At least 16 Israeli soldiers were wounded on Monday night after their units were caught in a multi-stage ambush in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza, Israeli news outlets reported. According to the accounts, an improvised explosive device disabled an armored vehicle, and additional bombs detonated as rescue teams arrived. Small-arms fire followed the blasts, all of which were powerful enough to be heard in the coastal city of Ashkelon and briefly cut electricity in nearby Sderot. The Israel Air Force dispatched helicopters to evacuate the casualties, including a senior officer and several troops in critical condition. Five helicopters landed at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, and landing pads were cleared at other medical centers to receive the wounded. Sirens that later sounded in the Nir Am area were subsequently described by the military as a false identification. The IDF’s Southern Command has launched an investigation while operations continue in the sector. Israeli media said the force operating in the area belonged to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, which had assumed responsibility for the northern Gaza front only days earlier.