Israel at War: What happened on day 18?

Israeli artillery forces struck the source of rocket fire from Syria on the Golan Heights on Tuesday evening, the IDF confirmed.

Sirens sounded in the towns of Neot Golan, Bnei Yehuda, and Givat Yoav, to the East of Lake Kinneret.

The IDF said two rockets were launched at Israel from Syria and fell in open fields.

IDF strikes terror cells in Lebanon

The IDF targeted a terrorist cell that fired anti-tank missiles at Israel from within Lebanese territory, it said on Tuesday.

The Israeli military responded with artillery forces to anti-tank fire directed at the northern border towns of Shutla and Menara. The IDF destroyed the weaponry used to launch the missiles, it added. 

Israeli schools and educational facilities across the central region of Gush Dan will resume operations without restrictions, the IDF's Home Front Command announced starting from Tuesday.

Schools will also fully resume operations in Jerusalem. 

The Tel-Aviv Municipality released a statement following the new guidelines, announcing that schools in the city will continue to operate under the same protocols as they did last week.

Israel will not stop attacking targets in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is completely destroyed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told elite Yahalom Unit soldiers on Tuesday.

Speaking to the special Israeli forces at the Emanuel base in the South, Netanyahu assured the forces that "we are looking ahead to the next phase of the war, it is coming.

"We have only one goal in sight - to destroy Hamas," the prime minister said. "We will not stop until this target is met."

During his visit to the southern base, Netanyahu received a full briefing of the unit's operations since the day of the mass infiltration of Hamas terrorists and the subsequent massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7.

One idea being considered by the war cabinet is a ground invasion that is larger than any seen since 2014 and including 2014, but one which is still limited in how long and how deep the IDF goes into parts of Gaza, with one of the goals being to create a new northern Gaza security zone.

No one will admit this on the record, but several officials also would not deny it and there have been growing anonymous leaks about the idea.

There are a variety of upsides and downsides to this idea. The most obvious upside is fewer dead Israeli soldiers in the short term. But what are some priorities of the IDF operation?

Five Israelis were wounded in a massive barrage of rockets fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon, Magen David Adom confirmed.

The rocket barrage, which caused sirens to sound across the entire central Israel region, sent over a million Israelis to the shelters. Five Israelis were wounded in separate incidents in Holon, Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Be'er Yaakov, and Yavne.

Two of the wounded were hit by rocket shrapnel, suffering respective arm and head injuries, while three others were wounded after seeking shelter.

MDA said it was looking into reports of rocket falls in the aftermath of the Hamas barrage, reportedly the largest in number aimed at Tel Aviv since the start of Operation Swords of Iron.

This is a developing story.

Israeli security forces targeted and killed three senior Hamas military officers on Tuesday, the IDF announced.

The Israeli military, directed by the Shin Bet, killed the deputy commanders of Hamas's Shati and Sheikh Radwan battalions. Khalil Mehjez and Khalil Tetri were both killed in targeted airstrikes.

Additionally, the IDF also killed Abed al Rahman, the deputy commander of Hamas's Nuseirat battalion, who was involved in the mass infiltration on October 7 and the massacre of civilians in kibbutz Be'eri. 

Israel continues to strike at terror sites in Gaza.

This includes northern Gaza such as near the Shati camp, Shujaiyya, Jabalia and other areas. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel also continued to warn Gazans to remain in southern Gaza where they can access humanitarian aid. 

Israel has struck Hamas members and it will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing for the ground incursion that is expected to come. This includes preparing as many units as are needed with training refresher courses in such things as urban combat. It includes training up reservists who have flocked to their units as well. Israel called up around 300,000 people after October 7. 

The IDF targeted a terrorist cell that fired anti-tank missiles at Israel from within Lebanese territory, it said on Tuesday.

The Israeli military responded to anti-tank fire directed at the northern border towns of Shutla and Menara. The IDF destroyed the weaponry used to launch the missiles, it added.

No casualties or wounded were announced.

This is a developing story.

The IDF is offering Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip safety from Hamas and cash rewards in exchange for information on the whereabouts of at least 222 Israeli hostages.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it contacted Gazan civilians "through various channels," including dropping leaflets in neighborhoods across the Strip.

The leaflets, dropped by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, urged Gazans to contact the IDF through either widespread messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, or through a secured line, for those in fear of repercussions by Hamas.

IDF to Gazans: We're offering you a better future

The IDF, in Arabic, promised Gazans "the utmost effort to provide you and your loved ones safety, as well as a financial reward.

"We promise you complete anonymity," the IDF wrote in the message to Gazans. 

"If you wish a better future for you and your children, take a stand and send us substantial information about hostages in your area."

IDF Chief-of-Staff (Lt.-Gen.) Herzi Halevi on Tuesday spoke from the Southern border, saying, "I want to be clear, we are ready to invade."

He added that the IDF is making the decision about the exact timing in coordination with the political echelon.

This second line was the loudest acknowledgment to date of criticism of the IDF and the government for delaying the counter-invasion of Gaza since Hamas' October 7 invasion of the South.

Is Israel's war with Hamas peaking?

Halevi said, "The State of Israel is at the height of a war which was started by the Hamas terrorist organization. It will regret it, it is starting to regret it even now."

"IDF forces are now in the field and are defending robustly. We still need to be on the ready," he continued.