1. Home
  2. Terrorist Organizations
  3. Hezbollah

Hezbollah

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (December 11 – 18, 2024)

Senior Iranian officials claimed that the fall of the Assad regime in Syria would not affect the “axis of resistance” and that Tehran would continue to support Hezbollah and the Palestinians. Iran explained that it did not help the Syrian army against the rebels because the Syrian regime did not want to fight; Iran and the militias condemned the IDF’s activity in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime and called for regional and international intervention; Iran is preparing to reopen its embassy in Damascus if the appropriate security conditions are guaranteed; The Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq using drones against targets in southern Israel. In addition, they claimed responsibility for independent attacks using drones and a ballistic missile. The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that two drones and a ballistic missile were intercepted before they penetrated Israeli territory; The US attacked a Houthi command and control facility in the Defense Ministry building in Sana’a; The US secretary of state urged the Iraqi prime minister to take advantage of Iran’s weakness and act to disarm the militias.
Read more...

Spotlight on Syria (Following the Toppling of the Syrian Regime) December 9 – 16 , 2024

The new transitional government in Syria, headed by Mohammad al-Bashir, began its activities after the transfer of powers from the last government of the al-Assad regime. Among its first decisions were the deployment of police forces in major cities and the prohibition of smoking and drinking alcohol; Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Shara continued to make conciliatory statements. He announced the dismantling of the security forces and the closure of prisons and emphasized the end of the Iranian presence in the country; The Turkish-backed rebel forces completed the takeover of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Kurds expressed concern about the attacks against them and called for a meeting of all political forces in the country to formulate a unified vision; The IDF continued to operate against strategic weapons stockpiles and military infrastructure of the Syrian army throughout Syria and within the buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Ahmad al-Shara stressed that Israel’s actions could lead to escalation and that Syria has no intention of entering a new war; Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem expressed hope that the new regime in Damascus would not promote normalization with Israel and would continue to view it as an enemy; The US Secretary of State confirmed that the United States has maintained ties with HTS despite its designation as a terrorist organization. Russia has started reducing its forces in Syria and is seeking to secure an agreement to maintain its two major military bases in the country.  
Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon (December 9 – 16 ,2024)

The IDF continued to take action against Hezbollah's attempts to violate the ceasefire, attacking Hezbollah operatives, rocket and missile launchers, and terrorist facilities in south Lebanon. For the first time, the Lebanese army was deployed in towns near the border with Israel to implement the agreement; Na'im Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary general, claimed the organization did not want to violate the ceasefire agreement, despite alleging "hundreds of Israeli violations." He asserted that even if "the resistance" lost sometimes, it remained in place, although with limited capabilities. He also claimed Hezbollah had no intention of disarming north of the Litani River and presented the organization's next steps. Homeowners in the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia whose houses were destroyed began receiving annual rent payments; Criticism of Hezbollah: Lebanese Shi'ites filed lawsuits against the organization for hiding weapons in private homes in south Lebanon. A Druze politician close to Hezbollah called for peace with Israel; Najib Mikati, prime minister of the Lebanese interim government, said at least $5 billion would be necessary for reconstructing the country. According to reports, it would cost at least $12 million to clear the rubble from the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia; Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, claimed optimism regarding the election of a new president for Lebanon on January 9, 2025, after more than two years. Hezbollah’s candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, is expected to withdraw from the race, while the army commander, Joseph Aoun, leads the list of candidates.
Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (December 4-11, 2024)

Senior Iranian officials and the Iranian media expressed acceptance of the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and concern about future developments in the country and Israel’s exploitation of the situation. The Iranian Supreme Leader noted that it was a “joint American-Zionist plan.” However, they stressed that the fall of the Syrian regime would not have a significant negative impact on the “resistance front,” including Hezbollah. The pro-Iranian militias claimed that the plot was intended to undermine the support of the “axis of resistance” for the Gaza Strip; Reports indicate that Iran has already established channels of communication with elements among the power groups that took over Syria, to protect Iranian missions in Syria and the Shiite holy sites and prevent a deterioration between the two countries.; Iran and the militias strongly condemned Israel’s attacks in Syria and the entry of IDF forces into the buffer zone in the Golan Heights following the fall of the Assad regime; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with senior figures in Hamas’ political bureau and discussed negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; The Houthis claimed responsibility for a joint attack with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq using drones against a target in Israel. The IDF Spokesperson said that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted before it penetrated Israeli territory. A drone launched by the Houthis hit a building in Yavneh. There were no casualties; The Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on two American destroyers and three supply ships in the Gulf of Aden. The US Central Command confirmed that the destroyers thwarted an attack using drones and a cruise missile.
Read more...

Spotlight on Syria (Following the Toppling of the Syrian Regime) – December 2-9 , 2024

On November 27, 2024, armed groups opposed to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an operation against the Syrian army forces and their allies. They took control of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs and on December 8, 2024, they completed the takeover of Damascus. President al-Assad fled the country and received political asylum in Russia. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), who led the military operation, declared victory for the entire Syrian people and accused the Assad regime of turning Syria into a farm for Iranian ambitions; IDF forces took control of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. Dozens of Israeli army airstrikes were reported against depots of advanced weapons and other capabilities that could fall into the hands of the rebels; Hezbollah secretary-general Naim Qassem announced that the organization would help the Assad regime suppress the “aggression,” but as the rebels advanced, Hezbollah was forced to withdraw its forces from Syria; The Iranian foreign minister claimed that Iran had informed al-Assad about the rebels’ plans to launch a military operation but was surprised by the Syrian army’s inability to respond effectively. Reports indicated that Tehran has established direct channels of communication with some of the opposition groups and expressed its readiness for dialogue with the new leadership; The United States has attacked dozens of ISIS targets in central Syria to prevent the organization from taking advantage of the events in the country to recover.
Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (December 2 – 9 ,2024)

The IDF attacked Hezbollah operatives, rocket and missile launchers and terrorist facilities across Lebanon in response to ceasefire violations. Four IDF soldiers were killed in the fighting; Hezbollah launched its first rocket since the ceasefire, targeting an IDF post on Mount Dov. Senior Hezbollah figures claimed it was a "warning shot" in response to alleged Israeli violations and threatened to escalate its attacks if the committee overseeing the ceasefire did not stop Israel; Na'im Qassem, Hezbollah secretary general, announced that the organization had begun funding Lebanon's reconstruction with money received from Iran. Hezbollah has reactivated the economic wing of the al-Qard al-Hassan to transfer payments to homeowners whose properties were destroyed; Hezbollah is not officially counting its casualties, with estimates of at least 3,500 operatives killed and at least 10,000 injured. Funerals of Hezbollah operatives have begun in villages in south Lebanon. The date of the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, former secretary general, has not yet been announced; The Lebanese ministry of health reported that 4,047 people were killed from the beginning of the fighting until the ceasefire on December 3, 2024. The government approved an advance of 4 trillion Lebanese pounds for the removal of debris; The Syrian army officer responsible for Hezbollah affairs was killed in an IDF attack in Damascus. The IDF targeted crossings along the Syria-Lebanon border to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah.
Read more...

Previous years bulletins

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005