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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: December 22–28, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between December 22 and December 28, 2025. Israeli activities this week included strikes on Hezbollah assets and personnel north and south of the Litani River, reaching as far as Hermel, and killing an alleged Lebanese Armed Forces-Hezbollah dual operative.
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Israel rotates military units in Gaza as new phase of ceasefire deal looms
In late December, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) replaced the 2nd Reserve Infantry Brigade and Kfir Brigade in Gaza with the 16th Reserve Infantry Brigade and 188th Armored Brigade, respectively. The IDF continues to deal with threats from terrorists along the Yellow Line in the territory, and an Israeli soldier was wounded on December 24 by an explosive device. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared for a trip to Miami to meet US President Donald Trump.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: December 15–21, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between December 15 and December 21, 2025. Israeli activities this week included strikes on Hezbollah assets and personnel north and south of the Litani River, reaching as far as Baalbek and Hermel.
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US-led meeting on Gaza International Stabilization Force inconclusive, IDF reports 12 Gaza ceasefire violations from December 4 to 18
As Israel awaits the return of the remains of the final hostage in Gaza, Hamas and Palestinian terror groups violated phase one of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan 12 times between December 4 and 18, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Dozens of countries attended a United States Central Command conference in Doha to discuss the deployment of an International Stabilization Force in Gaza, but no nations have committed to sending troops. Meanwhile, Hamas leadership reiterated the terror group’s unwillingness to disarm.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: December 8–14, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between December 8 and December 14, 2025. Israeli activities were more intense than in the preceding weeks and included a resumption of targeted killings.
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Hamas acknowledges the killing of senior commander Raed Saad
In contrast to its ambiguity about casualty announcements during the recent war with Israel, Hamas confirmed the killing of veteran senior leader Raed Saad and additional operatives. Israel said Saad held multiple senior positions within Hamas and was among the planners of the October 7 attack.
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Israel awaits return of last hostage, next phase of Gaza ceasefire under discussion
Israel continues to wait for the last deceased hostage, Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, to be returned from Gaza. Reports indicate that the US is expected to announce members of the Board of Peace in early 2026 and appoint a two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF). UN Ambassador Mike Waltz visited Israel and discussed the next steps in Gaza with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
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IDF reveals Hamas financial network operating in Turkey
The Israeli military and Shin Bet reported on a Hamas financial network operating in Turkey under direct Iranian supervision and moving hundreds of millions of dollars through Turkish-based money changers to fund terrorism. Three key operatives based in Turkey were identified as managing large-scale financial activity for Hamas. Israeli officials warned that any entity linked to this network will face consequences and criticized the concept of a NATO member enabling Iran-backed terror financing.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: December 1–7, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between December 1 and December 7, 2025. Israeli activities were less intense than usual last week; while they targeted and destroyed alleged Hezbollah infrastructure, they, unusually, resulted in zero casualties.
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Palestinian terrorists ambush Israeli troops in Rafah; IDF reports 7 Gaza ceasefire violations from November 27 to December 3
Palestinian terrorists again ambushed Israeli troops in the southern Gaza hotspot of Rafah, injuring five soldiers, one seriously, and marking the first instance of the Israeli military taking casualties in over a month. Palestinians have violated the truce in the territory at least seven times in the past week, according to Israel Defense Forces reports.
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West Bank: Palestinian Islamic Jihad continues to show signs of increased activity
Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement detailing its activities in the West Bank in recent days. The release follows an increase in the terror group’s activity in the territory over the past few months, including the deaths of nine of its members in separate incidents involving the IDF in November.
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Israel awaits return of last 2 remains of hostages from Gaza
Israel continues to await the return of the remains of two hostages, a month and a half after a ceasefire began in Gaza. On December 2, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received “findings” that Hamas had handed over to the Red Cross; Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed receiving the remains of a hostage. Separately, the IDF says it has eliminated suspected terrorists in daily incidents in Gaza, and Qatar urged the ceasefire to move to a new stage.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 24–30, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between November 24 and November 30, 2025. Israeli activities were less intense than usual last week and, irregularly, resulted in zero casualties.
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Israel’s Beit Jinn raid highlights potential Hamas-linked networks in southern Syria
On November 27, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation in the southern Syrian village of Beit Jinn to arrest operatives linked to the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood.
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Terrorist uses aid route to fire at Israeli troops; IDF reports 14 Gaza ceasefire violations from November 22 to 26
Palestinian terrorists violated the ceasefire 14 times between November 22 and 26, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reports. Among these incidents were an attacker using a humanitarian aid route to shoot at Israeli troops and at least three instances of terrorists emerging from tunnels in Rafah on the Israeli-controlled side of the Yellow Line. Palestinian Islamic Jihad also returned the body of a hostage after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of violating the ceasefire by delaying the transfer.
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Histories of Hezbollah’s assassinated top military commander, likely candidates to replace him
Israel assassinated Hezbollah’s newest chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, on Sunday, September 23, 2025. His likeliest successors are Mohammad Haydar and Talal Hamiyeh.
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Hamas hands over body of hostage as IDF fights terror cells in Rafah
On November 25, Hamas transferred the body of Dror Or, an Israeli hostage whose body had been held in Gaza for more than two years. Israeli troops continued to clash with Hamas terrorist cells in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as the Israeli military continues reporting ceasefire violations along its Yellow Line of control. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ended its work in the territory, noting that it had distributed 187 million meals since May.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 17–23, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between November 17 and November 23, 2025. These activities involved targeted assassinations of Hezbollah operatives involved in the group’s regeneration efforts and strikes on its assets. The week witnessed a significant escalation by Israel against Hezbollah, including the targeted assassination of its chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, for his ongoing oversight of the group’s regeneration efforts.
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An inside look at the US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza stabilization
The US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in southern Israel primarily coordinates humanitarian aid entering Gaza and monitors the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. A visit by FDD’s Long War Journal to the site on November 20 showed that US Central Command (CENTCOM) has committed significant resources to this effort, which now involves nearly 50 countries and organizations.
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Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai
An Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed senior Hezbollah figure Haytham Ali Tabatabai, along with four other members of the group. The strike is the most high-profile action taken against Hezbollah since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel began last November.
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West Bank: Israeli security forces kill Palestinian police officer who shot Israeli soldier
A Palestinian police officer, identified as Younis Ishtayeh, shot and wounded an Israeli soldier in the West Bank on Thursday, and Israeli counterterrorism forces killed the shooter the next day. The incident adds to growing signs of rising violence in the West Bank following months of general calm.
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Palestinian terrorists fire on Israeli soldiers, break ceasefire 8 times from November 13 to 21, IDF says
As phase one of the ceasefire in Gaza continued to bend but not break, Israel reported that Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations continue to violate the terms. Notably, another shooting attack on Israeli troops this week led to retaliatory airstrikes across the enclave. Separately, the situation surrounding 200 holed-up Hamas operatives in Rafah remains unresolved.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 10–16, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between November 10 and November 16, 2025. These activities included targeted assassinations of Hezbollah operatives involved in the group’s regeneration efforts and strikes on its assets.
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IDF destroys more Hamas tunnels, prepares for future Gaza operations
The Israeli military continues to eliminate Hamas tunnels in the 50 percent of Gaza still under its control after the ceasefire deal signed in Egypt in early October. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir traveled to the territory to meet with troops on November 16 and said, “We will persist in the mission of dismantling Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip.” He also stated that the army had to be prepared to transition back to fighting if necessary.
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Palestinian terrorists broke Gaza ceasefire 6 times from November 7 to 12, IDF says
According to the IDF, Palestinian terrorists have violated the Gaza ceasefire on at least six occasions since November 7. The incidents over the past week have been nearly identical, with terrorist operatives testing the boundaries of the “Yellow Line” marking Israeli-controlled territory almost daily. These issues have been compounded by 200 Hamas members trapped in tunnels under Rafah in Israeli-controlled territory.
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Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 3–9, 2025
Israel continued military operations in Lebanon between November 3 and November 9, 2025. These activities included targeted assassinations of Hezbollah operatives involved in the group’s regeneration efforts and strikes on its assets.
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Hamas returns body of IDF soldier held since 2014 amid Rafah tensions
Hamas transferred the body of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lieutenant Hadar Goldin to Israel on November 9. Goldin was one of two IDF soldiers who were killed in 2014 and whose bodies had been held in Gaza. The other soldier had been located in January 2025. The return of Goldin’s body came as tensions remain over 200 Hamas terrorists reported to be trapped in a tunnel network in Rafah. In southern Gaza, Israeli troops dismantled “dozens” of terrorist infrastructure sites.
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US pushes for UN resolution on Gaza to support peace plan
The US is seeking a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Gaza to bolster President Donald Trump’s peace plan. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz convened a meeting on November 5 with 15 countries, 10 of which are elected members of the UNSC, noting that the effort was aimed at creating “real peace in the Middle East.” The resolution seeks to support the establishment of an international security force for Gaza, which will operate in conjunction with the Board of Peace envisioned by the ceasefire agreement reached in Egypt in October.
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Israeli defense minister declares ‘war’ on drones smuggling weapons from Egypt
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the border with Egypt to become a closed military zone following the detection of arms and drug smuggling by drones. Nearly 900 incidents of smuggling from Egyptian territory have reportedly happened in three months.
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Palestinian terror groups have violated Gaza ceasefire at least 18 times since implementation, IDF claims
Since phase one of the Trump administration’s 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza went into effect on October 10, Israel reports that Hamas and other groups have repeatedly violated the agreement. Violations include violence against Gazans accused of working for Israel, attacks on Israeli forces, delaying the return of the bodies of slain hostages, and Hamas’s refusal to withdraw its fighters from Israeli-controlled territory.
