Posted on 10/08/2022 1:05:38 PM PDT by nuconvert
Iran Update, September 22, 2024
Hezbollah launched its own strikes into Israel on September 21 and 22. These attacks are consistent with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah declaring recently that the group would continue its cross-border attacks in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.[10] Hezbollah launched three barrages of medium-range rockets targeting IDF Ramat David airbase in northern Israel on September 21.[11] The airbase is the northernmost one in Israel. Hezbollah stated that the attack was in response to “repeated Israeli attacks” on Lebanon.[12] The IDF intercepted about 24 rockets.[13] This attack may have been the one that the IDF preempted earlier that day.
Hezbollah fired around another 85 short- and medium-range rockets targeting Rafael Advanced Defense Systems near Haifa on September 22.[14] The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is an Israeli defense company that develops weapons and military technology, including the Iron Dome air defense system, for the IDF.[15] Hezbollah claimed that it targeted the company’s site in retaliation for Israel detonating Hezbollah pagers and personal radios.[16] Several rockets impacted areas just outside Haifa and injured three people.[17]
It is notable that these latest Hezbollah attacks are slightly smaller in scale than previous retaliatory attacks the group has conducted. Hezbollah fired between 200 and 300 projectiles, including around 20 one-way attack drones, on August 24 in retaliation to Israel killing top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.[18]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-september-22-2024
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force unveiled the “Jihad” ballistic missile during an annual military parade in Tehran on September 21.[77] Iranian media claimed that the “Jihad” ballistic missile is an upgraded version of Iran's Qiam-1 missile and has a range of 1,000 kilometers.[78] The IRGC Aerospace Force displayed a total of 23 ballistic missiles during the military parade.[79] The IRGC Aerospace Force also displayed a Shahed-136B drone, which reportedly has a range of over 4,000 kilometers and can carry a payload of up to 200 kilograms.[80]
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, canceled his seminary course on September 22.[81] Mojtaba is considered one of the top contenders to succeed his father as supreme leader. Mojtaba claimed that the decision to cancel his course had “nothing to do with political matters,” although some individuals have speculated that Mojtaba canceled the course in order to assume new political responsibilities.[82] IRGC-affiliated media notably referred to Mojtaba as an “Ayatollah” in its report about the cancellation of Mojtaba’s seminary course.[83] Holding the rank of Ayatollah is a prerequisite to becoming supreme leader in Iran.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-september-23-2024
Iran Update, September 24, 2024
ran declined a request by Lebanese Hezbollah in recent days to conduct a direct attack targeting Israel, according to two unspecified Israeli officials and an unspecified Western diplomat speaking to Axios on September 24.[21] The Israeli officials stated that Iran told Hezbollah that the “timing isn’t right” for Iran to attack Israel given that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is currently in New York City attending the United Nations General Assembly.[22] A separate Israeli official told Axios that the Israeli security cabinet issued a directive to the IDF to “avoid steps that would give Iran a reason or a pretext to join the fighting.”[23] It is unclear what Israeli action(s) in Lebanon would drive Iran to enter the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah directly. Iran has previously directly intervened in regional conflicts when its principal allies—such as the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria—were at risk of collapsing.[24] Iran could decide to intervene in support of Hezbollah against Israel if Iran assesses that Israel is inflicting severe damage on Hezbollah. Iran’s reluctance to directly intervene to support Hezbollah could generate tension between Hezbollah and Iran as Hezbollah seeks full Iranian support against Israel and Iran attempts to avoid a large-scale war with Israel since the beginning of the October 7 War.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-september-24-2024
Iran Update, September 25, 2024
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged on September 25 that the Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah leadership has caused “losses” for Hezbollah.[29] Khamenei made this statement during a meeting with Iran-Iraq War veterans and senior military officials in Tehran. Khamenei claimed that Hezbollah can recover from the losses to its leadership because of its “organizational and military strength.” Khamenei claimed that Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance will be the “final winner” in the current conflict.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-september-25-2024
Iran Update, September 26, 2024
The Pezeskhian administration is pursuing former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s neighborhood policy of prioritizing the expansion of bilateral relations with regional states.[51] Pezeshkian announced on X (Twitter) on September 26 that Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref will travel to Pakistan and Armenia in coming days to discuss bilateral ties.[52] Pezeshkian added that Iranian Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Abdol Nasser Hemmati met with other regional officials, including Qatari Finance Minister Ali Ahmed al Kuwari, in Uzbekistan on September 26.[53] The Qatari minister invited Pezeshkian to Doha and called for establishing an Iran-Qatar financial exchange committee.[54] Hemmati also met with Uzbekistani Economy and Finance Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov to discuss bilateral trade and to develop transit routes.[55] Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Ali Abadi separately proposed connecting Iran’s electricity grid with the electricity grids of Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, during a BRICS energy ministerial meeting in Moscow on September 26.[56]
Atomic Energy Organizaton of Iran (AEOI) Director Mohammad Eslami appointed Javad Owji as AEOI deputy director on September 26.[57] Owji is the former Oil minister under the Ebrahim Raisi administration. Owji replaces Pejman Shirmardi, who had held the position since November 2021.[58]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-september-26-2024
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