Israel News for 12-9-2024
News Update
In the wake of the collapse of the Syrian Assad regime, IDF forces have taken control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and the demilitarized zone beyond the Golan, after Syrian army forces vacated the areas. The air force struck multiple strategic targets in and around Damascus, including Syria’s main military research center, which Iran allegedly used for missile development. The strikes are continuing, in an effort to eliminate threats to Israel’s security including chemical weapons, air bases, missile depots and launching sites and missile development sites. Israel is reportedly in talks with Russia to transfer parts of the territory near the Israeli border to Israeli control.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “The Assad regime, a central link in Iran’s axis of evil, has fallen. This is a direct result of the blows we’ve dealt to Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters. It has set off a chain reaction across the Middle East, as people seek to free themselves from oppressive tyranny. This creates significant new opportunities for Israel, though not without risks. Our primary mission is to defend our borders. For nearly 50 years, this area was designated as a buffer zone under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. That agreement has now collapsed, with Syrian soldiers abandoning their positions. With full Cabinet approval, I instructed the IDF to seize the buffer zone and nearby commanding positions. We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself along our border. Simultaneously, we are pursuing a policy of good neighborliness, as we did during the Syrian civil war, when we established a field hospital here that treated thousands of wounded Syrians. Hundreds of Syrian children were even born here in Israel.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said today that the presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory is a “limited, temporary” step meant to ensure Israel’s security during the confusion after the fall of Assad.
Four IDF reservists of the 226th Brigade’s 9263rd Battalion were killed when an underground compound collapsed during operational activity in southern Lebanon: Maj. (res.) Evgeny Zinershain, 43, from Zichron Yaakov, a company commander; Capt. (res.) Sagi Ya’akov Rubinshtein, 31, from Lavie, a platoon commander; Master Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Destaw Negose, 28, from Beit Shemesh; and Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Erez Ben Efraim, 25, from Ramat Gan. The IDF is investigating whether the explosion was caused by a pre-existing explosive device or accidentally triggered by IDF forces.
A drone launched from Yemen struck the penthouse of a 16 story residential building in the central Israeli city of Yavne this morning. Damage was caused to the balcony, but no injuries were reported.
Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces launched an operation against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists in the Jenin refugee camp today. The raid follows an incident in which PIJ terrorists stole 2 PA jeeps and paraded them through the camp. In a statement, PA security forces announced their mission to restore law and order in Jenin and its refugee camp for civilian protection. Recent IDF operations in Jenin weakened the PIJ and reportedly gave PA forces the confidence to mount the raid.
According to Arab media, Hamas reportedly has submitted a list of hostages to mediators in Cairo, as talks there advance. Egyptian intelligence reportedly received names of hostages with medical conditions and elderly captives, as well as Palestinian prisoners to be freed from Israeli jails. An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo today. The Israeli government has told hostage families to ignore the Arab media reports.
