Iran

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 23, 2023)

Despite the announcements of a deal to release some of the abductees and a ceasefire on November 23, as of now the agreement has not been implemented and the timetable for its implementation is unclear. According to Isma'il Haniyeh's advisor, the discussions are currently about the mechanisms for its implementation. In the southern arena: IDF forces continued operations in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip. An extensive tunnel network was uncovered at Shifa Hospital, used as headquarters by Hamas terrorist operatives, and apparently Israeli hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack were held there. According to an unofficial estimate, since October 7 approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed, 392 of them soldiers and officers; 236 civilian and military abductees are being held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Sporadic rocket launches were carried out from the Gaza Strip, in northern Israel an unusual barrage of 48 rockets was launched at the Galilee, a ballistic missile was launched at Eilat from the region of Yemen and intercepted before it reached Israeli territory. The difficult humanitarian continues in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah military-terrorist activity continued. In Judea and Samaria, Israeli security force counterterrorism activities continue. The Iranian foreign minister visited Lebanon and met with government officials, and secretary general of Hezbollah and representatives of the Palestinian terrorist organizations. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 22, 2023)

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced the details of the release deal, which includes a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, during which 50 abductees, children and women, will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children prisoners, and the introduction of humanitarian aid to the Strip. The IDF's integrated ground maneuver continued, focusing on several neighborhoods in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF continued its operations at Shifa Hospital, exposing the route of the Hamas tunnel under the hospital. Palestinian media described the northern Gaza Strip as a "ghost town. Hezbollah continues attacking IDF posts and the Israeli cities, towns and villages along the border. IDF forces responded with artillery fire and airstrikes. The leader of Iran again noted the "defeat" of Israel, which he claimed was using its strength against hospitals, schools and attacks on "innocent civilians." The American Army's Central Command reported that in response to the series of attacks on United States bases, it had attacked two facilities belonging to the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Read more...

The Iran, the war in Gaza, and the “convergence of the arenas”

In recent days, senior Iranian officials have renewed their threats to expand the war in the Gaza Strip to additional fronts if a ceasefire is not reached soon and Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip do not stop. At the same time, senior Iranian officials continue to claim that Iran’s proxy organizations in the region operate independently, make decisions based on their interests, and are not subject to instructions from Tehran. At this stage, Iran continues to act according to gradual escalation steps to prevent the opening of a full-scale front against Israel. Iran is doing so while avoiding involving Hezbollah in an all-out campaign, which is liable to exact a heavy price from the Lebanese organization and perhaps even from Iran itself. However, Iran seeks a continuation of gradual escalation, which will exact a price from Israel and the United States through attacks by its proxies in the region. So far, the pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq have been involved in dozens of attacks against American bases in Syria and Iraq. At the same time, the Houthis in Yemen have joined the campaign mainly by launching missiles and drones at Israel. At the same time, there is an ongoing escalation in the fighting between the IDF and Hezbollah, both quantitatively and in terms of the quality of Hezbollah’s attacks along the border with Israel. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 21, 2023)

The IDF integrated ground maneuver continued in Gaza City and the north of the Gaza Strip; a number of attacks were also carried out in the central and southern Gaza Strip. The centers of activity included the neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Jabaliya, Beit Lahia and Rafah. The president of the Red Cross met with Isma'il Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, and demanded that the Red Cross be allowed to meet with the abductees. UNRWA and figures from the ministry of health in Gaza continue to report a worsening situation and fear of diseases due to the lack of water. Hezbollah continued attacking IDF posts and cities, towns and villages along the northern border. According to an initial report, the IDF attacked a vehicle south of Tyre at 2:45 p.m., killing four Hamas terrorist operatives. In Judea and SamariaThe Israeli security forces continue counterterrorism activities.The Iranians are trying to coordinate efforts with other countries, especially Muslim countries, to exert pressure on Israel. Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 20, 2023)

IDF forces continued the integrated ground maneuver, focusing mainly on the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City. Palestinian officials reported IDF activity at the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesman exposed Hamas terrorist activity inside Shifa Hospital, including a 55 meter (about 60 yards) tunnel passing directly under the hospital intended for Hamas activity. He also revealed that Israeli abductees had arrived at the hospital and that one of them was murdered within its walls. Hamas denied the reports. Jordan sent equipment into the Gaza Strip for the construction of a second field hospital in Khan Yunis. In Lebanon, Hezbollah continued attacking IDF positions along the border. Hezbollah reported carrying out about 15 attacks. The IDF responded by attacking Hezbollah targets with artillery fire and airstrikes. In Judea and Samaria Vehicles were shot at in the Salfit area. No casualties were reported. The Houthis hijacked a ship, which they claimed was Israeli ,and captured the crew Read more...

Operation Iron Swords (Updated to 1 p.m., November 19, 2023)

During the past few days the IDF forces continued operations at Shifa Hospital and in several other neighborhoods in Gaza City. In the northern Gaza Strip they operated in Beit Hanoun, Zeitoun, Beit Lahia and Jabalia, and destroyed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) post where they found a large quantity of strategic weapons. The Palestinian terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continue firing rockets daily at Israel, especially at the cities, towns and villages near the border. According to the Palestinians, the situation in the Gaza Strip is getting worse and there is a fear of the spread of diseases. Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that Israel's agreement to bring in two fuel trucks a day for UNRWA was not enough. In Lebanon, Hezbollah's daily attacks on IDF positions and northern cities, towns and villages increased. In Judea and SamariaTwo Palestinian terrorists attempted a shooting attack; they were shot and killed by IDF forces. The Israeli security forces focused their counterterrorism activities on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus and Jenin. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force sent a communiqué to Muhammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military-terrorist wing, congratulating him on Hamas’ October 7 attack. Rallies in support of the Palestinians were held throughout Iran. Senior Iranian officials praised the Hamas attack. Read more...

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