Fatemiyoun: Iran s Good Taliban
Iran is a significant player in Afghan internal affairs, presenting a sustained and long-term threat to its national security. The ability of Afghan institutions to identify and counter these threats needs to be improved. In particular, Afghan agencies need to significantly improve their strategic information capabilities. The Afghan National Security and Defence Forces (ANDSF) should continue to learn about Iranian operational and strategic objectives implemented through proxy groups such as the Fatemiyoun Brigade.
What is the Fatemiyoun?
The Fatemiyoun Division, also known as the Fatemiyoun Brigade, or Liwa-e-Fatemiyoun, is an Iran-backed Afghan shi’a militia group that has been active in Syria since 2013/14. The Fatemiyoun Division is primarily composed of second-generation Afghan refugees living in Iran. An estimated 20,000-strong force at the peak of the Syrian conflict, the Fatemiyoun had an estimated 50,000 members in total across the
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The Syrian News Agency and other sources report that Israel targeted sites south of Quneitra and around Damascus on Wednesday
. A Syrian military source said that the first was launched by airstrikes and surface-to-surface missiles against the Quneitra area and most were downed by Syrian anti-air defenses. Quneitra north of the Golan is an important hub built up by Iran-backed militias, especially Hizballah, ready for cross-border attacks on Israel’s Golan.
Earlier Wednesday, Hizballah claimed to have downed an Israeli drone over Lebanon. Israel confirmed the incident but reported that Hizballah fire had missed and the drone continued its mission.
Israel’s military chief goes public with severe warning against return to Iran nuclear deal
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi.
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi’s decision to stake out a position could be aimed at creating a unified Sunni-Israeli regional front highlighting the dangers of an agreement with inadequate sunset clauses, which expire too soon for comfort.
By Yaakov Lappin, JNS
When assessing the comments made earlier this week by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, who warned against the return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, it is useful to envisage two red countdown clocks.