Israel SitRep: Jan. 2, 2024

Today’s Issue: Israeli Air Force Strikes Targets in Syria, Lebanon | IDF Announces Troop Reductions In Gaza, Plans for a Lengthy War | IDF Operates Overnight in West Bank, Arrests Wanted Individuals, Confiscates Weapons, Terrorist Funds | IDF Operates in Different Parts of Gaza, Destroys Terrorist Infrastructure, Kills Terrorists | Latest FDD Analysis

Israeli Air Force Strikes Targets in Syria, Lebanon: On Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in Syria and Lebanon, hitting military infrastructure in Syria and Hezbollah “terrorist infrastructure” in Lebanon. Five rockets were fired at Israel from Syria on Monday night, and on Tuesday, missiles fired from Lebanon caused damage to a building in Shlomi, a town on Israel’s northern border. The Israeli Air Force hit Hezbollah “terrorist infrastructures” in Yaroun, a village in Lebanon, and also struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure and military buildings in the village of Ramyeh in southern Lebanon. According to the IDF announcement, Hezbollah operates from the Ramyeh area, using it as an observation post and for carrying out terrorist acts.

IDF Announces Troop Reductions In Gaza, Plans for a Lengthy War: IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on Sunday that the army will be making changes to its deployment in Gaza as it prepares for a prolonged conflict, enabling some soldiers to “return to their families and work this week.” He added that this will “significantly ease the burden” on Israel’s economy. Noting that the war’s objectives make “prolonged fighting” necessary, Hagari stated that there will be “additional tasks and warfare throughout this year” and that the army is “preparing accordingly.” Five brigades, totaling thousands of soldiers, will be demobilized: the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade; the 551st Reserve Paratroopers Brigade; the 460th Armored Brigade, which trains the armored corps; the 828th Brigade, which trains squad commanders; and the 261st Brigade, which trains army officers. Those brigades that train soldiers will return to their normal activities, and reservists will be released.

IDF Operates Overnight in West Bank, Arrests Wanted Individuals, Confiscates Weapons, Terrorist Funds: In an overnight operation in the West Bank, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested 10 wanted individuals, two of them affiliated with Hamas. In a village in the Binyamin Brigade region, troops arrested two wanted persons. In the Samaria Brigade region, in the village of Beit Iba, and in the Yehuda Brigade region, in Bani Na’im, they found and confiscated weapons. In Hebron, they confiscated “terrorist funds.” According to the IDF, more than 2,550 wanted individuals have been arrested in the Judea and Samaria Division region and the Bekaa and Valleys Division region since the war began, some 1,300 of them affiliated with Hamas. Also last night, the IDF’s 8211 Reserve Battalion carried out a counter-terrorism operation in the village of Azzun in the northern West Bank. In an exchange of fire, four armed terrorists were killed, and an IDF officer was moderately wounded. Troops confiscated three Carlo submachine guns.

IDF Operates in Different Parts of Gaza, Destroys Terrorist Infrastructure, Kills Terrorists: IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee published an X post detailing recent IDF operations in Gaza. According to Adraee, in Khan Younis, IDF paratroopers raided apartments used to store weapons. In central Gaza, soldiers found a weapons-manufacturing lab, launching pits for rocket shells, and launching pads for long-range rockets, which engineering forces then destroyed. In the Bureij area, Golani Brigade soldiers discovered rocket launchers buried next to an UNRWA school. In addition, in the previous 24 hours, the IDF destroyed explosive devices being planted on Gaza beaches and in nearby buildings and killed several of those planting the devices. South of Gaza City, an Israeli Air Force plane destroyed a building after IDF forces spotted three terrorists entering it. The explosions that resulted from the IAF strike showed that the building had been used to store a large number of weapons.

Latest FDD Analysis:

“Schadlow’s Strategies,” Clifford D. May and Nadia Schadlow, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“As Hezbollah Escalates | Israel Should Consider a Ground Invasion of Lebanon,” David Daoud, Haaretz

“Hamas headquarters in northern Gaza destroyed, IDF strikes Hezbollah,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“New Jersey man arrested for attempting to join Shabaab, inspired by support of Hamas,” Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Airstrikes target Iranian militia sites in Eastern Syria,” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Million dollar missiles shooting down thousand dollar drones,” Bill Roggio and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“IDF Expands Operations Against Hamas in Khan Younis,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“UN Peacekeeper Injured After Mob Attack on Convoy in Southern Lebanon,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: Dec. 29, 2023,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report