Orientul Mijlociu

Today’s news round on Syria highlights the ongoing and escalating violence within the region. Syrian officials issued a stern warning to Israel over potential escalations following a deadly strike in Majdal Shams, resulting in the deaths of a dozen children and teenagers. Additionally, a truck bomb in Azaz killed 10 people at a rebel checkpoint, exacerbating the conflict between Kurdish-led SDF and Turkish-backed rebels. In Deir ez-Zor, fierce clashes between Syrian government forces and the SDF resulted in multiple casualties. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Party and tribal leaders in Hasakah reiterated their support for the SDF, denouncing external forces attempting to destabilize the region.

The recent attacks by “Tribal and Clan” forces on areas controlled by the SDF have reignited the debate about the nature and affiliations of these forces. Critics of the Autonomous Administration view these groups as Arab forces striving to liberate their territories from PKK control, denying any ties to Iran or the Syrian regime. Conversely, supporters of the Autonomous Administration argue that these forces are an Iranian initiative aimed at destabilizing the region.

• During the past week, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 43 attacks on military and civilian targets in northern Israel, including communities attacked for the first time since the beginning of the war. A civilian was killed; an officer and an IDF soldier were injured.
• Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked Hezbollah targets and operatives in south Lebanon and the Lebanon Valley. Hezbollah announced the death of eight operatives, including its senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an airstrike on the southern quarter of Beirut.
• Given the killing of Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah has become concerned Israel infiltrated its ranks and the organization has begun arrests and investigations.
• Hezbollah continued making preparations to retaliate against Israel for Fuad Shukr’s death. “Sources” said that the organization would attack “a sensitive strategic area.” Western and Arab countries called on their citizens to leave Lebanon and airlines suspended or reduced their flights to and from Beirut.
• Hezbollah summed up 300 days of fighting and claimed responsibility for 2,500 attacks on Israel.
• The prime minister of Lebanon’s interim government accused Israel of violating Lebanese sovereignty. The Lebanese foreign ministry filed a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council, claiming cyber-attacks.
• Syria: Attacks on a Hezbollah-controlled airport near Homs and a truck convoy on the Syria-Lebanon border were attributed to Israel. According to reports, Hezbollah opened a new UAV factory in the Homs region. According to assessments, Syria will directly join the conflict against Israel only if Hezbollah is broadly attacked.

The surprising and evolving intersections between the Jewish state and Islamic institutions.

Introduction

The term “Israeli Islam” may sound like an oxymoron, but Islam is present in Israeli society—and inside the Israeli state. Just under one-fifth of Israelis are registered by the state as Muslims; Muhammad has been the most common name for Israeli babies for years. And a series of state structures oversees, supports, administers, monitors, and polices Islamic practices and institutions in the country.

This policy is self-serving and justified on false pretexts, but it’s Iran’s sovereign right to promulgate in advance of what its leadership regards as their national interests.

The Iranian Supreme Leader tweeted last week that “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes the #Zangezur corridor is to the detriment of Armenia, and we reaffirm our steadfast position on this matter.” This followed his meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan on Tuesday, who was in Tehran to attend President Pezeshkian’s inauguration, as well as recent reports that those two countries secretly signed a $500 million arms deal earlier this year for drones and air defenses.

«Nous sommes un peuple parasite : nous n’avons aucune racine dans la terre, aucun sol sous nos pieds. Nous ne sommes pas uniquement des parasites économiques, mais aussi des saprophytes de la culture des autres, de leur poésie, de leur littérature et même de leurs valeurs et de leurs idéaux. Tout courant de leur vie nous entraîne, toute brise soufflant dans leurs régions nous porte. Faut-il alors s’étonner de n’être rien aux yeux des autres peuples ?» -A.D Gordon idéologue sioniste 1856/1922

Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.

For many, Haniyeh will remain a symbol of resistance in the face of Israeli occupation.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated in Tehran at the age of 62 in what the Palestinian group has described as “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence”.