Before Operation Dawn: Islamic Jihad planned to launch an anti-tank missile at a civilian bus

The operation against the Islamic Jihad was planned in the security establishment a few months ago, when the IDF realized that the terrorist organization was about to escalate. The jihad saw the closing of the gates as an Israeli weakness - and the security establishment decided, through a trick exercise, to carry out the significant pre-emptive attack

Amir Bohbot

08/08/2022

Monday, August 8, 2022, 10:26 p.m. Updated: 11:00 p.m.

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In the video: documentation of the attack on the Islamic Jihad's rocket launching position (Photo: Doch)

Operation "Dawn" against the Islamic Jihad was planned months ago, and through a trick exercise the IDF managed to foil an attack planned against a civilian bus. The IDF realized a few months ago that the Islamic Jihad was facing escalation, and Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi A few months ago, he instructed the head of the Operations Division, Major General Oded

Basiuk

, to prepare a broad operational plan against the terrorist organization, which was called the "Black Belt" - and on Friday it was implemented.

Last Monday, will lead to an extreme security deterioration. That night, we informed the Southern Command that senior members of the terrorist organization were expressing themselves in an extreme manner and were preparing to launch an anti-tank missile at a civilian bus, with dozens of Israelis on board.

Because of this, it was decided on Tuesday to close traffic routes in the Gaza Strip and to isolate areas in the area.

The Chief of Staff instructed to pull out the "Black Sash" plan and to examine attack alternatives against the Islamic Jihad, in accordance with developments - from a targeted defeat of the entire chain of command, from the torture of Jabri to the last of the observers, which would include damage to the organization's infrastructure, outposts and headquarters, to subtle torture , which will include an attack for the purpose of deterrence.

In the background, the coordinator of government operations in the territories, General Rasan Aliyan, began to convey warnings to the Islamic Jihad and Hamas officials through intermediaries. But as time passed, the intelligence picture became clearer according to which the Islamic Jihad identified the closure of the roads as an "Israeli weakness ", and was prepared to expand the attack on the Israeli home front. As the criticism in the Israeli public increased, so did the self-confidence of the senior Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

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The attack that prevented an attack with dozens of deaths.

IDF attack in the Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters)

In assessing the situation on Thursday, after Egypt and Qatar were given the option to take down the Islamic Jihad from the high tree it had climbed, it is understood that the face of the terrorist organization is for a wide escalation.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz supported and promoted the pre-emptive strike, with the approval of Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

That evening, the Chief of Staff met with the mayors of the cities and councils from the south, and heard from them criticism of the closure of the roads and the damage to the fabric of life. Kochavi went outside to receive intelligence updates, and realized that there was a "green light" for a broad attack, which would shake the extremist organization. The Chief of Staff returned to the conversation With his face sealed, in order not to reveal any details of what will happen the next day at 16:16.

The Chief of Staff contained the harsh criticism and raised his voice, and tried to make it clear that the IDF is doing everything to protect the civilians.

In those minutes, the division of tasks had already begun in the operations division of the General Staff and the fire center in the Southern Command, and the command was preparing to carry out a ruse in consultation with the coordinator of government operations in the territories,

More in Walla!

Lapid: "Operation 'Dawn' restored deterrence to Israel";

Gantz: "We will launch a preventive strike in the future as well"

To the full article

Taysir Jabari (photo: official website, no)

One of the moves that led to the attack was to announce a humanitarian move of transferring fuel tanks to the Gaza Strip, and sending additional messages that "sedated" the Islamic Jihad.

As the hours passed, the picture and the understanding in the IDF became clearer that if there is not a widespread attack against the Jihad, it may take advantage of a mistake and harm civilians, and if the IDF does not take preventive action now, it may face a surprise attack in the future.

In the afternoon, the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet Ronan Bar, the head of the operations division, the head of the National Security Agency, the commander of the Air Force and the commander of the Southern Command gathered in the command room, to see how all the parts of the intelligence network connected to the moment when it was decided to give the order to launch the opening move in Operation "Elevation" The move itself was defined from the very beginning as an extraordinary achievement, despite the technical difficulties, during which the Air Force was required to be extremely precise and yet reduce the collateral damage and harm to those not involved. All the targets that were attacked in the 170 seconds thwarted the infrastructure for the murderous attack that was planned against the civilian bus from end to end At the same time - from the observer who directed the forces to the commander, Jabari.

For 55 hours after the opening move, the IDF deepened the operational achievement, including the elimination of Khaled Mansour. According to intelligence sources, the move strengthened Israel's deterrence in the eyes of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the entire Middle East. , Secretary General Nakhala and his deputy Ajouri are in Lebanon - so the blow is double and multiplied."

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• The Islamic Jihad

• Operation Dawn

• IDF

• Aviv Kochavi