Israel Defense Forces ✔

IDF: IDF soldiers apprehended a terrorist in Judea and Samaria who planned to carry out a shooting attack during the holiday Two days ago (Saturday), IDF soldiers, guided by the ISA, operated in the area of Hebron and apprehended the terrorist Abd al-Rahman. The terrorist was planning to carry out a shooting attack against Israeli civilians in the immediate timeframe. IDF soldiers continue to operate to thwart terrorism throughout Judea and Samaria.

IDF: In order to remove the threat: The IDF eliminated two terrorists in Hamas’ engineering unit Earlier today (Sunday), the IDF struck in the Gaza City area and eliminated the terrorists Hassan Ali Abu Nada and Abd al-Rahim Ahmad Khalil Khawa, operatives in the engineering unit of Hamas’ military wing. Recently, the terrorists were involved in the production and development of weapons, advanced terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, and attempted to reconstitute the terrorist organization’s capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The terrorists were eliminated in order to remove the threat they posed. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.

Joint IDF and ISA announcement: The IDF and ISA eliminated the head of a Hamas sniper cell in the Rafah Brigade Yesterday (Thursday), the IDF and ISA struck in the Khan Yunis area and eliminated the terrorist Moamen Jabr Al-Sayed Abu Labda, head of a sniper cell in Hamas’ Rafah Brigade. The terrorist carried out sniper training across the Gaza Strip aimed at harming Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in the area of the Yellow Line. Recently, he attempted to reconstitute the terrorist organization's capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. He was eliminated in order to remove the threat he posed. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munition and aerial surveillance. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.

I would like to express my deep and special appreciation to the Commando Brigade and the Egoz, Maglan, and Yahalom Units. The Commando Brigade has fulfilled its purpose as a brigade for special operations. Alongside them, troops from the Golani Brigade, the 7th Brigade, and additional troops operated on the front line of the ridge and deep underground. We also remember those who fell and were wounded while fighting to achieve our objectives. This achievement is above all theirs. As the new year begins, the entire IDF stands guard over our country - from the Chief of the General Staff to the last soldier, at the frontline positions, headquarters, and command centers. May this be a year of strengthening our security, a year of victory on all fronts. It is an immense privilege for us to defend our people and our homeland. Happy holiday and a happy New Year to all the people of Israel.”

IDF: The Chief of the General Staff Visits the 36th Division: “Tonight, we dismantled the underground terrorist infrastructure beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge - the central command, control, and combat infrastructure of Hezbollah, built with Iranian assistance” “We will defend our communities at any cost - the IDF stands as a shield on the front line. Any attack on the communities in northern Israel or on IDF troops defending them will be met with an immediate and forceful response - The Yellow Line remains fully under our operational control, with no change“ “As the new year begins, the entire IDF stands guard over our country - from the Chief of the General Staff to the last soldier, at the frontline positions, headquarters, and command centers” Today (Friday), the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, visited the area of the 36th Division together with Commander of the Northern Command, MG. Rafi Milo, and Commander of the 36th Division, BG Yiftach Norkin. The visit took place after IDF troops, under the command of the division, completed the dismantling of Hezbollah’s underground routes in the area last night. Attached is a video announcement of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: https://bit.ly/4gO3F1J Attached are related photos: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC9988766543 Full remarks by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: “Tonight, we dismantled the underground terrorist infrastructure beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge, following the clearing of the tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge. Here behind me. This is part of a vast network that was excavated over the course of years at enormous cost - a central command, control, and combat infrastructure site of Hezbollah, built with Iranian assistance. Additionally, our troops located advanced weapons, manufactured in Iran, inside the sites, intended to harm IDF troops and the communities in northern Israel. Following Hamas’ October 7th attack, Hezbollah was the one that initiated and launched war against Israel in the northern arena. Hezbollah is fighting and destroying Lebanon - as an emissary of the Iranian regime. Any village in which terrorist infrastructure is established and terrorists are present is putting itself at risk. Look at what happened in Qantara and Majdal Zoun: entire villages were damaged because an underground terrorist city was built beneath civilian homes. Look at what happened on Ali al-Taher Ridge - how many resources Hezbollah invested at the expense of Lebanese civilians. Resources that have gone to waste. Following the heavy blow Hezbollah sustained, we will not allow it to rebuild its capabilities and reestablish itself in the area. We will defend our communities at any cost - the IDF stands as a shield on the front line. Any attack on the communities in northern Israel or on the IDF troops defending them will be met with an immediate and forceful response. The Lebanese Army must demonstrate effectiveness on the ground. Otherwise, it will not be possible to advance the agreement signed between the governments of Israel and Lebanon. Citizens of Israel: In recent weeks, we have carried out extensive military operations in the sector, led by the Northern Command under the command of MG Rafi Milo, the 36th Division, and the brigades engaged in combat. The mission I assigned to the troops was clear: to dismantle the infrastructure beneath Ali al-Taher Ridge by the eve of Rosh Hashana and redeploy in the area. The Yellow Line remains fully under our operational control, with no change. We conducted continuous situational assessments to ensure that we fulfilled the mission while maintaining the utmost focus on the safety of our troops. We employed all of the IDF’s intelligence, operational, ground, aerial, and logistical capabilities in an integrated manner. Our troops fulfilled the mission thanks to their courage, determination, dedication to the mission, and constant drive to achieve decisive results in accordance with the objective.

Joint IDF and ISA announcement: The IDF and ISA eliminated the commander of Hamas’ military wing Khan Younis Brigade Last night (Thursday), in a precise strike in the area of Khan Younis, the IDF and ISA eliminated Muhammad Yazouri, Commander of Hamas’ military wing Khan Younis Brigade in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist Muhammad Yazouri was appointed to his position after holding several roles within the brigade, including Deputy Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, Commander of the Combat Support Battalion, and Head of the Brigade’s Intelligence Department. As part of his role, Muhammad Yazouri was responsible for managing the activities of the brigade’s terrorists and directing them to carry out attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians. In recent months, he worked to advance dozens of attacks against IDF troops and sought to rebuild the brigade’s force buildup, which had suffered significant damage throughout the war. In the same strike, Hudheifa Muammar, a company commander, and Muhammad Bahjat Rashi, another terrorist from Hamas’ military wing in the Khan Younis Brigade, were eliminated. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat. Attached is a related graphic:

IDF: Exclusive Footage From the Underground Routes Dismantled Beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge Attached are the following: An illustration depicting the 36th Division’s operations on the Beaufort and Ali al-Taher Ridges in recent months: https://bit.ly/3UJYSpu Body camera footage from a Yahalom Unit soldier inside one of the underground routes: https://bit.ly/4AoMRWT A graphic depicting all of the underground routes beneath the Beaufort and Ali al-Taher Ridges: https://idfanc.activetrail.biz/09102026765 Drone footage from inside one of the underground routes: https://bit.ly/46cX5M2 Footage of the elimination of Hezbollah terrorists inside an underground tunnel shaft: https://bit.ly/4xlZkaX

IDF: 35 weapons seized and two suspects apprehended: Security forces thwart smuggling attempt along eastern border Last night (Thursday), IDF surveillance identified indications of activity in preparation for a smuggling attempt in the eastern border area. Following the findings, forces from the Jordan Valley and Foothills Brigade, officers from the Israel Police Jordan Border Unit of the Judea and Samaria District, and Border Police forces in Judea and Samaria operated jointly and established ambushes in the area. During the operation, two residents of Jericho were arrested. More than 30 pistols and two M-16 rifles were seized. The suspects and weapons were transferred for further investigation by the Judea and Samaria District Central Unit. Security forces are deployed along the eastern border and continue to operate to thwart smuggling attempts and safeguard the security of the citizens of Israel. Attached is a photo of the weapons that were located:

Despite Hezbollah’s declaration that it would defend the infrastructure at any cost, it failed and even abandoned its personnel to die inside. Here, in these tunnels, at the heart of this structure, our troops found numerous weapons that Hezbollah left behind. Among them were weapons manufactured by the Iranian terrorist regime. This is further proof that Hezbollah is an arm of the Iranian terrorist regime. Through its proxies, this regime attempts to undermine the security of the State of Israel and threatens to destabilize the security of the entire region. Our mission is now complete. The underground route has been neutralized and dismantled. Alongside the achievements and completion of the mission, the combat came at a heavy cost. Our soldiers, the finest of our sons, the best of us, fell in the battles to gain control of and clear the ridge. These were soldiers who operated with a sense of mission, courage, and a deep commitment to defending the northern communities. From here, I would like to wish all of our wounded a speedy recovery. We completed the mission; these achievements belong first and foremost to them. We will continue to defend the northern communities and work to remove any threat to our civilians and our troops. Just as we operated here, we will continue to operate along all of our borders. We will continue to stand between every threat and the residents of the State of Israel. This is our duty."

IDF: The IDF Spokesperson at the Ali al-Taher Ridge: “This network was built over two decades, funded and directed by the Iranian terrorist regime. In recent months, our troops encircled the area and increased the pressure on the tunnels and the terrorists who had entrenched themselves inside them. All of the terrorists who were inside the infrastructure were eliminated or fled. Despite Hezbollah’s declaration that it would defend the infrastructure at any cost, it failed and even abandoned its personnel to die inside.” “Alongside the achievements and completion of the mission, the combat came at a heavy cost. Our soldiers, the finest of our sons, the best of us, fell in the battles to gain control of and clear the ridge. We completed the mission; these achievements belong first and foremost to them. We will continue to defend the northern communities and work to remove any threat to our civilians and our troops. Just as we operated here, we will continue to operate along all of our borders.” Attached is a video announcement from the IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin, from the Ali al-Taher Ridge: https://bit.ly/4xeH4Al From the full remarks of the IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin: “I am here in southern Lebanon, deep beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge, in the network of underground infrastructure that Hezbollah built in the area. Now, after Northern Command forces and the 36th Division achieved operational control of the ridge, we are also completing the dismantlement and neutralization of this infrastructure. This network was built over two decades, funded and directed by the Iranian terrorist regime. The infrastructure that was dismantled served as a central command complex and constituted the center of the Badr unit in the area. From here, Hezbollah managed the fighting in southern Lebanon during Operation Northern Arrows, Operation Roaring Lion, and the current activities. The dismantling of the infrastructure marks the conclusion of a ground operation that included a diversion. Troops of the 36th Division captured the Beaufort Ridge from an unexpected direction, after crossing the Litani River and surprising Hezbollah. Following the capture of the ridge, in a sustained and thorough effort by the Commando Brigade and engineering troops from the Yahalom Unit, the underground routes were cleared and prepared for neutralization and dismantlement. In recent months, our troops encircled the area and increased the pressure on the routes and the terrorists who had entrenched themselves inside them. Terrorists who attempted to abandon the route or resupply the terrorists trapped inside were eliminated in strikes from the air and from the ground. Some of the terrorists who attempted to flee were eliminated in close-quarters combat after encountering ambushes by our troops. All of the terrorists who were inside the infrastructure were eliminated or fled.

IDF: Attached is footage of the dismantling of the underground infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area: https://bit.ly/4xgpdsA

IDF: The IDF dismantled the underground infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area IDF soldiers completed the dismantling of the underground routes in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area after recently establishing operational control over the ridge, both above and below ground. Today (Thursday), following extensive preparatory activity, IDF soldiers dismantled the underground infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area, located within the Security Zone, in order to definitively neutralize Hezbollah’s ability to use this infrastructure to plan and carry out terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. The terrorist infrastructure that was dismantled extended for more than two kilometers. Dozens of Iranian-made rockets, missiles, and UAVs, as well as machine guns, dozens of anti-tank missiles, and hundreds of mines and explosive devices, were located inside the underground infrastructure. As published last week, a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s “Badr” Unit was located within the underground infrastructure. The complex contained command centers, weapon storage rooms, and living quarters that enabled terrorists to manage the combat and remain underground for extended periods. This was strategic infrastructure that was constructed over two decades, funded and planned by the Iranian terror regime. IDF soldiers will continue to operate in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon to remove threats and dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area, and will not allow Hezbollah to harm Israeli civilians. The IDF remains committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

Joint IDF, ISA and Israel Police announcement: The security forces eliminated a Hamas terrorist responsible for multiple deadly attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers Yesterday (Wednesday), in a joint ISA, IDF, and Israel Police operation, the security forces eliminated Farah Hamed, a Hamas military wing terrorist, in a strike in the central Gaza Strip. Hamed previously served as a senior operative in the “West Bank Headquarters” and took part in combat against IDF troops throughout the war. As part of his roles and in recent years, Hamed advanced terror attacks in Judea and Samaria. For years, he was part of the “Silwad” cell and carried out several significant terror attacks in the Binyamin area, in which Israeli civilians were killed, and others were injured. Additionally, Hamed took part in the shooting attack in Ein Yabrud in October 2003, in which three IDF soldiers were killed: Sergeant Elad Pollak, Sergeant Roi Yaakov Solomon, and Staff Sergeant Erez Idan. Hamed was apprehended and released to the Gaza Strip in 2011 as part of the “Shalit prisoner exchange deal.” Since then, he continued to operate in Hamas’ military wing and was involved in recruiting and directing the terrorist organization’s operatives to advance attacks in Judea and Samaria. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance. The IDF, ISA, and Israel Police will continue to defend Israeli civilians and security forces and remove threats in the area.

IDF: IDF soldiers apprehended a terrorist who planned to carry out a shooting attack Earlier today (Thursday), IDF soldiers, in conjunction with the ISA, apprehended the terrorist Ismail Ankaio in the Beitunia area, along with an additional wanted individual. Ankaio was planning to carry out an imminent shooting attack and was apprehended following a week-long pursuit of him. IDF soldiers will continue to operate proactively and offensively to thwart terrorism and bring to justice anyone who seeks to harm Israeli civilians.

IDF: The IDF eliminated a Hamas Nukhba terrorist who infiltrated Israeli territory and took part in the killing of the Nahal Brigade Commander, Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, during the October 7th Massacre Earlier this week (Monday), the IDF struck in the Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip and eliminated Ismail Ibrahim Darwish Kandil, a Nukhba terrorist in the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization. The terrorist infiltrated Israeli territory and took part in the killing of the Nahal Brigade Commander, Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, during the October 7th Massacre. Recently, the terrorist advanced attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and operated to restore the terrorist organization’s capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The terrorist was eliminated in order to remove the threat he posed. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

Joint IDF and ISA announcement: The IDF and ISA dismantled three Hamas weapon storage facilities across the Gaza Strip Yesterday (Wednesday), the IDF and the ISA struck in three areas across the Gaza Strip and dismantled three Hamas weapons storage facilities. Hamas stored weapons, explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, and additional military equipment inside the facilities. Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance. The IDF will continue to operate decisively to degrade Hamas’ military capabilities in the Gaza Strip and thwart any attempt by the terrorist organization to reconstitute these capabilities or possess weapons intended to harm IDF troops. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.

IDF: Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration in several areas in northern Israel, it was determined to be a false identification.

IDF: Initial report - Sirens regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration were sounded in several areas in northern Israel. The details are under review.