Weekly Israeli Bites
Good afternoon, and welcome back to Weekly Israeli bites.
Over the past 14 months, the Iran-backed Houthi terror regime in Yemen has launched hundreds of missile and UAV attacks against the State of Israel.
This weekend, the Houthis in Yemen launched several ballistic missiles toward Israel, forcing millions of civilians to seek shelter in bomb shelters. Last Sunday, they fired a long-range rocket at central Israel, and an elementary school in Ramat Gan's Ramat Efal neighborhood near Tel Aviv suffered significant damage from missile debris.
This Friday night, a second missile was launched from Yemen into central Israel, and a fallen projectile was detected in the Tel Aviv-Yafo area, which wounded 16 people.
In response to the Sunday attack, the IDF conducted precise strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen, including ports and energy infrastructure in Sana'a, which the Houthis have exploited in ways that effectively supported their military operations.
Following the Friday night assault, the United States targeted sites in Yemen’s rebel-held capital. Among the US targets were a Houthi missile storage facility and a command-and-control center. The US reported that these strikes aimed "to disrupt and degrade Houthi operations,” which include attacks on US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden.
American forces also intercepted several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea shortly after the rebels’ Al-Masirah TV claimed that an “aggression” had struck the Attan district of Sanaa, attributing it to Western forces.
Arena overview
Northern Border - Syria and Lebanon
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the IDF stationed forces in the buffer zone established in 1974 between Israel and Syria. This zone was created after Syria attempted to reclaim the Golan Heights during the 1973 War. The deployment aims to protect communities in the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel.
In the past week, IDF forces have taken control of the Syrian side of Mt. Hermon.
Concurrently, the IAF targeted key strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria, thwarting the risk of these falling into the hands of terrorist groups. Many strategic weapons were neutralized, including Scud missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs (surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, and surface-to-sea configurations), fighter jets, attack helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars, and more.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz have toured the newly acquired Israeli territories in Syria, specifically the Syrian side of Mt. Hermon, now under Israeli control.
The IDF continues activities in southern Lebanon while acting following the ceasefire and understanding between Israel and Lebanon.
During recent operations, IDF soldiers located a combat compound containing eight weapon storage facilities both above and below ground, connected by an underground infrastructure. In the compound, the troops located communication and electrical equipment, anti-tank missiles, explosives, and computers.
The soldiers dismantled the compound and confiscated the weapons they found. Attached are photos of tunnel shafts and weapons found by the soldiers.
Southern Arena
Three Underground Tunnel Routes, Approximately 7.5 Kilometers Long, Dismantled by the IDF in Beit Lahia
IDF forces continue their operations in the Beit Lahia area of northern Gaza. Soldiers from the Yahalom Unit, alongside engineering troops, have identified and dismantled three underground tunnel routes, each approximately 7.5 kilometers long and reaching dozens of meters in depth.
In one of the tunnel routes, IDF equipment that Hamas terrorists had captured on October 7th was discovered, along with maps of Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, weapons, and living quarters.
International arena
Foreign Israeli Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that Israel will close its embassy in Ireland, pointing to the “extreme anti-Israel stance of the Irish government." Sa’ar remarked, "The antisemitic measures and language used by Irelandstem from a campaign of delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, as well as double standards." He added, “Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel." In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described the decision against Israel as "deeply regrettable.”
Israel criticized Pope Francis for his “double standards" after he denounced Israeli airstrikes in Gaza during his Christmas address to the Vatican’s Catholic cardinals. In his speech, the pope seemed to refer to Israeli airstrikes from Friday, which medical sources reported resulted in the death of 25 Palestinians in Gaza. Although the IDF did not immediately comment on the airstrikes, it has long said it only targets terrorists and that Hamas hides among civilians.