Tel Aviv, March 23 -- Israeli soldiers completed the encirclement of Tel al-Sultan in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, targeting Hamas terror infrastructure and eliminating multiple operatives, the Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday.

Overnight, forces raided a command and control center used by Hamas in recent months.The IDF has established evacuation routes for civilians to leave the combat zone safely. The military stated it will continue operations against terrorist organizations in Gaza to safeguard Israeli civilians.

The operation aims to dismantle terrorist strongholds and expand the security zone in southern Gaza.

Earlier in the day, the army said it launched a ground operation against Hamas in the northern Gaza town of Beit H...