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Iran

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 21-28, 2026)

The Palestinian ambassador in Tehran said that Tehran has provided Palestine with unconditional moral and political support; An Iranian researcher claimed on a television program that Israel is destined to be destroyed as a political entity prior to the reappearance of the Twelfth Shiite Imam (the Mahdi); Iran’s embassy in Lebanon strongly condemned the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, claiming they strengthen the Lebanese people’s determination to “resist”; Reports indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader welcomed the nomination of Nouri al‑Maliki for the formation of the new government in Baghdad. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that Tehran does not interfere in Iraq’s internal political affairs; The secretary-general of the Iraqi Harakat al‑Nujaba movement opposed efforts to disarm the pro‑Iranian militias, claiming that the “resistance’s weapons are ideological and disciplined”; The Houthis and the pro‑Iranian militias in Iraq escalated their threats to strike American and Israeli targets in the event of an attack against Iran.
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Hamas Criticism of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Revealed in Seized Documents from the Gaza Strip

The military wings of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have cooperated closely in wars and rounds of fighting against Israel, including during the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, and together they operated a joint operations room with the other terrorist organizations in the Strip; Despite the cooperation, in several instances the two movements have disagreed, mainly due to PIJ's independent rocket fire, which led to short rounds of fighting against Israel, contrary to the "controlled escalation" policy which Hamas tried to promote while making secret preparations for the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Hamas documents brought back by the IDF from the Gaza Strip indicated that Hamas was displeased by the PIJ's independent conduct; The documents also confirmed that many of the rockets fired at Israel by the PIJ fell inside the Gaza Strip, killing civilians and causing damage, which was also a serious problem for Hamas; In an attempt to reduce the PIJ's "rogue" actions, Hamas tried to impose its will on the PIJ and even subjugate the organization to its direct control. The documents included information regarding problems the PIJ caused the "resistance," including immoral behavior and intelligence infiltration, and measures to ensure that the PIJ would act in accordance with Hamas' interests at the political and military levels. The documents reveal a pragmatic and interest-based relationship between Hamas and the PIJ. Hamas views the PIJ as undisciplined and in need of constant control and supervision, while the PIJ seeks to gain public support by being more active against Israel. Although it is not known whether Hamas succeeded in fully implementing its plans to take over the PIJ, the war in the Gaza Strip showed that the two movements were able to overcome their differences and cooperate in dealing with Israel, including the deals to release the hostages. In ITIC’s assessment, although Hamas will ostensibly relinquish political control in the Gaza Strip as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, both organizations can be expected to refuse to disarm and continue to attack Israeli security forces and civilians in accordance with the vision of a jihad war until the "annihilation of Israel." However, if Hamas is pragmatic, in all probability the conflict between the two movements will resume and intensify, publicly as well.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 14-21, 2026)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized the White House announcement regarding the establishment of a “Peace Council” for the Gaza Strip, noting that any solution that ignores the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is doomed to fail; The Iraqi foreign minister visited Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials. The senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader held a conversation with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a leading candidate to form Iraq’s next government. These contacts took place amid growing Iranian concerns over a possible US attack and progress toward forming a new Iraqi government; The Houthi leader threatened that the movement would not hesitate to strike any “permanent Zionist presence” in Somaliland; Reports indicate that the Houthi leadership has raised its security alert level in light of events in Iran; Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq expressed full support for the Iranian regime and threatened retaliation in the event of an American attack against the Islamic Republic.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (January 12-20, 2026)

This past week the IDF continued attacking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley to enforce the ceasefire agreement of November 2024 and to prevent the organization’s renewed military buildup. A Hezbollah operative was eliminated, and the forces attacked Hezbollah weapons depots, training camps, launch sites and military facilities in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley; Hezbollah secretary general Na'im Qassem warned that the organization’s patience was running out in view of the continued Israeli "aggression." He accused Lebanese state institutions of failing to do their duty and claimed that Lebanon had lost its sovereignty; While the Lebanese army continues preparations for the phase of the plan for the state’s monopoly on weapons north of the Litani River, secretary general Na'im Qassem remained defiant and intransigent, absolutely refusing to disarm the "resistance," arguing that only it could prevent Israel from taking over the entire country. According to reports, Hezbollah is no longer cooperating with the Lebanese army and is preventing forces from reaching sites which were attacked; The president of Lebanon stated that the government’s decision regarding the state monopoly of weapons was an achievement in Lebanon unprecedented during the past 40 years, adding that Lebanon was committed to the ceasefire agreement, despite the difficulties and Israel’s actions; The Lebanese foreign minister said Hezbollah’s weapons no longer protected the state but had become a burden, provoking the anger of senior organization figures who accused him of working against Lebanese interests and called for measures to be taken against him; Hezbollah expressed support for the Iranian regime and claimed that "American and Israeli agents were escalating the violence in the Islamic Republic. Reportedly, within the circle of the Lebanese president, there are doubts regarding the extent of Hezbollah’s commitment to non-involvement in the event of an American-Israeli attack on Iran.
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Hezbollah’s Activity in Venezuela and How the Recent American Arrest of Maduro May Affect It

For decades Latin America has been an arena of significant activity for Hezbollah, based on a broad Shi'ite Lebanese diaspora residing in various countries across the continent. Venezuela, particularly under the socialist regime led by Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro, became an ally of Hezbollah and Iran because of their shared ideological and anti-American positions, and enabled the organization to turn the country into a logistical, financial and operational center; American sanctions and indictments exposed how Hezbollah operatives, at times with the assistance of senior figures in the Venezuelan regime, established money-laundering and drug-trafficking networks that helped finance the organization's terrorist activity. Hezbollah also brought thousands of operatives into Venezuela and established military training facilities which enabled it to promote terrorist activity against Western and Israeli targets in Latin America; In early January 2026, Venezuelan President Maduro was arrested in a raid carried out by American special forces and transferred for trial in the United States. The administration said it would control Venezuela for the foreseeable future and emphasized that it would no longer allow a Hezbollah and Iranian presence in the country; Hezbollah condemned the American operation in Venezuela, while in the opinion of Lebanese media outlets, the developments would have a negative effect on Hezbollah's funding routes and on its operational capabilities in Latin America; In ITIC assessment, the American action will be a blow to Hezbollah and curtail its freedom of action in Venezuela, adding to the series of unprecedented challenges with which Hezbollah has been dealing since the end of the war against Israel in November 2024. Closing sources of funding in Venezuela, which were based on drug trafficking and money laundering, will most likely exacerbate the organization's financial crisis as it seeks to reconstruct its military and civilian capabilities and is also required to respond to the demands of its supporters, who are waiting their homes, damaged in the war, to be rebuilt. Meanwhile, American control of Venezuela will most likely neutralize the terrorist facilities and networks established by Hezbollah and Iran in the country, thereby weakening their ability to use them for terrorist attacks in Latin America.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 7-14, 2026)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Lebanon and met with senior state officials and the Hezbollah secretary-general. He stressed the need to confront the ongoing IDF attacks in Lebanon and expressed Iran’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and for expanding cooperation between the two countries; Araghchi called on the Syrian government to refrain from moving closer to Israel amid the renewed security talks between the two countries; The leader of Kata'ib Hezbollah stated that the group has a “religious and moral duty” to stand by Iran and warned the United States that a war against Iran “is not a picnic.”
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