Andie Parry, Annika Ganzeveld, Kelly Campa, Peter Mills, Alexandra Braverman, Ashka Jhaveri, and Brian Carter
Key Takeaways:
- Northern Gaza Strip: Israeli media reported that the IDF Navy fired at two suspected Palestinian fighters in scuba gear approaching the border between the northern Gaza Strip and Israel.
- Southern Gaza Strip: The IDF 98th Division expanded clearing operations in the northern and eastern Khan Younis.
- Political Negotiations: Saudi state-affiliated media claimed that Hamas agreed to a modified US ceasefire proposal on March 12, which Hamas later denied.
- Iran: Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani claimed on March 13 that Iranian defense exports have increased by five times since 2022.
- Yemen: The Houthi movement launched a close-range ballistic missile targeting the USS Laboon in the Red Sea.
- West Bank: IDF Army Radio reported that the IDF completed a brigade-sized operation in Jenin.
- Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights: The IDF conducted an airstrike targeting an official in Hamas’ military wing, Hadi Ali Mustafa, near Tyre, Lebanon.
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
- Erode the will of the Israeli political establishment and public to launch and sustain a major ground operation into the Gaza Strip
- Degrade IDF material and morale around the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media reported on March 13 that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Navy fired at two suspected Palestinian fighters in scuba gear approaching the border between the northern Gaza Strip and Israel.[1] CTP-ISW has not recorded Palestinian fighters attempting to infiltrate into Israel from the Gaza Strip since early November 2023.[2] An IDF Navy helicopter destroyed an unspecified Palestinian vessel near Gaza City on March 11.[3]
The presence of Palestinian fighters and infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip demonstrates that Palestinian militias retain some capacity to operate there, despite Israeli clearing operations. Israeli forces began clearing operations in the northern Gaza Strip in late October 2023 and began withdrawing from the area in early 2024.[4] International governments and non-government organizations are beginning to build temporary infrastructure on the coast of the northern Gaza Strip to enable the distribution of aid from the sea.[5]
Israeli forces continued to operate in the central and northern Gaza Strip on March 13. The IDF Nahal Brigade (162nd Division) directed airstrikes targeting a Palestinian fighter entering a Hamas-affiliated building in the central Gaza Strip.[6] The IDF 143rd Division conducted several airstrikes targeting Palestinian militia infrastructure in Deir al Balah, including tunnel shafts and anti-tank guided missile positions.[7] The al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, which is the self-proclaimed military wing of Fatah and is aligned with Hamas in the war, claimed the only attack targeting Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on March 13. Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades fighters mortared Israeli forces in southern Zaytoun in this attack.[8]
The IDF 98th Division expanded clearing operations in the northern and eastern Khan Younis on March 13.[12] The IDF 89th Commando Brigade detained several Palestinian militia fighters, including a Hamas Nukhba commander in Hamad.[13] The IDF Egoz Unit (89th Commando Brigade) airstrikes and indirect fire targeting seven Palestinian fighters barricaded in a building in Hamad.[14] The IDF Maglan Unit (89th Commando Brigade) seized weapons in Hamad.[15] Palestinian militias did not claim attacks targeting Israeli forces in Khan Younis on March 13.
West Bank
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
- Draw IDF assets and resources toward the West Bank and fix them there
Israeli forces have clashed with Palestinian fighters at least 14 times in the West Bank since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff on March 12.[27] Nine of the clashes occurred in Jenin.[28] The al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and PIJ separately claimed small arms fire targeting IDF positions near Tulkarm on March 13.[29]
IDF Army Radio reported that the IDF completed a brigade-sized operation in Jenin on March 13.[30] The IDF killed two Palestinian fighters and destroyed planted IEDs during the operation.[31] The al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and PIJ detonated IEDs and fired small arms at Israeli forces conducting operations in Jenin on March 12.[32]
An individual stabbed and wounded an IDF soldier and an Israeli guard near Bethlehem on March 13.[33] No group has claimed the attack, and the IDF did not specify whether the attacker was affiliated with an armed group. Hamas celebrated the stabbing attack and reiterated its call for Palestinians march towards the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.[34]
Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
- Draw IDF assets and resources toward northern Israel and fix them there
- Set conditions for successive campaigns into northern Israel
Iranian-backed militias, including Lebanese Hezbollah, have conducted at least six attacks from southern Lebanon into northern Israel since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff on March 12.[35] Hezbollah claimed that it fired unspecified weapons targeting an Israeli drone and "forced it to retreat” to Israeli territory on March 13.[36] The IDF has not commented on the incident at the time of writing. Hezbollah has claimed three attacks targeting Israeli drones since March 11.[37] Hezbollah shot down an Israeli drone on February 26.[38]
The IDF conducted an airstrike targeting an official in Hamas’ military wing, Hadi Ali Mustafa, near Tyre, Lebanon, on March 13.[39] Mustafa reported to a close aide to Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Chairman Saleh Arouri, who Israel killed in Beirut on January 2.[40] The IDF stated that Mustafa was involved in “directing terror cells in Lebanon” and that Mustafa supported terror attacks targeting Israelis and Jews around the world.[41] Hamas’ military wing acknowledged Mustafa’s death on March 13.[42]
Iran and Axis of Resistance
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
- Demonstrate the capability and willingness of Iran and the Axis of Resistance to escalate against the United States and Israel on multiple fronts
- Set conditions to fight a regional war on multiple fronts
[1] https://timesofisrael dot com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-fired-warning-shots-at-two-suspects-in-diving-gear-in-northern-gaza/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=pt&_x_tr_hl=pt-BR&_x_tr_pto=s ; https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1767924598576656456 ; https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1767930211889258818
[2] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-november-4-2023 ; https://t.me/newpress1/57046 ; https://t.me/beitlahiaNews/5548
[3] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767081191214071930
[4] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-october-28-2023
[5] https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3702071/dod-to-construct-pier-to-deliver-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza/ ; https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1767756279303360619
[6] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812133725548685
[7] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812130412097822
[8] https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/6004
[9] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-kill-two-palestinians-west-bank-raid-after-deadly-night-2024-03-13/ ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767986670257713491 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767986665019126150
[10] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767986665019126150 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767986670257713491
[11]
[12] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812038548430957
[13] https://www.dot idf.il/185602
[14] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812038548430957 https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812127299899775
[15] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767812127299899775
[16] https://english dot alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/03/12/Hamas-has-agreed-to-modified-US-proposal-for-Gaza-ceasefire-Source ; https://t.me/hamasps/19737
[17] https://english dot alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/03/12/Hamas-has-agreed-to-modified-US-proposal-for-Gaza-ceasefire-Source
[18] https://t.me/hamasps/19737
[19] https://t.me/hamasps/19721 ; https://t.me/hamasps/19722 ; https://t.me/hamasps/19723
[20] https://www.reuters.com/world/us-asks-hamas-release-women-elderly-hostages-longer-ceasefire-2024-03-12/
[21] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1767662789701562382 ; https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/aid-trucks-trickle-into-northern-gaza-as-israel-opens-new-route-af0f5496?mod=middle-east_news_article_pos1 ; https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-uses-new-land-route-israel-reach-northern-gaza-2024-03-12/
[22] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1767662789701562382
[23] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1767662789701562382
[24] https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/aid-trucks-trickle-into-northern-gaza-as-israel-opens-new-route-af0f5496?mod=middle-east_news_article_pos1
[25] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1767662789701562382
[26] https://isw.pub/IranUpdate022524
[27] https://t.me/kataebaqsapalestine/3070 ; https://t.me/kataipshohdaaalaqsa/1007 ; https://t.me/sarayajneen/1211 ; https://t.me/kataipshohdaaalaqsa/1009 ; https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/5999 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767841683343843660 ; https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/6003 ; https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/6000 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/47173 ; https://t.me/QudsN/381480
[28] https://t.me/kataebaqsapalestine/3070 ; https://t.me/kataipshohdaaalaqsa/1007 ; https://t.me/sarayajneen/1211 ; https://t.me/kataipshohdaaalaqsa/1009 ; https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/5999 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767841683343843660
[29] https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/6000 ; https://t.me/QudsN/381480
[30] https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1767797220118593749
[31] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767841683343843660
[32] https://t.me/sarayajneen/1211 ; https://t.me/elaqsa_1965/5999
[33] https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1767813653938442498 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/47173 ; https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1767827978082238596
[34] https://t.me/hamasps/19738
[35] https://t.me/mmirleb/2605 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/47178 ; https://t.me/mmirleb/2616 ; https://t.me/mmirleb/2618 ; https://t.me/mmirleb/2620 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/47191
[36] https://t.me/mmirleb/2620
[37] https://t.me/mmirleb/2563 ; https://t.me/mmirleb/2594 ; https://t.me/mmirleb/2620
[38] https://t.me/mmirleb/2269 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1762032276408320450 ; https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1762033113050268060
[39] https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1767872151024013520 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767871168655089872
[40] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767871173654610411 ; https://www dot timesofisrael.com/saleh-al-arouri-mastermind-of-hamas-terrorism-in-west-bank-hostage-deal-negotiator/
[41] https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1767872151024013520 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767871168655089872
[42] https://t.me/qassam1brigades/1758 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/47176
[43] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767624078511260086
[44] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1767624078511260086
[45] https://twitter.com/nourabohsn/status/1767628932281405535 ; https://t.me/damascusv011/21318
[46] https://www.jpost dot com/arab-israeli-conflict/syria-makes-command-changes-to-1st-corps-following-israeli-threats-651949
[47] https://defapress dot ir/fa/news/656756
[48] https://www.iswresearch.org/2023/07/iran-update-july-20-2023.html;
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-4-2024
[49] https://defapress dot ir/fa/news/656756
[50] https://en.mehrnews dot com/news/212622/Iran-Qatar-defense-ministers-hold-meeting-in-Doha;
https://en.mehrnews dot com/news/212748/Iran-Armenia-defense-ministers-discuss-regional-security
[51] https://defapress dot ir/fa/news/654969
[52] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-july-17-2023
[53] https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3705123/march-12-red-sea-update/
[54] https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3705123/march-12-red-sea-update/
[55] https://twitter.com/alsyasiah/status/1767901933392552386?s=61&t=svl2T98Uxch33RSQA98Aqw