Troops of the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade have been redeployed in the Gaza Strip under the command of Division 36 after months of fighting up north on the Lebanese front.
The land forces have operated in the Rafah area over the past week and have killed terrorists and located weapons of the enemy, the IDF said in a statement on Tuesday.
The brigade’s mission is to find and destroy terror infrastructure in the region, including buildings and used by militants as well as observation and firing positions, the statement read.
“IDF forces will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” the army said.
Golani troops entered Southern Lebanon in the beginning of October, following nearly a year of escalating hostilities with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group.
The fighting and dismantling of decades-built terror infrastructure in close approximation to the Israel border lasted until a ceasefire agreement was signed on Nov. 26, 2024, and which came into effect the following day.
The Golani Brigade has recently joined the resumed conflict in Gaza, in the wake of the ceasefire collapse with Hamas in March.
Earlier this month, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that “Operation Strength and Sword” in the Gaza Strip was being expanded, with the IDF deploying another division to the enclave.
Israeli forces will move to secure wider areas to reinforce buffer zones along the border, with the aim of weakening terrorist infrastructure and pressure local communities to distance themselves from Hamas while supporting the return of hostages, he said.