IDF: The Chief of the General Staff to commanders in Gaza: The return of the hostages is our moral duty; we know we are taking significant risks and making fateful decisions
Today (Sunday), the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, conducted a situational assessment and a tour in the eastern region of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. He was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman, the Commanding Officer of the 98th Division, BG Dan Goldfus, and the combat team commanders who participated in Operation ‘Arnon’ for the rescue of the hostages yesterday (Saturday).
Attached is a video of the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff: https://bit.ly/3VxjGON
Attached is a related video: https://bit.ly/3VjvCSO
Attached are related photos: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC090624
The full remarks of the Chief of the General Staff: “Bringing home the hostages is a mission, bringing those who are no longer alive, the fallen, to burial in Israel, and – of course – to bring those who are alive back home. Dismantling Hamas is essential to prevent another October 7th. Bringing back the hostages is our moral duty that we strive for. Yesterday, we accomplished a very, very important part of this mission. We have much more to do. I want to express here, with great appreciation, the exceptional cooperation between the Israel Police ‘Yamam’ (National Counter-Terrorism Unit), the Israel Security Agency (ISA), and us. Here, there was the IDF, the central bodies, the Southern Command, the Israel Air Force, the Intelligence Directorate (J2), and the Operations Directorate (J3), coordinated all these efforts with a comprehensive, General Staff point of view, alongside many other factors. This cooperation enables us to undertake bold actions successfully.
I want to tell you that in the end, we make very difficult decisions. We were gathered on Saturday morning in the Command and Control Center without the guarantee of 100% success in the operation, not even 90%. We know we are taking significant risks and making fateful decisions, and these risks are risks to human lives. This is not a gamble; it’s a calculated risk, not a dangerous calculation. We thoroughly assess the risks and create safety nets for them. The strongest safety net I see when I approve such an operation, knowing it’s a critical decision, is the high quality of our commanders, which gives us the confidence to undertake daring operations for worthy goals.”
IDF: A short while ago, interceptors were launched toward a suspicious aerial target that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon. The incident has concluded.
Alerts were activated in the cities of Acre and Kiryat Bialik due to the danger of falling fragments from the interceptor.
IDF: IDF operations against terrorist infrastructure and operatives continue in the Gaza Strip
Over the last few hours, the IAF struck and eliminated Hamas terrorists, including Nukhba Forces operatives, in the central Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, the IAF struck underground terrorist infrastructure in the Deir al-Balah area.
In addition, IDF ground troops conducted targeted raids on military structures in the area, and destroyed tunnel shafts and underground terrorist infrastructure located in the central Gaza Strip.
The 162nd Brigade continues intelligence-based, targeted raids, eliminating terrorists posing a threat to the forces. In one incident, two armed terrorists, who were identified approaching an underground tunnel shaft in their vicinity, were eliminated in an aerial strike.
Attached is a video of IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/3Rm8iTv
Attached are photos of IDF operational activity: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc1006202464556465415614
IDF: Following the sirens that sounded in the Western Galilee area regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration at 12:39 and 12:43, numerous suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted two suspicious aerial targets over the coast of Nahariya. No alerts sounded according to protocol.
Two additional targets that crossed from Lebanon fell in the area of Kabri. As a result, a fire broke out and damage was caused in the area. The incident is under review.
Following the sirens that sounded in northern Israel regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration at 13:15 and 13:20, the details are under review.
Over the past few hours, numerous anti-tank missile launches were identified toward the areas of Manara, Yir’on, Avivim, Margaliot, and Yiftach in northern Israel. Several hits were identified on structures in the areas of Manara and Yir’on. Additionally, fires broke out in the areas of Yir’on, Yiftach and Manara. The fire in Manara was extinguished shortly afterward.
Earlier today, IDF artillery fired to remove threats in the areas of Salhani, Ayta ash Shab, and Hanine in southern Lebanon.
IDF: Footage of a Terrorist Armed with an RPG Emerging from a Tunnel Shaft Identified and Eliminated by IDF Troops
Following the operation to rescue the four hostages on Saturday, the 98th Division is engaged in a combined division-level operation in eastern Deir al-Balah and eastern Bureij. The troops are operating above and below ground against terrorist infrastructure and areas used to fire rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
Together with the Yahalom Unit, the troops are advancing in underground combat and have destroyed several tunnel routes so far.
The Kfir Brigade Combat Team located weapons and apprehended a number of terrorists, who were transferred to security forces for further investigation.
During operations in the area, the soldiers of the 101st Battalion used a UAV to detect a terrorist armed with an RPG missile emerging from a tunnel shaft in close proximity to IDF troops operating in the area. The soldiers targeted the tunnel shaft and eliminated the terrorist with tank fire.
In the eastern Bureij area, the troops of the 7th Brigade eliminated terrorists, including a Hamas Nukhba terrorist who took part in the October 7th Massacre, and destroyed rocket launch areas and launchers. The troops also conducted a targeted raid on a Hamas training compound and destroyed it.
Footage of a terrorist armed with an RPG emerging from a tunnel shaft in eastern Deir al-Balah: https://bit.ly/4eg90v5
Attached is a video of the Commanding Officer of the 75th Battalion, LTC Ron: https://bit.ly/3VAN5ri
Attached are photos from the activity of the 98th Division: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC986324
IDF: Following the sirens that sounded in northern Israel regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration at 15:34, two UAVs were identified crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel and falling in the northern Golan Heights area. As a result of one of the UAVs, a fire broke out in the area of Moshav Sha’al. The fire was extinguished.
Several interceptors were launched toward the UAVs, but the interception attempts failed. Due to the attempts, a fire broke out in the area of Safed. Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish the fire. The incident is under review.
Earlier today (Monday), two launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory and falling in an open area in the vicinity of Mount Hermon. IDF soldiers struck the sources of the fire.
Following the sirens that sounded in Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee regarding rocket and missile fire at 17:20 and 17:45, and regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration in the Upper Galilee at 15:11, they were determined to be false alarms.
Furthermore, a short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck two Hezbollah military structures and a launch post in the areas of Aitaroun and Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.
Attached is a video of the strikes: https://bit.ly/3VCWMpn
IDF: Thousands of Rockets and Hundreds of Aircraft Fired Toward Israel Intercepted by the Aerial Defense Array Since the Beginning of the War
The IDF Aerial Defense Array is on high alert around the clock and fully deployed across Israel to counter complex and diverse aerial threats on multiple fronts, including rockets, surface-to-surface missiles, and cruise missiles. During the war, all systems of the IDF Aerial Defense Array have operated and intercepted numerous threats to Israel’s security, including over 150 aircraft fired toward Israel from multiple fronts.
In the last month, a new battalion was established in the Aerial Defense Array, the 139th Battalion. The battalion will operate the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System. The establishment of the battalion will enable the expansion of the Iron Dome batteries’ deployment and improve Israel’s aerial defense.
The soldiers of the Aerial Defense Array will continue to operate in defense of the people and borders of the State of Israel.
Attached is footage of a UAV interception on the northern border: https://bit.ly/3RiZwpf
Attached are related photos: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC0906202635844
IDF: “The first is on board, second, and third are with us”; footage from the underbelly of the helicopter, from the rescue of Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan from the Gaza Strip”
Attached is footage from the “Yasur” helicopter in which the three hostages were rescued, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan, after the rescue of forces of the Israel Police ‘Yamam’ (National Counter-Terrorism Unit) and the ISA in Nuseirat: https://bit.ly/45kCMuD
Attached is additional footage of Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan in the rescue helicopter: https://bit.ly/3RgWGRK
Attached are additional photos: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC090620347393
IDF: Following the siren that sounded in the Golan Heights area regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration at 19:43, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon. The alerts regarding rockets and missiles were activated due to the danger of falling shrapnel from the interceptor.
The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target over the coast of Nahariya, no sirens regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration were sounded in accordance with protocol. The alerts regarding rockets and missiles were activated during the incident due to the danger of falling shrapnel from the interceptor.
Over the past hour, an anti-tank missile launch was identified toward the area of Shtula in northern Israel, and it caused damage to a structure in the area. As a result, a fire broke out in the area and was extinguished shortly afterward.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
IDF: Following the siren that sounded in the Golan Heights area regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration at 21:50, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon. No damage or injuries were reported.
Attached is a video of the interception: https://bit.ly/3yZnKPa
