Hostages:
After high hopes earlier this month, there is no longer any optimism of a hostage deal coming through at this time. While Hamas tries to pin the blame on Netanyahu, they still won’t even provide a list of which hostages will be released alive during the first phase of a deal.
Gaza:
The IDF announced the names of two heroes who fell in battle in Northern Gaza:
Cpt. (res.) Amit Levi, 35, from Kibbutz Shomria
Maj. Hod Shriebman, 27, from Tzofit
There are currently three divisions operating in Gaza. The 162nd Division is in Northernmost Gaza, particularly the Jabaliya area. The 99th Division is in the Netzarim Corridor, which is used to launch small-scale operations in Gaza City, Central Gaza, and Khan Younis. The 143rd Division (aka the Gaza Division) is operating in Rafah, along the Philadelphi Corridor, and in the buffer zone which stretches along the length Gaza’s border with Israel.
Loud explosions were heard in parts of Southern Israel, after the IDF exploded a two kilometer long tunnel in Jabalia, Northern Gaza. The tunnel was used by Hamas terrorists to hide for long periods of time.
Overnight, an IDF airstrike targeted five Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists in Nuseirat, Central Gaza. The five were posing as journalists for the Palestinian Al-Quds TV channel, which is affiliated wit the PIJ. Amongst the five eliminated were combat propagandists, head of security, and member of the PIJ naval force. The IDF identified the group via a list of PIJ combat terrorists which was captured by IDF troops.
Another airstrike eliminated a senior member of the Gaza City brigade engineering unit, who was responsible for supplying terrorists with explosive devices—which he stored in his home. The same strike also eliminated a Nukhba company commander and a platoon commander from Sajaiya.
Yemen:
It’s now Yemen’s turn to take the focus of the war.
The Houthis skipped Thursday morning, but got right back to it in the early hours of Friday morning. At 3:29am, millions if Israelis living in the country’s center, between Herziliya and Ashdod, woke up to sirens and had to rush to shelter. The Houthi-fired ballistic missile was successfully intercepted before it entered Israeli airspace. No direct injuries were caused, but, typical of nighttime sirens, over a dozen people were treated for shock or light injuries caused while running to shelter.
In the afternoon, Israel launched a fourth large attack against the Houthis in Yemen. The IDF targeted infrastructure used by the Houthis for terror purposes, and named: Sanaa International Airport in the capital; the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power plants; and the Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports on the coast.
Between the destruction of Houthi sea ports, the airport, and power plants, Yemen is now mostly cut off from receiving new arms from Iran.
A Saudi report claims that the IDF also destroyed two fighter jets in Sanaa that the Houthis had displayed in a parade in recent months.
The IDF has many more attacks on Yemen coming. Defense Minister Israel Katz says that Israel will now be hunting down the leaders of the Houthis. The Houthi leaders are suspected to have bunkers in the mountainous areas. According to Saudi reports, Israel might now partner with some of the opponents of the Houthis in Yemen, to gather intel on Houthi whereabouts.
Unsurprisingly, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s attacks on the Houthis, writing, “Airstrikes today on Sana’a International Airport, the Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are especially alarming. The airstrikes reportedly resulted in numerous casualties including at least three killed and dozens more injured.”
While Guterres did afterwards give a small mention to Houthi pirates in the Red Sea, he made no mention of the hundreds of attacks on Israel, including nightly ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv.
Judea & Samaria:
The IDF wrapped up a counter-terrorism operation in Tulkarm, during which seven terrorists were eliminated, including a senior terrorist in the Tulkarm command.
The police’s elite Yamam unit arrested a notorious terrorist in Bethlehem. In 2007, Ali Dandis killed two off-duty IDF soldiers who were on a hike, Ahikam Amihai and David Rubin. He was also behind another attack in 2012, in which, thank G-d, no one was hurt. Dandis had turned himself in to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces after the attack, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Although he shouldn’t have been yet, the Yamam forces found Dandis out of jail.
Meanwhile, the war between the PA and terror groups in Samaria is ongoing. Today, Hamas and PIJ terrorists in Jenin killed the forth PA officer in recent days.
Lebanon:
It’s now one month into the 60-day ceasefire agreement, at the end of which, if Lebanon kept their side of the agreement, Israel is expected to withdraw from Southern Lebanon.
Lebanese media is reporting that Hezbollah is violating the ceasefire agreement by smuggling arms and money from Iran through the Beirut airport.
Lebanese MP Jamil al-Said, who is close to Hezbollah, claimed to Lebanese media that Israel told mediators that Israel will not withdraw at the end of the ceasefire. However, those aware of the conversation, say that Israel only warned that it won’t withdraw unless Lebanon keeps its part of the agreement, and remove Hezbollah from the south of the Litani River.
Lebanon is also claiming that an IDF unit in Lebanon today moved into a new area, seemingly on some kind of mission, before returning back to ceasefire lines.
Syria:
There are unverified reports in Syria, that Israel struck more weapons depots in the port city of Tartus.
Israel is continuing to watch Syria closely. Rebel leader Al-Jolani is building a government and continuing to outwardly act as a modern peaceful leader with only Syria’s good on mind—even declaring December 25-26 a public holiday. However, sectarian tensions are still rising to the surface, and small protests and gunfights have broken out in the streets. Some say that Iran and Hezbollah supporters are deliberately causing strike, such as by destroying sacred sites of other religions, in order to start a civil war and bring Al-Jolani down.
Israel’s concern is not only whether Al-Jolani will continue with his non-confrontational persona, but whether smaller rebel groups will take over, even if just at the borders.
