JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli forces eliminated two terrorists who facilitated the smuggling of weapons and military equipment into the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency announced Thursday.

The strike took place Wednesday in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza and targeted Basel Nabil Abd al-Rahman Kashta and Ahmad Raja al-Shaer, according to the joint statement. The men were involved in procuring and trading weapons while advancing smuggling operations into the territory.

The terrorists were killed to remove an immediate threat to Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in the Yellow Line area, officials said. Steps were taken before the strike to mitigate civilian harm, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

Security forces continue efforts to degrade Hamas’ military buildup and financing capabilities in order to prevent the rehabilitation of the group’s infrastructure, the announcement stated. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue operating to remove any immediate threat.