Military dog uncovers hidden rocket arsenal deep in Gaza tunnel

An Israeli military dog from the elite Oketz unit has uncovered dozens of rockets concealed deep underground in a tunnel in southern Gaza. The dog, equipped with a camera and detection equipment, navigated the underground passages and located the hidden weapons cache, which was subsequently destroyed by Israeli forces.Following the dog’s discovery, paratroopers, combat engineers and sappers from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) moved in to demolish the tunnel system. The operation comes as part of ongoing Israeli efforts to prevent Hamas from reconstituting its military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.The Oketz unit, Israel’s primary military dog unit, specialises in detecting explosives, weapons and other threats. Dogs have proved particularly effective in tunnel operations, where their acute sense of smell and ability to navigate confined spaces make them invaluable for identifying hidden weapons and identifying potential dangers to soldiers.The discovery highlights the continued challenge facing Israeli forces in locating and neutralising Hamas’s remaining military assets hidden throughout Gaza’s extensive tunnel network. Hamas has invested heavily in underground infrastructure, using tunnels both for defensive purposes and to store weapons systems.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.