Israel SitRep: Feb. 28, 2024

Today’s Issue: IAF Strikes ‘Significant Targets’ in Response to Firing Toward Ashkelon | IDF Publishes Footage of Maglan Soldiers’ Raids in Western Khan Younis | Rocket Barrage Launched at Kiryat Shmona, IDF Strikes Buildings and Weapons Depot in Lebanon | IDF Conducts Overnight West Bank Raids, Arrests 10, Launches Drone Strike | Latest FDD Analysis

IAF Strikes ‘Significant Targets’ in Response to Firing Toward Ashkelon: The Israeli Air Force struck eight “significant targets” in areas from which projectiles were fired at Ashkelon last night and later on, including tunnel shafts and terror infrastructures from which terrorists departed for operations in the Gaza Strip. In the western part of Khan Younis, fighter jets hit two military buildings and killed terrorists who were staying in them. In addition, aircraft guided by Givati Brigade soldiers struck and killed two terrorists, and a fighter jet, guided by soldiers from the 98th Division, struck terror operatives who were preparing to ambush IDF troops in a military building in the area of Khan Younis. In the central part of the Gaza Strip, the Nahal Brigade combat team directed a combat helicopter to a squad of terror operatives, who were eliminated.

IDF Publishes Footage of Maglan Soldiers’ Raids in Western Khan Younis: The IDF on Tuesday published a report on operations by the Maglan commando unit in western Khan Younis. Maglan soldiers raided terrorist infrastructures and Hamas combat areas, arresting terror operatives, killing dozens of terrorists, and finding dozens of weapons every day. Soldiers eliminated numerous terror operatives in close combat, through sniper ambushes, and by directing fire from the air and the ground. During a raid by Maglan soldiers on a Hamas combat compound, soldiers who saw four armed terrorists running toward them opened fire, killing three. The last of the four men surrendered and was handed over for interrogation. In the combat compound, the soldiers found dozens of weapons, a loaded weapon underneath a bed, grenades, launchers, rockets, shoulder-launched missiles, warheads, explosive devices, and explosive belts. The report includes photos and video footage.

Rocket Barrage Launched at Kiryat Shmona, IDF Strikes Buildings and Weapons Depot in Lebanon: On Wednesday morning, the IDF identified about 10 rockets that crossed into Israel from Lebanon. One caused damage to a building in the northern city of Kiryat Shmonah but no injuries. The IDF stated that it intercepted some of the projectiles and attacked the sources of the fire. An additional four rockets were launched at the city earlier and caused no damage. The Lebanese branch of Hamas claimed responsibility, stating that it fired 40 Grad rockets at IDF bases in the Kiryat Shmona area. The IDF later said that Israeli fighter jets struck a munitions warehouse along with Hezbollah military buildings in the area of Ramyeh in southern Lebanon, adding that overnight, the IDF attacked a Hezbollah weapons-manufacturing site in the area of Khirbet Selm.

IDF Conducts Overnight West Bank Raids, Arrests 10, Launches Drone Strike: The IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police operated overnight throughout the West Bank, arresting 10 wanted persons. In Jenin, troops arrested a wanted man and searched for explosive charges buried underneath the roads that were intended to harm Israeli soldiers. The IDF also launched a drone strike on an armed man in the area. In Beita, troops arrested six wanted persons, interrogated a large number of suspects, and seized weapons. They arrested two wanted men in Qalqilya and one more in Abu Kash. Some 3,400 wanted individuals have been arrested in the West Bank since the start of the war, about 1,500 of them members of Hamas.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Preventing a Ramadan Explosion in the Holy Land,” Jonathan Schanzer and Mark Dubowitz, The Liberal Patriot

“Iran’s FM in Geneva for UN, ICRC meetings,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Hezbollah’s dangerous surface-to-air missile ‘equation’,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Israel is winning, but it hasn’t won yet.” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“IDF Uncovers 10-km Tunnel in Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Rockets Target IDF Base in Northern Israel,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Sees Iran-Axis Threat Over Ramadan,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief