Institute for the Study of War
"NEW: Palestinian militias are likely re-infiltrating into areas of the northern Gaza Strip where Israeli forces previously conducted clearing operations. CTP-ISW has observed renewed militant activity in several neighborhoods across the northern part of the strip in recent weeks, as Israeli forces have transitioned to less intense fighting there. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on December 31, 2023, that it withdrew five brigades from the northern Gaza Strip and said that it would transition to targeted raids with its remaining forces. CTP-ISW assessed on January 2 that the IDF transitioning to this new phase of operations will very likely enable Hamas to reconstitute itself militarily."
"16 JAN Iran Update: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-16-2024
The IDF 646th Paratroopers Brigade (assigned to the 99th Division) continued to conduct clearing operations in the Central Governorate of the Gaza Strip. The 98th Division conducted clearing operations focused on locating Hamas leadership and degrading Hamas’ Khan Younis Battalion in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF announced Special Forces Unit 217 (Duvdevan) operating under the 89th Commando Brigade withdrew from the southern Gaza Strip.
The New York Times reported that the IDF now believes that there are more tunnels underneath the Gaza Strip than previously thought.
A low-level Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander told Israeli intelligence he received military training in Iran before Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Hamas and Israel reached a deal to supply medicine to Israeli hostages in exchange for additional humanitarian aid inflows to the Gaza Strip.
The al Qassem Brigades fired rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.
Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian fighters four times across the West Bank.
Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) conducted six attacks from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.
Iran conducted three drone and missile strikes abroad.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—claimed that it conducted a long-range cruise missile attack targeting Israel.
The Houthis continued their attack campaign targeting international shipping on January 16. The United States conducted a strike targeting four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles in Yemen on January 16."