Operation "Iron swords"day 163: chronicle of the confrontation

Operation Iron Swords entered its 163rd day on Sunday, March 17th. The IDF continues to fight in the Gaza Strip and on the border with Lebanon. Israel continues to discuss Hamas’ new demands for an exchange deal.

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.

15:19
►New IDF strike reported in Lebanon

The IDF struck targets near the town of An-Nakura in southwestern Lebanon. This was reported by the Hezbollah-affiliated Beirut publication Al-Akhbar.

Earlier, Lebanese media reported a series of strikes on various targets in four areas in southern Lebanon. The IDF press office confirmed the reports.

14:21
►King of Jordan: Rafah operation will only worsen the crisis in Gaza

The IDF attack in Rafah will only worsen the crisis in the Gaza Strip. This opinion was expressed by King Abdullah II of Jordan during a meeting with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, who arrived on a working visit to Amman.

14:14
►Egyptian President: “We will not allow the expulsion of Palestinians”

“Egypt categorically rejects the idea of ​​expelling Palestinians from their lands and will not allow this to happen,” Egyptian President Abd el-Fattah al-Sisi said at a meeting with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. He also called the end of hostilities in the Gaza Strip the most urgent and important foreign policy task.

13:28
►Rocket attack near Metula: no casualties

An anti-tank missile was fired from southern Lebanon towards an army position near Metula. There were no casualties.

At the same time, the Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar TV channel reported that IDF artillery was shelling targets in the village of Al-Khiyam in Southern Lebanon.

13:09
►Netanyahu criticized the United States: “Let them put pressure on Iran”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opening a government meeting, sharply criticized US attempts to put pressure on Israel and prevent the operation in Rafah.

“I would like to ask our friends in the international community – do you really have such a short memory?” said the Prime Minister. “Have you really forgotten so quickly the massacre of October 7 – the worst crime committed against Jews since the Holocaust? Are you really ready so easily “Deprive Israel of the right to self-defense? Have you lost all moral compass?”

“Instead of putting pressure on Israel, which is waging a just war against a brutal enemy,” Netanyahu continued, “put pressure on Hamas and its patron, Iran. That is who really threatens the security of the Middle East region and the entire world. And we, with the help of the Almighty, We will continue to fight until complete victory.”

12:21
►A series of IDF strikes are reported in Lebanon

The Al-Manar TV channel reports a series of strikes on various targets in the south of Lebanon, including in the area of ​​the settlements of Ba-Shaab, Marukhin, Itrun, etc. It is noted that the strikes are carried out from the ground (artillery) and from the air.

11:48
►7 Palestinians suspected of terrorism detained

On the night of March 17, during raids by Israeli security forces in Judea and Samaria, 7 residents of the Palestinian Authority were detained, suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. Weapons confiscated.

Since October 7, 2023, approximately 3,500 terrorists and their accomplices have been detained in Judea and Samaria. More than 1,500 suspects are linked to Hamas.

11:18
►”Tzeva hell”: Western Galilee

An air raid siren sounded in the settlements of Shomera, Even-Menachem, Zarit, Shtula in Western Galilee.

11:14
►Katz: “Israel is ready to pay a high price for the release of hostages”

Foreign Minister Israel Katz commented on the negotiations on the exchange deal in an interview with Ynet and said: “This issue has the highest priority in the Foreign Ministry, we are continuously trying with all our might to influence the situation through all available channels. The proposals presented by the mediating countries have many difficult aspects. Of course, we are willing to pay the price for the release of the hostages, but there is a very clear red line – Israel will not agree to end the war.”

10:49
►New IDF strikes reported in Lebanon

Unmanned aerial vehicles and IDF artillery struck targets in the village of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese TV channel Al-Mayadeen reported.

10:11
►Palestinians report massive airstrikes in central Gaza

Palestinians report massive airstrikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Earlier, there were reports of artillery fire in the direction of Khan Younes in the south of the enclave.

09:27
►Palestinians report 92 killed in Gaza in 24 hours

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Department claims that over the past 24 hours, 92 Palestinians have been killed and 130 injured due to IDF actions. Since the beginning of the war, 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in hostilities, and 73,676 have been injured.

08:43
►Trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza are escorted by “mask squads”

The 15 trucks loaded with flour that entered Gaza on the night of March 17 were accompanied by detachments of masked armed men. Saudi TV channel Al-Sharq claims that these people “identify with the Palestinian Authority and Abu Mazen.”

The cargo, which was accompanied by a security detail, arrived in Gaza City and was unloaded at a UNRWA warehouse. Israel did not respond to this message.

Earlier, NBC reported that Israel is considering the possibility of using international private security companies to maintain order in Gaza. The idea of ​​involving representatives of local clans (hamul) not associated with Hamas in this task was also expressed.

08:18
►Syria reported strikes on Damascus

Syrian media are reporting an “Israeli strike” on Hezbollah targets in the Damascus area.

07:32
►Palestinian sources: Marwan Isa “suffered, but his fate is not clear”

Informed Palestinian sources said in an interview with the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper that one of the Hamas leaders, Marwan Isa, was actually at the site of IDF strikes in the Nuseirat camp in the central part of the Gaza Strip on the night of March 10. As the message says, “he was injured, but his fate is unclear.”

06:55
►Media: If the swap deal fails, the operation in Rafah will begin before the end of Ramadan

06:22
►Media: IDF strikes Lebanon

The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen TV channel reported Israeli attacks in the area of ​​the city of Al-Khiyam in the south of the country. No details provided.

06:02
►Approved for publication: IDF fighter seriously wounded in Gaza

A soldier from the 601st Assaf Engineer Battalion, part of the 401st Armored Brigade, was seriously wounded in the central part of the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the IDF press service.

05:00
►Over the past 24 hours in Israel, the siren sounded 4 times

According to the Home Front Service, over the past 24 hours (from 00:00 March 16 to 00:00 March 17) the air raid alarm sounded 4 times (the day before – 16), the last of them at 13:24 in Kiryat Shmona.

The alarm sounded 132 times in the past week and 537 in the past month.

01:02

►A “suspicious air target” was intercepted in the Acre area

The IDF press service reported that air defense systems intercepted a “suspicious air target” over the coast in the Acre area. There was no air raid signal.

00:07

►Galant held a special meeting to free the hostages

Defense Minister Yoav Galant held a special meeting to discuss efforts to free the hostages. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Shin Bet (General Security Service), the IDF, and members of the negotiating group.

►Main events of the previous day (March 16)

On Day 162 of Operation Iron Swords, the focus continued to be on the exchange deal. Benjamin Netanyahu refused to discuss it on Saturday with Gantz and Eizenkot, and Smotrich said in advance that he would vote against continuing negotiations on Hamas’s terms. It was decided to convene the cabinet on the evening of March 17. Against this background, demonstrations took place in cities across the country demanding the rapid return of the hostages.

In the north, Hezbollah continued shelling border villages, and the IDF carried out retaliatory strikes.

In the Gaza Strip, the army carried out local raids, refraining from large-scale actions.

Germany dropped humanitarian aid from the air to Gaza for the first time.

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.