Israel’s Operation Swords of Iron Update October 20, 2023
JINSA
Israel’s Operation
Swords of Iron Update
October 20, 2023
Ari Cicurel
Assistant Director of Foreign Policy
Yoni Tobin
Policy Analyst
Zachary Schildcrout
Policy Analyst
Anna Schaftel
Programs and Outreach Associate
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprovoked and unprecedented multi-pronged attack on
Israel by land, air, and sea. JINSA issued a NatSec Brief with an early assessment of the war
on October 8 and is producing daily updates during the war. Updated information and analysis
are below, which JINSA will continue to produce throughout the war.
Last 24 Hours
Attacks Against Israel
l More than 7,144 rockets, mortars, drones, and other projectiles have been fired from Gaza
during the war.
» Of the over 7,000 rockets launched by Hamas against Israel, at least 770 have failed,
including falling short and landing inside Gaza.
» Rockets struck Sderot, and sirens sounded in Aderet, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ein HaBsor,
Kfar Aza, Kissufim, Ibim, Mefalsim, Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion, Holon, Bat Yam and Yavne
as well as other locations in southern Israel.
» A missile struck a building in Qiryat Shemona in northern Israel on October 19, causing
three injuries, including one minor injury and two moderate injuries.
- The IDF announced on October 20 that it was evacuating residents of Qiryat
Shemona to a number of state-funded guesthouses indefinitely. The town is
approximately two kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, outside the zone from
which Israel already ordered an evacuation for the safety of its citizens in the north.
» Four rockets were fired at Tel Aviv on October 19, of which two were intercepted. No
damage or injuries were reported.
l Terrorists in Lebanon fired a barrage of rockets from Lebanon on October 19 and shot at
IDF soldiers on the border.
» Over twenty rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon in a one-hour span on October
19, according to Israeli press reports.
- Hamas claimed responsibility for several of the rockets launched against Israel from
southern Lebanon. One journalist said the barrage against Kiryat Shmona “appeared
to be the most serious assault on the city since 2006, when it came under heavy
