Syrian Islamist rebels capture Hama | Israeli FM Sa'ar sees 'opportunity' for hostage deal | IDF continues dismantling terror infrastructure in Lebanon

16:01 - Islamist rebels capture Syrian town of Hama

The Syrian regime announced its forces were leaving the town of Hama, a crucial stronghold and the country’s fourth-largest city, amid the onslaught of a rebel coalition spearheaded by the jihadist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani confirmed his troops were moving into the city in a video statement shortly after.

Footage on social media showed rebel forces triumphantly entering the city shortly after.

#Syria: the streets of #Hama following the rebel-takeover. Residents gather at intersections to greet rebel forces as they enter they city. pic.twitter.com/Gv3gKyiYdB

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) December 5, 2024

15:02 - Israel sees "opportunity for hostage deal" and is "serious" about talks, FM Sa'ar tells Blinken

Israel's foreign minister told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "We see an opportunity for a deal to release the kidnapped. Israel is serious about promoting a deal."

The top diplomats met on the sidelines of the ongoing Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting of foreign ministers in Malta. Sa'ar thanked Blinken for his support of Israel throughout the war and discussed the situation in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

According to his office, Sa'ar told Blinken that Israel sees an opportunity to promote a deal for the release of hostages and that Israel is serious about promoting such a deal.

14:25 - Syrian army admits rebel groups entered Hama

Syrian opposition-affiliated news website Voice of the Capital reported that the armed opposition groups had entered the city of Hama.

Despite initially denying a breach in the city's defense, the Syrian army announced: "Over the past few days, our armed forces have fought fierce battles to repel and thwart the violent and successive attacks launched by terrorist groups on the city of Hama from various fronts, with large numbers, using all means and military equipment, and assisted by infiltration units."

The statement continued, "Within hours, these groups were able to penetrate several axes in the city and enter it, despite suffering heavy losses in their ranks."

The Syrian Revolution Archive, a channel on 𝕏 that documents the Syrian revolution, posted a video of what it claimed was the release of prisoners and detainees from the central prison in Hama.

فرحة عارمة بتحرير السجناء والمعتقلين في سجن #حماة المركزي pic.twitter.com/rFTLAWdZAx

— أرشيف الثورة السورية Syrian Revolution Archive (@syr_rev_archive) December 5, 2024

13:42 - 50 wanted suspects arrested this week in Judea & Samaria operations

IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police forces detained about 50 wanted Palestinian suspects in Judea and Samaria this week.

The forces also confiscated weapons, thousands of shekels in terror funds, weapons parts, and other military equipment.

The IDF Spokesperson also said that seven terrorists were eliminated in Judea and Samaria by Israeli Air Force (IAF) strikes. Overnight, the forces operated in Nablus, Beit Furik, and several other villages. The soldiers detained seven wanted persons, three in Benjamin, and two in Etzion. There are no injuries among the troops.

13:25 - IDF soldiers continue dismantling terror infrastructure in Lebanon

As Israeli troops continue to be deployed in southern Lebanon, the military said they continue to carry out defensive activities near the border fence, neutralizing threats in the area, "per the understanding between Israel and Lebanon."

"Troops of the 188th Armored Brigade located and dismantled underground infrastructure dozens of meters long. The infrastructure included an exit to a firing position aimed at communities and outposts within Israeli territory. The troops located numerous weapons, mortars, and rockets and the brigade's engineering forces dismantled the underground infrastructure."

Soldiers of the 769th Brigade located numerous weapons and neutralized several terrorists who posed a threat to them, the IDF added.

תיעודים מפעילות אוגדה 91 בדרום לבנון ובהגנה על ישובי הצפון: השמדת תשתית תת-קרקעית, חיסול מחבלים חמושים והסרת האיומים במרחב

לפרטים המלאים: https://t.co/ETbzJI0oyS pic.twitter.com/WLEeDi1HMz

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 5, 2024

12:45 - IDF says investigating possible infiltration near Dead Sea

"A short while ago, a report was received regarding suspicious activity along the Israel-Jordan border, south of the Dead Sea. Security forces were dispatched and are currently conducting searches for suspects," the IDF spokesperson said.

The IDF is assessing whether an infiltration took place.

10:59 - Syrian rebel groups announce entry into Hama

Syrian rebel factions in northwestern Syria on Thursday said they launched an incursion into the city of Hama as part of the military offensive launched a few days ago, during which they took control of Aleppo.

The opposition groups, primarily groups backed by Turkey, have made several attempts to encircle and enter the city of Hama over the past few days, but have been repelled by a coalition of regime forces, along with Russian assistance.

10:17 - Syrian reports: Alleged Israeli strike north of Damascus hits weapon depot

According to Israel's Channel 12, citing Syrian reports, an unusually large airstrike, attributed to Israel, struck a target north of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The site reportedly stored weapons that Israel sought to prevent from falling into the hands of either the regime or the advancing anti-regime forces moving south toward Damascus.

09:43 - SOHR says fighting continues around Hama, Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that fierce clashes continue between Syrian regime forces and Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and factions operating under the banner of “Deterrence of Aggression.”

Operations since Saturday morning on various frontlines around Hama city, including Zein Al-Abideen, have made no significant progress and have failed to penetrate the city of Hama.

SOHR also reported airstrikes by Russian and regime fighter jets, targeting rebel positions in the cities and towns of Taybat Al-Imam, Khattab and Maardas, attempting to cut supply routes to HTS and its allied factions.

09:15 - Egypt said to be waiting for Israel response to ceasefire proposal

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, affiliated with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, reported that Egypt is waiting for the Israeli response to its proposed temporary ceasefire, linked to a hostage release agreement, in Gaza. The newspaper cited sources indicating that Egypt warned Israeli officials rejecting the offer could lead to "entering a dark tunnel with no hope of saving the hostages alive."

09:05 - Lebanese media reports IDF blocking roads to 2 southern Lebanon towns

The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese news site Al-Mayadeen reported: "Israeli occupation bulldozers are raising earthen barriers on the road between the town of Shebaa and Birkat al-Naqqar, under the protection of Merkava tanks."

08:31 - 5.7 Richter-scale earthquake reported in Iran

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that an earthquake measuring 5.7 magnitude struck Western Iran earlier this morning.

The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), GFZ stated.

07:20 - Lebanese media report IDF strikes

Lebanese media reported that an Israeli airstrike was carried out overnight in the area of Hamour, in the south of the country. Various news sites also reported that IDF soldiers "blew up houses" in the village of Yaroun, also in the south of the country.

03:11 - White House not coordinating with Trump hostage efforts

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that President Joe Biden’s aides are aware of contacts between Israeli and Qatari leaders and incoming President-elect Trump's special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, but are not actively coordinating with Witkoff.

The Biden administration, rather than Witkoff, is leading U.S. efforts to restart negotiations toward a hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza, the official said.

He said the Biden administration does not see a need to coordinate with Witkoff, viewing his discussions with countries involved in the negotiations as primarily introductory and focused on familiarizing himself with the mediators rather than engaging in formal negotiations.

Trump recently threatened that the hostages must be released before he takes office on Jan. 20, or there would be "all hell to pay."

02:45 - Amnesty International report says Israel 'committing genocide' in Gaza

Amnesty International claimed that Israel is “committing genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza in a new report released this morning.

The London-based human rights organization says its findings are based on “dehumanizing and genocidal statements by Israeli government and military officials,” satellite images documenting devastation, as well as fieldwork and ground reports from Gazans.

Amnesty chief, Agnes Callamard, stated that the report's “findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.”

The 296-page report glosses over the situation of the hostages in Gaza, except for a brief statement calling for the unconditional release of kidnapped civilians. The report focuses only on alleged Israeli human rights abuses, ignoring Hamas' documented human rights and war crimes violations, which is typical for Amnesty International.

NGO Monitor, which reports on the biases of various human rights organizations, said that Amnesty has a "history of antisemitism and hatred for the Jewish State."

Israel has completely rejected genocide allegations leveled against it as a modern “blood libel.” The country has challenged similar allegations in the International Court of Justice, and it has completely rejected the International Criminal Court’s accusations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, are guilty of war crimes in Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated: “The deplorable and fanatical organization Amnesty International has once again produced a fabricated report that is entirely false and based on lies.”