Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari- September 21, 2024

Good week,
In the past hour, we have been striking extensively in southern Lebanon, following detection of Hezbollah preparing to fire toward Israeli territory. Dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft are currently striking terrorist targets and rocket launchers to remove the threat to Israeli civilians.
We are methodically targeting and degrading Hezbollah’s launching capabilities, eliminating commanders and terrorists, as we did throughout the day. Overall, today we struck approximately 400 Hezbollah launchers, including thousands of rocket launcher barrels.

In accordance with the situational assessment and our operations, in the last few minutes, the Minister of Defense signed a special order for the home front. We are taking all necessary precautions, and this evening, we are updating the Home Front defensive guidelines from the Haifa area northwards to “Level 2.” This means that from Haifa northwards, educational and work activities can continue in locations where it is possible to reach a protected space within the required time. Gatherings are permitted indoors for up to 300 people and outdoors for up to 30 people. Full instructions can be found on the Home Front Command website.

If there are any further updates overnight or in the morning, we will notify immediately. Rockets and other threats may be launched toward Israeli territory in the near future. We ask you to strictly follow the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines.
We are in the midst of a time of warfare, so it is important to remain vigilant and alert. I will update you immediately here and on official platforms regarding any changes to the defensive guidelines.

Yesterday, in a targeted strike in Beirut, we eliminated Ibrahim Aqil, Head of Hezbollah's Operations Unit, along with 15 commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit. They had gathered in the heart of the Dahieh neighborhood in Beirut, under the cover of the civilian population. They met to plan terror attacks and infiltrations into Israeli territory, but we knew where they were, and preempted them - eliminating them in a precise and powerful operation conducted by the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force.

We are prepared for what’s next and are in a very high state of readiness both offensively and defensively. IAF aircraft are armed and ready to strike anywhere, and our aerial defense systems are deployed and on high alert to intercept threats.

In Gaza, we continue operating to dismantle Hamas' military wing. We have not forgotten, even for a moment, the hostages, and we are doing everything possible to bring them home.

This evening, we updated the families of Hersh, Eden, Ori, Alex, Almog, and Carmel, may their memories be a blessing, that we eliminated two terrorists who had held them hostage in a tunnel in the Rafah area. The day after the hostages were murdered, troops from the 162nd Division identified two terrorists emerging from an underground tunnel shaft in the Tel al-Sultan area and eliminated them during an encounter. After investigating the findings from the tunnel and equipment on the terrorists, we found DNA evidence and several items belonging to the terrorists we eliminated. Based on the findings and the information available to us, these terrorists that were eliminated were the same terrorists who were in the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were discovered. The findings show they were there when they were murdered and we are investigating their involvement in the murder. Should we obtain further information, we will first update the families and then the public. We will pursue and reach everyone responsible for this heinous murder, and we will not stop until we reach them all.