Lebanon

Tension along the Israel-Lebanon border This past week Hezbollah and its affiliates continued provocations near the border; the most blatant was a patrol of armed Hezbollah operatives very close to Dovev, an Israeli moshav. Road construction works continued in Kafr Shuba. Lebanese politicians back Hezbollah's demands for Israel's complete withdrawal from the area of the Shebaa Farms and Kafr Ghajar Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary general, delivered a speech in which he referred to the passing of Israel's Standard of Reasonableness Law and its influence on Israel's internal affairs UNIFIL said in a statement that every day its forces carried out more than 450 [sic] operational activities in south Lebanon, stressing that the force acted independently.The presidential crisis in Lebanon continues, with Hezbollah officials continuing to support the candidacy of Suleiman Frangieh. The international attempts to resolve the crisis have led to increasing tensions between Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia. Iran might also join the countries assisting the process of electing a president. Read more...

This past week the tension along the Israeli-Lebanese border continued. Hezbollah and its affiliates continued provocative actions along the border, including on the Israeli side. In an exceptional incident, IDF surveillance cameras installed along the border fence were ripped out. Hezbollah issued a video of its operatives simulating an attack on an Israeli post. Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah secretary general, gave a speech about Hezbollah's ideology, rife with anti-Semitic motifs and propaganda.The Lebanese government demanded Israel withdraw to the 1923 borders (agreed upon by the British and French mandates). The Lebanese government withdrew its conditions for renewing UNIFIL's mandate, after seeking to reduce the agency's powers in a way that would serve Hezbollah. The about-face was most likely the result of international pressure. Read more...

The Lebanese government, in coordination with Hezbollah, deliberated Israel's trespass into Lebanese territory in the tiny village of Ghajar instead of directly addressing Israel's demand for the removal of the tents Hezbollah erected on the Israeli side of the border (the Blue Line). In the meantime, Hezbollah continued its provocation along the border, which included firing an anti-tank missile from the Ghajar region, an attempt to vandalize the border fence, in which three civilians were injured, and an arson attempt. Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech for the 17th anniversary of the Second Lebanon War, relating to the current events along the border. The Lebanese presidential crisis continues with no resolution in the foreseeable future.The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Qods Force and Hezbollah are strengthening their foothold in Syria.Information was revealed about an Iranian company's provision of missiles and UAVs to Hezbollah and Russia Read more...

Increasing tension along the Israel-Lebanon border Near Kafr Shuba, in the eastern sector of south Lebanon, civilians have made attempts to disrupt IDF engineering activities and cause provocations. At least some of the activities have been encouraged and directed by Hezbollah. Hezbollah practiced using UAVs as part of its preparations for a possible confrontation with Israel. Hashem Safi al-Din, chairman of Hezbollah's Operational Council, reiterates threats to fire missiles at the center of Israel and send operatives of its elite al-Radwan unit to invade the Galilee. Israel lodged a complaint with the UN against Hezbollah because of Hezbollah's stated intention to abduct Israeli civilians, a scenario of the most recent al-Radwan unit exercise. Read more...