Iran

The “great return march:” Demonstrations and riots, Friday, June 8, 2018

The events of Friday, June 8, 2018, to mark Global Quds Day (initiated every year by Iran) and Naksa Day, continued with violence and riots encouraged by Hamas. The violence included gunfire, throwing IEDs, flying incendiary kites, and flying kites and balloons with IEDs attached to their tails. More than 10,000 Gazans participated in the Friday events, similar to the previous week, but far fewer than Hamas had expected.
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Spotlight on Iran (May 27 – June 10, 2018)

Iranian criticism of Russia is persisting in light of statements made by senior Russian officials calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces, including Iranians, from Syria. Two fighters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, one of them an officer, were killed last week in Syria. Tehran continues to closely follow the formation of the new government in Iraq. On June 8, rallies were held across Iran to mark the International Quds Day, which is marked annually since the Iranian Revolution to express Iran’s support and that of the Muslim world to the Palestinian struggle and the “liberation of Jerusalem.”
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Spotlight on Global Jihad (May 31 – June 6, 2018)

The Syrian army announced that it had completed preparations for the takeover of southern Syria and that 40,000 soldiers were waiting for the green light to begin the campaign. Concurrently with the preparations for the start of the campaign, intensive diplomatic contacts were held this week between Russia, the United States, Israel, and Jordan regarding all the components of regulating the situation in southwestern Syria. While ISIS is under severe pressure in its core countries of Syria and Iraq, ISIS’s various provinces are carrying out intensive terror activity.
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Spotlight on Iran (May 13 – May 27, 2018)

The statements made by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and his Presidential Envoy to Syria, Alexander Laverentiev, according to which foreign forces, including those of Iran and Hezbollah, should leave Syria, have aroused sharp criticism in recent days in Iran toward Russia. Against the backdrop of the challenges Iran is facing in its efforts to cement a military foothold in Syria, Tehran continues to try to advance its economic influence in the country. Iran appears to be troubled by the results of the general elections in Iraq. Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, gave an interview to the al-Mayadeen network, during which he addressed, among other topics, relations between Hamas and Iran.
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Russian Declarations Regarding Removal of Foreign Forces from Syria Encounter Greater Criticism in Iran

The statements made by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and his Presidential Envoy to Syria, Alexander Laverentiev, calling on foreign forces, including those of Iran and Hezbollah, to depart Syria, have been met with a sharp rebuke in Iran toward Russia.
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Spotlight on Iran (April 29 – May 13, 2018)

Iran is attempting to downplay the involvement of the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Golan Heights on the night of May 10. Instead, Iran is presenting the events as a direct confrontation between Israel and Syria. Against the backdrop of growing tensions between Iran and Israel, senior Iranian officials continue to threaten Israel. As expected, Iran congratulated Hezbollah for its achievement in the parliamentary elections held in Lebanon
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