Israel SitRep: September 25, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Numerous Projectiles Fired at Israel Wednesday, IDF Carries Out Airstrikes in Beqaa and Southern Lebanon | David’s Sling Intercepts Hezbollah Missile Fired Toward Tel Aviv | Northern Command Head Gordin: ‘We’ve Entered Another Phase in the Battle’ | IAF Official: Hezbollah Badly Hurt by Recent Israeli Airstrikes, Still Has Extensive Missile Capabilities | Latest FDD Analysis

Numerous Projectiles Fired at Israel Wednesday; IDF Carries Out Airstrikes in Beqaa and Southern Lebanon: On Wednesday morning, numerous projectiles were fired at Israel from Lebanon and Iraq, and the IDF carried out extensive airstrikes in Lebanon. Two drones were fired at the Golan Heights from Iraq at around 3 a.m., landing in open areas and setting off fires. The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility. After sirens sounded at 8:50 a.m. in Eliad in the Golan Heights, Israeli Air Force fighter jets intercepted a drone south of the Sea of Galilee, which was fired from the east. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq later claimed responsibility. Rockets were fired from Tebnine in southern Lebanon toward the Wadi Ara area in northern Israel, and the IAF then struck the launcher. It later attacked dozens of Hezbollah weapons depots. The IDF then announced extensive airstrikes in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. A little while later, the military announced that about 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon at the upper Galilee. Some were intercepted, and no one was injured. The announcement added: “The Hezbollah terrorist organization continues to carry out launches toward civilian areas and institutions on the Israeli home front. The IDF continues to strike Hezbollah terror targets and weapons storage facilities.”

David’s Sling Intercepts Hezbollah Missile Fired Toward Tel Aviv: On Wednesday morning, Israel’s David’s Sling defense system shot down a Hezbollah surface-to-surface missile fired toward Tel Aviv. The missile was launched from the area of Nafakhiyeh in southern Lebanon, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border. Israeli Air Force fighter jets then struck the launcher from which the missile was fired. Overnight, the IAF conducted additional strikes on Hezbollah targets, including weapons depots, terrorists operating in military buildings, and launchers. The strikes on the weapons depots caused secondary explosions, indicating that they were storing large quantities of weapons. The IAF published footage of the strike on the launcher and of the secondary explosions and strikes on other targets. Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for launching a Qadr 1 ballistic missile at Mossad headquarters, which it says is responsible for eliminating senior Hezbollah officials and for the pager and walkie-talkie explosions.

Northern Command Head Gordin: ‘We’ve Entered Another Phase in the Battle’: On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, head of Northern Command, observed an exercise being carried out by the 7th Armored Brigade on the northern border and held a situation assessment with the officers and soldiers. Gordin stressed the importance of having the troops prepared in order to change the security situation and allow residents of northern Israel to return to their homes. He stated, “We’ve entered another phase in the battle,” which “began with a very significant blow to Hezbollah’s capabilities, particularly its [rocket] firing capabilities, and a very significant blow to the organization’s commanders and personnel. In light of this, we must change the security situation, we must be very strongly prepared to enter [Lebanon] and to maneuver and to operate.”

IAF Official: Hezbollah Badly Hurt by Recent Israeli Airstrikes, Still Has Extensive Missile Capabilities: On Tuesday, a senior Israeli Air Force official, speaking with military correspondents, stated that the IAF’s strikes against Hezbollah over the previous day were unprecedented, both in the number of targets struck and the amount of ordinance dropped. The strikes hit more than 1,600 targets in the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. According to the official, the airstrikes are “changing the operational situation in the north.” He noted that over the course of several decades, Hezbollah built missile, rocket, and drone capabilities, as well as raid and attack capabilities through commando forces such as Radwan — whose commander and senior officials were killed in an Israeli airstrike Friday. Referring to Hezbollah’s use of civilian homes to store missiles, the official stated that the number of such homes is in the thousands. He noted that while Israeli airstrikes have caused significant damage to Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities, they have not been completely destroyed, and he called on Israelis to continue following instructions from the Home Front Command.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Iran Is Waiting for a President Harris,” Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh, The Wall Street Journal

“Hezbollah’s strategic gamble in terrorism: Is it paying off?” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Northern Israel’s borderlands is under shadow of war,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Ahead of UNGA session, Iran on a diplomatic offensive amid Hezbollah-Israel flare-up,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“Northern Israel’s cities are caught in the crosshairs,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

“The Houthis have challenged the Rules-Based International System and must be defeated,” Edmund Fitton-Brown, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israel strikes more than 1,300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israeli Police Seize Hamas Terror Funds in Eastern Jerusalem,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Strike on Beirut Eliminates Hezbollah Missile Chief,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief