16 Israeli soldiers have been killed in action since the commencing of the ground operation into the Gaza Strip.
General:
In the north, Hezbollah is continuing its aggression against Israel. Hezbollah’s efforts to strike Israel have increased since the IDF’s incursion into Gaza. The IDF is engaged in a low-intensity military conflict with Hezbollah all along the border. So far, Hezbollah’s activity has been limited to 5 or 10 incidents a day, consisting of rocket fire, ATGM, and mortar attacks, as well as attempts to infiltrate Israel. The counter-offensives of the IDF have killed a significant number of Hezbollah terrorists. Consequently, Israel is at the highest level of preparedness in the northern arena.
As predicted, the ground operation into the Gaza Strip is taking its toll, 16 IDF soldiers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the commencement of the IDF’s ground operation. The IDF’s ground activity in the Gaza Strip continues with greater vigor; since the beginning of the fighting, the IDF has attacked more than 11,000 targets of the Hamas and PIJ terrorist organizations. Last night, combined forces of the IDF attacked many terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including operational headquarters and squads of Hamas terrorists. Along with the increase of ground action by the land forces, a joint multi-armed effort is underway with the navy and air force to neutralize ground attacks and substantially damage Hamas.
The Goals of the War as presented by the IDF:
- Destroying Hamas’ apparatus – No more Hamas rule over the Gaza Strip.
- Annihilating Hamas and PIJ’s military and administrative capabilities.
- Distancing and removing all threats from the Gaza Strip.
- Deterring the enemy from escalating the northern arena: Maintaining stability in Judea & Samaria and throughout Israel.
- Bringing home, the hostages held in Gaza.
– So far, according to the IDF since Saturday morning Oct. 7, 1,400 Israelis were murdered and 5,431 Israelis wounded. 240 confirmed abducted civilians and IDF soldiers (40 of them foreign nationals working in Israel), and very many missing persons. Since the beginning of hostilities, 8,500+ rockets have been launched into Israel.
Operational Updates:
Northern Arena:
-Last night just after midnight, The IDF shot down a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanese territory at an IDF UAV. In response, Air Force aircraft attacked the source of the fire from which the missile was launched as well as the squad that carried out the launch.
-At 14:00 it was reported that terrorists tried to launch an anti-tank missile at Zarit. The IDF attacked the squad with tank fire.
At 15:30 sirens were triggered in Shtula due to the firing of 4 rockets from Lebanese territory. No injuries were reported.
At 16:44 rockets were fired at the Shomera area in the Western Galilee, and the IDF attacked the sources of the fire in response.
-Since yesterday, the total count of Hezbollah terrorists killed since the beginning of hostilities stands at around 50.
Last night an IDF UAV targeted 2 Hezbollah terrorists on a motorcycle in the village of Yater in South Lebanon. One of the terrorists eliminated according to Hezbollah was only 16 years old, confirming Hezbollah’s use of child soldiers. Hezbollah employs motorcycles for hit-and-run attacks, scouting, and dangerous provocations on the border with Israel.
Gaza and Southern Israel:
-Last evening, IDF fighter jets, under the intelligence guidance of the ISA, killed the commander of the Jabalia center battalion in Hamas, Ibrahim Biari, who was one of the leaders of the murderous terrorist attack on October 7. Many Hamas terrorists were eliminated in the attack as well. Since the infiltration of IDF forces into the northern Gaza Strip, Ebrahim Biari has assumed command of all hostilities in that region. He was a participant in the 2004 terrorist attack on the port of Ashdod, which resulted in the deaths of thirteen Israelis. For the next two decades, he oversaw missile fire directed at Israel and organized numerous assaults against our forces.
His elimination was carried out as part of an extensive attack against terrorists and terrorist infrastructures belonging to the Central Jabaliya Battalion, which took over civilian buildings in Gaza City. IDF soldiers identified many Hamas terrorists who were entrenched in a multi-story building in the Jabaliya area of the northern Gaza Strip. The building is located near a school, a medical center, and government offices. The IDF attack severely damaged the command and control of the sector and the direction of terrorist activity against the IDF forces operating in the Strip. As part of the attack, many Hamas terrorists were eliminated. As a result of the attack, the subterranean military infrastructure of Hamas collapsed under these buildings.
–
Based on IDF and ISA intelligence, an IDF fighter jet struck Muhammad A’sar, the Head of Hamas’ Anti-Tank Missile Unit in the Gaza Strip. A’sar was responsible for all of Hamas’ anti-tank missile units throughout the Gaza Strip, commanded the units in routine, and assisted their activity in emergencies.
Under his command, numerous anti-tank missile attacks were carried out against civilians and IDF soldiers.
-In addition, the IDF soldiers identified A vehicle carrying anti-tank missiles while driving towards the forces operating in the Gaza Strip. Following this, the ground forces directed an aircraft that fired at the vehicle. A hit was detected.
– The IDF continues to urge Gaza City inhabitants to move to a safe humanitarian zone in the Gaza Strip’s southwest, in the Al-Mawasi area, where international aid is supplied via the Rafah crossing. Hamas terrorists are attempting to impede their evacuation through persuasion or force, to exploit these civilians as “human shields.”
Hamas has continued to demonstrate its capabilities to launch missiles into Israel in recent days. Today, rockets were launched toward the South and Center, and missiles expected to hit populated areas were intercepted by Israeli air defenses. Since the commencement of the war, the IDF has identified 10% of all missiles launched from within the Gaza Strip as having misfired, killing, wounding, or damaging Gaza residents. The Hamas terrorist organization uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields and launches rockets from civilian infrastructure, areas, and buildings in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian aid:
-Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip remains open for the flow of humanitarian aid carrying, medicine, medical equipment, and food, due to US pressure, Israel increased humanitarian aid, and according to UN statements, dozens of trucks cross into Gaza daily. The IDF emphasizes that all equipment is checked before entering the Strip.
American Secretary of State Blinken stated that the US will try to deliver 100 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing – every day during the week.
In Israel, there are voices of protest against the insertion of humanitarian aid into Gaza, while Israel does not receive any humanitarian aid or information in return regarding the abductees and hostages held by Hamas. Nothing has been done despite repeated petitions to the Red Cross.
-Egypt opened the crossing today to allow some 320 foreign nationals and critically injured to depart the Gaza Strip. Ambulances waiting on the other side of the Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt to evacuate the critically injured. Tomorrow the crossing will stay open for further crossings.
Judea and Samaria:
– IDF forces, the ISA, and the Israel Border Police arrested 46 wanted persons suspected of involvement in terrorist activities throughout the Judea and Samaria Division. 30 of them belong to the terrorist organization Hamas.
-In the Menashe Brigade’s counter-terrorism operation in Jenin, the security forces arrested the terrorist Ata Abu Ramila, who incited, promoted, and financed terrorism; An aircraft attacked terrorists who fired at our forces in the Jenin refugee camp.
Lebanon:
IDF Spokesperson RADM. Daniel Hagari: Over the past few weeks, thousands of Lebanese civilians have and continue to evacuate southern Lebanon, on their own initiative, out of fear that Hezbollah will bring war upon them. Funerals are being held in Shiite villages in southern Lebanon for Shiites who were sent by Nasrallah to ‘defend’ Hamas-ISIS in Gaza. There are many voices heard and seen in Lebanon, both spoken and written, asking why Nasrallah is endangering Lebanon. Why did Hezbollah fight ISIS in Syria and elsewhere, but is now bringing ISIS into Lebanon?
Iran:
The Iranian foreign minister, who is currently visiting Turkey, threatens Israel: “If the attacks on Gaza continue, there will be serious consequences”.
Egypt:
Concurrently, with the establishment of a field hospital, Egypt opened its side of the Rafah crossing to allow some foreign nationals and critically injured to enter its territory.
Yemen:
– Another frontier has emerged in the past few days. Yemen is developing into another front, not unlike the Lebanese front, reflected in the form of missile and UAV launches. Last night IDF air defense fighters intercepted an aerial threat detected in the Red Sea area, south of Eilat. No danger to civilians was detected and no intrusion into Israeli territory was detected. All aerial threats were intercepted outside of Israeli territory. The Iranian Houthi proxy, in Yemen, acknowledged their responsibility. A member of the political bureau of the Houthis, Hazam al-Assad, tweeted on his Twitter account one word in Arabic and Hebrew – “Eilat”.
The ballistic missiles used by the Houthis to target southern Israel appear to be the Burkan-3, an upgrade from the Burkan-2H which has a range of 1200 km. It’s roughly 1700 km from Eilat to the northernmost coastline in Houthi control. Based on the Houthis vehemence to declare war and their weapons supply arrangement with Iran, there is a high probability that the Houthis did indeed intend to hit their target (Eilat) with this barrage of ballistic/cruise missiles, and kamikaze UAVs and not just display a show of force. This would verify that the Burkan-3 with a previously undetermined range and lineage to the limited Iranian Qiam-1, can now reach at least 1700 km – Being southern Israel and all of Saudi Arabia.
In accordance with the events originating from the Red Sea zone and after an assessment of the situation and as part of the increased defense effort in the area, IDF missile boats were deployed in the Red Sea area yesterday.
International Arena:
– Pentagon spokesperson: The United States will send 300 more troops to the Middle East. The force is intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further strengthen American defense capabilities, the forces will not operate in Israel.
– Jordanian foreign ministry in Amman announced that it has recalled its ambassador to Israel in protest of Jerusalem’s conduct in the war against Hamas.
-Bolivia cuts ties with Israel; other Latin American countries recall envoys. Countries blame Israel’s ‘disproportionate’ attack on Gaza and reiterate calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.
