Barrage of 50 rockets fired at southern Israel; soldier killed in Gaza fighting

IDF chief said to warn Gaza military gains being eroded due to lack of plans for after the war

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks to the press, January 13, 2024. (Screenshot: Israel Defense Forces)

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has repeatedly warned the political leadership that the military gains achieved in the Gaza Strip could be eroded because there is no plan in place for a postwar Gaza, Channel 13 reports.

The unsourced report quotes Halevi as telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, “We face the erosion of our achievements up till now in the war because there is no strategy for the day after.”

“It is possible that we will have to go back into areas where we have already completed the fighting,” Halevi reportedly warned.

He is said to have repeated these warnings multiple times.

The IDF says it has completed its primary operations in northern Gaza and will soon end fighting in Khan Younis in the south.

The security cabinet has met several times to discuss plans for Gaza after the war, but no decisions have been made, with meetings dissolving amid bickering among ministers.

Officials say more than 50 rockets fired at Netivot area, largest barrage in weeks

More than 50 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at the southern city of Netivot, local authorities say.

In a statement to residents, the municipality says there are rocket impacts within the city, but no reports of injuries.

The attack on Netivot appears to be the largest rocket barrage from Gaza in several weeks.

המטח לדרום: כ-50 רקטות שוגרו מצפון רצועת עזה, פגיעה ישירה בחנות בנתיבותhttps://t.co/qQx6NFeKFF@bokeralmog pic.twitter.com/sVSDoTmGnf

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) January 16, 2024
 

Three armed drones shot down over US base in northern Iraq

Three armed drones are shot down over Erbil airport in northern Iraq, where US and other international forces are stationed, Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service says.

A statement from the service does not say if there were any casualties or damage to infrastructure as a result of the attack.

Rockets hit store in Netivot, warehouse in Givolim; no injuries reported

A rocket impact is reported in Netivot, following a barrage launched from the Gaza Strip at the southern city.

Images from the scene posted to social media show a damaged storefront.

Another rocket is reported to hit a warehouse in the adjacent community of Givolim, causing damage.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it has not received any reports of injuries.

Barrage of rockets fired at Netivot, 20 Iron Dome interceptions

A barrage of rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip at the southern city of Netivot.

Sirens sound in the city, as well as several nearby towns.

Footage posted to social media shows some 20 interceptions by the Iron Dome air defense system over the city.

It marks one of the largest rocket barrages from Gaza in several weeks, as the rate of fire has slowed significantly amid the IDF’s ground operation.

Hospitals say four victims of Ra’anana attack still in serious condition

Israeli security forces work at the site of a Palestinian car-ramming and stabbing attack at a bus stop, in Ra’anana Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Nine of the victims of yesterday’s terror attack in Ra’anana are still hospitalized at Beilinson Hospital, Meir Medical Center, and Ichilov Hospital, including four in serious condition after surgery, the hospitals say.

This is in addition to the seven children hospitalized at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, announced earlier, including a 16-year-old boy in serious condition.

At Beilinson, a man in his 60s is reported to be slightly more stable but is still in critical condition. A man in his 30s underwent orthopedic surgery during the night and is in serious but stable condition. Both men are sedated and intubated. A woman who was mildly injured is expected to be discharged today.

Two of the victims at Meir, a man and woman, are still in serious condition. Another man is in moderate condition and a woman is suffering from light injuries.

The two male victims at Ichilov underwent orthopedic surgery. One had complicated breaks in his thigh bone, and the other a badly broken elbow.

Iraq condemns Iran’s ‘aggression’ on Erbil, will take legal measures 

This image taken from video provided by Rudaw TV shows smoke rising from a building hit by a strike in Erbil, Iraq, January 16, 2024. (Rudaw TV via AP)

Iraq condemns Iran’s “aggression” in Erbil that led to civilian casualties in residential areas, according to a statement by the Iraqi foreign ministry, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked Israel’s “spy headquarters” in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The Iraqi government will take all legal measures against these actions, which are considered a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the security of its people, including filing a complaint at the United Nations Security Council, the statement says.

IDF names Yossi Sharabi as hostage whose life it has fears for after Hamas propaganda video

Yossi Sharabi, taken captive by Hamas terrorists when they waged an assault on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)

Yossi Sharabi, 53, is named as the second Hamas-held hostage whose life the military has concerns for.

Last night, the IDF said it had notified the families of two hostages several days ago that it had concerns regarding their fates in the Gaza Strip.

It named one as Itay Svirsky, while the family of the second hostage had not yet allowed his name to be published.

The IDF now names the second as Sharabi.

The announcement comes after Hamas published several clips showing hostages Svirsky, Sharabi, and Noa Argamani. The latest propaganda video, published Monday evening, raised concerns regarding the possible death of Svirsky and Sharabi. Argamani is believed by the IDF to be alive.

7 children still hospitalized after Ra’anana terror attack; boy, 16, in serious condition

The scene of a terror attack in Ra’anana, on January 15, 2024. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Schneider Children’s Medical Center says seven children wounded in yesterday’s car-ramming and stabbing terror attack in Ra’anana are still hospitalized.

Among the wounded is a 16-year-old boy who remains in serious condition and is being treated in the intensive care unit, where he is sedated and on a ventilator.

The other six are being treated in surgical wards and their conditions range from good to moderate, the hospital says.

A woman was killed and 17 people were injured in the attack carried out by two Palestinian terrorists from the West Bank.

IDF airstrike hits Hezbollah missile launcher

The IDF says it carried out an airstrike overnight against a Hezbollah anti-tank guided missile launcher in southern Lebanon’s Kafr Kila.

Also overnight, special forces struck a target in Ayta ash-Shab to “remove a threat,” the IDF says.

A suspected drone infiltration alarm that sounded in northern Israel this morning was a false alarm, the IDF adds.