IDF foils large attack on Khan Younis outpost, kills 10 terrorists & hunts for 8 others

A group of at least 15 Hamas terrorists attempted an ambush of a fortified position of the 90th Battalion, Kfir Brigade in Khan Younis in Gaza on Wednesday morning before being repelled by ground soldiers and IDF drones, the Israeli military announced. 

According to a preliminary investigation, at around 9 a.m. a squad of more than 10 terrorists emerged from a tunnel in southern Khan Younis and approached a forward post of the Kfir Brigade nearby. 

Some of the terrorists managed to enter the post, where they opened fire with machine guns and RPGs. After the Israeli forces identified the large terror squad, IDF drones were deployed to the area, which targeted the squad but only managed to hit some of the militants. 

The IDF estimates that the number of terrorists who participated in the organized attack and attempted to penetrate the outpost is around 15 people – a highly unusual number of terrorists for a single attack, indicating it was well-planned and coordinated.

The ensuing firefight lasted for more than 30 minutes as the soldiers fought off the terrorists and attempted to eliminate them. Three soldiers were wounded in the fighting, with one listed in serious condition, while two others were listed in mild condition. Their families were notified on Wednesday of the injuries.

By the end of the battle, 10 terrorists were killed, while about eight escaped back into the tunnel. The IDF is now searching the shaft to locate and eliminate the remaining squad.

⭕️Earlier today, over 15 terrorists fired both gunfire and anti-tank missiles and attempted to infiltrate a fortified IDF position in Khan Yunis. The troops, with IAF support, eliminated 10 armed terrorists in close-quarters combat.

The incident is ongoing and troops continue to… pic.twitter.com/ra1MekBtsV

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 20, 2025

The military released footage showing drones striking the terrorists and the tunnel shaft used to launch the attack.

Additional videos released by the IDF showed portions of the firefight between the Israeli troops and the terrorists, including terrorists fleeing toward the tunnel entrance. 

תיעוד מיוחד מהקרב של לוחמי צוות הקרב החטיבתי כפיר בחאן יונס pic.twitter.com/hJJdLnoUne

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) August 20, 2025

A video shared online depicted the moment an IDF tank ran over a wounded terrorist holding an RPG before he was able to fire on the unit. 

Ultimately, the raid was thwarted and most of the squad eliminated, but it marked a high-level Hamas attack not seen in recent months.

Footage from this morning's Hamas assault on an IDF base in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, captures a 74th Armored Battalion tank ramming into an RPG-armed militant. pic.twitter.com/QZkLISxglX

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 20, 2025

The squad of terrorists came right to the entrance of the outpost, indicating a possible issue with security patrols at the post. 

“The troops identified more than 15 terrorists who emerged from a tunnel and opened fire, including RPG fire, at the forces,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said during a press conference. 

“In the same incident, several terrorists entered a building where our forces were residing, and the terrorists were eliminated,” he continued. “We are investigating how this occurred and will draw the necessary conclusions.” 

The military assessment is that the terrorists planned to penetrate the outpost and kidnap soldiers. 

On Thursday morning, the IDF acknowledged that, despite repelling the ambush, the attack on the post represented a "failure" by its forces and pledged to quickly learn and apply the necessary lessons.

After an assessment with Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, 36th Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Moran Omer, Kfir Brigade Commander Col. A., among others, Asor noted operational gaps and the need to apply lessons quickly.

The IDF probe indicated that the tunnel from which the terrorists emerged was only 40-50 meters (130-160 feet) from the post, and was known to the military previously though was no longer considered a threat because part of the tunnel had been demolished.

The IDF noted that since the resumption of fighting in March, over 2,100 terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip, and over 10,000 terror targets have been hit by strikes carried out by the Israeli Air Force fighter jets, military drones, helicopters and naval vessels. 

The military reaffirmed that it has achieved operational control over 75% of the Gaza Strip ahead of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, the IDF’s plan for the takeover of Gaza City, presented by Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday.