Dear A.,
For the fifth night in the last eight days, millions of Israelis awoke in the middle of the night to air raid sirens as Iran-backed Houthi terrorists launched another ballistic missile at central Israel.
The U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system, and Israel's Arrow long-range anti-missile system, worked to track the incoming missile and shoot it down outside of Israeli airspace.
It marks the first time the American missile defense system has been used to protect the Jewish state since it was positioned in Israel in October — another remarkable demonstration of how a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and the work we do together helps save lives.
The 3:30 a.m. alarms were activated across the Greater Tel Aviv area and surrounding cities out of fear of falling shrapnel from the interception. Eighteen people were injured while rushing to bomb shelters.
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Dozens of Israeli jets struck Houthi forces in Yemen yesterday, including key infrastructure used by the terror group at Sana'a International Airport, along with power plants, the Hodeidah port, and other key energy and oil sites.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the IDF will hunt down the Houthi leadership and is "only getting started."
“We are determined to cut off this terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil. We will persist in this until we complete the job,” the prime minister said.
Watch footage of Israeli Air Force fighter jets taking off for the mission against the Houthis yesterday:
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Backed by Iran, the Houthis have spent the past year attacking the U.S. Navy, firing ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli citizens, and disrupting global shipping.
The Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year, according to the IDF.
The United States must continue to act to defend against Houthi attacks. America must lead the effort to interdict the flow of arms and money from Iran to the Houthis and the group must be redesignated as a foreign terrorist organization.
IDF operating against Hamas cell that turned hospital in northern Gaza into a command center
The IDF has begun targeted operations against a Hamas cell that hijacked the
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Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and has been using it as a staging ground to attack IDF troops and hide its fighters.
According to the IDF, the hospital has served as a Hamas stronghold since the onset of the war.
"Since the most recent targeted operation by the IDF and ISA in the area in October 2024, it has once again become a key stronghold for terrorist organizations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives. This is despite repeated calls by the IDF to refrain from exploiting the hospital for military activities," the IDF said.
"The targeted operations in the area are carried out while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel. Hamas systematically violates international law by abusing civilian infrastructure and the Gazan population as shields for its terrorist activities."
The IDF is coordinating with local officials and international organizations to evacuate patients from the area and mitigate harm to civilians.
This is yet another tragedy inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Iran-backed terror group Hamas, which despicably puts countless lives in danger and uses the most vulnerable population as shields for its terrorism.
83-year-old murdered in stabbing attack by Palestinian terrorist in Herzliya
Ludmila Lipovsky, an 83-year-old from Herzliya, was
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attacked and murdered today by a Palestinian terrorist from the West Bank.
Lipovsky had just left her assisted living facility and was waiting for a ride to a doctor's appointment when she was brutally murdered.
Security guards in the area shot the attacker, seriously wounding him and “neutralizing” him. He was then arrested by police.
Lipovsky was rushed by the Magen David Adom ambulance service to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, where doctors pronounced her dead.
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White House: Hamas remains the obstacle to a hostage deal
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there were no updates on ongoing hostage-ceasefire talks, but insisted that Hamas remains the obstacle to a deal.
"It is because of Hamas throwing up obstacles or refusing to move on any of these details that we are still not at a conclusion,” Kirby told the press today.
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Read more.
IDF confiscated 85,000 weapons in southern Lebanon since October
The IDF revealed today that since its operation to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and restore security to Israeli citizens, troops have confiscated
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85,000 weapons, missiles, and other military equipment belonging to Iran's terror proxy.
"Since October 2024," the military said, "IDF forces operated against Hezbollah in more than 30 areas across southern Lebanon. The troops identified and destroyed terrorist infrastructure, eliminated terrorists, and located and confiscated numerous weapons.
The confiscated weapons were used by Hezbollah to attack Israeli civilians and were intended to be deployed as part of Hezbollah’s 'Conquer the Galilee' invasion plan. Hezbollah’s military capabilities have been significantly degraded as a result of the IDF’s ground operations."
Below is drone video shared by the IDF showing the massive weapons arsenal seized by Israeli troops, which was meant to be used in an October 7th-style massacre in northern Israel:
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From darkness to light: Rockets and missiles turned into Hanukkah menorahs
An Iranian missile meant to cause mass death and destruction in Israel. Shrapnel from rockets launched by Iran-backed terror groups to kill and injure Israelis.
Once weapons of murder, these pieces of metal are now symbols of life, strength, and determination for the people of Israel to triumph over the enemies of peace and freedom.
Am Yisrael Chai!
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Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media throughout the weekend for the latest updates.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Cory Meyer
Director of Communications
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Support our work to keep Israel safe.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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