Dear A.,

Today, IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi revealed a massive and sophisticated underground Hezbollah compound in southern Lebanon.

Built under a Lebanese village, the compound can house an entire military company — equipped with bathrooms, showers and kitchens — and was stocked with an arsenal of weapons, including rifles, ammunition and explosives. It was over 130-feet deep in some areas.

"From here, they could have invaded Israel," Halevi said. You can watch Halevi’s full video here:

As a Times of Israel reporter who toured the compound said, "calling the passages tunnels fails to capture the scale of the subterranean system."

"This isn’t a 'tunnel,' it’s an underground combat site, extremely significant, which the enemy constructed over years for the purpose of an invasion of Israel — we estimate targeting the northern towns," added Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, the commander of the 98th Division.

"We caught this in time, before it was too late, and this infrastructure must not return here in future generations," Halevi said.

"Our task over the years to come will be to make sure that no new [infrastructure] is built — that is no less important," he added.

Israel’s Iron Beam laser system expected to be operational next year

The director general of Israel’s Defense Ministry said the Iron Beam — a high-powered laser interception system — is expected to be operational in a year, after the IDF signed a $535 million contract to produce the system.

The Iron Beam will work in tandem with Israel’s other missile defense systems, like Iron Dome, to take out smaller projectiles and drones at a lower cost per interception. 

AIPAC successfully lobbied Congress this year to provide $1.2 billion in security assistance to help Israel develop this game-changing and life-saving technology.

Israel passes law outlawing UNRWA

Today, Israel’s Knesset passed two bills to block UNRWA from operating in Israel and prevent Israeli officials from working with the U.N. agency tied to Hamas. The bills passed 92-10.

Since October 7, it has become clear how deep UNRWA’s ties to terrorism are and that the problems with UNRWA are grave and systemic, not just a matter of a few bad actors.

As Knesset member and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz said last week, "UNRWA chose to make itself an inseparable component of Hamas’ mechanism — and now is the time to detach ourselves entirely from it."

AIPAC supports efforts in Congress to prevent U.S. funding from going to UNRWA.

Read this AIPAC memo on why UNRWA is an obstacle to peace that must be replaced.

Iran, Russia, China strengthen ties

U.S. adversaries Iran, Russia and China are strengthening their ties to undermine American interests and American allies.

At the BRICS summit in Russia last week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and pledged, "No matter how the international and regional situation evolves, China will unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with Iran." Pezeshkian committed "to work with China to continue firmly supporting each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and opposing hegemony and bullying."

Meanwhile, Russia is helping the Iranian-backed Houthis launch attacks at Israel, U.S. Navy vessels, and international shipping. Moscow has already provided the Houthis with small arms and targeting data, including Russian satellite reports to help the terror group target international ships. U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Moscow is considering providing more advanced missiles as well.

'Song for the Hostages'

John Ondrasik, known by his stage name Five for Fighting, released a song today "for every hostage and hostage family, for those we pray are still alive and for those whose memory we mourn."

In a Washington Post op-ed on the song, Ondrasik writes, "In this divisive time, there is one issue all Americans should agree on: That our hostages should not be forgotten. That every ounce of military, political and diplomatic effort be made to secure their release."

You can listen to the song here.

Continue to follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Sincerely,

Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications