Iran
IRGC Intelligence Organization Chief: Israel ‘Will Not See Its 80th Birthday’ On 07 February, IRGC Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO) and the Intelligence Ministry and Law Enforcement Command Intelligence Organization (LEC-IO) held a meeting on national intelligence and security (The LEC-IO was made into a distinct organization rather than a directorate under the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) under a restructuring of the LEF in December 2021). IRGC-IO Director Hojjat ol-Eslam Hossein Taeb stated that the new strength of Iranian intelligence would prevent enemy sabotage within Iran and ensure that the “Zionist regime would not see its eightieth year” and that the US would “continue its hegemonic decline.” Intelligence Minister Hojjat ol-Eslam Esmail Khatib also stressed the importance of Iran’s intelligence agencies working together and sharing information in the future. LEC-IO Director Mohammad Babai (who is a ranking IRGC commander) thanked Intelligence Ministry for hosting the gathering, expressed hope that “continuation of such gatherings would increase cooperation in the intelligence community.” (Fararu, ILNA)
IRGC Weekly Editorial Claims Israel Seeks to Establish ‘Underground Military City’ in UAE. On 07 February, an editorial in IRGC weekly Sobh-e Sadeq speculated on the subject of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s recent visit to the UAE and the overall goals of the Abraham Accords. The paper asserts that both Israel and the UAE have been driven to cooperation due to policy failures and military setbacks and that Israel is attempting to use the UAE as a forward operating base in saboteur plans against Iran. (Sobh-e Sadeq)
IRGC Unveils ‘Kheybar Shekan’ Ballistic Missile On 09 February, ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the IRGC unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with the name “Kheybar Shekhan”, referring to the Battle of Khaybar in 628AD when, according to Shiite tradition, early Muslims marched on native Jewish fortresses in Khaybar and were able to overpower them with relative ease. IRGC commanders claim the missile was developed by IRGC Aerospace Forces and has an accurate range of 1,450km. (Mashregh News)
Muqtada al-Sadr Meets with Quds Force Commander Esmail Qa’ani. On 08 February, Sadr met with Brig. Gen. Qa’ani in Najaf, Iraq. Following the meeting, Sadr’s office issued a neutral statement without providing details, but Sadr posted a tweet following the meeting which implicitly suggested a continued commitment to a “nationalist-majority government” that hinted at a rejection of Iranian or American interference in Iraqi politics. (Jawabna, Sadr’s Twitter Account)
Hamas Condemns Anti-Iranian Protest in Gaza Strip. A pro-Saudi organization in the Gaza Strip, The Ibn Baz Group, staged a protest against Iran, Hezbollah, and the Syrian government. The protest, ostensibly carried out to demonstrate support for Syrian refugees, included the chanting of anti-Iran slogans and the burning of images of Qasem Soleimani and Hassan Nasrallah. In response, Hamas issued an official statement condemning the burning of the images and said the only enemy of Palestine is the “Zionist occupation”, adding that the people of Palestine must “thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support”. (Al-Akhbar, Hamas Website)
Pro-Iran Palestinian Factions Rally Around Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade After Three Fighters Killed by Israeli Forces in Nablus During the day of 08 February, Israeli counter-terror forces belonging to the Yamam unit of the Israeli police killed three gunmen belonging to Fatah’s military wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB), in Nablus. AAMB has been relatively dormant since the end of the Second Intifada, which makes the operation somewhat unusual. Shin Bet and Israeli Border Police issued a joint statement saying a “terror cell” responsible for several attacks against the IDF and Israeli civilians was eliminated in Nablus. Fatah’s political rivals such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas, etc. all condemned Israel’s attack on the three men and vowed revenge. Shortly afterwards, PIJ announced its Jenin Battalion targeted Israeli forces with a “barrage of bullets” near Mevo Dotan settlement. (Times of Israel, PIJ Website, Hamas Website)
Hezbollah Outlets Amplify Israeli Report on Group’s Anti-Aircraft Capabilities On 07 February, Israeli Walla News reported that Hezbollah has begun unveiling anti-aircraft systems to warn Israel of an impending strike. The report also asserted that Hezbollah has become more brazen in their smuggling of anti-aircraft equipment out of Syria in an attempt to intimidate Israel. Hezbollah has been able to acquire Russian SA-17 and SA-8 anti-aircraft systems which complicate Israeli activities to a certain degree but overall air superiority still belongs to Israel. In a predictable pattern, Hezbollah outlets have amplified this story in an attempt to suggest a Hezbollah “victory” over Israel. (Walla News, Al-Akhbar, Al-Ahed)
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah Gives Comprehensive Interview to Iranian Arabic-Language Channel Al-Alam On 08 February, Hassan Nasrallah gave a long-form interview to Iranian-operated Al-Alam News Network which addressed several Lebanese domestic issues as well as many regional topics. Nasrallah was able to repeat many pro-Iran, pro-Hezbollah, anti-Western talking points including that Hezbollah was the true Lebanese party, regional normalization with Israel is artificial, that the US targets Iran due to its “mix of sovereignty and devotion to Islam”, and downplayed any danger to Hezbollah from external actors. Nasrallah also said Hezbollah will remain in Syria for the foreseeable future. (Al-Alam News Network)
Hezbollah Media: Ansar Allah Strike on UAE Was Message to Israel, Not an Attempt on Herzog’s Life On 08 February, Hezbollah-linked Al-Khanadeq published a report based on the claims of “exclusive sources” within the Ansar Allah movement, asserting that the 30 January missile attacks on Abu Dhabi, which coincided with Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to the UAE, were not assassination attempts, but simply a “message to Israel”. The message was meant to convey Ansar Allah’s readiness to “join battle against Israel” and further link the Yemen War to a wider Islamic war against Israel. These sources also allegedly said that “we are now part of the regional equation declared by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, that any aggression against al-Aqsa means regional war.” (Al-Khanadeq)
Contributors: Resistance Axis Monitor founders Amir Toumaj and David Daoud, and Research Assistant Tymahz Toumadje.
