Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (March 3-17, 2023)
On March 13, 2023, a powerful IED exploded near the Megiddo Junction in northern Israel. It damaged a vehicle and seriously wounded the driver. Investigation revealed it was similar to IEDs which had been used to attack IDF forces in south Lebanon. The terrorist who placed it was pursued, caught and shot to death near the border on his way back to Lebanon. He apparently infiltrated into Israel several days previously. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed Israel no longer engaged in aggressive action in Lebanon because of the "balance of deterrence." He said Hezbollah would support Suleiman Frangieh in the Lebanese presidential elections. Friction continues between Lebanese army forces and civilians on the one hand, and the IDF on the other because of IDF infrastructure activities along the border. Hezbollah claimed to have exposed an "IDF recording device" hidden in a fake rock in the Tel al-'Abed region. Despite expected support from Hezbollah and Amal, Suleiman Frangieh has not yet announced his candidacy in the Lebanese presidential race. According to reports from Syria, there are almost 3,000 Hezbollah operatives in the country, most of them low-level, now that the high-ranking operatives, fearing for their lives, have left. The airport in Aleppo reopened two days after an attack attributed to Israel. There was an explosion near a weapons factory in eastern Syria, which killed at least four people. The source of the explosion is uncertain.
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