Iraq

The IDF integrated ground maneuver continued in the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip, despite the announcement by the IDF spokesperson about the withdrawal of forces. Rocket launchers, some of which were ready to be activated, factories for the production of mortar shells and a large quantity of weapons were exposed. Two rocket barrages were launched from the north and central Gaza Strip at Israel, one at the Sderot area and the other at the Netivot area, where a shop was hit. Hamas and the PIJ praised the combined stabbing and vehicle ramming attack carried out in Ra'anana and praised its perpetrators. In the attack, one woman was killed and 20 people were injured. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for eight attacks on Israeli territory. In response the IDF carried out a broad wave of attacks in the Wadi al-Salouqi region. A UNIFIL spokesman expressed concern about the growing tensions in south Lebanon.United States military forces seized a vessel near the coast of Somalia on which advanced Iranian weapons were found, including parts of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles sent to the Houthis. On the night of January 16, 2024, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) carried out a combined ballistic missile attack on targets in the Idlib region in northwestern Syria and the Erbil region in northern Iraq. Read more...

The activity of the IDF forces continued, focusing on the Khan Yunis area. The Palestinian media reported that the main fighting centers were in Gaza City, the al-Nuseirat refugee camp (central Gaza Strip) and west of Khan Yunis. The spokesman for the Hamas military wing and other figures in the movement reiterated that they would be able to continue fighting, and claimed their firm stance had shattered Israel's hopes of attaining its objectives. According to reports, a combined stabbing attack was carried out in the center of Ra'anana. A woman was killed and 18 people were injured. The stabber was apprehended. According to senior Hamas figures, no contacts are currently being held regarding a prisoner exchange deal. Medical officials continue to report a grave medical situation in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two attacks targeting Israel. Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech which related to the "campaign" against Israel.IDF forces operated at al-Najah University in Nablus and detained Hamas operatives; The tension between the Houthis in Yemen and the United States continues. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi praised Yemen's "heroism in protecting the residents of the Gaza Strip." Read more...

: The IDF continued its integrated ground maneuver, focusing on the northern Gaza Strip, where rocket launchers were located and destroyed; the central Gaza Strip, mainly the area of the al-Maghazi refugee camp; and the southern Gaza Strip, mainly in the area of the city of Khan The IDF spokesperson noted that since the beginning of the fighting, the forces had destroyed about 700 rocket launchers. According to Egyptian officials, talks are taking place between Egypt, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), as well as with the Israeli government, regarding an agreement. Palestinians, as well as UN officials, report a worsening situation in the Gaza Strip, especially in the public health sector, and call for increased humanitarian aid.: Hezbollah continues attacking IDF posts and concentrations of forces on the Israeli border. Between January 11 and 14, 2024, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 28 attacks. On January 14, 2024, an anti-tank missile was fired at a house in Kfar Yuval, killing two Israeli civilians. On the night of January 12, 2024, a terrorist squad infiltrated the settlement of Adora, west of Hebron. United States and British forces attacked more than 70 Houthi targets in Yemen. On the first day of the deliberations, South Africa presented its main claim, that the war was part of a "decades-long systematic campaign designed to oppress the Palestinians;" the following day Israel presented its case and rebutted the accusations. The court is expected to determine shortly whether to issue urgent warrants against Israel. Read more...

The IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and the Khan Yunis area in the south. In the Khan Yunis area the forces uncovered an elaborate tunnel which, according to the IDF investigation, had apparently housed Israeli hostages. Senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) figures continue to reiterate that Israel has lost the battle and did not achieve its goals.Senior Hamas figures claimed that is no deal with Israel and Hamas would not accept any initiative unless it was based on a complete end to the "aggression" against the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for three attacks. Hezbollah warned the residents of south Lebanon not to relay information about the location of operatives over the phone. Diplomatic contacts of the Lebanese government continue in an attempt to calm the arena. The smuggling of weapons to Israel in the area in the Jordan Valley was prevented. Mahmoud Abbas met in Aqaba with the king of Jordan and the president of Egypt. The Houthis again claimed they only took action against ships with connections to Israel and that international navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas was safe. Read more...

The IDF forces continued operating throughout the Gaza Strip, focusing on the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis in the south, and attacked more than 150 terrorist targets. The Palestinians reported heavy fighting in those and other areas in the Strip. According to reports, Egypt intends to close the Rafah Crossing in the near future. Egypt is apparently concerned that Gazans will migrate into its territory. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for four attacks over the past day. Ali Hussein Barji, commander of the south Lebanon region of Hezbollah's aerial unit, was killed in a targeted attack. As part of his tour of the Middle East, Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, arrived in Ramallah where he met with Mahmoud Abbas. He was greeted by a large protest demonstration.The United States and the UK reported that a large-scale attack carried out by the Houthis had been repelled; the attack targeted international shipping lanes used by dozens of ships. Read more...

The IDF forces focused on fighting in the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip where they found a series of arms factories, including factories manufacturing long-range rockets. In the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF strengthened their hold on Khan Yunis and took control of additional neighborhoods in the south of the city. Senior Hamas figures criticized the Israeli defense minister's comments about the IDF's entry into the third phase of combat. Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts and concentrations of forces on the northern border. On the morning of January 9, 2024, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a UAV attack on a military headquarters in Safed. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also claimed responsibility for the attack. In Syria, the IDF eliminated a senior Hamas terrorist operative. American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken continued his tour of the Middle East countries. He met with the heads of government in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and is expected to arrive in Israel. Read more...