Fighting Terrorism

Turkey: Center for Hamas Leadership and Coordination

Since 2003, the ties between Hamas and Erdoğan's Turkey have grown stronger and have been manifested by Turkey's hosting senior movement figures, political and diplomatic support and economic and humanitarian assistance; Hamas also turned Turkey into an important foothold from which it directs attacks on Israeli targets and raises funds to finance terrorist activities; During the last several months, the Hamas leadership had begun transferring its organizational activity from Qatar to Turkey for "security" reasons and due to the consequences of the war in Iran; Coordination between the Hamas and the Turkish leaderships increased regarding the continued implementation of the agreement, despite Turkey's status as guarantors of the agreement and mediators. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (July 15—22, 2026)

Senior Iranian officials congratulated Khalil al-Hayya on his election as Hamas’ new head of the political bureau and reiterated Iran’s continued support for the Palestinians. The pro-Iranian militias also welcomed his appointment; An Iranian member of parliament warned that if Syria’s president confronts Hezbollah, it will accelerate Syria’s “liberation” by the “resistance.”; The commander of the Qods Force declared that the Axis of Resistance would continue to flourish under the leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei; The advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader sharply criticized the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit to the United States during the mourning ceremonies following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; The Houthis and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq threatened to intensify their attacks if the United States targets Iran’s energy infrastructure. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a $10 million reward for the assassination of President Donald Trump; The Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in response to the Saudi blockade imposed on their territories in Yemen. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 14-21, 2026)

Hamas announced the election of Khalil al-Hayya as the new head of its political bureau, 21 months after the elimination of Yahya al-Sinwar; IDF forces continued operations within the Yellow Line and other parts of the Gaza Strip, destroying Hamas weapons depots and other terrorist facilities and assets and eliminating more than 16 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, many involved in the atrocities of the October 7, 2023 invasion and massacre and who had held hostages; Another round of negotiations in Cairo on implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement ended without progress in disarming Hamas and the other terrorist armed organizations operating in the Gaza Strip; The date for the entry into Gaza of the Palestinian national committee for the administration of Gaza remains unknown. However, the committee continues to hold coordination meetings with the Board of Peace and the Palestinian Authority to discuss the provision of essential services and the beginning of reconstruction work; Hamas' security forces continue to identify "collaborators" with the militias and Israel amid the continuing targeting of "resistance fighters" in the Gaza Strip; Hamas and Palestinian Authority delegations arrived in Qatar to offer condolences to the emir on the death of his father; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, detaining dozens of wanted Palestinians and locating large quantities of weapons. An Israeli Arab was detained on suspicion of planning to assassinate an Israeli government minister. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (July 13-20, 2026)

The Lebanese and Israeli delegations completed another round of direct talks in Rome under American mediation and principles were formulated for implementing the first phase of the framework agreement, which will enable the deployment of the Lebanese army. Israel was accused delaying the withdrawal of IDF forces from the pilot areas to preserve leverage; Lebanese President Aoun arrived in the United States for talks with senior American administration officials to persuade them to pressure Israel to start implementing the framework agreement and to secure American support for the Lebanese army; Hezbollah and Amal criticized the framework agreement, claiming the objective of the pilot areas was to maintain an Israeli presence in south Lebanon and eventually disarm the "resistance." The Hezbollah-affiliated editor of al-Akhbar claimed a demand for Israel's withdrawal from all south Lebanon appeared in the draft framework agreement, but Lebanese President Aoun ordered it removed; IDF forces continued operations in the security zone in south Lebanon, destroying Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure and eliminating terrorists who posed a threat. Hezbollah accused Israel of "violating the ceasefire," but did not actively respond. A Lebanese army soldier was killed in an explosion in south Lebanon; the IDF reported it had been caused by an explosive device planted by Hezbollah; Hezbollah reorganized its units in south Lebanon and reduced its activity in the border villages; The Syrian interior ministry announced that the smuggling of a large quantity of advanced weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon had been prevented near the border with Iraq, including 150 explosive UAVs, and long-range and anti-tank missiles. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (July 7-14, 2026)

Hamas announced the dissolution of its government emergency committee in preparation for transferring administrative responsibilities to the national committee for the administration of Gaza. However, it continued to enforce physical control by executing alleged collaborators and displaying flags at the funerals of eliminated terrorist operatives. Members of the Board of Peace said they would judge actions rather than declarations; IDF forces continued operating within the Yellow Line and other areas of the Gaza Strip, destroying terrorist infrastructure and eliminating more than ten terrorists who were involved in advancing attacks or restoring Hamas' military capabilities. Many of them had participated in the atrocities of the October 7, 2023, invasion and massacre and held hostages. Hamas' spokesman in the Gaza Strip reportedly survived an attempted targeted killing; his bodyguard was killed; A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to continue talks with the mediators on the remaining bones of contention, including weapons, the future of public-sector employees in the Gaza Strip and the IDF withdrawal; A senior UN official condemned Hamas after armed men attacked a food distribution point and a warehouse belonging to an international aid organization; An international pro-Palestinian campaign is calling for the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip, who is being detained in Israel because of his status as a senior Hamas officer and his involvement in terrorist activity carried out at the hospital; Hamas has reportedly transferred a significant portion of its "organizational activity" to Turkey for "security reasons" and to reduce American and Israeli pressure on Qatar to expel the movement's leadership. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (July 6-13, 2026)

Lebanese and Israeli delegations are expected to meet in Rome on July 14 and 15 to discuss implementing the framework agreement, while Lebanese President Aoun prepares for his first visit to the White House on July 21, when he will ask the United States to expand its involvement, promote an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and increase assistance to the Lebanese army; The Lebanese army reportedly opposes any framework which would require it to meet Israeli demands or coordinate directly with the IDF; the commander of the Lebanese army told the political leadership in Beirut that preserving the army's unity was his highest priority; Hezbollah continues its hard line against the framework agreement, calling it a "surrender agreement" and claiming it violates the constitution; IDF forces continued operations in the security zone in south Lebanon, destroying Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure and eliminating terrorists who posed a threat. Hezbollah operatives were reportedly ordered to prevent the strategic underground complex on the Ali al-Taher Ridge from falling into the hands of the IDF, "regardless of the cost."; Based on lessons learned from the most recent hostilities with Israel, Hezbollah is adapting its combat doctrine, shifting to a more decentralized model based on small cells, expanding the use of UAVs and reducing its exposure to Israeli intelligence; At the funeral of former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah secretary general Na'im Qassem claimed the organization remained committed to its alliance with Tehran and the "resistance axis." Iran reiterated its stance that a final agreement with the United States depended on the completion of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon; The Lebanese government continued preparations for the reconstruction of the south and the return of the displaced, adding that the scale of the damage and the lack of funding required "extensive international assistance." Read more...

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