Israel SitRep: April 8, 2024

Today’s Issue: IDF Ground Forces Withdraw From Southern Gaza, Leaving Only Nahal Brigade | IDF Completes Another Stage in Preparations for War in North | IDF Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander in Overnight Airstrike | Woman at Checkpoint Attempts to Stab Soldiers; IDF Arrests 11 in West Bank Raids | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Ground Forces Withdraw From Southern Gaza, Leaving Only Nahal Brigade: Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, the IDF withdrew all its ground forces from the south of Gaza, leaving only the Nahal Brigade in Gaza to guard the Netzarim Corridor. In the IDF’s Khan Younis offensive, it dismantled the Hamas brigade in the area, killed thousands of terrorists, and destroyed some 30 kilometers of tunnels. The army now believes that pinpoint raids conducted on the basis of intelligence indicating that a raid is warranted is a better way to approach the fighting. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that in Khan Younis, just as in Gaza City and in the northern Gaza Strip, Hamas has ceased to function as a military organization, adding that the IDF is freely carrying out any action necessary. According to Gallant, the IDF withdrew its troops from the Khan Younis area to prepare for “future missions,” including an operation in Rafah.

IDF Completes Another Stage in Preparations for War in North: The IDF on Sunday published a report stating that the Northern Command recently completed another phase of its preparations for war in the north. This stage focused on increasing the readiness of emergency warehouses so they will be prepared for a large-scale call-up of IDF forces. The equipment stored in the warehouses is maintained by personnel from the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate, who make it possible to immediately call up reserve soldiers during emergencies and enable them to reach the front quickly with all the equipment needed for combat. According to the report, commanders of the regular units and reserve units are ready to equip all the soldiers needed within a few hours and to transport them to the front. Over the past few months, the IDF has been conducting an in-depth study based on fighting in the south, in order to improve readiness.

IDF Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander in Overnight Airstrike: The IDF eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon in an overnight airstrike last night. Ali Ahmed Hassin, who held a rank equivalent to brigade commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, was killed in the area of Al-Sultaniyah. According to the IDF, Hassin was responsible for planning and carrying out attacks on the Ramim Ridge area in Israel — which has repeatedly been targeted since the start of the war — and was responsible for a large number of projectiles launched at Israel. The airstrike also killed two Hezbollah operatives under his command. Hassin, who was stationed for extended periods in different parts of Syria, including Aleppo, Al-Bukamal, Al-Qusayr, and Al-Qalamoun, is the seventh senior Radwan commander to be eliminated.

Woman at Checkpoint Attempts to Stab Soldiers; IDF Arrests 11 in West Bank Raids: On Monday morning, a woman came to the Tayasir checkpoint in the Jordan Valley and, after refusing to identify herself, attempted to stab the IDF soldiers manning the checkpoint. According to the IDF, she was shot and “neutralized.” Meanwhile, in overnight operations in the West Bank, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested 11 wanted persons. In Al-Mughayyir, four were arrested, and in Anata, troops arrested another wanted man and confiscated a pistol. In the area of Al-Aroub, three wanted persons were arrested. In Dura, dozens were interrogated and one man was arrested. Some 3,700 wanted persons have been arrested since the start of the war, about 1,600 of them belonging to Hamas.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Israel’s Shadow War,” Clifford D. May, Behnam Ben Taleblu, and Hussain Abdul-Hussain, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Hamas’s Casualty Numbers Games,” David Adesnik, The Wall Street Journal

“Did Israel surrender to White House pressure in Gaza? Iran likely thinks so,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“A Quds Day special,” Bill Roggio, Joe Truzman, and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Two IDF Officers Dismissed Over Aid Convoy Tragedy,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Gaza Flotilla Plans Mid-April Sailing,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Bulgarian Police Uncover Hamas Weapons Stash,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Recovers Murdered Hostage’s Body,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Six Months Into War, Israel Withdraws Division From Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: April 5, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report