Lebanon

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (March 31 – April 8, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations against Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its military-terrorist capabilities and against the organization's presence in south Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement, eliminating field commanders and operatives. A Hezbollah operative and a member of the Iranian Qods Force who assisted Hamas in planning an attack against Israelis were eliminated in an attack in the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia in Beirut and a senior Hamas commander was eliminated in an attack in Sidon; Hezbollah demanded that Lebanese state institutions take action against the "Israeli violations" and warned that the "resistance" was ready to use all its means available. Lebanese government officials condemned Israel and accused it of violating the ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 1701; Senior Lebanese officials met with Morgan Ortagus, the United States deputy special envoy to the Middle East and discussed implementing the ceasefire, disarming Hezbollah and economic reforms. Ortagus said Lebanon had to act with the United States to disarm Hezbollah and end corruption, warning Lebanon it was the country's "last opportunity."; The Lebanese minister of transportation confirmed that attempts to smuggle funds to Hezbollah through Beirut International Airport had been foiled and there was no date for resuming flights from Iran. The security clearances of Hezbollah supporters working at the airport were reportedly revoked. Hezbollah has reportedly begun smuggling weapons by sea to the Port of Beirut.
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Spotlight on Syria (March 26 –April 2, 2025)

IDF forces continued targeted raids in the buffer zone area of the Golan Heights and located weapons in new areas on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon. According to reports, armed operatives intercepted an Israeli drone in Daraa Governate. ISIS condemned Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) for merely issuing statements of condemnation in response to Israeli activity and not taking action; President al-Sharaa presented the new Syrian government of 23 ministers. The foreign and defense ministers remained in their positions, and for the first time, a woman and ministers of Druze, Kurdish and Alawite origin were appointed. The Kurds were dissatisfied the composition of the government and stated that they were not obligated to implement its decisions; The defense ministers of Syria and Lebanon signed an agreement for coordination along the shared border, and the presidents of both countries spoke and agreed to strengthen security cooperation; Turkey continues to reinforce its presence in Syria: An agreement was reached for a joint operations center, and Turkish forces were reportedly preparing to take control of the T4 military airbase, possibly to deter the Israeli Air Force.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (March 26 – April 2, 2025)

“World Jerusalem Day” rallies were held throughout Iran and in the countries of the “Shiite axis” on the last Friday of the month of Ramadan. The event was exploited by senior figures in Iran and the “resistance front” to emphasize support for the Palestinians and resistance to Israel; The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned Israel’s attack in Beirut and called on the international community to act to stop the Israeli attacks in Lebanon; Iran’s ambassador to Iraq made it clear that US President Trump’s demand to dismantle the pro-Iranian Iraqi militias or merge them into the Iraqi armed forces is unacceptable to Tehran. However, it was reported that the Shiite forces in Iraq agreed to discuss merging the militias under the “Popular Mobilization” framework. The Houthis reportedly established a new force called the Hassan Nasrallah Battalion to operate in Iraq; The Houthis claimed responsibility for two missile attacks against Israel. The IDF Spokesperson said that all the missiles were intercepted before they penetrated Israeli territory; The United States continued its attacks against Houthi military targets and reinforced its air forces in the region. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks against the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, claiming that American “aggression” does not affect them.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (March 24 – 31, 2025)

Two rockets were launched at Kiryat Shmona from south Lebanon for the second time in less than a week. One rocket was intercepted and the other fell in Lebanese territory. There were no casualties. The IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon, including a building in the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia in Beirut, for the first time since the ceasefire at the end of November 2024; five people were reported killed. Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire. The Lebanese army claimed suspects had been arrested; IDF forces continued actions to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military arsenal and against its presence in south Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement, eliminating terrorist field commanders and operatives. Hezbollah reiterated the claim that it was committed to letting the government handle the "Israeli violations," but warned it could lose patience; Hezbollah leader Qassem gave a speech for World Jerusalem Day, claiming Hassan Nasrallah's death represented the organization's genuine support for the Palestinians; The Lebanese prime minister said the entire state opposed the normalization of relations with Israel.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (March 19-26, 2025)

In a speech on the occasion of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz), the Supreme Leader praised the “resistance” against Israel and stressed Iran’s support for the Palestinian and Lebanese “resistance.”; The Iranian foreign minister spoke with his counterparts in the region about regional developments and condemned Israel’s “aggression” in the Gaza Strip and the US actions in Yemen. Iran also condemned the IDF attacks in Lebanon and called for international intervention to stop them; The commander of the Qods Force visited Iraq and met with the commanders of the pro-Iranian Shiite militias amid the American attacks in Iraq, the renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip, and the ongoing American pressure on the Iraqi government to disarm the militias; The Houthis claimed responsibility for six attacks against Israel using missiles and drones, most of them against Ben Gurion Airport. The IDF Spokesperson stated that five launches from Yemen towards Israel were intercepted before entering Israeli territory; The United States continued its attacks against Houthi military targets. The Houthis, in response, claimed they had attacked the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (March 17 – 24, 2025)

Six rockets were fired at Metula from Lebanon. Three were intercepted and three fell inside Lebanese territory; there were no casualties. The IDF attacked Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a region; seven people were reported killed. Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire. Lebanese government members made diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation by Israel; IDF forces continued operations against Hezbollah’s efforts to restore its military capabilities and against its presence in south Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement. The Lebanese government called for international pressure to be exerted on Israel to force it to withdraw its forces from five points in Lebanese territory. Hezbollah supported the government’s efforts; Lebanon continued to oppose American efforts to promote political negotiations with Israel in an attempt to reach a normalization of diplomatic relations. Lebanese government members said they were only prepared for military talks focused on IDF withdrawal, the release of Lebanese detainees and the demarcation of the land border; Disarming Hezbollah continues to provoke dispute in Lebanon; Tensions continue on the Lebanon-Syria border. 
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