While Israel has remained out of the current round of back-and-forth strikes between the U.S. and Iran, IDF counterterror operations in Gaza and Lebanon continue. According to Ynet, the IDF announced today that the head of a Hamas-run police station was killed in an airstrike along with several other officers. The IDF also reported that Hamas cell commander Osama Naim Hamdi Shamlakh was killed, along with three other terrorists, in strikes yesterday. Meanwhile, the sixth round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to take place today and tomorrow in Rome.
According to the IDF, throughout the war and in recent months, Shamlakh worked to restore and strengthen the force buildup of Hamas’ naval unit and advanced terror plots in the maritime arena. The military said that in another strike in northern Gaza, three Hamas terrorists who were armed and trying to advance terror plots against IDF forces were killed.
“The terrorists posed an immediate threat to our forces operating in the area and were eliminated in precise aerial strikes,” the IDF said. “IDF forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to act to remove any immediate threat.”
Last Thursday, the IDF killed Yahya Said Mohammed Hamdan, the head of a Nukhba cell in Hamas’ military wing, in a strike in southern Gaza. According to the military, Hamdan raided the Re’im camp during the October 7 massacre.
“In recent months, Hamdan advanced terror plots against IDF forces and tried to work to restore the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the IDF said. “The terrorist posed an immediate threat to our forces operating in the area and was eliminated in a precise aerial strike.”
The U.S. and Lebanon continue to push for pilot zones in southern Lebanon that would allow the IDF to withdraw while the Lebanese army reasserts control over the areas and prevents Hezbollah from reestablishing its presence.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter said that Israel and Lebanon are aligned on the need to address Iran and Hezbollah’s presence. He added that any IDF withdrawal can occur only after Hezbollah has been dismantled. However, the Lebanese government has insisted that the withdrawal should take place first.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the brave men and women of the IDF serving in Gaza and southern Lebanon as they work to protect the security and sovereignty of the Holy Land and help prevent Hezbollah from threatening Lebanon’s future as well.
