the commanding officer of the Islamic Jihad terror organization’s Northern Gaza Division, Khalil Bahitini. (IDF Spokesman's unit)

The Israeli military released footage of two precision airstrikes that killed a pair of senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihadist (PIJ) terror group on Tuesday.

The early morning strikes, dubbed Operation Shield and Arrow, took out Khalil Bahitini, the commanding officer of the Islamic Jihad terror organization’s Northern Gaza Division, and Jahed Ahnam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad Military Council. Both men were in the Gaza Strip preparing for a trip to Cairo, Egypt.

The Hamas terrorist group was quick to respond to the airstrikes with threats on Tuesday, saying Israel "will pay the price for its crime." Hamas and the PIJ do not typically work in concert, but Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, warned that "resistance is unified" on Tuesday.

"The enemy made a mistake in its estimations and will pay the price for its crime," he said, according to the Jewish News Syndicate.

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Senior Islamic Jihad terrorist and secretary of the Islamic Jihad Military Council, Jahed Ahnam, was killed in a Tuesday air strike. (IDF Spokesman's unit)

Commanding officer of the Islamic Jihad terror organization’s Northern Gaza Division, Khalil Bahitini, who was also killed Tuesday. (IDF Spokesman's unit)

Israel Defense Forces say a third strike took out Tarek Az Aldin, a senior operative who oversaw communications and coordinated terror attacks in Israeli territories. The IDF did not release footage of that strike.

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Despite ongoing political division in Israel, Tuesday's strikes found a wide base of support in the Israeli Knesset. Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised the move in a Tuesday statement.

"The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip know this morning that the intelligence community and the security forces are following their every move," he tweeted in Hebrew., adding that "a strong Israeli response… is the way to deal with the terrorism from Gaza."

The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that 13 people were killed in the various strikes, including three women and four children. 

"Unfortunately, women and children were killed in the attack. It's hard since the terrorists act in very crowded civilian populations," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Tuesday.

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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed his support for airstrikes that killed three senior terrorist leaders in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

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Lapid will receive a security briefing on the strikes from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.

Netanyahu announced the attack publicly Tuesday afternoon, stating that Israel is prepared to handle any retaliation from Hamas or the PIJ.

Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses his security cabinet over the IDF's Gaza operation. Photo: GPO/ Avi Ohayon (Photo: GPO/ Avi Ohayon)

"Last night, we began Operation Shield and Arrow. In a joint IDF-ISA effort, three senior Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Gaza Strip were eliminated. These arch-murderers were responsible for firing rockets from the Gaza Strip at our territory and for directing terrorism from Judea and Samaria against our citizens," he said. "Our principle is clear: Whoever harms us – we will strike at them and with great force. Our long arm will reach every terrorist at a time and place of our choosing. We are in the midst of a campaign. We are prepared for all possibilities. I suggest that our enemies not test us."