Iran

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 24 – July 1 ,2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks targeting Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives, including a senior operative in the Hamas military wing who was one of the planners of the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Seven IDF soldiers were killed in an explosion in the southern Gaza Strip, and another soldier was killed in the north; After the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran War, the United States, Qatar and Egypt increased efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages, but fundamental disagreements remain regarding a long-term arrangement, Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hamas. Hamas placed responsibility for the failure of the talks so far on Israel and continued to demand a complete end to the war; Hamas continued to promote its "hunger" narrative despite the increase in humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip during June 2025. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced it had distributed over fifty million meals within a month of beginning its operations; There were exchanges of fire between gangs, clans and Hamas security forces which led to more repressive measures against Gazans suspected of looting aid trucks and collaborating with Israel. Hamas was reportedly desperate for a ceasefire in order to deal with "rogue elements."; A Hamas delegation went to Iran to attend the funeral of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers and nuclear scientists killed in the Israel-Iran War. Hamas figures met with the head of Turkish intelligence; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria, during which a major Hamas terrorist network was uncovered in Hebron; The Palestinian Authority leadership welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and called for a political process on the Palestinian front as well.
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Iran’s Use of Surface-to-Surface Cluster Missiles as a Manifestation of State Terrorism

The Iranian regime has used terrorism against Israeli targets for many years to promote its interests, including deterrence and revenge. Its global terrorist attacks deliberately target civilians and it continuously supports a series of proxy terrorist organizations in the Middle East and provides them with weapons with which to attack the home front in Israel; The recent Israel-Iran War revealed an additional aspect of Iran's use of terrorism against Israel, involving the direct firing of surface-to-surface missiles at population centers. Iran deliberately targeted the home front despite its claim that the missiles allegedly targeted strategic installations and military bases; The most glaring example of Iranian surface-to-surface missile terrorism was the use of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, publicly unveiled in Iran in 2023, defined as a long-range strategic ballistic missile which carries approximately 80 small cluster bombs, which scatter indiscriminately and cause extensive damage. During the war, Iran conducted the missile’s first operational use, causing widespread damage; In ITIC assessment, the concept behind developing surface-to-surface missiles like the Khorramshahr-4 and launching them at Israeli territory was to cause maximum damage to civilians and serve as a tool of terrorism to sow fear and disrupt daily life. As such, the Khorramshahr-4 is another form of Iranian terrorism targeting civilian populations, setting a dangerous international precedent in the use of long-range cluster surface-to-surface missiles as a form of state terrorism.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (June 23 – 30, 2025)

IDF forces attacked Hezbollah facilities and eliminated organization operatives as part of ongoing actions targeting Hezbollah's presence in south Lebanon, contrary to the understandings of the ceasefire agreement and foiling the organization's attempts to rebuild its military capabilities. The IDF attacked a fire- and defense-management complex which Hezbollah was rebuilding at the Beaufort Ridge and eliminated a foreign currency exchange owner who was transferring funds to Hezbollah from Iran; Hezbollah continued to demand that the Lebanese leadership increase pressure on Israel to stop the attacks and withdraw from the five points in south Lebanon, warning that the organization's patience could end. Hezbollah secretary general Qassem stated the organization was capable of "expelling" the IDF from south Lebanon; Despite the continued condemnations by the Lebanese leadership after the Israeli attacks, the Lebanese foreign minister admitted that the statements were meaningless; Deodato Abnagara, the new UNIFIL commander, took office and met with Lebanese President Aoun, who said it was necessary for UNIFIL to cooperate with the Lebanese army to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701; Hezbollah promoted Iran's "victory" narrative after the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran War. According to reports, the death of Muhammad Saeed Izadi, the head of the Palestine branch of the Qods Force, caused Hezbollah to stop payments to Lebanese whose homes were damaged in the fighting against Israel; Following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, discussions within the Lebanese leadership accelerated ahead of the first government meeting on disarming Hezbollah. Hezbollah allies, including the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, called on the organization to give up its weapons, but Hezbollah continues to resist; Lebanese authorities announced they had seized $7 million in cash in suitcases which had arrived on a flight from an African country to Beirut International Airport. 
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (June 18-25, 2025)

Prior to the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which was announced on June 24, 2025, senior officials in the Iranian administration and the security-military leadership continued to threaten harsh responses to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Iran and the American attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran. The officials called the attacks a “crime” constituting a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and international law and claimed that the American attacks were intended to save Israel, which, they claimed, had failed to achieve its war objectives; Following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, senior Iranian officials presented the end of the fighting as a “victory” for Iran and warned Israel against violating the ceasefire; The IRGC assistant commander for coordination wrote in an open letter to the Palestinian people that “your ongoing jihad for 76 years is beginning to bear fruit,” and that “the fateful day for the realization of your historic mission is approaching, and we will all stand by your side”; Senior Houthi officials expressed support for Iran in the face of the Israeli and American attacks, but did not carry out their own attacks against Israel or American vessels. After the ceasefire, the Houthis made it clear that they would continue their attacks against Israel and escalate them. A senior Houthi official claimed that more than 82,000 volunteers had completed military training to fight Israel; The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq threatened to act against American bases in the country following the American attack on Iran, but there were no exceptional incidents; The leader of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria said that any “aggression” against the “axis of resistance” is also “aggression” against them and threatened that “every Zionist is a target.”
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Spotlight on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 17 – 24, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks against targets belonging to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives, including the head of finances of the Hamas military wing. An IDF soldier was killed in the fighting in the southern Gaza Strip; Hamas denied reports of progress in the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and reiterated its demand for international guarantees to end the fighting; The Gaza Humanitarian Fund continued its daily distribution of food packages, despite Hamas claims of deliberate gunfire attacking Gazans arriving at aid centers and alleged Israeli abduction attempts. A local clan announced the establishment of a force to secure the aid trucks; Following reports that Israel had formulated a secret plan to eliminate the Hamas leadership abroad, the movement increased its precautionary measures; A letter sent by the head of the Hamas military wing to the Houthi chief of staff was published, despite reports that a new Hamas military- commander would only be appointed to replace Muhammad al-Sinwar after a ceasefire had been declared or at the end of the war; A Hamas delegation visited Russia, and a Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine delegation met with the Egyptian minister of intelligence; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, focusing on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus; The United States Supreme Court approved a law allowing families of victims of terrorist attacks to sue the Palestinian Authority and the PLO.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (June 16–23, 2025)

IDF forces attacked Hezbollah weapons in south Lebanon and eliminated organization operatives as part of ongoing action against Hezbollah's presence in south Lebanon, contrary to the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and against the organization's renewed efforts to rebuild its military capabilities; Thomas Burke, United States special envoy for Syria, was appointed temporary envoy to Lebanon and met in Beirut with government officials who reiterated the need to end the Israeli "aggression and occupation." Burke urged them to advance the issue of dismantling the "resistance’s" weapons; Hezbollah continued to express support for Iran in the Israel-Iran War and condemned the threats against Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei, and the American attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to Hezbollah, Iran is capable of handling matters on its own, but the organization did not rule out the possibility that it might actively intervene if circumstances changed. Lebanese officials expressed confidence that the country would not be drawn into the military confrontation; In Lebanon, the PLO was blamed for the delay in weapons’ collection in the Palestinian refugee camps. Prime Minister Salam urged Palestinian Authority chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, to act on the understandings which had been reached on the issue.
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