War Day 578: Israel Destroys Houthi Airport, Defense Minister Warns Iran

War Summary, Day 578: Trump says only 21 living hostages, IDF begins training for upcoming operation in Gaza, Hamas in Lebanon hands over terrorists, 10 more injured Syrian-Druze evacuated to Israel, Israel destroys Houthi airport, Trump shocks with announcement that strikes on Houthis will end, Houthis still have plenty ballistic missiles remaining, and Defense Minister warns Iran.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,836 Israelis killed.
420 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,720 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
10,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– Trump says only 21 living hostages, Israel denies
– Egypt attempts another ceasefire proposal
– Senior terrorist surrenders in Rafah
– IDF begins training for upcoming operation in Gaza
– Reservists all report, feel optimistic but lonely
– Terrorist eliminated in Lebanon
– Hamas in Lebanon hands over terrorists
– 10 more injured Syrian-Druze evacuated to Israel
– In shocking move, Israel destroys Houthi airport
– Trump shocks with announcement that strikes on Houthis will end
– Houthis still have plenty ballistic missiles remaining
– Defense Minister warns Iran

Hostages:

During a press conference, U.S. President Trump said, “They told me a few days ago that there are only 21 hostages alive in Gaza.”

Israel’s head of hostage affairs, Gan Hirsch countered this statement, and confirmed that 24 hostages are believed alive, and only 35 are confirmed deceased. While some of the hostages haven’t shown signs of life recently, their deaths have not been confirmed.

(It’s fair to deduct from this that there are three hostages from whom the Shin Bet has concerns over whether they are still alive or not.)

Arabic media reported today that Egypt, with U.S. encouragement, proposed a new last-minute humanitarian ceasefire agreement, in an attempt to get something in before Trump’s Middle East visit.

According to the reports, Egypt’s new proposal is for a ceasefire of 10-14 days, during which 5 hostages will be exchanged for dozens of terrorists and delivery of humanitarian aid. During this time, discussions will begin for the next phase.

Israel says that it does not recognize any new proposals, and will only accept the Witkoff framework.

Gaza:

Sirens this morning in Netiv Ha’Asarah (on Gaza’s northern border) were a false alarm.

Amongst airstrikes today, the IDF hit a Hamas command and control center, which as usual, was embedded inside a building used as a civilian shelter. The terrorists also stored weapons in the building. The IDF used intelligence and a precision strike to minimize harm to civilians.

The IDF announced that several weeks ago, during operations in the Shabourah neighborhood of Rafah, two significant terrorists surrendered to IDF forces. One was a Hamas platoon commander, who had participated in the October 7th massacre, and later was responsible for holding Israeli hostages (who have since been released). Several knives were found on the terrorists’ possession at the time of arrest.

The two terrorists have since shared valuable intelligence information with the Shin Bet, which helped the IDF locate important terror infrastructure in Southern Gaza.

Thousands of reservists have begun reporting, and training in preparation for the maneuver ahead, named Operation Gideon’s Chariot. The IDF issued orders to tens of thousands of reservists, and the full number—plus extra volunteers—have stated that they will report on the date they were given. The operation won’t officially begin until Trump’s MidEast visor is complete, but the IDF is beginning to prepare with training and in the next few days might start moving forces around.

IDF reservists report feeling optimistic that this time they will finally be allowed to completely defeat Hamas—but also lonely with less support from the public than they had in the early days of the war.

Lebanon:

An IDF airstrike in the Nebatiya area (southern Lebanon) eliminated terrorist Adnan Muhammad Sadeq Harb, a commander in Hezbollah’s Badr unit. In his position, the terrorist led efforts to restore Hezbollah’s combat capabilities and infrastructure in Southern Lebanon, and worked to transfer weapons to various Hezbollah units—in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The Lebanese Army announced that Hamas handed over two terrorists who had been involved in launching rockets at Israel in March, after the ceasefire agreement was already in place. Lebanese authorities put immense pressure on Hamas in Lebanon to hand the terrorists over, in order not to lose the ceasefire agreement.

The Hamas terrorists in Lebanon belong to a large population in Lebanon which UNRWA considers to be “Palestinian refugees.”

Syria:

Ten Syrian-Druze citizens were evacuated to Israel, to receive medical treatment at the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, after being injured in Syrian territory. In all, at least 25 Syria Druze were taken to Israeli hospitals in the last week.

News about the situation amongst the Druze near Damascus is largely muted and difficult to sort through. The IDF has made its position strong to the new Syrian president, who now seems to be making an effort to reduce the attacks against the Syrian Druze, although it hasn’t come to a full stop.

The IDF is securing a security buffer zone in southern Syria, along Israel’s border, and is preventing hostile forces from entering the region and attacking the Druze there.

Yemen:

Israel surprised everyone today, with more dramatic airstrikes targeting the Houthis in Yemen. It began with an urgent evacuation warning for Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport.

The IDF then struck and completely destroyed the Sanaa Airport, and several central power stations in the Sana’a area. According to Sky News, all civilian planes at the Sanaa Airport were destroyed. The airport is now closed.

The strikes took Israel’s Air Force 15 minutes to carry out, using dozens of aircraft, and 50 munitions.

These strikes follow last night’s airstrikes which hit the Hodeida port in Yemen, and concrete factory used for terrorism purposes. The strikes are in response to the Houthis firing a ballistic missile which struck a field in the area of Ben Gurion Airport.

The Houthis had celebrated that several airlines cancelled flights to Israel’s airport—now they completely lost their main airport. However, the Houthis still have other more minor, but still functional, airports to use.

In a press conference today, U.S. president Trump announced that on Monday night (which was after Israel’s first strikes), the Houthis told the U.S. that they won’t attack U.S. ships anymore, and want a ceasefire with the U.S. Trump said that the U.S. will in turn stop bombing the Houthis. Trump noted that if something happens between the Houthis and Israel, he’ll discuss it [when it arises].

An Israeli security source told Israel Hayom that this announcement took Israel by surprise, and that this is bad news from Israel’s perspective—especially since it gives Iran renewed leverage in nuclear negotiations.

A senior Houthi official clarified that the Houthis will still fight Israel in support of Gaza. He did not give a full guarantee to the end of strikes against U.S. ships.

According to Israel’s estimates, the Houthis still have at least several dozen ballistic missiles left. The bigger problem is that every week they produce more missiles in underground facilities. While the U.S. has bombed and destroyed many Houthi facilities, they still have not gotten all of them.

Iran:

After hitting Houthi targets, Defense Minister Israel Katz issues a warning to Iran: “It is also a warning to the Iranian head of the octopus: You bear direct responsibility for any attack by the Houthi tentacle against the State of Israel, and you will also bear the full consequences.”

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