On February 6, Wafiq Safa, a veteran senior commander in Hezbollah, stepped down from his position as head of the organization’s “Liaison and Coordination Unit” (it remains unclear whether he resigned or was dismissed). While some observers view this as a dramatic development signaling a
While Hezbollah’s rhetoric is becoming increasingly radical and loyal to Iran and the “Axis of Resistance,” the organization itself is acting with caution and restraint. Behind the militant declarations stands an actor under growing political pressure in the Lebanese arena, required to navigate between its
Introduction This paper argues that Hezbollah’s decision to join the renewed 2026 war with Israel is neither a simple act of “axis discipline” nor just an automatic extension of its traditional resistance role, but the product of a narrowing strategic corridor shaped by three forces:
Since October 7th, influence warfare has become a central arena in the confrontation between the Axis of Resistance and Israel. Alongside military operations, Iranian proxies have intensified their efforts to manipulate information against Israel and the West. This demonstrates their recognition that the psychological battlespace
Naim Qassem’s recent speech shows Hezbollah’s unsuccessful attempt to shape the narrative of power, to preserve the organization’s former prestige and the enduring legacy of Hassan Nasrallah. On October 26, Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, delivered what can be described as a “speech of justification”. In
Originality was published in Sevilla University’s journal Araucaria. Abstract The article explores Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” a regional coalition which includes Syria, and the militant radical groups Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi pro-Iranian militias and Yemen’s Houthis, aimed at the annihilation of Israel and countering U.S./Western influence
Abstract Amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah has remained militarily passive, relying on rhetoric and symbolic gestures over direct engagement. This calculated restraint underscores the organization’s strategic vulnerabilities—domestic opposition, operational setbacks, and deep reliance on Iranian support. The central question now is
Abstract This article examines Hezbollah’s coordinated media campaigns on Telegram between November 2024 and May 2025. It reveals how the organization shifted its messaging from declarations of military victory to themes of resilience, national unity, and civil legitimacy. Through analyzing hashtags, visual content, and rhetorical
Abstract This article analyzes the election of Joseph Aoun as President of Lebanon in January 2025, set against the backdrop of the country’s deep political and economic crisis. Aoun’s election, which followed 12 unsuccessful attempts to choose a president, was ultimately secured through a compromise
Fawaz Clan Case StudyDownload This research was conducted with the generous backing, expertise, and funding of CENTEF (Center for Research of Terror Financing). We extend our sincere gratitude for their comprehensive support of this project. This research was made possible through the support of 240 Analytics
Download Terrorist financing systems[1] have evolved over the years. Advances in technology and counter-terrorism financing campaigns influence the patterns of terrorist organizations in this domain. They adopt new methods, open new funding sources and channels, and improve and expand the use of existing methods in feasible
November 27, 2024 – Morning in Lebanon: Citizens returning to a village in southern Lebanon gathered around a central square to burn an Israeli flag, creating a symbolic image that quickly defined the day and the narrative Hezbollah seeks to project: framing the withdrawal of
Abstract During 2020-2023, the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University conducted comprehensive research examining the challenges of Israel’s multi-front warfare and the implications for Israel’s preparedness in terms of the home front, the frontlines, and various operational arenas. Each chapter of the study
Download Beyond the opportunity to hear from an always impressive lineup of speakers and to directly engage with leading analysts and government officials from all parts of the world, one of the privileges of attending the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) World Summits over the
Abstract This paper explores the dynamics of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, focusing on Hamas’s expanding influence under the sponsorship of Hezbollah. The analysis underscores Hamas’s strategic efforts to consolidate control in these camps as part of its broader objective to challenge Israel from multiple
Abstract This paper explores the extensive influence Iran and Hezbollah have cultivated within Shi’a diaspora communities across the globe over the past four decades. By embedding radical clerics and operatives in these communities, Hezbollah has fostered a network of ideological supporters and resources, often using
Abstract Since the October 7th Hamas attack and the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel faces a complex security landscape shaped by attacks from Iranian proxies across multiple theaters, including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. Hezbollah joined the military campaign against Israel to divert its
Published in Hebrew by the Israeli daily Israel Hayom The massacre of 12 Druze children and dozens of wounded in Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights required a powerful response from Israel, following months of a war of attrition waged by Hezbollah against northern Israel,
Expert Insights: Dr. Eitan Azani, Acting Director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism Recent events in the Middle East have highlighted that the region resembles a multiplayer game with various local, regional, and international players. This is where the drama unfolds. It is not a
Expert Q&A Abstract Since October 7, 2023, Hezbollah has engaged in a war of attrition against Israel on the northern front, aiming to divert Israeli forces from Gaza. Despite both sides’ stated reluctance for full-scale war, recent escalations have heightened tensions. This report delves into
Abstract This paper delves into the increasing criticism among Lebanese Christians regarding Hezbollah’s involvement in the ongoing conflict against Israel, highlighting the mounting discontent not only from Christians but also from Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon. The criticism underscores the detrimental impact on Lebanon’s stability
Abstract This article examines a thwarted Hezbollah terror plot targeting Jewish sites in Brazil, orchestrated by two Brazilian nationals of Middle Eastern descent, facilitated by Hezbollah’s shift in strategy from using trained agents to employing local recruits via intermediaries. The narrative unfolds with the arrest
Abstract This article examines the long-term efforts made by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to create revolutionary opposition to the rule of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, while exploiting the evolving relations between Iran and Israel as a blueprint for his proclamations. Khomeini’s anti-Israel policies had both anti-
First published as an op-ed in the Israeli daily Maariv. To understand the threat of the Houthis to Israel since the outbreak of the war against Hamas in Gaza and its regional consequences, it is necessary to understand the unique nature of the organization and
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has actively sought to establish itself as a key player both in the Middle East and on the global stage. This ambition has been largely shaped by its antagonistic relations with the United States and Israel, along with critical
In his recent speech broadcast Friday November 3rd, 2023 on Hezbollah’s media channels, Nasrallah addressed several key themes. Firstly, Nasrallah aimed to bolster popular support for the resistance movement by personally appealing to the families of martyrs (57 Hezbollah’s fighters were killed during the war).
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned on April 20, 2023, that Israel would likely no longer see limited conflicts on single fronts, but rather would have to face a multi-front escalation in the near future. Defense Minister Galant’s warning proved to be correct and Israel is
The Israeli-Lebanese maritime boundary agreement, sponsored and mediated by the US to resolve the longstanding conflict over the maritime border between the countries and the division of energy reserves, is a significant regional and international multidimensional achievement for the State of Israel. From a broad
Over the past decades, Hezbollah has built a well-oiled, multi-billion-dollar illicit finance and drug-trafficking machine in Latin America that launders organized crime’s ill-gotten gains through multiple waypoints in the Western Hemisphere, West Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, generating hundreds of millions of annual revenues.
Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah’s threats on Karish gas drilling rig and prevent the production and export of gas from Israel’s reservoirs if Lebanon’s demands regarding the latter’s marine border with Israel constitute a significant escalation in Hezbollah’s aggressive rhetoric and may lead to another miscalculation
Since the end of the last century, Latin America has been a prominent area in which Iran has sought to expand its influence and scope of action. From drug smuggling to money laundering, from fundraising to recruitment and proselytism, even terrorist attacks, Iran-related activities in
One of the major areas terrorist organizations operate to influence their enemy’s public opinion ispropaganda. This war is being waged via traditional media and social media. The last two rounds ofhostilities in Gaza Operation Protective Edge (2014) and Guardian of the Walls (2021) manifested theimportance
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s coughing speech on May 25, 2021, and especially the long absence that preceded it, raised quite a few question marks as to his health condition. Hezbollah claims that this is an insignificant allergy or medical defect and there is no basis
