DAY 430 OF THE WAR: Seven Israeli Soldiers Fall, Houthis Drone Strikes Yavne, Israel Destroys Syrian Army Equipment, Netanyahu Holds Combative Press Conference

Tel Aviv Diary, December 9, 2024

After a day filled with optimism, the harsh realities of our existence once again overshadowed our spirits. The day began with grim news, tragic and seemingly avoidable. Four soldiers lost their lives in what currently appears to have been an accidental tunnel collapse in South Lebanon. A little before noon, the ominous sound of a helicopter overhead reminded us of the gravity of the situation—a usual harbinger of a military helicopter hastening a critically injured soldier to the nearby Ichilov Hospital.

This evening, the Army released the names of three soldiers who were killed in Northern Gaza while boarding a truck to exit the area. In addition to the fatalities, 15 soldiers were injured in the incident. The three soldiers killed in Gaza have been identified as Staff Sgt. Ido Zano (20), a combat medic from Yehud-Monosson; Staff Sgt. Barak Daniel Halpern (19), a squad commander from Kiryat Ono; and Sgt. Omri Cohen (19), from Ashdod. All three were members of the Givati Brigade.

These soldiers were just moments away from reaching safety and exiting the Gaza Strip when the tragedy occurred. Yesterday, a friend from the U.S. asked me if people here were pleased with the news from Syria. I replied, “Yes, but with a certain skepticism.” It’s difficult to feel truly happy these days, when bad news seems ever-present.

The four soldiers killed in Lebanon were identified as Maj. (Res.) Evgeny Zinershain (43), from Zichron Yaakov; Capt. (Res.) Sagi Ya’akov Rubinshtein (31), from Kibbutz Lavi; Master Sgt. (Res.) Binyamin Destaw Negose (28), from Beit Shemesh; and Sgt. First Class (Res.) Erez Ben Efraim (25), from Ramat Gan. All were members of the reserve paratrooper brigade, operating in the village of Lavona in Western Lebanon.

According to preliminary findings, the soldiers were engaged in ongoing IDF operations in Lebanon, which continue, seemingly alongside the current ceasefire agreement. These operations are focused on eliminating the remaining Hezbollah tunnels in the area. Yesterday afternoon, the reservists entered an underground tunnel that housed a significant stockpile of Hezbollah arms. This tunnel, located in the dense terrain of Lavona, has been an area of active IDF operations for several months. Upon entering the tunnel, a booby trap was triggered. It is believed that this trap was set by IDF forces several months before during earlier operations. The critical issue under investigation is why the soldiers were unaware that the tunnel was rigged with explosives.

The explosion also detonated Hezbollah’s weaponry stored within the tunnel, igniting a fire and causing a collapse that trapped the soldiers beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts, lasting approximately 12 hours, involved specialized units from the Home Front Command’s rescue division and firefighting services. After the arduous operation, all injured personnel were evacuated, but tragically, four soldiers lost their lives. The IDF has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident to ascertain the causes of this tragedy.

Amid the ongoing combat in Gaza and operations in Lebanon, the names of seven more fallen soldiers were added to the roster in a conflict that should have concluded long ago—a conflict that now yields only diminishing returns.

HOUTHIS

This morning, reports emerged of an explosion in a building in the town of Yavne, located approximately 40 miles south of Tel Aviv. It was soon confirmed that a drone had directly struck the terrace of a top-floor apartment. Fortunately, the residents were not home at the time. Although the family’s dog was found frightened and trembling, it was unharmed.

SYRIA

Meanwhile, systematic efforts are underway to dismantle all strategic equipment and armaments abandoned by the Syrian army. The objective is to prevent any advanced weaponry, including tanks, from falling into the hands of the potentially Islamist new government. Over the past three days, the Air Force has conducted hundreds of sorties, targeting a detailed list of strategic assets across Syria. Additionally, the Army is reinforcing its troops along the demilitarized zone on the border.

The IDF has also renewed contact with Druze villages near the border, with whom communication was established during the Civil War. The hope is to secure their cooperation in preventing Islamist forces from approaching the border, in exchange for support and assurances. This delicate situation reflects the complexities and ongoing challenges in maintaining regional stability.

Signs from Syria itself remain ambiguous as a temporary government is being established. Currently, most of the new transitional government’s efforts seem concentrated on liberating prisoners, some of whom are still trapped. For the first time, the Arab world is witnessing some of the horrific actions of the Assad regime and the appalling conditions under which the prisoners were held.

NETANYAHU PRESS CONFERENCE

Tonight, Netanyahu held his first press conference in three months. In his remarks, Netanyahu discussed what he described as “the successes of the war”. During the question-and-answer session, Netanyahu raised his voice repeatedly to criticize the ongoing investigations into his actions, labeling the probes to be “a politically motivated witch-hunt”. The Prime Minister also declared that “the nation is not stupid; they see what is going on.” Netanyahu sharply criticized one of the reporters, accusing her of spreading falsehoods on national television about contradictory statements he allegedly made to two different hostage families. Following his blunt and accusatory outburst, Netanyahu did not permit the reporter to respond. Shortly thereafter, the reporter reaffirmed her report and clarified her sources in more detail. She received support from all her colleagues, who defended her work ethic and the accuracy of her reporting

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When asked about establishing a National Commission of Inquiry to investigate the failures of the October 7 war, Netanyahu reiterated that such a commission would only be considered after the war ends and must be accepted by the nation. In response to a question regarding why the ongoing war in Gaza has not ended and the hostages have not yet been brought home, Netanyahu stated, “Because we have not eliminated Hamas, and as long as we do not do this, we cannot end the war.” It's disheartening; I don't see how we can recover our hostages with this approach.

GANTZ SPEAKS

Last night, I attended a conversation featuring former Defense Minister and leader of the Unity Party Benny Gantz, along with five other panelists. The intended topic was the feasibility of reaching an agreement with Saudi Arabia. Although the event had been scheduled weeks in advance, the conversation inevitably centered around the recent events—the fall of Assad

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