Israel SitRep: August 7, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Hezbollah Fires About 30 Rockets at Northern Israel on Tuesday, 19 Israelis Wounded | IAF Eliminates Hezbollah Anti-Tank Commander; Gallant: If You Kill Israeli Civilians, You’ll Pay a Price | IDF Strikes Weapons Workshop Placed in Humanitarian Zone in Deir al-Balah | COGAT: UN Aid Truck Collection Backlog Reduced; Polio Vaccination Planned After Virus Found in Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

Hezbollah Fires About 30 Rockets at Northern Israel on Tuesday, 19 Israelis Wounded: The Alma Research and Education Center on Wednesday published its daily update on events in Israel’s north, noting that in the past 24 hours, Hezbollah fired some 20 Grad rockets at the northern Golan Heights. The terror group says this was a response to Israel’s strike yesterday on Mayfadoun, which killed five Hezbollah operatives. In addition, about 10 rockets were fired at Kiryat Shmona, and while most were intercepted, one scored a direct hit on a residential building. The IDF struck several Hezbollah sites over the past day, including rocket launchers, weapons depots, and a military building in the Ayta Al-Shab, Yaroun, Abou Chach, and Kfar Kila areas of southern Lebanon. According to the Galilee Medical Center in Safed, Hezbollah drone strikes wounded 19 Israelis on Tuesday. Some of the drones as well as rockets were intercepted, but other drones struck south of Nahariya and wounded several civilians, one seriously. According to the initial IDF investigation, an Israeli interceptor missile missed its target and injured a number of civilians when it struck the ground.

IAF Eliminates Hezbollah Anti-Tank Commander; Gallant: If You Kill Israeli Civilians, You’ll Pay a Price: On Wednesday, an Israeli Air Force drone strike eliminated Hassan Fares Jeshi, a Hezbollah anti-tank missile commander, in the Jouaiyya area of southern Lebanon. This brings the Hezbollah death toll to about 400. In addition, earlier today, IAF fighter jets struck Hezbollah military buildings in the Aitaroun area and used artillery fire “to remove threats” in various parts of southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking to soldiers from the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade during a war simulation, stated that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah might drag Lebanon into a situation in which it pays “a heavy price,” a situation which could “deteriorate into war.” Gallant also stated: “You can’t kill civilians in Israel, certainly not 12 children, without paying a price.”

IDF Strikes Weapons Workshop Placed in Humanitarian Zone in Deir al-Balah: The IDF reported on Wednesday that last night, the Israeli Air Force, with intelligence from Aman military intelligence and the IDF’s Southern Command, struck a weapons-production workshop used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that was located in the humanitarian zone in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The IDF says that prior to the strike, it took numerous precautions to minimize harm to civilians. It added that “the terrorist organizations systematically violate international law, operating from shelters, while cruelly exploiting civilian institutions and the population as a human shield for terrorist activities and needs.” Over the past day, the IAF struck dozens of targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including military buildings, terrorists, and a building from which IDF troops were fired on. In addition, soldiers from the 162nd Division are continuing operations in the Rafah area, destroying terrorist infrastructures and killing several terrorists over the past day. Troops from the 252nd Division are fighting in the Netzarim corridor and have eliminated several terrorists, both in conjunction with the IAF and in close combat.

COGAT: UN Aid Truck Collection Backlog Reduced; Polio Vaccination Planned After Virus Found in Gaza: COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, stated on Wednesday that UN agencies have recently begun regular collection of aid after an extended pause, noting that a larger number of UN aid trucks have been collected over the past two weeks from the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing than previously. A month ago, 1,300 trucks were awaiting collection, while the number is now about 640, some 440 of these with UN aid. The announcement adds that other NGOs as well as the private sector have been picking up the aid on a regular basis. On a different issue, COGAT on Tuesday held a meeting with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) to plan a polio vaccination campaign, as type 2 poliovirus has been detected in Gaza sewage samples. COGAT has been meeting with UNICEF and WHO twice a week to assess the situation and is “preparing to support a comprehensive vaccination campaign.”

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Richard Goldberg, FDD Event

“Khamenei’s marching orders for Iran’s new president: Continue Raisi’s legacy,” Saeed Ghasseminejad, Washington Examiner

“Mass arrests and conflicting narratives following the Haniyeh assassination,” Janatan Sayeh, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Iranian Cyber Warfare Targeting Israel Seeks to Exploit Fears of Military Attack,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Nine UNRWA Staff Dismissed for Possible Ties to October 7 Atrocities,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Turkish Authorities Prevent Aid Flotilla Backed by Islamist Foundation From Sailing to Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Selects October 7 Terror Mastermind Yahya Sinwar as New Leader,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Multiple Injuries in Northern Israel After Hezbollah Drone Attack,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Russia Reportedly Delivers Air Defense, Radar Equipment to Iran,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief