IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi assessed that Israeli strikes “had a decisive impact on preventing the entrenchment of Iranian forces in Syria, on preventing the establishment of Hizbollah forces in the southern Golan Heights, on preventing enemy intensification with advanced weapons systems, and on the direct and immediate thwarting of threats to infiltrate Israel”.

Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be jeopardised in the name of fighting terrorism.… All occupying and uninvited foreign forces, including those of the U.S., must leave the country immediately and without any conditions”. He further denounced Israel’s “repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, urging the Council to hold Israel “accountable for such acts of aggression and malice, as well as its blatant threats to use force against other regional countries”.

During a visit to Damascus, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian conferred with President Bashar al-Assad on, inter alia, “the expansion of economic cooperation” and also hailed “the trend of the normalisation of ties between regional countries and Syria”, while highlighting that “as for regional tensions, the Islamic Republic opposes any war and supports resolution of disputes through dialogue and political means”.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie indicated that “I do worry about… [military] exchanges between Iran and Israel because many times, our forces are at risk, whether we’re in Iraq or in Syria”.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie described Iran as “the greatest single day-to-day threat to regional security and stability”, noting that “the risk of miscalculation and escalation remains high because of Iran's strategic calculation that it can simultaneously and discretely engage in diplomacy with and a proxy campaign against the U.S.”. McKenzie's statement to a Senate committee further addressed the role of Iran and Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted missile strikes near Damascus, killing two and causing material damage. The following day, Iran announced the death of two IRGC members in the attack, warning that Israel would “pay the price of this atrocity”. On 10 March, Iran’s UN ambassador told the Security Council that “Iran reserves its inherent right to self-defence… to respond to such criminal act whenever it deems appropriate”.

Iran’s UN ambassador told the Security Council that “the fight against terrorism cannot be used as an excuse to undermine Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The illegal presence of foreign forces in parts of Syria which has provided favorable conditions for terrorist activities in Syria, must end immediately”. The Iranian diplomat further denounced Israel’s “repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity… We call on the Security Council to hold this regime accountable for such acts of aggression and its malign activities as well as its open threats to use force against other regional countries”. The following day, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, met with his Syrian counterpart.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted “an aerial aggression with bursts of missiles” against sites near Damascus, killing three soldiers and causing material damages.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched surface-to-surface missiles against “areas in the vicinity of Quneitra… causing material damages”.

The Israeli military reported intercepting “a Hizbollah drone that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli airspace”, and in a second incident downed a drone launched by Hamas in Gaza.  

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression with a number of ground-to-ground missiles”, causing material damages near Damascus.

Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “we now possess the ability to transform our thousands of rockets into precision-guided missiles… We started that years ago and converted a large number of our missiles into precision-guided ones, so we do not need to bring them from Iran”. “We have been producing drones in Lebanon for a long time”, he added. Nasrallah further noted that Israel “tries throughout its aggression in Syria to prevent the reach of precision-guided weapons to the resistance in Lebanon. I tell the Israelis that what they call a ‘battle between wars’ has turned the threat into an opportunity for the resistance”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid underscored that “there’s a good mechanism with… the Russians in Syria. Israel, as usual, will operate as it sees fit to protect its security in all theaters, and will not accept long-term Iranian presence on its northern border”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched airstrikes and surface-to-surface fire against targets near Damascus, killing one soldier and injuring five. Syrian air defences were activated and the Israeli military confirmed that “an anti-aircraft missile was launched from Syria and exploded mid-air”, in response to which the IDF “struck surface-to-air missile targets in Syria, including radar and anti-aircraft batteries”.

President Biden announced that “we have taken off the battlefield… the leader of ISIS” as the result of a military operation in north-western Syria.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson reaffirmed that “we continue to believe that now is not the time for normalisation [with Syria under Assad]. Now continues to be the time for accountability for the atrocities of the regime”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression with bursts of missiles… targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus”, causing “material damage”. Unconfirmed accounts claimed that “Hizbollah positions, outposts and weapon depots” were targeted.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett remarked that “we and the Americans don’t see everything eye to eye… A deal that will send tens of billions of dollars to this rotten and weak regime will be a mistake”. “We think Iran is in a difficult situation”, Bennett added. “They’re very weak, and we must not give them a tailwind of money, and we relay this message. But the Israeli strategy doesn’t depend on whether there’s an agreement or not… Even if there is an agreement, we’re not committed to it”. The prime minister went on to describe two objectives for Israel’s strategy: “to roll back Iran’s regional influence… [and] keep Iran significant far from nuclear breakout forever”.

The U.S.’s UN envoy told the Security Council that Washington’s goals in Syria included “sustaining the U.S. and Coalition campaign to prevent the resurgence of ISIS… [and] to support a political process, one led by the Syrian people, as envisioned and agreed by this Council in Resolution 2254”. During the same session, Iran’s ambassador maintained that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria continues to be seriously violated either through the occupation of parts of the country or by the aggression of the Israeli regime and the terrorists… While the Syrian crisis has no military solution, it cannot also come to an end without ending its occupation, restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity and confronting the threat of terrorism”.

The Israeli military reported that IDF tanks had “fired shells aimed at chasing away... suspects” near the Syrian border.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression with a wave of missiles… targeting the container yard at the commercial port in Latakia”, causing “significant material damages”. Unconfirmed accounts claimed that “two members of a pro-regime militia were killed” and three others injured. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, without commenting on the incident, affirmed that “Israel will not allow Iran to stream game-changing weapons to its proxies and to threaten our citizens”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the attack.

Israel’s military chief of staff assessed that “the increase in the scope of operations over the past year has led to a significant disruption of all smuggling routes into various arenas by our enemies… But we still have a long way to go to complete our goals in this arena”.

An Iranian diplomat told the Security Council that it “must compel the Israeli regime to end the occupation of the Syrian Golan and also stop immediately its aggressions against Syria”, adding: “all occupying and uninvited foreign forces must leave that country without any precondition or further delay”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli “aerial aggression through launching waves of missiles… targeting some sites in the southern region”, killing one and causing material damage.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assessed that “since Donald Trump made the decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018, Hizbollah has continued to menace Lebanon and the region. Iran’s proxies in Iraq and Syria and Yemen have continued to move forward. So, not being in the nuclear deal has hardly been a solution to the proxy”. He further asserted that “nothing about the nuclear deal stops the U.S.’s capacity to deal with those proxies. And we are prepared to do so”, adding: “ultimately, an Iran with a nuclear weapon is going to be a greater menace in partnerships with its proxies than Iran without one. And so it is our determination to ensure they never get a nuclear weapon, and diplomacy is the best way forward”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had fired “several missiles… targeting the container yards at the commercial port of Latakia”. In subsequent remarks, Prime Minister Bennett, while not addressing the incident specifically, asserted: “we’re pushing back on the bad forces of this region, day and night… This happens almost daily. In the face of destructive forces, we will continue to act, we will be persistent and we will not tire”.

The U.S. designated “two Syrian Air Force officers responsible for chemical weapons attacks on civilians, and three Syrian intelligence officers in Syria’s repressive security and intelligence apparatus”.  

Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian met with his Syrian counterpart and noted “the need for special focus on promoting economic and trade relations”. He further denounced “the Zionist [ie, Israeli] regime’s aggression against Syria”, and charachterised “the military presence of foreign forces without coordination with and permission from the Syrian government as a source of insecurity in the region, particularly in Syria”. The Syrian minister also met with President Raisi, who asserted that “comprehensive planning should be done to develop and deepen relations”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched “a wave of missiles… targeting some posts in the central region”, resulting in two fatalities, seven injuries and material damages.

Calling Iran “Israel’s single most significant enemy”, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett maintained that “Iran is further along in its nuclear program than ever before and its enrichment machine is more advanced and broader… Iran has also been consistently and persistently successful in encircling Israel in rings of militias and rockets from every direction”. Bennett proceeded to lay out four conclusions from a review of Israel’s Iran policy, and, positing that “we are at a significant point in this battle – Israel vs Iran”, asserted: “even if there is a return to the JCPOA, Israel obviously is not a party to the agreement and is not obligated by it… We will maintain our freedom of action”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched “two missiles… targeting an empty building south of Damascus”, adding: “one of the hostile missiles was downed, and no losses were reported”.

On the sideline of a military drill in northern Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted that “we are surrounded by security challenges and the goal is to utilise periods of relative quiet to build up strength”, adding: “we are dealing with Iran and its proxies, in Lebanon and Syria. It does not matter what occurs between Iran and the major powers. We are concerned by the fact that there is not enough firmness in the face of the Iranian violations; Israel will defend itself, by itself”. Speaking alongside Bennett, Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “the world needs to take action against Iran, and Israel needs to continue to do what it needs to on all fronts in general, and on the northern front in particular”.

The U.S. State Department underscored that “terrorist groups like ISIS in Syria directly threaten U.S. national security and the Syrian people. The U.S. remains committed to the military mission against ISIS. We will maintain our mission in Syria until the threat posed by the terrorist group is eliminated”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz maintained that “on an operational level, we are acting extensively. We won’t allow Hizbollah and other Iranian proxies in the area to be equipped with weaponry that will harm Israel’s [military] superiority in the region”. Relatedly, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, told Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that “the IDF will continue to act to remove threats and will respond forcefully to any violation of [Israeli] sovereignty, in Gaza or in the north”, adding: “[the army] is accelerating operational planning and preparedness to deal with Iran and the military nuclear threat”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted airstrikes against “a number of posts in the [country’s] central and coastal” regions, injuring two. Unconfirmed accounts claim the targets were “Iranian-controlled weapons caches”. The Russian army later confirmed that “the Israeli air force… launched eight guided missiles at logistical and military support facilities of the Syrian armed forces in the Homs governorate. Syrian air defence units destroyed six of those missiles using Russian-made… air defence systems”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression with a number of missiles… targeting one of the posts in [the] Damascus countryside”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “fired a salvo of surface-to-surface missiles from northern occupied Palestine targeting positions near Damascus”, injuring two. Unconfirmed accounts said the target had been a weapons convoy, and put the toll at five fatalities.

Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “the occupation of parts of Syria by foreign forces must come to an end... all occupying and uninvited foreign forces must leave that country without any precondition or further delay”. He further urged the Council to “compel the Israeli regime to end the occupation of the Syrian Golan and also stop immediately its aggressions against Syria”. The official also denounced “in the strongest terms” the killing of a former Syrian lawmaker, which he attributed to Israel, “as well as all violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria by the Israeli regime”, noting “Syria’s inherent right to self-defence and to respond at a time and place of its choosing”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted an “aggression on the southern region”, which unconfirmed reports speculated had been targeting Syrian military or allied facilities in Quneitra province. A Syrian foreign ministry source denounced the attack and underscored Damascus’s “right and ability to respond”.

Meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett indicated that the two would “discuss the situation in Syria and, of course, our efforts to halt the Iranian military nuclear program”. An Israeli minister accompanying the prime minister subsequently stated that Bennett had “presented his world view on ways to stop Iran’s nuclear drive and Iran’s entrenchment in Syria”, adding that “it was decided to keep policies vis-a-vis Russia in place [regarding airstrikes in Syrian territory]”. 

The Syrian government accused Israel of killing a former Syrian lawmaker who headed the cabinet’s Golan portfolio.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that “keeping violence down; increasing humanitarian assistance and focusing our military efforts on any terrorist groups that pose a threat to us or to our partners, with the intent and capacity to do that… are going to be the critical areas of focus for us, and they’re also, I think, important to advancing a broader political settlement to the Syrian conflict consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. He further noted that “what we have not done and what we do not intend to do is to express any support for efforts to normalise relations or rehabilitate Mr. Assad, or lifted a single sanction on Syria or changed our position to oppose the reconstruction of Syria until there is irreversible progress toward a political solution”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes near Palmyra, which according to an unnamed military source killed one soldier and injured three. Iran-linked forces in Syria confirmed “a number” of casualties and said that had “taken a decision to respond to this attack… and the response will be very cruel”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted that “Iran, which has dispatched proxies and built armies to surround the State of Israel, aspires to build yet another army on the border of the Golan Heights. We will continue to act wherever and whenever necessary, at our initiative, and on a daily basis, in order to roll up the Iranian presence in Syria. They have nothing to look for there”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian visited Damascus and met with President Bashar al-Assad and other senior Syrian officials. During his trip, Amirabdollahian asserted that “our ties with Syria are strategic and we are trying to expand our cooperation with the country in all fields. Syria is on the path of development and progress, and on this path, Iran will strongly stand by Damascus, as it did during the war on terrorists”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes at the T-4 base near Homs, and cited an unnamed military source saying that “six soldiers were injured in the aggression which also caused material damages”.  

Iran’s UN ambassador told the Security Council that “occupation of parts of Syria by foreign forces must come to an end. Accordingly, all uninvited foreign forces must leave that country without any precondition or further delay”. He further maintained that “the Security Council must live up to its responsibility and compel the Israeli regime to put an immediate end to its acts of aggression against sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria”, adding: “such adventuristic practices, which we condemn in the strongest terms, constitute flagrant violations of international law, threatening regional and international peace and security”.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told the UN General Assembly that “Israel is, quite literally, surrounded by Hizbollah, Shiite militias, Islamic Jihad and Hamas... And they’re all backed by Iran. They get their funding from Iran, they get their training from Iran, and they get their weapons from Iran”. Bennett also said that “just this year, Iran made operational a new deadly terror unit — swarms of killer UAVs armed with lethal weapons that can attack any place any time… Iran plans to arm its proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon with hundreds and then thousands of these deadly drones”.

Hizbollah reported that “the second ship delivering diesel oil from the Islamic Republic [of Iran] docked in [Syria’s] Banias Port”.

The Israeli military confirmed that one its drones had crashed “due to a technical malfunction” in the course of “routine operational activity” in Syria.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid contended that “there won’t be stability in Syria, or in the wider Middle East, while there is an Iranian presence… [Israel] will not sit quietly by while Iran builds terror bases on our northern border or while Iran supplies advanced weapons to terror organisations”.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi maintained that “a significant chunk of the boost to the defence budget” related to “greatly accelerated” planning for operations targeting Iran’s nuclear program, adding: “It’s a very complicated job, with much more intelligence, much more operational capabilities, much more armaments. We’re working on all these things”. He also indicated that the Israeli military’s priority was “minimising Iranian presence in the Middle East, with an emphasis on Syria. But these operations take place throughout the Middle East. They’re also against Hamas, against Hizbollah”. “[Israeli strikes] greatly diminished Iran’s presence and weaponry in the northern arena, certainly in comparison to what they sought”, Kohavi asserted, also noting that the IDF had been “very active in disrupting the smuggling routes of Hizbollah, of Hamas, of Iran, in all regions”.

Syrian state media reported an Israeli airstrike targeting the vicinity of Damascus. The IDF subsequently indicated that debris from a Syrian surface-to-air missile had fallen in Israeli territory, and according to local media the Israeli Air Force targeted its Syrian point of origin.

Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian visited Syria and met with senior officials including President Bashar al-Assad. According to a Syrian readout, the two conferred on, inter alia, “steps… to enhance bilateral cooperation with the aim of reaching a higher level of partnerships at various levels, particularly in the economic and trade fields, in a way that enables the two peoples to continue facing the repercussions of the blockade and sanctions imposed on the two countries”.

Syria state media reported “an Israeli missile aggression on the surroundings of Damascus and Homs cities”.

Syria state media reported what it claimed were Israeli missile strikes around Quneitra.

The Israeli military reported that one of its drones suffered a “technical malfunction” and crashed while undertaking “routine activities” in Syrian territory.

The U.S. announced that it had “applied the measures authorised in Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act” against, inter alia, Kataeb Hizbollah, Asaeb Ahl al-Haq and Lebanese Hizbollah.

The Israeli military reported that “three rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel. Two rockets landed in Israel”. In response, the IDF conducted artillery strikes against “targets along the Lebanese border”, and underscored that “the Lebanese government is responsible for all attacks from Lebanon”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently maintained that “our actions overnight were meant to send a clear message that we will not accept such attacks. I hope we are not forced into further action”. “Lebanon is in a state of chaos caused in a large extend by the Hizbollah terror group”, he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted: “regarding the ship and the Iranian issue in general: We are working on enlisting the world but at the same time, we also know how to act alone. Iran already knows the price that we exact when someone threatens our security. The Iranians need to understand that it is impossible to sit peacefully in Tehran and from there ignite the entire Middle East”. “Against Iran, speeches are not enough”, Bennett added.

The U.S. designated “eight Syrian prisons run by the Assad regime’s intelligence apparatus… and five senior security officials of regime entities that control these detention facilities”. It also blacklisted “Syrian armed group Ahrar al-Sharqiya… [and] two of the group’s leaders”.

A Russian military official reported that Syrian air defences had intercepted two Israeli strikes against targets in Damascus governate.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missile strikes near Homs.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes near Aleppo. The Israeli army subsequently confirmed that “two rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel”, which was followed by Israeli artillery fire into Lebanon. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that “we will not allow harm to Israel’s sovereignty and security. Whoever tries to harm us will pay a painful price”. He further contended that “Lebanon is on the verge of collapse, like any country in which Iran bases itself… Its citizens were taken hostage by Khamenei and Nasrallah for the sake of Iranian interests”. “This is unfortunate, but we will not accept a spillover of the situation in Lebanon into Israel”, he added.

The U.S. along with eighteen countries, the League of Arab States and the European Union jointly reiterated “strong support for UN-led efforts to implement all aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including continued support for an immediate nation-wide ceasefire, the unimpeded and safe delivery of aid, and the Constitutional Committee, as well as fighting against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. Emphasising “the unity and territorial integrity of Syria”, they expressed commitments “to continue working actively to reach a credible, sustainable and inclusive political solution based on Resolution 2254”.

The foreign ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS issued a joint statement expressing their commitment “to strengthening cooperation across all Coalition lines of effort in order to ensure that Daesh/ISIS Core in Iraq and Syria”. On Iraq, they deplored “the continuing attacks against Coalition personnel and convoys, and diplomatic facilities, emphasising the importance of the Government of Iraq protecting Coalition assets”, while hailing “the incremental expansion of NATO’s non-combat advisory, training and capacity building mission”. Regarding Syria, the ministers backed “a lasting political settlement in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254”, while noting that “the Coalition continues to support inclusive local recovery and stabilisation in areas liberated from Daesh/ISIS and reconciliation and reintegration efforts to foster conditions conducive to a Syria-wide political resolution to the conflict under the parameters of UN Security Council Resolution 2254”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we wish for peace and calm, but we are willing to use our full capabilities should we be required on any front, including the Lebanese front. Attempts to sabotage the quiet on our borders have not gone unnoticed, and we are opening our eyes and acting routinely, and we are prepared for extensive activities even in an emergency”. President Rivlin, too, indicated that “we know the threat is still grave... We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to continue to grow stronger with Iranian support and arm itself with weapons whose only purpose is to harm the State of Israel’s Homefront”. He further reiterated that “Israel will not allow Iran to establish itself in Lebanon. The State of Israel will not allow Iran to send its satellite states here, to the Middle East”.

Media reports indicated that the Israeli military had “struck a Syrian outpost near the city of Quneitra” with tank fire.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression from the Lebanese airspace against some targets in the central and southern regions”.

An Israeli military spokesperson reported that the IDF had “destroyed a forward observation post of the Syrian army that was set up in an Israeli area west of the Alfa line in the Golan Heights”, asserting that Israel would not “tolerate any attempt to violate [its] sovereignty”.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Iran’s envoy called for preserving “the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria through ending the occupation of its territory including the occupied Syrian Golan, withdrawing of all uninvited foreign forces from that country, ceasing to support any separatist tendencies or illegitimate self-rule initiatives and preventing the violation of Syrian sovereignty particularly by acts of aggression of the Israeli regime”.

A Pentagon spokesperson underscored that “nothing’s changed about the [U.S.’s] mission in Syria, which is about counter-ISIS operations, in keeping with the work that the coalition has been doing since 2014. It is certainly a small presence, less than 1,000”. He also indicated that “we as a government would simply urge all actors act in such a way inside Syria so as to not contribute more to the instability, the insecurity and rather in fact contribute to a peaceful political outcome”.

The Israeli military indicated that “six rockets were… fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, all of which fell inside Lebanon. In response, our artillery forces fired toward the sources of the launches”. An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as saying that “a small Palestinian faction… was responsible”. The following day, the IDF reported intercepting “a UAV [which had] approached the Israeli border near the Jordan Valley”.

The Israeli military reported that “IDF tanks fired warning shots toward a number of rioters who crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The suspects sabotaged the fence and set a fire in the area before returning to Lebanese territory”. Media reports noted one Lebanese fatality who was identified as a Hizbollah member, and President Aoun “strongly condemned the crime committed by Israeli forces”. Later in the day, the IDF indicated that “three rockets were... fired from Syria toward Israel, one of which fell in Syria”. 

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with his Syrian counterpart and discussed, inter alia, “Tehran’s support for the Syrian nation and government against the inauspicious phenomena of extremism and terrorism”; Zarif also posited that U.S. sanctions were “depriving the Iranian and Syrian people of [the] COVID-19 vaccine”. According to an Iranian readout, the Syrian official “appreciated Iran’s support for the people and government of Syria, and underlined the necessity of the two countries’ cooperation”. Zarif also met President Bashar al-Assad and noted the “role that can be played… by pioneering countries behind the Axis of Resistance” in supporting the Palestinian cause, and updated Assad regarding “the latest developments in the Vienna nuclear talks… as well as the regional movements of the Islamic Republic of Iran in relations with other countries in the region”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted an air strike near Quneitra, injuring one person.

Syrian state media reported that a “technical fault” resulted in a fire aboard an oil tanker off the Syrian coast.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had conducted air strikes near Quneitra.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “launched an aerial aggression… targeting some positions in the coastal region”, killing one person and injuring six.  

Discussing Iran-Israel tensions, CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie stressed that “it is not our desire to have a war with Iran. And we would hope it is not their desire to have a war with us… There is a low-level conflict that’s being fought out across the theater. But we do not intend to enter that conflict”.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen maintained that “a bad deal [with Iran] will send the region spiraling into war… Anyone seeking short-term benefits should be mindful of the longer-term”. He further asserted that “Israel will not allow Iran to attain nuclear arms. Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our planes can reach everywhere in the Middle East - and certainly Iran”. Relatedly, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. underlined that “the freedom of action of Israel to prevent Iran from becoming an existential threat is a freedom of action that will be preserved… [and] the current [U.S.] government respects”. He also indicated that in bilateral discussions, Israel and the U.S. “agreed on the principle of transparency and not to surprise each other [regarding the Vienna talks] and I think we are both keeping to it”.

U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley reported a “good discussion… with our GCC partners regarding the status of JCPOA talks and regional security” as nuclear negotiations resumed in Vienna. The same day, senior Israeli and U.S. national security officials convened for discussions in Washington, and per a White House readout “discussed their serious concerns about advancements in Iran’s nuclear program in recent years”; the two sides also “agreed on the significant threat posed by Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region”, with the U.S. side expressing “President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself”. They also formed “an inter-agency working group to focus particular attention on the growing threat of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Precision Guided Missiles produced by Iran and provided to its proxies”.

Syria’s oil ministry reported a fire aboard a tanker off its coast and said the cause was “believed to be an attack by a drone coming from the direction of Lebanese territorial waters”. However, Iranian media subsequently cited a Syrian military official indicating that the “accident occurred due to carelessness and lack of safety measures”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against sites near Damascus, injuring four, and added: “The army air defences intercepted the hostile missiles and downed most of them”. The Israel Defense Forces subsequently confirmed that “a surface-to-air missile was fired from Syria to Israel’s southern Negev. In response we struck the battery from which the missile was launched and additional surface-to-air batteries in Syria”. U.S. Central Command Commander Frank McKenzie assessed that the Syrians “were responding to Israeli strikes on targets in Syria… I do not believe it was an intentional attack, but just rather a lack of capability on the part of the Syrian air defenders”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz affirmed that the IDF “is ideally prepared along the northern border and definitely on the Lebanese front”, adding: “We are aware of Hizbollah’s attempts to challenge us in new ways… We will deal with any threat. If Hizbollah challenges the IDF and the State of Israel, it will suffer very, very heavy consequences and I hope they don’t do that”.

The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2021 Annual Threat Assessment indicated that “Iran is determined to maintain influence in Syria… [It] is pursuing a permanent military presence and economic deals in Syria as the conflict winds down there. Tehran almost certainly wants these things to build its regional influence, support Hizbollah and threaten Israel”. The report further assessed that “U.S. forces in eastern Syria will face threats from Iranian and Syrian-regime-aligned groups, mostly through deniable attacks”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu maintained that “the fight against Iran and its metastases and against Iranian armament is a huge task. The situation as it exists today is not necessarily how it will exist tomorrow”. In related comments, Israel’s military chief of staff remarked that “the Israel Defense Forces’ actions throughout the Middle East are not hidden from our enemies’ eyes. They are watching us, seeing our capabilities and carefully considering their next steps”.

The Syrian defence ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of Damascus, injuring four and causing material damage.

The U.S. unveiled “more than $596 million in new humanitarian assistance to respond to the Syrian crisis”, with the U.S. UN ambassador underscoring the importance of “unhindered humanitarian access and aid to all Syrians in need through all avenues available, including through cross-border assistance”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missile strikes on “some targets in the surroundings of Damascus”, which unconfirmed reports identified as “two ammunition depots belonging to Iranian militias”.

Marking the tenth anniversary of the Syrian war, the U.S., jointly with the E3 and Italy, issued a statement urging “the regime and its supporters [to] engage seriously in the political process” and reaffirming “the pursuit of a peaceful solution which protects the rights and future of all Syrians, based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. Relatedly, Iran UN envoy urged “the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces present in Syria without the permission of its Government, particularly U.S. forces”, adding: “We condemn the continued Israeli military attacks in Syria. They are unlawful, provocative, and destabilising. That regime must be compelled to put an end to such military adventurism”.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson reiterated that “we’ll use a variety of tools at our disposal to push for a sustainable end to the Syrian people’s suffering. We’ll continue to support the UN’s role in negotiating a political settlement in line with the relevant UN resolutions, including UNSCR 2254”. “If there is to be a sustainable end to this conflict, we recognise that the Syrian Government must change its behaviour”, the spokesperson asserted, adding: “Bashar al-Assad has not done anything that would restore his legitimacy… There is no question of the U.S. normalising relations with his government anytime soon. There is no question that we will stand, that we will seek to support the humanitarian plight of the Syrian people as we seek a political settlement”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes targeting “the vicinity of Damascus”.

Foreign minister Javad Zarif conferred with his Syrian counterpart on bilateral relations and the Syrian peace process.

The Pentagon confirmed that “at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces… conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilised by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria. These strikes were authorised in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to those personnel”. “This proportionate military response”, the statement added, “was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners”, while noting: “We have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq”. The Syrian government denounced the action as “a coward[ly] aggression”, while Iran’s foreign ministry referred to it as “illegal aggression” by the U.S.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz maintained that “we all need to make sure that if an agreement is signed with Iran, it will be one that ends its nuclear project, enables long-term effective oversight and inspection and puts a stop to Iranian entrenchment in Syria, Yemen and Iraq”. “In parallel”, Gantz added, “the IDF is currently working to build up our forces and is preparing itself for any scenario, including one in which we would need to take operative action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned that “if Israel attacks Iran, this will amount to committing suicide”, while maintaining that “our goal in Syria is to combat terrorism, and Israel must realise that the policies of supporting terrorist groups will not go unanswered”. He further remarked that “the mistake of our neighbours is that they have allowed Israel to transfer the conflict to their lands, and it will rob them of security and will not defend them”.

Iran, Russia and Turkey convened a meeting of the “Astana Process” talks over Syria, jointly reaffirming “determination to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations and stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as threatening the national security of neighbouring countries”. The three countries also “condemned continuing Israeli military attacks in Syria” and “reaffirmed their commitment to advance viable and lasting Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254”. Relatedly, a senior Iranian diplomat met with the UN special envoy for Syria.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that “if you attack our towns and civilians, we’ll attack yours. You are an army state, so there’s no distinction whatsoever between Israeli soldiers and civilians”. “We are not seeking a confrontation or war”, he added. “But should a confrontation take place, we will engage in it... even the game of ‘a few days of fighting’ will be a dangerous game for the Israelis and would lead them to undesirable consequences”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked: “If we have to go to battle, Lebanon will tremble and Hizbollah will be fatally wounded”. “If there are days of fighting… they will be difficult for the Israeli home front, but it will be difficult and terrible first and foremost for our enemies”, he added. “This is especially true for Hizbollah and Hamas, which are building offensive capabilities from within civilian areas and committing war crimes”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched “waves of missiles… on a number of targets in the surroundings of Damascus”.

A senior Iranian diplomat asserted that Iran’s “presence in Syria is aimed at combating Daesh [ie, ISIS] and other terrorist groups, but if Israel wants to cross the ‘red lines’, it will face the toughest response, which will make it regret its actions”. “Iran’s presence in Syria will continue as long as the country’s government and people ask for it… those who have illegally come to Syria and occupied its territories are those who should leave the country”, he contended.

A senior Iranian diplomat visited Damascus and met with President Bashar al-Assad as well as the Syrian foreign minister. The Iranian official discussed with Assad “Iran’s viewpoints and stances regarding the Astana Process and the fifth meeting of Syria’s Constitutional Committee in Geneva”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “the IDF is operating and will keep operating on the border and beyond… we will not hesitate to uproot the Iranian entrenchment near our borders, and [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah knows well that his decision to build bunkers of ammunition and rockets and to strengthen Hizbollah’s capabilities is putting him in danger and putting the lives of Lebanese citizens in danger”. He also warned: “If a confrontation occurs on the northern front, the State of Lebanon will be the one that pays the heaviest price because [the ammunition and rockets] are in civilian areas”. 

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken remarked that “as a practical matter, the Golan is very important to Israel’s security. As long as Assad is in power in Syria, as long as Iran is present in Syria, militia groups backed by Iran, the Assad regime itself – all of these pose a significant security threat to Israel, and as a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israel’s security”. He further noted that “legal questions are something else. And over time, if the situation were to change in Syria, that’s something we’d look at. But we are nowhere near as that”. Prime Minister Netanyahu subsequently said: “With an agreement, without an agreement, we are not coming down from the Golan. It will remain a sovereign part of the State of Israel”.

Syria state media reported that Israel had launched "air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles against some targets in the southern region".

The Israeli military reported that “anti-aircraft missiles were… fired toward an IDF UAV during routine activity over Lebanon. The aircraft was not hit and we continued our mission as planned”.

A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson remarked that “we will renew U.S. efforts to promote a political settlement to end Syria’s civil war in close consultations with our allies, our partners and the UN. A political settlement must address the underlying causes that led to nearly a decade of civil war”. He further stated that “we will use the tools at our disposal, including economic pressure, to push for meaningful reform and accountability, and we’ll continue to support the UN’s role in negotiating a political settlement in line with UNSCR 2254. We will also restore U.S. leadership in providing humanitarian aid”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz remarked that “when I tell you I know there are homes in Lebanon that have guest rooms and missile rooms, it’s not just a slogan. It’s the reality on the ground. Eventually, we will have to attack missiles that are being stored within civilian populations. This is verified intelligence, and we saw the repercussions of such reckless practice by Hizbollah in the port of Beirut”.

Hizbollah reported downing an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military confirmed that “during operational activities by IDF troops on the Lebanese border, an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory”.

Unconfirmed media reports indicated that suspected Israeli strikes had “targeted sites belonging to pro-Iranian militias” in north-eastern Syria.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against Hama in north-western Syria, which it said caused eight casualties.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes in eastern Syria. Unconfirmed estimates from monitoring groups suggested that “at least 57 fighters were killed and dozens wounded” in the operation, which an unnamed U.S. official said had been “carried out with intelligence provided by the U.S.” An Israeli minister, without confirming Israeli involvement in the incident, underscored that “the Iranians want permission from Assad to act freely in Syria, to transform it into the model of Hizbollah… this is all to deter us from acting against its nuclear program”. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and urged the UN “Security Council… [to] take immediate and decisive measures to prevent the repetition of those Israeli terrorist aggressions”. The IRGC subsequently denied any casualties among Iranian and Afghan forces in the strike, claiming that Israelis “do not dare to attack the Iranian and resistance groups’ centers and positions in Syria”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “carried out a missile aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan on some targets in the southern region”.

The GCC Supreme Council denounced “the Iranian existence in the Syrian territories and Iran’s interference in the Syrian affairs, demanding to expel all Iranian forces, Hizbollah militias and all sectarian militias that Iran recruited to work in Syria”.

An IRGC commander indicated that “what you see in missile power existing in Palestine’s Gaza and Lebanon is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran… Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and other Islamic countries enjoy pinpointing missiles to confront the Zionist regime”. “Iran will support anyone and/or any country that confronts the Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”, he underscored.

Syrian state media reported Israeli air strikes “targeting one of the Syrian air defences units” near Damascus, killing one soldier, injuring three and causing material damage. Other accounts suggested that a weapons depot was struck near the border with Lebanon.

The Israeli military reported sighting “a number of suspects approaching the security fence between Israel and Lebanon. One suspect crossed a few metres into Israeli territory before retreating”. “Our troops stopped the suspects and confirmed that there were no further infiltrations”, the IDF added.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was cited as saying that “his group now has twice as many precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago”, and “Israel’s efforts to prevent it from acquiring them have failed”. He further emphasised that “the last few weeks of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are critical and must be treated with care”, while pledging revenge over the January 2020 killing of Iranian IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani as well as the 20 July death of a Hizbollah fighter in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria.

Syrian state media reported that the country’s air defences intercepted “an Israeli missile aggression” targeting Masyaf in the Hama governate. Unconfirmed reports indicated that “the strikes hit positions of Iran-backed militias and killed at least six foreign paramilitaries”.

An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as asserting that “Israel has no intention of stopping its efforts of preventing Iran from taking hold of areas in Syria and Lebanon”, adding that “the extended array of anti-aircraft systems deployed in Syria is no obstacle for the IDF”. He further noted that “Israel knows about the current efforts being undertaken by Hizbollah and will know how to neutralise any weapon or technology of the terrorist group – by military means or otherwise”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasised that “we will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons”, adding: “We do not take lightly the threats made against us, nor do we shy away from them. Our policy is clear and consistent: whoever tries to harm us will suffer a crushing blow”. He also underscored that Israel would “continue to act against attempts by Iran and its proxies to establish military bases in Syria”.

The U.S. Treasury Department designated “two individuals, nine business entities and the Central Bank of Syria… pursuant to Syria sanctions authorities”. In parallel, the State Department sanctioned six Syrians, including President Bashar al-Assad’s wife and the commander of Syria’s military intelligence.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, asked “why do you send Afghans to the Syrian war”, maintained that “we do not send anyone to Syria… nobody goes to war on behalf of a foreign country to a third country. Our brothers would go to [Syria] voluntarily”. Zarif further noted that the majority of Afghan soldiers “have rejoined normal life… as now the war is over in Syria”, estimating fewer than 2,000 remained in Syria. “As they went to Syria to join the anti-Daesh forces”, he added, “we, without any hesitation, supported all resistance forces against terrorism and extremism”, confirming: “We support the families of those who get martyred”.

Iran’s UN envoy told the Security Council that “Iran is fully committed to contributing to a political solution of the Syrian crisis” and asserted: “Sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria must be fully respected by all, separatist agendas and illegitimate self-rule initiatives must be rejected and all foreign forces whose presence is not permitted by the Syrian Government, particularly the U.S. forces who are following a hidden agenda, must leave Syria”. He further denounced “Israel’s continued aggression against Syria”, adding that “such provocative military adventurism must stop”.

Israel’s military chief of staff reported that “the Iranian entrenchment in Syria is in a clear slowdown as a result of IDF activity, but we still have a long way to go to complete our goals in this arena”. He also indicated that Israel had “struck over 500 targets this year, on all fronts, in addition to multiple clandestine missions”, further noting “many offensive [cyber] operations”.

The U.S. designated Hassan Irloo, whom it described as “an official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the Iranian regime’s envoy to the Huthi rebels in Yemen” on counterterrorism authorities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that “by dispatching Irloo to Yemen, the IRGC-QF is signaling its intent to increase support to the Huthis and further complicate international efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict”. The U.S. also sanctioned “Al-Mustafa International University for facilitating IRGC-QF recruitment efforts and one individual”. According to the Treasury Department, the university “is used as a recruitment platform by the IRGC-QF for intelligence collection and operations, including recruitment for the IRGC-QF-led foreign militias fighting on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria”. The following day, Iran blacklisted the U.S. ambassador to Yemen for having “a leading role in organising, financing and arming, directing and carrying out actions of aggressor coalition and formation of human tragedy in Yemen”.

Syrian Foreign Minister Feisal Meqdad visited Tehran and met with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and other senior officials. Discussing the trip, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “political solutions are the only possible option to end the current crisis” in Syria and affirmed that “Iran stands beside the Syrian people and the government in the fight against terrorism”. The following day, President Rouhani called Syrian a “strategic ally” and asserted that Israel “must be confronted until the liberation of the occupied territories, including Golan Heights”. Iran’s Defence Minister, Amir Hatami, also voiced “the determination of Iran to continue cooperation with Syria in the reconstruction phase of this country”.

Israel’s military chief of staff affirmed that “we will continue to operate forcefully as needed against the Iranian entrenchment in Syria and we will continue to maintain full preparedness against any expression of violence against us”.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN wrote to the Security Council asserting that “the Syrian regime continues to allow Iran and its proxies to use its territory, including military facilities and infrastructure, to entrench its presence in Syria and undermine efforts to maintain stability in the region… These activities constitute a serious and blatant violation of the Disengagement Agreement (1974); carry the potential for serious escalation in the region; and pose a risk not only to the local civilian population, but also to the UN personnel on the ground”. The envoy further called for “a total rollback of Iran and its proxies from Syria and the removal of Iranian military infrastructure from Syrian territory”. The following day, Iran’s UN envoy told the council that Iran “strongly condemn[ed] Israel’s continued aggression against Syria’s sovereignty”.

Syrian state media reported what it said were Israeli airstrikes “from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan towards south Damascus, causing only material damage”. 

The Israeli military announced that it had “exposed a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the Israeli side of the Alpha Line on the southern Golan Heights”, adding that “we hold the Syria regime responsible for all events in Syria and will not tolerate any violation of our sovereignty”. The IDF subsequently announced that its aircraft had in response “attacked military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian army… in Syria. The attack damaged warehouses, command posts and military complexes, and batteries of surface-to-air missiles”; Syrian state media reported three fatalities and one injured soldier. An IDF spokesperson asserted that “We are attacking against the host, and the visitor who is really not wanted”, while Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged that “we will not allow Iranian military entrenchment against us in Syria and we will not tolerate any attempt to attack us from Syrian territory. Whoever tries to attack us or attacks us will bear the consequences”. On 22 November, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that “Iran’s presence in Syria is advisory and if anyone distorts this presence, he/she will receive a crushing response”. He further rejected any Iranian fatalities in the Israeli strike.

Secretary Pompeo announced that “the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury sanctioned nineteen individuals and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and other sanctions authorities”. “The Assad regime has a choice: take irreversible steps toward a peaceful resolution of this decade-long conflict or face further crippling sanctions”, Pompeo asserted.

On the sideline of a military drill along Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “even during the coronavirus, our enemies are not stagnant and neither are we… I have been impressed by the vast improvement in the IDF’s offensive capabilities. Hizbollah and the state of Lebanon should take this into account. Whoever attacks us will encounter firepower and a steel fist that will destroy any enemy”.

Syrian state media reported that an Israeli strike had targeted “a school in Quneitra… causing only material damage”; other reports suggested that the facility was “a base for pro-Iran militias”. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently remarked that “I won’t go into who fired what... We won’t allow terrorist operatives from Hizbollah or Iran to set up on the Golan Heights border and we will do what is necessary to drive them out of there”. 

The U.S. ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that “the Assad regime continues to give Iran and its military proxies safe harbour to extend their terror campaign and project its military power deeper into the Middle East, threatening the lives of the Syrian people, but also the security of Israel”. She further asserted that “Iranian forces must withdraw from Syria for there to be lasting peace. Only the UN-facilitated political solution outlined in Resolution 2254 will pave the way for Syria at peace with its people and the region”.

Israeli media citing the Israeli military reported that in late September, “Israeli soldiers destroyed two Syrian military posts in the demilitarised zone… in a warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces are encroaching on the Golan Heights”. An Israeli commander noted that “we are familiar with the cooperation between the Syrian army and Hizbollah, and any military entrenchment by the [Syrian army] has the potential to be a dual entrenchment…We won’t allow the south of Syria to become the south of Lebanon”.

President Bashar al-Assad maintained that “we can only have normal relations with Israel when we have our land back. It’s very simple. So, it is possible when Israel is ready and Israel is not ready. It has never been ready”. He also asserted that “we don’t have Iranian troops [in Syria]… They support Syria, they send their military experts, they work with our troops on the ground, the exist with the Syrian army”. “The Iranian issue is a pretext for occupying Syrian land and supporting terrorists”, Assad insisted.

The U.S. unveiled “seventeen Syria sanctions designations as part of the Administration’s continuing campaign to achieve the goals of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and hold Assad and his enablers accountable for their crimes”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed that “if Iran wants to base itself in the north, we are ready to fight them… We will do everything in order to protect the State of Israel; we are not ruling out a preliminary strike”.

Media reports indicated that a suspected Israeli strike hit “ammunition depots and vehicles of the Iranian-backed militias” in Deir al-Zour province, killing ten.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had carried out airstrikes near Aleppo. “The army air defences confronted the aggression and shot down the majority of the missiles”, the report added.

The Lebanese army reported that it had downed an Israeli drone that had entered Lebanese airspace. The Israeli military stated that an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory during “operational activity”, noting that “there is no risk of breach of information”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes “from the side of al-Tanf into the direction of T-4 airport” near Homs, causing material damage but no casualties. Media reports indicated that additional suspected Israeli strikes targeted sites in Deir al-Zour province, purportedly killing “sixteen Iraqi paramilitary fighters loyal to Iran”.

Syria state media reported that “air defences confronted… an Israeli missile aggression that targeted the southern region”. Two soldiers were reportedly killed and seven injured.

On the sidelines of a Syrian Constitutional Committee meeting in Geneva, Iran, Russia and Turkey “reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic”. They further voiced “their opposition to the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues that should belong to the Syrian Arab Republic”, and “condemned the continuing Israel’s [sic] military attacks in Syria”.

The Israeli army reported that “during operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops. We responded with fire, and our aircraft struck Hizbollah observation posts near the border”. Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “we will not allow [Hizbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah to harm our soldiers or our country. We will respond forcefully to any incidents on our border”. Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Israel views the gunfire against our troops by Hizbollah with great severity”, and urged “Hizbollah not to test the strike force of Israel. Hizbollah is again putting Lebanon at risk because of its aggressiveness”.

Hizbollah reported that it had intercepted an Israeli UAV in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated that “an IDF drone fell in Lebanese territory. There is no fear of classified information leaking”.