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Lebanon

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon and (February 3 – 10, 2025)

IDF forces continued operations to counter Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire, especially the organization's attempts to smuggle weapons from Syria. The Lebanese army continued to deploy in the towns and villages evacuated by the IDF, including for the first time villages in the eastern sector of south Lebanon; Hezbollah called on the government to increase pressure to ensure the completion of the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon by the target date of February 18, 2025; The American administration's envoy to Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, met with senior government officials in Beirut and assured them that Israel would complete its withdrawal in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Hezbollah condemned her remarks that the organization had been defeated and that its entry into the new government should be prevented; According to Hezbollah, Nasrallah’s funeral on February 23, 2025 will serve as a referendum proving the people's loyalty to the "resistance"; Prime minister-designate Nawaf Salam announced the formation of the new Lebanese government, which includes two ministers affiliated with Hezbollah; The Lebanese army reinforced its forces along the Lebanon-Syria border after clashes between the security forces of the new Syrian regime and clans affiliated with Hezbollah.
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Spotlight on Syria (Following the Toppling of the Syrian Regime) January 29 – February 5 , 2025

The Victory of the Revolution Conference convened in Damascus: Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) was declared Syria's new president, the institutions of the previous regime were dismantled and 18 armed militias announced they would disband. Al-Sharaa said presidential elections would be held in four to five years; Syrian President al-Sharaa made his first visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Meeting with the Turkish president, al-Sharaa said he wanted strong bilateral relations with Turkey, including in security; The Syrian minister of the interior announced the seizure of arms shipments intended to be smuggled into Lebanon; The commander of the Kurdish militia of the Syrian Democratic Forces stated they had not been involved in the decision to appoint al-Sharaa president. The Syrian defense minister warned force would be used if negotiations with the Kurds failed; For the first time, gunfire was directed at IDF forces in the buffer zone in the Golan Heights; no casualties were reported. The Syrian Popular Resistance claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks. Syrian President al-Sharaa said normalization with Israel would not be possible as long as it occupied the Golan Heights.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon and (January 27 – February 3 , 2025)

Encouraged by Hezbollah, Lebanese residents escorted by Lebanese army forces continued attempts to return to villages in south Lebanon. Hezbollah congratulated the residents, calling their attempted return a "victory"; IDF forces took action against Hezbollah's ceasefire violations and attacked vehicles and facilities, including in the Beqa'a Valley and near the Syrian border. Lebanese army forces continued gradually deploying into the areas vacated by the IDF. The army also reportedly took control of a strategic Hezbollah underground facility; Hezbollah secretary general Na'im Qassem stated the organization's opposition to extending the ceasefire until February 18, 2025. He revealed that Hezbollah was investigating the killings of the organization’s leaders to learn from them; Qassem said the funeral of former secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and his designated successor Hashem Safi al-Din would take place on February 23, 2025; According to reports, Israel complained that Iranian diplomats and Turkish citizens were transferring cash to Hezbollah on flights to Beirut. 
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Activities of Saeed Izadi, Head of the Qods Forces’ “Palestine Branch,” Reflected in Captured Documents

Saeed Izadi, aka Hajj Ramadan, heads the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Qods Force Palestine Branch, which is responsible for liaising with Palestinian terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), to attack Israel; Hamas documents seized by the IDF during the Gaza Strip War exposed Izadi’s critical role in building the "resistance axis", during the period leading up to the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre, in accordance with the plans of former Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, under Iranian leadership and in partnership with Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); The documents reveal the problems which arose over the years in connecting the partners and building the axis, as well as how Izadi met the challenges; In ITIC assessment Izadi will continue to be a central figure in Iran’s efforts to rebuild the "resistance axis," particularly Hamas and Hezbollah, following the war against Israel and the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria. In all probability Izadi and the Palestine Branch will focus on smuggling weapons into Judea and Samaria and providing funding. They will also focus on attacks inside Israel, including attempts to assassinate senior Israeli figures in revenge for the damage to "resistance axis" organizations and the Israeli strike on Iran in October 2024.
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Spotlight on Syria (Following the Toppling of the Syrian Regime) January 22 – 29 , 2025

The new Syrian security forces continued searching the country for senior officials of the Assad regime and weapon stockpiles. The forces intercepted a truck carrying weapons en route to Hezbollah in Lebanon; Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Julani), de facto Syrian leader, held meetings in Damascus with visiting leaders and diplomats, including the Palestinian Authority prime minister and the Russian president's special envoy to the Middle East. The Syrian foreign minister welcomed the EU decision to gradually lift sanctions; Disagreements continue between Damascus and the leadership of Kurdish organizations regarding the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the new Syrian army. The Syrian defense minister warned that the army would be prepared to use force if the issue were not resolved peacefully; IDF preparations for a prolonged presence on the Syrian Hermon and the buffer zone led Ahmed al-Sharaa to warn Israel that if it did not withdraw its forces, Syria would "apply pressure." Residents in the Quneitra area held demonstrations to protest the presence of Israeli forces and called for UN intervention. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah Lebanon and (January 20 – 27 , 2025)

January 26, 2025, marked the end of the 60 days specified in the ceasefire agreement for the IDF's withdrawal from south Lebanon. However, Israel announced it would not withdraw because the Lebanese army had still not finished deploying in the south of the country. On January 26, 2025, thousands of local residents began returning to towns and villages in south Lebanon, waving Hezbollah flags and escorted by Lebanese army forces. IDF forces fired at rioters and the Lebanese ministry of health reported 24 fatalities, including a soldier. The United States announced that the ceasefire agreement would be extended until February 18, 2025, and that negotiations would begin regarding the release of Lebanese detainees held by IDF forces. Lebanon's interim prime minister approved the extension of the agreement; Senior Hezbollah figures praised the residents of south Lebanon for returning to their communities, calling it "popular resistance" and the implementation of the "Army, People, Resistance" slogan. The organization also criticized the Lebanese authorities and the international community for not compelling Israel to complete the withdrawal; This past week IDF forces continued to take action against Hezbollah ceasefire violations, destroying weapons and terrorist facilities belonging to the organization in south Lebanon. The Lebanese army continued its gradual deployment into the areas evacuated by the IDF; According to reports, the head of Lebanese army intelligence in the south and other army officers transferred classified information to Hezbollah, enabling the organization to hide weapons. The Lebanese army denied the allegations; Hezbollah has paid $400 million to Lebanese residents for shelter and reconstruction since the start of the ceasefire. Reportedly, the organization is formulating a new plan for its media activities after the war; Syrian security authorities seized a shipment of weapons en route to Hezbollah. Iranian diplomats reportedly smuggle money to Hezbollah on foreign airlines flying to Beirut; Nawaf Salam, designated Lebanese prime minister, continued efforts to form a new government. He denied having promised the finance portfolio to Hezbollah. 
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