January 22, 2025 | Israel at War Situation Report
Israel SitRep: January 22, 2025
January 22, 2025 Israel at War Situation Report
Israel SitRep: January 22, 2025
Today’s Issue: | IDF Troops Conduct Raid in Mount Dov, Seize Weapons Including Rocket and Missile Launchers | Iron Wall Counterterrorism Operation in Jenin Continues, Israeli Forces Strike Terrorists, Destroy Explosive Devices | IDF Discovers Tunnel Shaft Some 100 Meters From Israel’s Border With Gaza | Defense Minister Katz to Begin Interviewing Chief of Staff Candidates on Sunday | Latest FDD Analysis
IDF Troops Conduct Raid in Mount Dov, Seize Weapons Including Rocket and Missile Launchers: The IDF on Wednesday reported on operations by the 810th (Mountain) Brigade, under the command of the 210th (Bashan) Regional Division, which conducted a raid in the Lebanese side of Mount Dov to clear the area of Hezbollah infrastructure and weaponry. During the raid, the soldiers seized rocket launchers, anti-tank missile launchers, a large number of weapons, machine guns, and missiles aimed at Israel. The IDF states that the Mountain Brigade “will prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to reestablish itself and conduct a buildup in the Mount Dov area and will do so in accordance with the understandings of the ceasefire.” The IDF published a video showing some of the weapons found by the Mountain Brigade as well as photos of some of the weapons found.
Iron Wall Counterterrorism Operation in Jenin Continues, Israeli Forces Strike Terrorists, Destroy Explosive Devices: On Wednesday, the IDF reported on Operation Iron Wall, the counterterrorism operation in Jenin in the northern West Bank, which began on Tuesday. During the operation, which is being conducted by IDF troops, Border Police, and the Shin Bet, the security forces carried out airstrikes against terrorist infrastructure, struck several terrorists, and destroyed explosive devices. In the past 24 hours, the forces struck more than 10 terrorists. The Israeli operation follows a truce agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the Jenin Battalion, which is composed of operatives from Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas. PA security forces had been carrying out an operation against the battalion since December.
IDF Discovers Tunnel Shaft Some 100 Meters From Israel’s Border With Gaza: The Israeli news outlet Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday that during work on the buffer zone between southern Gaza and Israel, IDF soldiers discovered a tunnel shaft containing explosives about 100 meters from the border. Since the start of the ceasefire, Gazans have made dozens of attempts to enter the buffer zone, and while in some cases warning shots were fired, in other cases, they were fired on with intent to kill. According to the article, the discovery of the tunnel shaft indicates that despite the IDF’s aggressive operations in Gaza, there is still a threat to Israel of infiltration from Gaza and much remains to be done to eliminate the threat of Hamas infiltrations.
Defense Minister Katz to Begin Interviewing Chief of Staff Candidates on Sunday: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that he will begin to interview candidates for chief of staff on Sunday. The announcement comes after the current chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said on Tuesday that he will be stepping down in March due to “responsibility for the IDF’s failure” on October 7. Katz stated that he would conduct a “swift” and “orderly” process to choose Halevi’s successor. He will be interviewing Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, and Maj. Gen. (res.) Tamir Yadai. Zamir has served in the IDF for 38 years and was deputy chief of staff from 2018 to 2021. Baran is the current deputy chief of staff and previously served as head of Northern Command. Yadai previously served as head of the IDF’s ground forces.
Latest FDD Analysis:
Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Mouaz Moustafa, FDD Event
“A Break in the Argentina Murder Case Tied to Iran,” Ben Cohen and Toby Dershowitz, The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune
“Israel’s Dilemma in Lebanon,” Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune
“Iran’s Energy Crisis,” Dr. Brenda Shaffer and Dalga Khatinoglu, Real Clear Energy
“‘How Can You Do That to Children?’: Jewish Community Daycare Center Torched in Latest Antisemitic Outrage in Australia,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief
“‘Iron Wall’: Israel Swoops on West Bank in New War Goal,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief
“Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces Battle Turkish Proxies Amid Calls for Their Dissolution,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief