War Summary, Day 350-351: The terrorists who killed the six hostages were eliminated, UNRWA is asking for immunity for Hamas employees, IDF airstrike in Beirut eliminated much of Hezbollah’s highest command, IDF carries out over 500 airstrikes in Lebanon in one day, fires in multiple areas in Israel, Hezbollah raises the “red flag of revenge,” and terrorist commander eliminated in Qabatiya, Samaria.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
101 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
117 living hostages rescued.
37 hostage bodies rescued.
1,652 Israelis killed.
350 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
25 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
14 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
24,700 estimated rockets fired at Israel.
88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Top Headlines:
- The terrorists who killed the six hostages were eliminated
- UNRWA is asking for immunity for Hamas employees
- IDF airstrike in Beirut eliminated much of Hezbollah’s highest command
- IDF carries out over 500 airstrikes in Lebanon in one day
- IDF preparing to expand the operation further
- Hezbollah fires rockets past Haifa
- Home Front Command directives updated, schools in Galilee closed
- Fires in multiple areas in Israel
- Hezbollah raises the “red flag of revenge”
- Terrorist commander eliminated in Qabatiya, Samaria
Hostage Updates:
There is no progress on a hostage deal, though talks continue. The IDF is continuing to apply pressure on Hamas through military action in Gaza.
Gaza Front Updates:
Hamas did not fire any rockets into Israel today.
Thank G-d, the IDF did not announce any fallen heroes.
Three divisions of IDF troops are currently operating in Gaza: the 252nd Division along the Netzarim Corridor, and pinpoint operations in Central Gaza and Gaza City; the 162nd Division in Rafah and along the Philadelphi Corridor; and the Gaza Division in the buffer zone. In the Netzarim Corridor, the Jerusalem and Harel reserve brigades were swapped out for the 5th and 14th brigades.
Over the past two days, around 40 Hamas targets were struck in Gaza. One airstrike eliminated Muhammad Mansour, a prominent Hamas intelligence commander. Another airstrike targeted a group of Hamas terrorists who were in a command room embedded in the former al-Falah School in the Zeitoun neighborhood, from where they were directing attacks on IDF troops. Civilians were sheltering in other parts of the building, and the IDF took steps to mitigate harm to the civilians.
The IDF confirmed through DNA testing that the two terrorists who were likely responsible for murdering the six hostages earlier this month, were eliminated the day before the hostages were found.
An Israeli Air Force investigation into the helicopter crash in southern Gaza, which killed two soldiers and wounded seven others, concluded that poor visibility caused the accident. The crash occurred on September 11 during a night evacuation mission amid combat in Rafah. The UH-60 Black Hawk from the 123rd Squadron attempted to land at a complex helipad, but heavy dust and darkness led to the crew losing spatial orientation, causing the helicopter to hit the ground.
The investigation ruled out technical failures or enemy fire, confirming that all crew members were fit for the task. Ground forces, including the Givati Brigade commander, rescued the wounded and evacuated them to a hospital. IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar promised that lessons would be quickly learned.
Gaza Humanitarian Efforts Updates:
On Friday:
222 trucks carrying humanitarian goods, including 22 trucks carrying hygiene products, were transferred to Gaza. 176 trucks entered via Kerem Shalom to South and Central Gaza, and 46 trucks entered via Erez, to Northern Gaza.
Approximately 490 trucks worth of aid is waiting for collection, 480 of them by the UN.
6 tankers of cooking gas and 5 tankers of fuel designated for the operation of essential infrastructure were transferred.
The IDF published footage of armed terrorists attempting to hijack a truck of humanitarian aid in Rafah. The IDF troops scared the terrorists off, and then hit them with a drone strike as they were fleeing. Hamas terrorists frequently hijack aid before it reaches civilians.
Channel 12 News reported that rather than apologizing, UNRWA is petitioning for immunity for its employees which participated in the October 7th attack.
Northern Front Updates:
Hezbollah fired over 200 rockets at Israel on Friday, and 100 more before Shabbat ended, targeting areas up to, and including, Tzfat. A few fires were caused, including one that burned down a home in Kadita as a result of a direct hit.
Shortly after 1 a.m. after Shabbat, a barrage of 10 missiles (or, dozens, according to Hezbollah) set off sirens in areas past Haifa, including Afula. Most rockets were intercepted, one man was treated for very light injuries from shrapnel of an intercepted rocket. Large shrapnel hit Nazareth (where locals decided to take selfies with the thing), shrapnel caused a large fire in Migdal HaEmek, and a rocket made impact in an empty area in Sde Yaakov, where no injuries were reported.
Hezbollah had planned far more intense barrages of thousands of rockets and missiles, but the IDF thwarted most of them earlier. It is still suspected that Hezbollah has more rockets and launchers in hidden and hard to reach areas, particularly in tunnels inside mountains.
Home Front Command updated restrictions on all areas from Haifa northward, limiting gatherings, and allowing school and work only where bomb shelters are accessible. In a separate announcement, residents of Tzfat were advised to stay near bomb shelters. Most areas, including Tzfat, Nahariyah, Acco, and Tiberias, cancelled school tomorrow (Israeli schools open on Sunday). Road blocks were put in place, preventing non-residents from traveling to the Galilee.
MADA (emergency ambulatory services) raised alert levels in the north and center of the country to the highest level.
The U.S. and Jordan called on citizens to immediately evacuate Lebanon.
On Friday afternoon, after destroying hundreds of rocket launchers that were primed and ready to fire at Israeli communities, the IAF targeted a residential building in the heart of Dahiyeh (a suburb of Beirut), in the basement of which top Hezbollah commanders were conducting a meeting. The airstrike successfully eliminated top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Aqil, and the top leadership of Hezbollah’s operations array and elite Radwan Force—a devastating blow to Hezbollah’s leadership.
Lebanon’s health ministry says 31 were killed in the airstrike. The IDF named 16 Hezbollah leaders who were eliminated, chief on the list include:
- Ibrahim Aqil, who was the head of Hezbollah’s military operations, acting commander of the Radwan Force, and chief commander the Hezbollah’s plans to invade the Galilee. Aqil was also wanted by the U.S., with a $7 billion bounty on him, for his role in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, and for directing the taking of American and German hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s.
- Ahmed Wahbi, head of Hezbollah’s training unit, and a former commander of the Radwan Force.
- Samer Halawi, commander of the coastal region
- Abbas Muslimani, commander of the Qana region
- Abdullah Hijazi, commander of the Ramim Ridge region
- Muhammad Reda, commander of the Khiam region
- Hassan Madi, commander of the Mount Dov region
- Hassan Abd al-Satar, head of operations
- Hussein Hadraj, the chief of staff
The IDF says that for years already, Aqil had been planning and preparing the Radwan forces for an October 7th-like invasion and occupation of the Galilee. Hezbollah already appointed two senior officers, Ali Karaki and Talal Hamia, to replace Ibrahim Aqil at the head of Hezbollah’s military. Both are already member’s of the Jihad Council, which is Hezbollah’s top military body. The Jihad Council was known to have seven members, but is now down to five, after the elimination of Fuad Shukr in July, and Aqil on Friday.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan commented that he is worried about the escalation between Israel and Lebanon, but the killing of Ibrahim Aqil is a “positive outcome,” adding that “He is somebody who the United States promised long ago we would do everything we could to see brought to justice.”
IDF airstrikes continued in full force on Shabbat, and by evening, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, announced that the IDF destroyed more than 400 Hezbollah rocket launchers over the day, in addition to weapons warehouses. The airstrikes are no longer limited to Southern Lebanon, although the majority are in that area and the Baalbek region which has the heaviest concentration of weapons. Significant airstrikes continued through the night, with huge explosions, demonstrating the weight of the weaponry being destroyed. Before 2 a.m., the IDF updated that it had struck an additional 110 Hezbollah targets. More heavy airstrikes are ongoing, as of publication.
A small number of airstrikes also took place in Syria, although the IDF didn’t mention it—but the Iranian proxy militia did, announcing the death of a “security advisor” in the Damascus area, eliminated in an alleged IDF airstrike.
The IDF says that troops are prepared to expand operations. Defense Minister Gallant wrote: “Even in the Dahiyeh in Beirut, we will continue to pursue our enemy in order to protect our citizens. The sequence of operations in the new phase [of the war] will continue until our goal is achieved: The safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.”
In Lebanon, there are reports that Hezbollah is raising the “red flag of revenge,” beginning Shabbat afternoon.
Judea and Samaria Updates:
The IDF announced that a soldier was seriously injured this morning during a counterterrorism operation in Jenin.
On Friday, IDF Duvduvan forces arrested seven wanted people in a counterterrorism operation in Qabatiya. During the raid, a group of terrorists opened fire at the troops, who in turn, eliminated four gunmen, then confiscated the rifles and other weapons on their bodies. Later, a group of three terrorists fired at the troops from in their car. The IDF used a drone strike to eliminate them. The vehicle contained weapons and explosives, which caused secondary explosions. Amongst the three eliminated in the vehicle was Shadi Zakarneh, who headed a terror network in Qabatiya, responsible for directing numerous attacks in Samaria.
Iran & Proxies Attack Updates:
An explosion was reported in a “coal mine” in eastern Iran shortly after midnight. One dead and about 20 injured.
VIDEO – Incredible Iron Dome interception in the Upper Galilee earlier today
*$7 million bounty not billion