Gut Vuch and Shavuah Tov to all!

IDF Eliminates Terrorist Preparing Attack Near Israeli Border

The IDF carried out a targeted strike in southwestern Syria after identifying an armed terrorist preparing an imminent attack against Israeli troops.

The operation took place near Beit Jinn, roughly six miles from the Israeli border, as preparations for an improvised explosive device attack were reportedly nearing completion. Syrian media said a vehicle was struck and one person was wounded.

Israeli officials said the strike was intended to remove an immediate threat to troops operating in the area.

Israel Also Strikes Syrian Military Base Over Turkish Deployment

Separately, Israel revealed details surrounding recent strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military air base in Syria.

According to Kan News, Israeli intelligence indicated that Turkey was preparing to deploy military personnel, radar systems and air-defense equipment to the base. Israel reportedly shared the intelligence with the United States before taking action.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Syrian officials had been warned at the highest levels and were given an opportunity to halt the planned deployment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed that advance warnings had been issued.

Katz said the decision to strike was made following consultations with Netanyahu, the IDF and senior security officials.

The two Israeli operations involved separate threats: one targeted a terrorist preparing an attack on Israeli troops, while the other was aimed at preventing the establishment of a Turkish military presence at a strategic Syrian air base.

IDF Eliminates Hamas Commander Behind Terror Operations and Tunnel Network

Israeli forces eliminated Hamas terrorist Sharif al-Hasanat, a company commander who was heavily involved in attacks targeting Israeli civilians and military personnel.

According to the IDF, al-Hasanat played a significant role throughout the war in rebuilding and expanding Hamas’s underground tunnel infrastructure. Intelligence indicated that he had recently stepped up efforts to advance additional attacks against Israeli troops.

He was targeted after being identified as a direct and ongoing threat to Israeli forces operating in the area.

Kites From Gaza Found in Nahal Oz, Raising Fresh Security Concerns

Four kites believed to have been launched from Gaza were discovered in Kibbutz Nahal Oz over the weekend, prompting renewed concern among residents familiar with Hamas’s past use of kites to carry incendiary materials.

The IDF said one kite was discovered inside the kibbutz on Friday, followed by three more on Shabbos morning. The military assessed that all four had crossed from Gaza using strings stretching for several kilometers.

The IDF said there were no suspicious findings and emphasized that there was never any danger to residents.

Residents, however, expressed serious concern, recalling the use of seemingly harmless kites before October 7. Hebrew-language reports said the military believes Hamas may have been testing Israel’s response.

Nahal Oz was among the communities devastated during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Approximately 180 terrorists entered the kibbutz, killing 13 residents and four security personnel and abducting eight civilians. Numerous homes and agricultural areas were destroyed or damaged, and residents were evacuated before beginning to return in 2024.

The concern is rooted in history. In 2018, Palestinian terrorists repeatedly launched incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza, causing widespread fires across Israeli communities and agricultural land.

Nahal Oz officials urged the military to take the latest incidents seriously, warning that seemingly insignificant objects have previously been used as precursors to more dangerous attacks.

Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council head Uri Epstein also called for an immediate investigation and a real-time response to every kite or similar object crossing into Israeli territory. He warned that failing to respond could encourage additional attempts and demanded that authorities address the issue before it escalates.

Besuros tovos.