IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari delivered a lengthy statement to the media Thursday evening following the end of the Simchat Torah holiday summing up the events of the last day and the military's accomplishments since the beginning of Operation Northern Arrows.
Hagari began by addressing the incidents in Lebanon in which five stories were killed and several others injured over the last day. "Over the holiday, four IDF soldiers were killed in close-quarters combat with Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon: Command Sergeant Major (res.) Mordechai Haim Amoyal, Sergeant Major (res.) Shmuel Harari, Master Sergeant (res.) Shlomo Aviad Nayman, and Sergeant First Class (res.) Shuvael Ben-Natan, may their memory be a blessing. All were reservists. We have a sacred duty to honor our reservists, who for over a year have repeatedly answered our call to defend the nation, bearing the heavy toll of this war. In addition, six soldiers were critically wounded and evacuated to hospitals. We wish a quick recovery to the wounded and send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen."
He also addressed the Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel that resulted in multiple people being injured. "Over the holiday, Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets, missiles, and UAVs, unfortunately resulting in casualties. I repeat, the Home Front Command’s guidelines save lives: entering protected areas, closing the windows and doors in the protected areas, exiting vehicles and lying down by the roadside, and waiting 10 minutes due to shrapnel from interceptions. These actions save lives. It is crucial to follow these instructions and act responsibly to prevent further casualties. We are continuously assessing the situation, and as of now, there are no changes to the Home Front Command’s guidelines. Stay alert, and we will update you immediately if anything changes."
"Today, we observed the holiday of Simchat Torah. Exactly one year ago, at 6:29 AM, war began when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a brutal attack, murdering and kidnapping Israeli civilians. The hostages, the fallen, and the wounded—both physically and mentally—are always in our hearts and minds. Since that day, the IDF has fought with determination and strength on all fronts to restore security to the residents of the south, the north, and all Israeli citizens," he said.
"Tonight, I will present the IDF’s activity in southern Lebanon in areas where Hezbollah has entrenched itself, hiding and storing weapons, and preparing for attacks on our territory. For years, Hezbollah has planned to invade Israel. Our forces that are currently in the field are exposing Hezbollah's methods. First, they turned civilian villages into fortified combat zones. From there, they moved closer to the border, converting those areas into fortified staging grounds hidden under dense overgrowth. In these locations, they placed weapons, explosives, motorcycles, and more in order to launch attacks on northern communities," he said.
"In the past year, the Northern Command has conducted a series of strikes and targeted operations against this infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Over the past month, our forces have been operating in southern Lebanon, in both villages and dense thicketed areas near the border. The goal is to push Hezbollah away from the border, dismantle its capabilities, and eliminate the threat to northern residents. I will now provide two examples that demonstrate what we have uncovered and how Hezbollah prepared these areas as advance bases for future attacks.
"In the past month alone, we have struck more than 3,200 targets in southern Lebanon, including approximately 350 weapons storage facilities. Here, you can see a few of the weapons our forces have uncovered in southern Lebanon. So far, we have seized more than 3,200 explosives and approximately 2,500 anti-tank missiles, RPGs, launchers, and Kornet missiles. Additionally, we seized drones, combat vests, helmets, and a large amount of ammunition.
"Part of the weapons were destroyed on-site, while others were transferred for investigation and documentation by the Enemy Assets Confiscation Unit under the IDF’s Technology and Logistics Directorate. The amount of weapons we are discovering emphasizes the significance of our targeted ground operations in removing the threat communities in northern Israel face," Hagari concluded.
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