Iran

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 5, 2024)

During the past day, the IDF forces focused their activities on western Khan Yunis. They attacked the al-Qadasiya post, the main post of Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade. Hamas has not yet responded to the proposed hostage deal. Members of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed they were still discussing the issue with the other "organizations," and reiterated that without a complete ceasefire no deal would take place. Hamas delegations and possibly also representatives of other "organizations" are expected to arrive for consultations in Egypt before a definitive answer is given. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for six attacks on IDF posts. Hezbollah reported three deaths. In response to the death of two of its operatives, Amal attacked several Israeli posts on the Israel-Lebanon border.The spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry again claimed that Iran had no proxy forces in the region and did not seek to escalate tensions but to achieve stability. The Fatemiyoun Brigade in Syria announced the death of four operatives. At least two of them were close to Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Qods Force. In Iraq, an attempt was made on the life of a senior member of the Asaib Ahl al-Haqq militia.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 4, 2024)

: The IDF forces continued their activities, focusing on the Khan Yunis area, where they raided several terrorist targets, including a building used by the commander of Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade, and clashed with armed squadsA suspicious aerial target which crossed from the Gaza Strip into southern Israeli territory was intercepted. The Arrow missile defense system successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea area which was en route to Israeli territory. A pro-Iranian militia in Iraq released a video documenting the launch of a UAV at Haifa. For the time being, Hamas has delayed its response to the proposal it received a hostage deal. According to several reports, which were denied, there are differences of opinion between the Hamas leadership in the Strip and "abroad. According to reports, residents from the Khan Yunis area continue to migrate to the Rafah area in reaction to IDF activity. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 14 attacks.. According to reports, targets in southern Damascus were attacked, including a weapons-storage warehouse in the area of the Set Zaynab, adding an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) advisor, was killed in the attack. American military forces attacked more than 85 targets of pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq United States and British military forces attacked Houthi targets in Yemen
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Houthi military-terrorist escalation and the deterioration of the situation in the Red Sea

Since the start of Operation Iron Swords (October 7, 2023), the Houthi campaign in the Red Sea area has escalated and drawn in many participants, the most important of which are the United States, Britain and Iran, whose involvement has increased. Initially the Houthis launched missiles and UAVs at Israel, but their tactics gradually morphed into attacking ships sailing in the Red Sea and near the coast of Yemen which they identified as "having connections to Israel. As the war continued, and especially during December and January 2024, the campaign in the Red Sea area. The Houthis carry out direct attacks on Israel, such as launching missiles and UAVs continue, but their frequency has declined significantly, apparently due to the failure of the Houthis to penetrate the IDF and American Army aerial defenses and hit targets inside Israel. In ITIC assessment, the campaign in the Red Sea area can be expected to continue as long as the war in the Gaza Strip continues. Recently a kind of balance of actions and reactions has been created, and it will be difficult to halt it without intervention to convince the Houthis to withdraw their demand for an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip as a condition for stopping their attacks. Without external intervention (especially directly from Iran, but possibly also from Russia and China indirectly through Iran), it is likely that the Houthis will continue their attacks since their actions give them legitimacy. They also provide them with a reputation as a significant regional force with leverage for its objectives in Yemen's internal struggle and against regional rivals such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., February 1, 2024)

Over the past day IDF activity focused mainly on west Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. In the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City the forces continued activities against squads of armed operatives. According to reports, the Palestinian organizations are discussing the offer of the hostage deal submitted to them and have not yet formulated their position. Senior Hamas members do not broadcast optimism and claim they have many comments on the proposal. Hezbollah also sent a message, through commentator Ibrahim al-Amin, who warned that Israel was trying to set a trap for Hamas with the hostage deal. The Red Crescent issued an alert regarding the condition of the two hospitals in Khan Yunis, claiming there was a shortage of food and medical equipment. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign minister, called for UNRWA's activities not to be "paralyzed." Hezbollah claimed responsibility for seven attacks. In response, Air Force planes attacked and artillery was fired at Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon. A Hezbollah operative was reported killed in an airstrike. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities. A vehicle ramming attack was carried out against an IDF force near Kiryat Arba; no casualties were reported. Mahmoud Abbas presented the proposed Palestinian Authority (PA) reforms at a Fatah conference. Given the threats issued by the United States to respond to the killing of the three American soldiers in Jordan, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' stated Iran was not interested in war but was not afraid of it. The Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for attacking Haifa Port. In reality, no such event occurred. Apparently, the Iraqi prime minister managed to convince the pro-Iranian militias not to take action against United States bases in Iraq. The Houthis continue attacking ships in the Red Sea. The commander of the American Army Central Command (CENTCOM) arrived in Riadh and met with the chief of staff of the Saudi Arabian Army.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 31, 2024)

Over the past day the activity of the IDF forces continued focusing on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, with additional activity in the northern Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas members reported that they had received the document formulated at the Paris summit for a three-phase hostage deal, during which the military operations of both sides would cease. Senior Hamas members stated they were checking the details of the proposal and claimed Hamas represented all the "organizations" in the Gaza Strip. Senior PIJ members said they had not received the document. Dealing with the claims against UNRWA continues. Sweden announced that it would stop funding the agency. The UN secretary general has been appealing to the donor countries to restore their funding for the agency. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for five attacks. Senior Hezbollah members continue threatening Israel with escalating their attacks. Three rockets were launched at Israel from Syria, falling in open areas. In response, the Israeli Air Force attacked targets near Daraa in southern Syria. The PA foreign ministry issued an announcement stating that all the details of any idea or initiative regarding the future of Gaza had to be shared with and approved by the PA. The secretary general of the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq announced the suspension of the militia's military and security operations against the American Army.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 30, 2024)

The IDF's activity in the last day focused on the Khan Yunis area, both above and below ground. The forces dismantled two battalions of the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades' Khan Yunis Brigade, killed a large number of terrorists and damaged important terrorist facilities. East of Khan Yunis, the forces operated in a tunnel exposed under a cemetery which served as the headquarters of Hamas' military wing. The mediators expressed optimism about progress towards a hostage deal. Senior Hamas officials expressed cautious optimism and a certain flexibility regarding a ceasefire, stating they would formulate their final position in the near future. The serious accusations against UNRWA regarding the involvement of the agency's employees in the terrorist attack and massacre on October 7, 2023, continue making headlines. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for eight attacks using anti-tank missiles and rockets, including heavy Burkan and Falaq-1 rockets. In response, Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon. Hezbollah reported two deaths. Israeli security forces killed three terrorists, one an operative of Hamas' military wing and two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives who were hiding in a hospital in Jenin.
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