(IsraelNN.com) IDF forces have permanently ended the threat posted to Israel's southern residents by senior Hamas terrorist Ayman Siam, head of the guerrilla group's rocket and artillery unit in Gaza.

Siam was killed in an attack on his house during a joint IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) operation Tuesday morning in the northern Gaza town of Jebaliya. He was known to be present in the house at the time of the attack.

The terrorist, who was wounded in one of the first IAF air strikes of Operation Cast Lead 10 days ago, founded the Hamas rocket launching program, and was also the head of the organization's artillery program throughout Gaza.

IAF pilots two days ago eliminated the Hamas commander who was in charge of launching last week's Grad Katyusha missile attacks on Be'er Sheva and Ofakim.

They also killed two other senior terrorists in strikes the same day – Muhammad Hilo, head of the Hamas Special Forces in Khan Younis, and Muhammad Shalboch, a member of the Hamas commando forces and a member of a rocket launching squad.