War Day 545: Iran Predicts Houthis Downfall, Jordan Smuggling Thwarted

Summary:

• IDF Advances in Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made significant progress in both the northern and southern regions of Gaza. To maintain strategic surprise, the IDF will continue to operate with ambiguity, keeping Hamas on edge.
• Terrorist Eliminated in Lebanon: A terrorist was eliminated in Lebanon by IDF forces, further disrupting terrorist operations in the region.
• IDF Troops Fired Upon in Syria: IDF troops came under fire in Syria, with tensions continuing to rise along Israel’s northern borders.
• Iran’s Belief on Houthis: Iran reportedly believes that the Houthis, the Yemen-based militant group, will eventually fall. In response, Iran is removing its own operatives from the region.
• Drug Smuggling Operation Thwarted: A massive drug smuggling operation from Jordan was successfully intercepted, preventing illicit substances from reaching their intended destination.
• U.S. Army and IDF Collaboration: The U.S. Army and IDF continue to work together, sharing plans and strategies for future operations.

April 3, 2025

59 held captive in Gaza.
35 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
147 living hostages rescued.
49 hostage bodies rescued.
1,828 Israelis killed.
413 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
30,698 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
20,000 Israelis estimated displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Top Headlines:

– IDF takes big strides in north and south of Gaza, with more freedom of action
– Security buffer zone continues to expand
– The IDF will act with ambiguity, to keep Hamas surprised
– Several major terrorists eliminated
– Terrorists arrested and terrorists eliminated in Samaria
– Terrorist eliminated in Lebanon
– IDF troops come under fire in Syria
– Iran believes Houthis will fall – removes their own
– Massive drug smuggling operation from Jordan thwarted
– U.S. Army and IDF continue working on plans together

Hostages:

There are no known ongoing hostage negotiations. The IDF is now annexing parts of Gaza in order to pressure Hamas to release the hostages.

Gaza:

Around 8 p.m., the PIJ fired a rocket towards Kibbutz Nachal Oz, on the northern border. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome.

Following the launch, the IDF issued evacuation warnings for neighborhoods in the south of Gaza City, including Zeitoun, Tel al-Hawa, and Sabra.

Later sirens in Kibbutz Kfar Aza were a false alarm.

The new IDF spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin gave an update on the war in Gaza. He kept the explanation brief, explaining that the IDF is “maintaining operational ambiguity to surprise the enemy and achieve significant gains – our actions will speak for themselves.” In other words, the public will be kept in the dark about most activity, until the results begin to show.

What he did say, is that the war has moved on to another stage, with the goals to return the hostages and dismantle Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities. This stage began with heavy coordinated air and ground activity, during which 60 strategic targets were struck in the northern and southern parts of Gaza. The activity in Rafah is currently focused on encircling and dividing the entire Rafah area. Similar is occurring in Northern Gaza, where troops are destroying terrorist targets, clearing the area, and “dismantling enemy infrastructure.”

By the last part, the spokesman means that troops are methodically destroying every building touched by Hamas, whether by leaving weapons, tunnels, traps, or meeting inside. Troops are, thank G-d, acting with far more freedom now, due to having more bombs and explosives at hand, and less restrictions than were in place during previous battles. This is translating into far safer conditions for our soldiers, who no longer need to walk into as many traps, and instead can inspect from a distance, using an FPV drone, and destroy the target if it is a danger to the troops.

All the cleared areas are mostly flattened, and added to the security buffer zone.

Since the end of the ceasefire, and resumption of operations in Gaza, the IDF struck over 600 terrorist targets, and eliminated over 250 terrorists—including 12 senior Hamas terrorists from their militia and governing arm. All these terrorists took part in the October 7th massacre in some way.

In today’s activity in particular:

The IDF issued an evacuation warning for Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, which will be cleared out and added to the security buffer zone.

Amongst many airstrikes, the IDF detailed two significant attacks.

In Gaza City, the IDF targeted a group of key terrorists who were staying in a Hamas command and control compound, in a civilian area. The IDF did not yet identify the targeted terrorists.

The IDF identified six terrorists eliminated in a strike yesterday, on a Hamas compound in Jabaliya, Northern Gaza. Among them:

• Shadi Diab Abd Alhamid Falouji, a terrorist from the East Jabalia Battalion who took part in the October 7th massacre.
• Muhammad Sharif, a terrorist in the general security of the Hamas terror organization, who took part in the cynical release ceremony of Agam Berger.
• Muhammad Hani Atiya Daour, a terrorist who served as the head of a Hamas rocket squad.
• Muhammad Issa Mahmoud Askari, a terrorist in the rocket array in the northern brigade and an operative in the general security of Hamas.

At this point, Hamas terrorists with training and experience are a rarity, and far more valuable to Hamas, as most of the army is made up of new, untrained recruits.

Before each strike, the IDF goes to great lengths to reduce the likelihood of harming civilians in the area.

A Gazan child with special needs approached an IDF position manned by reservists, in the Netzarim Corridor. The soldiers helped the boy, fed him a lot of Bamba and other snacks, and coordinated a humanitarian ambulance to pick him up, and return him to his family. It is likely that Hamas told the boy to approach the soldiers, in hopes that he would be shot and create an outcry.

In a strong sign of Hamas’s weakness, an Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, Hisham Zaqout, wrote a post on Facebook criticizing Hamas leaders in Qatar, by suggesting that they come and live in tents under bombardment until they reach a ceasefire agreement. A few minutes later, Zaqout deleted his post.

(P.S., For the last few nights, we could hear loud explosions coming from Gaza, all the way in Be’er Sheva. They are heard the loudest and most frequently at night, but even during the daytime. That’s how we know the action is intense.)

Judea & Samaria:

Last night, terrorists threw explosives towards IDF troops who were operating in the Jenin area. The forces responded with gunfire, neutralizing one terrorist, and injuring two others. No IDF troops were hurt, thank G-d.

Overnight, 8 wanted terrorists were arrested, and two handguns were confiscated.

This evening, a knife-welding terrorist approached the Gilboa outpost, and was neutralized by IDF fire.

In another incident, terrorists threw stones towards the Route 375 highway. IDF troops responded with fire, eliminating one terrorist and injuring another.

Lebanon:

A siren in Metula this evening was a false alarm.

The IAF struck and eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist who was operating in Southern Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

A large number of Hezbollah terrorists are working to reestablish in Southern Lebanon, by moving weapons into place. The IDF tracks most of them carefully, but, in order to remain compliant with the ceasefire agreement, does not strike them until they collect strong evidence that the terrorist is an immediate threat. The Lebanese Armed Forces are supposed to be preventing the Hezbollah return, but are failing to do so.

Syria:

IDF troops were fired on while operating in the Tasil area, in Southern Syria. The troops were confiscating combat equipment and destroying terror infrastructure near Israel’s border. During the operation, several armed terrorists fired towards the IDF forces. The forces returned fire, and eliminated the terrorists.

The mission was completed successfully, with no harm to IDF troops.

Hamas and PIJ terrorists have been regrouping in Syria, after being freed from Assad’s prisons. IDF troops are working intensely to remove any weapons left behind by the Assad regime, especially near the border, so that the terrorists cannot attack Israel.

Yemen:

The U.S. has so far achieved significant success in Yemen, eliminating several senior Houthi commanders in airstrikes. While the Houthis show no intent of giving up, the Iranian regime believes that the Houthi militia will be defeated. Therefore, Iran has begun returning its military officers from Yemen (The Telegraph).

Iran:

The Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Eric Kurila, landed in Israel this week (Tuesday) as the official guest of the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The two chiefs held a joint panel with senior IDF commanders, in which the IDF says they discussed “operational issues and regional strategies.” This discussion may or may not be related to upcoming activity in Iran.

Over time, it is becoming increasingly apparent that whatever operation may take place in Iran, whether imminently, or within the year, will be far more dramatic than imagined, and may lead to several days of conflict.

Other:

IDF troops operating in Northern Israel, along the Jordanian border, stopped a major drugs smuggling operation. Packages containing 150 kg (330 lbs) of drugs which were thrown over the fence from Jordan were confiscated. Two suspects from the rab-Israeli village of Kfar Mitzar were arrested.

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