Israeli air force jets struck a Hezbollah weapon manufacturing site in the Beqaa valley, deep in Lebanon, in response to overnight launches into Israeli territory. G7 leaders will discuss the Iranian attack, while various countries and organizations are calling for restraint and advising against travel to Israel. Iran claims to have notified its neighbors of the attacks in advance, and tensions in the region continue to escalate.
The IDF investigation concluded that Efrat Katz, a resident of Nir Oz, was likely killed by an Israeli Air Force combat helicopter airstrike on October 7 during Hamas's assault on the kibbutz. The investigation found that the IDF's surveillance systems were unable to detect that Katz and other hostages were in the vehicle with the Hamas terrorists. The commanding officer of the Israeli Air Force described the incident as tragic and unfortunate, stating that the aircraft crew operated in compliance with orders in a complex reality of war. The IDF promised to continue examining the events of October 7.
Two Hamas leaders, including the commander of the paragliders responsible for a recent terror attack on Israel, were killed in overnight airstrikes conducted by the Israeli Air Force. The head of the Hamas Air Force, Murad Abu Murad, and Ali Qadi, a company commander of the Hamas 'Nukhba' commando force, were targeted in the strikes. The Israeli military stated that both individuals were involved in orchestrating the attack on Israeli civilians. The airstrikes were part of a wider operation against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Over 1,000 members of the Israeli Air Force, including over 400 pilots, have announced that they will be halting their volunteer reserve duty in protest of the government's effort to overhaul the judiciary. Senior coalition lawmakers have condemned the protest, likening it to an attempted military coup. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the protesters to retract their "mistake," while other far-right lawmakers expressed more combative language against the pilots. The government plans to move forward with the passage of the first piece of overhaul legislation next week, despite the growing protests. Defense officials have warned that the increasing number of reservists dropping out of volunteer duty could affect national military preparedness.
Over 1,100 Israeli Air Force reservists, including pilots, have announced that they will suspend their volunteer reserve duty in protest of the government's plans to overhaul the judicial system. This comes as a growing number of reserve troops drop out of volunteer duty to protest the overhaul, raising concerns about national preparedness. The reservists called on the government to reach broad agreements and preserve the independence and trust in the judicial system. Defense officials warn that the mass refusals could negatively impact the readiness of the military, particularly the Air Force.
An anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria exploded over Israeli airspace, causing shrapnel to fall in the southern city of Rahat. The Israeli Air Force allegedly carried out strikes near the Syrian city of Homs, causing unspecified "material losses." Syria's state news agency reported that Syrian air defenses responded to the Israeli aggression. The Israel Defense Forces identified the missile launch and stated that it likely exploded mid-air. There were no special instructions for civilians following the incident, and no sirens sounded in Israel.
Roughly 200 Israeli Air Force reserve pilots have announced that they will not be reporting for their weekly flying session next week following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that the government will move forward with its plan to overhaul the judiciary, despite widespread public protest. The failure to report for weekly training sessions has serious implications because pilots who miss them are not certified to fly operational missions. The trend has sparked deep fears among the security establishment, which has warned Netanyahu that the IDF’s operational capacity is at risk.
