Operation Swords of Iron: What happened on Day 13?

A US Navy warship traveling near Yemen intercepted multiple projectiles, a US official told Reuters on Thursday. The missiles, according to Israeli media citing the Pentagon, were launched at Israel.

Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Hamas war.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there were no injuries and a number of projectiles, including drones, were brought down near the destroyer USS Carney.

A special prayer service is scheduled to take place today at the Western Wall Plaza. The event is dedicated to fervently praying for the safe return of those who were kidnapped by Hamas during the Hamas massacre on October 7.

The prayer service will also seek divine blessings for the IDF and the dedicated Israeli security personnel during Operation Swords of Iron.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites of Israel will lead the prayer service. Additionally, the event will be honored by the participation of Avichai Brodtz, whose wife and three children were tragically abducted.

The ceremony will include the recitation of the Mincha prayer, the chanting of select Psalms, and heartfelt prayers for the safety and triumph of IDF soldiers, as well as the overall well-being of the entire nation.

The service will be streamed live on the Western Wall Heritage Foundation's website as well as on The Jerusalem Post news site below:

Ten members of the Israel Border Police force were wounded during activity in Nur Shams, near the Palestinian city of Tulkarm, in the West Bank on Thursday.

One was seriously wounded, and the other nine were lightly wounded; all injuries were the result of an explosive thrown at the officers. 

They were taken to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba for treatment. 

The officers were in the West Bank as part of an ongoing effort with the Shin Bet and the Israeli army to arrest individuals wanted for terrorist activity and to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Nur Shams. 

During the raid, an IDF aircraft was deployed to attack a group of armed militants in Nur Shams. As a result, several of these militants, who the IDF determined posed a danger to Israeli forces in the area, were killed.

Israeli security forces announced on Thursday afternoon that they were targeting the sources of rocket fire along the Lebanon border. 

The IDF identified the sources of the six rocket launches which triggered alerts in the Western Galilee on Thursday. Five of them landed in open areas and the sixth was successfully intercepted. 

Rocket sirens sounded in several northern Israeli border towns in the Western Galilee, the IDF confirmed Thursday afternoon, including Shumra, Even Menachem, Abirim, and Fassuta.

They also sounded a short while later in Nahariya and Rosh Hanikra. 

After the IDF announced it was striking targets in Lebanon, the IDF issued an order for residents of Rosh Hanikra and Hanita to get inside and lock the doors of their homes. 

A view shows Israeli artillery units at a position near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, October 19, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/LISI NIESNER)

Israeli security forces announced on Thursday afternoon that they were targeting the sources of rocket fire along the Lebanon border. 

The IDF identified the sources of the six rocket launches which triggered alerts in the Western Galilee on Thursday. Five of them landed in open areas and the sixth was successfully intercepted. 

Rocket sirens sounded in several northern Israeli border towns in the Western Galilee, the IDF confirmed Thursday afternoon, including Shumra, Even Menachem, Abirim, and Fassuta.

Shortly after the IDF announced it was striking targets in Lebanon, the IDF issued an order for residents of Rosh Hanikra and Hanita to get inside and lock the doors of their homes. 

Rocket fall in Sderot

At the same time, rocket sirens were heard in Sderot and other Gaza border communities. The Sderot municipality reported that there were at least two instances of fallen rockets or shrapnel in the city. One hit a car and the other hit an open area in a residential neighborhood. There were no injuries. 

This is a developing story.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Israel's south on Thursday and met with soldiers serving on the Gaza border. 

"We are first and foremost focused on...defeating Hamas," Gallant said. "I have been leading soldiers into battles for 45 years. I am responsible for security. I was responsible for it these last two weeks- even during difficult times, I am responsible for bringing [Israel] to victory."

Gallant further noted that the IDF was gearing up for a long-term engagement with Israel's enemies, saying: "We are not talking about a short [military] campaign. We are talking about a prolonged campaign." 

He then touched on the threat of Hezbollah on the Lebanon border. "Hezbollah is trying to challenge the State of Israel and the IDF, and have deployed [forces] in strong defensive formations. The strength of the entire IDF...is at our disposal. We are alert, and if Hezbollah wants to start a war, it should first look at the photographs of Gaza City."

Smoke rises following a blast amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, October 18, 2023, as seen in this screen grab taken from a handout video. (credit: Palestinian Media Group/Handout via REUTERS )

WATCH: New footage that emerged from the October 7 massacre in Israel shows Hamas terrorists blocking roads near Re'im, the site of the rave party massacre, while gunfire is heard in the background.

(CREDIT: VIA @MaarivOnline) Read more here: https://t.co/K4OJlfzWO5 pic.twitter.com/Dt71P49IKJ

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 19, 2023

The IDF's array of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is fully prepared to support troops on the ground if and when necessary, according to a Thursday afternoon statement from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. 

Israel's UAVs have already struck approximately 800 targets since the start of Operation Swords of Iron; among those were Hamas terrorists, rocket launch staging areas, weapons caches, and other infrastructure meant for attacking Israel. 

The IDF was also able to hit rocket launchers in real-time as they fired toward Israel. 

"From the moment the first siren sounded, all base personnel without exception, both regular and reserve, worked around the clock [to] defend against all threats directed to Israel," said Brigadier General Omri Dor of Palmachim Air Force Base. 

"Over the past few days, the UAV [units] in cooperation with other security forces have stopped hundreds of terrorists, prevented attempts to infiltrate into our territory, and attacked enemy targets," Dor continued. "We will continue to do everything in our power to maintain the security of the State of Israel and its citizens." 

Rocket sirens sounded in several northern Israeli border towns in the Western Galilee, the IDF confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Residents of Shumra, Even Menachem, Abirim, and Pasuta were told to seek shelter immediately.

This is a developing story.

A resident of Tel Sheva in southern Israel was arrested on Thursday for housing Gaza residents without the proper paperwork in his home, according to the Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit.