Israel SitRep: September 4, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Hezbollah Fires Some 65 Rockets at Israel, IAF Responds With Strikes in Southern Lebanon | IDF Arrests 14 in West Bank Overnight | IDF Troops in Rafah Eliminate More Than 200 Terrorists, Find Dozens of Weapons | COGAT: 189,033 Children Vaccinated Against Polio in Central Gaza; 12th Field Hospital Established in Gaza | Latest FDD Analysis

Hezbollah Fires Some 65 Rockets at Israel, IAF Responds With Strikes in Southern Lebanon: On Wednesday, some 65 rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon within an hour. Some of the rockets struck Kiryat Shmona, with at least one home suffering damage, while others landed in open areas and yet others were intercepted. Hezbollah, in taking responsibility for the attacks, claimed it was targeting military sites. An IDF announcement stated that in response to the Hezbollah barrage, “the IDF is currently striking Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon.” Sometime later, the IDF announced that Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in the areas of Qabrikha and Kounine in southern Lebanon, which were used for attacks on Israel.

IDF Arrests 14 in West Bank Overnight: The IDF on Wednesday reported on operations in the West Bank, where troops from the Duvdevan special forces unit exchanged fire with two gunmen in the Tulkarem area, killing them both and finding an M-16 rifle nearby. Soldiers from the Haruv reconnaissance unit found an explosive device in a baby carriage, and troops destroyed a bomb-making lab, materials for producing explosives, and a number of explosive devices. On Monday, a short time after a terrorist squad threw explosives and fired at IDF troops in the Tulkarem area, a drone strike was launched against the squad. In addition, IDF troops arrested 14 throughout the West Bank overnight. In Tekoa, Beit Sahur, and al-Khader, six arrests were made, and an airsoft gun was confiscated. Two individuals were arrested in Samaria, and materials used for making explosives were seized. In Hebron and Idna, another six arrests were made.

IDF Troops in Rafah Eliminate More Than 200 Terrorists, Find Dozens of Weapons: The IDF on Wednesday reported on operations in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in southern Gaza, where troops from the 162nd Division’s 401st Armored Brigade have killed more than 200 terrorists and found dozens of weapons in the homes of Gazan civilians over the past few weeks. In one incident, troops raided a building from which they had been fired on, and after conducting searches, killed the gunman and found a large quantity of weapons in the basement. During fighting in the area, the soldiers eliminated terrorists holed up in buildings. In addition, troops found 10 long-range rocket launchers intended to be used against Israel.

COGAT: 189,033 Children Vaccinated Against Polio in Central Gaza; 12th Field Hospital Established in Gaza: On Wednesday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, reported on the third and last day of the polio vaccination campaign in central Gaza, which took place yesterday, with 28,004 children being vaccinated, bringing the total to 189,033. The campaign is being carried out in coordination with the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Vaccination in southern Gaza will begin tomorrow. COGAT also announced on Wednesday that the 12th field hospital has been established in Gaza, run by Doctors Without Borders. The hospital has orthopedic, burn, and surgical departments, as well as an ER. It currently has 25 beds, and there are plans to expand to 100 beds and 300 medical staff members. COGAT also published a humanitarian aid update for September 3, noting that 204 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, 137 through the Kerem Shalom crossing and 67 through Erez. On the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom, the contents of 146 trucks were collected, 36 by the UN and 110 by the private sector, leaving 440 trucks still awaiting collection.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Adversaries and the Army: A Conversation with the U.S. Army Chief of Staff,” Bradley Bowman and General Randy A. George, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Is Qatar an ally or an enemy in the fight against terror finance?” Natalie Ecanow, The Hill

“After Brutal Executions, Will IDF Operations to Rescue Hostages Continue?” Enia Krivine, The Algemeiner

“Russia slams Israel in attempts to gain power and influence in Middle East,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Iranian official claims Tehran leading in missile capabilities – is it true?” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Excerpt from ‘The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza’,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Responding forcefully to the Axis of Resistance,” Edmund Fitton-Brown, FDD’s Long War Journal

“IDF Destroys Transportation Rail Terror Tunnel in Northern Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“October 7 Terrorist Caught on Camera Swigging from Coke Bottle After Murdering Israeli Father Eliminated in IDF Strike,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Polio Vaccination Targets in Gaza Exceeded, World Health Organization Says,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief