![](https://www.longwarjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Golani-troops_courtesy-IDF-1024x555.png)
Seth Frantzman experiences from Israel.
A rocket fired from Gaza focused the southern Israeli metropolis of Eilat on Wednesday, headlined the nineteenth day of conflict between Israel and Hamas that started after a shock Hamas assault on October 7 that killed 1,400 folks in Israel. The Israel Protection Forces stated that “one rocket was recognized from the Gaza Strip in the direction of the Hevel Eilot Regional Council in southern Israel, which fell in an open space.” Eilat is 130 miles from Gaza.
The rocket fired at Eilat is the primary time a long-range rocket has focused the Crimson Sea metropolis. As well as, one other rocket focused the town of Haifa, about 100 miles from Gaza. On October 24, Hamas carried out a big barrage of rocket assaults concentrating on central Israel, illustrating the group’s capability to hold out long-range assaults two weeks into the conflict.
Threats from Hezbollah additionally continued on Wednesday. The IDF stated it confronted a “terrorist cell” making an attempt to hold out anti-tank hearth close to Mount Dov, on the border with Lebanon. A number of anti-tank missiles had been fired at Avivim and Zarit, two communities on the border with Lebanon. Israel has evacuated civilians from the complete border area, leaving about 42 communities empty of most civilians. Israel says it responded to those assaults within the north utilizing plane and artillery. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah hosted Hamas second-in-command Salah al-Arouri and Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhalah. The assembly got here as Hezbollah continues to announce losses in Lebanon following two weeks of assaults on Israel. Greater than two dozen Hezbollah members have been killed.
IDF spokesman Actual Admiral Daniel Hagari additionally highlighted Iran’s function within the present battle. “Iran straight supported Hamas earlier than the conflict, coaching, offering weapons, cash and technological know-how. Even in these moments, Iranian assist for Hamas with intelligence help continues alongside incitement on social media and incitement of agitation worldwide in opposition to the State of Israel,” stated he. “Within the Center East, the place Iranian proxies function from inside Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, the directions come from just one place – from Iran.”
Iranian-backed proxies in Iraq and Syria have focused US forces over the previous two weeks, and the Iranian-backed Houthis additionally fired missiles and drones at Israel on October 18. A US warship intercepted the drones and missiles.
Israel’s military continues to coach to organize for a doable floor invasion of Gaza. The IDF has additionally continued to announce particulars of the October 7 assault. It has already revealed the quantity of ammunition Hamas introduced into Israel in the course of the assault and has supplied journalists with footage of the assault. On October 25, the IDF additionally revealed “a handwritten notice was discovered on one of many terrorists, which was given to him earlier than the invasion. The phrases of the Hamas commanders encompass an order to kill Jews and encouragement to behead their victims and tear their hearts and lives out.”
IDF Chief of Workers, Minister of Protection and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with lots of the key models of the IDF forward of a doable new section of the conflict. Netanyahu spoke to the IDF Yahalom unit (particular unit of the Fight Engineering Corps) together with IDF Chief of Floor Forces Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai and IDF Chief Engineering Officer Brig.-Gen. Ido Mizrachi Tuesday. “The prime minister was additionally proven the particular capabilities of the elite unit, together with underground exercise and explosives,” the federal government’s press workplace stated.
The Golani Brigade emphasised on the identical time that two of its models – the 13th and 51St battalions – which bore the brunt of the assault on October 7 and suffered dozens of casualties, are ready to combat any incursion which will come into Gaza. These two battalions fought within the Kissufim and Nahal Oz sectors on 7 October.
They’ve now been coaching and making ready because the tough first days of the conflict. The officers in command of these two models, Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg and Lt. Col. Meir Ohayon, mentioned how they’re prepared for his or her mission. “There can be a maneuver and when it arrives, we are going to win,” Ohayon stated Wednesday morning. Different models of the Givati Brigade are additionally making ready for the following section, present process related coaching and preparation for city fight that the models will face in the event that they enter the densely populated Gaza Strip.
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