Israel SitRep: April 17, 2024

Today’s Issue: 13 Wounded in Hezbollah Attack on Israeli Bedouin Village in North | IDF Kills Two Hezbollah Commanders in Separate Drone Strikes | IDF’s 162nd Division Continues Pinpoint Operations in Central Gaza | Six Arrested in Overnight West Bank Raids; 300 Arrested in West Bank During Ramadan | Latest FDD Analysis

13 Wounded in Hezbollah Attack on Israeli Bedouin Village in North: On Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a mid-day attack on the Israeli Bedouin village of Arab Al-Aramshe in the Western Galilee that wounded 14, four of them seriously. Hezbollah’s attack included at least four rockets and a suicide drone. According to the group, the attack was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday that killed three Hezbollah operatives, two of them commanders. In today’s attacks, a community center in Arab Al-Aramshe took a direct hit from an anti-tank guided missile. In response, the IDF struck the sources of the fire as well as a military building in the area of Ayta Al-Shab in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives were staying.

IDF Kills Two Hezbollah Commanders in Separate Drone Strikes: On Tuesday, an Israeli Air Force drone strike in the area of Ain Baal in southern Lebanon killed Ismail Yusuf Baz, who commanded Hezbollah’s coastal sector. According to the army, Baz was a senior Hezbollah official who had held several positions in the organization. He had a rank equivalent to brigade commander and was involved in promoting and planning rocket and anti-tank missile attacks on Israel. In addition, he organized and planned various terror plots against Israel during the current war. Hezbollah confirmed his death, saying he was killed “on the road to Jerusalem.” Some hours later, an IDF drone strike in Kfar Dounine in southern Lebanon eliminated Muhammad Shahouri, who commanded the rocket and missile unit of the western sector of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force. According to the IDF, he was responsible for planning and executing rocket fire at Israel. Mahmoud Fadlallah, an operative in Hezbollah’s rocket and missile unit, was also killed in the drone strike.

IDF’s 162nd Division Continues Pinpoint Operations in Central Gaza: The IDF on Wednesday reported that the combat teams of the Nahal Brigade, the 401st Armored Brigade, the 215th Artillery Regiment, and other units of the 162nd Division are continuing pinpoint operations in central Gaza. In the past day, Israeli Air Force strikes have killed a number of terrorists and destroyed terrorist infrastructure. In one incident, an airstrike was carried out against a terrorist squad that was operating an armed drone against IDF troops in the area. In addition, the IAF, in coordination with the 215th Artillery Regiment, struck a number of rocket launchers that were ready to be used against Israel. Nahal Brigade soldiers eliminated a terrorist they saw operating nearby, and snipers killed a terrorist who was moving toward soldiers. Over the past day, the IAF has struck more than 40 targets in the Gaza Strip with fighter jets and drones, including underground launch sites, booby-trapped buildings, military buildings in which armed terrorists were located, and lookout posts.

Six Arrested in Overnight West Bank Raids; 300 Arrested in West Bank During Ramadan: In overnight West Bank operations, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested six wanted persons. In Asira Al-Qibliya, two wanted persons were detained, and in Aqraba, another two were arrested. One more individual was arrested in Hawara and another in Sarra. Some 3,850 wanted persons have been arrested since the start of the war, about 1,650 of them members of Hamas. Meanwhile, the Ynet news website published data on Israeli military operations in the West Bank during Ramadan, stating that there were 900 offensive operations with 300 suspects arrested. In addition, airstrikes killed 10 terrorists, and the Shin Bet arrested another 15 who were about to carry out attacks. Israeli forces also seized military equipment, more than 40 weapons, and some 100,000 shekels in terrorist funds.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Enia Krivine and Lazar Berman, FDD Event

Today at 2:00pm (ET): “The Despotic Duo: Russo-Iranian Cooperation and Threats to U.S. Interests,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, Testimony for House Foreign Affairs Committee

“What We Can Learn From Iran’s Attack on Israel,” Bradley Bowman, Ryan Brobst, and Mike Daum , FDD Insight

“Slaughtering sacred cows,” Behnam Ben Taleblu and Joe Truzman, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Between Iran and Rafah, IDF considers next steps,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israeli Air Force Kills Three Hezbollah Terrorists,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Anti-Defamation League Report Card Grades 85 Universities’ Records on Antisemitism,” Antonette Bowman, FDD Policy Brief