Israel SitRep: November 22, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IAF Eliminates PIJ Rocket Unit Commander in Gaza, Destroys More Than 45 Launchers in Lebanon | IDF’s 7th Brigade Finds Kornet Anti-Tank Missile, Tunnel Shafts, Weapons Depots in Southern Lebanon Operation | In West Bank Operations in Past Week, Troops Arrest More Than 40, Seize Terrorist Funds | Israeli Defense Ministry Signs $46 Million Deal for Namer APC and Merkava Tank Components | Latest FDD Analysis

IAF Eliminates PIJ Rocket Unit Commander in Gaza, Destroys More Than 45 Launchers in Lebanon: The Israeli Air Force reported on Friday that during the week, IAF drones, with precise intelligence from Aman military intelligence, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, eliminated the commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket unit. According to the announcement, Khaled Abu Daqqa was a “significant actor” who carried out and commanded many terrorist attacks and was operating in the humanitarian zone in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah. The IAF says that since October 7, Abu Daqqa had directed rocket attacks on Gaza envelope communities. The announcement notes that prior to the attack, many steps were taken to minimize harm to civilians. Also on Friday, the IAF said that in the past week, its fighter jets, with guidance from the Northern Command, have destroyed more than 45 Hezbollah launchers throughout southern Lebanon, some of which were used to fire projectiles at a number of locations in Israel, others of which were ready to be fired. The launchers included those used to fire rockets at Nahariya yesterday, which killed a man, and those used to fire at the Haifa Bay area overnight.

IDF’s 7th Brigade Finds Kornet Anti-Tank Missile, Tunnel Shafts, Weapons Depots in Southern Lebanon Operation: The IDF on Friday reported that the 7th Armored Brigade, which is under the 98th Division, is continuing targeted operations in southern Lebanon. In a raid on an area used by Hezbollah as a “significant terror center,” soldiers found several combat compounds, anti-tank missile-launching posts, and a large number of weapons depots with guns, grenades, and combat equipment. In one compound, troops found a Kornet anti-tank missile with a range of about eight kilometers (five miles) as well as a Hezbollah operative killed in an IDF attack. In the same location, the soldiers found a drone meant to be fired at Israel. In another compound, they located several tunnel shafts and weapons depots, which they “neutralized.” They also destroyed dozens of Hezbollah infrastructures in the area.

In West Bank Operations in Past Week, Troops Arrest More Than 40, Seize Terrorist Funds: On Friday, the IDF announced that during the past week, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested more than 40 suspects throughout the West Bank, also seizing 15 guns. Overnight, Border Police operating in Bethlehem found two guns as well as ammunition and other weaponry. In the village of Jalqamus in the northern West Bank, IDF troops arrested one wanted man and seized tens of thousands of shekels in terrorist funds. Troops arrested three wanted men in the parts of the West Bank in which the Ephraim and Yehuda Brigades operate (Tulkarem/Qalqilya and Hebron, respectively) and also seized military equipment and other weaponry.

Israeli Defense Ministry Signs $46 Million Deal for Namer APC and Merkava Tank Components: The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it signed “an additional significant agreement” worth $46 million with Israeli aerospace and defense company Ashot Ashkelon, which manufactures armored vehicle components. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will produce and supply “critical components” for the Namer (“Leopard”) armored personnel carrier and for Merkava tanks. So far this year, the Defense Ministry has purchased more than $88 million worth of goods from Ashot Ashkelon. The announcement notes that the deal is part of a larger initiative to improve the capabilities of Israeli armored vehicles, which the ministry says have proven themselves during the current war.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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