The military wing of Hamas, known as the al-Qassam Brigades, has released footage showcasing a significant operation conducted in Rafah on Sunday.

The operation featured their anti-armor force successfully targeting and destroying a heavily armored personnel carrier (APC).

This marks a pivotal moment in the resistance against the ongoing Israeli incursion into Rafah, as it represents the first deployment of an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in the area by al-Qassam forces.

According to the released footage, al-Qassam fighters observed Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stationed near the Palestinian-Egyptian border. They then launched an ATGM, specifically referred to by their Military Media Unit as the "Red Arrow," which is a variant of the Chinese-developed HJ-8 ATGM.

The target of the missile was an Ofek APC, a vehicle adapted from earlier versions of the Merkava main battle tank, primarily used for command and control purposes and equipped with advanced communication systems.

The video footage captures the precise moment when the HJ-8L missile, a lighter version designed for easier transportation but with robust armor-penetration capabilities, struck the Ofek vehicle, causing it to erupt in flames.

Following the attack, Israeli troops were seen evacuating the area while rescue teams were dispatched to the scene to attend to casualties and assess the damage caused by the destroyed APC.

In response to the rescue efforts, al-Qassam fighters subsequently launched Rajoum 114 mm rocket artillery shells towards the rescue forces.

The challenging terrain of Gaza, characterized by densely populated urban areas, typically makes the use of ATGMs less favorable for Palestinian resistance factions. These factions have historically relied on improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and close-range confrontations, often deploying locally-produced and imported rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). (ILKHA)