Iran

Captured documents reveal how Iran smuggles weapons via Syria and Jordan

For years, Iran, its Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Qods Force, have been operating a network smuggling weapons and funds to its proxies in the Middle East, primarily Hezbollah and Hamas. Until the overthrow of the Assad regime in early December 2024, Syria was the main smuggling route for arming Hezbollah with advanced precision weapons, many of which were used to attack Israel; Documents captured from Hamas during the war in the Gaza Strip expose Iran's aerial, maritime and overland routes to smuggle weapons to Syria, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria. Some documents related to the arrest in Jordan of a smuggling network affiliated with Hamas and showed how Hamas and Iran transfer weapons to Judea and Samaria in hopes of igniting yet another front against Israel. They also related to Israeli and American methods to prevent arms smuggling; In recent years, Jordan has intensified its efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons and drugs by networks directed by Iran and its militias, from south Syria into Jordanian territory. Israel has also increased its efforts to prevent arms from being smuggled to Hezbollah, Judea and Samaria; The overthrow of the Assad regime undermined Iran's ability to transfer weapons through Syria, especially to Hezbollah, which is trying to recover from the blows inflicted by Israel. However, Iran's commitment to the "resistance" will most probably cause Tehran to seek alternative routes to replace the one through Syria and transfer weapons to its proxies for attacks on Israel. Read more...

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...

PA Security Forces Operate Against Armed Terrorists in the Jenin Refugee Camp

On December 14, 2024, the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces launched a large-scale operation against armed terrorist operatives in the Jenin refugee camp, following orders from PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The forces clashed with the operatives, and the commander of a local Palestinian Islamic Jihad brigade was killed; A spokesperson for the security forces stated that the operation's goal was to liberate the refugee camp from the grip of criminals. He asserted that control over the camp had been achieved and that a car bomb meant for an attack on the forces had been neutralized. According to reports, some of the wanted terrorists surrendered to IDF forces; The operation followed a rise in tensions between the terrorist operatives and the PA security forces, the result of Israeli security force activities in Judea and Samaria since the beginning of the Gaza Strip War; The operation was also part of the PA's attempts to demonstrate governance and position itself as a ruling authority in the Gaza Strip in preparation for "the day after" the war. It was also an attempt to prevent an armed uprising similar to what overthrew the regime in Syria; Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) accused the PA of collaborating with Israel, and called on the security forces to cease their "persecutions" and join the "resistance" fighters; Despite the change in PA security forces' approach and their willingness to confront armed terrorist operatives, it is a complex challenge which will require long-term efforts. Since the beginning of the war, Iran has been attempting to ignite the Judea and Samaria front against Israel. In light of the blows sustained by the "resistance axis" in recent weeks, Tehran may intensify its efforts to encourage armed factions to escalate their activities against Israel and the PA, thus there is concern that the violence may spill over into other areas in Judea and Samaria. 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...

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