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Lebanon

Spotlight on Syria (February 26 – March 5, 2025)

The Syrians were angered by threats issued by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz to take action against the regime in Damascus if the Druze in the town of Jaramana were harmed by the Syrian security forces. Leaders of the Druze community said they supported a united state and rejected foreign intervention; Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) called on Arab states to assist his country against "Israeli violations" and hinted Syria might respond to the continued activities of IDF forces in the Golan Heights and the airstrikes on Syrian military installations.; President al-Sharaa participated in the Arab emergency summit on the Gaza Strip held in Cairo and said he opposed plans to "uproot" Palestinians; The commander of the Kurdish militia of the Syrian Democratic Forces said the ceasefire of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey did not apply to them.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (February 26 – March 5, 2025)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that the “resistance” in Lebanon is a factor that assists the Lebanese government and called on the guarantor countries of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon to force Israel to withdraw from the five outposts where it still remains in southern Lebanon; Lebanese customs authorities apprehended a Lebanese citizen who arrived from Turkey with a sum of $2.5 million. In his interrogation, he admitted that the money originated in Iran and was intended for Hezbollah; Iran condemned the continued Israeli attacks in Syria and called for international intervention to stop Israel’s activity. Israel’s threats to retaliate in the event of an attack by the Syrian regime on the Druze aroused interest from the Iranian media, which accused Israel of trying to divide the Syrian state for its own interests; The Houthis threatened that if fighting between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip resumed, they would resume attacking Israel and also threatened to strike American bases in the Middle East. The US administration officially added the Houthis to the list of terrorist organizations; The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq refused the Baghdad government’s proposals to disarm and merge with the security forces.
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Spotlight on the Israel-Palestinian Conflict (February 25 – March 4, 2025)

The first stage of the ceasefire agreement ended without a Hamas-Israel agreement for continuing negotiations for the second stage and the release of the hostages. Hamas accused Israel of committing a "war crime" by halting the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and reiterated that they were committed to implementing the agreement. According to reports, Hamas' military wing is preparing to resume fighting against Israel; In preparation for the March 4, 2025 emergency Arab summit in Egypt to discuss the plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Hamas said it would be willing to relinquish control of the Strip as part of an arrangement which had national consensus, but would not agree to the presence of foreign forces in the Strip; This past week there were three terrorist attacks, two of them inside Israeli territory, in which one person was killed and at least 16 others were injured. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations in northern Samaria. Hamas incited anti-Israel violence for the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (February 24 – March 3, 2025)

IDF forces continued taking action to prevent Hezbollah's military buildup and presence in south Lebanon, violations of the ceasefire agreement; Hezbollah intensified its criticism of the Lebanese government's handling of the situation, particularly regarding the continued presence of IDF forces in five locations in south Lebanon and ongoing Israeli strikes across the country. The editor of a Hezbollah-affiliated daily newspaper warned of the possible resumption of "military activity" against the "occupation"; The Lebanese prime minister conducted his first visit of south Lebanon. He said the Lebanese army was deployed in the area and working to maintain stability. Local residents confronted him and expressed support for the "resistance."; Hezbollah published pictures of its 37 highest-ranking operatives killed during the war, including secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and his designated successor, Hashem Safi al-Din. In the town of Aitaroun in south Lebanon a funeral was held for 95 local residents killed in the war, most of whom were Hezbollah operatives; A Lebanese citizen arriving in Beirut on a flight from Turkey was arrested carrying $2.5 million in cash, suspected of being brought for Hezbollah. He claimed an Iranian had given him a suitcase of money; Nawaf Salam's new government received a vote of confidence from members of parliament, including the Hezbollah faction. He said the government sought to make independent decisions on matters of war and peace; Lebanese President Aoun said the country sought to resolve all conflicts through diplomacy, including the issue of IDF forces remaining in south Lebanon. 
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Turkey as a Center for Hamas Activity

Turkey, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is one of Hamas' most important strategic allies. Turkey hosts senior Hamas figures, and provides political, diplomatic and propaganda support, as well as economic and humanitarian assistance, including during the Gaza war; Hamas has established one of its most important overseas centers in Turkey, primarily operated by prisoners released in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal of 2011. It uses Turkey to plan terrorist attacks and transfer funds to finance terrorist activities inside Israel, in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, and to raise and launder money in support of its terrorist operations, including the October 7, 2023, attack and massacre; Hamas documents seized by IDF forces in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza Strip War showed the relationship between Hamas and Turkey, including how Hamas used Turkey for terrorist activities against Israel; In ITIC assessment, given the Hamas operational infrastructure in Turkey, its deep involvement in terrorism and Turkey’s hostility toward Israel, Hamas will seek to strengthen and expand its ties with Turkey. The deportation of terrorists, particularly senior terrorists from Israel, to Turkey in particular, is likely to reinforce the Hamas operational base in Turkey and facilitate the rebuilding of its military wing and the return of released prisoners to terrorist activities. A Turkish aegis would strengthen the "external" Hamas leadership and increase Hamas terrorist activity outside Israel. Given Turkey’s location and its strained relations with Israel, Israeli security forces would face significant challenges in effectively countering Hamas infrastructure and activities in Turkey.
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Spotlight on Syria (After the Fall of the Assad Regime) February 19 – 26, 2025

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks that Israel would act to demilitarize southern Syria and protect the Druze community sparked anger in Syria. Demonstrations were held in southern Syria as well as in Damascus and other sites across the country. Syrian President al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) told Druze officials that there was no justification for Israel's escalated rhetoric and his country was not interested in war. Two people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Syria; Druze officers and soldiers announced they were joining the al-Suwayda military council. The major Druze factions distanced themselves from the council and warned of "complications."; The National Dialogue Conference for the establishment of a temporary constitution and the creation of a foundation for the new regime convened in Damascus and called for the preservation of the country’s unity and sovereignty. President al-Sharaa vowed to forcefully confront anyone who threatened the country’s security; Syrian security forces prevented weapons from being smuggled from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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