Israel SitRep: Jan. 10, 2024

Today’s Issue: CENTCOM Intercepts Massive Houthi Barrage | Secretary Blinken Meets Israeli Leaders, Palestinian President | IDF Uncovers Largest Gaza Weapons Production Plant So Far | Israel Intensifies Its Response to Hezbollah | Latest FDD Analysis

CENTCOM Intercepts Massive Houthi Barrage: On January 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the U.S. and UK navies intercepted a massive Houthi barrage in the Red Sea. The barrage involved 18 UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile aimed at commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The interception occurred 50 nautical miles off the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah on January 9 at night. The attacks came a week after the United States and 13 allies warned the Houthis they would face “consequences” for their maritime aggression.

Secretary Blinken Meets Israeli Leaders, Palestinian President: Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli leaders on Tuesday and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday as part of a week-long visit to the region concluding on Thursday. This marks Blinken’s fifth visit to Israel since Hamas’s October 7 attack. Blinken called on Israel to reduce civilian casualties in its war against Hamas, continuing the administration’s diplomatic pressure on Jerusalem to constrain its war effort. The secretary also called for Israel to release tax revenues to the PA. In conversation with Abbas, Blinken conveyed the White House’s desire for the PA to manage Gaza after the war, contradicting Israel’s view on post-war Gaza.

IDF Uncovers Largest Gaza Weapons Production Plant to Date: The Israel Defense Forces announced on January 8 the discovery of Hamas’s largest weapons production facility in the war to date. The plant was located in a tunnel near Salah ad-Din Road, Gaza’s main north-south artery, in Bureij. Soldiers seized several rockets, some with a range of over 100 kilometers. According to the IDF, the tunnel connected with a large system of tunnels, allowing Hamas to distribute these weapons throughout the territory. In other fighting in Gaza, the IDF announced on January 9 that it killed 40 Hamas terrorists.

Israel Intensifies Its Response to Hezbollah: On January 9, the IDF eliminated Ali Hussein Barji, the commander of Hezbollah’s aerial unit in Lebanon’s south. The IDF stated that Barji was responsible for dozens of drone attacks against Israel, including the attack on the IDF’s Northern Command headquarters in Safed earlier in the day. Overnight, the Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah’s military headquarters in Kfarchouba. On January 10, the IDF conducted a drone attack in al-Nakoura and Mount Labbouneh in Southern Lebanon. According to a January 8 report, two Israeli citizens in Shtula were injured by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile. Meanwhile, hospitals in Israel’s north are preparing to receive thousands of wounded in anticipation of a possible massive Hezbollah attack.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Amjad Taha, FDD Event

“Israel’s long war,” Clifford D. May, The Washington Times

“Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: January,” edited by John Hardie, FDD Tracker

“With Tehran closer to nukes, Congress must end Biden’s Iran appeasement before it’s too late,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“Israel suffers casualties in Gaza as Hezbollah drones target north,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hamas Developing Precision-Guided Munitions With Iranian Help,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Attacks Israel Using Kamikaze Drones,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Return of Israeli Residents of Sderot Planned,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Blinken Ties Saudi-Israel Normalization to Palestinian Statehood,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief