Spotlight on Terrorism – December 2025

The IDF

• During December 2025, IDF forces continued operating within the Yellow Line (the area under IDF control) in the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. The forces eliminated terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line or posed a threat, as well as terrorist operatives who attacked IDF forces, and destroyed weapons and tunnels located within the Yellow Line area. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) returned the coffin of a Thai civilian who was murdered and abducted in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. The body of the one remaining murdered Israeli hostage, Israel Police Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili, is still being held in the Strip. IDF forces preventing smuggling using drones over the Egyptian border (IDF spokesperson, December 1–31, 2025).

Targeted Killing of Senior Hamas Figures

• On December 13, 2025, an aerial attack in the southwest of Gaza City killed Ra’ad Saad, a veteran operative in the Hamas military wing, head of the production headquarters of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. He was close to Marwan Issa, deputy head of the military wing until he was killed in March 2024, and held several important positions in the Hamas military wing, including establishing and commanding the Gaza City Brigade and establishing the naval force. He was later appointed head of operational headquarters, initiated the establishment of the nukhba battalions, and played a central role in forming the Jericho Wall plan, on which the Hamas based its plans for the October 7 attack and massacre. As head of the production headquarters, he was responsible for the manufacture of all weapons for the military wing, for reconstructing production capabilities during the war and after the ceasefire, and for planting numerous explosive devices which killed IDF soldiers in the Strip (IDF spokesperson, December 13, 2025). Subsequently, the IDF Arabic-language spokesperson reported that Abd al-Hai Zaqout, a senior operative in the finance department of the Hamas military wing, was also killed in the attack. Zaqout raised tens of millions of dollars over the past year and transferred them to the military wing, which used them to continue trying to destroy the State of Israel (X account of the IDFArabic spokesperson, December 24, 2025).

   
Right: Saad’s ID card (IDF spokesperson, December 13, 2025).
Left: Zaqout’s ID card (X account of the IDF Arabic spokesperson, December 24, 2025)

• Hamas confirmed the deaths of the “great mujahid [fighter] commander” Ra’ad Sa’id Saad, aka Abu Mu’ad, and of Riyadh al-Labban, Abd al-Hay Zaqout, and Yahya al-Kayali. According to the statement, with Saad’s death, a “jihadist journey” of more than 35 years came to an end, which began in the first intifada, during which he was on the front lines, present in the arenas of “resistance”^[3] activity, and contributed to building the capabilities of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, having survived several assassination attempts. Hamas said it “views the crimes of the occupation as renewed confirmation that resistance and steadfastness are the way to defeat the enemy and restore the rights of the Palestinian people without compromise” (Hamas Telegram channel, December 14, 2025). According to the Hamas military wing, “the enemy has crossed all red lines” and “the occupation ignores the American plan,” reiterating yet again that “we have the right to defend ourselves by all means.” The military wing announced the appointment of a successor to Saad but did not name him (Izz al-Din Brigades Telegram channel, December 14, 2025). According to another report, Saad was killed while engaged in preparations for internal elections for the movement’s leadership in the Strip (Ultra  Palestine, December 29, 2025).

• Journalists in the Gaza Strip reported that Riyadh al-Labban was responsible for the security and protection of “resistance” leaders in the Strip. He commanded the security team of the former head of the political bureau, Yahya al-Sinwar (X account of journalist Wael Abu Omar, December 13, 2025; X account of journalist Muhammad Haniyeh, December 13, 2025).

• On December 29, the Hamas military wing announced the deaths of five of its senior operatives who had been killed by Israel since March 2025, with the resumption of fighting after the previous ceasefire (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, December 29, 2025):
  • “The great commander” Muhammad al-Sinwar, aka Abu Ibrahim, head of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and killed in May 2025. He was reportedly the “best successor” to his predecessor, the “brilliant mind,” Abu Khaled (Muhammad) Deif, and commanded the “operational wing” during al-Aqsa Flood (the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre). He played a key role in its planning and executing, as well as overseeing various aspects of the “defense plan” and confrontation with the “enemy’s aggression.” His “journey” reportedly began many years ago and included “magnificent” milestones, including commanding the Khan Yunis Brigade and holding several command positions in the  military wing.

• • “The great commander” Muhammad Shabana, aka Abu Anas, who commanded the Rafah Brigade and was killed together with Muhammad al-Sinwar in May 2025). He was referred to as a “respected leader” who “contributed” in various roles, from communications to logistics, and was a “hero known in the south of the Strip for ‘exceptional operations,'” beginning with the abduction of Gilad Shalit in June 2006) through the attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing in April 2008, and the abduction of IDF officer Hadar Goldin during Operation Protective Edge in August 2014, as well as the “achievements” of Rafah fighters during the war.

• • “The great commander” Hakem al-Issa, aka Abu Omar, was head of the combat and administrative support headquarters, and killed in June 2025. He was referred to as a “devoted jihad fighter and a humble, pious leader,” who had wandered extensively “wearing the cloak of jihad in Palestine” and was known in Lebanon, Syria and many countries before settling in the Gaza Strip to pass on his knowledge to jihad fighters in “Palestine.” Al-Issa held various leadership roles, including responsibility for the training department, the military academies and combat weapons, founded and commandedthe military wing’s air defense unit and was among the planners of al-Aqsa Flood.

     
Right: Death notice for al-Issa (Izz al-Din Brigades Telegram channel, December 29, 2025). Left: Biographical infographic for al-Issa (al-Risalah, December 31, 2025)

• • “The great commander” Ra’ad Saad, aka Abu Mu’ad, was in the production unit and was previously commander of “operations.” He was known on the “fields of jihad” from its earliest days, was the first commander of the Gaza Brigade and held various leadership roles in different jihad arenas. Reportedly his last position was leading the military production system “which independently produces the weapons of the al-Qassam Brigades, from bullets to rifles, from rockets to explosive charges and shells, from naval vessels to the UAVs which played a decisive role in the breakthrough on October 7 and in the defensive battles thereafter.”

• • “The great commander” Khudeifa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, aka Abu Obeida, head of military information and spokesperson for the military wing, killed in August 2025. He was called “the thunderous voice of the nation, the man of the word and the stance, the pulse of Palestine,” who had ” the greatest influence on the souls of the nation’s sons.” He reportedly spoke “in the darkest circumstances, from the heart of the battlefield, bringing waves of joy and comfort, despite the great danger and repeated assassination attempts.” The military wing claimed that “even the enemy’s supporters, more than his own people, waited eagerly for his words, hoping to hear his decisive message and  definitive news.”

• • The announcement of the deaths of the senior figures was delivered by the new spokesperson of the military wing, who is also called Abu Obeida, and who said he retained the same nom de guerre so “we can continue the journey.”

• The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Popular Resistance Committees, the al-Mujahideen Movement and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) sent condolences to Hamas, saying the deaths of the senior military wing figures would provide strength for the “resistance”^[4] to continue the struggle against the “occupation” (Hamas Telegram channel, December 29–31, 2025). Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps also issued statements expressing support for the “Palestinian resistance” (South Lebanon – Watching the Enemy Telegram channel, December 30–31, 2025). Messages were also sent to Hamas by the Houthi leader Abd al-Malik al-Houthi and the Houthi chief of staff Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, who said they were confident the movement would continue the “struggle” and pledged their support (al-Masirah, December 30–31, 2025).

Other Terrorist Operative Fatalities

• On December 13, according to reports, Muhammad Abu Hussein Abd al-Aal, who served as commander of military intelligence in the Rafah Brigade of the Hamas military wing, died after being injured in an attack on displaced persons’ tents in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis on December 3 (al-Sharq al-Awsat, December 13, 2025; Facebook page of Amsak Harami, December 13, 2025).

• On December 14, the Hamas ministry of interior in the Gaza Strip announced that an officer in the internal security forces, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Zamzam, was killed by gunfire from armed men in the al-Maghazi refugee camp, and that one suspect was arrested. Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that he was killed by agents of the “occupation,” under direct instructions from Israeli intelligence services (Telegram channel of the ministry of interior and national security in the Strip, December 14, 2025). Ghassan al-Dahini, commander of the Popular Forces militia, announced that the special operations division of the militia’s counterterrorism department was responsible for the killing (Facebook page of Ghassan al-Dahini, December 14, 2025). However, “sources on the ground” stated that the assassins belonged to the new militia of Shuki Abu Nasira operating in eastern Khan Yunis (al-Sharq al-Awsat, December 15, 2025). The Hamas security forces claimed that during interrogation one of the detainees stated that Abu Nasira assigned him and two others to kill Zamzam (Telegram channel Khaleek Wa’i, December 15, 2025). On December 29, it was reported that Mahmoud al-Zein Abu Jabha, alleged to have been involved in Zamzam’s killing, was executed (Amsak Amil Telegram channel, December 29, 2025).

• Israeli security forces exposed documents indicating that Hamas operated a clandestine money-changing network in Turkey whose operatives were expatriates from the Gaza Strip. According to the announcement, the money changers operated in cooperation with the Iranian regime and transferred vast sums to Hamas and senior movement figures. The documents recorded transfers amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, though it was noted that represented only a small part of the activity. The announcement revealed the identities of three Gaza-based Hamas operatives operating in Turkey: Tamer Hassan, a senior official in the Hamas finance office in Turkey operating under the head of the political bureau in the Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, and money changers Khalil Farwana and Farid Abu Dair (Telegram channel of the IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, December 7, 2025). “Sources in Hamas” denied the Israeli announcement and claimed that the movement had its own methods of transferring funds. They admitted that Hamas frequently faced difficulties in transferring funds from abroad to the Gaza Strip, and similarly to Judea and Samaria because of the “persecution” of Israel and the Palestinian Authority security forces, though they claimed that transferring funds from abroad was better there than in the Gaza Strip (al-Sharq al-Awsat, December 18, 2025).

     
Right: The money-changing network. Left: Transactions as recorded in the document (Telegram channel of the IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, December 7, 2025)

Rocket fire

• During December 2025 no rockets were fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip.

Monthly Distribution of Rocket Fire

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Terrorist Attacks

• During December 2025, six terrorist attacks were carried out, more than in any other month during 2025. Five of the attacks were in Judea and Samaria, and one inside Israel. Two Israeli civilians were killed and eight IDF soldiers were wounded:
  • Vehicular attack at the Yehuda Junction: On December 1, a Palestinian driver sped his car toward an IDF force at the Yehuda Junction in the Hebron area and wounded an IDF soldier. Israeli security forces pursued and located the terrorist in Hebron, and he was shot and killed after attempting to flee while endangering the forces (IDF spokesperson and Israeli Security Agency spokesperson, December 1–2, 2025). The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) general commission for civilian affairs reported the death of Muhannad Tareq al-Za’ir, 17 years old, from Hebron (Quds Agency, December 2, 2025). Hamas issued a death notice for the “mujahid” Muhannad Tareq al-Za’ir, killed after carrying out a “heroic vehicular attack” west of Halhul (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 2, 2025).

• • Stabbing in the community of Ateret: On December 2, an IDF force arrived to examine a Palestinian suspect who had gone to the community of Ateret in the Binyamin area, north of Ramallah. During the inspection, the suspect stabbed two soldiers; he was shot and killed. (IDF spokesperson, December 2, 2025). The PA commission for civilian affairs reported the death of Mahmoud Asmar, 18 years old, from Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah (Quds Agency, December 2, 2025). Hamas published a notice announcing the death of the “mujahid” Muhammad Raslan Asmar, killed after carrying out a “heroic stabbing attack” in Ateret (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 2, 2025).

• • Vehicular attack in Hebron: On December 6, a Palestinian driver sped his car toward an IDF force stationed at the Hashoter Checkpoint in Hebron; he was shot and killed. A local sanitation worker was also killed. An IDF soldier was wounded (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, December 6–7, 2025). The PA commission for civilian affairs reported the death of Ahmed Khalil Ahmed al-Rajbi, 17 years old, killed by the “occupation army” in the Bab al-Zawiya area of Hebron, and of Ziad Na’im Jabara Abu Daoud, 55 years old (Palestinian Center for Communication, December 6, 2025). Hamas issued death notices for Ahmed Khalil al-Rajbi, killed after carrying out a “heroic ramming operation” near Bab al-Zawiya, and for the death of Ziad Na’im Abu Daoud, killed while working (Hamas  Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 7, 2025).

• • Stabbing in Hebron: On December 14, a Palestinian terrorist armed with a knife attempted to stab an Israel Electric Corporation employee at the Olive Junction near Kiryat Arba; he was shot and killed by an IDF force at the scene (IDF spokesperson, December 14, 2025). The PA ministry of the interior reported the death of Wael Muhammad al-Sharouf, 23 years old, from the town of Nuba, shot by the “occupation” north of Hebron (Shehab Agency, December 14, 2025). According to reports, he was the son of the mayor of Nuba, west of Hebron (Facebook page of the Nuba Municipality, December 14, 2025). Hamas issued a death notice for Muhammad al-Sharouf, shot while attempting to carry out a stabbing at the northern entrance to Hebron (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 14, 2025).

• • Vehicular attack and stabbing in Beit She’an and the Jezreel Valley: On December 26, 2025, a Palestinian terrorist rammed his car into and killed an Israeli civilian in Beit She’an, then continued driving and stabbed a young Israeli woman to death near Ein Harod. He continued toward Afula, where he was shot and detained. The terrorist was Ahmed Abu al-Rab, 34 years old, from Qabatiya, who had resided in Israel illegally for years and had previously been involved in throwing Molotov cocktails (Israel Police spokesperson and Israeli media, December 26, 2025). Hamas praised the attack and called it “an expression of accumulated popular anger and a result of the ongoing crimes of the Zionist occupation” (Hamas Telegram channels, December 26, 2025). The PIJ also praised the attack, calling it “proof that our people adhere to their land and their rights, despite the occupation’s aggression” (PIJ Telegram channel, December 26, 2025).

• • Vehicular attack in the Mount Hebron area: On December 26, 2025, a Palestinian terrorist rammed his car an IDF vehicle near the community of Adorayim in the Mount Hebron area. Four IDF soldiers were wounded. The terrorist was detained (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, December 26, 2025).

Significant Terrorist Attacks, 2025^[5]

Distribution of Significant Terrorist Attacks over the Past Decade

Counterterrorism

• During December 2025, Israeli security forces continued routine counterterrorism activity throughout Judea and Samaria. On December 5, the forces completed a counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria, focusing on the Jenin and Qabatiya area and on the cluster of communities Tubas, Aqaba, Tayasir, the al-Fara refugee camp and Tamun. After the attack in the Beit She’an area, the forces also operated extensively in Qabatiya. During routine activity and the operations, which combined ground and aerial activity and focused on Qabatiya, terrorist operatives were eliminated, including cells and terrorists who planned to carry out attacks in the near future and terrorists who threw rocks and Molotov cocktails. Dozens of wanted persons and suspects involved in terrorist activity were detained, including weapons dealers. The forces seized weapons, explosive devices, lathes, funds for financing terrorist activity, and incitement and propaganda material. In Tulkarm, a terrorist infrastructure responsible for attacking IDF forces was exposed, and three rockets in various stages of manufacture were located, one of them with a warhead and explosive material. Security forces sealed and demolished the homes of attackers who had killed Israelis, and prevented weapons from being smuggled across the Jordanian border (IDF spokesperson and Israeli media, December 1–31, 2025):
  • On December 5, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a “young man” had been critically wounded by gunfire in the village of Odala, south of Nablus, and died in the hospital. According to reports, Bahaa Abd al-Rahman Rashid was wounded in clashes after “occupation” forces entered the center of the village and the area of the old mosque following the end of prayers (Quds Agency, December 5, 2025). Hamas offered its condolences for the death of Bahaa Abd al-Rahman Rashid (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 5, 2025).

• • On December 7, three terrorists threw rocks at a highway near the town of Azzun. IDF soldiers at the scene shot at the terrorists, killing one, wounding another and detaining the third. There were no casualties (IDF spokesperson, December 7, 2025). The Palestinian Red Crescent announced one fatality and two wounded from “occupation” force fire west of the town of Azzun, east of Qalqilya (al-Aqsa Channel, December 7, 2025). The PA commission for civilian affairs reported that Moamen Nidal Abu Riyyash, 19 years old, from Qalqilya, was killed at a location between the towns of Azzun and Izbat al-Tabib in Qalqilya District (Watan Agency, December 7, 2025). It was later reported that Baraa Bilal Qabalan, 21, was critically wounded by “occupation” fire at a location between Azzun and Izbat al-Tabib and died of his wounds (Shehab Agency, December 8, 2025). Hamas offered condolences for the deaths of the “mujahids” Moamen Nidal Abu Riyyashand Baraa Qabalan (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 8, 2025).

     
Right: Hamas death notice for Abu Riyyash. Right: Hamas death notice for Qabalan
(Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 8, 2025)

• • On December 13, a Palestinian terrorist threw an explosive device at an IDF force operating in Silat al-Harithiya in northern Samaria; he was shot and killed. There were no casualties (IDF spokesperson, December 13, 2025). The PA ministry of civilian affairs reported that Muhammad Iyad Abahra, 16 years old, was killed by “occupation” gunfire in the town of Silat al-Harithiya in the Jenin District (al-Aqsa Telegram Channel). The PIJ’s military wing said the “mujahid” Muhammad Iyad Abahra belonged to the al-Yamoun Platoon of the Jenin Battalion and was killed throwing several hand grenades at “occupation soldiers” during the raid on Silat al-Harithiya (Jerusalem Brigades Telegram channel, December 14, 2025).

• • On December 20, a Palestinian terrorist threw a brick at an IDF force operating in the town of Qabatiya in the Jenin area; he was shot and killed. There were no casualties (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2025). The ministry of health in Ramallah reported that Rayan Muhammad Abd al-Qader Abu Mala, 16 years old, was killed by “occupation fire” in Qabatiya (al-Aqsa Channel, December 20, 2025). Hamas confirmed that he was one of its operatives and claimed he had been “killed in cold blood” by “occupation” forces (Hamas Telegram channel in Judea and Samaria, December 20, 2025).

• • On December 20, a Palestinian terrorist threw an explosive device at an IDF force operating in Silat al-Harithiya; he was shot and killed. There were no casualties (IDF spokesperson, December 20, 2025). The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Ahmed Sa’ad Shahada Ziyud, 22 years old, from “occupation gunfire” in Silat al-Harithiya (al-Aqsa Channel, December 20, 2025). The PIJ’s military wing said the “mujahid” Ahmed Sa’ad Ziyud belonged to the Silat al-Harithiya Platoon and was killed after being “directly hit by a Zionist sniper” (Jerusalem Brigades Telegram channel, December 21, 2025).

• During December 2025, security forces also prevented terrorist activity within the State of Israel:
  • Israeli security forces detained two residents of northern Israel on suspicion of involvement with ISIS and contact with an external operative on behalf of the organization. It was reported that Kanaan Azaiza, 20 years old, from Daburiyya, and another suspect from Acre were suspected of planning to travel illegally to an enemy state for training or instruction for terrorist purposes and of having carried out preparatory actions. The investigation revealed that Azaiza has sworn allegiance to ISIS, expressed willingness to carry out terrorist activity, including attacks on IDF soldiers, maintained contact with operatives abroad regarding the organization, learned how to manufacture explosives and pipe bombs, and planned to travel abroad for training purposes (Police and Israeli Security Agency spokespersons, December 17, 2025).
  • Israeli security forces detained an Israeli citizen, a resident of the Bedouin village of Bir Hadaj, on suspicion of engaging in smuggling weapons into the State of Israel using drones. His activity posed a danger to state and public security and the minister of defense signed an order extending the suspect’s administrative detention (ISA spokesperson, December 18, 2025).
  • During December 2025, Israeli security forces exposed a network smuggling weapons across the Egyptian border and filed indictments against four Israeli Bedouins from Kanaan al-Azazma in the Negev. The investigation revealed that the four were involved in weapons-smuggling operations from Sinai using drones, and in one of the attempts four machine guns were seized. They also monitored IDF communications networks (ISA, IDF, and Israel Police spokespersons, January 1, 2026).

Hezbollah

• During December 2025, IDF forces continued to operate against Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024, which prohibited the organization’s presence south of the Litani River, and against Hezbollah’s military capabilities and its efforts to reconstruct itself and replenish its arsenal in south Lebanon and other areas of the country (see map). The forces attacked Radwan Force training and preparation complexes, weapons depots, (many of which were concealed in civilian areas}, launch sites and other military facilities, and ground forces destroyed buildings used by Hezbollah for military purposes in communities near the border. Nine Hezbollah operatives were eliminated, more than 20 in previous months, including operatives involved in reconstructing facilities, an operative who ran agents within Lebanon’s security apparatuses and liaised with the local population, and a terrorist operative who was simultaneously in the Lebanese army and was eliminated with two other Hezbollah operatives (IDF spokesperson, December 1–31, 2025). On Hezbollah’s social media accounts and media channels, death notices were issued for eight of the organization’s operatives who died in Israeli attacks, while only the Lebanese army issued a notice regarding the death of the soldier (Telegram channels of Balagh and South Lebanon – Watching the Enemy, and Lebanese media, December 1–31, 2025):^[6]
  • Muhammad Ali Ibrahim Salim, aka Ali Haidar, from Tyre.
  • Ihsan Fares Zain al-Din, aka Ahmed, from Safad al-Battikh.
  • Zakaria Yahya al-Hajj, aka Abu Yahya, from Jwaya.
  • Hussein Hassan Yahya, aka Ali Murtada, from al-Taybeh.
  • al-Hajj Ali Kamel Korani, aka Malak, from Yater.
  • Hassan Khadr Issa, aka Abu Hassan, from Houmine al-Tahta.
  • Mustafa Muhammad Ballout, aka Kamil, from Houmine al-Tahta.
  • Ali Hassan Abdallah, holding the rank of Rafiq Awal in the Lebanese army, born in Malih, from Houmine al-Tahta.
• Hamad Ibrahim Alaa’ al-Din, aka Abu Ali Murtada, from Majdal Selm.

The Qods Force

• On December 25, in an aerial attack in the al-Nasirah area in the northeastern Beqa’a Valley of Lebanon near the Syrian border, Israeli security forces eliminated Hussein Mahmoud Marshid al-Jawhari, called an important terrorist in the operational unit of Iran’s Qods Force (Unit 840), who in recent years had been involved in promoting terrorist activity against the State of Israel in the Syrian and Lebanese arenas. He operated for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was involved in Iranian-directed terrorist activity against the State of Israel and Israeli security forces (IDF spokesperson, December 25, 2025). The Lebanese ministry of health reported two fatalities in the attack near the town of Housh al-Sayyid Ali in the Beqa’a Valley (Lebanese News Agency, December 25, 2025). According to reports, Majed Qansuh and Hussein Mahmoud al-Jawhari were killed in an attack on a minibus on a road in Housh al-Sayyid Ali (Nabd news site, December 25, 2025). The two were buried in the city of Hermel in a formal Hezbollah ceremony, their coffins draped with the organization’s flags. However, only Qanzouh received a death notice (al-‘Ahed, December 26, 2025).

    
Funeral service of al-Jawhari and Kanzouh in Hermel (al-‘Ahed, December 26, 2025)

Amal

• On December 16, the IDF reported a Hezbollah terrorist was attacked near Sablin in south Lebanon (IDF spokesperson, December 16, 2025). Lebanese media reported that one person was killed in an Israeli attack directed at a commercial vehicle near Sablin, and three Lebanese general security operatives who were passing near the targeted vehicle were wounded (Saida Online, December 16, 2025). A Lebanese army unit reportedly inspected the vehicle and did not identify weapons or explosives (al-Akhbar, December 17, 2025). Amal announced that its operative, Hussein Samir Qatish from the town of Aanqoun, was killed in a “raid by the enemy” (Nidaa’ al-Watan, December 16, 2025). It was later reported that Alaa’ Kamel Shahadeh of Lebanese general security, who was wounded in the attack, had died (al-Nashra, December 24, 2024).

• During December 2025, IDF forces continued activity to locate terrorist threats and seize weapons in the buffer zone on the Golan Heights and in southern Syria, searching in villages inside and outside the buffer zone. During activity near the village of Rafid, a suspect who had been operated by ISIS was detained and weapons were seized (IDF spokesperson, December 1–31, 2025).

• Syrian media reported “infiltrations” by “Israeli occupation forces” of villages in the rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa provinces, the erection of checkpoints and the detention of local residents. In addition, on December 3, aerial attacks were reported near the town of Beit Jinn in the western rural area of Damascus, without casualties. On December 9, three civilians were reported wounded by Israeli fire at a location between Khan Arnabeh and Ein Eisha in the rural area of Quneitra (SANA, the Syrian Arab News Agency, and the Syrian Observatory, December 1–31, 2025).
• On December 24, the so-called Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Men of Valor announced the death of the organization’s leader, “general commander” Rada al-Hussein Abu Jihad. The circumstances of his death were not given, but he died “defending Syria and Arab Palestine.” It was further stated that he had “sacrificed much on the path of jihad, which testified to the greatness of his integrity and faith in the cause for which he gave his life.” The organization said it would continue to follow his path and that “the blood of the martyred leaders will increase the faith, resilience, strength, and determination of the resistance”^[7] (Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Men of Valor, December 24, 2025). He is an unknown figure, but it has been previously claimed that he was discharged from the Syrian army about 25 years ago with a junior military rank and was active in several Palestinian and Lebanese organizations, but left them in 2021 after formulating a different political and military vision.

• During December 2025, the Houthis refrained from carrying out attacks against Israeli territory or against vessels, in line with their policy since the beginning of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025. However, senior Houthi officials continued to threaten to resume attacks if Israel were to “violate” the ceasefire or if fighting between Israel and Hamas were to resume. In addition, they threatened to attack Israel in response to IDF activity against Hezbollah and warned they would act against Israeli targets in response to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland’s independence.^[8]

Houthi attacks against Israel – 2025^[9]

Targeted killings of senior operatives

• On December 24, 2025, the Houthis officially announced the deaths of five movement operatives: Zakaria Abdallah Yahya Hajar, Ahmed Abdallah Yahya Hajar, Hussein Yahya Abdallah al-Hashemi, Abdallah Yahya Abdallah Hajar, and Mohammed Khaled Yahya al-Haifi (sa24 news website, December 24, 2025). The official Houthi announcements did not specify when or under what circumstances they were killed. However, it was reported that they were killed during US airstrikes in Sana’a in March 2025. It was noted that Zakaria Abdallah Yahya Hajar established the Houthis’ drone unit after undergoing training in Iran and that he worked alongside Iranian experts and advisers from the IRGC’s Qods Force and from Arab countries, while al-Haifi headed the operational activity of the Houthis’ missile force (Al-Arabiya, December 25, 2025).

• Houthi media outlets also published an infographic detailing Hajar’s biography, noting that he was among the founders of the Military Research and Development Center and carried out “reverse engineering” of several weapons systems. He led the establishment of the drone department of the air force, and his efforts “resulted in the construction of a diverse, multi-mission fleet of domestically produced drones that competed with their counterparts in developed countries, the most well-known of which is the ‘Yaffa’ drone” (Al-Masirah TV channel, December 25, 2025).

• The infographic published about al-Haifi states that he joined the missile force and actively contributed to it since its establishment. It was also noted that he “presented many ideas and solutions that contributed to a qualitative leap in the operational performance of the missile force in recent years” and that he supervised the joint operations of the missile and drone units in support of the Gaza Strip (Houthi Ministry of Defense’s combat information, December 24, 2025).

• On December 30, 2025, the Houthis announced the death of Abd al-Malik al-Murtada, who served as the movement’s representative in the joint operations room of the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance,” and who apparently was also killed in US airstrikes in March 2025. “Sources” reported that he played a key role in coordinating operations among the pro-Iranian branches in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, and coordinated the transfer of fighters and weapons from Iran to Yemen. He returned to Yemen after the October 7, 2023 attack and the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip, but shortly thereafter moved to southern Lebanon, where he operated with groups affiliated with Hezbollah. Following the targeted killing of senior Hezbollah figures, headed by secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, he moved to Iraq together with a group of Houthi operatives, where they worked with local militias. The “sources” added that he returned to Houthi-controlled Yemen in early 2025. Along with him, the deaths of two additional officers were reported: Sharaf al-Murtada and Zakaria al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat, December 31, 2025).

• On December 14, 2025, two Muslim terrorists shot at participants at a ceremony for lighting the first Hanukkah candle, held at the popular Bondi Beach in Sydney. Fifteen people were killed in the attack, most of them members of the Jewish community, including a 10-year-old girl, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, and a Chabad emissary, and more than 40 others were wounded. One of the attackers, Sajid Akram (50 years old), was killed, and his son, Navid Akram (24 years old), was shot and wounded and later indicted on charges of murder and terrorism. The Australian Federal Police suspected that the two terrorists had been inspired by ISIS, and had carried out the attack after meticulous planning which included weapons training and gathering intelligence; explosive devices and an ISIS flag were found in their vehicle. They stayed at a hotel in the Philippines during November 2025, in an area known as a center of ISIS activity, although police noted that no evidence had so far been found indicating that they received training, logistical assistance or external instructions to carry out the attack while in the Philippines The investigation is ongoing (Australian media, December 14–31, 2025).^[10]