🚀 ROCKET-FILLED TUNNEL DISMANTLED IN SOUTHERN GAZA: Paratroopers Brigade troops located an underground route containing dozens of rockets belonging to terrorist organizations in the southern Gaza Strip. Gaza Division engineering forces and the Yahalom Unit dismantled the tunnel.
The operation formed part of efforts to clear terrorist infrastructure above and below ground in the Yellow Line area. The IDF said Southern Command forces remained deployed under the ceasefire framework and would continue removing immediate threats.
🛡️ KATZ HALTS REDUCTION OF GAZA BORDER SECURITY TEAMS: Defense Minister Israel Katz blocked a planned reduction in reservists serving in civil defense squads in Gaza border communities. The IDF had argued that continued reserve service by local security teams was unnecessary and costly.
Although squad members remain armed when not formally serving, Katz said no further reduction would take place until otherwise decided, citing the need to preserve residents’ sense of security.
⚔️ ZAMIR VOWS CONTINUED PURSUIT OF OCTOBER 7 TERRORISTS: During an operational assessment in Gaza, Zamir said the IDF had significantly weakened Hamas and changed the security reality. He said the military would maintain proactive operations and a forward defense posture to prevent another October 7-style attack.
Zamir described the pursuit of Nukhba terrorists and everyone involved in the massacre as a permanent mission. “We will not relent until we bring every person who played a part in the massacre to justice, sooner or later,” he said.
🔎 TEL ATTACK PROBE IDENTIFIES COURAGE AND COMMAND FAILURES: The IDF investigation into the July 24 terrorist attack near Tel found that the civilian hike lacked required coordination and that the initial force sent to the scene was too small. Additional troops failed to build an adequate operational picture, dispatch reinforcements or deploy medical teams effectively.
Major Yuval Ezra and Captain (Res.) Benayahu Mellet were credited with exceptional courage that prevented a more serious attack. Ezra was killed after charging and eliminating a terrorist, while investigators could not determine whether Mellet was struck by terrorist or incidental fire.
The probe also identified a serious evacuation failure: Mellet remained wounded with only a civilian medic for several minutes while Ezra was evacuated. Two wounded terrorists who escaped were later arrested during a daytime operation at a hospital in Shechem.
Mellet was posthumously promoted to captain. Zamir accepted the findings and ordered their lessons implemented immediately.
🎯 ARROW AIR-DEFENSE SYSTEM COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TEST: The Ministry of Defense, U.S. Missile Defense Agency, IDF and Israel Aerospace Industries conducted a pre-planned test of the long-range Arrow system in central Israel.
The test evaluated new capabilities against future threats and incorporated artificial intelligence, combat lessons, advanced technologies and automated production methods. Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 form Israel’s highest air-defense layer and have intercepted ballistic threats from Iran and Yemen, including outside the atmosphere.
Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram said Israel was accelerating interceptor production, expanding its stockpile and developing additional capabilities.
🚧 OVERNIGHT SECURITY EXERCISE AT TE’ENIM CROSSING: The Ministry of Defense Crossings Authority will hold an exercise at the Te’enim Crossing from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday until 4:00 a.m. Thursday.
Route 557 will close intermittently, and nearby residents may hear gunfire and explosions.A two-post version would exceed the limit unless substantive content were compressed; this three-post structure retains the complete Digest.
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