Israel SitRep: December 9, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Takes Control of Syria Buffer Zone; Tasked With Preventing Weapons Smuggling, Destroying Weapons in Syria | 10 Terror Suspects Arrested in Overnight IDF-Shin Bet Counterterrorism Operation | Israeli Citizen Indicted for Working for Iran; 11 Iranian Plots Exposed in Past Year | Mortar Shells Fired Near Humanitarian Corridor Sunday, Aid Distribution Temporarily Delayed | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Takes Control of Syria Buffer Zone; Tasked With Preventing Weapons Smuggling, Destroying Weapons in Syria: Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on Sunday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the Cabinet’s approval, have instructed the IDF to take over the buffer zone with Syria and points overlooking Syria in order to defend Israeli communities in the Golan Heights. Katz also told the IDF to prevent weapons smuggling from Iran to Lebanon through Syria and to make contact with communities in southern Syria, including the Druze. He also instructed the army to destroy weapons in Syria, including long-range rockets, air defense systems, coast-to-sea missiles, and surface-to-air missiles. The IDF on Monday announced that last night, troops from the 210th (Bashan) Division began an operation to protect residents of the Golan Heights. Paratroopers and other forces are deployed in the buffer zone, while infantry, armored troops, and engineering forces operating under the command of the regional brigades — the 474th (Golan) Brigade and the 810th (Mountain) Brigade — are deployed along the border with Syria. The announcement includes footage of paratroopers entering Syria.

10 Terror Suspects Arrested in Overnight IDF-Shin Bet Counterterrorism Operation: The IDF and Shin Bet carried out an overnight counterterrorism operation in several West Bank locations, arresting some 10 suspects. In Dura, a village in the Hebron area, troops operated in the home of the terrorist who carried out the car-ramming attack at the Al-Fawar junction on Saturday, interrogating suspected accomplices. In Silwad, near Ramallah, soldiers seized two pistols as well as inflammatory materials published by Hamas, interrogated dozens of terror suspects, and made one arrest. In Yabed, west of Jenin, forces interrogated dozens of terror suspects and arrested two. In addition, soldiers arrested eight in Samu, south of Hebron; in Dheisheh in Bethlehem; and in several villages that are part of the IDF’s Ephraim Brigade (in the Tulkarem and Qalqilya area).

Israeli Citizen Indicted for Working for Iran; 11 Iranian Plots Exposed in Past Year: The Israel Police announced on Monday that Artyom Zolotarev, 33, a resident of northern Israel, was indicted this morning in the Nazareth District Court for contact with a foreign agent, vandalism, and arson. Zolotarev was arrested in November on suspicion that he worked for Iranian intelligence, carrying out missions including spraying-painting graffiti in northern Israel and torching a vehicle. According to the findings of the Police-Shin Bet investigation, in October Iranian agent “Eliad” asked the accused to spray-paint anti-government graffiti, which he did dozens of times. He was paid $2,800 in cryptocurrency. According to the Police, Zolotarev refused to perform tasks such as photographing electrical transformers and residential buildings. When he read about other Israelis arrested for spying for Iran, he realized that “Eliad” was an Iranian agent. “Eliad” then offered Zolotarev $125,000 to act as a hitman and asked him to purchase a gun to give to another person. While he refused, he did torch a vehicle and was paid $2,000. “Eliad” introduced Zolotarev to another handler, “Boaz Mar,” and he sprayed additional graffiti for him and torched another car and was paid thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency. In the past year, the Shin Bet has exposed 11 Iranian assassination and espionage plots, most involving Israeli citizens.

Mortar Shells Fired Near Humanitarian Corridor Sunday, Aid Distribution Temporarily Delayed: On Sunday afternoon, COGAT, the Israeli entity coordinating humanitarian aid for Gaza, published a statement about an incident that occurred earlier in the day, in which several mortar shells were fired at IDF troops from the humanitarian corridor near the Kerem Shalom crossing. After the incident, the corridor was temporarily closed “to eliminate the threats while maintaining the safety of civilians in the area,” and this delayed the distribution of aid. The corridor was reopened after the IDF eliminated the armed men who launched the mortar shells. The announcement states that “the IDF, through COGAT, will continue to act in accordance with international law to enable and facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid” and adds: “The IDF will continue operating against terrorist organizations operating to cynically use humanitarian infrastructure for terrorist activity.”

Latest FDD Analysis:

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

“Another Day, Another Blood Libel,” Clifford D. May and David Adesnik, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Assad End in Syria,” Jonathan Schanzer, Commentary

“What’s at stake for America in Syria after Bashar al-Assad,” David Adesnik, New York Post

“Assad Is Gone: What Happens to Syria Now?” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, 1945

“Winners and losers in the Middle East: The story so far,” Ben Cohen, Jewish News Syndicate

“Israel Assists UN Forces in Syria to ‘Repel’ Attack,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘A Historic Day in the Middle East’: Bashar al-Assad Flees to Russia as Rebels Take Syrian Capital,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Temporary Defensive Position’: Israel Conquers Golan Buffer Zone,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Prepared for All Scenarios’: Israel Quietly Monitors Syrian Upheaval,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘Act of Antisemitism’: Synagogue Set Ablaze in Melbourne,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief