Israel SitRep: August 26, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Preemptive Strike Disrupts Planned Hezbollah Retaliation for Fuad Shukr’s Death | Israeli Defense Official: Challenge in Lebanon ‘Far from Over’ | IDF Troops in Khan Younis Destroy Launcher Used to Fire at Rishon Lezion | 500th Aircraft Delivered to Israel From United States Since Start of War | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Preemptive Strike Disrupts Planned Hezbollah Retaliation for Fuad Shukr’s Death: The IDF launched a preemptive strike against Hezbollah on Sunday at about 4:30 a.m. after learning that the Lebanese terror group planned to strike Israel at 5:00 a.m. with hundreds of missiles and rockets in retaliation for the death of senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr on July 30. According to IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, about 100 Israeli aircraft struck more than 270 targets simultaneously in southern Lebanon, disrupting Hezbollah’s planned attack. About an hour later, Hezbollah did launch an attack with some 230 rockets and more than 20 drones. The rockets targeted northern Israel, and the IDF believes that the drones were intended to hit central Israel. However, the IDF’s strike prevented Hezbollah from hitting central Israel. Most of Hezbollah’s rockets and drones landed in open areas, and a large number were intercepted. A home in Manot in northern Israel was damaged by a rocket, and a civilian in Acre was lightly wounded by shrapnel from an interception. In addition, Israeli Navy Petty Officer Third Class David Moshe Ben Shitrit, 21, was killed and two others wounded, apparently from shrapnel from an Iron Dome missile interceptor.

Israeli Defense Official: Challenge in Lebanon ‘Far from Over’: On Monday, Doron Kadosh, the military correspondent for Israel’s army radio, Galei Tzahal, provided additional details on Sunday’s preemptive strike on Hezbollah, noting that according to IDF assessments, Hezbollah fired less than 50 percent of the 500-600 rockets it planned to fire at Israel’s north and the many dozens of drones it intended to fire at central Israel. All drones were intercepted or fell short of their targets, though several rockets struck in the north, including near IDF bases. The IDF also believes that Hezbollah did not use precision missiles in the strike, though it has this capability. The military did not have precise intelligence about the attack, including Hezbollah’s targets, and as a result, the IDF struck thousands of rocket launchers, aiming to eliminate as many as possible that could potentially be used in an attack. The time of the attack was also unknown, though it was believed to be planned for the morning. Current IDF intelligence efforts are focused on an attack by Iran or the Houthis in Yemen. A senior defense official told army radio that while the IDF’s operation was successful, “the challenge from Lebanon is far from over.”

IDF Troops in Khan Younis Destroy Launcher Used to Fire at Rishon Lezion: On Sunday evening, after Hamas fighters in Khan Younis fired a rocket toward the Israeli city of Rishon Lezion from an area near a school, troops from the IDF’s 98th Division called in an airstrike, which destroyed the launcher as well as additional infrastructure used by Hamas. The secondary explosions that followed the strike indicated the presence of additional rockets in the launcher. In Khan Younis and on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah, forces from the 98th Division have eliminated dozens of terrorists in the past day, also finding weapons. After a terrorist fired an anti-tank missile at the soldiers, they called in an airstrike, eliminating him. In the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, in southern Gaza, soldiers from the 162nd Division killed dozens of terrorists, also finding a large number of weapons and destroying terrorist infrastructures. In central Gaza, troops from the 252nd Division are continuing to kill terrorists, find weapons and tunnels, and destroy terrorist infrastructure. In several different strikes, they used tank fire to eliminate terror squads that posed a threat to them.

500th Aircraft Delivered to Israel From United States Since Start of War: On Monday, Israel’s Defense Ministry published an announcement on U.S. military equipment sent to Israel since the war began, stating that the 500th aircraft in the “large-scale logistical effort” conducted jointly by the Defense Ministry and the IDF has landed in Israel. Thus far, more than 50,000 tons of military equipment have been delivered to Israel, via 500 flights and 107 sea shipments. The equipment, which the announcement says is “crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war,” includes armored vehicles, ammunition, munitions, medical equipment, and personal protective equipment. The operation is being conducted by the IDF’s Planning Directorate and the Israeli Air Force on the IDF side, and the Defense Ministry’s Mission to the United States and the Directorate of Production and Procurement.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Iran cannot be allowed to make this state of alert the new normal,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jewish Chronicle

“Saudi Official Views of Hamas,” Haisam Hassanein, FDD Insight

“Israeli defense minister announces the defeat of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“IDF Discovers 150 Tunnels on Egypt-Israel Border as Biden Calls Netanyahu,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“IDF Dismantles Terrorist Infrastructure in Khan Younis,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Qatari Prime Minister to Visit Iran ‘In the Coming Days’,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel, Egypt Discuss Philadelphi Deployment,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Hits Strategic Hezbollah Launchers Preemptively,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: August 23, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report