Israel SitRep: November 27, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Detains Four Who Approached Troops in Southern Lebanon, Warns Lebanese Against Moving Southward | IAF Strikes Numerous Targets Overnight Throughout Lebanon and Between Lebanon and Syria | IAF Carries Out ‘Comprehensive’ Strike Before Ceasefire, Destroys Most Hezbollah Aerial Unit Cruise Missiles | 162nd Division Continues Operations in Northern Gaza; IAF Drone Kills Terrorist Released in Shalit Deal | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Detains Four Who Approached Troops in Southern Lebanon, Warns Lebanese Against Moving Southward: The IDF announced Wednesday afternoon, around 12 hours after the start of the ceasefire, that it detained and interrogated four people who approached troops in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz have instructed the IDF not to allow the Lebanese population to enter the area of the villages near the border with Israel. IDF Arabic-language spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee today issued an “urgent warning” to residents of southern Lebanon, stating: “For your safety and the safety of your family, you are prohibited from moving south toward the villages that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated or toward IDF forces in the area. Any movement toward these areas exposes you to danger.” According to Adraee, between Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Thursday at 7 a.m., traveling south of the Litani River is “absolutely prohibited,” and those who are already south of the river must stay where they are. The spokesman added: “The IDF is still deployed in its positions in southern Lebanon in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement, and our forces will deal firmly with any movement that violates this agreement.”

IAF Strikes Numerous Targets Overnight Throughout Lebanon and Between Lebanon and Syria: On Wednesday, the IAF announced that overnight, its fighter jets, with guidance from Aman military intelligence, struck many dozens of launchers, command centers, terrorist infrastructures, military buildings, and weapons depots throughout Lebanon and on routes connecting Lebanon with Syria. In Beirut, fighter jets struck Hezbollah command centers, a building used by Hezbollah’s Coastal Missile Unit, and weapons-manufacturing sites. The IAF also struck several routes between Lebanon and Syria that were being used to deliver armaments to Hezbollah. In Nabatieh and in Tyre, IAF fighter jets, with guidance from Aman military intelligence and the Northern Command, struck several Hezbollah military buildings, weapons depots, and command centers. According to the announcement, many of the military assets attacked belonged to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, Aziz Unit, or Badr Unit. The Times of Israel adds that the IAF targeted more than 300 Hezbollah sites in several waves of airstrikes on Tuesday and overnight, up until the start of the ceasefire at 4 a.m.

IAF Carries Out ‘Comprehensive’ Strike Before Ceasefire, Destroys Most Cruise Missiles of Hezbollah’s Aerial Unit: The IDF announced on Wednesday that last night, prior to the implementation of today’s ceasefire, Israeli Air Force fighter jets undertook a “comprehensive strike” against infrastructure of Hezbollah’s Aerial Unit 127, destroying most of the unit’s cruise missiles and 70 percent of Hezbollah’s UAVs. The IDF notes that this infrastructure was “systematically entrenched” in villages and civilian buildings. Among the targets struck were more than 150 UAV launch positions, about 30 Unit 127 command centers, approximately 20 weapons depots storing cruise missiles and UAVs, and some four manufacturing workshops for cruise missiles and UAVs. On Wednesday, the IAF stated that during the ceasefire it will continue “to be prepared to act in all of Lebanon” to protect IDF soldiers, noting that air defense personnel are “on high alert, all the time.” The announcement adds that “the IDF will act against anyone who attempts to violate the ceasefire agreement.”

162nd Division Continues Operations in Northern Gaza; IAF Drone Kills Terrorist Released in Shalit Deal: On Wednesday, the IDF reported that the 162nd Division is continuing operations in Beit Lahia and Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip. Overnight, Israeli Air Force fighter jets, with guidance from the 215th Artillery Regiment, carried out strikes on dozens of Hamas military buildings, significant terrorist infrastructures, and weapons depots in these areas. The announcement notes that many targets were struck as a result of intelligence collected from interrogations of terrorists by the Shin Bet and Unit 504 of Aman military intelligence, adding that prior to the attacks, the local population was moved away for its protection. In Gaza City, also in the north of the strip, an IAF drone strike directed by the 143rd (Gaza) Division eliminated Murad Rajub, one of two terrorists who carried out an attack in Beersheba in 2002, injuring some 10 civilians. Rajub, who was sentenced to 38 years in prison, was freed in the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal.

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Israel’s path to victory: Dismantling Khamenei’s regime by 2040,” Mark Dubowitz and Jacob Nagel, The Jerusalem Post

“Existing Law Requires US to Cut Funding if UN Rejects Israel’s Credentials,” Orde Kittrie, The Hill

Amid ceasefire talks, Israel focuses on disrupting weapons smuggling to Hezbollah,” Seth J. Frantzman, FDD’s Long War Journal

“Security Cooperation With Jordan: Key to Protecting Israel’s Eastern Front,” Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Policy Brief

“‘Direct Ties to Senior Officials’: German Police Charge Members of Suspected Hamas Cell,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Designed To Be Permanent’: Israel Agrees to Ceasefire Agreement With Hezbollah,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief