Carolyn Moorman, Annika Ganzeveld, Ria Reddy, Johanna Moore, Ben Rezaei, and Nicholas Carl

Information Cutoff: 2:00pm ET

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Hamas released three male Israeli hostages on February 8. Hamas gave the hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Deir al Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Israel, in exchange, released 183 Palestinian prisoners, including 111 whom the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detained in the Gaza Strip during the October 7 War. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office vowed that it would take unspecified “actions” in response to the frail and weak condition of the Israeli hostages.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have attacked Turkish and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) positions north of Tishreen Dam since CTP-ISW's last data cut off on February 7. The SDF conducted a drone attack targeting Turkish forces on Qara Qozak Hill, causing casualties. The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) fired an anti-tank guided munition targeting a Turkey-SNA position on Qara Qozak hill, killing 10 SNA fighters and wounding 14 SNA fighters and three Turkish soldiers.

The SDF conducted a drone attack targeting an SNA transport vehicle near Deir Hafer on February 7. The SDF reported that the attack led to an unknown number of SNA casualties.

Turkey and the SNA have conducted indirect fire attacks targeting the SDF on the eastern bank of Euphrates River since CTP-ISW's last data cut off on February 7.

Key Takeaways:

• Gaza Strip: Hamas released three Israeli hostages. Israel, in exchange, released 183 Palestinian prisoners.

• Syria: The US-backed SDF attacked Turkish and Turkish-backed SNA positions north of Tishreen Dam.

• Iran: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei met with senior Hamas officials in Tehran and discussed fighting in the Gaza Strip.

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