Syria

The Iron Swords War (Updated to 1 p.m., October 19, 2023)

Ground forces carried out targeted raids in the Gaza Strip to locate information about the abducted and missing persons. The Palestinian terrorist organizations continued launching rockets, for the most part in the afternoon and evening after the American president had left the region. Since the beginning of the war, more than 7,000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel. An analysis indicated that so far about 10% of the launches were unsuccessful and the rockets fell in the Gaza Strip. So far, more than 1,400 civilian and soldier deaths have been reported; 203 civilian and soldier abductees are being held in the Gaza Strip by the terrorist organizations. The Gaza Strip: Sources in the Gaza Strip report a worsening humanitarian situation. Egypt agreed to open the Rafah Crossing for the entrance of a limited number of trucks, but for now the Crossing remains closed. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) criticized the American position, claiming it was biased in favor of Israel. PIJ spokesman Tareq al-Salami called on the Arab nations to invade the embassies of countries that support Israel, especially the American embassies, and burn them to the ground. The northern sector: Tensions continue mounting on the northern border. Since the afternoon of October 18, 2023, a number of rockets and anti-tank missiles have been launched and shots have been fired at IDF posts along the border. The IDF returned fire and attacked several Hezbollah terrorist targets. Hezbollah reported three deaths. Judea and Samaria: Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, detaining Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity, including senior Hamas operatives. On October 19, 2023, activity focused on the Nur al-Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. Iran: Senior government officials continue diplomatic contacts with Arab countries. The chief of the Iranian armed forces general staff spoke with the defense ministers of Russia and Qatar. According to reports
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 17, 2023)

The IDF continued its activity in the Gaza Strip, mainly by conducting airstrikes against terrorist targets of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Several thousand terrorist targets have been attacked since the beginning of the war. Using precision-guided munitions, Israeli Navy ships attacked Hamas military-terrorist targets from the sea. Two barrages were fired at the Jerusalem area during the opening of the Knesset's winter session. About 6,930 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the war.So far, more than 1,400 civilian and soldier deaths have been reported, and 199 civilian and soldier abductees are currently held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the war, The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. Tensions continued mounting in northern Israel. Iran has ramped up its threatening messages, apparently concerned that an Israeli ground attack could challenge Hamas' survival. Iran does not necessarily regard Hezbollah as its only option for an attack on Israel and might prefer other options, such as activating the pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias in Syria or Iraq.
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 15, 2023)

IDF forces continued to operate, primarily carrying out aerial attacks, against terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Several squads, including anti-tank squads, were captured on the border. A number of operatives of Hamas' military-terrorist wing were killed in the attacks, some of them released from Israeli jails in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal (2011). Rockets attacks continued, most of them targeting the Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip border and Ashkelon. A rocket was also fired at the Haifa area. Israel called on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes and move to the central and southern Gaza Strip. Hamas tried to prevent the evacuation. In northern Israel several anti-tank missile and rocket attacks were reported from Lebanon and Syria. One Israeli was killed and several were injured. The IDF returned fire. As of now, tensions remain high. In Judea and Samaria Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities. The ministry of health in Ramallah reported 55 Palestinian deaths and approximately 1,200 wounded since the beginning of the war. The Iranian foreign minister held a round of meetings in Syria, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.
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The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 12, 2023)

IDF forces reported they had control over the area surrounding the Gaza Strip and most of it had been cleared of Hamas terrorist operatives. Meanwhile, IDF fighters continued operating against terrorist squads still in the area attempting to carry out attacks. Israeli Air Force waves of air strikes in the Gaza Strip continued attacking dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military. The rocket fire from the Gaza Strip attacking civilian Israeli targets continued. Hamas claimed it had more than 120 hostages. According to reports, the electricity supply was cut off and the hospitals were collapsing under the strain . Israel's north is quiet but tense. UNIFIL and Lebanese army forces reported that they were remaining in the area. Hezbollah continued expressing support for Hamas. Hamas called on everyone who had a weapon, either by virtue of their [formal] occupation or participation in the "resistance" [Palestinian terrorist organizations], to carry out attacks immediately.
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Spotlight on Iran (September 26 – October 8, 2023)

With contacts aimed at promoting possible normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia in the background, Iranian Supreme Leader and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attacked Israel and warned against the normalization process. The Syrian army reported an Israeli strike against several military targets in the Deir ez-Zor area in eastern Syria. Iran condemned the drone attack launched from Idlib territory in northwestern Syria at the graduation ceremony of the officers’ course at the military college in Homs, killing dozens of people Iraq’s national security adviser visited Tehran. In a first Iranian reaction to the developments in the Palestinian arena, Rahim Safavi, the senior advisor to the Iranian leader, stated that Iran supports the "commendable operation of Al-Aqsa Storm" and is confident that the 'Resistance Front' backs this cause. He congratulated the 'Palestinian fighters' and affirmed that Iran would stand alongside those fighters until the 'liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem' (ISNA, 7 October 2023).
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (September 21-27, 2023)

A Lebanese tractor crossed the border into Israeli territory, in the Har Dov area, and took down a mound erected by the IDF. According to the Lebanese army, the tractor operated in Lebanese territory. At the same time, the Lebanese army was paving a road nearby. IDF forces also continued their work in the area. In an interview to an Iranian news channel, Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, said that it was still too early to predict whether the decisive campaign against Israel was imminent In the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp, a temporary calm is apparent. Najib Mikati, Lebanon’s interim prime minister, said in an interview that a peace agreement with Israel could only be possible through negotiations carried out by the Arab League . A drone targeted, apparently in Syria, two Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives. The two were killed. In one of the reports, the attack was attributed to Israel. Hezbollah reportedly moved a system of surface-to-air missiles from Lebanon to one of its bases in the Dimas area on the outskirts of Damascus.
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