Israel's war against Hamas, dubbed Swords of Iron, entered its 17th week on Saturday. The war began on October 7th, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, when Hamas launched an assault by land sea, and air, massacring over 1,200 and taking 240 Israelis and foreigners hostage. As the war continues, IDF forces continue to advance through southern and central Gaza as terrorists continue launching rockets at the Jewish state from Lebanon and Gaza. Last week saw the deadliest day since the ground offensive began with 24 IDF soldiers killed, 21 of which were a result of the tragic building collapse.
Since the war began on October 7th, 557 IDF soldiers have fallen in the line of duty, 220 of them fell after the the ground offensive began.
Live Updates:
Saturday, 9:30 p.m.: Over the past hours, a number of launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into the areas of Har Dov, Even Menachem, and Yir'on in northern Israel. No injuries were reported. The IDF struck the sources of the fire.
A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah military compound in the area of Taybeh. In addition, throughout the day, IDF tank and artillery struck in additional areas in southern Lebanon.
"Hezbollah’s ongoing terrorist activity and attacks against Israel violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The IDF will continue to defend Israel’s borders from any threat," the IDF said.
Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: Friday night and early Saturday passed in relative quiet.
On Saturday afternoon, sirens sounded in Nirim and Ein Hashlosha, communities near the Gaza Strip.
The IDF reported, "Throughout the day, three launches were identified crossing from Lebanon and falling in open areas in Bar'am and Zar'it, northern Israel. No injuries were reported."
Friday, 11:30 p.m.: Live updates are stopping at this time in honor of the start of Shabbat in North America, and will resume on Saturday night, upon the conclusion of Shabbat in Israel.
Friday, 10:55 p.m.: The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that, a short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a military site used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area of Blida. Additionally, a truck used to store weapons in the area of Kafr Shuba in southern Lebanon was struck.
The strikes came after a number of launches toward the areas of Avivim and Yir'on in northern Israel were identified earlier on Friday. No injuries were reported.
"Hezbollah’s ongoing terrorist activity and attacks against Israel violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The IDF will continue to defend Israel’s borders from any threat," the statement said.
Friday, 5:05 p.m.: With the start of Shabbat in Israel, Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk will continue to update the site.
Friday, 9:31 a.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Thursday, 9:43 p.m.: Today the Chief of the General Staff held a situational assessment on the Lebanese border, together with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, and the Commanding Officer of the 91st Galilee Division, BG Shay Kalper, and spoke with regular and reserve battalion commanders who have been operating in the region since the beginning of the war.
The Chief of the General Staff expressed his great appreciation for the work and operational achievements of the forces and told them: "We will return the residents only when it is safe here. This requires professionalism, readiness, and patience from us.”
Thursday, 4:02 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Kibbutz Eilon, northern Israel.
Thursday, 3:38 p.m.: A Palestinian source involved in the hostage negotiations said that "Hamas will most probably not refuse the offer it received from the mediators, but it will not sign on it without guarantees from the Israeli side to commit to end the war," Kan News reported.
Thursday, 3:30 p.m. A delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization is expected to arrive in Cairo to discuss a hostage deal proposal.
Thursday, 2:03 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Kiryat Shemona and Margaliot, northern Israel.
Thursday, 1:48 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Metula, northern Israel.
Wednesday, 8:57 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Shlomi in northern Israel.
Wednesday, 8:50 p.m.: Earlier today, numerous launches were identified from Lebanon toward the area of Metula in northern Israel. The IDF struck the sources of the launches.
Moreover, IDF fighter jets struck Hezbollah infrastructure and military compounds in the towns of Ayta ash Shab, Beit Lif, and Blida in southern Lebanon earlier today.
Wednesday, 4:20 p.m.: Al Jazeera is reporting that three were killed in a strike on a vehicle in northern Rafah.
Wednesday, 4:11 p.m.: The IDF identified several launches from Lebanon toward the area of Yiftah, Ya’ara, and Hanita in northern Israel. No injuries were reported and the IDF struck the sources of fire.
A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah complex which consisted of several military compounds in the area of Rachaf in southern Lebanon.
Furthermore, IDF artillery fired toward the area of Aalma El Chaeb and Aitaroun.
Wednesday, 2:28 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Ya'ara, northern Israel.
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.: On Tuesday night, a number of launches from Syria toward the southern Golan Heights were identified. In response, IDF fighter jets struck military infrastructure belonging to the Syrian regime in the area of Daraa on Wednesday.
Furthermore, on Wednesday morning, several launches from Lebanon that fell in open areas adjacent to Manara and Yuval in northern Israel were identified. No injuries were reported.
In addition, a short while ago, IDF artillery fired toward several locations in southern Lebanon.
Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.: Earlier today a launch was identified that crossed from Lebanon and fell in an open area adjacent to Arab al-Aramshe, no injuries were reported.
A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah operational command center and an observation post in the area of Khiam. Furthermore, throughout the day, IDF fighter jets struck an observation post and a military compound belonging to the terrorist organization in the areas of Ayta ash Shab and Mhaibib.
Tuesday, 3:53 p.m.: IDF Arabic language spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee called on Hamas terrorists in the al-Shati area and the northern Gaza Strip to surrender.
"These people were commanders in the Hamas al-Shati and al-Furqan brigades: Haitham Hawajri Khalil Mahjaz Afif Alyan Musab Al-Quqa Khalil Hatri Ahmed Siam Abdel Hamid Abu Fayed. These people did not give up when they were given the opportunity, so what do you choose to do?" he wrote.
Tuesday, 2:08 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, a community near the Gaza Strip.
Monday, 8:53 p.m.: IDF fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, two hours after an earlier strike. The targets included Hezbollah's infrastructure and an observation post located in the southern Lebanese areas of Markaba, Taybeh, and Maroun El Ras.
Additionally, there have been several incidents of projectiles launched from Lebanon into northern Israel in recent hours. The IDF responded by targeting the launch sites and other locations in Lebanon.
Monday, 5:06 p.m.: In the recent missile barrage on central Israel, at least 11 missiles were launched. It is estimated that the launches emanated from either the central or southern Gaza Strip.
Seven rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome system. According to reports, a vehicle was damaged in Rishon Lezion by interceptor shrapnel.
MDA teams set out to search for wounded in areas where reports of impact were received. At this point, no injuries have been reported.
Monday, 4:51 p.m.: Rocket sirens sounded in central Israel for the first time in nearly a month. Sirens were sounded in Rishon Lezion, Holon, Lod, Tel Aviv - Jaffa, Bat Yam, Mikveh Israel, Or Yehuda, Yehud-Monosson, Be'er Yacov, Ramla, Ness Ziona, Hevel Modi'in, Gezer, Sdot Dan, Gan Raveh, among other locations.
Monday, 4:30 p.m.: Throughout the day, several launches were identified that crossed from Lebanon into northern Israel.
In response, IDF soldiers struck the sources of the fire, as well as additional areas in Lebanon.
Furthermore, IDF fighter jets carried out precise strikes on two Hezbollah military sites in which a number of Hezbollah terrorists were identified in the area of Yaroun in southern Lebanon.
According to the IDF: "The Hezbollah terror organization deliberately embeds its military infrastructure in civilian areas, using Lebanese civilians as human shields for its terrorist activity."
Additionally, earlier today, IDF soldiers struck a launch site used to fire at northern Israel.
Monday, 2:20 p.m.: Following the sirens in northern Israel, missiles were reported as having fallen in open areas.
No injuries or damage were reported.
Monday, 1:34 p.m.: Sirens sounded in communities along Israel's northern border.
Monday, 10:50 a.m.: The sirens which sounded earlier in Rosh Hanikra were set off by a failed launch from Lebanon, which did not cross into Israeli territory.
Monday, 10:02 a.m.: Sirens sound in Rosh Hanikra in northern Israel.
Sunday, 9:07 p.m.: Sirens sounded in the city of Ashkelon and communities near the Gaza Strip.
Sunday, 4:30 p.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Sunday, 4:17 p.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Sunday, 4:13 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Arab al-Aramshe, northern Israel.
Sunday, 2:00 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel.
Sunday, 11:53 a.m.: A short while ago, fighter jets struck two Hezbollah military sites in the towns of Zibqin and Houla in Lebanon.
In addition, IDF artillery struck a number of areas in southern Lebanon in order to remove a threat.
Sunday, 7:33 a.m.: Sirens sounded in the Gaza envelope.
Saturday, 6:00 p.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel on Saturday morning, as well as in communities near the Gaza border.
On Friday night, the IDF reported, "IDF: A short while ago, a number of launches were identified from Lebanon toward Israel. No injuries were reported. IDF artillery struck the sources of fire."
On Saturday evening, the IDF confirmed that "numerous launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel."
"Following sirens that sounded earlier today in northern Israel regarding infiltration by a hostile aircraft, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target in Lebanese territory suspected to be approaching Israeli territory.
"IDF fighter jets struck a number of Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon, including a military post and compound used by Hezbollah terrorists in the areas of Blida and Marwahin. Additional terror infrastructure was struck in the area of Ayta ash Shab."