Israel Continues Operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and West Bank

On November 7, 2026, the 1128th day of the "War of Revival" (also known as the "Swords of Iron War") against terrorist organizations, the IDF reported ongoing operations in Arab towns in Judea and Samaria. The IDF maintains control over a buffer zone in southern Lebanon and southwestern Syria, conducting periodic strikes and operations in both countries. In Gaza, a ceasefire is formally in effect, though the IDF controls a buffer zone covering over 60% of the strip and responds to violations by attacking terrorists, including targeted assassinations.

The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led attack from Gaza, involved rocket barrages and border breaches, resulting in over a thousand Israeli civilian deaths and hundreds of hostages taken. Hezbollah joined the conflict shortly after with attacks from the north. Initially, 251 individuals were abducted to Gaza, with the last surviving hostages, 168 people, reportedly freed by October 2025, and the remains of the final hostage returned in January 2026. Over 80 hostages were killed or died in captivity.

The initial attack targeted a music festival near the Gaza border, where thousands were present, resulting in hundreds killed and many taken hostage. Terrorists also carried out massacres in kibbutzim like Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz, and raided communities in the Western Negev. Hamas initiated the conflict, calling it "Al-Aqsa Flood," prompting Israel to declare a state of war for the first time since 1973.

Since the war's inception, Israel has suffered significant casualties, with over 2,000 deaths reported by October 7, 2023, and subsequent days, alongside tens of thousands wounded. The IDF estimates approximately 970 soldiers have been killed in various theaters of operation. Hamas claims over 73,000 killed and 174,000 wounded in Gaza, though a Henry Jackson Society report questioned the reliability of Hamas's Health Ministry data. The UN reports about 1.7 million Gazans displaced, with many residing in shelters.

Throughout the conflict, over 13,000 rockets were launched from Gaza and approximately 15,000 from Lebanon. The IDF has conducted extensive operations, targeting tens of thousands of sites in Gaza and thousands of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria. Additionally, around 7,000 suspected terrorists have been detained in Judea and Samaria since October 7, 2023, with about a third linked to Hamas. The conflict has also seen escalations involving Iran, Yemen, and international efforts for hostage and prisoner exchanges, with periods of ceasefire and renewed hostilities.

Recent developments include the reported elimination of key terrorist leaders like Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, and Yahya Sinwar. In September 2024, pager and radio explosions among Hezbollah activists led to dozens of deaths and thousands injured, followed by intensified IDF strikes in Lebanon, including the elimination of Hezbollah commanders. A ground operation in Lebanon, "Arrows of the North," began in late September 2024. In December 2024, the Assad regime in Syria fell, prompting IDF entry into border areas to establish a buffer zone. Houthi activity from Yemen has become regular, with ongoing exchanges of strikes. International efforts, including US-led operations and mediation, have aimed at de-escalation and ceasefires, though the situation remains volatile, with a high probability of renewed conflict in Iran.