IDF

A court on Tuesday rejected the petition filed by Lt. Col. A., who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence officer on October 7, against the termination of his service, allowing the IDF to continue the dismissal process. At the IDF’s request, the sweeping gag order on the case was also lifted.

State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman released a report detailing a series of failures that harmed the evacuation of wounded people from attack sites on October 7. According to the report, the army was unfamiliar with a digital system showing the location of casualties and ambulance deployment, there were not enough armored ambulances, and flaws were found in directing casualties to hospitals.

The IDF and Shin Bet said they killed the commander of Hamas’s Yibna Battalion in Rafah. According to the statement, Mohammed Fathi Abd al-Hai Abu Fakh'r had been working to rebuild the battalion, recruit operatives, and oversee weapons smuggling for years.

Israel’s activity in southern Syria is aimed at keeping hostile forces away from the Golan after Assad’s fall

A classified military cellphone slipped from a soldier’s pocket during operations in the security zone near Syria. A Syrian civilian later found the device and shared images of it on social media. The IDF said, "The matter is under investigation."

The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that Talal Jaber Muhammad Abd al-Aal was killed in a strike in southern Gaza two days ago. According to the statement, he took part in the October 7 massacre in communities near Gaza and was involved in holding Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Israel’s Defense Ministry and Rafael have completed a broad series of Iron Dome tests that included operational upgrades and integration with "Or Eitan." The systems were evaluated against a range of current and future threats.

The IDF says it has completed sealing the tunnel in southern Rafah where Lt. Hadar Goldin הי"ד was held. The route, stretching more than 16 kilometers, also served as a major Hamas command center in the southern Gaza Strip.

The IDF is still investigating the circumstances of the incident in which a reservist was seriously wounded during operational activity near the village of Arnoun in southern Lebanon. As of now, the source of the explosion, which took place around 1:30 p.m., has not yet been determined.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel is preparing for the possibility that fighting with Iran could flare up again: "If Iran fires missiles at Israel, Israel will strike Iran with force — it could happen within two days."

The Israeli government approved a 45-day extension of the special emergency situation on the home front, citing continued security uncertainty involving Lebanon and the Hezbollah terror group. The decision is based on security officials’ assessment that the threat to civilians has not yet been removed.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir convened the army’s commanders forum to mark 1,000 days of fighting. Zamir said, "We are committed to continuing and deepening our achievements."

Zaher Abu Salem, involved in the October 7 massacre and abductions, was killed in a northern Gaza airstrike by IDF and Shin Bet.

IDF forces reported gunfire directed at a post in Syria’s security zone and responded with strikes in the Tel Kudna area. Syrian reports said the Israeli military used mortars, artillery fire, and an attack helicopter.

The IDF said an initial investigation indicates that an explosive drone struck the tank in which Battalion 52 commander Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Shimon and three other soldiers from the battalion were killed 10 days ago in southern Lebanon. The incident is still under investigation, and the families have been updated on the findings.

Capt. David Hazut, 21, of Ashkelon, a platoon commander in Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, was killed in combat with a terrorist in southern Lebanon. Another soldier was lightly wounded in the incident. The terrorist managed to flee the scene.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said his organization opposes the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah threatened to continue “the resistance,” and the Houthis called to “bring down the puppet government in Lebanon.” Defense Minister ישראל Katz said: “There is no IDF withdrawal whatsoever.”

The IDF and Shin Bet said they killed Walid Haniyeh in Gaza, identifying him as a deputy commander in Hamas’s *Nukhba* force and the nephew of Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran. According to the IDF, Walid led a terrorist squad’s raid into اسرائیل on October 7, 2023.

Just before *Shabbat*, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that understandings had been reached with the Lebanese government and that a framework agreement had been signed between the two countries. The IDF will gradually transfer responsibility in certain areas to the Lebanese army, while Israel will retain freedom of action until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Israel won recognition for its security zone, but the fine print may decide whether Hezbollah is trapped, or rebuilt