ISRAEL has trained a unit of attack dogs to send into Hamas’ vast tunnel network and take down terrorists.
Dramatic footage of a training exercise shows a hound running through a mock-up underground passage before mauling a fighter.
X / @ofirgendelmanFootage shows an Israeli attack dog running through a tunnel during a training exercise[/caption]
X / @ofirgendelmanThe dog then attacks a masked man[/caption]
AFPAn Israeli soldier part of a K-9 unit takes part in a drill at an army urban warfare training facility in January[/caption]
The clip, which is understood to have been taken as part of Israel‘s drills, shows the dog sink its teeth into a masked militant, who screamed loudly.
Specially-trained military canines are part of the Oketz unit – able to sniff out explosives, find entrances and maul terrorists.
It is thought they could be sent into Hamas’ mysterious 311-mile maze of tunnels.
Hidden up to 100ft below the surface, the entrances are enclosed under the floors of homes, mosques and schools – allowing fighters to move unseen between homes and alleyways within Gaza.
It is used by the warped group to transport people and goods as well as store rocks and ammunition.
The tunnels are understood to be connected to launch pits where rockets have been fired from towards Israeli areas.
Hamas’ command and control centres are also housed in the intricate system away from Israel’s watch.
And it’s understood the entire network is heavily laden with booby traps and homemade bombs.
Each tunnel is reinforced with concrete and some are so narrow fighters are unable to stand up in them – yet dogs would be able to run through them easily.
It comes as Israel claims to have encircled Gaza City and split the besieged enclave in two almost a month on from the horror October 7 massacre.
The IDF is determined to topple Hamas terrorists from power in the region – with troops expected to pour into Gaza City in the next 48 hours.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari declared: “Today, there is north Gaza and south Gaza.”
He insisted it was a “significant stage” in Israel’s progress against Hamas militants after more than 1,000 people were slaughtered.
In the past 24 hours, 450 Hamas targets in Gaza were struck by Israeli fighter jets as Israel continues its bombardment of enclave in retaliation for the massacre.
Senior Hamas commander Jamal Mussa – who headed the group’s special security operations – was among those killed, the IDF said.
Israel said its troops had also seized a militant compound and blasted hit “tunnels, terrorists, military compounds, observation posts, and anti-tank missile launch posts”
Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said: “We will take the fight to Hamas wherever they are – underground, above ground.
“We will be able to dismantle Hamas, stronghold after stronghold, battalion after battalion, until we achieve the ultimate goal, which is to rid the Gaza Strip – the entire Gaza Strip – of Hamas”
Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to allow a ceasefire until hostages are released – defying calls from Middle East leaders and the Pope amid concerns over the number of civilian deaths.
The Israeli president insisted: “Our enemies misjudged us. There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages.
“This should be completely removed from the lexicon. We say this to our friends and to our enemies.
“We will simply continue until we defeat them. We have no alternative.”