Israel SitRep: August 9, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Israeli Defense Minister Speaks with U.S. Defense Secretary Overnight | CENTCOM Commander Kurilla Visits Israel for Second Time This Week, Discusses Preparations for Addressing Threats | IAF Strikes Some 60 Gaza Targets, IDF Operating in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Netzarim Corridor | Shin Bet Announces Additional Attempts by Iranian Intelligence to Recruit Israelis | Latest FDD Analysis

Israeli Defense Minister Speaks with U.S. Defense Secretary Overnight: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin overnight, and according to his office, “briefed the secretary on the IDF’s operational readiness to defend Israel against Iran and its proxies in the region.” The Defense Ministry says that the two “discussed the interoperability of U.S. and Israeli defense capabilities following the posture change and deployment of U.S. forces and assets to the region,” adding that Gallant “raised the importance of swiftly achieving an agreement that will ensure the return of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.” Austin wrote that he called Gallant “to brief him on U.S. force posture adjustments and reinforce my ironclad support for Israel’s defense,” adding that “the U.S. F-22 Raptors that arrived in the region today represent one of many efforts to deter aggression, defend Israel and protect U.S. forces in the region.”

CENTCOM Commander Kurilla Visits Israel for Second Time This Week, Discusses Preparations for Addressing Threats: CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel on Thursday to meet with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. According to the IDF, the two held an assessment of “security and strategic matters” and discussed “joint preparations” in response to threats in the region. Kurilla also held an assessment with Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar in the IAF’s underground operations center. This is the second time Kurilla has visited Israel this week. During his previous visit, on Monday, he met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Halevi, and the three “discussed the coordination of defense activities and ways to expand the international coalition facing aggressive actions by Iran and its proxies.”

IAF Strikes Some 60 Gaza Targets, IDF Operating in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Netzarim Corridor: In the past day, Israeli Air Force drones, attack helicopters, and fighter jets have struck some 60 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including weapons, buildings from which terrorists were operating, and other terrorist infrastructures. On Thursday, the IDF launched a new offensive in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, its third since the war began. The army says that troops from the 98th Division are fighting there “to clear the area of terrorists” and are destroying terrorist infrastructures and weapons. Further south, in Rafah, the Givati and Nahal Brigades, part of the 162nd Division, have destroyed terrorist infrastructures and weapons and eliminated dozens of armed men in the past day, in close combat and through tank shelling, sniper fire, and drone strikes. In the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, troops from the 252nd Division are continuing fighting, and in the past day have destroyed terrorist infrastructures and eliminated “many terrorists.”

Shin Bet Announces Additional Attempts by Iranian Intelligence to Recruit Israelis: The Shin Bet announced that it has uncovered more Iranian social media accounts attempting to lure Israelis into spying for Tehran. The agency says that Iran created fake online accounts with usernames such as Mariiyam1997, hadas99, and Itamar201020 — all using first names — and accounts with Hebrew usernames, which translate to “the people’s army,” “work in Jerusalem and environs,” and “workers wanted – Haifa.” An account with the username “IRAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE” offered a high salary for “interesting and exciting” work. The Shin Bet has asked that Israelis be “vigilant, report suspicious messages from unknown sources to security agencies, avoid sharing personal details, and refrain from clicking on links from unidentified sources.” Last month, Bet Shemesh resident Elimelech Stern was charged with illegal contact with a foreign agent. He is alleged to have carried out tasks for Iranian intelligence after being contacted by a fake account.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“The Story of the Next Lebanon War Starts Now,” Mark Dubowitz and David Daoud, National Security Journal

“Now that UN admits employee involvement in Oct. 7, it’s time to end UNRWA,” David May and Richard Goldberg, New York Post

“Jordan’s Top Diplomat Walks the Tightrope in Tehran,” Ahmad Sharawi, The National Interest

“Understanding Nasrallah’s speech: How will Hezbollah avenge Shukr?” David Daoud, IranSource

“Iran Executes 36 Convicts in 24 Hours,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“G7 Ambassadors Skip Nagasaki Memorial Over Israel Snub,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Eliminates Senior Hamas Member Directing West Bank Terror,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief