Al-Falahi: The Al-Quds Brigades operation is a simple example of the ongoing battles in Rafah

Military and strategic expert, Colonel Hatem Karim Al-Falahi, said that the scenes broadcast by the Al-Quds Brigades – the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement – are a model and a small part of the battles taking place on the ground in the city of Rafah (southern Gaza Strip).

Saraya al-Quds broadcast scenes of its fighters targeting two Israeli tanks south of the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah city. The scenes showed the presence of three Israeli military vehicles, as two tanks were targeted with RPG shells, despite hearing heavy machine gun fire in the area.

Al-Falahi explained – during an analysis of the military scene in Gaza – that the targeting of these vehicles by the Al-Quds Brigades gives a miniature picture and a small part of the battle taking place on the ground in the city of Rafah, which has been witnessing fierce fighting for 3 months since the occupation army began its military operation there.

The military expert pointed out that the area where the operation took place appeared largely destroyed, which means that it is difficult for the occupation forces to remain there, as it is exposed and the army and its equipment become easy targets for the resistance forces.

He also pointed out that these destroyed areas make it easy for the defending forces to infiltrate and disappear, as well as reach targets easily. Weapons such as the RPG, which appeared in the scenes, can also be used in them easily and effectively.

Fierce battles

In his confirmation that these scenes show a small part of the battle in the city of Rafah, Al-Falahi pointed out the intensity of the battles in this city, where the leaders of the occupation army were talking about their need for a maximum of 3 weeks to accomplish their mission there, while 3 months pass without them achieving any goal of the operation.

The military expert attributed this to the failure of the occupation forces to control all areas of the city at the same time due to its vastness and being built-up areas, as well as the large amount of losses incurred by the occupation army as a result of its deployment inside the city, which means that it is entering a war of attrition.

Al-Falahi also added that the occupation army is forced from time to time, under the impact of the strong resistance strikes, to withdraw to the Philadelphi axis and then attempt to penetrate again into different areas of the city, especially the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood.

The Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah and its surroundings are witnessing increasing qualitative operations by the resistance factions, most notably the Qassam Brigades and the Al-Quds Brigades – the military wings of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements – in addition to joint operations by the two resistance factions against the occupation.

Since the start of the occupation army's large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip in late October, the resistance factions have broadcast footage of their fighters targeting occupation vehicles on various axes of the incursion, varying between hitting tanks with anti-tank shells, detonating others with explosive devices, and setting up successful ambushes.

The operations also included targeting Israeli infantry forces with anti-fortification shells, in addition to sniping and direct engagement operations, and raiding the headquarters of the occupation operations in various areas.