Israel At War Monday Sept 23

Israel at war day 353

- Tonight nonstop sirens in the north from incoming rockets in the Galil region Jeezreel Valley and Afula reports of a direct hit in a Arab village near Nazareth. Magen David Adom  says paramedics are treating a number of people hurt while running for shelter or who are suffering shock, after apparent rocket fire set off sirens in communities across the north.

- The United States is presenting “concrete” ideas to ease the crisis in Lebanon, a US official says, while voicing opposition to any Israeli ground invasion to target Hezbollah.

- Former CIA director Leon Panetta called Israel's targeted pager attack on Hezbollah terrorists last week "a form of terrorism" in an interview on CBS on Sunday. 

- Missile in the attic: IDF releases photos of Hezbollah munitions in Lebanese homes

Army shows long-range missile on a launcher in a family’s attic, notes secondary explosions after airstrikes.

- Lufthansa  and Swiss Air cancel flights to Israel until mid October

- Iranian Foreign Minister: "We will not remain indifferent and will stand by the Palestinian and Lebanese people."

 - Netanyahu in the Cabinet Meeting: "Everyone is in the crosshairs." 

- The Pentagon announces that the US will immediately deploy additional forces to the Middle East due to the escalation between Israel and Lebanon.

- Lebanese Sources have now confirmed that Ali Karaki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front and one of the last remaining Members of Hezbollah’s Military High-Chain of Command, was Eliminated by an Israeli Airstrike tonight on the Capital of Beirut.

- The Israeli security establishment estimates that 50% of Hezbollah's rocket/missile capabilities have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war. Most of the damage was done in the last two days (Hillel Biton Rosen)

- IDF: We have attacked over 1,100 targets using over 1,400 weapons. 650 attack sorties were carried out in the last day alone. Rockets, missiles, launchers, and UAVs were targeted. The Air Force continues to attack hundreds of targets in Lebanon even during these 

- Another massive wave of IDF strikes all over Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley. Reports of "fire belts" being used in various locations. According to IDF estimates, most of Hezbollah's long-range rockets are stored in the Bekaa region

- Lebanon death toll 275 dead and 1024 wounded from IDF strikes so far. Lebanese official to Reuters: "The death toll in today's attacks is the highest since the end of the [Lebanese] Civil War in 1990."

- Heavy barrage of Hezbollah rockets towards Yokneam and Emek Yizrael in the galil Chaifa suburbs and Palestinian villages in the west bank he IDF assessment is that these launches are from areas where the IDF is currently operating (Bekaa Valley) to use them before they are eliminated.

- This morning, the IDF launched a large-scale wave of strikes against Hezbollah terror targets. So far, dozens of Air Force fighter jets have attacked 800 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley deep in Lebanon in several waves."

- So, what exactly is happening today in Lebanon? For years, Hezbollah rented ground floors in houses in Shia villages in Lebanon. Every homeowner who agreed - received a monthly stipend for years. Each floor was turned into a hangar with cruise missiles, heavy rockets, etc. For years, Israeli intelligence quietly and systematically mapped the houses. Today, the IDF intends to “redeem” this bank of targets in one operation. (Raylan Givens)

- Massive IDF air strikes on Lebanon, more than 500 strikes so far. Lebanese Ministry of Health has updated: 100 dead and more than 400 injured in the wave of attacks

- Following the instructions of the IDF spokesman this morning, the residents of southern Lebanon are fleeing to the north en masse. The roads are congested; the traffic is not flowing.

- Israeli residents in the north are told to stay close to protected rooms and shelters. Hezbollah fired rockets into the Tzfas and kindred areas most falling in open areas. A direct hit to a home in Gan Avnei but the residents were in shelter and unharmed.

- IDF Spokesman in Arabic, Col. Avihai Adrai: "An urgent warning to the residents of the villages in Lebanon: if you are in or near a building that Hezbollah uses to store weapons or munitions, you must evacuate that building and stay away from it immediately. Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives or a weapon of the organization puts himself in danger."

- Unnamed intelligence officials tell Army Radio they believe that recent messages attributed to Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar were written by someone other than the terror leader.

-"It is entirely possible that the IDF will need to enter Lebanon on the ground," Former Commander of the IDF General Staff Corps, Major-General (Res.) Gershon HaCohen said on Monday.