This weekend, fighting has continued on multiple fronts. In the North, Hezbollah fired rockets at various targets along our border. Israel responded with air attacks that resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah squads. Interestingly, 80% of the rockets fired today by Hezbollah landed inside Lebanon. Additionally, all attempts by Hezbollah to use anti-aircraft missiles to down Israeli aircraft have failed.
There were several attacks inside Syria, attributed to Israel by the Syrians. One of these strikes, deep along the Syrian-Iraq border, reportedly resulted in 20 deaths and 29 injuries. Another attack targeted an airport near Halib. A third attack occurred on Thursday night near Damascus, where 11 high-ranking members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were reportedly killed. Reports also indicate the American conducted attack in Albu Kamal, Syria, which killed four members of Hezbollah. Tonight, reports revealed that US planes had attacked pro-Iranian militias in Dir El Sur, Syria.
In Gaza, fighting continued throughout the Strip, in the North, the Central Camps, and Khan Younis, in the South. To provide a detailed account of the fighting in Gaza, I will quote the Army spokesperson's statement on the last two days of combat and include some of the videos they released in Israel.
During operations in Shuja'iyya in the northern Gaza Strip, fighters from Collection Battalion 414 identified a group of terrorists operating close to them, including one armed with an RPG. An Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked and eliminated the group under the guidance of the fighters.
As part of the operations of the 14th Reserve Brigade Combat Team in Gaza City area during the last day, IDF fighters eliminated dozens of Hamas terrorists. In four different engagements conducted by the forces, over 15 armed terrorists were killed from the air, in less than three hours. Following battles conducted by the fighters, additional terrorists were killed in the Gaza City area.
In the operations of the 551 Brigade Combat Team in the Beit Lahiya area, in the northern Strip, IDF reservist fighters of the Combat Team destroyed two military buildings used by the Hamas terrorist organization. Before the attack on the buildings, the fighters located numerous weapons at the site, including explosives, weapons, military equipment, and communication devices.
In additional operations in the area, IDF fighters identified two enemy lookouts in a building near their forces. After positively identifying the terrorists, an armored unit fired from a tank at the building, eliminating the lookouts.
In another operation, Hamas operatives, who had taken refuge in a school along with civilians, were confronted by the Combat Team of Brigade 188. This team conducted a raid and arrested dozens of Hamas terrorists inside a school in Al-Bureij.
Since the beginning of the week, the Brigade 188 Combat Team has been active in the Al-Bureij camp in the central camps area of the Gaza Strip. During their operations, they encountered numerous attackers from buildings and civilian-populated areas. The Brigade's fighters discovered and destroyed four rocket launchers and uncovered nine tunnels.
Last Thursday, intelligence was received about many Hamas operatives fortifying themselves in a school along with civilians. They used the civilian presence to launch RPGs and light weapons at IDF forces, while shielding themselves with women and children. Led by their commander, the Brigade 188 Combat Team stormed the school, arresting the Hamas operatives and taking them for further investigation by Israel’s Security Forces.
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Today, fighters from the Brigade 7 Combat Team advanced southward and raided Hamas’s military headquarters in Khan Younis, including their military intelligence command center. This center is responsible for all of Hamas's intelligence operations in the area. The IDF forces found valuable documents at the raided targets. Additionally, they discovered a command center of the Palestinian Jihad terrorist organization within the same military intelligence compound.
The IDF recently revealed that over this past weekend, they successfully destroyed the underground command center of Yahya Sinwar. There is a growing perception that the IDF has been making steady progress in recent days. However, as many continue to point out, pursuing a military solution without a corresponding political plan is the recipe for a disaster waiting to happen.
The IDF announced the deaths of two more soldiers today, in addition to the death that was reported on Friday.
There were car-ramming attacks both yesterday and today. On Friday, four people were struck by a car at the Adorayim Junction, north of the Otniel (West Bank) settlement. One person was moderately injured, while the others were lightly wounded. Nearby soldiers shot the assailant. Today, one soldier was wounded in a ramming attack, in the same general area,
HOUTHIS, AGAIN
Tonight, there were reports that the Houthis have attacked another merchant ship.
NETANYAHU PRESS CONFERENCE
Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press event tonight. Former Defense Minister Gantz and current Defense Minister Galant refused to participate, stating there was no news that justifies conducting a press conference.
In his prepared remarks, Netanyahu emphasized the need for more time to achieve military objectives and further stated that he was resisting all foreign pressure to end the war. During the question-and-answer session, Netanyahu was asked about national unity and the future of the judicial reform. Netanyahu replied that “unity does not mean one side must give in.”
When asked if the war's duration, (which some have said might last a year), would delay an investigation into those responsible for the failures of the State on October 7th, Netanyahu answered affirmatively. Netanyahu responded negatively to a question asking whether he plans to resign after the war. When questioned, the Prime Minister supported National Security Minister Ben-Gvir’s decision not to renew the term of the head of the prisons, in direct contradiction to his agreement with Gantz. Netanyahu further asserted there was no need to cut special coalition funding, despite the tremendous unexpected financial burdens caused by both the massacre and by the ongoing war.
RALLY FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE & PROTEST CALLING FOR NETANYAHU TO RESIGN
Another rally took place tonight at Hostage Square, with participants calling for every possible measure to be taken to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. This rally has become a weekly event over the past several months.
In addition, a second rally was held in Habima Square, calling for Netanyahu's resignation. Attendance this week appeared to have doubled from last week's estimated 5,000. The demonstrations taking place in the middle of the war are controversial. This is underscored by a friend who empathizes with the demonstrators' objectives, but is reluctant to protest against the nation's Commander-in-Chief (i.e., Netanyahu), especially while his son is engaged in combat in Gaza. However, there are concerns that this Commander-in-Chief might have motives to prolong the war, avoiding accountability for his actions, and refraining from calling for new elections. The majority of the electorate reportedly wants Netanyahu out, but the path toward achieving that outcome remains unclear.
NAFTALI BENNETT SPEAKS OUT
In an article in The Wall Street Journal, Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett calls for the U.S. and Israel to attack Iran directly rather than fighting its proxies. The article, which has been heavily criticized in Israel, reveals that Israel attacked an Iranian drone facility and also assassinated an IRG officer while Bennett was Prime Minister. These revelations were not approved for publication by Israel's military censor and their release is considered damaging.
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Over the past two days, The New York Times published two significant articles about Israel. In the first, titled: “‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7”, the NYTimes investigation uncovered that the attacks against Israeli women on Oct. 7 were part of a pattern of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas. The article makes for challenging reading; I had to stop three-quarters of the way through the piece due to the graphic and vividly unsettling nature of the details.
The second article, published today, titled: “Where was the Israeli Military,” describes Israel's lack of preparedness in responding to the October 7th attack. It provides an incredibly detailed account, and based on all the information I have heard and read, appears to be highly accurate. This article is well worth reading.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Finally here is an interesting announcement from the US Justice Department:
Federal prosecutors have charged Karrem Nasr, a U.S. citizen and New Jersey resident, with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York says that Nasr, inspired by the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, traveled from the United States to Kenya to meet up with members of the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.
The plan, prosecutors say, was for Nasr to travel with those Al-Shabaab members from Kenya to Somalia where he was to receive training and then wage jihad.
Before Nasr was able to travel to Somalia, Kenyan authorities took him into custody.
Al-Shabaab is responsible for the murder of thousands of civilians across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
