Israel SitRep: November 20, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IAF Airstrikes Eliminate Two Hezbollah Commanders on Sunday | Undercover Border Police, IDF Soldiers, and Shin Bet Eliminate Three Terrorists in West Bank Raid | Alma: Hezbollah Increasing Use of Heavier Missiles and Rockets, Seeking Propaganda and Psychological Achievements | COGAT: 132 Aid Trucks Entered Gaza Tuesday, 1,000 Blood Units for Northern Gaza Hospital Monday | Latest FDD Analysis

IAF Airstrikes Eliminate Two Hezbollah Commanders on Sunday: On Wednesday, the IDF announced that Israeli Air Force fighter jets, with guidance from the Northern Command and the 282nd Artillery Regiment, eliminated the commander of operations and the commander of the anti-tank unit for Hezbollah’s coastal sector on Sunday. According to the IDF, the two were responsible for promoting many attacks against both the army and Israeli civilians, including anti-tank and rocket fire at the western Galilee and the coastal plain. The announcement adds that “their killing constitutes additional damage to Hezbollah’s capabilities to promote and carry out terrorist attacks against the Israeli home front on the northern border.” IDF troops are continuing operations in southern Lebanon, finding weapons depots and seizing weapons and equipment. In addition, drone strikes were carried out against a number of command centers and military buildings.

Undercover Border Police, IDF Soldiers, and Shin Bet Eliminate Three Terrorists in West Bank Raid: The Israel Police announced on Wednesday that undercover Border Police forces eliminated three armed men in the West Bank city of Qabatiya in a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the Border Police, the IDF, and the Shin Bet. The man who was the target of the operation had carried out several terrorist attacks in the past and was planning another attack in the immediate future. During the raid on his home, the man attempted to flee from the roof of his home to a nearby building, while two other armed men who had been hiding with him and were holed up in the house began shooting at the troops. The undercover Border Police used the “pressure cooker” tactic of escalating grenade, rocket, and shooting attacks, eventually killing the three.

Alma: Hezbollah Increasing Use of Heavier Missiles and Rockets, Seeking Propaganda and Psychological Achievements: The Alma Research and Education Center has published a report discussing the rockets and heavy missiles in Hezbollah’s arsenal. The authors believe that as reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah gain momentum, the group will likely seek propaganda and psychological achievements. According to the report, Hezbollah has apparently been increasing its use of heavier missiles and rockets against the Haifa area and the Krayot suburbs, which the authors believe is an attempt to create a “psychological impact” and achieve “a perceived victory” by increasing the number of casualties and the damage to property. While the type of weapons Hezbollah is using has changed, the number of attacks has not increased, nor has their frequency. Hezbollah has introduced some new types of weapons during the war, and its rocket and missile arsenal includes the Fadi-1, Fadi-2, Fadi-6, Nasr-1, Nasr-2, Fajr-5, Qadr 1, Qadr 2, and Fateh-110. The report includes a detailed description of each.

COGAT: 132 Aid Trucks Entered Gaza Tuesday, 1,000 Blood Units for Northern Gaza Hospital Monday: On Wednesday, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, announced that 132 aid trucks and six cooking gas tankers entered Gaza on Tuesday through the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings. Of these, 50 went to northern Gaza. International aid organizations collected the contents of 13 trucks from the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom, and 850 trucks’ worth of aid is still awaiting collection. On Monday, 1,000 units of blood were transferred to the Al-Sahaba Hospital in northern Gaza through collaboration between COGAT’s Coordination and Liaison Administration and international organizations. According to the IDF, since the war began, 2,800 trucks with 28,000 tons of hygiene products and medical equipment have been delivered for civilians in Gaza, and 14 field hospitals have been set up.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Qatar’s Sportswashing Strategy: What the Latest Headlines on European Soccer Didn’t Tell You,” Natalie Ecanow, FDD Policy Brief

“IDF expands Lebanon airstrikes and ground operations,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“‘Humanitarian Catastrophe’: Turkish Strikes Leave 1 Million in Northeast Syria Without Electricity, Water,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Within Our Grasp’: U.S. Envoy Hochstein Reaches for Lebanon Truce,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Discovers Hezbollah Stockpiles of Russian Weapons,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief