Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-September 18, 2025

Earlier today, during an operational activity in the Rafah area carried out by the Dekel Battalion of the 261st Brigade combat team / Officers’ Training School, an officer and three of the battalion’s soldiers fell:

Maj. Omri Chai Ben-Moshe; Lt. Ron Arieli; Lt. Eitan Avner Ben-Itzhak; and Lt. Eran Shelem, of blessed memory.

We embrace the families and share in their grief at this difficult time.
In the incident, one soldier was seriously wounded and two additional soldiers were moderately wounded.
I would like to send wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.
The soldiers of the 261st Brigade have been fighting bravely throughout the war. These are painful moments for all of us.

The unit was hit as a result of an explosive device detonation during an offensive activity in the Al-Junaynah area in Rafah.

IDF troops are operating in the Al-Junaynah neighborhood and are dismantling terrorist infrastructure. Underground terrorist infrastructure remains in the area that has not yet been neutralized. The troops are operating to dismantle them.

This afternoon, in the Central Command arena, a terrorist arrived at the Allenby Crossing and began firing upon arrival at the crossing.
The terrorist came from the Jordanian side of the crossing in a truck carrying humanitarian aid. The terrorist opened fire prior to inspection of the vehicle. As a result of the shooting there are two fatalities. We mourn their deaths and embrace their families at this time. 

Over the past 24 hours, our soldiers, in both mandatory service and reserves, expanded combat in Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. I want to remind you: the goal of this operation is the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ rule.

The IDF led by the Southern Command, continue to advance toward the center of Gaza City. The units under the 98th Division are advancing in the western part of the city; the units under the 162nd Division are deepening their activity; and the 36th Division is expected to join the ground operation in the coming days.

Units under the 99th Division continue operations in the northern Strip, and units under  the 143rd Division (the Gaza Division) are operating in defense and offense in southern Gaza. Our units continue to strike terrorist infrastructure and Hamas operatives above and below ground.

Since the start of the second phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, we have already struck more than 1,200 terrorist targets.

Alongside the fighting, and despite Hamas’ attempts to violently obstruct civilian evacuations, the IDF continues to enable humanitarian assistance and population evacuation for their protection from Gaza City.

The movement southward is being carried out via two main routes, which can be seen on the screen now: the coastal route and an additional evacuation corridor we opened near the Salah al-Din route.

To date, we estimate that more than 450,000 of the city’s residents have moved  southward.

We remain in a multi-front defense operation and continue to strike and defend at all times in multiple arenas, near and far.

This week we struck the Port of Hodeidah in Yemen, which constitutes a strategic asset for the Houthi terrorist regime.

In addition, just a short time ago Air Force aircraft struck terrorist targets in southern Lebanon.

The IDF will act wherever required, will eliminate every threat to the State of Israel, and will prevent attempts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure, in Lebanon, in Yemen, and elsewhere.

IDF soldiers, and reservists alike, have been fighting across seven arenas for almost two years.

Mandatory service soldiers and reservists alike, continue to mobilize round after round because the mission is not yet complete.

I want to address the soldiers and their families from here: we salute you. You and your families stand up time after time with dedication despite the difficulties. This week I met the “Schwarzer” team from the 11th Brigade before their entry into another combat rotation in the Gaza Strip. The team lost soldiers and family members from within the team, comrades who fell in battle.

They embody the Israeli spirit; they are the spirit of victory leading our soldiers in battle; the people of Israel owe them so much.

This evening the 48 hostages are at the forefront of our thoughts, the living and fallen, who are being held in Hamas’ tunnels.

IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip and the IDF as a whole, continue to do everything to bring them home. Their return is a moral and ethical duty. We will not stop, we will not relent, and we will spare no effort until all our hostages are returned.

Thank you very much.