1) The ITIC reports on ‘The “Resistance Axis” and the Israel-Iran War’.
“In ITIC assessment, Iran will now be forced to invest significant resources to rebuild the military capabilities damaged in the Israeli attacks and in stabilizing its military and security apparatus after the elimination of dozens of commanders. Despite the declarations of continued support for the “resistance axis,” Iran will struggle to provide the scale of support for its proxies which existed before October 7, 2023. In all probability the elimination of Izadi will have a substantial impact on the continued financial and military support received by the proxy organizations because of his many years of experience. The proxies will also try to adapt to new, unprecedented concessions regarding their military capabilities.”
2) At the National Interest, Elaine Dezenski and Max Meizlish explain ‘How China Is Quietly Funding Iran’s War Machine’.
“Approximately 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports go to China. Much of that flows to Shandong province, where independently owned refineries known as “teapots” have become the lifeline of the Iranian regime. Before reaching these teapots, Iranian oil is first offloaded by Chinese port operators, such as Shandong Baogang International Port Co., Ltd. (BIPC). BIPC was sanctioned in May for supporting the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is overseen by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
3) At the INSS, Yoram Schweitzer and Anat Shapira analyse ‘Iran’s Involvement in the International Terrorism Arena’.
“Over the past five years, Iran’s activity in the arena of international terrorism has significantly intensified, spreading across vast geographic regions and incorporating criminal organizations in the execution of terrorist operations. Although most Iranian terrorism attempts have been thwarted, there is no guarantee that this success will persist in the future. It is therefore necessary to examine the characteristics of Iran’s use of terrorism in order to improve the chances of countering it.”
4) At the Alma Center, Tal Beeri discusses the activities of Hizballah’s Radwan Unit in southern Lebanon.
“From the details emerging from the publications, in our assessment, as part of the formulation of the Radwan Unit’s updated operational plans, it is focusing on building readiness to carry out targeted quality operations against IDF presence in southern Lebanon or infiltration into Israel. Insights drawn from various reports on the elimination of Radwan Unit operatives in southern Lebanon suggest that the unit is “recalculating its course” and actively reconstructing its operational plans in preparation for future execution.”
5) NGO Monitor reports on ‘A Decade of Lobbying: NGO Mobilization for the Irish Occupied Territories Bill’.
“For a decade, Irish NGOs have been advocating for the “Occupied Territories Bill,” which would ban the import and sale of goods and services purportedly originating in Israeli communities in the West Bank.
Originally drafted in 2016 by an NGO and launched in 2018, the “Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories)” proposed criminal penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to €250,000 for Irish citizens and residents to import or sell “settlement goods” or to provide or attempt to provide “settlement services.” Among many other absurd outcomes, Irish citizens who visit the Jewish Quarter and buy a souvenir to bring back to Ireland, study the Bible, or pray at the Kotel would face jail time and fines.”
6) At Newsweek, Netta Barak-Corren and Jonathan Boxman discuss ‘How Humanitarian Aid Became a Weapon of War’.
“At its best, humanitarian aid is a lifeline—keeping civilians alive in war zones, famine-struck regions, and disaster zones. But what happens when that aid, instead of alleviating suffering, ends up prolonging it? Recent history shows that humanitarian assistance, as currently structured by the United Nations and many Western organizations, is too often hijacked by the very actors responsible for the crises it seeks to resolve.”
