Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Iran Helped Create the Lion’s Den 

The Palestinian militant organization, Lion’s Den, has been heavily influenced by Iran, the director of Israel’s Shin Bet Ronen Bar, revealed on Tuesday, adding that they represent a new kind of organization, functioning as much on social media as in the physical world. This is especially relevant given the recent escalation in the terror threat from the West Bank, where Lion’s Den is active. A Palestinian security source separately told Israeli media this week that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has become a dominant force in the northern West Bank, largely thanks to the financial aid it receives from Iran.  

Israel’s Mossad Announces Operation on Iranian Territory 

Israel’s Mossad spy agency announced Thursday that in a special operation in Iranian territory, it had caught the Iranian terrorist sent to lead a planned terror attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus. It involved detaining and interrogating one of the planners, who was linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization.  

Lebanon and Hezbollah

Israel Seizes Hezbollah Cryptocurrency Network 

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday revealed that Israel had seized digital wallets linked to the IRGC’s Quds Force and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group, confiscating millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Speaking at a conference hosted by the ministry’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF), Gallant said the operation several days ago was the first of its kind against cryptocurrency assets linked to the IRGC and Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group. Israel, in the past, has seized dozens of digital wallets linked to the Hamas terror group. “A few days ago, an extensive and precedent-setting operation — to expose a route for financing terror with digital currencies — was wrapped up. This is the first incident of this magnitude, in which an infrastructure led by Hezbollah and the Iranian Quds Force that transferred millions of dollars to be used by terror elements was thwarted,” Gallant said.  

He added that since the beginning of the year, members of Hezbollah, the IRGC’s Quds Force, and “Syrian elements” have used cryptocurrency to fund their daily activities. The funding comes from a third party and is handed over to the terror groups via money exchangers, Gallant said. “Whoever finances terror, or maintains a financial relationship with terror operatives, must know that he is a target, just like anyone who directs terrorism,” he warned, noting Iran’s involvement.  

Gallant said NBCTF had developed new tools with the Mossad spy agency, the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, the Israel Police, and other bodies to combat the financing of terror groups using cryptocurrency. “I issued an order that allowed the seizure of the funds, their confiscation, and the transfer of the money to the treasury of the State of Israel. In doing so, we have actually cut off the flow of terror funds along this route,” Gallant said.

Israel, U.S. Seeking Lebanon’s Assistance in Removing Hezbollah Outpost from Israeli Territory 

The U.S. is pressuring Lebanon’s government to clear out a Hezbollah outpost set up within Israeli territory beyond the border fence between the countries, according to a Thursday report. 

The Walla news site reported, citing four unidentified Israeli and American officials, that Jerusalem and Washington believe the outpost, comprised of several tents just north of the fence — but still within the internationally recognized territory of Israel — presents a serious risk of escalation along the border. The report said Israel had conveyed a sharp message to Lebanon via the Americans that the outpost must be removed. 

“Our goal is for the outpost not to be there,” an Israeli official was quoted as saying. “We prefer Hezbollah evacuate its people itself over us bombing them. We have made this clear to the U.S. and the Americans made it clear to the Lebanese.” The U.S. State Department told Walla it would not comment on diplomatic conversations. 

Additionally, it has been reported that Israel itself is diplomatically engaging with several countries, including France and the U.S., in order to pressure Lebanon to remove a Hezbollah post erected on the Israeli side of the border in Mount Dov, or Shebaa Farms as it is known in Lebanon, over two months ago. Meanwhile, the IDF is applying diplomatic pressure on the Lebanese army through UNIFIL (the UN Interim Force in Lebanon) to remove the post.  

The general belief in Jerusalem is that they can persuade the Lebanese terror group to “come down from the tree” using diplomatic means. However, according to some senior Israeli officials, there are no expectations for UNIFIL to act, as it lacks the necessary leverage there. The main expectations lie with the U.S. and France. 

While public threats are being issued through diplomatic channels, the IDF favors persuading Hezbollah and the Lebanese army to peacefully resolve the issue. According to the IDF, this approach is preferred as they view Hezbollah's actions as provocative and potentially escalating.

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