Israel Marks 1118 Days of War With Operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and West Bank

On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, marking the 1118th day of the "War of Revival" or "Iron Swords War," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported ongoing operations across multiple fronts. In Judea and Samaria, the IDF conducted operations in Arab towns, detaining suspects. The IDF maintains control over a buffer zone in southern Lebanon and southwestern Syria, conducting strikes and operations within these territories as needed. A formal ceasefire is in effect in Gaza, though the IDF controls a buffer zone encompassing over 60% of the strip. The IDF stated it attacks terrorists in response to violations and carries out targeted assassinations.

Early morning reports from Palestinian sources indicated IDF activity in Tamun, south of Tubas; Al-Fawara, south of Hebron, where suspects were detained; Tubas, where one suspect was detained; Idna, west of Hebron; Al-Murayk, northeast of Ramallah; Aqaba, north of Tubas; Yasid, north of Shechem; and Ain al-Sultan, north of Jericho. Additionally, IDF artillery targeted areas near Al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon. IDF forces were also reported in Sanur, south of Jenin; Dir Balut, west of Salfit; and Qalqilya, where suspects were detained. A Gaza source reported an IDF naval vessel firing on a target west of Gaza City.

The "War of Revival," also known as the "Iron Swords War," began with a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, involving rocket barrages and a ground incursion into Israel by thousands of militants. This resulted in over a thousand civilian deaths, hundreds of security personnel killed, and hundreds taken hostage. Hezbollah subsequently joined the conflict with rocket fire from the north. Initially, 251 individuals were abducted to Gaza, with the last surviving hostages, 168 people, reportedly freed by October 2025. The remains of the final hostage were returned in January 2026, with over 80 hostages confirmed dead or deceased in captivity.

The article details the initial attack, including the massacre at the Re'im music festival and atrocities in kibbutzim like Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz, as well as incursions into western Negev towns. It notes that over 2,000 people were killed in Israel in the initial days, with tens of thousands wounded. The IDF reported approximately 970 soldiers killed since the war's start, and estimated 20,000 Hamas militants and 10,000 Hezbollah militants killed in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. The conflict has seen extensive missile and drone launches from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen, and has displaced hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Approximately 7,000 suspected terrorists have been detained in Judea and Samaria since October 7, 2023, with about a third linked to Hamas. The IDF claims tens of thousands of targets in Gaza and thousands in Lebanon have been struck. Gaza's Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reported over 73,000 killed and 174,000 wounded in Gaza, though a Henry Jackson Society report questioned the reliability of these figures, suggesting Hamas inflated casualty numbers. The UN estimates 1.7 million Gazans were displaced, with many in shelters. The article also touches upon humanitarian aid delivery, attacks from Yemen, and past Israeli strikes in Iran, as well as significant escalations in Lebanon in late 2024, including the elimination of Hezbollah leaders and the "Arrows of the North" operation. It mentions a joint Israeli-American operation against Iran in early 2026, the subsequent ceasefires, and ongoing diplomatic efforts. The article concludes by stating that the IDF continues its operations in Judea and Samaria, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.