Swords of Iron Update October 9, 2023
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprovoked and unprecedented multi-prong attack on Israel by land,
air, and sea. JINSA issued a NatSec Brief with an early assessment of the war on October 8. Below is
updated information and analysis, which JINSA will continue to produce throughout the conflict.
Last 24 Hours
Attacks Against Israel
● Rocket fire on Monday injured Israelis in the southern cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon and
impacted near Ben Gurion Airport. Alarms sounded today throughout southern Israel and in cities
south of Tel Aviv, in the central cities of Holon and Rishon Lezion, and in northern Israel at
Mevo’ot Hahermon Regional Council and the towns of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali.
● 12 rockets were reportedly fired from Lebanon into Israel.
● The IDF said that several individuals from Lebanon infiltrated Israeli territory.
● Residents of the northern Israeli village of Netua, near the Lebanese border, were ordered to lock
their doors and stay indoors after reports of a possible security breach from Lebanon. There is
also a shelter-in-place order for the northern city of Kiryat Shmona.
IDF Operations
● The IDF has mobilized three hundred thousand reservists, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip.
● As of early Monday morning, the IDF had conducted 1,149 airstrikes against targets in the Gaza
Strip, a significant increase from the reported approximate 800 airstrikes the IDF had launched as
of mid-day Sunday.
○ The IDF announced Monday morning that seven Hamas command centers were struck
and that a total of over 500 combined Hamas and PIJ targets were struck.
● Israeli combat helicopters also struck targets inside of Lebanon after rocket fire from Lebanese
soil.
● The IDF announced that it has retaken control of all Israeli border towns near Gaza but that there
is still ongoing fighting on the ground. The IDF also announced that it had successfully repaired
holes in the border fence, which is now secured by both tanks and fighter aircraft in addition to
the physical barrier.
○ Two Israeli hostages were rescued and four terrorists killed at a home in Ofakim on
Saturday night.
Casualties and Hostages
● As of early Monday morning, the Israeli Health Ministry reported over 800 Israeli fatalities and at
least 2,506 injured, including twenty-three in critical condition and 353 who are seriously hurt.
