Operation "Iron swords"day 120: chronicle of the confrontation

Operation Iron Swords entered its 120th day on Saturday, February 3rd. The IDF continues fighting on the northern and southern borders. The United States is carrying out massive attacks on the positions of pro-Iranian forces in Syria and Iraq. There are conflicting reports regarding the swap deal with Hamas.

Vesti conducts online reporting, talking about the main events of the confrontation – minute by minute. Information is clarified and updated in real time. Important general information is provided at the bottom of the text.

22:56

►In Tel Aviv, traffic that was blocked during a rally in support of the hostages has been restored

Police said traffic has been restored on all roads in Tel Aviv that were closed during the protest in support of the hostages.

22:38

►The US Congress will vote to allocate 17.6 billion in aid to Israel

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson announced that next week a vote will be held on allocating $17.6 billion in aid to Israel. Support for the Jewish state will be considered separately from assistance to Ukraine. The speaker explained that this was done in order to speed up the transfer of funds to Israel to fight Hamas.

21:49

►”Tzeva hell”: Upper Galilee

The air raid sounded in the village of Matat in the Ma’ale Yosef regional council in the Upper Galilee, near the border with Lebanon.

21:46

►Action on Kaplan in Tel Aviv: mounted police were brought in to restore order

Police reported that some of the demonstrators who participated in the demonstration on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv staged an illegal march and blocked traffic. Law enforcement officials explained that violators were warned that their actions were illegal. Mounted police were brought in to restore public order.

21:19

►IDF: ready to wage war in the north

IDF spokesman Brigadier General Daniel Hagari spoke about the army’s actions to confront Hezbollah. According to him, the Lebanese terrorist organization is trying to divert the IDF’s attention from the war in Gaza. To this end, Hezbollah systematically carries out rocket attacks and “other terrorist attacks against civilians.”

The Israeli army, in turn, is acting against Hezbollah, and not only in Lebanon, but “and in a number of areas in the Middle East.” In particular, the army prevents the supply of weapons to Lebanese terrorists, and also strikes sensitive targets for terrorists.” The press secretary added that for obvious reasons he could not tell in detail what goals were being discussed.

In total, 3,400 terrorist targets were attacked and more than 200 militants were eliminated. “If the order comes, we are ready to wage war in the north,” Hagari assured.

20:22

►The families of the hostages blocked the Ayalon highway

Families of the hostages and activists for the release of the abducted people blocked traffic on the Ayalon Highway south from the Kibbutz Galuyot interchange. The demonstrators lit fires in such a way as to spell out the word Help. In addition, the protesters held posters with the slogans: “The life of the government is not at the expense of the lives of the hostages,” “A deal at any political cost,” “Gantz, hostages or resignation.”

19:59

►Shelling from Lebanon: cars damaged in Western Galilee

As a result of shelling from Lebanon, several cars were damaged in a parking lot in the Even Menachem area in the Western Galilee. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack. A Lebanese terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for 7 attacks on Israel since Saturday morning, February 3.

18:42

►Mass rallies in Caesarea, Haifa, Rehovot: “Elections are now”

Demonstrations were held in a number of cities calling for the resignation of the government and early elections to the Knesset. In Caesarea, near the villa of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, several hundred people took part in the rally. They held signs with slogans: “Netanyahu is guilty of failure” and “It’s time to hold elections.” In addition, the demonstrators chanted: “Resign now.” Two more demonstrations took place in Haifa and Rehovot. They were also attended by several hundred people each. In Haifa, demonstrators held posters with slogans: “Elections now” and “Save the hostages.” In Rehovot, protesters called for Netanyahu’s immediate resignation.

17:18

►Media: IDF artillery struck southern Lebanon

A correspondent for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV channel claims that IDF artillery struck the village of Markaba in southern Lebanon.

17:07

►Swap deal: Hamas is playing for time – Haniyeh’s visit to Cairo is postponed

Hamas has postponed the visit of a delegation led by the chairman of the organization’s Politburo, Ismail Haniyeh, to Cairo, where negotiations on an exchange deal with Israel are to take place. The visit was planned for the beginning of the week. Hamas explained that the postponement of the date of negotiations is due to “intensive consultations with factions of the resistance movement,” the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed reports, citing sources in Egypt and Hamas.

14:59
►Hezbollah threatens Israel with “Lebanese war”

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, considered the mouthpiece of Hezbollah, reports that if Israel continues to attack the positions of this organization during the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the war will become Lebanese, and Hezbollah will “defend the security of its country.” Thus, Hezbollah responded to the words of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who warned yesterday that even if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, the fire against Hezbollah will not stop.

14:20
►Hamas leadership argues over terms of deal with Israel

Israel is waiting for Hamas’ response to the exchange deal prepared at the Paris Conference. Israel expected to receive an answer at the end of the week, but now it is expected no earlier than February 4. As the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on February 2, there has been a significant disagreement over the conditions between the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, represented by Ihye Sinwar, and Ismail Haniyeh, who lives abroad. Read more about this:

13:20
►The state plans to return evacuated residents of the Negev home by March

09:32
►Biden’s Lebanon envoy to visit Israel again

US Presidential Special Envoy Amos Hochstein will return to Israel before heading to Lebanon in an attempt to prevent an escalation of hostilities. Let us remind you that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will fly to Israel and other countries of the Middle East at the same time.

09:25
►Dozens of terrorists killed in Gaza in 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, IDF fighters have eliminated dozens of terrorists in the north and center of the Gaza Strip, the army press service reports. Several missile launchers were destroyed. Military equipment, weapons and documents were found in the Hamas office. In the Shati camp, female soldiers spotted several terrorists transporting weapons in bags. An aircraft was used against the terrorists, with the help of which they were all destroyed.

07:40
►Media: Chiefs of the General Staff of the IDF, Shin Bet and AMAN discuss when to resign

06:33
►Details of US strikes on Syria and Iraq have become known

05:54
►Media: after American strikes, US bases in Syria and Iraq were attacked

A few hours after the American attacks, the pro-Iranian Islamic Resistance group attacked American bases in Syria and western Iraq. The Palestinian Shahab news agency said missiles and drones were used.

05:00
►Over the past 24 hours, sirens sounded 8 times in Israel

According to the Home Front Service, over the past 24 hours (from 00:00 February 2 to 00:00 February 3), the air raid alarm sounded 8 times (the day before – 6), the last of them at 09:37 in the village of Snir in northern Israel.

Over the past week, the air raid signal was sounded 112 times, and in the past month – 716.

01:43
►White House: “4 targets in Syria and 3 in Iraq were attacked. All planes returned to their bases”

John Kirby, a representative of the US National Security Council, spoke at a briefing at the White House about American attacks in Iraq and Syria. “We selected these targets to prevent civilian casualties. We have evidence that these facilities are directly linked to attacks on the United States.”

Kirby noted that “there were seven strikes in total – four in Syria and three in Iraq, for a total of 85 targets.” He stressed that the US response did not end there. And he added that “the United States is not looking for war with Iran.”

00:08
►IDF strikes Hezbollah again in Lebanon

IDF warplanes strike Hezbollah military targets in Lebanon. A truck in which weapons were stored and transported, as well as a military premises, were attacked.

00:00
►Main events of the previous day (February 1)

The 119th day of Operation Iron Swords began with shelling of northern populated areas, and in response, the IDF attacked Hezbollah positions. The situation in the Lebanese border area continues to remain extremely tense.

In Gaza, fighting was concentrated in the south and north of the enclave. The army press service reported the destruction of manpower and terror infrastructure. An offensive is being prepared on Rafah, the last stronghold of terror in the Gaza Strip.

Conflicting information about the impending deal continued to arrive. According to the latest data, the humanitarian pause could last 142 days: in the first stage, 35 hostages will be released – one per day of the ceasefire, plus 7 days for negotiations on the next stage of the exchange deal. After this, another 100 hostages will remain in captivity, so perhaps the next stage of the ceasefire will last another 100 days.

◄Information for readers and useful links►

The war with Hamas: the main thing

At about 7:00 on Saturday, October 7, the holiday of Simchat Torah, terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip launched a combined attack against Israel – terrorist infiltration from land, sea and air and massive rocket fire from the south and center, up to the Hasharon region. More than 1,200 people were brutally killed. In response, the IDF launched Operation Iron Swords (Harvot-barzel). Intelligence agencies believe that Hamas has been preparing an invasion since the beginning of 2022. It was carefully planned and thoroughly provided with weapons and intelligence information.

Hostage information

Helpful information

Important
These days, a large amount of unverified, contradictory, and often fake information is being spread. Trust only reliable sources. Don’t forget that the war is also being waged on the propaganda front. Do not distribute videos, pictures or texts that help Israel’s enemies.