Thank G-d, we did not lose any heroes today, and there were no successful terror attacks.

The war is now at a completely different place than it was a year ago. The Iranian axis is in shambles, and the IDF is now preparing for a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with newfound air superiority that could only have been a dream until very recently.

Hostages:

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited Israel today. Addressing optimism about a hostage deal, he said, “The situation in Lebanon changed the picture. The loss of Iran in Syria, and the military activity against Hamas contributed to the situation we are in today. The negotiation is different now, and everyone involved has a different approach.”

Hamas is now feeling the isolation and that Iran will abandon them just like Hezbollah and Syria. This, combined with the fear that negotiations under Trump will be less pleasant for them, seems to be leading to to larger concessions in negotiations, which Netanyahu may agree to.

Gaza:

The IDF issued new evacuation warnings for several neighborhoods in Gaza City, after rockets were fired from the neighborhoods towards Israeli troops operating nearby.

The IDF eliminated Ammar Daloul, a department head in Hamas’s weapons manufacturing division. Daloul was hiding in an abandoned school building in Gaza City, which was being used as a Hamas command center. An IAF airstrike on the command center eliminated him along with 7 other terrorists, including some who took part in the October 7th massacre.

Overnight, the IDF attacked Hamas terrorists in two locations in Southern Gaza along the humanitarian route. The terrorists were preparing to hijack humanitarian aid shipments.

Lebanon:

The IDF carried out a drone strike against a group of Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon who were violating the ceasefire agreement, and posed a threat to Israeli civilians.

According to a Turkish report, fighters that Hezbollah recruited from the village of Hadar in Southern Lebanon handed their weapons over to the IDF. Hadar is a Druze village on the Syrian side of the Mount Hermon region.

Syria & Iran:

The Israeli Air Force says it now has total air superiority over Syria. This is a very significant development. For over a decade, Israel had to fly cautiously over Syria to evade Syrian air defenses, while working to bomb Hezbollah weapons smuggling routes. According to the IDF, the Syrian air defense array was one of the strongest in the Middle East. The IAF had to avoid flying over Damascus and other sensitive areas, leaving much of the Iran to Hezbollah smuggling route out of reach.

Over the last three days, the IAF destroyed 86% of the air defense systems across Syria, totaling 107 separate air defense components and another 47 radars. This is in addition to destroying 27 fighter jets, 24 helicopters, and hundreds of missiles. A small number of weaker air defenses remain in Syria, which the IDF say are not a threat.

The IDF estimates that Iran still has some remaining weapons in Syria, which they will try to smuggle to Hezbollah in Lebanon. In order to prevent that, the IDF destroyed all but one civilian crossing from Syria into Lebanon, which it is monitoring closely. Aside from the free range for IDF fighter jets over Syria, the IAF can now freely fly surveillance drones to monitor smuggling activity.

Aside from cutting off Hezbollah, the freedom of airspace now allows Israel a smooth flight path to Iran. Theoretically, the IDF could even use Syrian airspace for refueling. The IDF believes that Israel now has an opportunity to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. (According to some military analysts, the facilities lay underground in a bunker that would take a 30,000 pound bunker buster to destroy. Israel isn’t known to have that bomb or a fighter jet that can carry it. However, with complete air superiority, Israel can drop six 5,000 pound bunker busters one after the other. This is all speculation, but an example of what may have changed.)

The IAF is now working on increasing readiness and drawing up a plan to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, which will soon be presented to the government. This also comes amidst concerns that a panicking and increasingly isolated Iran may work to accelerate their nuclear capabilities.

Israel conducted around 500 airstrikes against Syrian army capabilities since Sunday morning, using approximately 1,800 munitions. The operation, “Bashar Arrow,” was an unexpected turn for Israel, and plans were only finalized and approved late Thursday night, two days before Assad fell, and the operation began.

While the rebel groups are unpredictable and pose risk to Israel, the sudden opportunity for Israel to destroy one of its biggest threats so quickly is nothing short of miraculous—and the path paved to Iran is even more incredible.

Iran is afraid. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has suddenly agreed to a significant increase in inspections at its underground nuclear facility in Fordow. This is an attempt to avert Israeli attacks.

In Syria, rebel groups are struggling to form a new government, with small battles breaking out between various groups. The most prominent leader, Al-Jawlani of HTS, is still avoiding threats to Israel. When asked about Israel in interviews, he redirects the conversation and says that the group needs to focus on local interests within Syria after the years of war.

Meanwhile, for the third time, Netanyahu published a video in which he addresses the people of Iran. In the video, Netanyahu speaks of the corruption of the Iranian regime, and how it wastes billions of dollars on sponsoring terror, instead of building up Iran. He then points to the domino effect of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria falling. Netanyahu says that Israel wants peace with the Iranian people, just like they do, and that the people are the biggest threat to and fear of the Iranian regime. Netanyahu closes with reassurances that Iran will soon be free, using the slogan “Women. Life. Freedom.”

Judea & Samaria:

The terrorist who killed a 10-year-old boy last night turned himself in. The defense establishment credits intense searches and pressure tactics for his surrender.

After months of demeaning that the Palestinian Authority get the terrorism under control if it wants to be part of anything in Gaza, Israel sent the PA a firm ultimatum: “The PA operation in Jenin is being conducted too slowly and on a too limited scale. We cannot wait any longer for you to take the reins in your hands and operate in the field. We will allow you to carry out the mission—but not at any cost. If it is not taken advantage of now, our forces will be required to act.”

Overnight, Israeli forces operated in Shechem (Nablus), where they eliminated a terrorist and confiscated legal weapons, and in Qalqilya.

Other:

Two drones launched by the Houthis in Yemen were intercepted today: One near the border with Egypt, and one over the Red Sea, off the coast of Eilat. No sirens were triggered, as the interceptions took place before the drones reached populated areas.

Sirens in Netivot and the area were a false alarm.

A joint meeting between Israeli Defense Minister Katz and Jake Sullivan was joined by the IDF Chief of Staff, CENTCOM Commander General Mike Kurilla, and Strategic Affairs Minister (aka Netanyahu’s closest confident) Ron Dermer. This combination may be a signal of significant events ahead.

_We’re in the Jewish month of Kislev, which is the month of miracles and Chanukah. But much of the events are feeling like Purim, when all the evil plans of the Persian empire were turned over. We went from being plunged into the deepest darkness from an Iranian-axis attack on October 7th, to now; Iran cowering in fear, all of its proxies defeated. May we soon celebrate Chanukah with complete miracles, and all the darkness finally turned over to light._