Iran Update, November 24, 2023

Nov 24, 2023 - ISW Press

Iran Update, November 24, 2023

Ashka Jhaveri, Andie Parry, Peter Mills, and Annika Ganzeveld

Information Cutoff: 2:00pm EST

The Iran Update provides insights into Iranian and Iranian-sponsored activities abroad that undermine regional stability and threaten US forces and interests. It also covers events and trends that affect the stability and decision-making of the Iranian regime. The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) provides these updates regularly based on regional events. For more on developments in Iran and the region, see our interactive map of Iran and the Middle East.

Note: CTP and ISW have refocused the update to cover the Israel–Hamas war. The new sections address developments in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as noteworthy activity from Iran’s Axis of Resistance. We do not report in detail on war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We utterly condemn violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.

Click here to see CTP and ISW’s interactive map of Israeli ground operations. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.

Note: This update covers the 48 hours of activity from 2:00pm EST November 22 to 2:00pm EST November 24. CTP-ISW did not publish an update on Thursday, November 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Key Takeaways:

The Israel–Hamas four-day humanitarian pause went into effect on November 24. Israeli forces and Hamas have not claimed attacks in the Gaza Strip in accordance with the pause.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it would adhere to the cessation of military activity in the Gaza Strip.
CTP-ISW has not verified reports of clashes or militia attacks in the West Bank since the Gaza Israel–Hamas pause in fighting went into effect.
Iranian-backed militias, including Lebanese Hezbollah (LH), have not conducted attacks into northern Israel since the pause in fighting went into effect. LH did not claim any attacks on November 24, nor did the IDF announce any launches from southern Lebanon into Israel.
The secretary general of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Seyyed ol Shohada released statements that suggest the Islamic Resistance in Iraq will refrain from attacks on US forces during the Hamas-Israel pause in fighting. He also called upon the group to monitor the implementation of the pause in fighting and to act accordingly to support the Palestinian resistance.

Gaza Strip

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

The Israel–Hamas four-day humanitarian pause went into effect on November 24. Israeli forces and Hamas have not claimed attacks in the Gaza Strip in accordance with the pause. Israel and Hamas agreed to a prisoner/hostage swap but characterized it with different levels of detail on November 22.[1] The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on November 24 that 24 hostages were freed from the Gaza Strip, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens, and one Filipino citizen.[2] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on November 22 that the deal allows Red Cross representatives to visit hostages in the Gaza Strip and deliver medicine.[3] Qatar confirmed that Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in return during the first stage of the swap.[4]

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson for Arab media said that Israeli forces will relocate during the temporary suspension of fire to sparsely populated areas inside the Gaza Strip.[5] The Israeli Southern Command commander approved plans for operational preparations at the ceasefire lines.[6] Israeli forces will continue administrative and logistical movements on the Netzarim axis and coastal road in the northern Gaza Strip.[7] The IDF spokesperson emphasized that “the war is not over yet” and warned civilians against returning to the northern Gaza Strip.[8] The Israeli Army Radio said Israel intercepted a rocket shortly after the ceasefire went into effect on November 24.[9] A Times of Israel military correspondent commented that a rocket launch after a truce begins is “tradition.”[10] Neither Hamas nor Israel has commented on any violations of the agreement since then.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said it would adhere to the cessation of military activity in the Gaza Strip. The military spokesperson of the al Quds Brigades—the military wing of PIJ—said on November 23 that the militia is committed to the pause during the period of humanitarian truce.[11] The spokesperson said that the militia would release an unspecified number of its hostages.[12] The al Quds Brigades claimed that an Israeli hostage died due to Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip while in the militia’s custody on November 21.[13] The same Israeli hostage was part of the first 24 hostages Hamas released to Israel on November 24, however.[14] CTP-ISW has previously reported that Hamas and its allies attempted to prepare the information environment to blame Israel for the possible deaths of hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas and PIJ thanked several Iranian-backed militias operating in the region for their support and attacks during the Israel–Hamas War. PIJ Secretary General Ziyad al Nakhaleh thanked Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) for its attacks on the northern Israeli border.[15] Nakhaleh also commended militias in Iraq for attacks on US bases in the region and the Houthis in Yemen for attacks into Israel.[16] Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh similarly thanked LH, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis for their solidarity with Palestine.[17]

Israeli forces conducted clearing operations in the northern Gaza Strip before the pause in fighting began on November 24. The IDF said on November 23 that its forces operated on the outskirts of Jabalia and uncovered underground infrastructure.[18] Palestinian journalists and local media reported that Israeli forces cleared the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya on the night of November 23 after surrounding it.[19] Israel has repeatedly claimed that Hamas uses hospitals and civilian infrastructure for military activity such as hiding, including the Indonesian Hospital.[20] Israeli forces arrested the director of the al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on the grounds of allowing Hamas to use the hospital as a command headquarters.[21] Israel said that the director allowed Hamas to use the hospital’s electricity to strengthen the underground tunnel network.[22] The IDF destroyed a tunnel at al Shifa Hospital and shafts in the area of the medical complex.[23]

Palestinian militias attacked Israeli forces on the Israeli lines of advance across the northern Gaza Strip prior to the pause in fighting. The military spokesperson for al Qassem Brigades—the militant wing of Hamas—claimed on November 23 that its forces operated in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Sheikh Radwan, and Zaytoun neighborhoods, where Israeli forces have begun their stated advance into Gaza City.[24] The al Quds Brigades claimed it destroyed Israeli military vehicles in an unspecified location.[25] The militia fighters used tandem charge anti-tank rockets, rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), and anti-personnel weapons to attack Israeli forces and vehicles.[26] The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades—the militant wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)—claimed to fire mortars and rockets at Israeli forces on November 23.[27] CTP-ISW previously reported that the IDF faces a loose coalition of Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip—not just Hamas.

Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on a Hamas naval force commander in Khan Younis on November 23. The IDF said that it conducted the airstrike with military and naval intelligence as well as Shin Bet guidance.[28] The IDF also destroyed the naval arm’s weapons depot, tunneling sites on the coast, and other military infrastructure.[29] The IDF has targeted Hamas’ naval capabilities throughout the Israel–Hamas war, which Hamas could use to target Israeli gas rigs and other infrastructure, according to an Israeli journalist.[30]

Palestinian militias continued indirect fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel prior to the pause in fighting. The al Qassem Brigades claimed it fired mortars and rockets at three Israeli military sites in southern Israel on November 23.[31] The al Quds Brigades claimed a mortar attack in southern Israel on November 23.[32]

NOTE: The IDF said that its forces are stationed along ceasefire lines across the Gaza Strip during the pause in fighting. CTP-ISW's map of Israeli clearing operations shows reported Israeli clearing operations and the claimed furthest Israeli advances. CTP-ISW will not map the shift in Israeli operating areas during the humanitarian pause.

Recorded reports of rocket attacks; CTP-ISW cannot independently verify impact.

West Bank

Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:

Draw IDF assets and resources toward the West Bank and fix them there

CTP-ISW has not verified reports of clashes or militia attacks in the West Bank since the Gaza Israel–Hamas pause in fighting went into effect at 00:00 ET on November 24. Palestinian militia fighters engaged in six distinct clashes and conducted two IED attacks on Israeli forces on November 23 prior to the pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip.[33] Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians, including two Hamas associates, in overnight raids in West Bank towns. [34]

Palestinian militia fighters clashed with Israeli forces in two areas and detonated two IEDs during the November 22-23.[35] Israeli forces conducted raids into West Bank towns and arrested 40 Palestinians, three of whom were associated with Hamas.[36] The Ayyash Battalion conducted an indirect fire attack with a Qassem-1 rocket from Jenin at the Shaked settlement on November 23 before the temporary ceasefire.[37] The Ayyash Battalion conducted a similar rocket attack on August 15.[38]

Palestinians organized at least six demonstrations in response to the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails on November 24.[39] One of the demonstrations took place outside the Ofer Prison, from which the prisoners were released.[40] Palestinian media reported that Israeli forces opened fire into the crowd demonstrating in front of the prison, injuring several individuals.[41]

Some Palestinian militias reiterated calls for violence in the West Bank on November 23. The al Quds Brigades’ Tulkarm Battalion issued a military statement on November 23 that its soldiers are still engaged in the Battle of the Al-Aqsa Flood with full force on the front line.[42] It also claimed that the group’s weapons are deployed in all areas.[43] The Tulkarm Battalion took heavy causalities, including two commanders, in clashes with Israeli forces during a raid on November 22.[44] Al Qassem Brigades Spokesperson Abu Obaida called for confrontation with Israeli forces to escalate in the West Bank in a speech on November 23.[45] The al Qassem Brigades has repeatedly called for the mobilization of the West Bank to no great effect.[46]

This map is not an exhaustive depiction of clashes and demonstrations in the West Bank.

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 (LH), have not conducted attacks into northern Israel since the pause in fighting went into effect on November 24. LH did not claim any attacks on November 24, nor did the IDF announce any launches from southern Lebanon into Israel.[47]

Iranian-backed militias, including LH, conducted 24 attacks into Israel on November 23, the day before the pause in fighting began.[48] LH claimed 23 of the 24 attacks.[49] This is the largest number of attacks from Lebanon into Israel since November 2.[50] LH launched 48 rockets into northern Israel from southern Lebanon.[51] An IDF spokesperson said that some of those rockets failed and fell on civilian houses in southern Lebanon.[52] LH also fired a “Burkan” rocket, which carries a 300–500kg warhead, at an Israeli barracks on November 23.[53] Unspecified militants fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli aircraft over southern Lebanon on November 23, in a rare use of air defense in Lebanon.[54]

An Israeli airstrike killed the son of Muhammad Raad, the head of the LH political bloc, in southern Lebanon on November 22.[55] The IDF conducted multiple airstrikes targeting LH units conducting cross-border attacks, LH military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, and the LH Radwan Unit headquarters on November 23.[56] The IDF has not announced strikes into southern Lebanon since the pause in fighting began, however.

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

Abu Alaa al Walai—the secretary general of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Seyyed ol Shohada—released statements that suggest the Islamic Resistance in Iraq will refrain from attacks on US forces during the Hamas-Israel pause in fighting. Walai framed the pause in fighting as a victory for Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance and stated that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias “forced the enemy to submit to the conditions of the resistance.”[57] Walai also called upon the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to monitor the implementation of the pause in fighting and to act accordingly to support the Palestinian resistance. [58]

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—claimed responsibility for six attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria on November 23. The group has not claimed any attacks since the Hamas-Israel pause in fighting went into effect. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq and its affiliated groups have claimed 74 attacks against US forces in the Middle East since October 18.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed two attacks on US forces in Syria on November 23. The group claimed it launched a rocket salvo at the US base Conoco Mission Support Site and launched a one-way attack drone targeting US forces near al Omar, in northeastern Syria.[59] The group has claimed six attacks on Conoco and three attacks on al Omar since October 18.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed that it launched two waves of one-way attack drones targeting US forces at Ain Asad Airbase on November 23.[60] The group has claimed 21 attacks on Ain Asad Airbase since October 18.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed that it launched two waves of one-way attack drones targeting US forces near Erbil airport on November 23.[61] The group has claimed seven attacks on Erbil airport since October 18.

The US destroyer Thomas Hudner shot down multiple one-way attack drones that the Houthis launched from Yemen on November 23.[62] The IDF intercepted a Houthi-fired cruise missile south of Eilat on November 22.[63] The Houthi military spokesmen stated on November 22 that the movement would continue carrying out military operations targeting Israel until there was a ceasefire in both Gaza and the West Bank.[64] The Houthis have not launched any missiles or drones towards Israel since the Israel–Hamas ceasefire went into effect on November 24.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq al Dhaferin Group disavowed its claimed attacks against US bases in Iraq and stated that the group was a disinformation operation.[65] CTP-ISW will remove the Dhaferin Group’s three claimed attacks from our data layer. CTP-ISW cannot assess the purpose of the Dhaferin group’s disinformation operation.

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed the four-day humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas with senior Lebanese, LH, Hamas, and Qatari officials on November 22–23. Abdollahian met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and LH Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on November 22 and 23, respectively.[66] Abdollahian emphasized the need for a “complete ceasefire” during his meeting with Mikati. Abdollahian additionally framed the agreement between Israel and Hamas to pause fighting as a sign of Israel’s “helplessness” during his meeting with Nasrallah. Abdollahian met with Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Jassim al Thani in Doha on November 23.[67] Abdollahian’s November 23 visit to Doha marks his third trip to Qatar since the start of the Israel–Hamas war on October 7.[68] Abdollahian and Haniyeh claimed that the United States and Israel were “forced” to accept a pause in fighting due to their failure to achieve military successes in the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh thanked Iran for its “special efforts and support” for a pause in fighting and described the pause as a “political victory” for the Axis of Resistance.

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is attempting to pressure Israel to extend the four-day pause in fighting by warning that Israel’s failure to do so will precipitate an expansion and intensification of the war. Abdollahian warned during his November 23 meeting with al Thani that “the conditions in the region will intensify" if Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip after the end of the four-day pause.[69] Abdollahian made similar warnings in an interview with LH-affiliated al Mayadeen and in a post on X (Twitter) on November 23.[70] Abdollahian has repeatedly warned about the potential expansion of the conflict since October 7. Abdollahian warned on October 16, for example, that resistance groups would take “preemptive action” against Israel "in the coming hours.”[71] The Axis of Resistance notably did not follow through on Abdollahian’s threat in the hours after he issued it.

Iranian state media claimed on November 24 that Israel violated its agreement with Hamas to pause fighting. Raisi administration-affiliated IRNA claimed that the IDF violated the agreement by “attacking” Gazan civilians attempting to return to the northern Gaza Strip.[72] Hamas did not accuse Israel of violating the agreement on November 24.

[1] https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/spoke-kidnapped221123 ; https://t.me/hamasps/17906

[2] https://twitter.com/MofaQatar_EN/status/1727770445334692259; https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/11/24/world/israel-hamas-hostage-relea...; https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/24/middleeast/who-are-the-hostages-released-...

[3] https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1727473284143263851

[4] https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-24-2023-172256dd5931...

[5] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727795936523440622

[6] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1728028323547074976

[7] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727795936523440622

[8] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727908761602298182

[9] https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1727921406942298337

[10] https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1727919092001112140

[11] https://t.me/C_Military1/40256

[12] https://t.me/C_Military1/40255

[13] https://t.me/sarayaps/16734

[14] https://m.jpost dot com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-774986

[15] https://t.me/C_Military1/40250

[16] https://t.me/C_Military1/40250

[17] https://t.me/C_Military1/40257

[18] https://www.idf dot il/155538

[19] https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1727934472438288571; https://t.me/newpress1/59637; https://t.me/beitlahiaNews/8074

[20] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1726963701541200103

[21] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-military-detains-director-al-shifa-... https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727671822110314557

[22] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-military-detains-director-al-shifa-...; https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727671822110314557

[23] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727926252038738172

[24] https://t.me/qassam1brigades/527

[25] https://t.me/sarayaps/16744

[26] https://t.me/qassam1brigades/528; https://t.me/sarayaps/16744; https://t.me/qassam1brigades/523

[27] http://The Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades destroy enemy crowds and settlements with heavy-caliber mortar shells and rocket barrages in response to the occupation’s crimes against our people

[28] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727780795694162018

[29] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727780795694162018

[30] https://twitter.com/Doron_Kadosh/status/1714925804302340292; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1717872157726822542; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1715104398244778136

[31] https://t.me/qassam1brigades/524; https://t.me/qassam1brigades/522; https://t.me/qassam1brigades/521

[32] https://t.me/sarayaps/16748

[33] https://t.me/QudsN/333912; https://t.me/QudsN/333932 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333945 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333974 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333971 ; https://t.me/almanarnews/137713 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333981 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334003 ; https://t.me/almanarnews/137722 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334036

[34] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727997014699307052

[35] https://t.me/beitlahiaNews/8015 ; https://t.me/almanarnews/137589 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333744 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333750 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333904 ; https://t.me/QudsN/333894

[36] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727701560057029029

[37] https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1727664588005814382 ; https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1727648442715885856

[38] https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1691350117461217280 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1691382472519421952

[39] https://t.me/QudsN/333914 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334236 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334299 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334363 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334406 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334389 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334478 ; https://t.me/QudsN/334470

[40] https://t.me/QudsN/334389

[41] https://t.me/QudsN/334392 ; https://twitter.com/SafaPs/status/1728104947605205284 ; https://twitter.com/SafaPs/status/1728089416286061015 ; https://twitter.com/SafaPs/status/1728055418331496571

[42] https://t.me/sarayatulkarm/419

[43] https://t.me/sarayatulkarm/419

[44] https://t.me/sarayatulkarm/419

[45] https://t.me/hamasps/17932 ; https://t.me/qassam1brigades/527

[46] https://t.me/jeninnews1/76013; https://felesteen dot news/hashtag/40611/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF ; https://www.almanar dot com.lb/11140439 ;

[47] https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/cautious-calm-l...

[48] https://t.me/C_Military1/40239 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727681115501056320

[49] https://t.me/C_Military1/40239

[50] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-november-2-2023

[51] https://t.me/C_Military1/40239 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/40170 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727639610010849741

[52] https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1727711621634531614 ; https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1727615282816909639

[53] https://t.me/C_Military1/40239 ; https://t.me/C_Military1/40220 ; https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-says-front-with-isra...

[54] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727584970720333987

[55] https://twitter.com/AuroraIntel/status/1727451498710200737 ; https://twitter.com/GLZRadio/status/1727454233895547029 ;

[56] https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727812280463532152 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727681111239618868 ; https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1727584966949712220 ; https://twitter.com/Doron_Kadosh/status/1727598712375906390

[57] https://twitter.com/aboalaa_alwalae/status/1728039277357924448

[58] https://twitter.com/aboalaa_alwalae/status/1728039277357924448