Photo: To top a week of weapons seizures, the 401st Brigade and Shayetet 13 carried out a raid on Hamas-occupied schools in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City. IDF troops killed Hamas terrorists inside the school compound and then seized hundreds of combat materials, including grenades, assault rifles, RPGs, explosively formed penetrators, and other weapons.
IDF operations intensified against Hamas Gaza, with a focus on dismantling an elaborate terror tunnel network in Hamas’s Elite Quarter” in Gaza City, which connected hideouts and bureaus of Hamas’ senior military and political leadership. This network was subsequently destroyed in a controlled explosion.
The IDF was approaching the final stages of achieving operational control in northern Gaza. Fighting continued in the Daraj Tuffah area, along with less intense fighting in other areas of the northern Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, Hamas’s last main fortress, the IDF intensified its operations and prepared to destroy underground infrastructure.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s continued aggression resulted in an Israeli military casualty, while the IDF continued to strike at Hezbollah terror squads, with Lebanese reports of strikes occurring further north in Lebanon than before. Eighty-six structures in the northern Kibbutz Manara sustained varying degrees of damage since the start of the war, according to the Kibbutz spokesperson, mostly from Hezbollah anti-tank missiles.
Number of Israeli civilian casualties: Over 750
Number of IDF casualties: 485
Number of IDF casualties since the ground offensive on October 28: 153
Number of Israeli police casualties: 58
Number of ISA casualties: 10
Total Israeli casualties since Oct. 7: Over 1300
Israeli Hostages in Gaza: 129
Number of Israeli evacuees in the north: 80,000
Number of Israeli internally displaced people in total: 218,000
Number of rockets launched by Hamas: Over 11,000
Number of terror targets struck in Gaza by IDF: As of October 10, over 22,000 targets
This week’s northern events:
The IDF released footage of a drone that it intercepted over Lebanese waters before crossing into Israeli territory. The interception targeted a threat heading to Israel’s economic waters, and the drone was likely heading toward the Karish offshore gas rig.
Sgt. Amit Hod Ziv, 19, of the 188th Armored Brigade’s 71st Battalion, from Rosh Haayin, was killed by a Hezbollah projectile attack on the Shtula area, and a second soldier was seriously injured.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck areas in Lebanon from where launches were fired against Israel. The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted aerial targets from Lebanon, and IDF artillery responded to threats by striking Lebanese territory.
Anti-tank missiles were launched from Lebanon toward many locations in northern Israel.
The IDF identified and struck Hezbollah terrorist cells and infrastructure in Lebanon. This included military compounds, launch posts, a command center, and a weapons depot. The IDF also responded to mortar launches from Lebanon toward Metula. Hezbollah acknowledged that more than 120 of its operatives have been killed since October 7.
Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon, including firing rockets, missiles, and drones, were highlighted by the IDF as clear violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It was noted that more than 300 of the total munitions fired by Hezbollah fell short inside Lebanon.
Over 80,000 Israeli civilians have been evacuated from their homes in the north due to Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks, which have targeted both civilians and military personnel.
The IDF noted Hezbollah’s offensive activities near UN and Lebanese Armed Forces positions. It mentioned the systematic abuse and dangerous activities of Hezbollah, specifically their firing close to UN positions.
This week’s Southern events:
The IDF announced that 13 of its personnel were killed in Gaza over this past weekend.
The ground operations in north, central, and southern Gaza resulted in the destruction of large quantities of weapons and underground infrastructure. So far, the IDF destroyed and seized approximately 30,000 explosive devices, including anti-tank missiles and rockets that were in Hamas’ possession.
There is an immense amount of weaponry in Gaza, some found in schools, according to the IDF.
The IDF secured the Elite Quarter in Gaza City. This area included a network of tunnels connecting Hamas’ administrative and military leadership’s hideouts, offices, and residences. The operation in this area led to the elimination of around 600 terrorists.
IDF forces conducted ground operations in the Khan Yunis area, focusing on destroying enemy and terrorist infrastructure. Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked about 230 Hamas terror targets in the area, including a compound in Khan Yunis where terrorists were eliminated.
IDF and ISA forces conducted airstrikes to eliminate significant Hamas figures, including the Head of Khan Yunis’s UAV Array and other commanders. A financial report addressed to the Commander of the Hamas’ Khan Yunis Brigade was found, revealing expenses exceeding one million dollars for the production of doors and concrete.
The head of Hamas’s weapons production program was killed in a targeted strike on his vehicle in Rafah.
The IDF added a brigade and additional engineering forces to the operation in Khan Yunis, which is being led by the 98th Division, indicating a deepening of the operation to dismantle Hamas strongholds.
IDF troops conducted targeted raids on terror targets in Khan Yunis, locating and destroying a weapons storage facility and eliminating terrorists. A significant amount of weapons, including explosive devices, rifles, grenades, and military vests, were found and destroyed.
This Week’s humanitarian efforts:
More than 5,100 trucks containing over 90,000 tons of aid, as well as fuel and gas tankers have entered the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war.
More than 53,120 tons of food have entered the Gaza Strip.
Over 15,300 tons of water have entered the Gaza Strip.
More than 9,100 tons of medical supplies have entered the Gaza Strip.
Over 10,540 tons of temporary shelter supplies have entered the Gaza Strip.
This week’s West Bank events:
The IDF conducted continuous security raids in the West Bank, including making arrests and seizing weapons across cities such as Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, and more.
In an operation by the Gideon unit in Qalqilya, two Palestinian terrorists were killed. The IDF held another security raid in Jenin Camp. In Nur Shams, explosives were discovered.
The IDF seized assets of Islamic charity organizations as well as a printing house that printed material for Hamas. Following an exchange of fire in Far’a Camp, several wanted individuals were arrested and a number of armed terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire. A terrorist who shot at IDF forces two days ago in the Judea Brigade area was neutralized. A soldier was moderately injured in the attack. In Tubas, 14 wanted individuals were arrested, and hunting rifles and Carlo rifles were found. An unmanned aerial vehicle attacked terrorists from the air in the Nur Shams Camp.
Red Sea Arena and other arena events this week:
An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq, described as a network of shadow Iraqi militia groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), launched an armed drone towards Eilat. This drone was intercepted by Jordanian air defenses. The militia group, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack on Eilat, stating that they targeted the city with appropriate weapons. Jordan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that it had shot down the drone.
An Israeli-linked ship came under drone attack off the coast of India; Media reports later said the drone was fired directly from Iranian territory.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with the Navy commanders and soldiers operating in the vicinity of the city of Eilat. During the visit, the Minister was briefed on operational and intelligence activities as well as the Navy’s preparations in the face of aerial and naval threats in the Red Sea. Gallant spoke with the men and women on board the Sa’ar 6 about the need to maintain readiness for actions in arenas both near and far.
“The threat to freedom of navigation in the Straits of Bab al-Mandab, two thousand kilometers from the State of Israel, is not only a threat to traffic to Israel but also to international freedom of navigation in waters belonging to all countries,” said Gallant.
“I would like to thank my friend, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, whom I hosted in Israel a few days ago, for leading, on behalf of the United States, the multinational force tasked with ensuring freedom of navigation for all, in the Strait of Bab al Mandab.”
“I have met the men and women in our Navy, the officers and commanders. We will not tolerate threats against the State of Israel. If they continue to provoke us, try to attack Eilat with missiles or by other means, we will know what to do. We are preparing – the troops here are ready for any mission and any command. The State of Israel, through the Navy and the Air Force, will know how to defend itself.”
