Syria

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 7, 2024)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on Gaza City and Khan Yunis. According to reports, they completed the dismantling of Hamas' military-terrorist facilities in the northern Gaza Strip, although they continued confronting terrorist squads on the ground. The Palestinians reported battles and airstrikes throughout the Strip. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsibility for launching rockets at the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip.Senior Hamas and PIJ terrorists stated that they were prepared to negotiate the issue of a hostage release deal while continuing to insist on a comprehensive ceasefire as a precondition. Hezbollah ramped up its attacks after launching several dozen rockets at the IDF base in Meron. An Israeli civilian was killed in a shooting attack northwest of Ramallah. A Border Police fighter was killed and three soldiers were wounded by an IED during a security force-operation in United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken began a tour of the Middle East, arriving in Jordan after a visit to Turkey.ISIS published a statement claiming responsibility for the January 4, 2024 attack near the grave of Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, which killed 91 people.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 4, 2024)

IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip and the Daraj-Tufah neighborhoods east of Gaza City. The Palestinian reported attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, which focused on the area of the al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. On the morning of January 4, 2024, rockets were fired at the cities, towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip, including Ashqelon. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an unusually large number of attacks (15). Nine Hezbollah operatives were killed in Israeli strikes in south Lebanon. Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, said in a speech that "Hezbollah's quick action and intervention in the conflict as early as October 8 were what prevented Israel from attacking them." Israeli security forces operated in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm for the second consecutive day.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 2, 2024)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip focusing on the Daraj-Tufah neighborhoods in Gaza City and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, while the fighting continued against terrorist centers in the northern and central Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists continue to claim that they have the upper hand in the fighting with the IDF.Regarding the issue of the hostages, "Palestinian sources" reported that Hamas waived the condition of a permanent ceasefire and agreed to release about 40 Israeli hostages in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire: The Hamas-controlled crossings authority in the Gaza Strip reported that since October 21, 2023, 5,294 trucks bringing humanitarian aid had entered the Strip. Senior Hamas and PIJ terrorists, as well as senior figures in the Palestinian Authority (PA), expressed strong opposition to the idea of uprooting Palestinians from their places of residence as a solution for "the day after." Hezbollah continues attacking IDF posts and concentrations of forces on the northern border. Over the past day Hezbollah claimed responsibility for three attacks . The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a relatively large number of attacks on American military bases in Syria and Iraq.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 1, 2024)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the Khan Yunis area in the south. Collaborating with the armored and engineering forces and the Israeli Air Force, the fighters eliminated terrorists in face-to-face clashes. They also located and destroyed terrorist facilities, finding large quantities of weapons (IDF spokesperson, December 31, 2023). At midnight, as 2023 became 2024, a barrage of more than 20 rockets attacked central Israel and the area between Ashdod and Jerusalem. Hamas' military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility for the attack. Egypt summoned delegations of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other terrorist organizations to a meeting in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire and "the day after." According to a single report, a Hamas delegation left for Cairo.Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel. A Palestinian terrorist carried out a stabbing attack in the industrial zone of Ma'ale Adumim, wounding two security guards. The Palestinians in Judea and Samaria marked the anniversary of the founding of Fatah; Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for attacking the Golan Heights and Eilat. The IDF spokesperson reported that missiles had been intercepted. The Houthis in Yemen reported ten operatives dead in an American attack and claimed the United States was responsible for their deaths and the consequences.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., December 31, 2023)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip focusing on the Daraj-Tufah neighborhoods in the northern Gaza Strip and the city of Khan Yunis in the south, where they operated in the Khirbat al-Khiza'a area to gain operational control the region.. The Palestinians reported fierce fighting in many centers in the Strip. Senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists continue to claim that they controlled the battlefield and that Israel had suffered heavy losses. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continue to reiterate that there will be no prisoner exchange or any other deal with Israel until the "aggression" ends and Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip.Medical personnel and UNRWA warn of hardships and hunger in the Gaza Strip, noting that the current amount of humanitarian aid is insufficient. Senior Hamas and PIJ terrorists are engaged in formulating answers to the mediators' proposals for a cease-fire and the issue of control of the Gaza Strip "the day after." Hezbollah continued attacking IDF outposts. The IDF responded with massive attacks on south Lebanon. Several attacks were also carried out in Syria, mainly on targets of the pro-Iranian militias, including an attack in the Albukamal area on the Syria-Iraq border. There were two vehicle ramming attacks in the Hebron area and a stabbing attack in east Jerusalem; Hamas and the PIJ praised the attacks . South Africa has petitioned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for proceedings against Israel, claiming that Israel is "deliberately committing genocide" of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the PIJ praised South Africa and called on other countries to do the same.
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