The West

Spotlight on Terrorism Hezbollah and Lebanon (August 17 –24, 2026)

Contacts to expand the pilot zones continue, but the dispute over the verification mechanism, the lack of progress in the Israeli withdrawal and the demand for measures against Hezbollah infrastructure prevent transitioning to the next phase; Hezbollah opposes the transfer of control of the Ali al-Taher Ridge to the Lebanese army and claims it will take action against an Israeli attempt to expand its control in the area; The United States is looking for a diplomatic way to end the dispute over the Ridge, with control of the area transferred to the Lebanese army and guarantees that Israel would not demand control of the area again; Transfer of Amal's weapons to the Lebanese army from south of the Litani was reported; The United States is increasing diplomatic, security and financial pressure on Hezbollah while linking support for Lebanon and its army to concrete measures against Hezbollah’s military-terrorist and financial infrastructures; Lebanon tightened supervision at the border crossings due to concerns about the entry of Iranians and reported that the visa of the Iranian chargé d’affaires would not be renewed; Preparations for the end of UNIFIL’s mandate in Lebanon continue, along with a search for an alternative mechanism; The civilian situation in south Lebanon prevents a return to normal routine, and approximately 268,000 people still displaced. Read more...

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis (August 12 – 19, 2026)

Amid Iran’s hardening position toward the United States, senior Iranian officials and media outlets emphasize that Tehran views a ceasefire in the Palestinian and Lebanese arenas as an additional condition for a possible arrangement with the United States and for reopening the Strait of Hormuz; The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the IDF strikes in southern Lebanon; It was reported that Iran had warned the Syrian government against the entry of Syrian military forces into Lebanese territory to take action against Hezbollah; The Qods Force commander warned the pro-Iranian Shiite militias during his visit to Baghdad against handing over their weapons to the Iraqi government; The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran visited Baghdad and met with senior Iraqi government officials; Houthi attacks against Saudi targets continue. Houthi military sources confirmed that attacks were also carried out inside Saudi Arabia, but the Houthis did not claim responsibility for the attacks, nor was there any confirmation from Saudi or Arab sources. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 11 – 18, 2026)

IDF forces resumed operations to eliminate terrorist threats in the Gaza Strip after a hiatus of more than a week; The Board of Peace representative denied claims of a financial agreement between the Board and Hamas and said that under the terms of the agreement, Hamas would relinquish its light and heavy weapons; Hamas announced its intention to participate in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections; The president of Turkey met with Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara and said he supported the establishment of a Palestinian state and reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. The Turkish foreign minister criticized Israel's opposition to implementing the agreement; International officials condemned Jewish settler violence in the village of Qusra; the Palestinian Authority condemned Israel's intention to transfer enforcement powers in Judea and Samaria to the Israel Police. Read more...

Spotlight on Terrorism Hezbollah and Lebanon (Aug 10 – 17, 2026)

A Hezbollah explosive drone struck an IDF force operating in the area of the Ali al-Taher ridge, critically wounding three IDF soldiers. In response, the IDF struck Hezbollah targets, including north of the Litani River; The United States continues its efforts to preserve the Israeli-Lebanese negotiation track and promote an international oversight mechanism. Despite mounting frustration in Beirut, President Joseph Aoun continues to present the diplomatic path as a strategic choice; however, the Lebanese leadership is demanding tangible gains to help rally domestic support; Disputes within the internal Lebanese arena regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament and negotiations with Israel have sharply escalated. Hezbollah and its leadership continue to oppose disarming the group and call for halting talks with Israel, whereas the organization's opponents insist on disarmament as a prerequisite for restoring sovereignty and advancing an agreement with Israel; Hezbollah is working to maintain and restore its room for maneuver across both the domestic and regional arenas amid the military and political pressure exerted on it. This includes renewing dialogue channels with President Aoun, tactical overtures to the Free Patriotic Movement, and efforts to establish a channel of communication with the new Syrian leadership; In southern Lebanon, difficulties persist regarding the return of residents and the reconstruction of damaged communities. Even in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh - the first 'pilot zone' where the Lebanese Army deployed - extensive destruction, a shortage of essential services, and continued Israeli activity illustrate that the transfer of security control to the state has not yet translated into a full return to normalcy. Read more...

Hamas in Lebanon, Based on Documents Brought Back by the IDF from the Gaza Strip

Hamas documents seized by the IDF in the Gaza Strip showed that the idea of establishing a military infrastructure in Lebanon was first raised around 2012; The documents also described how senior Hamas leaders led by Yahya al-Sinwar, encouraged by the sense of "victory" in Operation "Guardian of the Walls" in May 2021, worked with Hezbollah and Iran to establish a large military infrastructure for the movement in Lebanon that would form a fundamental part of the decisive campaign against Israel that began on October 7, 2023; according to the documents, internal power struggles took place within Hamas and against Iran and Hezbollah over control of the military infrastructure in Lebanon; Hamas' military wing in Lebanon participated in the campaign that Hezbollah launched against Israel on October 8, 2023, as "support" in the Gaza Strip and claimed responsibility for 13 attacks on the north of Israel until the ceasefire in November 2024. More than twenty commanders and operatives were thwarted in Israeli attacks during the campaign and after the ceasefire. Read more...

Funding Terrorism – Historical Review and Future Trend

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the financial arena has become key to the global war on terrorist organizations. It is based on the premise that financing is critical to the threat, and disrupting it can impair the capabilities of terrorist elements; This study analyzes terrorist financing from a historical and developmental perspective, from traditional banking methods to hybrid and decentralized systems, and the use of digital asset exchanges and artificial intelligence technologies. Read more...

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