Israel-Alma

23/08/2026

The reporter managed to speak for 1:17 minutes about the IDF and South Lebanon without mentioning Hezbollah! Here is what he left out: Hezbollah has exploited dense and forested areas in southern Lebanon and along the Israel–Lebanon border for military purposes. How do we know this? From official Hezbollah propaganda.

20/08/2026

What goes around comes around. Israel is not attacking Lebanon; it is attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon...

20/08/2026

On August 10, it was reported that understandings had been reached to remove nuclear material from “Site 99” in Syria. Eight days later, Syria and the IAEA announced that the material declared by Damascus would remain in Syrian custody under international safeguards.

It has not yet been clarified whether the reports refer to the same site and the same stockpile.

According to reports, the material is linked to the Assad regime’s clandestine al-Kibar nuclear program and likely includes uranium in the form of yellowcake. It is not suitable for direct use in a nuclear weapon, but in hostile hands, it could be used for smuggling, extortion, or radiological terrorism.

Several actors must be considered in this context: Iran, ISIS, criminal elements, and even potential “rogue” actors within the forces of the al-Sharaa regime. A future scenario in which the regime itself adopts a more radical course, restricts oversight, or attempts to use the material as political and security leverage must also be considered.

Cooperation with the IAEA is a positive step, but the agency does not secure the sites. Responsibility remains in the hands of a state that is still unstable.

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On August 10, it was reported that the United States had reached understandings with Syria and Israel under which the International

16/08/2026

Hezbollah violated the ceasefire during the night of August 14–15, when it launched an explosive drone at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops positioned, in accordance with the Framework Agreement, inside the Yellow Zone in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area (مرتفع علي الطاهر). The explosive drone seriously wounded three IDF soldiers. This was the third explosive drone launched by Hezbollah against IDF forces in this area.

In response to Hezbollah’s violation, the IDF launched strikes against Hezbollah targets. The main strikes were carried out in Ansar (أنصار), Deir al-Zahrani (دير الزهراني), and the Ali al-Taher Ridge area. Six Hezbollah operatives were eliminated in the strikes, including two senior operatives from the Radwan Unit and the Badr Unit.

Read the full article in the link>>

Hezbollah violated the ceasefire during the night of August 14–15, when it launched an explosive drone at Israel Defense Forces

12/08/2026

20 years since UN resolution 1701 was approved. 20 years of LAF and UNIFIL failing in prevention of Hezbollah illegal weapons. 20 years of Israeli civilians threatened by Hezbollah. And the world still thinks that's a good solution...

12/08/2026

According to reports in Lebanon, Hezbollah is dividing its infrastructure in southern Lebanon into three levels of importance- from assets it can relinquish at relatively low operational cost to core infrastructure essential to preserving its military capabilities.

If the reports are accurate, this may represent a mechanism designed to help Hezbollah counter the implementation of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon: handing over assets that can be replaced or rebuilt, while preserving the core infrastructure that would allow it to remain a military force in southern Lebanon.

The key question, therefore, is not only how many sites will be handed over to the Lebanese Armed Forces, but which infrastructure will be transferred—and, above all, what Hezbollah is unwilling to give up.

Read the full analysis >>

11/08/2026

Military victory is not enough if it turns into the enemy's victory image.

A Hezbollah victory image on the Ali al-Taher Ridge on "the day after" would be a mirror image of the weakness of Israel and the United States, and it could undermine every struggle against terrorism worldwide in general, and the struggle against the Shiite Axis's terrorism in particular.

If Hezbollah is able to return to the complex, restore the infrastructure, and present the survival of its operatives as proof of "victory," Israel could turn a significant operational achievement into a Hezbollah victory image and a highly significant cognitive achievement.

Israel must not allow Hezbollah to have this victory image. This is also in the clear interest of the State of Lebanon and the United States.

Any future arrangement in Lebanon must be measured not only by whether the IDF remains at a particular location, but by a far more important test: whether there is a reliable mechanism and capability that will prevent Hezbollah from returning to the assets that were taken from it, and that can also provide clear proof that this is indeed the case.

Read the full analysis in the attached opinion article.

A Hezbollah victory narrative on the Ali al-Taher Ridge “the day after” would be a mirror image of Israeli and American weakness.

10/08/2026

The Russian Presence in Syria: From Military Control to a Limited Partnership—Updated Situation Report as of August 10, 2026.

The new arrangement at Hmeimim and Tartus points to a shift from bases under independent Russian control to a limited and conditional presence: civilian infrastructure will be returned to Syrian administration, while the military facilities will be converted into joint training centers.

Moscow is losing military autonomy but retaining influence through military training, weapons maintenance, economic ties, and its international standing.

From Israel’s perspective, the change may slightly reduce the potential risk of direct friction with Russian forces—but it does not render the deconfliction mechanisms unnecessary.

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Following the fall of the Assad regime, Russia lost its hegemonic position in Syria, but it is not abandoning the country.

09/08/2026

Hezbollah continues to consolidate its hold over the first pilot zone—Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh. De facto, Hezbollah operatives are present and active within the pilot zone under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces, establishing a civilian foothold that will enable renewed military entrenchment at the next stage.

After identifying the entry of Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces, which deployed in the village (see our July 27 publication), in recent days we have also identified the entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh of Hezbollah-affiliated “Cooperate with One Another” Association—“Wataawanou” Association Charity (جمعية "وتعاونوا" الخيرية). As with the Islamic Health Organization, the association’s entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is also taking place under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Full article:

De facto, Hezbollah operatives are present and active within the pilot zone under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

05/08/2026

Who will disarm Hezbollah where the never operated? While attention is focused on “pilot zones” cleared by , remains entrenched and is rebuilding in areas south of the Litani that the IDF did not enter.

If wants further Israeli withdrawals, the must prove it can dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure where it still controls the ground.

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Back in our March policy paper, we at the Alma Center recommended that the disarmament of Hezbollah should begin in Beirut,