Latest News About Israel From AM

Nadene Goldfoot

IsraelAM

The IDF launched a limited ground operation in Lebanon overnight. According to a statement by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, "The Israel Defense Forces is conducting limited and targeted raids along Israel’s northern border against the threat that Hezbollah poses to civilians in northern Israel. These localized ground raids will target Hezbollah strongholds that threaten Israeli towns, kibbutzim and communities along our border."

He added,"Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases all ready for an attack on Israel. Hezbollah had prepared to use those villages as staging grounds for an October 7-style invasion into Israeli homes. Hezbollah planned to invade Israel, attack Israeli communities and massacre innocent men, women and children. They called this plan ‘Conquer the Galilee'." He also emphasized that Israel's war was with Hezbollah, not the Lebanese people.

Since the start of the year, the IDF has conducted 700 convert operations against Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Loyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Gallant and agreed "on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel's northern communities." Austin also warned Iran of serious consequences if it launched a direct attack on Israel. The U.S. is keeping 2 carrier battle groups in the region.

Hezbollah fired between 3 and 5 missiles at central Israel, claiming to be targeting Mossad headquarters in north Tel Aviv. Most of the missiles were intercepted, but 1 landed on a major highway near the West Bank partition wall. Three people were injured by shrapnel from the interceptions. Hezbollah also fired around 30 missiles at northern Israel today. The air force continues to strike Hezbollah launching sites and other targets in Lebanon, including Beirut.

The Syrian Defense Ministry said that Israeli warplanes and drones attacked several locations in Damascus shortly after 2 a.m. It said air defenses shot down most of the missiles and drones, but three civilians were killed and nine others wounded.

An IDF soldier was seriously wounded and three others suffered moderate injuries during an anti-terror operation in Nablus that began on Sunday. Forces killed at least 1 wanted terrorist. Since August, the IDF has eliminated at least 100 terrorists in West Bank operations. The IDF is reinforcing its troop deployments and anti-terror raids ahead of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. Rosh Hashana starts Wednesday night at sundown.