A dramatic Hamas ambush in Gaza shows IDF tanks destroyed at point-blank range using IEDs and RPGs
Chaos in Khan Younis: Hamas Ambushes at Close Range
On June 20, 2025, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released a video that has since gone viral, showing a point-blank ambush on Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The footage captures a Namer armored personnel carrier (APC) being targeted with a layered assault involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs), RPG-7s, and close-quarters combat.
Table of Contents
The video, reportedly filmed by Hamas fighters, shows militants approaching the IDF vehicle under cover of debris and smoke. Within seconds, a powerful IED detonates beneath the tank, followed by a barrage of RPG fire. The APC is seen engulfed in flames as fighters retreat into nearby alleyways.
According to initial reports, the ambush resulted in at least one IDF soldier killed and ten wounded, though the Israeli military has not officially confirmed the casualty count. The attack is part of a broader Hamas offensive that coincides with Iran’s saturation missile strikes on Israeli air defenses, suggesting a coordinated escalation across multiple fronts.
Urban Warfare Unleashed: Tactical Shift or Desperation?
The ambush marks a tactical evolution in Hamas’ urban warfare strategy. Unlike previous hit-and-run attacks, this operation was meticulously planned, combining IED traps, anti-tank weapons, and real-time surveillance. Analysts believe the group is leveraging the chaos of the Iran-Israel conflict to intensify pressure on Israeli ground forces operating in Gaza.
The use of Namer APCs, considered among the most heavily armored vehicles in the IDF’s arsenal, underscores the severity of the threat. These vehicles are designed to withstand rocket and mine attacks, yet the footage shows one being disabled in seconds, raising questions about vulnerabilities in Israel’s armored fleet.
The IDF has responded with airstrikes on suspected Hamas hideouts in Khan Younis and Rafah, but the ambush has already shifted the psychological balance. Urban warfare experts warn that such close-range, high-impact attacks could become more frequent, especially as Hamas adapts to Israeli tactics.
Regional Fallout: Iran’s Shadow and Global Alarm
The timing of the ambush is no coincidence. It comes amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran, with Tehran launching missile barrages and threatening to expand the conflict beyond Gaza. The footage of the tank ambush has been widely circulated on Iranian state media, portraying it as a symbol of resistance and a blow to Israeli military superiority.
International observers are concerned that the Gaza front is becoming a proxy battlefield in the larger Iran-Israel confrontation. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session, while the United States and European Union have urged both sides to de-escalate.
Meanwhile, the footage has sparked outrage and fear among Israeli citizens, many of whom are demanding greater transparency from the government regarding troop safety and battlefield conditions. The Israeli Defense Ministry has vowed to review its urban combat protocols and reinforce armored units operating in high-risk zones.
Conclusion:
The Gaza ambush is more than a battlefield incident, it’s a flashpoint in a rapidly expanding regional war. As Hamas fighters take the fight to Israel’s most fortified units and Iran fans the flames from afar, the Middle East teeters on the edge of a full-scale, multi-front conflict. In this volatile landscape, every explosion echoes far beyond the battlefield.
Stay updated with the latest news on Rapido Updates. Keep yourself updated with The World, India News, Entertainment, Market, Gadgets, Sports, and many more
Also read – Nuclear Flashpoint: Israel Bombs Iran’s Arak Reactor in High-Stakes Strike Amid Escalating War