Israel SitRep: May 22, 2024

Today’s Issue: IAF Strikes in Gaza Kill October 7 Attacker, Nukhba Force Members | IAF Uses Precision Weapons in Strike on UNRWA School Where Hamas Was Operating | IAF Drone Strike Eliminates Hezbollah Commander in Southern Lebanon | COGAT: 572,300 Tons of Aid Have Entered Gaza Since War Began | Latest FDD Analysis

IAF Strikes in Gaza Kill October 7 Attacker, Nukhba Force Members: The IDF on Wednesday announced that Ahmed Yasser al-Kara, a major figure in Hamas’s anti-tank unit, was killed in an Israeli Air Force drone strike in Khan Younis. According to the IDF, al-Kara took part in the October 7 attacks in the Gaza envelope and shot repeatedly at IDF troops. The announcement states that while the military was preparing the strike, the 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit spotted a child near al-Kara and held off on the attack until the child moved away, at which point the strike was carried out, also killing two additional terrorists, Suhaib Ra’ed Abu Riba, a Hamas Nukhba force member, and Anas Muhammad Abu Rajileh, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. IAF fighter jets also eliminated another five Hamas terrorists who were operating out of the Fahmi al-Jarjawi school in the area of Daraj and Tufah neighborhoods in Gaza City. Among those killed were Fadi Salim, head of propaganda for Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade, as well as three Hamas intelligence operatives and another Nukhba force member.

IAF Uses Precision Weapons in Strike on UNRWA School Where Hamas Was Operating: On Wednesday, the IDF announced that in an operation led by the Gaza Division, using intelligence from Aman military intelligence and the Shin Bet, Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck a compound inside an UNRWA school from which Hamas members were operating. Among the terrorists were an anti-tank operative and a Nukhba force member. The school was housing weapons, including mortars, guns, and explosives, and after the compound was destroyed, there were many secondary explosions, indicating the presence of weapons. According to the IDF, the attack was carefully planned and executed with precision weapons in an effort to avoid harm to uninvolved civilians.

IAF Drone Strike Eliminates Hezbollah Commander in Southern Lebanon: The IDF on Tuesday announced that the previous evening, an Israeli Air Force drone killed Qassem Saqlawi, who commanded the rocket and missile unit in Hezbollah’s coastal division, in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon. Saqlawi was responsible for planning and carrying out rocket and anti-tank missile attacks against Israel. Late on Tuesday, IAF fighter jets struck a series of Hezbollah targets in four different areas of southern Lebanon. The targets included a Hezbollah squad in the area of Odaisseh, a Hezbollah rocket launcher in the area of Halta, and Hezbollah military buildings in the areas of Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, and Ayta Al-Shab. Earlier on Tuesday, after several projectiles were shot from Lebanon into Israel, the IDF attacked the sources of the launches.

COGAT: 572,300 Tons of Aid Have Entered Gaza Since War Began: On Tuesday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, provided updated statistics on aid that has entered the strip since the war began. According to COGAT, 29,746 trucks with 572,300 tons of aid have entered Gaza, and the IDF says that some 430 metric tons of food, about 23,000 tons of medical equipment, 250,000 tents — 40,000 of them bought by Israel — and around 25 liters of water per person per day have entered the strip. COGAT also stated that on Tuesday, 381 trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing and 70 through the Erez West crossing. Of these, 62 came from the Ashdod port, 44 were from Jordan, and 12 came via the JLOTS maritime route.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Israel’s Catch-22 in Rafah,” Seth J. Frantzman, The National Interest

“Raisi set the Middle East aflame but his death will not put out the fire,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jewish Chronicle

“Weekend update: more gasoline poured on dumpster fire,” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Israel Intercepts Drone Attacks by Iranian Proxies on Two Fronts,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Russia, China Hail Late Iranian President as Stalwart Ally,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Strikes at Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists in Jenin,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Spain, Ireland Lead Push in EU to Unilaterally Recognize Palestinian State,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Jewish Man Facing Execution Under Iran’s Apartheid Laws Targeting Minorities,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief