Israel SitRep: Feb. 5, 2024

Today’s Issue: Givati Brigade Soldiers Raid Al-Qadsia, Where Hamas Trained for October 7 Attacks | Border Police Foil Knife West Bank Attack, Arrest 33 Wanted Persons | IDF Carries Out Airstrikes against Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon | IDF Reports on Close Combat Paratrooper Operations in Gaza’s Khan Younis | Latest FDD Analysis

Givati Brigade Soldiers Raid Al-Qadsia, Where Hamas Trained for October 7 Attacks: On Sunday, the IDF reported on a raid by Givati Brigade soldiers on al-Qadsia, the main outpost of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, where Hamas trained for the October 7 attacks. In the outpost, troops found training complexes with mockups of army bases, armored military vehicles, and entry gates for kibbutzim. Al-Qadsia also housed the office of Muhammad Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. When the soldiers entered the outpost, they saw it had been booby-trapped, including with explosives placed inside the walls, which were neutralized by engineering forces. Numerous terrorists located near the outpost opened fire on the IDF soldiers and were killed by sniper fire, tank shells, and Israeli Air Force strikes. Soldiers also raided the main war room of the Khan Younis Brigade and the offices of its high-ranking commanders. Al-Qadsia also contained rocket storage facilities and tunnel shafts.

Border Police Foil Knife West Bank Attack, Arrest 33 Wanted Persons: On Monday, during routine Border Police operations in the village of al-Eizariya, near the city of Ma’aleh Adumim, an individual being checked by troops pulled out a knife and attempted to stab them. He was shot and killed. The police released footage of the attack. In overnight West Bank raids, IDF forces arrested 33 wanted persons. In the Ein Beit Ilma refugee camp near Nablus, soldiers arrested a man suspected of shooting at troops, and in the village of Beit Ummar, they confiscated a bag containing dozens of Molotov cocktails ready for use. Five wanted persons were arrested in Hebron and funds used for terrorism were confiscated, and in the village of Bet Ula, seven were arrested. In Tulkarem and in the village of Silvad, eight individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism were arrested. Since the war began, around 3,000 wanted persons have been arrested in the West Bank.

IDF Carries Out Airstrikes against Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a number of strikes on Sunday against Hezbollah targets. In the areas of Blida and Mays Al-Jabal, the IAF jets struck a launch site and Hezbollah observation posts, and an IDF tank attacked a terrorist cell in the Blida area. In addition, after warning sirens sounded in the north and several launches were detected, the IDF struck back at the sources of the fire. Later in the day, IAF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah command center and military building near the village of Yaroun. Near the village of Maroun al-Ras, the army attacked a Hezbollah observation post. On Saturday, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the army is deploying three troop divisions on the Lebanese border, and on Sunday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that he had given the air force instructions “to point the noses of our aircraft northward,” adding, “we are prepared.”

IDF Reports on Close Combat Paratrooper Operations in Gaza’s Khan Younis: On Monday, the IDF published a report showing how paratroopers are operating in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing dozens of terrorists in close combat. The report describes an incident that took place over the weekend in the Khan Younis area and includes a video clip of the incident. Paratroopers operating near one of the homes of the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade shot and killed an armed man who ran toward them, throwing a grenade. The video clip shows soldiers firing, then a grenade exploding. It then shows a man, labeled “terrorist,” as well as a knife. The report states that no soldiers were hurt in the incident.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Three Faces of Jew-Hatred,” Clifford D. May Founder and Jeffrey Herf, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

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

“A little less conversation, a little more targeting (please),” Bradley Bowman and Bill Roggio, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“U.S. strikes target IRGC and affiliated militias in Iraq and Syria,” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hezbollah Threats Prevent Israeli Return to Northern Border Communities,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Airstrike Reportedly Targets Iranian Assets in Damascus,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Pentagon: Deadly Attack on U.S. Soldiers Facilitated by Iran,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“U.S. Strikes IRGC and Iranian-Backed Proxies in Iraq and Syria,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Lifts Veil on Strikes Against Hezbollah in Syria,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Combat Battalions Down 70%,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief