The Israeli military said Monday that it has exposed another terror tunnel running under the Gaza Strip-Israel border. The underground passageway was discovered during the construction of the IDF's subterranean barrier around the enclave, in an effort that is meant to counter Hamas' tunnel enterprise.
Israeli troops are currently investigating the tunnel's route, the military said.
In recent years, Hamas has developed a sophisticated network of concrete tunnels, including many that are built for cross-border attacks against Israel.
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Earlier on Monday, the IDF shot down a small drone that breached Israeli airspace from the Gaza Strip.
The drone was spotted by Israeli radar systems as it was flying over the border in northern Gaza. It was tracked until it was later downed by air defense systems. The IDF recovered the debris for further investigation.
The Hamas terrorist group that rules Gaza has developed a drone program with Iranian assistance. The drones are typically used for reconnaissance along the Israel-Gaza frontier and it's unclear if they are capable of carrying out attacks.
Israel has been constructing the subterranean barrier with Gaza for the past two years. Some 40 kilometers (25 miles) of it have already been completed out of the planned 68 kilometers (42 miles).
Above ground, the new barrier is designed to block Gaza terror operatives' view of the roads and train lines that run along the border and are vulnerable to attacks.
Since Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014, the IDF has detected and destroyed 17 Hamas terror tunnels.
The IDF intends to finish constructing the entire barrier by the end of 2019, in an effort to completely eliminate the tunnel threat from Gaza.
