ISRAEL / (IINO)
May 9, 2023 – Three high-ranking, veteran Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders were taken down in a major IDF operation in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, May 9. The organization’s entire military infrastructure was wiped out. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, announcing Defense and Arrow Operation, called up reserve forces as needed and placed the home front on “special status.” The prime minister called the security cabinet into session post factum at 1700 hours on Tuesday.
Traffic was halted south of Ashkelon as well as rail service to Sderot. The Home Command published special directives for the civilian population within range of the Gaza Strip in force until May 10. Shelters were opened in towns and schools shuttered. The new plan enabling the evacuation of civilians went into effect for the first time. All Gaza crossings were closed.
The operation was conducted by 40 fighter jets and attack helicopters in retaliation for last month’s 100-rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip that targeted neighboring Israeli locations, as well as striking at the roots of surging terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria, for which Israel holds the Islamic Jihad responsible. The Hamas terrorist group was informed it had been given a free pass this time.
Intelligence Brief Israel War Room
Wednesday, May 9 – After weeks of attacks, Israel launched a targeted strike that on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization in Gaza, taking out three senior leaders.
Israel’s political parties have united in support of the operation, which is focused on minimizing civilian casualties. Israel’s citizens in communities near Gaza are under severe restrictions due to the threat of a rocket response.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned of the threat of a multi-front war with Iran’s proxies. For now, Hamas is not involved in the violence.
Yesterday on May 8, 2023, after weeks of recurring rocket, mortar, and terrorist attacks on Israelis, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched “Operation Shield and Arrow,” a targeted strike that successfully eliminated several key leaders of PIJ’s military wing, the al-Quds brigade:
- Jihad Shaker al-Ghannam, secretary of the al-Quds Brigades’ Military Council
- Khalil Salah al-Bahtini, the commander of its Northern Region
- Tariq Mohammed Ezzedine, “one of the heads of military action” in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged that Israel is doing everything in its power to prevent civilian casualties. Some Palestinian civilian casualties have been reported.
The targeted IDF strikes have drawn broad support across Israel’s political spectrum, including from the key political leaders of the Center-Left camp, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz.
Due to the risk of a major rocket response, Israel’s Home Front Command issued restrictions to Israeli residents in Israeli communities adjacent to Gaza: for 48 hours following the launch of the operation,
- Crowds must be restricted to 10 in open spaces
- No more than 100 people in a building
- Work is only allowed in areas with bomb shelters
- No schools can be open
The PIJ terrorist group is a close proxy of Iran, and Israel continues to be prepared for a multi-front war orchestrated by Tehran.
“It’s clear that 95% of Israel’s security problems come from Iran,” Netanyahu explained at a conference of former senior defense officers.
“We are dealing with an attempt by Iran to start a multi-front campaign against us. My instruction to the IDF and security branches is to be prepared for a multi-front campaign…If we need to, we can do it.”
As of now, Hamas has stayed out of the current escalation. If they are wise, they will avoid engaging in violence that would necessitate a firm Israeli response.
WATCH: IS ISRAEL HEADED FOR A MULTI-FRONT WAR? [10:43] by Leah Rosenberg
April 27, 2023 – The threat of a coordinated multi-front war on Israel’s borders has long been one of the greatest fears of Israel’s Defense Ministry. Even before the State of Israel was established, the Arab countries living around and inside the Land of Israel threatened that they would all attack Israel if it declared itself a State. That is precisely what happened. Six Arab countries all fought against the fledgling State of Israel. Miraculously, though with great cost, the State of Israel was established following an exhausting war that lasted more than a year and a half.
Netanyahu: We’re in the midst of a campaign, don’t mess with us
PM addresses Operation Shield and Arrow during security Cabinet meeting.
May 9, 2023, 6:39 PM (GMT+3) – The political-security Cabinet convened this evening (Tuesday) to discuss Operation Shield and Arrow and the possibility that the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip will launch a significant response to the assassination of three Islamic Jihad leaders overnight.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting: “Last night we embarked on Operation Shield and Arrow. In a joint effort, the IDF and the Shin Bet eliminated the three senior members of the Islamic Jihad organization in the Gaza Strip. These murderers are responsible for firing rockets from Gaza into our territories and directing terrorism from Judea and Samaria against our citizens. On the day the rockets were fired last week, I and the Minister of Defense ordered our forces to prepare an operation to defeat the terrorist leaders, one which has actually amputated the organization’s leadership in the Gaza Strip.”
“Our working principle is incisive and clear: Whoever harms us will be harmed, and with greater force. Our long arm can reach every terrorist at the time and place of our choosing,” Netanyahu said. “We are in the midst of a campaign, and we are prepared for any eventuality. I suggest to our enemies – do not mess with us.”
Israel Kills Three Senior Members Of The Islamic Jihad Terror Group Roy Francis
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 – The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes into Gaza killing three senior members of the Islamic Jihad terror group in the region early on Tuesday morning.
IDF strikes in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/y4yghTK4DT
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) May 9, 2023
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they had targeted and killed Khalil Bahtini, the commander of the Islamic Jihad in Northern Gaza, Jahed Ahnam, a top official in the group’s military council, and Tarek Az Aldin, who directed the terror group’s activities in the West Bank from his base in Gaza.
BREAKING: Israel Defense Forces launched Operation “Shield and Arrow” in Gaza, eliminating 3 senior Islamic Jihad terrorists.
Communities in southern Israel were advised to stay near bomb shelters, and schools will be closed tomorrow.
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) May 9, 2023
The IDF said that Bahtini, 44, who had began his activities with the group, was the “group’s senior operational officer” and that he had close relations with the group’s senior political leadership. The Israeli Army also said that he was involved in planning terror attacks against Israel including suicide bombings, explosive attacks, rocket fire, and directing terror attacks in the West Bank.
[Ed.: Perhaps the poor shmucks will get their 72 virgins now?]
