The IDF's 401st "Iron Tracks" Brigade

Meet the armored brigade that's eliminated at least 150 Hamas terrorists

The 401st Brigade of the IDF has the perfect nickname for the current war with Hamas, “Swords of Iron”.

They’re known as the “Iron Tracks” Brigade.

In today’s newsletter I want to share what they’ve accomplished so far during their combat missions in Gaza.

Shoulder tag of the 401st

After days of intense fighting, the 401st Brigade’s Combat Squad is now striking within the perimeter of Hamas’ Shati Regional Battalion.

Over the past few days, the soldiers of the 401st eliminated approximately 150 terrorists and gained control over Hamas’ terrorist strongholds in the northern Gaza Strip.

These are 3 of the strongholds taken by the 401st:

• The Haspina Outpost

  This outpost contained an arms production site, rocket launchers, and an underground tunnel network.

• The Blue Beach Hotel

  About 30 Hamas terrorists fortified themselves in this hotel and fired several anti-tank missiles at IDF forces. After it was taken, our forces found that the terrorists used the hotel rooms as shelter and for the benefit of planning attacks above and below ground.

The hotel as seen on Trip Advisor

• The Bader Outpost

  This was the main outpost of Hamas’ Shati Battalion, which is located near civilian buildings. As part of the raid on the outpost, the forces of the 401st destroyed a Hamas command center and rocket launch sites.

Since the beginning of the war, eight soldiers of the 401st gave their lives defending the State of Israel.

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Operational Updates

Southern Front

• Last night marked two weeks of continuous ground activity in the Gaza Strip. IDF forces are now operating deep in Gaza City, taking control of Hamas strongholds and in intense firefights with terrorists.  To date, 11 military posts of Hamas have been taken by IDF ground troops.

• Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has struck over 15,000 terror targets in the Gaza Strip and located 6000 weapons, including anti-tank missile launchers, anti-aircraft missiles, rockets and mortars, explosives, ammunition, and more.  

• Over the last few days, IDF troops killed numerous terrorists from Hamas' Zabra Tel Elhua Battalion and struck terrorist infrastructure, including tunnel shafts, rocket launchers, weapon depots, observation posts, and terror tunnels.

• Ground operations are conducted with close cooperation between the air force and navy and joint operations continue to successfully strike Hamas targets:

  • A terror cell approaching ground troops were eliminated in an airstrike, removing the threat to our soldiers. 

  • Working together with forces on the ground, IDF naval forces struck a weapons depot and other terror infrastructure.

Northern Front

• Despite Hezbollah’s attempts to distract us from our mission, the IDF is focused on our mission to dismantle Hamas and bring home every hostage. 

• Last night the IDF struck the terror group in Syria. The group was responsible for launching a drone that struck a school in Eilat. 

• Three IDF soldiers were severely injured by an anti-tank missile launched at an IDF post in the area of Manara in northern Israel. Additionally, an IDF soldier was severely injured and another was moderately injured from the fall of a hostile aircraft that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanon.

• In response to these attacks, IDF fighter jets and aircraft struck a series of terror targets belonging to Hezbollah. 

Strikes on Hezbollah Targets

• On Saturday morning, a launch was identified toward the Margaliot area

  IDF artillery struck the source of the launch in Lebanon.

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Quote of the Day

“Love you and see you at home”

- Armored corps soldier on the ground in Gaza, speaking to his father, an air force pilot flying above him. Listen to the full conversation here

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What I’m Reading

The Social Media War - Mosaic

What effect will viewing the war primarily through their social feeds have on young people?

The Scenes of Genocide I Saw in Israeli Morgues - WSJ

First hand testimony from a doctor who visited Israeli morgues and hospitals, and saw the evidence of Hamas’ atrocities.