Israel SitRep: July 17, 2024

Today’s Issue: IAF Strikes Some 25 Terror Targets Throughout Gaza | Hezbollah Launches About 40 Rockets at Kiryat Shmona, Dozens Toward Other Locations in Israel’s North | Since Start of War, IDF Has Arrested or Killed Some 14,000 Terrorists | COGAT: 2,445 Trucks With 25,440 Tons of Medical Supplies Entered Gaza Since War Began | Latest FDD Analysis

IAF Strikes Some 25 Terror Targets Throughout Gaza: In the past day, Israeli Air Force fighter jets and drones have attacked some 25 terror targets throughout Gaza, including booby-trapped buildings, military buildings, terrorist squads, and terrorist infrastructures. An IAF drone strike eliminated Anas Murad, a company commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad navy, and in northern Gaza, a Hamas sniper was killed last night in a drone strike together with another terrorist. In Rafah, a terrorist squad was eliminated by a drone strike and soldiers from the Nahal Brigade, and a launcher being used to fire at the force was destroyed. Last night, three projectiles were launched from northern Gaza toward the Israeli city of Sderot. Fighter jets, together with the Gaza Division, then struck targets in the area from which the projectiles were launched.

Hezbollah Launches About 40 Rockets at Kiryat Shmona, Dozens Toward Other Locations in Israel’s North: On Wednesday, the Alma Research and Education Center’s daily update on events in Israel’s north noted that Hezbollah carried out numerous attacks on civilian targets with Grad rockets. These include some 40 rockets launched at Kiryat Shmona, dozens of rockets toward Kibbutz Kabri in the western Galilee, dozens of rockets toward Meron, Bar Yohai, and Kfar Hoshen, and about 15 Grad rockets at Gesher Haziv and Sa’ar in the western Galilee. In the past 24 hours, the IDF struck terrorists, Hezbollah infrastructures, and a rocket launcher in various locations in southern Lebanon — Aalma Al-Shab, Ayta Al-Shab, Kafr Kila, Blat, Mansouri, and Yarine. The IDF also launched artillery fire at Deir Mimas, Ayta Al-Shab, Majdal Zoun, and Kafr Kila.

Since Start of War, IDF Has Arrested or Killed Some 14,000 Terrorists: The IDF on Tuesday published a report stating that 263 days into the war, some 14,000 terrorists have been arrested or killed, including six on the level of brigade commander, more than 20 on the level of battalion commander, and some 150 on the level of company commander. As a result of a “precise, intense intelligence and operational effort,” half of the leadership of Hamas’s military wing has been eliminated. According to the report, the IDF is continuing to pursue Hamas’s top leaders as part of its goal to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities. Thus far, the IDF has struck some 37,000 targets in Gaza from the air and more than 25,000 terrorist infrastructures and launch sites. The IDF is also focusing on finding terrorists based at sites such as humanitarian shelters, schools, and hospitals. The report stresses that attacks against such targets are carried out in accordance with international law and are intended to prevent Hamas from reconstituting its capabilities.

COGAT: 2,445 Trucks With 25,440 Tons of Medical Supplies Entered Gaza Since War Began: On Tuesday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, published information about Israel’s medical response in Gaza since the war began. According to COGAT, 2,445 trucks with more than 25,440 tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza — including cancer medications, CT machines, wheelchairs, hospital beds, x-ray machines, anesthetics, insulin pens, dialysis equipment, incubators, and vaccination kits — and have been distributed to hospitals and clinics. COGAT also stated that 490,412 vials of vaccines for different diseases have been delivered to Gaza in coordination with UNICEF — enough to vaccinate 2,318,106 people — and added that hospitals are being supplied all the time with medicine and fuel. In addition, 11 field hospitals have been established in the Gaza Strip, along with floating hospitals.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Conricus and Amir Bar Shalom, FDD Event

“Trump’s foreign-policy platform reflects his first-term achievements,” Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“Germany detains Hezbollah supporter acquiring drone engines,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Syria’s regime holds symbolic legislative ‘elections’,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iran’s President Pezeshkian speaks with Hamas leader, praises Houthis,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Did a boat full of smuggled arms for the Houthis ‘disappear’ off Yemen coast?” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Two top Hamas commanders walk into a Gaza villa…,” Joe Truzman and Bill Roggio, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“After a significant escalation, Hezbollah continues attacks in lower numbers,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“German Police Arrest Hezbollah Operative Who Attempted to Acquire Deadly Drone Components,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Syrian Businessman Sanctioned by U.S. Over ISIS Links Killed in Alleged Israeli Airstrike,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“EU Sanctions West Bank Settlers,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief