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Lebanon

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (November 20 – 27, 2024)

Iran and the Shiite militias welcomed the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, even though it violates the idea of “unity of the arenas,” and claimed that it was achieved thanks to Hezbollah’s steadfastness; They also praised the decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister. However, the Iranian Supreme Leader said an arrest warrant was not enough and that the senior Israeli officials should be executed; Senior Iranian officials reiterated the achievements of the “resistance front” in the campaign against Israel, claiming that Israel is not achieving its goals and is surviving only thanks to American support; Russia reportedly prevented an Iranian plane carrying weapons to Hezbollah from landing at the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, which is under its control; Amid Israeli threats to act against the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued only four statements claiming responsibility for drone attacks against targets in southern Israel. The IDF Spokesperson reported the interception of a drone in the Red Sea and the downing of three additional drones in Israeli territory, with no casualties. It was reported that militia leaders had moved to Iran for fear of an Israeli attack; More than 100 pro-Iranian militia operatives were killed in an attack attributed to Israel in the city of Palmyra in the Syrian Desert; An American think tank issued a report estimating that the pro-Iranian militia that claimed to have attacked Israel from Saudi territory is a fictitious organization of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq; The US Department of Defense reported that the pro-Iranian militias had carried out more than 200 attacks against American targets in the Middle East since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip; The Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack against Israel using a ballistic missile. The IDF Spokesperson said the missile had been intercepted before it penetrated Israeli territory; An Israeli citizen who served as a Chabad emissary to the United Arab Emirates was kidnapped and murdered, and three Uzbek citizens were arrested. The Israeli Mossad noted that it was a terrorist attack. The Iranian embassy in the UAE denied Iranian involvement in the murder. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (November 18 – 25 ,2024)

IDF forces continued their maneuvers in south Lebanon, advancing to the "second village line" near the Litani River. The forces eliminated Hezbollah terrorist operatives, destroyed terrorist facilities concealed in civilian sites and uncovered numerous weapons. Meanwhile, the IDF attacked Hezbollah targets from the air in the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia in Beirut and other areas in Lebanon. Four IDF soldiers were killed in the fighting; This past week Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 232 attacks (some unverified) on civilian, military and security targets in Israel, including the Greater Tel Aviv area and IDF forces in south Lebanon. On November 24, 2024, Hezbollah claimed a record 51 attacks in a single day. One civilian was killed in Hezbollah attacks and significant property damage was reported; Hezbollah secretary general Na'im Qassem threatened that any Israeli strike in Beirut would be answered with an attack on central Tel Aviv. He said the organization would continue attacking while working toward a ceasefire; Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah continued. Lebanon's interim prime minister and speaker of the Lebanese Parliament met with American envoy Hochstein and reported progress in negotiations, while awaiting Israel's response. Hezbollah expressed opposition to Israel's demand for freedom of operation in Lebanon. A senior Hezbollah figure claimed Hezbollah cooperated with the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL in south Lebanon, and therefore did not oppose expanding the Lebanese Army's activities in the south; Hezbollah was publicly criticized for dragging the country into war and destruction and for its inability to protect the south, alongside calls to disarm the organization after the war; Lebanon's minister of the economy reported economic losses of between $15-20 billion. Damages to electricity infrastructure were reported to have reached $221 million; UNIFIL reported several soldiers had been injured in attacks on positions in south Lebanon. An IDF spokesperson stated the attacks were Hezbollah rocket attacks targeting Israel which misfired; According to reports, in Syria more than 100 people died in an attack attributed to Israel on pro-Iranian militia and Hezbollah sites in the city of Palmyra in central Syria.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (November 13—20, 2024)

This week, senior Iranian officials resumed their threats to retaliate for the Israeli attack on Iran on October 26, 2024. They stressed that Iran is committed to taking revenge on Israel and would do so at the time and in the manner it saw fit; High-level reciprocal visits between Iran and Syria: Ali Larijani, advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, visited Syria and Lebanon and met with senior government officials in Damascus and Beirut. The Iranian defense minister also visited Syria and met with senior government officials, headed by President Assad. The Syrian foreign minister also visited Tehran and met with his Iranian counterpart; It was reported that Iran had informed Hezbollah of its commitment to rebuild southern Lebanon, the Dahiyeh in Beirut, and the destruction caused in the Beqaa Valley after the war. The IRGC deputy commander and the Iranian foreign minister emphasized Iran's continued commitment to supporting Hezbollah and the “resistance front” in the region; The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued 17 statements claiming responsibility for drone attacks against targets in Israel. The Saraya Awliya al-Dam militia claimed responsibility for four more attacks; The IDF Spokesperson announced the interception of at least five drones, some of them in Syrian territory. Israel reportedly conveyed a message to the Iraqi government that if militia attacks did not stop, it would attack Iraq. “Elements” in the militias threatened to respond by expanding attacks against Israel if it acted against them, and the Iraqi government claimed that it was working to prevent the use of Iraqi territory to carry out attacks; The pro-Iranian militias continued their attacks against American bases in Syria. US forces in Syria were reportedly reinforced in preparation for the entry of the Trump administration; The Houthis claimed responsibility for two drone attacks against Israel. The IDF Spokesperson said drones were intercepted, and there were no casualties; The Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a ship in the Red Sea and continued their threats to act against American aircraft carriers and warships in the Red Sea. A senior Pentagon official acknowledged that Houthi military capabilities “are getting scary.”
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (November 11 – 18 ,2024)

IDF forces continued their maneuver in south Lebanon, deepening operations into the "second line of villages." They eliminated Hezbollah terrorist operatives, located and destroyed facilities hidden in civilian sites and uncovered large quantities of weapons. The IDF continued aerial strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and other areas in Lebanon. Eight IDF soldiers were killed in the fighting; This past week Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 170 attacks on civilian, military and security targets in Israel, including the Greater Tel Aviv area, and IDF forces in south Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed its first attack against IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv and showcased the new weapons used in its attacks on Israel. Two civilians were killed in Hezbollah attacks, and significant property damage was reported; Hezbollah reported that its media chief, Muhammad Afif, was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut. Reports indicated the deaths of other senior commanders (without official acknowledgment from Hezbollah), with an estimated 1,550 Hezbollah fatalities since October 8, 2023; According to reports, Hezbollah submitted its response to the United States draft proposal for a ceasefire and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in south Lebanon, though some points still require discussion. Lebanon was preparing for the visit of United States envoy Amos Hochstein; Syria: The IDF attacked Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in Damascus, killing two senior figures and seven terrorist operatives. The IDF continued attacking along the Syria-Lebanon border to prevent Hezbollah weapons smuggling and the infiltration of terrorist operatives. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism – October 2024

During October 2024, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, Judea, Samaria, and south Lebanon, with attacks on Israel from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Yemen; Lebanon: The fighting escalated with the start of the IDF maneuver against Hezbollah in south Lebanon on October 1, 2024. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 806 attacks on IDF forces and military, security and civilian targets in Israel as far as the Tel Aviv area, and deployed new weapons. Due to high number of casualties, Hezbollah stopped issuing mourning notices for senior figures and operatives, except for the announcement of the elimination of Hashem Safi al-Din, head of the Executive Council, who was to be appointed Hezbollah secretary general; The Gaza Strip: The terrorist organizations fired 28 rockets at Israeli territory, compared to four rockets in September. Targeted killings of senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives continued, including Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip; Israel, Judea and Samaria: Palestinian terrorists carried out eight attacks were carried out in Israel, Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem, compared to six in September; eight civilians and two security personnel were killed. Three of the terrorists held Israeli identification cards and two others held Jordanian citizenship. Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism operations focused on northern Samaria. At least 27 terrorist operatives were eliminated in exchanges of fire and airstrikes, including commanders of terrorist organizations in Tulkarm, Nablus and Jenin, as well as operatives preparing to carry out attacks; Shi'ite militias: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued 72 claims of responsibility for attacking 76 targets in Israeli territory, the highest number since the attacks began in November 2023, prompted by the escalation in the fighting between in Lebanon and the killing of al-Sinwar. The Saraya Awliya al-Dam militia issued 17 claims of responsibility. Most of the Iraqi militia launches were not verified, and some were intercepted. Two IDF soldiers were killed by an UAV in the Golan Heights, the first fatalities from attacks originating in Iraq. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking eight targets in Israel, compared to four in September.
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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (November 6—13, 2024)

Senior Iranian officials stressed Israel’s alleged ongoing failure in the ongoing campaign against Hezbollah and Hamas. The Supreme Leader of Iran declared that jihad in Lebanon, Gaza, and “Palestine” would lead to victory and that Israel is being defeated in the regional campaign; The Iranian vice president participated in the Arab-Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia. He stressed the need to establish an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and criticized the failure of international institutions to stop Israel’s actions in the two battle zones; Senior Iranian officials participated in a conference commemorating Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Tehran; Iraq’s national security advisor met in Tehran with senior Iranian government officials, including the IRGC commander and the Qods Force commander. The visit took place amid reports concerning Tehran’s intention to respond to the Israeli attack on Iran by launching a military attack on Israel from Iraqi territory; The Islamic Resistance in Iraq issued 25 claims of responsibility for attacks against targets in Israel. The Saraya Awliya al-Dam militia claimed responsibility for three more attacks. The IDF Spokesperson announced the interception of more than ten drones. Another drone fell in the Mitzpe Ramon area, with no casualties. Kata’ib Hezbollah claimed they had not been asked to assist in the Iranian response against Israel; The pro-Iranian militias continued their attacks against American bases in Syria. US forces responded with airstrikes against militia targets in eastern Syria; The Houthis claimed responsibility for two ballistic missile attacks against Israel. The IDF Spokesperson said the missiles were intercepted before penetrating Israeli territory; The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks against an aircraft carrier and two American destroyers. The US Department of Defense confirmed the attempted attack. There were no casualties, and no damage was caused. The Americans attacked Houthi military targets in the Sana’a area.
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