In a recent statement,  Al-Qassam Brigades revealed that the airforce had been engaged in battle since the early hours of  Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

They revealed that 35 al-Zouari suicide drones were employed in different combat sites: attacking different enemy positions 

Al-Qassam Brigades shared footage of the al-Zouari suicide drone attacking Israeli positions to distract the Iron Dome. The drone offered aerial support for the resistance fighters to cross into the occupied Palestinian territories of the Gaza envelope. 

#Watch | Al-Qassam Brigades publishes footage of the Al-Zouari suicide drones that were used in attacking Israeli positions during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. #Palestine #Gaza #طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/9lDYSxgfgx

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 8, 2023

The suicide drones were dubbed Al-Zouari in reference to the late Martyr Mohamed Zouari a Tunisian aerospace engineer who was assassinated by the Mossad in 2016. He left Tunisia for Syria in 1991 where he joined the ranks of Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, supervising the drone manufacturing program.  

Read more: Israeli death toll nearing 1,000: Israeli media

In an earlier statement today, the brigades announced that five speedboats carrying al-Qassam Brigades navy commandos from Gaza landed in occupied territories during the first stages of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday morning. 

The statement said the special forces were able to execute a beach landing to the south of Askalan, taking control of several areas.

The fighters were able to engage and confront targets, costing the enemy severe casualties, as several of these fighters continued to fight occupation forces for more than 30 hours since the operation was launched, the statement read.

#WATCH | Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media posted a video depicting the first instances of yesterday's #OperationAlAqsaFlood.

The clip depicts the neutralization of Israeli Watch towers with drones and a rocket barrage to distract Iron Dome timed with sending in Para-gliders. pic.twitter.com/a5XhhFQrzL

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 8, 2023

Read more: Hamas calls for mobilization among all Palestinian people

Abu Obeida: Our fighters are heroically confronting the IOF

Earlier, Abu Obeida, the military spokesperson of al-Qassam Brigades, said the Brigades' fighters continue to fiercely and heroically confront Israeli occupation forces on several fronts, dealing casualties among enemy lines.

He also confirmed that al-Qassam Brigades' leadership was able to replace some of its forces in the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that the Resistance successfully executed several infiltration operations in the past few hours.

Moreover, a previous statement released by the Brigades revealed that its fighters continue to confront Israeli occupation forces in Envelope settlements, the Resistance group stated.

#BREAKING | Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli media is talking about about 170 Israeli prisoners and “missing” persons. pic.twitter.com/tDrsV9Sf1h

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 8, 2023

Fighters of the Brigades are engaged in "fierce confrontation in several sites" including "Ofakim", "Sderot", "Yad Mordechai", "Kafar Azza", "Be'eri", "Yated", and "Kissufim".

The statement revealed that its artillery detachments are supporting the fighters with cover fire, as they utilize artillery rockets to this end.

In another statement, Hamas' military wing said it was able to reinforce and provide supplies to the fighters on several fronts overnight and in the early morning, which encompassed the "Sufa" military site and kibbutz, as well as "Yated" and "Holit".

Read more: 15 Israeli settlers killed by Resistance gunfire in Askalan