Yom Shleeshee
Tuesday
28 Elul 5784
October 1 2024
UPDATE 8:20 PM ISRAEL TIME
Between 350-400 missiles have been fired at Israel from Iran in the last hour and a half.
We have been in our bomb shelter repeatedly here in Ashdod–in the last volley here, we heard 5 explosions (we won’t identify where in the city).
The good news is that apparently there have been no Israeli casualties.
The bad news is that terrorists opened fire at a train station in Tel Aviv just before the missiles began falling killing 4 and critically wounding more before they were killed..
There is every reason to believe that Israel will retaliate against Iran in the coming hours.
UPDATE 5:00 PM ISRAEL TIME
BREAKING NEWS:
THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE WARNING OF AN IMPENDING ATTACK FROM IRAN.
Many governments, including the that of the U.S., have ordered their citizens to immediately shelter in place.
ON THE GROUND IN THE NORTH
*Northern and Central Israel have been hit by 24 missile attacks from Hezbollah so far today.
Targets included Haifa and Tel Aviv.
A number of Israelis have been wounded including three when a missile exploded on Highway 6. The shrapnel from the explosion hit a bus passing by.
*Over the past few hours, the IDF spokesman has released important information about IDF activities on the ground in Lebanon. Some of his comments:
*IDF Special Forces have carried out more than 70 operations in which IDF forces spent more than 200 nights in enemy territory in southern Lebanon.
*Some of the operations lasted 2-3 consecutive days.
*As part of the operations, the forces entered the Hezbollah tunnels, destroyed IMD in the territory itself, captured and placed explosives, and also removed IMD and intelligence documents to Israel.
*The operations were carried out up to 2-3 km from the border with Israel in the nearby strip of villages:
1. In the Lavona area, the IDF located an underground bunker at the site that leads to a tunnel into which the fighters entered. This is the deployment area of 3 Radwan battalions.
2. In the Eyta al-Sha’ab area, dozens of underground shafts were destroyed in the area in the various operations. Several rocket launchers and more than 10 ammunition depots were destroyed. Tunnels 20-25 meters deep were found there, which go into the mountain and reach as far as the village of Ayita al-Sha’ab itself.
3. In the village of Mis Al-Jabal, fighters also entered the houses of the village itself. They found there an ammunition depot for a whole company of Radwan, which was intended for preparations for the infiltration and occupation of territory in the Galilee. They discovered a 12-meter-deep shaft with an approach tunnel that reaches to 30 meters from the border with Israel.
4. In Kfar Kila (opposite Metulla), an underground tunnel was located, the shaft of which exits from a children’s room inside a building. Inside the tunnel were weapons for an entire company of Radwan. In two houses in the village, large explosives were found a few meters away from the fence – intended to blow up and breach the wall in a surprise attack. In the tunnel, bags and equipment were located for the rapid arrival and equipping of Radwan terrorists.
In Judea and Samaria
The day has seen an intense firefight in Shechem between terrorists and fighters from the Duvdevan unit. Three terrorists were killed; 4 Duvdevan fighters were wounded–one critically and three moderately.
UPDATE 10:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
IDF ground forces entered southern Lebanon last night.
The statement of the IDF Spokesman:
“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, the IDF began a few hours ago a targeted and delimited ground operation in southern Lebanon against terrorist targets and infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in a number of villages near the border, which pose an immediate and real threat to Israeli settlements on the northern border.
The IDF operates according to a regular plan designed by the General Staff and the Northern Command, for which the forces have trained and prepared in recent months.
The ground forces are accompanied in an attack effort by the air force and artillery forces, which attack military targets in the area in a coordinated effort with the fighters of the ground forces.
The stages of the campaign have been approved and are being carried out in accordance with the decision of the political level. Operation “Northern Arrows” continues according to the assessment of the situation at the same time as the fighting in Gaza and other arenas.
The IDF continues to fight and act to achieve the goals of the war, and does everything necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel and return the residents of the north to their homes safely.
We ask not to pass on unofficial rumors and reports about the activities of the IDF forces, and to stick to the official announcements only.“
Of course, the last sentence of the statement is a bit disingenuous. There are hundreds of reports this morning coming from residents on the ground, troops in the maneuver, media everywhere, and even the White House in Washington as to what is taking place.
Here is what we know about what has happened in Lebanon and northern Israel overnight (not related to ground operations):
*There have been more attacks on the Dahiya neighborhood.
*Metulla, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi have been declared closed military areas by the IDF. No entry will be permitted.
*Beginning at 00:43 in Misgav Am, there have already been 9 missile barrages on northern Israel focusing on Tzfat and Metulla. The most intense barrage was at Meron at 01:47 where 10 missiles were fired. There are no reports of casualties.
*Also this morning, the IAF intercepted a UAV over the Mediterranean, dozens of kilometers off the coast of central Israel.
On the Ground in Gaza
From the IDF Spokesman:
“Air Force fighter jets attacked during the night, in a targeted manner and under the intelligence guidance of the Shin Bet and the Southern Command, terrorists who were operating in a command and control complex in the area that was previously used as UNRWA’s “Sheja’eya” school in Gaza City. The Hamas terrorists used the school complex for military activity, planning and executing terrorist acts against the IDF forces and the State of Israel.”
*It is also reported that the IAF has been striking targets in Rafah “on an unusual scale” overnight and this morning. Perhaps these are the booms we keep hearing here in Ashdod.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.