Periodical Studies

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (September 21-27, 2023)

A Lebanese tractor crossed the border into Israeli territory, in the Har Dov area, and took down a mound erected by the IDF. According to the Lebanese army, the tractor operated in Lebanese territory. At the same time, the Lebanese army was paving a road nearby. IDF forces also continued their work in the area. In an interview to an Iranian news channel, Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, said that it was still too early to predict whether the decisive campaign against Israel was imminent In the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp, a temporary calm is apparent. Najib Mikati, Lebanon’s interim prime minister, said in an interview that a peace agreement with Israel could only be possible through negotiations carried out by the Arab League . A drone targeted, apparently in Syria, two Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives. The two were killed. In one of the reports, the attack was attributed to Israel. Hezbollah reportedly moved a system of surface-to-air missiles from Lebanon to one of its bases in the Dimas area on the outskirts of Damascus.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 20-27, 2023)

This past week Palestinians carried out eight terrorist attacks: six were shooting attacks a stabbing attack and a vehicular ramming attack. The Israeli security forces continued carrying out counterterrorism activities. Khaled Tabila, a senior Lion's Den group operative, was detained in Nablus; in an activity in Birzeit University, eight operatives of Hamas' Islamic Bloc student faction, who were planning terrorist attacks . violent clashes continued along the border security fence in the Gaza Strip. International and Arab efforts at mediation have yet to bear fruit. Reports continue about the Hamas administration's severe financial hardship. Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. It was his usual annual litany of complaints and demands, accusations against Israel and the assertion that the Palestinians would continue their "peaceful popular resistance" [popular terrorism]. His speech disappointed the Palestinians, who claimed that it was not assertive enough and did not reflect "the Palestinians' situation."
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Spotlight on Iran (September 11 – 26, 2023)

The IRGC commander responded to the Israeli Mossad chief’s threats to increase Israel’s activity against Iran, warning that if Israel continues its assassination policy, its life will be shortened, and Iran will have the upper hand.The Iranian media reported on a visit to Syria by Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani, during which he met with senior political and security officials and visited operational areas in the country. According to a Syrian news channel report, the IRGC and pro-Iranian militias intend to turn the Soleimani military base in eastern Syria into their main base in the region and transfer weapons currently at the Imam Ali base there. Intensive contacts have been held over the past two weeks between senior Iranian and Iraqi officials over Iran’s demand to dismantle the separatist Kurdish groups operating in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The Iraqi foreign minister, who visited Tehran, stressed his country’s commitment to the security agreement with Iran and to dismantling the Kurdish armed groups operating in northern Iraq.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (September 15-21, 2023)

This past week no unusual incidents were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah-affiliated media outlets reported on works carried out by Israel in the Ghajar region. The exposure of Iran and Hezbollah's secret airport in south Lebanon continued to make headlines. Preliminary details have been published about the plan of Amos Hochstein, the American president's coordinator for energy security, to resolve the issue of the land border between Israel and Lebanon. Tensions continue in the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp. Several meetings were held in an effort to calm the situation. So far, there has been no solution to the presidential crisis in Lebanon nor is one on the horizon. Hezbollah and Amal continue to promote the candidacy of Suleiman Frangieh.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (September 13-20, 2023)

This past week Palestinians carried out seven terrorist attacks. The Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, focusing on Jeninn and Jericho; five Palestinians were killed. Meanwhile, the Palestinian security forces continued to detain wanted persons in Jenin. During the Jewish New Year tensions increased when Jewish worshipers entered the Temple Mount; the event was condemned by Palestinians and Arab countries.This past week riots were renewed along the Gaza border. One Palestinian was killed by IDF forces in the southern Gaza Strip and five others were killed by an explosive device in the eastern Gaza Strip before it could thrown at Israeli soldiers The Palestinian Authority (PA) continued its activities in preparation for Mahmoud Abbas' speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2023. Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh are exploiting the visit to New York to meet with world leaders to mobilize support for the Palestinian issue.
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Spotlight on Global Jihad (September 14-20, 2023)

This week, there was a decline in ISIS’s activity around the world. The organization’s activity focused on Syria and Africa. In the Idlib area, fighting continued between the forces of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated HTS and the Syrian army. In the desert area, three pro-Iranian militia fighters were killed in an ISIS attack. In Nigeria ISIS attacked Nigerian army targets in the northeast of the country. In Somalia operatives of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab continued to attack targets of the Somali army and the forces supporting it. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formed a new defense alliance to jointly fight jihadi terrorist organizations headed by Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Al-Qaeda’s branch in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) renewed the publication of the magazine Sada al-Malahim, apparently to enlist support and operatives. Unofficial media arms affiliated with Al-Qaeda published posters threatening the United States and its allies and Sweden and its “sisters.”
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