Other Terrorist Organizations

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (February 2-9, 2026)

IDF forces attacked Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon and the Beqa'a Valley to enforce the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and to prevent Hezbollah's renewed military buildup. The IDF detained a senior operative from Hamas-affiliated al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya, the Muslim Brotherhood branch in Lebanon; Hezbollah's secretary general called the confrontation with Israel and the United States part of a regional campaign led by Iran, and argued that political pressure was being exerted to achieve gains which Israel had not achieved militarily; Lebanese Prime Minister visited the border villages in south Lebanon and received a sympathetic welcome; Israel reportedly told Lebanon that it would continue its attacks until Hezbollah had been completely disarmed, and would withdraw IDF forces from positions in south Lebanon only in exchange for a declaration ending the state of hostility between the two countries and the signing of a new security agreement. It was also reported that a secret meeting was held in the United States between senior officers from the Lebanese army and the IDF; Lebanese army Commander visited the United States to present the army's needs and its difficulties in completing missions, especially the state's monopoly on weapons; The Hezbollah leadership accepted Wafiq Safa's resignation as the head of the Liaison and Coordination Unit, an unprecedented step in the organization's security apparatus. He reportedly resigned following serious disputes at the upper echelons of the organization, alongside a reduction of powers and Safa's deviation from Lebanon's line; Tension continues between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. Senior figures in Lebanon opposed a Hezbollah-Lebanon involvement if a confrontation with Iran developed. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 21-28, 2026)

The Palestinian ambassador in Tehran said that Tehran has provided Palestine with unconditional moral and political support; An Iranian researcher claimed on a television program that Israel is destined to be destroyed as a political entity prior to the reappearance of the Twelfth Shiite Imam (the Mahdi); Iran’s embassy in Lebanon strongly condemned the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, claiming they strengthen the Lebanese people’s determination to “resist”; Reports indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader welcomed the nomination of Nouri al‑Maliki for the formation of the new government in Baghdad. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that Tehran does not interfere in Iraq’s internal political affairs; The secretary-general of the Iraqi Harakat al‑Nujaba movement opposed efforts to disarm the pro‑Iranian militias, claiming that the “resistance’s weapons are ideological and disciplined”; The Houthis and the pro‑Iranian militias in Iraq escalated their threats to strike American and Israeli targets in the event of an attack against Iran. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the israeli-Palestinian Conflict (January 19-27, 2026)

Israeli security forces located the body of the last murdered Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas claimed the return of the body showed the movement's "commitment to implementing the ceasefire agreement" and called for pressure to be exerted on Israel to stop its "violations" and move on to the second phase. IDF forces continued operations within the Yellow Line of the Gaza Strip, locating and destroying terrorist facilities and weapons, including an attack tunnel, and eliminating terrorists who tried to attack soldiers; Despite the establishment of the Palestinian Technocrat Committee to run the Gaza Strip, Hamas continues its civilian and security governance and pursues members of militias supported by Israel; The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip condemned the invitation to include the Israeli Prime Minister in the American Peace Council; Hamas denied the report that an agreement had been reached with the United States government to hand over weapons and tunnel maps in exchange for continuing to operate as a political party; however, the movement's spokesman claimed the weapons would not be an obstacle to reconstruction; In the assessment of the Palestinian Authority prime minister, the Authority will gain full control of the Gaza Strip in about two years; The United States Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a senior Hamas activist in Britain and on "charitable" associations which aided Hamas' military wing. A Lebanese man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of belonging to a Hamas network planning to attack Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe; The Palestinian Authority chairman met with the Russian president in Moscow. The Palestinian Authority prime minister participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos and met with foreign dignitaries. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (January 14-21, 2026)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized the White House announcement regarding the establishment of a “Peace Council” for the Gaza Strip, noting that any solution that ignores the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is doomed to fail; The Iraqi foreign minister visited Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials. The senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader held a conversation with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a leading candidate to form Iraq’s next government. These contacts took place amid growing Iranian concerns over a possible US attack and progress toward forming a new Iraqi government; The Houthi leader threatened that the movement would not hesitate to strike any “permanent Zionist presence” in Somaliland; Reports indicate that the Houthi leadership has raised its security alert level in light of events in Iran; Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq expressed full support for the Iranian regime and threatened retaliation in the event of an American attack against the Islamic Republic. Read more...

Jihad Activity under the al-Sharaa Regime in Syria, a Potential Threat to Israel

The overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the rise of the new government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani) changed the map of Salafi-jihadist terrorism in Syria; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (the strongest of the jihadist organizations which opposed the Assad regime) disbanded, along with its affiliated militias, which helped bring down the previous regime. Their operatives were integrated into the security forces of the new government, including foreign jihad fighters; A few jihad organizations which had cooperated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham opposed the pragmatic positions of the new government and refused to integrate into its ranks. The most prominent example is the Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which attacked the security forces and Alawite civilians; The regime change in Syria and the absence of a governmental or security presence across large parts of the country provided ISIS with an opportunity to reorganize and establish itself in the Syrian desert in the east of the country and to expand its activity into populated areas near Damascus and the regions of Aleppo, Homs and southern Syria. However, Syria's joining the United States-led international coalition helped reduce the number of the organization's attacks during 2025. Despite the hostile positions of the Salafi-jihadist organizations still active in Syria toward Israel, they have not attacked IDF forces deployed in southern Syria or against Israeli territory. However, the detention of an ISIS operative in southern Syria indicated the potential threat; In ITIC assessment, the growing cooperation between the Syrian regime and the international coalition will make the situation on the ground harder for ISIS, even though the organization will continue its efforts to establish itself in areas where the regime's control remains weak, such as the Syrian desert, and to attack Syrian security forces and civilian localities. Other jihad organizations opposing the regime may also attempt to undermine the stability of the al-Sharaa government. Given that the extra-establishment jihadist elements are focused on the internal Syrian arena, their desire to harm IDF forces or Israeli territory is in all probability a lower priority, although they may try to build facilities in southern Syria that would enable them to threaten Israeli interests in the future. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (December 31, 2025 – January 7, 2026)

The Iranian ambassador to Beirut rejected claims recently voiced in Lebanon against Iran and Iran’s Supreme Leader, arguing that the intensified media campaign is based on false accusations and lies; An Iranian commentary article claimed that Tehran seeks to strengthen Lebanon’s sovereignty rather than weaken the central government in Beirut, despite its support for Hezbollah; Iran reportedly has tightened oversight of the transfer of funds to Hezbollah and is determining priorities in resource allocation; The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized remarks by Syria’s finance minister regarding Damascus’ intention to demand compensation from Iran for damage incurred during the civil war and for Iran’s assistance to the Assad regime; The commander of the IRGC’s Qods Force reportedly paid a secret visit to Baghdad to meet with senior pro-Iranian Shiite militia figures; A senior Houthi official condemned the visit of Israel’s foreign minister to Somaliland and warned that any “Zionist” presence on Somali soil constitutes a military target; Reports indicated that the Houthis carried out missile launches toward the sea in preparation for a new confrontation with Israel. “Yemeni security sources” said that Qods Force officers and senior Houthi officials discussed possible responses in the event of a new Israeli-American attack on Iran; Iraq’s prime minister once again stressed the need to disarm the armed militias, but the militias’ Coordination Committee issued a counter-statement declaring that “the resistance’s weapons are sacred.” Read more...

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