Israel SitRep: July 31, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran; Iranian Officials ‘in Utter Shock’ | Defense Minister on Elimination of Fuad Shukr: ‘No Place Out of Reach for Our Forces’ | IDF Continues Operations in Rafah and Central Gaza, Carrying out Pinpoint Raids, Eliminating Terrorists | COGAT: 148 Gazans Depart for Medical Treatment in UAE, 213 Aid Trucks Enter Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran; Iranian Officials ‘in Utter Shock’: Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who “played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7 assault on Israel,” was assassinated early Wednesday morning in Tehran. According to the Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, Haniyeh was in bed at 2 a.m. when a missile strike killed him, along with a bodyguard. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian media report that he was staying north of Tehran at a guesthouse for veterans, and according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a Qatari-owned news outlet, Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh was also in the guesthouse. Hamas and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed his death, blaming Israel. Israel has not commented on the killing. New York Times UN bureau chief Farnaz Fassihi stated that “Iranian officials are in utter shock over assassination of Haniyah, sources say, because it also delivers a huge blow to Iran’s security reputation at a time it wants to project power in the region.”

Defense Minister on Elimination of Fuad Shukr: ‘No Place Out of Reach for Our Forces’: On Monday evening, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in a targeted strike in the Beirut suburb of Dahieh. In an English-language video statement, the IDF called Shukr “the man behind the Majdal Shams Massacre,” adding that “in the past 30 years, he has been responsible for masterminding, planning and executing every Hezbollah attack.” The announcement stated that Shukr was involved in bombing the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut in 1983, killing 241 American soldiers, and “has the blood of civilians from all over the world on his hands.” It also mentioned that the U.S. State Department had a $5 million bounty on Shukr’s head. The statement added: “His elimination brings us one step closer to restoring stability in this region and eliminating terrorists who threaten the lives of innocent civilians.” In a separate announcement, the IDF called Shukr “Hezbollah’s Most Senior Military Commander and [Hezbollah leader] Hassan Nasrallah’s Right-Hand Man,” who was “responsible for the majority of Hezbollah’s most advanced weaponry, including precise-guided missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, long-range rockets and UAVs.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commented: “Tonight, we have shown that the blood of our people has a price, and that there is no place out of reach for our forces to this end.”

IDF Continues Operations in Rafah and Central Gaza, Carrying out Pinpoint Raids, Eliminating Terrorists: The IDF on Wednesday reported that troops from the 162nd Division’s 401st Armored Brigade are continuing fighting in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, where they carried out precision raids on terror infrastructures and eliminated terrorists. In addition, soldiers from the 252nd Division are operating in central Gaza in the area of the Netzarim Corridor, also carrying out pinpoint raids and destroying terror infrastructures. After troops spotted a terrorist squad placing explosive devices, they called in an airstrike, killing the squad members. Throughout the past day, Israeli Air Force fighter jets and drones struck dozens of targets in Gaza including terror operatives, military buildings terrorist infrastructures, and tunnel shafts.

COGAT: 148 Gazans Depart for Medical Treatment in UAE, 213 Aid Trucks Enter Gaza: On Monday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, announced that 148 people from Gaza, including children, departed for the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment through the Kerem Shalom crossing and Ramon airport, which is located near Eilat. The operation was carried out “under the leadership of the UAE” with cooperation from Israel and the World Health Organization. The announcement notes that “at all steps of the operation, medical professionals were readily available to assist the patients, and security measures were taken to ensure the safety of civilians and personnel,” and adds that “the patients and their guardians underwent security assessments.” In its daily humanitarian aid update, COGAT noted that on July 30, 213 aid trucks entered Gaza, 150 through the Kerem Shalom crossing and 63 through Erez, while six cooking gas tankers and six fuel tankers for operating humanitarian infrastructure entered as well.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Hezbollah Attack Threatens Full-Scale War With Israel,” Jonathan Schanzer and David Daoud, The Dispatch

“Kamala Harris Misleads on Gaza Food Shortage,” David Adesnik, National Review

“Israeli Troops Complete Successful Operation in Gaza’s Khan Younis,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Kills Most Senior Hezbollah Military Commander in Retaliatory Strike,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Axis of Resistance’ Leaders Attend Inauguration of Iran’s President,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Turkey Threatens to Invade Israel,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Delegation Faces Threats and Abuse at Paris Olympics,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Touts More Than $15 Billion of Oil Revenue,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief