In my latest SITREP, I covered the details of the two terrorist organizations, Hamas and Hezbollah, as I thought it was important to understand how these groups functioned.
Muslims comprise of two sects: Sunni and Shia. At the most rudimentary level, it comes to one thing that divides them and their religion: One believes that Ali is their guy (Shia) while the other thinks Mohammad is their guy (Sunni). Most of the Muslim community is the latter.
As it relates to Iran, which funds the terrorist organization Hezbollah, they are located primarily to the north of Israel (and south of Texas in Mexico). More on that later.
Hamas is tied to Palestine (aka the Occupied West Bank) and Gaza as they are the Sunni Muslims. What we are watching via the latest attacks in Israel, for now, are primarily Hamas-related.
Here's a breakdown of these groups:
• Sunni Muslims:
• Majority: Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam, representing the majority of Muslims worldwide, including in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and many others.
• Iran: Iran, although predominantly Shia, has a significant Sunni minority, primarily living in regions along the country's borders, such as Kurdistan and Baluchistan. They face some degree of discrimination but are a small minority within Iran.
• Hezbollah: Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, is primarily a Shiite organization and receives support from Iran, a Shiite-majority country. However, it has some support among Lebanon's Sunni population, especially due to its resistance against Israel.
• Shia Muslims:
• Majority: Shia Muslims are the second-largest branch of Islam, with the majority residing in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and significant communities in countries like Lebanon and Yemen.
• Iran: Iran is the most prominent Shia-majority country globally, and its government follows the Twelver Shia branch, which believes in a line of twelve Imams after the Prophet Muhammad. The Iranian government is influenced by Shia religious authorities.
• Hezbollah: Hezbollah is a Shiite militant and political organization based in Lebanon, primarily backed by Iran. It follows the Twelver Shia ideology and has a strong alliance with Iran.
• Hamas: Hamas, in contrast, is primarily a Sunni organization. It was founded in the Gaza Strip, which has a Sunni-majority population. While it has received some support from Iran in the past, it primarily operates within the Sunni context.
Although these two organizations do not typically play well together, when it comes to killing the infidel (non-Muslims), they can and will set their differences aside. This becomes vitally important as we watch the situation taking shape in the Middle East as it could be the powder keg that expands this current event around the globe.
What we should closely monitor:
As things pop off in Israel between the Jews and Hamas, to the north in Lebanon, Hezbollah is working to create its own set of attacks, much of which is being triggered by the IDF’s response in Gaza. Additionally, the United States unfreezing and then refreezing the previously locked-down $6 billion to Iran certainly has not helped the situation as it not only puts US assets at risk abroad and at home, it also puts Israel in a precarious position with the US Navy parked off their coastline. If Iran and Hezbollah are successful in escalating this situation we could find the United States jumping into a war we did not expect in the region (or did we?),
With 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, this situation could very easily spread to every city overnight. So buckle up, as this has the potential to become very large, very quickly. As always, stay frosty and keep that powder dry.
Monkey out.