Israel SitRep: August 2, 2024

Today’s Issue: | With War Apparently Imminent, Israel Holds Discussions with Allies, Hezbollah Evacuates Command Posts | Alma: 2,560 Attacks on Northern Israel Since the War Began, 48.4 Percent Against Civilian Targets | IDF Kills PIJ Commander and Hamas Nukhba Force Member in Targeted Strikes | IDF Troops in Rafah Kill 30 Terrorists; Weapons Depot Destroyed in Central Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

With War Apparently Imminent, Israel Holds Discussions with Allies, Hezbollah Evacuates Command Posts: With an expectation that hostilities in the Middle East are imminent, Israel is holding discussions with representatives from the U.S.-led international coalition that helped to largely thwart the Iranian attack in mid-April. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, it is not clear whether moderate Arab countries will help Israel this time. On Friday morning, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with British Defense Minister John Healy, and according to Gallant, he “emphasized the importance of creating a coalition to defend Israel against Iran and its proxies.” Gallant added that “this is a necessary action for the stability of the Middle East and the entire world.” Meanwhile, the Saudi channel Al-Hadath is reporting that Hezbollah is evacuating command posts in its stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut, and pro-Iran militias in Syria are on a high state of alert. The Israeli government, along with local governments in northern Israel, is preparing to set in motion emergency plans to protect the elderly, the bedridden, and ventilated hospital patients in case Israel’s electrical grid is knocked out.

Alma: 2,560 Attacks on Northern Israel Since the War Began, 48.4 Percent Against Civilian Targets: On Thursday, the Alma Research and Education Center published a report on July events in Israel’s north, noting that there were 259 attacks on Israel along the border last month, most of them claimed by Hezbollah. This is an average of 8.3 attacks a day. July saw the largest number of Israeli casualties, 17 killed and 67 wounded. This includes the 12 children killed on a soccer field in Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights and the 50 wounded in the attack as well as Nir and Noa Baranes, whose car took a direct hit from a rocket in early July. Since the war began, the north has suffered 2,560 attacks, and while the monthly totals have decreased in the past few months, according to the report, “it is crucial to note that these figures represent the number of events, not the amount of munitions launched in each attack.” The percentage of attacks targeting civilians and military targets remains almost unchanged, with 48.4 percent of strikes launched since the war began targeting civilians.

IDF Kills PIJ Commander and Hamas Nukhba Force Member in Targeted Strikes: The IDF on Friday announced that Muhammad Al-Jabari, deputy head of the weapons production unit for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was eliminated in a precision strike by IDF forces, guided by Aman military intelligence. Jabari was also responsible for the unit’s finances. According to the IDF, he was in charge of weapons production for PIJ in northern Gaza and paying salaries to PIJ terrorists, and he played an active role in attempting to restore the group’s rocket manufacturing capabilities. The announcement states that “many steps” were taken before the strike to minimize harm to civilians. On Thursday, the IDF announced that Hamas military wing operative Ismail al-Ghoul, a Nukhba force member who took part in the October 7 attacks, was eliminated. The announcement states that Ghoul, an Al-Jazeera reporter, “instructed other operatives on how to record operations and was actively involved in recording and publicizing attacks against IDF troops,” adding: “The IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet] will continue to operate in order to eliminate terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre.”

IDF Troops in Rafah Kill 30 Terrorists; Weapons Depot Destroyed in Central Gaza: On Friday, the IDF reported that troops from the 162nd Division are fighting in Rafah in southern Gaza, noting that in the past day, Nahal and Givati soldiers have eliminated 30 terrorists in close combat and through Israeli Air Force strikes. In addition, the 252nd Division has begun operations in central Gaza, where soldiers from the 16th (Jerusalem) Brigade spotted a terror squad exiting a tunnel, then called in an airstrike, killing them. In addition, during fighting by the 10th (Harel) Brigade, an IAF helicopter destroyed a building in which a large quantity of explosives and weapons were being stored.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Two Assassinations and a Transformed War,” Jonathan Schanzer, The Free Press

“Will America Help, or Hinder, Israel’s Efforts To Contain Iran?” Enia Krivine, New York Sun

“Ismail Haniyeh’s Killing in Iran Brings Israel Closer to Victory,” Seth J. Frantzman, The National Interest

“Iranian terror suffers major setback with Ismail Haniyeh’s death,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iran hosts Houthi leader as Hamas figure killed in Tehran,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“US struck Iran-backed militias after new threats,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iran hosts Hamas, Islamic Jihad leaders at new president’s inauguration, bolstering support,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“UAE ship delivers 5,340 tons of food and aid to Gaza through Egypt’s Arish port,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Cherished canine companions: IDF Oketz unit honors dogs killed in Gaza,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Demon Resume,” Bill Roggio, Will Selber, Joe Truzman, and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)