Israel SitRep: October 9, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Continues Operations in Lebanon and Gaza; IAF Strikes Some 230 Targets in Past Day | IDF Troops in Southern Lebanon Kill Terrorists, Locate Underground Weapons Depot in a Home | IDF Discovered Tunnel on Lebanese Border That Crossed Into Israeli Territory | Terrorist Wounds Six in Attack in Hadera; Attacker Shot and Killed by Armed Civilian | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Continues Operations in Lebanon and Gaza; IAF Strikes Some 230 Targets in Past Day: The IDF is continuing operations in southern Lebanon, where troops have killed terrorists in close combat and through airstrikes, dismantled launch pads posing a threat to communities in Israel’s north, and found various types of weapons, including a large number of anti-tank missiles. In Gaza, IDF troops from the 252nd Division, the 162nd Division, and the Gaza Division are continuing operations, eliminating terrorists in aerial and ground combat and finding weapons, including AK-47 rifles and grenades. The troops have also destroyed launchers with rockets ready to be fired at Israel, as well as terrorist infrastructures. In the past day, the Israeli Air Force has struck more than 230 terror targets — about 185 in Lebanon and some 45 in Gaza — including military infrastructures, observation posts, rocket launchers, terror squads, military buildings, and weapons depots.

IDF Troops in Southern Lebanon Kill Terrorists, Locate Underground Weapons Depot in a Home: The IDF on Wednesday reported on fighting in southern Lebanon, stating that soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade are eliminating terrorists in close combat and finding underground Hezbollah military infrastructure in the homes of civilians. In one battle, troops shot at a terrorist squad inside a building, and in the exchange of fire, Cpt. Ben Zion Falach of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion was killed. After soldiers located the terrorists using a drone, they were eliminated in a drone strike. Another terrorist in the building was also killed. In the village where the troops are operating, soldiers found hundreds of weapons as well as a weapons depot some seven meters (about 23 feet) underground, in a home.

IDF Discovered Tunnel on Lebanese Border That Crossed Into Israeli Territory: The IDF announced on Tuesday evening that several months ago, troops discovered a Hezbollah tunnel in Marwahin in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel, which crossed into Israeli territory. The tunnel was about 25 meters (some 80 feet) long, and around 10 meters of it (some 30 feet) was under Israeli territory, near the community of Zar’it. There was no opening on the Israeli side. The discovery was made during an IDF operation to destroy terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon. During a search of the tunnel, carried out by troops including special forces, the soldiers found anti-tank missiles, other weaponry, and explosive devices. According to IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the tunnel was “neutralized,” and the IDF is continuing to scan the entire border area, searching for other terrorist infrastructure. He added that the army is not aware of any other tunnels that cross into Israel from Lebanon.

Terrorist Wounds Six in Attack in Hadera; Attacker Shot and Killed by Armed Civilian: On Wednesday, a man later identified as an Arab Israeli resident of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel went on a stabbing spree in Hadera, wounding six people in four different locations. The attacker, Ahmad Jabarin, 36, rode a moped from one location to the next, wounding two people in one location, another person in the second location, two people in the third, and one more in the last location. Four of the victims underwent surgery at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. Jabarin was killed by an armed civilian at the scene. On Sunday, in a shooting attack at the central bus station in Beersheba, 19-year-old Border Police officer Sgt. Shira Suslik was killed and 10 people were wounded. Last week, in a terrorist attack in Jaffa, seven people were killed and 16 wounded.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“The October 8th War,” Jonathan Schanzer, Commentary

“Qatari Emir’s Speech at UN Showed Its Loyalty to Hamas; We Must Respond,” Natalie Ecanow, The Algemeiner

“Possible Targets in Iran: Military, Nuclear, and Regime Infrastructure,” FDD Experts, FDD Visual

“The Impact of the October 7 Attack Still Reverberates in the U.S.” Enia Krivine, FDD Policy Brief

“Back in Business: Russian ‘Merchant of Death’ Selling Arms to Houthis,” John Hardie, FDD Policy Brief

“Iran threatens Israeli civil and nuclear infrastructure on October 7 anniversary,” Janatan Sayeh, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Israel faces attacks on multiple fronts on the anniversary of the October 7 attack,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“U.S. Treasury Sanctions Additional Hamas Financiers on First Anniversary of October 7 Massacre,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Strikes at Hezbollah Leaders as Attacks on North Intensify,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar Reportedly Resurfaces After Weeks of Silence,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief