Israel SitRep: September 30, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Eliminates Head of Hamas in Lebanon in Targeted Strike | Two PFLP Commanders Eliminated in IAF Airstrike in Beirut | Troops Arrest More Than 20 Terror Suspects in Overnight West Bank Operations | Shin Bet: Iranian Assassination Attempts Increasing in Israel | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Eliminates Head of Hamas in Lebanon in Targeted Strike: The IDF on Monday announced that Fateh Sharif, head of Hamas in Lebanon, was eliminated overnight in a targeted strike by Israeli Air Force fighter jets. The assassination was a joint IDF-Shin Bet operation, with intelligence guidance by the Shin Bet, Aman military intelligence, and the IDF’s Northern Command. Sharif was in charge of coordinating Hamas activity in Lebanon with Hezbollah and was also responsible for recruitment and weapons purchases. According to the IDF, he worked to promote Hamas’s interests, both politically and militarily. In addition, he served as head of the UNRWA teachers’ union in Lebanon. The announcement adds: “The IDF and Shin Bet are determined to continue to act to strike at anyone who poses a threat to the citizens of Israel.”

Two PFLP Commanders Eliminated in IAF Airstrike in Beirut: On Monday, the IDF announced that Nidal Abdel-Aal, head of the Lebanon branch of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Imad Odeh, who served as head of the group’s military office in Lebanon, were killed last night in an Israeli Air Force strike, carried out with intelligence guidance from the Shin Bet, Aman military intelligence, and the IDF’s Northern Command. According to the IDF, Abdel-Aal led the PFLP’s efforts to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against Israel. He was also responsible for directing the group’s terrorist activity in the West Bank and worked to establish infrastructure there for attacks on Israeli targets. He directed the attempted bus bombing on March 9, 2023, in Beitar Illit, located in the West Bank, near Jerusalem, as well as a shooting attack at the Huwara Junction in the West Bank, which took place on March 25, 2023. Two soldiers were wounded in the shooting attack. According to the PFLP, a third operative, Abdelrahman Abdel-Aal, was also killed in last night’s IAF strike.

Troops Arrest More Than 20 Terror Suspects in Overnight West Bank Operations: The IDF on Monday announced that in operations overnight throughout the West Bank, troops arrested more than 20 individuals suspected of terrorist activity. In the Tapuah area and in Hebron, troops found a pistol, confiscated inflammatory Hamas material, and made an arrest. In Nablus and Silwad, IDF troops, together with the Border Police and Shin Bet, arrested a number of individuals suspected of terrorist activity and are continuing their counterterrorism operations. In Kharas and in Qalqilya, troops made eight arrests, in the area of the Etzion Regional Brigade they arrested seven, and in Tulkarem, a man was arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity. More than 5,250 wanted persons have been arrested in the area covered by the Central Command since the war began, more than 2,050 of them affiliated with Hamas.

Shin Bet: Iranian Assassination Attempts Increasing in Israel: The Shin Bet announced on Monday that it has recently foiled several attempted Iranian assassinations in Israel. According to the agency, Iran has been working to recruit Israelis for attacks on government officials. The announcement refers to the recent arrest of Moti Maman, an Israeli businessman who was asked to assassinate the prime minister, the defense minister, or the head of the Shin Bet. Iran has been attempting to recruit Israelis online, including through social media platforms focusing on job searches, finance, and cryptocurrency. Among the tasks Iranian agents have asked Israelis to carry out were flyer distribution, placing phones or money in different areas, painting graffiti, and setting cars on fire. The Shin Bet says that a large sum of money being offered for a task not commensurate with the work involved should raise suspicions. The agency asks the public to report suspicious activity.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Two Fronts in The War Against the West,” Clifford D. May, Bernard Henri-Lévy, and Oleksandra Matviichuk, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Israel’s Strike on Hezbollah HQ,” Jonathan Conricus, Jonathan Schanzer, and David Daoud, FDD SITREP

“Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s fatal underestimation of Israel,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Arab News

“When it comes to Iran’s rulers, there can be no dialogue,” Ben Cohen, Jewish News Syndicate

“U.S. Should Sanction Iran’s Brutal Judge Iman Afshari,” Tzvi Kahn, Real Clear World

“U.S. Ceasefire Call Fails to Resolve Hezbollah Threat,” Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Policy Brief

“Erdogan’s private military company looks to raise an Islamist army,” Tyler Stapleton and Sinan Ciddi, FDD’s Long War Journal

“After decades of f*cking around, did Hassan Nasrallah just find out?” Bill Roggio, David Daoud, and Ahmad Sharawi, Generation Jihad (by FDD’s Long War Journal)

“Houthis Missile Fired at Central Israel, Intercepted by Arrow System,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Netanyahu Slams United Nations Antisemitism in General Assembly Speech,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Palestinian Gunmen Kill Aid Worker in Gaza,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Elimination of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah a Watershed Moment in Israel’s War Against Iranian Proxies,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Following Houthi Attacks, Israel Again Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: September 27, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report