Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon have uncovered significant stockpiles of weapons left behind by Hezbollah, according to the IDF. Officers report that Hezbollah had concealed arms in nearly every house within certain villages. Recent operations by the 188th Armored Brigade under the 36th Division have revealed multiple weapons caches, tunnels, and a command center used to orchestrate rocket attacks on Israel. Colonel Or Vollozinsky, the brigade commander, emphasized their ongoing efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure to ensure the safety of northern Israeli residents.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Sunday, 6 October 2024), visited an IDF base on the northern border where he held a security assessment with Head of Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Ori Gordin and 36th Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Moran Omer. The Prime Minister was briefed on the deployment of forces in Lebanon, the operational achievements to date and future objectives. Prime Minister Netanyahu heard from Maj.-Gen. Gordin about the destruction of Hezbollah’s capabilities that has been achieved during the ground effort and the use of intense fire. During the briefing, the Prime Minister spoke with 36th Division brigade commanders about the intense combat on multiple fronts which they have been taking part in for almost a year.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has sent a stark message regarding a potential retaliatory attack on Iran, warning that Israel has the means to “strike any target in the Middle East.” Visiting the Tel Nof Air Base on Wednesday, Halevi said Israel knows how to “locate important targets” and will respond to Iran’s attack with strikes of “precision and power.” “We have the capabilities to reach and strike any point in the Middle East. And those of our enemies who have not yet understood this, will soon understand,” Halevi said in a video clip filmed at the base.

“I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon, may God avenge them, and may their memories be a blessing…. “We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen…. Because we will stand together, and with God’s help — we will win together…. “We will rescue our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee Israel’s eternity.”

The Binyamin Regional Council has reported that Lt. Harel Ettinger HY”D, a resident of Eli, was killed during combat in southern Lebanon. He is the third soldier killed overnight, as the ground war to destroy Hezbollah begins. Tragically, in 2019, YWN reported that his father, Rabbi Achiad Ettinger HY”D was one of two victims killed by a Palestinian terrorist at the Ariel Junction. He leaves behind a mother and 11 siblings. Two other IDF Soldiers were killed overnight in Lebanon.

The IDF reports that more than 100 rockets have been launched from Lebanon into northern Israel since the morning. While several buildings sustained damage in the earlier strikes, no injuries have been reported, largely due to the evacuation of many towns in the affected areas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened with top security officials in Tel Aviv to evaluate Israel’s potential response to last night’s missile strike by Iran. Present at the meeting were Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Mossad director David Barnea, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israel continues to weigh its next steps following the attack.

In coordination with the IAF, IDF ground forces have eliminated multiple terrorists and dismantled Hezbollah’s military infrastructure through a combination of airstrikes and ground engagements. So far, over 150 Hezbollah facilities, including headquarters, weapons depots, and rocket launchers, have been destroyed in these ongoing operations.

Copenhagen police have detained three individuals in connection with two explosions near the Israeli embassy early this morning. “Two men were arrested on a train at Copenhagen Central Station. In addition, earlier in the day we arrested a man elsewhere in Copenhagen,” authorities shared in a post on X. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no injuries were reported and the embassy building was not damaged in the blasts.

Following a situational assessment, it was decided that as of today at 00:00 (Wednesday), changes will be made to the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines. As part of the changes, it was decided to ease restrictions in the areas of Carmel (excluding Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya), Wadi Ara (excluding the Megiddo Regional Council and Yokne’am Illit), Menashe, Samaria, Sharon, Dan, Yarkon, Shefala, Jerusalem and Shefla. The rest of the country remains under the guidelines previously issued by the Home Front Command. The instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels must be followed. The full instructions are updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.