Israel
JC Israel Briefing Day 581: IDF renews counter-terror operations in Lebanon and West Bank
Plus, Trump to skip Israel on Middle East tour
May 9, 2025 08:17
Plus, Trump to skip Israel on Middle East tour
May 9, 2025 08:17This story first appeared as today’s Israel briefing newsletter. You can sign up to receive it daily here.
Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza and five others have been wounded. Yishai Elyakim Urbach, 20, from Zichron Ya’akov, and Yam Frid, 21, from Sal’it, died hours apart during fighting in Rafah’s al-Jeninah neighbourhood. Urbach, a newlywed, was killed when a shoulder-launched missile hit a building; Frid was killed when an armoured vehicle struck an explosive.
A terrorist who abducted an 85-year-old Israeli woman on October 7, as his driver laughed, has been killed. Sickening footage from the abduction showed Mohammed Baraka in a car with octogenarian Yaffa Adar, and showed his driver seemingly finding the situation amusing. An Israeli strike yesterday successfully targeted him in Gaza.
Adar, who was returned to Israel, commented: “I salute the security forces who took part in eliminating the terrorist who brutally abducted me from my home on that cursed Saturday.”
She said that while people may think it would give her “closure”, it does not, as the body of her eldest grandson, Tamir Adar, is still in Gaza.
Israel is operating against terror in Lebanon and in the West Bank. In Lebanon, Israeli jets bombed Hezbollah weapons plants in the Beqaa Valley. The IDF said the facilities were producing and storing arms in violation of cross-border security agreements.
In the West Bank, troops killed a Palestinian gunman in Nablus during a raid on a wanted suspect. Security forces said the man was linked to the defunct Lion’s Den group and planning further attacks. Soldiers arrested a second suspect.
Also in the West Bank, an Israeli baby was lightly injured while riding a bus that was targeted with stones. The incident occurred in the Jordan Valley. The IDF said troops were searching for those responsible.
Iran’s top general warned Israel and the US that any strike would trigger all-out retaliation. Hossein Salami said Iranian forces were ready to respond “with everything we have.” The statement followed Israeli attacks on targets in Yemen.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Netanyahu’s closest adviser, reportedly met Trump at the White House yesterday – hot on the heels of America’s surprise announcement to halt strikes on the Houthis. The meeting was not announced by either side. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff also attended.
The session came two days after Trump announced a ceasefire with the Houthis without informing Israel. Netanyahu’s team learned of it from the television. One Israeli official said: “We were shocked that the Trump administration didn’t tell us anything.”
The decision followed Israeli strikes on Yemen after a Houthi missile hit Tel Aviv’s international airport. Israeli officials said the ceasefire did not apply to attacks on Israel and feared it showed how little influence they now had in Washington. Dermer had raised those concerns with Rubio a day earlier.
Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE but is skipping Israel. Officials say Israel has set the end of that trip as the deadline for a hostage deal.