Early this morning, the IDF eliminated "dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel."
"The purpose of this [operation] is to target Hezbollah’s ability to function economically, both during the war but also afterward to rebuild and to rearm… on the day after," a senior Israeli intelligence official told reporters.
The strikes primarily targeted the Al-Qard al-Hassan Association, an unlicensed gray-market bank considered one of Hezbollah’s main sources of cash. The Association — which is sanctioned by the U.S. and has more than 30 official locations throughout Lebanon — is estimated to hold billions of dollars for Hezbollah and is used by the terror group to fund attacks and pay its terrorists' salaries.
Later in the day, IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari made a public statement on Hezbollah’s funding, including the resources it receives from Iran and the resources it steals from the Lebanese people. The IDF also published a 2.5-minute animated video on Hezbollah’s funding sources.
Hagari released newly declassified intelligence on a site that the IDF did not strike: A bunker underneath Al-Saleh Hospital in Beirut where Hezbollah is storing more than $500 million in gold and cash. You can watch Hagari’s full 5-minute briefing here.
Top IDF official in Lebanon for situational assessment
This weekend, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi joined commanders in southern Lebanon for a situational assessment, highlighting the significant success the IDF has achieved so far.
Halevi said that the IDF conservatively estimates 1,500 Hezbollah operatives have been killed since Israel stepped up its operations against the terror group last month, and more than 2,000 have been killed since Hezbollah started attacking Israel after October 7.
"We are very determined to hit Hezbollah as hard as possible. We have taken out their entire command layer," he told the commanders. "And you are taking out the local command structure."
Additionally, the IDF estimates that it has destroyed around 70% of Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal.
A new Axiosreport details Israel’s "sprawling decapitation operation" against Hezbollah and Hamas, which has "little precedent in modern history."
THAAD missile defense system "in place" in Israel
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today that the advanced THAAD missile defense system is now "in place" in Israel.
The announcement comes as Israel prepares to respond to Iran’s unprecedented ballistic missile attack on October 1.
Video of the Day: AIPAC interviews Israeli defense companies in D.C.
The U.S. Army just hosted its annual defense technology conference in Washington D.C., where the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship was on full display.
We visited the conference to learn more about the cutting-edge Israeli defense technology keeping Americans and Israelis safe.
Renewed pushes for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon
Senior American officials are in the region this week amid hopes for diplomatic agreements following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
White House senior envoy Amos Hochstein is in Beirut today to pursue a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hezbollah. The visit comes days after Israel gave the White House a list of Israeli conditions for ending the war with Hezbollah.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is departing for the Middle East today, including a stop in Israel tomorrow, as he seeks a broad hostage-ceasefire agreement. This will be Blinken’s 11th trip to the region since the October 7 attacks.
And Israel’s Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met with Egypt’s intelligence chief in Cairo yesterday for renewed hostage-ceasefire talks on Gaza.
House Appropriation Committee delegation in Israel
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), along with Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL), Ed Case (D-HI) and Mark Alford (R-MO), were in Israel today for a one-day congressional delegation.
The bipartisan delegation met with senior Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who discussed with the group "the importance of ongoing U.S. support and critical cooperation between our countries that will ensure Israel's defensive posture and the defeat of our common enemies, which are led by Iran."
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