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‘We Acted Arrogantly’: Israel Presents Some Findings of Its Oct. 7 Investigations 

The destroyed contents of a dishwasher and household goods are seen at a home at Kibbutz Nir Oz following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. (Reuters)
The destroyed contents of a dishwasher and household goods are seen at a home at Kibbutz Nir Oz following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. (Reuters)
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‘We Acted Arrogantly’: Israel Presents Some Findings of Its Oct. 7 Investigations 

The destroyed contents of a dishwasher and household goods are seen at a home at Kibbutz Nir Oz following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. (Reuters)
The destroyed contents of a dishwasher and household goods are seen at a home at Kibbutz Nir Oz following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. (Reuters)

The Israeli army started presenting part of the findings of its investigation into the Hamas attack on the Nahal Oz military outpost on October 7, 2023.

The probe concluded that the Nahal Oz base has become a clear symbol of the army’s “neglect and security failure” on that day.

The delayed military response and security lapses led to the killing of 53 Israeli soldiers and the capture of 10 others from the Nahal Oz outpost, situated less than one kilometer from the Gaza border, the investigations showed.

The official findings of the probe are to be presented to relevant families and then made available to the public.

They mainly revealed that prior to the attack, soldiers at the Nahal Oz outpost say their warnings about suspicious Hamas activity were repeatedly ignored.

‘We acted arrogantly’

According to the investigation, Hamas collected accurate intelligence data about Nahal Oz and the Yiftach military base from afar for years prior to launching the deadly assault and was intimately familiar with the layout of the bases and their vulnerabilities.

The probe showed that the Israeli political leadership had ignored the military threats prior to the attack.

Speaking to a forum of senior officers, Brig. Gen. Yossi Sariel, head of the military intelligence Unit 8200 said: “We, and I above all others, did not do our duty, did not learn the lesson and acted arrogantly.”

The investigations showed that Hamas had detailed knowledge of the layout of the Nahal Oz base, including the locations of various rooms, guard positions, and the areas with lighter security.

Timing of the attack

According to the probe, Hamas assumed that the timing of the attack should be on a religious holiday or weekend, because fewer forces remain on the base at those times.

The night before the attack, at 6:00 pm, Hamas gave its fighters instructions on how to attack the base, and the squad commanders began preparations.

Warning signs had emerged on that night, but were ignored by the military leaderships. Senior officers alerted to the unusual movement concluded that there was no need to send troops down to the border.

The investigations found that at the time of the assault, only one guard was stationed at the front gate.

Although there were double the number of Israeli soldiers than Hamas gunmen, they lacked firepower and weapons.

Also, had troops been instructed to take up their positions, “the battle picture would have looked different,” the report said.

The probe showed that Hamas was able to easily kill large groups of Israeli soldiers who had gathered in bomb shelters, according to their plan.

Timeline

At 6:30 am, the attack began. Around 65 Hamas fighters stormed the base, located 800 meters from the border with Gaza. There were 162 soldiers stationed at the base, 90 of whom were armed, with 81 combat soldiers.

At 6:45 am, the deputy battalion commander was wounded shortly after the attack started, and the first wave of Hamas fighters infiltrated the post 20 minutes later.

At 7:30 am, Israeli soldiers were unable to repel the attackers. Ten minutes later, an Israeli army armored personnel carrier arrived with a company commander, marking the first military use of vehicles during the attack.

At 7:50 am, the Israeli forces were preparing for a counterattack, but by 8:20 am, part of the force was ambushed and killed, disrupting the counteroffensive.

At 8:53 am, Hamas fighters managed to destroy an Israeli tank that was stationed at the site.

At 9:00 am, a second wave of approximately 50 Hamas fighters arrived at the site.

At 10:00 am, a third wave of 100 more fighters entered the base.

At noon, the operations room was burned.

At 2:00 pm, the rescue forces arrive to evacuate the wounded.

At 8:00 pm, the base was completely cleared of Israeli forces.

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Arab World

Drone-Making Equipment Bound for Houthis Seized in Bab el-Mandeb

The boat was transporting equipment used to manufacture drones and explosive-laden boats (Giants Forces) 
The boat was transporting equipment used to manufacture drones and explosive-laden boats (Giants Forces) 
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Drone-Making Equipment Bound for Houthis Seized in Bab el-Mandeb

The boat was transporting equipment used to manufacture drones and explosive-laden boats (Giants Forces) 
The boat was transporting equipment used to manufacture drones and explosive-laden boats (Giants Forces) 

Yemen’s Southern Giants Brigades announced they had intercepted a boat carrying equipment allegedly intended for manufacturing Houthi drones and explosive-laden boats as it attempted to reach the Red Sea coast of Hodeidah province, home to ports controlled by the Iran-backed group.

According to the forces, the seized cargo included equipment used in the production and operation of drones and suicide boats, including a hydraulic drilling machine, servers, electronic control chips, GPS devices for target guidance, engines, and other specialized components.

The interception took place Monday evening following an intelligence-led surveillance operation. Three sailors allegedly affiliated with the Houthis were arrested aboard the vessel, which was reportedly transporting equipment intended for manufacturing drones used in the group’s attacks.

Col. Adel al-Mahwali, head of operations for the 17th Giants Brigade, said the operation reflected the forces’ “high level of vigilance.” He added that all seized materials had been secured and that legal procedures were underway.

Al-Mahwali revealed that the operation was part of the Giants Forces’ broader efforts to secure Yemen’s coastline and vital shipping lanes, in line with directives from Presidential Leadership Council member and Southern Armed Forces commander Abdul Rahman Al-Mahrami, widely known as Abu Zaraa, who has made combating smuggling a priority.

Al-Mahrami, for his part, praised the operation and called for intensified efforts to combat smuggling, tighten oversight of Houthi supply routes, and prevent the trafficking of weapons and equipment that, he said, threaten Yemen’s security and regional stability.

Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani also welcomed what he described as a significant security success, saying the interception demonstrated a high level of professionalism, readiness, and vigilance in protecting Yemen’s coastline and maritime corridors, according to the official Saba News Agency.

Al-Eryani said the seizure provided fresh evidence that Iran continues to supply the Houthis with advanced weapons and military components in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the arms embargo imposed on the group. He stressed that the interception underscored Tehran’s continued use of the Houthis to advance its regional agenda and threaten Yemen’s security, regional stability, and international shipping.

Arab World

What Is Behind Claims of RSF Training Camps in Libya?

Military vehicles belonging to the Libyan “National Army” in the south last March. (General Staff)
Military vehicles belonging to the Libyan “National Army” in the south last March. (General Staff)
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What Is Behind Claims of RSF Training Camps in Libya?

Military vehicles belonging to the Libyan “National Army” in the south last March. (General Staff)
Military vehicles belonging to the Libyan “National Army” in the south last March. (General Staff)

Talk of ties between Libya's "National Army," led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resurfaced following fresh allegations that RSF fighters are being trained at camps inside Libya.

The army's General Command rejected the allegations, describing them as "part of a campaign aimed at tarnishing its image."

A senior Libyan military source on Thursday also denied foreign media reports of RSF training camps in Libya, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that the claims were "baseless."

The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of his position, said the report was “an attempt to cloud the security stability achieved in eastern and southern Libya ... This is false propaganda the General Command has faced for years, especially since the outbreak of the war in Sudan.”

Libyan lawmaker Ali al-Soul, a member of parliament’s National Security Committee, echoed the denial, saying reports of RSF camps on Libyan territory were “nothing more than media lies unsupported by any facts on the ground.”

Al-Soul told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Libya does not interfere in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, and has not and will not fuel any conflicts there.”

“There are no foreign forces from neighboring countries witnessing conflicts, especially Sudan, inside Libyan territory,” adding that Libya acts only through “good offices to calm tensions and protect its national security,” he said.

The Libyan lawmaker said the “National Army” was “doing its duty to protect the country’s sovereignty, borders and resources, fighting smuggling gangs with the available means, and respecting the sovereignty of other states by not backing one side against another.”

Recent reports said southern and eastern Libya host a logistical hub for training RSF fighters, identifying four training camps in areas under the control of the “National Army.”

They include “Camp 17” near Benghazi, where fighters are trained to operate drones and heavy weapons, according to analysis of satellite images and open-source videos.

The reports drew on an investigation by the Dutch organization Lighthouse Reports, in cooperation with Sudan War Monitor and Evident Media, a group specializing in visual investigations.

People close to the “National Army” see the accusations through a different lens, linking them to Libya’s political situation and active international efforts to resolve the crisis, as the country remains divided politically and militarily more than a decade on.

Libyan political analyst Ayoub al-Awjali said the timing of the accusations was “not innocent.”

He told Asharq Al-Awsat they “coincide with the US initiative led by US presidential adviser Massad Boulos on the Libya file,” suggesting they may be part of attempts to “shuffle the political cards and influence the course of ongoing understandings.”

Libya’s political scene is currently focused on an initiative attributed to Boulos that would see Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the “National Army,” take over the Presidential Council, while the interim Government of National Unity's Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, would remain in a senior role at the head of a unified government.

Al-Awjali did not rule out “efforts by some international parties involved in the Libyan crisis to use such accusations to achieve political gains or reshape the scene in ways that serve their interests, given the advanced steps made by the Boulos initiative.”

He expected “new accusations and attempts” to use various crisis cards in the next phase.

The “National Army” maintains that it has no involvement in Sudan’s conflict, saying its mission is limited to protecting the southern border and preventing threats to Libyan security.

Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar previously made the same point in a televised interview, saying: “The conflict in Sudan is an internal matter in which we do not interfere. Our role is limited to securing Libya’s borders with neighboring countries.”

The parliament-appointed government and Libya’s House of Representatives have also said the same.

Sudan’s representative to the UN Security Council, Al-Harith Idris, had accused Libya’s “National Army” of providing logistical support to the RSF.

In a briefing to the Security Council last month, he said the Subul al-Salam Battalion, based in Kufra, was transferring ammunition and mortar rounds from the warehouses of the 106th Brigade to the RSF.

In December, Reuters reported that an airstrip at Kufra airport in southeastern Libya had been used as a logistical platform to support military operations linked to El Fasher, an allegation the “National Army” denied.

Arab World

Syrian FM in Beirut to Reassure Lebanon Over Military Intervention Fears

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrives at the government palace in Beirut. (AP)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrives at the government palace in Beirut. (AP)
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Syrian FM in Beirut to Reassure Lebanon Over Military Intervention Fears

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrives at the government palace in Beirut. (AP)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrives at the government palace in Beirut. (AP)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani sought on Thursday to allay Lebanese fears of possible Syrian military intervention, assuring that Damascus had “no intention of taking any military step.”

The assurance came during his visit to Beirut, whose meetings extended beyond Lebanese officials, including his first meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to a broad spectrum of political forces. During the visit, Shibani also expressed Damascus's openness to meeting Hezbollah “if the interest requires it.”

The broad meetings in Beirut conveyed a message of Syrian openness toward Lebanon's political forces. They were the first of their kind between a senior Syrian official and representatives of Lebanese parties, underscoring Damascus' desire to open a new chapter with all Lebanese, across the political spectrum.

The most striking stop was Shibani’s first meeting with Berri, one of Hezbollah’s most prominent allies inside Lebanon.

Afterward, Shibani described the meeting as excellent. He also said a future meeting with Hezbollah was possible “if the interest requires it,” while stressing that no such meeting was scheduled during his current visit to Beirut.

Military intervention confusion

Shibani arrived in Lebanon on Thursday morning on his second visit to the neighboring country. He began his meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during which the Syrian delegation sought to “clarify the confusion” surrounding talk of a Syrian military intervention in Lebanon.

The delegation said “Syria has no intention of taking such a step,” stressing that Damascus wanted to deal with Lebanon “from state to state.”

It said Syria stood by the Lebanese state in its decisions and choices, and wanted to develop bilateral and economic ties while contributing to Lebanon’s security and stability, which it said would also benefit Syria.

Shibani said the visit aimed to strengthen and steadily develop relations between the two countries, praising existing coordination.

He said Syria’s current authorities were working to close the chapter on the mutual interference that had marked relations in the past, and wanted to expand cooperation at all levels while engaging with all Lebanese parties.

Shibani called for continued and stronger coordination between Lebanon and Syria, and for a shared vision for solutions in the region and in both countries.

He pointed to efforts to build a Lebanese-Syrian economic partnership with Gulf states open to the idea, and said coordination through the committee formed by the two countries was important to advance work on the economy, energy and other fields.

Shibani also invited Aoun to visit Damascus and hold a summit with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Aoun

The Lebanese presidency said Aoun “affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to brotherly relations with Syria based on cooperation, coordination and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries,” and to developing those ties across all fields.

Aoun said such relations were especially important after a previous period of mutual interference that created tension and caution.

He said that the chapter should end through state-to-state relations, respect for each country’s particularity and good neighborly ties, because what affects Syria, positively or negatively, also affects Lebanon, and vice versa.

Aoun welcomed security coordination between the two countries, “particularly in controlling the border and preventing all forms of smuggling, including weapons, drugs and people, in both directions, in the interest of both Lebanon and Syria.”

He also welcomed the formation of a higher committee to safeguard their shared interests.

Aoun said Lebanon was following events in Syria, especially in the south. He said he always calls, in regional and international meetings and contacts, for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and Syria so the region can enjoy stability and security.

He said he was keen on Syria’s stability, just as Syria was keen on Lebanon’s stability.

Economic cooperation

Shibani also met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. At a joint news conference, the two sides announced the formation of a joint higher committee that Shibani said would serve as “a platform for all relevant ministries to develop economic, investment and trade partnerships, as well as security understandings, and expand cooperation between the two countries.”

Salam said the two sides also discussed electricity interconnection between Lebanon and Syria, transport, the exchange of goods and easier movement across their border, which stretches for more than 300 km.

He said he had discussed those issues with Sharaa during his last visit to Damascus in May.

Dar al-Fatwa

Shibani visited Lebanon’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian. Dar al-Fatwa said the meeting covered Islamic and national affairs, strengthening ties between the two countries, and the importance of consultation, communication, cooperation and coordination between the Lebanese and Syrian states.

Derian praised “the efforts and endeavors of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his keenness on Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, Arab identity and the extension of its authority over all Lebanese territory.”

Derian placed great importance on the Syrian foreign minister’s visit to Lebanon at a difficult time for the country.

“Lebanon will remain in solidarity and cooperation with Syria and with all brotherly Arab states, away from axes and conflicts that threaten the security of Lebanon and the Arab region,” he said.

Shibani also visited Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai.

Jumblatt

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt received Shibani.

“Between a balanced and objective relationship with Syria, and an agreement that could lead to worse than the May 17 Agreement, I prefer a balanced relationship with Syria,” Jumblatt said after the meeting.

“A good relationship between Lebanon and Syria is a historical destiny,” he added.