Iran

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 11, 2024)

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.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 10, 2024)

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.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 9, 2024)

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.
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Iranian media references to military aid provided by Iran to Hamas in the past

Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip, the Iranian media has published several reports regarding military aid Iran has provided Hamas in the Gaza Strip over the years. Iran does not hide its support for the Palestinians, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and even takes pride in it. Iran’s desire to expand its threats against Israel by creating a “ring of fire” around Israel’s borders has led Iran to strengthen its ties with the Palestinian terrorist organizations, first and foremost Hamas. With the Qods Force leading its efforts, Iran assists these organizations by supplying weapons (including rockets threatening central and southern Israel), providing tens of millions of dollars a year to finance the construction of military infrastructure and the ongoing operation of the military force, transferring technological know-how for the development and production of weapons (including rockets), and training operatives (who left the Gaza Strip) through the Qods Force. Iranian media reports on Iran’s military support for Hamas mainly refer to the IRGC’s rocket and missile support, including building self-production capabilities. Prominent in this context is the involvement of former Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani and other senior officials in the IRGC missile field. According to a single statement by a Hamas representative in Lebanon, Soleimani also initiated the concept of the tunnels used by Hamas.
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Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., January 8, 2024)

The IDF forces continued their integrated ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the Khan Yunis area, where they expanded the activity to neighborhoods in the east of the city. In Shejaiya in the northern Gaza Strip, the forces destroyed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist facilities. The Palestinian media reported heavy fighting and airstrikes mainly in the Khan Yunis area There was sporadic rocket fire, for which the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ's military-terrorist wing, claimed responsibility.There were reports of a dire medical situation, the result of the large number of casualties and the inability of the hospitals, some of which are closed, to admit them. Hezbollah continued to attack IDF positions and towns on the border. In the IDF attack in south Lebanon on January 8, 2024, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force was killed. Due to the tense situation, the Lebanese minister of education announced the suspension of studies in schools in south Lebanon.There was a vehicle ramming attack at the Ras Biddu checkpoint near Jerusalem. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for launching a long-range missile at Haifa a few days ago.
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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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