IDF forces, the Infantry Corps, Armored Corps, Combat Engineering Corps, Artillery Coprs, and Intelligence Corps, continue operating throughout the Gaza Strip with support from the Israel Air Force and the Israel Navy.

IDF forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip struck a number of armed Hamas operatives, including a would-be suicide bomber strapped with an explosive belt. Ground troops aided IAF aircraft identifying the location of several rocket launching squads and terror cells planting roadside bombs.

The IAF struck over 60 targets since the morning, including:

• Two rocket launching squads near Jabaliya, shortly after they fired rockets towards the Ashdod region
• Ten launching sites, several of which were hidden underground
• Seven weapons smuggling tunnels
• An anti-aircraft missile launcher
• Approximately ten weapons storage and weapons manufacturing facilities
• Two vehicles used to store and transport weaponry
• Three Hamas outposts

In addition to this, Amir Mansi, the commander of the Hamas rocket launching program in the Gaza City area, was killed today by IDF fire in cooperation with the ISA. Mansi was the leading Hamas authority on the long range Grad missile launching program.

Seven soldiers were lightly wounded in separate incidents.

The IDF will continue to operate against the Hamas terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip according to its operational plans in order to reduce the rocket fire on the south of Israel.

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Summary of IDF Operations Overnight,   Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 8:40 AM

IDF Infantry Corps, Armored Corps, Engineering Corps, Artillery Corps and Intelligence Corps forces continued to operate during the night against Hamas terrorist infrastructure throughout the Gaza Strip.

IDF Ground Forces were involved in a number of incidents in which several armed Hamas operatives were hit. In one of the incidents, snipers opened fire at IDF forces which returned the fire and identified hitting the gunmen. In a separate incident mortar shells were fired at an IDF forces, the force responded with gunfire and targeted the squad of five terror operatives with the support of the IAF.

The IAF attacked over 40 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including the following:

• Ten rocket launching sites
• One anti-aircraft missile launcher
• Fourteen weapon manufacturing and storage facilities
• Five weapons smuggling tunnels
• A number of armed gunmen

Ground Forces reported about 15 terrorists hit in exchanges of fire.

The Israel Navy continued supporting the Ground Forces throughout the night.

A mortar shell was fired into Israel during the night.

Five IDF soldiers were lightly wounded in the overnight fighting.

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Senior Hamas Commander Killed in Gaza Operation

Amir Mansi, the commander of the Hamas rocket launching program in the Gaza City area, was killed today by IDF fire with assistance of the ISA. Mansi was also the leading Hamas authority with regard to the long range Grad missile launching program.

Amongst other activities Mansi directed and actively fired dozens of rockets at Israel, killing and wounding Israeli civilians. Mansi was spotted firing a rocket in the Jabel Rise area during a ground force operation today. The forces opened fire, killing Mansi and injuring two additional terror operatives.