Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari January 9th, 20:15

Good evening,

In the past day, we delivered a very difficult message to the families of nine fallen IDF soldiers, who were killed during the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Yesterday, we exposed the largest Hamas rocket and weapons production site in Al-Bureij. During the operational activity to destroy the underground infrastructure of the weapons production site, an explosion was caused as a result of tank fire identifying an enemy target. It appears that a tank shell hit a nearby power pole, triggering the charge. As a result of the explosion, six IDF soldiers were killed and fourteen were injured.

Destroying Hamas' military capabilities is a complex but necessary action to achieve the objectives of the war. Our forces perform it patiently, while strictly following the safety rules and maintaining the security of our forces, as was the event in last night's operation. We are examining the event seriously and as quickly as possible, and preliminary lessons have already been passed on to the forces in the field. I know that when you saw on television the forces finding the weapons production site, there were difficult rumors about casualties, injured and dead. We do everything to prevent rumors, to update the families as quickly as possible, and then the public. We will continue to operate this way.

Our hearts are with the families in their difficult time, and we wish a full recovery to the injured.

This is an opportunity to express immense appreciation for all the hospitals in the State of Israel, the doctors, medical teams, and volunteers, who are working day and night to save lives and rehabilitate the injured.

Today, in the north, we eliminated the Hezbollah's commander of southern Lebanon aerial unit, Ali Husin Berji “Abu Maadi”, using an IAF aircraft. Ali led dozens of attacks using UAVs against Israel.

Throughout the day, several launches were carried out from Lebanese territory, two UAVs hit the northern command base. There were no casualties and minor damage was caused. We are reviewing this event. Ali also carried out this attack - and he was eliminated three hours afterwards, along with other operatives who were with him. Additionally, today we eliminated a terrorist squad that was attempting to launch UAVs towards the State of Israel, three terrorists were killed in this strike and their weapons were destroyed.

We will continue to act with determination against any threat to our territory, to claim a price and bring about a difference to the security situation on the northern border.

In the Homefront, I call on the public to continue to follow the updated instructions of the Home Front Command – there is no change in the instructions. We have an excellent air defense system, but the defense is never hermetic. Therefore, we will update you on every event - on the websites and other platforms.

We do not forget for a moment that in the Gaza Strip, 136 hostages are still being held, including dozens of ill, elderly, and injured who are being denied medical treatment, elderly people, over the age of eighty, who do not receive critical medications, children and young women who are held without protection by the violent Hamas terrorists. We care for their physical and mental well-being.

We have a moral obligation to bring them all home, and the entire world has a moral obligation, as the [US] Secretary of State mentioned, to remember them and act to release them from the hands of the terrorists in Gaza who operate with methods worse than those of ISIS.