Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on August 20-21/2023
Summoning citizens from Al-Kehali town for interrogation over the crime committed by Hezbollah against their families and town is strongly condemned
Elias Bejjani/August 19/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121402/121402/
Indeed, the popular proverb, “the murdered was satisfied, but the murderer was not”, precisely describes the judicial felony committed yesterday by the “Lebanese army intelligence”, who summoned four citizens from the town of Kehali, for interrogation in regards to the armed and terrorist invasion that their town and citizens were subjected to by the terrorist Hezbollah.
This summoning took place while the murderer who assassinated the martyr Fadi Bejjani in his own town, and in front of his house, was publicly welcomed in the town Al-Hermel, with an armed parade without any judicial intervention. In addition, the Hezbollah members who committed the Kehali invasion and crime are free without even interrogation them.
A press release that was issued yesterday by the municipality of Kehali, rejected the discretionary summons and said, “The interrogation should not begin with the unarmed Kehali citizens who were present at the time of the incident, but MUST instead focus on the armed group that opened fire with machine guns on the Kehali citizens to intimidate them, which the martyr Fadi Bejjani tried to stop, and who was shot dead by armed civilians, where the evidence are shown in audios and videos.” The statement stressed that “the interrogation is a duty to achieve justice, but it must start from another place, so that the victim is not equal to the aggressor.”
In the same context, dozens of statements, tweets, and stances were issued by activists, politicians, and political parties rejecting and denouncing this blatant unfair judicial bias.
In conclusion, there will be no justice in Lebanon without equality between all the Lebanese. In this same realm, its Kehali’s right to refuse the “Army Intelligence summoning”, before arresting and charging the killers of the martyr Fadi Bejjani.
Meanwhile, full solidarity with the unified stance of the honorable and heroic people of Kehali is a patriotic obligation for every sovereign, free and independent Lebanese who demands and honors justice and equality.

Al-Rahi: Real dialogue would be voting in electoral session
Naharnet/20 August 2023
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday slammed those who “have been blocking the election of a president for the past 11 months, accusing them of “violating the constitution, destroying the republic, impeding economic and financial life, fragmenting authorities and impoverishing and forcing the people to emigrate.”“Be afraid of God and the curse of history!” al-Rahi added, in his Sunday Mass sermon. Reminding of the latest futile presidential election session, the patriarch said: “We had thanked God for the return of democratic practice in choosing the president through a vote between two candidates during the June 14 session.”“But we didn’t understand why the session was adjourned after its first round, in a clear violation of Article 49 of the constitution,” al-Rahi added. “These days you hear them talking about questions, answers, meetings and dialogue, whereas real and effective dialogue would be voting in a constitutional and democratic electoral session and the candidates are present and well-known,” the patriarch went on to say.

Video Link of the Divine Liturgy that Patriarch Al-Rahi presided over today, August 20/2023, from Al-Diman Church/with the text of his sermon
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121430/121430/
NNA/LCCC/August 20/2023
Al-Rahi to those who disrupt the election of the president: You violate the constitution, destroy the republic, scatter power, impoverish the people and abandon them to strange lands? Fear God and the curse of history
In his sermon today Patriarch Al-Rahi said, “No one, especially if he is in a position of responsibility, can be ignorant of God’s words, or neglect him, or dispense with him, or impede him, so that his deeds and words come outside the moral rule that distinguishes between good and evil, and between right and wrong. God inevitably obstructs all that is truth, justice, peace, and stability.Rather, he obstructs the voice of conscience, which is the voice of God within man, calling him to do good and avoid evil.This is the problem of our political practice in Lebanon, which has led it to the disintegration and disruption of its constitutional institutions, and to economic and financial collapse. And we wonder: What do the masters want to obstruct the election of a president for the republic in accordance with the constitution for eleven months?And they realize that by doing so they are transforming the parliament from a legislative body into an electoral body only, and they accuse the boycotters of not wanting to elect a president, and they are hostile to Taif!And they also realize that the caretaker government does not You can make appointments and make procedural decisions that require the participation and signature of the President of the Republic, and they criticize those who boycott sessions in order to preserve the constitution and invent “necessity” for legislation, appointment and procedure! It is the gateway to legislation, appointment, and procedure, because with the presence of the president, the parliament regains its nature as a body of legislation, accountability, and accountability, and the government regains all its procedural powers. And deliver the constitution? For how long, O obstructors of the election of a president, will you violate the constitution, destroy the republic, disrupt economic and financial life, scatter power, impoverish the people and displace them to strange lands? Fear God and the curse of history! We thanked God for the return of democratic practice in selecting the president by election among two competitors, which was evident in the June 14 election session. However, we did not understand why the session was interrupted after its first basic session, in clear violation of Article 49 of the Constitution, and these days you hear them talking about questions and answers, meetings and dialogues. The real and effective dialogue is voting in a constitutional and democratic election session. The candidates are there and known. And the shepherd concluded: “Let us cling to our hope in God, for He is the supporter of His people, and to Him be glory and thanksgiving forever, Amen.”

The text of Bishop ِAoudi’s Sermon, which he delivered today, August 20, 2023, at St. George’s Cathedral.
Aoudi: “How are things straight in a state without a head, with a resigned government, and a fragmented parliament?
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121435/121435/
NNA/LCCC/August 20/2023
The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut and its dependencies, Archbishop Elias Aoudi presided over the Divine Liturgy service at St. George’s Cathedral.
After reading the Holy Bible,Aoudi delivered a sermon in which he said: “The Lebanese need great patience and continuous prayer in order to endure the difficulty of living in this disintegrated country that has no head to lead, no government working to save it, and no parliament aware of its responsibility and duty to elect a president in order to start the rescue process. A state that understands its role respects its citizens.” And it strives to secure a decent life for them through the necessary services, safety, stability and justice, and then after securing their rights, it asks them to carry out their duties.With us, the citizen does not get his minimum rights and he is required to fulfill his duties towards his state that does not miss an opportunity without burdening him with additional burdens while his money is seized while he is in prison. And what is funny is that a citizen who wants to do his duty, such as paying the fees and taxes that he is required to, for example, does not find a functioning administration or an employee who attends, but he may be surprised that his car is impounded on the pretext of not paying the due fees in the closed administration, or with fines accumulating on him because of the delay. This is oppression of the citizen, as well as raising fees and taxes, what did they give to the people, and where are the reforms that we are tired of repeating about, where are the promises, and how are things straightened in a state without a head, with a resigned government, and a fragmented parliament? The economic situation is still deteriorating, and the endurance of the Lebanese has become weak. Did the officials think about this situation? Isn’t it time to elect a president and form a government to find solutions?
Aoudi concluded: “The talk about the situation of our country, as well as about the prophets and saints, and about the Mother of God in particular, is lengthy, but the speech remains emotional if it is not accompanied by action, that is, if we do not learn how to contain God within us, and transfer it to the whole world, for the salvation of all. Therefore, It is good to learn about the Holy Mother of God, and all the saints, but the greatest thing is to imitate them and follow in their footsteps, they are the human beings who were deified, and we do not excuse the causes of sins, saying that we are weak human beings who cannot reach. They proved to us with their lives that we can, so we have to start Our spiritual strife immediately, and without inaction, so that we do not become vain slaves who lose everything we have because of our sins. Let us say with the prophet Samuel: “Speak, O Lord, for we hear,” and with the Mother of God: “We are servants of the Lord, so let it be done to us according to His saying,” so that we may reach salvation. And eternal life, amen.

Ain Ebel demand the disclosure of the killers of Elias Al-Hasrouni..and a for UNIFIL protection
Janoubia site/LCCC/August 20/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121443/121443/
A civilian demonstation was organized on Sunday by the residents of the town of Ain Ebel and the family of the victim, Elias Al-Hasrouni (Al-Hantush), an ex member of the Central Council of the Lebanese Forces, who was killed on the second of August in mysterious circumstances, after an elaborate ambush, on the road to his house in the town, sent local political messages. And internationally, it reached the point of demanding the implementation of Article 12 of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to protect civilians, and also that all Lebanese security forces protect the people of the town, according to the banners that were raised in the march, and written in both Arabic and English. The protest march started in front of the nuns’ school, after hundreds had gathered, to reach the town’s church, after walking on the main street for a long distance, amidst a heavy deployment of the Lebanese army, on the road taken by this march, in which large pictures of Al-Hasrouni were raised. This move comes 18 days after Al-Hasrouni was killed, and investigations have not yet revealed the circumstances of the killing. At the end of the popular movement, a number of speeches were delivered, especially to the mayor, Imad Al-Loss, who appealed to all security forces to work hard to uncover the murder of Al-Hasrouni. Maryan Al-Hasrouni, the daughter of the victim, also spoke about her father's virtues and his social and humanitarian role, calling on the state with all its apparatus to reach the truth, so that her father rests in his grave. Al-Hasrouni denounced the abuses, by electronic pages, social media, and others, with the aim of misleading the investigation.

More UNRWA schools taken over by armed groups in Ain el-Helweh
Naharnet/20 August 2023
UNRWA says it has received reports that another school compound has now been taken over by armed groups in the Ain el-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon. “This brings the total number of schools taken over by armed groups in the camp to eight, risking the start of the school year in time for 5,900 children,” UNRWA warned. “We are getting credible reports of severe damage to the school buildings and looting of children’s education material and equipment from the schools,” it said. “UNRWA reiterates its urgent call on all armed groups to immediately vacate its premises in the Ain el-Helweh camp including schools and other service offices. Their presence is a grave violation of the neutrality and safety of U.N. installations and is a serious threat to the education for thousands of Palestine refugee children living in the camp,” UNRWA added. “The Agency remains committed to delivering services in the camp including health, solid waste collection and relief services wherever possible across the camp. We call for open access throughout the camp so that the agency reaches all of the 50,000 Palestine Refugees who rely on its assistance and services,” it urged. The camp has recently witnessed days of deadly armed clashes between the secular Fatah Movement and hardline Islamist groups.

Lebanon among 5 most water-stressed countries in the world
Associated Press/20 August 2023
A new study reveals that 25 countries, home to a quarter of the world's population, are facing extremely high water stress. Most are located in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. Repeated droughts around the world are depleting water tables and leading to water stress, in other words, demand for water is outstripping available resources. And the situation is not about to improve. By 2050, almost 60% of the world's population could be facing extremely high water stress for at least one month of the year. Such are the alarming findings of the World Resources Institute (WRI), which recently published data from its Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, detailing the countries most at risk of water shortages. It names the five most water-stressed countries as Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman. "The water stress in these countries is mostly driven by low supply, paired with demand from domestic, agricultural and industrial use," the WRI notes. A total of 25 countries, home to a quarter of the world's population, are currently exposed to extremely high annual water stress, meaning that more than 80% of their renewable water reserves are being used for irrigation, livestock farming, industry and domestic needs. By way of comparison, a country facing "extreme water stress" uses at least 80% of its available supply, while a country facing "high water stress" withdraws 40% of its reserves. According to the report, the regions where populations are most severely impacted are North Africa and the Middle East (83%), followed by South Asia (74%)."Across the world, demand for water is exceeding what’s available," warns the WRI. The organization adds that global demand "has more than doubled since 1960." While growing populations and industries have largely contributed to increasing water stress, the WRI identifies additional causes, such as "lack of investment in water infrastructure, unsustainable water use policies or increased variability due to climate change."

Samir Geagea: Our companion Elias Hasrouni was assassinated, not killed in a car accident
LBCI/20 August 2023
The leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, affirmed that "our comrade Elias Hasrouni was assassinated, not killed in a car accident, as they initially tried to portray the incident. This is very clear through the cameras surrounding the crime scene, which others were unaware of, and that's why they were caught red-handed."He explained that Hasrouni "was abducted in his car and driven to a relatively distant location from the abduction site, where he was killed. The crime tapes are now in the hands of the specialized security forces, whether it's the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces or the Intelligence Directorate of the Lebanese Army. We are in daily contact with them to follow the progress of the investigations."Geagea wondered, "The crime occurred deep within areas controlled by Hezbollah, where they have full security and military control. Everyone remembers what happened about six months ago with one of the UNIFIL patrols that lost its way and was immediately stopped after a few minutes. Unfortunately, an Irish soldier was killed in it." "So, what do you think if a group of cars, no less than three or four cars, come deep into Hezbollah-controlled areas with at least eight people inside? They abduct a specific person and drive him to another location to kill him. Despite the considerable time this crime took, until now, Hezbollah knows nothing about it. It's hard for anyone to believe this. We know this was a deliberate killing if they don't know. Despite my preference, as always, to wait as long as possible to confirm what we say. Frankly, all fingers of accusation are pointing toward Hezbollah, based on the circumstances of the crime," he added.

LF party denies Al-Anbaa's claims on Frangieh and Riachi meeting
LBCI/20 August 2023
The media office of the Lebanese Forces party denied on Sunday the information published in Al-Anbaa newspaper regarding the progress of meetings between deputies Tony Frangieh and Melhem Riachi and that it reached the point of expecting Frangieh's visit to Maarab.In the statement, the party's leader, Samir Geagea, affirmed that the opposing group lacks the democratic strength to propel its candidate to the presidency, saying this will never happen.

Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry vigilant after tensions in Cyprus Buffer Zone
LBCI/20 August 2023
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that it is closely monitoring "with concern the developments in the buffer zone between the two parts of the island of Cyprus following the attack on the United Nations peacekeeping mission forces on August 18."
The ministry underlined the "necessity to respect the tasks of this mission, which are aimed at maintaining security and stability on the island until a comprehensive and equitable settlement of the Cyprus issue is reached based on relevant Security Council resolutions."

MP Bouchikian: It is no longer acceptable to disrupt legislative, political, and economic life due to disputes and divisions
LBCI/20 August 2023
MP Georges Bouchkian emphasized that "it is no longer acceptable to disrupt legislative, political, and economic life due to disputes and divisions among parliamentary blocs, parties, opposition, and ruling forces." He pointed out that "citizens are waiting for officials to exhibit vigilance, a sense of national responsibility, and to fulfill their roles and duties in the government, parliament, ministries, and public administrations."In a statement, he said, "Disputes should not impede the regular functioning of institutions under any pretext. The resigned government requires continuous work and intensified effort from its head and members, and they are contributing under the law. The state machinery cannot function properly without a fully legitimate government, even if it's acting.""The same situation prevails in the parliament, which, although transformed into an electoral body, has no obstacle to convening and approving necessary laws to recover seized funds in banks, such as Capitol Control, and projects like the Sovereign Fund for oil revenues, among others. These projects were approved in subcommittees and joint committees and received agreement and consensus from MPs," he added. Bouchkian continued, "As long as there has been no successful consensus on the priority of electing a president for the republic, we, in the government and parliament, are called to establish the solid foundations and groundwork for the next president's tenure. These draft laws are like ammunition the next president will arm himself with at the beginning of his term, centered around the anticipated oil wealth."He further noted, "The solution and the shortest and safest path to constitutional stability remain in expediting the election of a president for the republic, completing the constellation of constitutional institutions, securing the economy, stabilizing the situation, and saving Lebanon from the impending risks."

Energy Ministry addresses accusations amid electricity crisis
LBCI/20 August 2023
The Energy Ministry released a statement affirming that "known governmental sources insist on falsely accusing us every time we bring in a fuel ship as part of the assets and according to public procurement law, after receiving government approval to fund the implementation of the electricity emergency plan." "One of the main goals of this plan is to increase electricity supply hours in parallel with tariff hikes, benefiting Lebanese citizens and saving them over 40 percent of the cost of private generators," it added. The ministry stated, "We reiterate and emphasize that all documents and decisions were shared, approved, and sent to all relevant entities in accordance with established rules and laws, transparently and credibly. The claim that the electricity situation is hopeless and its promotion through certain media outlets with known affiliations and biases is deceptive, and even more than that, it fuels doubt. It is also unrealistic and entirely untrue. The evidence is that supply hours have increased and will continue with cooperation from all concerned parties after the ships' arrival. The emergency plan has proven its effectiveness and success in revenue collection and waste reduction, among other aspects.
In addition to the above, the available fuel quantities are sufficient for less than a month, according to the Électricité du Liban (EDL), the primary concerned institution. So, is the goal to deplete the existing quantities and plunge into complete darkness or to secure the required sustainability, especially considering the global shortage and difficulty in procuring fuel, not only for us?Thus, we have become almost sure that the intention to ensure electricity sustainability for citizens is absent, and the obstruction is evident, along with the distortion of facts through certain media that are undoubtedly compromised.
We reiterate and reaffirm that our ultimate goal is to secure electricity for citizens, which is their rightful entitlement and not a favor from anyone. If some do not believe that some work transparently, away from any deals or suspicions, this is their problem. Enough of the bickering every time. Let's focus on the higher national interest, away from political argument and narrow interests."The ministry expressed hope "that these disputes will cease and we can move towards productive work and collaboration for the ultimate benefit of the country and its citizens."

Amid festival atmosphere, families of Beirut Port blast victims speak out
LBCI/20 August 2023
The association of families of martyrs, injured, and affected by the Beirut Port blast issued a statement on Sunday, saying: "Thank you to the great people of Lebanon who danced on our blood yesterday shamelessly in Biel, just meters away from the scattered bodies of our martyrs. Thank you to the leaders of this country who granted permission for this provocative event, disregarding our feelings and emotions without shame. Thank you to the media that rushed to cover what they call an 'event' while our case remains absent from them except in political calculations."The statement further added: "If half of the participants on Saturday from the Lebanese people stood with us in our national and humanitarian cause, and if half of the politicians and media personalities supported our cause, we would have reached the point we are at today, and we would have achieved justice for our oppressed martyrs." This statement was issued by the founding committee of the association of families of martyrs, injured, and affected by the Beirut Port blast, represented by Ibrahim Hoteit.

Skaf: Le Drian's mission failed before it started
NNA/20 August 2023
MP Ghassan Skaf considered in a radio interview today that "the French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, may have failed in his mission before it began, through the message that was sent to the parliamentary blocs, because he did not work according to the rule of neither victorious nor vanquished..."Skaf considered that "the message is rejected in form and content because it contradicts with national sovereignty," noting that "it was rejected by significant blocs, most of them Christians, because they felt that France no longer cared for them and deepened the rift between them." Touching on the presidential dossier, the MP considered that "the specifications will not lead to a president for the republic, but rather the circumstances that will fulfill this merit," noting that "the characteristics of the future president were mentioned in the joint meeting in Doha, and the lack of internal cohesion between the Lebanese has rendered the election of the president in the pocket of the regional and international player." Skaf added that "a president elected without the approval of the other party will not be able to rule."Referring to the issue of "federalism", the MP deemed it "a leap into the unknown," underlining that "what is required is to strengthen internal unity," hoping that "Le Drian would carry a reform project aimed at that, because Lebanon is in a stage of disintegration of the state and the collapse of institutions."

Makhzoumi: The EASA & ICAO report on the classification of Beirut airport as 'below acceptable' is a disgrace
NNA/20 August 2023
MP Fouad Makhzoumi commented today via the “X” platform on the "new crisis added to Lebanon's multiple crises", in regards to "the EASA and ICAO report classifying Rafic Hariri International Airport as below acceptable and warning of danger to the safety of travelers," saying: "What happened is a disgrace and a new scandal caused by the ruling class and its successive policies in failing to appoint qualified and experienced personnel and in the management of this vital and basic facility, which must be independent of the management and supervision of the regulating body of the Directorate of Civil Aviation..."
He added: "It is also necessary to increase the number of air traffic controllers, which is currently considered insufficient due to sectarian considerations....Why weren't corrective steps and measures taken in accordance with relevant international standards in order to avoid falling into this situation, bearing in mind that the caretaker prime minister must explain to the public opinion what steps he will adopt following this published report and what about his government's emergency plan to solve this type of crisis related to national and personal security and threatening the lives of thousands of citizens..?"
Makhzoumi concluded by warning that "if the matter is not remedied, we may be facing a new catastrophe with unimaginable consequences and repercussions difficult to contain!"

MP Kanaan to LBCI: The judiciary should start reviewing the forensic audit report, and I will call the Finance and Budget Committee to a session
NNA/20 August 2023
"The media community in Lebanon was surprised that the organizers of Amr Diab's concert set conditions for journalists who wanted to cover his concert in Beirut, as this contradicts the freedom of opinion and expression that we are fighting for, and it also violates the Lebanese constitution and the laws enshrined pertaining to freedom of expression," the Lebanese Press Club said in a statement this morning. In this regard, the Press Club demanded a public apology from artist, Amr Diab, and from the organizers of the concert to the Lebanese press. The statement also called on the Minister of Information, Ziad al-Makari, to "take a stand on what happened to prevent the recurrence of such practices that have nothing to do with Lebanese culture."

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on August 20-21/2023
Deployment of armed forces in British Columbia in Canada to address wildfires
LBCI/20 August 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Sunday that Canada will deploy its armed forces to address the rapidly advancing wildfires in British Columbia. This decision comes as the western province contends with exceedingly dry conditions and gusty winds, resulting in evacuation orders for over 35,000 individuals. Responding to the situation, the province enacted an emergency declaration on Friday, enhancing the authorities' capabilities to manage the fire hazards. As of Saturday, the number of residents subjected to mandatory evacuation orders exceeded 35,000, with an additional 30,000 placed on high-alert for potential evacuation.

Widening Canada fires amid ongoing evacuations
LBCI/20 August 2023
Officials have reported that two massive and rapidly expanding fires merged overnight in western Canada, where hundreds of homes are under threat and evacuation efforts continue in the province of British Columbia. The fires are now endangering 3,500 homes near Shuswap, about 150 kilometers north of Kelowna, prompting authorities to issue orders and instructions for tens of thousands of residents to leave.

Iranian Army Chief: New Security Situation in the Region
London: Asharq Al Awsat/20 August 2023
Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi commented, on Saturday, that a “new security situation has emerged in the region.”The army chief said that the new situation presents opportunities for Iran but also brings significant threats. “The world is in turmoil, awaiting the establishment of a new order,” he emphasized. Mousavi pointed to a shift in tactics by adversaries, noting their turn towards cyber warfare, informational tactics, economic battles, and incitement of disturbances. Mousavi’s remarks were made at the 24th meeting of the Supreme Assembly of Commanders of Iran’s Revolution Guards Corps in Tehran, according to “Fars” news agency. “At the present time, the chaos of the capitalist system, the growing trend of Russia and China's confrontation with the US, and the de-dollarization trend in global transactions on the one hand and the authoritative presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region on the other hand, have created suitable opportunities for our country,” he said. Mousavi highlighted that, regionally, over the past four decades, Iran identified four primary centers of threats. The first of these is the “US military presence in the region and its surrounding environment.”The second he described as “threats from Israel, which for the past 75 years has embodied a source of conflict and war.”“Over the past forty years, Israel has consistently been involved in conspiracies and malevolent activities against Iran,” noted Mousavi. The third center of threat “relates to certain regional governments that have posed threats to Iran by fostering anti-security mechanisms and exhibiting costly behaviors.”The fourth and final center is “terrorist organizations supported by the US and its regional allies.”Mousavi believes that the threat against Iran today “has weakened compared to past decades.” He added that “an effective regional defense model has been established to enhance deterrence against adversaries

Iran summons Swedish, Danish Chargé d'Affaires over desecration of Holy Quran
NNA/20 August 2023
The Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency (IRNA) reported today that the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Swedish and Danish Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran because of the desecration of the Qur'an in the two countries.

Iranian Army: Monitoring the F-35's Movements Around the Clock
Asharq Al Awsat/20 August 2023
Iranian air radar systems detected and monitored the flight of American F-35 fighter jets in the Gulf to the south of Iran, the deputy commander of operations of the Army Air Defense, Brigadier General Reza Khajeh, announced. Reports said the US and Iran are trying to ease tensions and revive nuclear deal talks. The United States boosted its military presence in the Gulf waters in the face of Iran's growing threats to ships and oil tankers. Recently, 3,000 American soldiers crossed the Red Sea towards the US bases in the Gulf when the US-led joint international forces warned commercial ships and tankers of approaching Iranian waters. F-35 and F-16 aircraft flew over the Strait of Hormuz this week as part of the ongoing operations to guard commercial ships in the region. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed Tuesday that the US continues to pressure Iran, against the background of its controversial nuclear program, despite the prisoner exchange deal. The Fars news agency affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quoted Khajeh as saying: Recently, several of these planes were flying over the Persian Gulf and were fully monitored by our radars from the moment they took off.” He added, “All radars located in the south of the country were monitoring these planes momentarily, adding that all foreign forces' sorties in the Gulf region, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman are monitored and will be warned if necessary.
Increase in the military industry
Meanwhile, the official IRNA news agency reported, quoting the Executive Director of the Social Welfare Organization in the Armed Forces, Majid Ibn al-Ridha, that Iranian missile production has increased by 64 percent.
The commander also indicated that the production of speedboats upped 40 percent.
Shadow of war
Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi criticized the classification of the IRGC on the terrorist list, defending its regional role and program to develop ballistic missiles and drones. Raisi said, on the second day of the IRGC annual conference, that some claim their assumption of running the country will eliminate the possibility of war, whereas the shadow of war is eliminated by forces such as IRGC, the army, and the Basij that ensure security. The Iranian President implicitly referred to one of the slogans raised by former President Hassan Rouhani during his 2013 and 2017 presidential campaigns. Raisi said that Iran enjoys prestige, strength, and respect, and the enemies no longer consider threatening the country because of the effective deterrence force, such as missile and drone production. The President directed his sharp criticism of Western powers, repeating previous statements that hadn’t it been for the regional presence of the IRGC and its convergence with popular forces in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, ISIS would have taken control. He continued, "If it were not for the presence of the IRGC in the region, Takfiri terrorism would have taken the entire Europe today."Since April 2019, the US has classified the IRGC on the terrorist list. Western powers, especially European countries, have discussed the possibility of taking a similar step by blacklisting the forces after Iran provided Russia with drones during the past months. It was the first general conference of the IRGC leaders post-COVID-19. Raisi arrived at the headquarters accompanied by senior leaders and the daughter of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the al-Quds Force whom the US assassinated in Iraq. Iran’s Supreme Leader Guide, Ali Khamenei, gave the first speech, describing the IRGC as the "largest counterterrorism" organization. Khamenei defended the role of the IRGC in the economy, infrastructure, and construction of roads, dams, and oil refineries. He said the phrase "military options are on the table" to the IRGC's deterrence power and capabilities has become "trivial, meaningless, and worthless."Khamenei and Raisi accused the Western power of "creating plots and sedition" over the past two years. The President attacked Britain, after the recent interview of its former foreign minister, David Owen, with the Guardian newspaper. Owen demanded the UK acknowledge its leading role in the 1953 coup that overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, “for the sake of Britain’s credibility and the Iranian reform movement.”Owen, who led the British diplomatic service from 1977 to 1979, said the “rule of the mullahs would be far worse than the rule of the shah in terms of human rights and personal happiness.”“Sadly, that has been proven to be correct.”He indicated that the Western powers made a mistake in the calculations when they left the negotiating table and were defeated by the Iranian people. The Iranian President did not refer to the ongoing negotiations on the prisoners’ deal after Iran allowed four US citizens to move to a hotel under house arrest. A fifth detainee is already under house arrest.

Russia's Luna-25 probe crashes on the Moon
Agence France Presse/20 August 2023
The Luna-25 probe, Russia's first Moon mission in almost 50 years, has crashed on the Moon after an incident during pre-landing manoeuvres, Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Sunday. Communication with Luna-25 was lost at 2:57 pm (1157 GMT) on Saturday, Roscosmos said. According to preliminary findings, the lander "has ceased to exist following a collision with the Moon's surface", Roscosmos said. "Measures taken on August 19 and 20 to locate the craft and make contact with it were unsuccessful." The space agency said an investigation would be launched into the causes of the crash, without giving any indication of what technical problems might have occurred. With Luna-25, Moscow had hoped to build on the legacy of its Soviet-era Luna programme, marking a return to independent lunar exploration in the face of growing isolation from the West. The 800-kilogram Luna-25 probe was to have made a soft landing on the lunar south pole, the first in history. Russia has not attempted to land on a celestial body since 1989, when the Soviet Union's ill-fated Phobos 2 probe to explore the moons of Mars failed due to an onboard computer malfunction. Roscosmos boss Yuri Borisov had said the venture would be "risky", telling President Vladimir Putin face to face in June that the probability of it succeeding was "around 70 percent."

Wall Street Journal: The West is preparing a peace deal for Ukraine
NNA/20 August 2023
The Wall Street Journal said that Western countries are working to formulate a peace agreement with Russia and a way out of the Ukraine crisis, anticipating that Moscow and Kiev will reject this agreement, according to "Russia Today".
The newspaper wrote: "The West's hopes that the Ukrainian attack will force Russia to negotiate have faded. Western officials are working to prepare a deal that ends the war, which is not in line with the goals of Kiev and Moscow."It pointed out that the main goal of Ukraine is to regain its lands, which is unlikely, given that its Western allies fear the continuation of the "costs and risks" that they do not need.

Russia Says Ukrainian Drones Attack Three Regions
AFP/20 August 2023
Russia said Ukrainian drones had struck three separate regions on Sunday, injuring five people and forcing two of Moscow's airports to briefly divert flights. Russia's Kursk and Rostov regions, both of which border Ukraine, reported drone strikes while Russia's defense ministry said it had jammed a Ukrainian drone in the Moscow region, forcing it to crash in an unpopulated area. Russia's aviation watchdog said it had briefly halted flights to the city's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports in response. Kursk region's governor said that 5 people had been injured and a fire broke out when a drone hit a railway station. Rostov's governor said no injuries or damage had occurred. Ukrainian drone strikes both on border regions and on the Russian capital have become increasingly common in recent months, with repeated strikes on Moscow's financial district. Russia said in May that two Ukrainian drones tried to attack the Kremlin. Ukraine typically does not comment on who is behind attacks on Russian territory, although officials have publicly expressed satisfaction over them.

Zelensky vows retaliation for Chernihiv attack that killed 7 and wounded over 100
Associated Press/20 August 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed Sunday a stern retaliation to the Russian missile strike in the center of the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv that killed seven people and wounded over a hundred others the day before.
"I am sure our soldiers will respond to Russia for this terrorist attack. Respond tangibly," Zelensky said in a video address published in the early hours of Sunday at the end of a visit to Sweden, his first foreign trip since attending a NATO summit in Lithuania last month. He named a six-year-old girl, Sofia, as among the dead in the attack and confirmed that the wounded included 15 children. The governor of the Chernihiv region, Vyacheslav Chaus, said Sunday that the total number of people wounded had risen to 148. Further east, Russian forces shelled the city of Kupiansk on Sunday morning, seriously wounding a man, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. Meanwhile, in Russia, five people were wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a train station in the city of Kursk, regional Gov. Roman Starovoit said early Sunday. Kursk is the capital of the western region of the same name, which borders Ukraine. According to Starovoit, the drone crashed into the roof of the railway station building, with a fire subsequently breaking out on the roof. Russian air defense jammed a drone flying towards Moscow early Sunday causing it to crash. Russia's Defense Ministry called it "an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack."Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports briefly suspended flights, but no victims or damage were reported. Ukrainian authorities, which generally avoid commenting on attacks on Russian soil, didn't say whether it launched the attacks. Drone strikes on the Russian border regions are a fairly regular occurrence. Drone attacks deeper inside Russian territory have been on the rise since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Successful strikes have exposed the vulnerabilities of Moscow's air defense systems.

Netherlands, Denmark Commit to Delivering F-16s to Ukraine
AP/20 August 2023
The Netherlands and Denmark have said they will definitely give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine once conditions for the transfer have been met, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Sunday as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited his country. Rutte said that the Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all, but it is too early to say whether all of them will be donated. "Today we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark commit to the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Air Force," in cooperation with the US and other allies, he said in a joint press conference with Zelenskiy at a military air base in Eindhoven. Zelenskiy, who called the deal a "breakthrough agreement", said the exact number of aircraft will be discussed "a little later". The pledge is the first real promise of F-16's for Ukraine's armed forces and comes a few days after the United States approved the possible delivery of the fighter jets by the Netherlands and Denmark. Zelenskiy arrived in the Netherlands on Sunday and is expected to continue to Denmark later in the day. The Danish foreign ministry also confirmed its commitment to delivering F-16s in a statement on Sunday. Zelenskiy said the planes would help strengthen Ukraine's air defenses and help its counter-offensive. "Aircraft can speed up this process," he said. "We are speaking about air defense, because we have the winter ahead of us and we understand more than anyone else in the world what winter without electricity is like."The Netherlands and Denmark have led a months-long push to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16's and to ultimately deliver the jets to help counter the air superiority of Russia, whose forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Rutte said it was clear that F-16's would not be transferred right away, as it will take time to properly train Ukrainian pilots and to prepare the needed infrastructure for the use of the planes. "The military training will start in the very near future, and then it will take of course some time for the planes to get operational with well-trained pilots, but we'll do everything to make it happen as soon as possible," Rutte said
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on Saturday said training had begun for Ukrainian pilots, but it would take at least six months and possibly longer to also train engineers and mechanics. Training will take place in Denmark and Romania, officials from a coalition of 11 nations have said. Ukraine, which expects several dozens of pilots to be trained, said last week it did not expect to be able to use F-16's this autumn or winter. The Netherlands and Denmark have F-16s available to donate as their armed forces are transitioning to newer F-35 fighters.On Saturday, Zelenskiy was in Sweden, where he discussed the possibility of receiving Gripen jets.

A Tanker Believed to Hold Sanctioned Iran Oil Starts Offloading near Texas despite Tehran's Threats
Asharq Al Awsat/20 August 2023
An American-owned oil tanker long suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil began offloading its cargo near Texas late Saturday, tracking data showed, even as Tehran has threatened to target shipping in the Arabian Gulf over it.
Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Marshall Islands-flagged Suez Rajan was undergoing a ship-to-ship transfer of its oil to another tanker, the MR Euphrates, near Galveston, some 70 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Houston. The fate of the cargo aboard the Suez Rajan has become mired in the wider tensions between the US and Iran, even as Tehran and Washington work toward a trade of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets in South Korea for the release of five Iranian-Americans held in Tehran. Already, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has warned that those involved in offloading the cargo “should expect to be struck back.” The US Navy has increased its presence steadily in recent weeks in the Mideast, sending the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days and considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the strait to stop Iran from seizing additional ships. US officials and the owners of the Suez Rajan, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The saga over the Suez Rajan began in February 2022, when the group United Against Nuclear Iran said it suspected the tanker carried oil from Iran’s Khargh Island, its main oil distribution terminal in the Arabian Gulf.
For months, the ship sat in the South China Sea off the northeast coast of Singapore before suddenly sailing for the Gulf of Mexico without explanation. Analysts believe the vessel's cargo likely has been seized by American officials, though there still were no public court documents early Sunday involving the Suez Rajan. In the meantime, Iran has seized two tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, including one with cargo for US oil major Chevron Corp. In July, the top commander of the Revolutionary Guard's naval arm threatened further action against anyone offloading the Suez Rajan, with state media linking the recent seizures to the cargo's fate.
“We hereby declare that we would hold any oil company that sought to unload our crude from the vessel responsible and we also hold America responsible,” Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri said at the time. “The era of hit and run is over, and if they hit, they should expect to be struck back."Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the offloading of the Suez Rajan. The state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged this AP story, but did not elaborate. Western-backed naval organizations in the Arabian Gulf in recent days also warned of an increased risk of ship seizures from Iran around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers saw it regain the ability to sell oil openly on the international market. But in 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord and re-imposed American sanctions. That slammed the door on much of Iran’s lucrative crude oil trade, a major engine for its economy and its government. It also began a cat-and-mouse hunt for Iranian oil cargo — as well as a series of escalating attacks attributed to Iran since 2019. The delay in offloading the Suez Rajan's cargo had become a political issue as well for the Biden administration as the ship had sat for months in the Gulf of Mexico, possibly due to companies being worried about the threat from Iran. In a letter dated Wednesday, a group of Democratic and Republican US senators asked the White House for an update on what was happening with the ship's cargo, estimated to be worth some $56 million. They said the money could go toward the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which compensates those affected by the Sept. 11 attacks, the 1979 Iran hostage crisis and other militant assaults.
“We owe it to these American families to enforce our sanctions,” the letter read. The US Treasury has said Iran's oil smuggling revenue supports the Quds Force, the expeditionary unit of the Revolutionary Guard that operates across the Mideast. Claire Jungman, the chief of staff at United Against Nuclear Iran, praised the transfer finally happening. "By depriving the (Guard) of crucial resources, we strike a blow against terrorism that targets not only American citizens but also our global allies and partners,” Jungman told the AP. On Sunday, Iranian state media released still images from video that showed the USS Bataan with small Guard fast boats trailing it as it traveled through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Arabian Gulf through which 20% of the world's oil passes. One image appeared to have been taken from a drone above the Bataan. Cmdr. Rick Chernitzer, a spokesman for the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, acknowledged to the AP that the Bataan had transited through the strait in recent days. He declined to elaborate.

Talks between Regional Bloc and Niger's Junta Yield Little
Asharq Al Awsat/20 August 2023
Mutinous soldiers in Niger are under pressure from regional sanctions as they refuse to reinstate the country's president whom they toppled nearly a month ago while being fearful of attacks from France, an official said. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity after Saturday’s meeting between Niger’s new military regime and a delegation from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS. He said the roughly two-hour discussion aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the country’s deepening crisis, yielded little with no clarity on the next steps. It was the first time head of the junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, met with the delegation after rebuffing previous attempts. Saturday’s meeting was a last-ditch diplomacy scramble by the bloc to resolve the crisis peacefully and followed last week’s announcement that 11 of its 15 member states had agreed to intervene militarily if democratically-elected President Bazoum was not released from house arrest and reinstated. The bloc’s three other countries under military rule following coups, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, were not included. The latter two had previously warned they would consider intervention in Niger an act of war. On August 10, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby force” to go into Niger and restore constitutional rule. It's unclear if and when the troops would intervene. During the talks, Tchiani pushed for the lifting of economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after the coup, saying Niger's population was suffering because of them, but he was unwilling to give much in return, said the official. The junta said they were under pressure, at times striking a conciliatory tone and apologizing for past disrespect towards the bloc, while also defiantly standing by its decision to overthrow Bazoum and unequivocal about him not returning to power, the official added. Tchiani also repeatedly expressed concerns that its former colonial ruler France — which has some 1,500 troops in the country and had been providing training and conducting joint operations with Niger’s military — was actively planning an attack, said the official.
Niger was seen by many Western countries as the last democratic partner in the region it could work with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency by militant groups linked with al-Qaida and ISIS. France, the United States and other European nations have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up Niger's army and the coup has been seen as a major setback. Sahel experts say it’s not surprising that nothing came from Saturday's meeting as each party is trying to show they’re open to discussions, yet the chances of an agreement are slim because their positions are starkly different. “ECOWAS and the rest of the international community want to restore President Bazoum and the junta is not on this agenda,” said Seidik Abba, a Nigerien researcher and Sahel specialist and president of the International Center for Reflection for Studies On the Sahel, a think tank based In Paris. “The next step will be military confrontation ... What we don’t know is when this confrontation will take place, how it will go, and what the consequences will be,” he said. Shortly after the meetings Saturday, Tchiani went on state television and laid out a roadmap for the country, saying it would return to civilian rule within three years and that details for the plan would be decided within 30 days through a national dialogue set to launch immediately.
“I am convinced that we will find solutions to all the challenges we face and that we will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all,” he said. Transitions for Niger’s multiple previous coups were shorter, so a three-year timeline is unprecedented said Aneliese Bernard, a former US State Department official who specializes in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group. “What we’re seeing in the region is the emergence of trends just to military rule,” she said. But some Nigerian soldiers don’t think Tchiani will last three months, let alone several years. A soldier who worked directly with Bazoum before the coup, and did not want to be named for fear of his safety, told the AP Saturday that there are deep divisions within the presidential guard — the unit that overthrew Bazoum — and within the junta itself. Of the nearly 1,000 soldiers at the base on the presidential complex, the majority would flee if ECOWAS attacked, he said. He gave Tchiani a few months before he too was overthrown. Tchiani is widely unpopular in security circles within Niger and seen as having reached his current post because of former president Mahamadou Issoufou's patronage, rather than through his own connections and battlefield achievements, said Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow with the Clingendael Institute. “While the (junta) has presented a unified public face, it is a partnership of branches of the armed forces that have competed for status and resources in the recent past and further," he said.

US, Japan and Australia Plan Joint Navy Drills in Disputed South China Sea
Asharq Al Awsat/20 August 2023
The United States, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill in the South China Sea off the western Philippines this week to underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters, Filipino security officials said Sunday.
On Aug. 5, Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons against Philippine vessels in the contested waterway where disputes have long been regarded as a potential flashpoint and have become a fault line in the rivalry between the US and China in the region, AFP said. The drill will include three aircraft and helicopter carriers sailing together in a show of force and undertaking joint drills. Their commanders are set to meet with Filipino counterparts in Manila after the offshore drills, two Philippine security officials told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to publicly discuss details of the planned drills. The US plans to deploy an aircraft carrier, the USS America, while Japan would send one of its biggest warships, the helicopter carrier JS Izumo. The Royal Australian Navy would send its HMAS Canberra, which also carries helicopters, one of the two officials said, adding that the joint drill was planned a few months ago. The Philippines would not be part of this week's drills due to military logistical limitations but is open to becoming a participant in the future, the official said. The United States, Japan and Australia were among several countries that immediately expressed support for the Philippines and concern over the Chinese action following the tense stand-off earlier this month. Philippine officials said six Chinese coast guard ships and two militia vessels blocked two Philippine navy-chartered civilian boats taking supplies to the Philippine forces stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal. One supply boat was hit with a powerful water cannon by the Chinese coast guard while the other managed to deliver food, water, fuel and other supplies to the Filipino forces guarding the shoal, the Philippine military said. The Chinese coast guard acknowledged its ships used water cannons against the Philippine vessels, which it said strayed without permission into the shoal, which Beijing calls Ren’ai Jiao. “In order to avoid direct blocking and collisions when repeated warnings were ineffective, water cannons were used as a warning. The on-site operation was professional and restrained, which is beyond reproach,” the Chinese coast guard said. “China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty.” The Philippine military said on Saturday that it would again attempt to deliver basic supplies to its forces in the Second Thomas Shoal, but didn't provide further details. The mission “to the shoal is a clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against threats and coercion and our commitment in upholding the rule of law,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement. Following the incident, Washington renewed a warning that it is obliged to defend its longtime treaty ally if Philippine public vessels and forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

Chinese Military Launches Drills around Taiwan as ‘Warning’ after Top Island Official Went to US
AFP/20 August 2023
The Chinese military launched drills around Taiwan on Saturday as a “stern warning” over what it called collusion between “separatists and foreign forces,” its defense ministry said, days after the island's vice president stopped over in the United States. Taiwanese Vice President William Lai's recent trip to Paraguay to reinforce relations with his government's last diplomatic partner in South America included stops in San Francisco and New York City. The mainland’s ruling Communist Party claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and says it has no right to conduct foreign relations. A spokesperson for China’s Eastern Theater Command said in a brief statement that the military exercises involved the coordination of vessels and planes and their ability to seize control of air and sea spaces. It was also testing the forces' “actual combat capabilities,” Shi Yi said. The drills in the waters and airspace to the north and southwest of Taiwan were a warning over provocations from pro-Taiwan independence forces and foreign forces, he added. The command released footage of the drills online that showed soldiers running, as well as military boats and planes. State media CCTV reported that missile-equipped boats and fighter jets were involved in the operation and that units worked together to simulate the surrounding of Taiwan. Taiwan’s defense ministry said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that its forces detected 45 Chinese military aircraft and nine vessels around the island between 6 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday. It said 27 of the planes, including Su-30, J-10 and J-11 fighters, crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait — an unofficial boundary considered a buffer between the island and the mainland — and entered the island's air defense identification zone. Taiwan deployed aircraft and vessels and activated land-based missile systems in response to the drills and was closely monitoring the situation, the ministry said. The ministry also strongly condemned what it called the “irrational, provocative moves" in a separate statement. It said its military would stand ready in the face of the threats posted by the Chinese army, adding that its forces have “the ability, determination and confidence to safeguard national security.”It posted a video on Facebook that showed previous military drills and said the Chinese military exercises reflected a militaristic mentality. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the ruling Communist Party in control of the mainland. The self-ruled island has never been part of the People’s Republic of China, but Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be retaken by force if necessary. China's official Xinhua news agency on Saturday reported that an unnamed official in China's Taiwan Work Office strongly condemned what it called further collusion between Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the US and said it was a “new provocative move." The official pointed to the stopovers in the US, an interview Lai gave to news outlet Bloomberg and his meeting with US officials in Paraguay, the report said. The official said Lai had used “Taiwan independence” rhetoric in the interview. The official also accused Lai of using his stopovers in the US to sell out the interests of Taiwan to seek gains in the island's election, and described him as a “troublemaker who will push Taiwan to the dangerous brink of war,” the report added. Lai is his party's candidate for the 2024 presidential election in January. Taiwanese Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin accused China of trying to influence its election by sparking fears and condemned the provocation in a Facebook post. She said the international community has repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait and urged China to stop such moves. Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, wrote on the X platform that China “has made it clear it wants to shape” the island's national election, and attached the command’s statement and the Xinhua report in his post. “It's up to our citizens to decide, not the bully next door,” he wrote. China's largest military drills in recent years were in response to former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last August. It fired missiles over the island in a significant escalation and the military exercises disrupted trade lanes in the Taiwan Strait and forced airplanes to reroute their flights. In April, Chinese forces held large-scale combat readiness drills in the air and waters around Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with current US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on August 20-21/2023
Is the Coexistence Between Iranian Dogma and Pragmatism a Decoy or Part of a Grand Bargain?
Raghida Dergham/The National/August 20, 2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/121438/121438/
A pivotal shift has materialized in Iranian foreign policies, suggesting a profound transformation is underway in Tehran's grand strategy towards relations with Arab Gulf states, which in turn are engaging in unprecedented mediations to reshape Iranian-American relations, not solely through Omani channels, but also involving Saudi, Qatari, and Emirati contributions. For its part, the Biden administration has made a notable about-face, abandoning previous policies of excluding Arab Gulf states from the US-Iranian nuclear negotiations. The Biden administration now welcomes the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement as it aligns with American interests. The shared strategic imperative for both Washington and Tehran requires the Arab Gulf states to help mend bilateral ties between them. Washington perceives the development of Saudi-Iranian relations therefore as an opportunity to establish an additional communication channel with Tehran alongside the Omani and Qatari channels, with a view to nudge Iran away from Russia in the aftermath of the Ukrainian conflict. However, the primary obstacle to such hopes of seeing a new Iran lies in the contradiction between the established dogma of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its transitional pragmatism.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, articulated a compelling sentiment during his visit to Riyadh this week, which aimed at restoring diplomatic ties and paving the way for the visit of the Iranian President to the Saudi capital soon. He said that Iran can collaborate with Saudi Arabia to promptly resolve regional issues, underscoring Tehran's support for achieving security and harmony in the region without fragmentation. Of course, these words await to be matched by deeds. Nonetheless, an obvious question is: where does the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stand regarding the Iranian pragmatic diplomacy led by President Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister? What are the conditions demanded by the Revolutionary Guard, which exercises control over Iranian foreign policy through its authority over Hezbollah and its roles in regional conflicts, in addition to its subversive instruments that are an integral facet of Iran's expansionist ideology in Arab territories, particularly Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon? How does Israel factor into the equation of the possible but unlikely confrontation with Hezbollah, pending an Iranian decision? Could exclusive sway over Lebanon be granted as compensation for Hezbollah in return for suspending its regional activities?
The pragmatic nature of Saudi-Iranian negotiations has led to the exclusion of complex issues, such as Iran's direct role and the involvement of Hezbollah in Iraq, Syria, and notably in Lebanon. The emphasis is on bilateral matters and Gulf security in the "first basket" of discussions, while postponing the regional roles of Hezbollah to the "second basket." This approach is due to concerns that bringing Hezbollah's activities to the negotiation table could jeopardize the talks, as the IRGC would not permit any interference with this valuable card, especially from the so-called moderate faction in Tehran. Consequently, an implicit agreement has been reached to exclude Hezbollah from this stage of negotiations in order to prevent it from becoming a destabilizing element.
However, the issue with this approach is that it implies a willingness to grant Iran exceptions in the region, while political realism indicates that regional stability cannot be achieved without addressing the role of Iran and its proxies, particularly Hezbollah, in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
Temporarily excluding contentious points from negotiations is understandable, but not when it is evident that Iran's actions in Iraq or Hezbollah's role in Lebanon are leading to the entrenchment of their dominance there. Meanwhile, the Gulf states are becoming platforms for showcasing Iran's improved behavior. This situation is cause for concern, irrespective of how temporary and transitional it may seem.
Within political circles, there are discussions suggesting that the Biden administration does not oppose focusing on the "first basket" of Gulf-Iranian agreements, especially as it intends to benefit from these accords to facilitate US-Iranian accords. Postponing thorny issues like the IRGC’s insistence on upholding Tehran's ideology and the fate of Hezbollah's control over Lebanon seems suitable for the Biden administration. This is as long as there is an implicit understanding that there will be no military confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, through unspoken assurances from Iran.
In other words, there are indications of an unsavory deal, where Washington refrains from engaging in the hostile actions Israel desires against Iran and in return, Tehran commits to preventing Hezbollah from engaging in military operations against Israel, regardless of all the public threats and posturing. Washington's tacit agreement to acknowledge Hezbollah's and Iran's control over Lebanon appears to be part of a broader exchange aiming to limit Hezbollah's regional activities but allowing it slight freedom of action in Syria while avoiding direct confrontation with Israel.
For the Biden administration, the priority lies in capitalizing on Iran's willingness to shift its stance and behavior in the Gulf region and towards the United States. Reconciliation with Iran holds more significance than confronting Hezbollah. Iran plays a crucial role for the Biden administration in the equation of countering Russia. If Tehran is willing to accept American goodwill, the Biden administration is prepared for a new package of incentives similar to the deal reached for the release of American detainees and prisoners in exchange for the release of $6 billion of Iranian assets held in South Korea, with essential Qatari assistance.
Iran, for its part, fully comprehends that it is in dire need of the United States to enable it to return to the global markets and develop its oil and technological infrastructure, as well as restore normalcy. This would be impossible without a green light from the United States in the eyes of the pragmatists in Iran. Indeed, their Russian ally has become incapable of supporting Iran following its catastrophic adventure in Ukraine. As for China, it does not impose on Iran the decision to align either with itself or with the United States, nor does the Biden administration seek to force Iran to choose between the United States and China.
The leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran do not compromise on their regime’s dogma, no matter how much pragmatism may dominate their thinking. Instead, they introduce modifications to their ideology and adopt a more tempered approach to accommodate the new reality. This strategy is designed to sustain the regime. The leaders of Tehran are not reconsidering the fundamental tenets of the regime’s ideology. Rather, they have concluded that the preservation of the regime necessitates transitional adjustments.
The leaders of Tehran aspire to regional respect and the restoration of their prestige, through what they term as a diplomacy rooted in dignity and honor. On the other hand, the leaders of Hezbollah are determined to strengthen their grip and control over Lebanon. Up to this point, they have enjoyed substantial backing from the influential leaders of the IRGC and the key allies of the Supreme Leader.
Some, particularly in the Gulf, are betting that the internal struggle within Iran will lead to the reduction of the IRGC’s influence, particularly after the passing of the Supreme Leader. Consequently, Hezbollah would emerge as weaker and more flexible, willing to align with Iran's new regional and global trajectory to assume a more proportionate role regionally and within Lebanon.
While this outcome may sound logical, it remains a mere possibility rather than reflecting an established policy. Herein lies the inherent danger and potential miscalculation. One could argue that the problem in Lebanon lies within the ruling class and opportunistic alliances among various Lebanese parties, primarily led by Christian factions. Similarly, one could argue that Lebanon's degradation and collapse are chiefly the responsibility of the Lebanese government, parties, representatives, and people. However, these facts do not invalidate the following observation: as long as Hezbollah maintains its dominance in Lebanon even while scaling back its regional activities, regional stability as envisioned by the Arab Gulf nations will remain elusive. This is the source of the potential danger and miscalculation.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the restoration of diplomatic ties with Iran was a pivotal juncture for regional security, and this is undeniably valid. He further underscored Saudi Arabia's aspiration to bolster bilateral relations with Tehran, expressing a sincere and earnest desire to cultivate mutual trust between the two sides. This stance is also on the mark, given that regional security forms an integral facet of bilateral relations. Nevertheless, this phase has yet to reach the stage of complete trust; rather, it represents a probation period based on good intentions, extending beyond mere bilateral dynamics. Saudi-Iranian relations go beyond bilateral dimensions, and represent a subset of international relations dictated by current dynamics.
All member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain - are working towards improving relations with Iran. Some of them are playing a crucial role in achieving closer ties between Washington and Tehran, both bilaterally and strategically. This includes matters related to the nuclear issue and the gradual removal of US sanctions on Iran, as an alternative to a comprehensive nuclear deal. This comprehensive deal had previously excluded the Arab Gulf states, due to decisions made by Iran, the United States, and Europe, with the agreement of China and Russia.
Times have changed, and historical circumstances have led to an unforeseen shift due to the Russian war in Ukraine and its subsequent expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) within and beyond Europe. The Biden administration aims to separate Iran from Russia, with the goal of weakening Russia and increasing its isolation. The administration is putting forth ideas that fit into the framework of "Grand Bargain" agreements with Iran, much like those with Saudi Arabia, albeit with differing terms and priorities.
The Biden administration is pressuring Iran to halt the sale of armed drones to Russia, which Russia is using in the war in Ukraine as part of verbal agreements between the two parties. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has affirmed that he would welcome any steps taken by Iran to deescalate its "growing nuclear threat." However, the ongoing American-Iranian agreements, particularly through the Arab Gulf states, include elements of a more comprehensive deal that goes beyond the mere reduction of tensions between Washington and Tehran. It would be a strategic deal characterized by aspects similar to what is referred to as the "Grand Bargain" in the Middle East region. The devil, as they say however, is in the details.

Today in History: The World’s Most Decisive Battle
Raymond Ibrahim/August 20/2023
Today in history, on August 20, 636, arguably the single most consequential battle—certainly between Islam and the West—took place. Occurring just four years after Muslim prophet Muhammad had died, not only did the military engagement decide whether the Arabian creed thrives or dies; it became a chief source of inspiration and instruction for jihadists throughout the centuries—right down to the Islamic State. And yet, very few in the West are even aware of the Battle of Yarmuk’s existence—much less how it motivates contemporary Islamic terrorists.
The contestants were the Eastern Roman Empire, under Emperor Heraclius, and the newly born Arabian caliphate, under the second caliph, Omar. After a couple years of Muslim depredations in then Christian/Roman Syria, the two forces met along the Yarmuk River. The pre-battle exchange between the two generals, the Roman-Armenian Vahan and Khalid bin al-Walid—Islam’s much revered “Sword of Allah”—is instructive:
The Christian commander began by diplomatically blaming Arabia’s harsh conditions and impoverished economy for giving the Arabs no choice but to raid Roman lands. Accordingly, the empire was pleased to provide them with food and coin on condition that they return home. “It was not hunger that brought us here,” Khalid responded coolly, “but we Arabs are in the habit of drinking blood, and we are told the blood of the Romans is the sweetest of its kind, so we came to shed your blood and drink it.
Vahan’s diplomatic mask instantly dropped and he launched into a tirade against the insolent Arab: “So, we thought you came seeking what your brethren always sought” — plunder, extortion, or mercenary work. “But, alas, we were wrong. You came killing men, enslaving women, plundering wealth, destroying buildings, and seeking to drive us from our own lands.” Better people had tried to do the same but always ended up defeated, added Vahan in reference to the recent Persian Wars, before continuing:
As for you, there is no lower and more despicable people — wretched, impoverished Bedouins. . . . You commit injustices in your own nation and now ours. . . . What havoc you have created! You ride horses not your own and wear clothes not your own. You pleasure yourselves with the young white girls of Rome and enslave them. You eat food not your own, and fill your hands with gold, silver, and valuable goods [not your own]. Now we find you with all our possessions and the plunder you took from our coreligionists — and we leave it all to you, neither asking for its return nor rebuking you. All we ask is that you leave our lands. But if you refuse, we will annihilate you!
The Sword of Allah was not impressed. He began reciting the Koran and talking about one “Prophet Muhammad.” Vahan listened in quiet exasperation. Khalid proceeded to call on the Christian general to proclaim the shahada—that “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”—and thereby embrace Islam, in exchange for peace, adding, “You must also pray, pay zakat, perform hajj at the sacred house [in Mecca], wage jihad against those who refuse Allah, … and befriend those who befriend Allah and oppose those who oppose Allah,” a reference to the divisive doctrine of al-wala’ wa al-bara’. “If you refuse, there can only be war between us. . . . And you will face men who love death as you love life.”“Do what you like,” responded Vahan. “We will never forsake our [Christian] religion or pay you jizya.” Negotiations were over.
Things came to a head, quite literally, when 8,000 marching Muslims appeared before the Roman camp carrying the severed heads of 4,000 Christians atop their spears. These were the remains of 5,000 reinforcements who had come from Amman to join the Roman army at Yarmuk. The Muslims had ambushed and slaughtered them. Then, as resounding cries of “Allahu akbar” filled the Muslim camp, those Muslims standing behind the remaining 1,000 Christian captives shoved them down and proceeded to carve off their heads before the eyes of their co-religionists, whom Arabic sources describe as looking on in “utter bewilderment.”So it would be war: 30,000 Christian Romans against 24,000 Muslim Arabs along the Yarmuk River in Syria. On the eve of battle, writes historian A. I. Akram, “the Muslims spent the night in prayer and recitation of the Quran, and reminded each other of the two blessings that awaited them: either victory and life or martyrdom and paradise.”
No such titillation awaited the Christians. They were fighting for life, family, and faith. During his pre-battle speech, Vahan explained that “these Arabs who stand before you seek to . . . enslave your children and women.” Another general warned the men to fight hard or else the Arabs “shall conquer your lands and ravish your women.” Such fears were not unwarranted. Even as the Romans were kneeling in pre-battle prayer, Arab general Abu Sufyan was prancing on his war steed, waving his spear, and exhorting the Muslims to “jihad in the way of Allah,” so that they might seize the Christians’ “lands and cities, and enslave their children and women.”
The battle took place over the course of six days (described in detail here). On the final day, August 20, 636, a dust storm — something Arabs were accustomed to, their opponents less so — erupted and caused mass chaos, particularly for the Romans, whose large infantry numbers proved counterproductive. Night fell. Then, according to historian Antonio Santosuosso,
[T]he terrain echoed with the terrifying din of Muslim shouts and battle cries. Shadows suddenly changed into blades that penetrated flesh. The wind brought the cries of comrades as the enemy stealthily penetrated the ranks among the infernal noise of cymbals, drums, and battle cries. It must have been even more terrifying because they had not expected the Muslims to attack by dark.
Muslim cavalrymen continued pressing on the crowded and blinded Roman infantry, using the hooves and knees of their steeds to knock down the wearied fighters. Pushed finally to the edge of the ravine, rank after rank of the remaining forces of the imperial army fell down the steep precipices to their death. “The Byzantine army, which Heraclius had spent a year of immense exertion to collect, had entirely ceased to exist,” writes British lieutenant-general and historian John Bagot Glubb. “There was no withdrawal, no rearguard action, no nucleus of survivors. There was nothing left.”As the moon filled the night sky and the victors stripped the slain, cries of “Allahu akbar!” and “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger” rang throughout the Yarmuk valley, the Arabian chronicler narrated.
Mere decades after Yarmuk, all ancient Christian lands between Syria to the east and Morocco to the west — nearly 4,000 miles — had been conquered by Islam. Put differently: Two-thirds of Christendom’s original, older, and wealthier territory was permanently swallowed up by the scimitar of jihad. (Eventually, and thanks to the later Turks, “Muslim armies conquered three-quarters of the Christian world,” to quote historian Thomas Madden.)
But unlike the Germanic barbarians who invaded and conquered Europe in the preceding centuries, only to assimilate into the religion, culture, and civilization of Christianity, and adopt its languages, Latin and Greek, the Arabs imposed their creed and language onto the conquered peoples so that, whereas the “Arabs” were once limited to the Arabian Peninsula, today the “Arab world” consists of some 22 nations across the Middle East and North Africa, and Islam is the religion of approximately 50 nations.
This would not be the case, and the world would have developed in a radically different way, had the Eastern Roman Empire defeated the invaders and sent them reeling back to Arabia. Little wonder that historians such as Francesco Gabrieli hold that “the battle of the Yarmuk had, without doubt, more important consequences than almost any other in all world history.”
Moreover and as the alert reader may have noticed, the continuity between the words and deeds of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and those of its predecessors from nearly 1,400 years ago are eerily similar. This of course is intentional. When ISIS proclaims that “American blood is best and we will taste it soon,” or “We love death as you love life,” or “We will break your crosses and enslave your women,” they are quoting in verbatim — and thereby placing themselves in the footsteps of — Khalid bin al-Walid and his companions, the original Islamic conquerors of Syria.
Similarly, ISIS’s invocation of the houris, Islam’s celestial sex-slaves promised to martyrs, is based on several anecdotes of Muslims dying by the Yarmuk River and being welcomed into paradise by these immortal concubines. So too is the choreographed ritual slaughter of “infidels,” most infamously of 21 Coptic Christians on the shores of Libya, patterned after the ritual slaughter of 1,000 captured Roman soldiers on the eve of battle.
Here, then, is a reminder that, when it comes to the military history of Islam and the West, the lessons imparted are far from academic and have relevance to this day.
Note: The above account was excerpted from Raymond Ibrahim’s Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. For a more detailed exposition, see his Master’s thesis on Yarmuk, written under the chairmanship of military historian Victor Davis Hanson.

The Easiest Negotiations with Iran
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/August 20/2023
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian while he was visiting Saudi Arabia, prompting speculation about the trip.
Some read into the body language in the photos that were released. Others made speculation. In Washington, some, like American-Iranian supporter of “Tehran’s causes” Vali Nasr said there were far less complications than what was expected.
I believe these are the easiest Saudi-Iranian negotiations that have been held in the past four decades. Saudi Arabia and Iran are not the same countries they were in the past. They’re not even the same countries they were two years ago.
It is clear to everyone that Saudi Arabia chose development as part of its strategic choices. It wants to be an effective international player, not one preoccupied with local details. Iran set its strategic choices as it teeters on the edge of the abyss: the nuclear file, its economic challenges and internal policy. I say easier because the Saudi demands are clear. They are not related to what Iran can offer in Lebanon, Gaza, Sanaa, Syria or Iraq, but Riyadh has a direct and clear question: Do you want to seize opportunities and be part of investments?
Do you want to be part of Saudi initiatives, ranging from politics to sports to the economy? Certainly, Tehran is very aware of this, and the Iranian minister visited Saudi Arabia while being aware that Riyadh is very involved in the file of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
The observer will notice that Riyadh has requested the activation of past deals, meaning committing to what was previously agreed upon.
There is no need to test the Saudis again. The Iranian minister, meanwhile, vowed that Tehran will support Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh. This is why the Iranian minister’s visit to Saudi appeared “less complicated” and less dramatic than what people tried to portray and for a clear reason. Saudi Arabia’s strategic choices are different, can be implemented swifter and have a greater impact. Riyadh today isn’t offering grants and donations and wasting time in useless mediations in the region. It doesn’t have militias it can negotiate over. Rather, and as I have repeatedly said, Saudi Arabia has opted to maintain relations and be open to dialogue with everyone, including Iran. Saudi Arabia has done so to bolster investment and partnership opportunities. It has learned from past experience and found out that it is best to look to the future and seize opportunities that will benefit the Kingdom, its people and everyone. Success requires the least number of crises.
This can only be achieved through partnerships and exploiting opportunities. This is no easy feat for Riyadh and Tehran given their turbulent history, but it is possible if Iran returns to the rules of the game: refraining from the meddling in the affairs of others and avoiding stirring instability.
The ball is now in the Iranian court. All of the above cannot be achieved through pledges and sweet talk, but through actions. The road is long, especially given the American and international sanctions on Iran. This is why these have been the easiest negotiations, because the Saudi strategy is clear: building and development.

Domestic Tourism Can Protect the Environment
Najib Saab/Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper/August 20/2023
"Had I known that my success would be at the expense of destroying the planet, I would have chosen another job." lamented the founder of one of the largest budget travel and tourism operators in Europe.
That was in the wake of the fires in the Greek Islands and the floods in Slovenia, where tens of thousands of his clients were injured or trapped, and he was busy making contingency plans for their evacuation. He stressed that when he started his company 25 years ago, he did not imagine the extent of the contribution of mass tourism to pollution, destruction of natural habitats and climate change.
However, discovering these devastating effects today will not stop him expanding his business in cheap mass tourism, because if he does, other investors will be ready to take his place, and the destruction will not stop. He tried to carefully select his words with the shrewdness of a businessman, vowing to devote a portion of his company's profits to repairing the damage caused by its business. However, by then it may be too late and there might be nothing left to be repaired.
While the fires that struck popular tourist sites in the Mediterranean countries attracted media attention, because they affected hundreds of thousands of people and turned homes and vast forests into ashes in popular locations known to hordes of tourists, they were not by any means the only environmental disaster this season. The record rise in sea water temperature has hit coral reefs from Florida to Sharm El-Sheikh, causing them to bleach and degenerate. In addition to their importance in attracting tourists due to the beauty of their unique colorful formations, coral reefs play a crucial role in providing food for a large group of marine organisms and maintaining biodiversity. While coral reefs tolerate high temperatures, because they live in warm waters, the temperature rise for long periods above normal levels ultimately leads to their death. The latest in a string of environmental - touristic disasters this season were the fires in Hawaii, which struck Maui, a favorite tourist destination.
There is scientific consensus that climate change is the main reason for the increase in extreme natural phenomena, in terms of their size, number and frequency. This is manifested in unusually high temperatures that extend for long periods, as well as in heavy rains that defy usual dates and locations, storms, hurricanes, and frequent severe floods. Mass travel, with the destruction of natural habitats that accompanies it, is a major source of carbon emissions that cause global warming.
If oblivion is a blessing, as it helps people overcome adversity and turn a new leaf, it becomes precarious when it leads to neglect taking benefit from experiences, in order not to make the same mistakes.
When the coronavirus pandemic struck, confining people to their homes and countries and impeding travel between continents, domestic tourism flourished. Many people discovered wonderful sites in their immediate vicinity that they had not visited or knew existed before, because promotional campaigns focus on far away exotic tourist destinations.
While observers thought that getting used to domestic tourism would continue after the pandemic, it turned out they were wrong, because during the last year tourists returned in droves to foreign destinations, like a prisoner escaping jail. As soon as the fires subsided in the Greek islands, accompanied by heavy rains in northern Europe following the heat waves, tourists returned there by the thousands, fleeing the northern rains, as if nothing had happened.
Exploring distant regions of the world was in the past limited to a small group of adventurers, who were considered "explorers". Some of them shared their experiences with others by writing about the characteristics of nature, architecture, ways of life, culture, and the customs and traditions of peoples, thus contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and interaction among civilizations.
But most of the tourist tours around the world today have turned to recreation, as the tourist often goes from lying on a beach in his country to stretching on a beach in another far away country. Many tourist trips actually lack any cultural, heritage or historical element, such as when a tourist goes to Paris and is satisfied with visiting night clubs, shopping, and sitting in cafes and restaurants, without setting foot in any museum, concert, art gallery, or even a public park.
I recently met a tourist in the Austrian city of Salzburg, who asked me for the address of a restaurant serving Arabic food, only for me to discover that he wasn't aware that the city was hosting, during that time, one of the most important music festivals in the world, and that it is the birthplace of the great musician Mozart and includes important museums and archaeological sites. It was as if his desire to travel thousands of kilometers and cause tons of pollution and carbon emissions to visit this city with a long history was just to eat a meal of meat and rice.
In times of major environmental and climatic challenges, the unrestrained expansion of recreational mass tourism needs some control. Continuing at the current pace threatens the elementary foundations on which tourism is based, such as favorable weather, clean beaches, green forests, and attractive natural and archaeological features, in addition to threatening the environment. This does not mean banning recreational tourism, but regulating it, which necessitates setting restrictions such as imposing fees on trips, to be spent towards measures to protect the environment, repair damage to ecosystems, prevent pollution, and treat waste. It also requires limiting the number of tourists and keeping some sensitive areas closed.
Cultural and heritage considerations must also be integrated into tourist excursions, so attention is not limited to beaches and entertainment venues within cities, but extends to interaction with indigenous communities.
It is also necessary to encourage domestic tourism, by creating attractive attractions to the people of the country and its neighbors, while preserving the environmental balance. This not only helps reduce emissions and relieve pressure on the global environment, but also supports the local economy and preserves native ecosystems. Traveling to nearby regions reduces emissions and limits the expenditure of national wealth abroad.
Perhaps most important is for citizens to discover natural and historic sites in their countries, which is a motivation to protect and preserve them. I remember that when I published "Nature Book" in 2002, with 14 chapters exploring little known forests, deserts and seas in Arab countries, I was surprised that most of the local population had not heard of these wonderful sites before. A lot needs to be done to promote controlled local tourism, for its enormous economic, cultural and environmental advantages.

Women bear the brunt of Taliban’s gender apartheid
Baria Alamuddin/Arab NewsAugust 21, 2023
In a country where financial, health and welfare systems have collapsed, half the population are starving, there are four million drug addicts, and 20 percent suffer mental health problems, the Taliban are obsessed with one policy agenda — robbing women of any kind of purposeful existence.
Among the 80 decrees issued during the Taliban’s two years in power in Afghanistan, 54 are explicitly directed at women, with the objective of erasing their fundamental rights and liberties.
“Most of the girls from my class have had suicidal thoughts. We are all suffering from depression and anxiety. We have no hope.” These are the words of an Afghan girl in her early twenties who should have her entire life ahead of her, but who tried to take her own life after students were barred from attending university. A UN report found a surge in women who had attempted suicide, with teenage girls, prevented from pursuing education or careers, particularly vulnerable.
“Most of our patients lately are women; women's rights activists, former government employees, journalists, and women who were actively employed under the previous Afghan government but who have now lost their jobs,” one mental health practitioner explained.
Given the extreme marginalization and discrimination women have traditionally faced, Afghanistan has the dubious distinction of being the only country where women have substantially higher suicide rates than men, representing upwards of 80 percent of cases. Domestic violence levels are among the highest in the world. In one example of how women are treated like voiceless units of exchange, an estimated 10 percent of marriages result from a tribal custom in which a girl from a convicted criminal’s family is provided in compensation to the victim’s relatives, as a servant or a bride. Eighty percent of marriages occur without the consent of the bride, who frequently is a child.
In some provinces the Taliban has instructed schools to halt attendance for girls above Year 3, compared with the current standard of Year 6. This corresponds to the Taliban’s manifesto, which states that girls are mature adults from the age of 9.
The closure of beauty salons has erased one of the few safe spaces where women could socially come together, taking them one step closer to a nationwide life sentence of house arrest. The salons’ closure means another 60,000 women losing their incomes.
Yet Afghanistan does have one growth area: Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has mandated 100,000 jobs for the madrassa sector, reallocating resources and staff away from mainstream education. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on hundreds of new boys-only madrassas, with several million children to be enrolled. In remaining schools starved of funding which haven’t been converted into madrassas, modern subjects are replaced with Talibanized Islamic education.
The Taliban last month closed all 49 of Afghanistan’s teacher training centers. This is particularly disastrous, as more than half the staff in many education institutions have fled overseas. “The depth and breadth of the changes made by the Taliban’s higher education authorities — and their profound and wide-ranging repercussions — point to a rapid and radical process of Talibanization, theocratization and instrumentalization of higher education,” one research paper warned. Foreign Policy magazine remarked: “An even bigger problem than the girls who can’t go to school are the boys who do,” and the “extremist curriculum is teaching children how to hate, not how to think.”
Although the Taliban are supposedly combating Daesh, such anti-education policies are a gift for extremist groups, nurturing a generation of men steeped in the most regressive and intolerant interpretations of Islam, with no other skills or economic prospects.
Among the 80 decrees issued during the Taliban’s two years in power in Afghanistan, 54 are explicitly directed at women, with the objective of erasing their fundamental rights and liberties.
Observers warn that the Taliban are turning a blind eye to the expansion of Al-Qaeda, the Pakistani TTP, and other like-minded entities, in explicit violation of the Taliban’s Doha Accord commitments. Meanwhile, freedom of speech and media protections are non-existent. Reporters sans Frontières this month warned that Afghanistan's “media have been decimated.” Over 80 percent of female journalists lost their jobs over the past two years.
In Donald Trump's ill-advised rush to withdraw US assets from Afghanistan, his Doha Accord gave the Taliban everything they wanted with no mechanism for holding them to account. Biden was subsequently warned about the consequences of allowing the Taliban’s return to power, but went ahead with his botched withdrawal anyway. After lip service that the Taliban would be held to account, the world is largely distracted by Ukraine and the Taliban have been allowed to proceed with the full extent of its gender apartheid policies. States such as Turkey, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, India and China are sidling towards de facto diplomatic recognition. China in particular has stepped up investment and engagement, seeing Afghanistan as a key plank in its Belt and Road strategy.
As with its promises under the Doha Accord, practically every Taliban public statement and commitment to the world has been a lie — starting with pledges to protect women’s rights, and finishing with rhetoric about preventing Afghanistan reemerging as a global jihad staging point. The UN Security Council advocates an international “multipronged strategy” toward the Taliban. This would include ensuring full compliance with the Doha Accord; encouraging a greater role for centrist political and civil society actors – including women; and facilitating broad-based national dialogue. To promote human rights, combat corruption and enshrine the rule of law, international legal bodies should be given full jurisdiction.
The Taliban multiheaded hydra is as much at war with itself as the outside world. Just because Hibatullah’s regressive hardliners dictate policy today doesn’t mean that relative pragmatists won’t be pulling the strings tomorrow — particularly as it is obvious to all external and domestic observers that Afghanistan is a profoundly sick country in need of healing and rehabilitation, and no nation can thrive when the female component is oppressed and marginalized.
We can state with absolute certainty that women are Afghanistan’s future, with all their capabilities, energies and wisdom. Such a vision stands in stark contrast with the ignorant, regressive and extremist minds that Hibatullah’s madrassas seek to cultivate.
The only question is how much unnecessary misery, repression and deprivation the Taliban will subject this long-suffering nation to before acknowledging this inescapable fact.
• Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has interviewed numerous heads of state.

World must be wary as cyberattacks are on the rise
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab NewsAugust 21, 2023
Cyberattacks are one of the biggest threats facing governmental organizations, corporations, private companies and individuals. They can even have both direct and indirect implications for global security and vital national interests.
A cyberattack — which is a malicious and intentional attempt to steal data or expose, disrupt, destroy or obtain unauthorized access to the information system of an institution or an individual — can be carried out for many reasons, including extortion and financial gain. For example, in April 2021, a $5 million Bitcoin payment was made to hackers who were capable of tapping into the American Colonial Pipeline by accessing a virtual private network that did not have multifactor authentication.
Cybercrimes have significantly increased in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since COVID-19, the FBI has reported a 300 percent increase in cybercrimes, as online activities have risen and the world has become more digitally connected. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, “if it were measured as a country, then cybercrime — which is predicted to inflict damages totaling $8 trillion globally in 2023 — would be the world’s third-largest economy after the US and China.”
Cybersecurity Ventures expects global cybercrime costs to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015. This represents “the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history, risks the incentives for innovation and investment, is exponentially larger than the damage inflicted from natural disasters in a year, and will be more profitable than the global trade of all major illegal drugs combined.”
Attackers use various tactics, such as malware attacks and social engineering scams. Social engineering scams are one of the most widespread methods used by cybercriminals. Instead of manipulating technology, this tactic relies on exploiting human error, as well as psychologically manipulating or tricking someone into directly or indirectly giving away sensitive personal information. This can include scareware, which can, for example, scare an individual into acting fast in order to get rid of a computer virus, phishing attempt or domain name system spoof, where server data is tampered with in order to redirect the user to fake websites. Attackers also disguise themselves as a friend, relative or business in an attempt to have the individual click on an infected link or share personal information.
People should be aware of the exposure they may have to third party contractors. Cybercriminals can get access to information through third parties that might have less protection for their security systems. For instance, in 2021, the personal records of millions of users on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn were breached due to a misconfigured database run by a third party contractor, the Chinese social media management company SocialArks.
Cybercrimes have significantly increased in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, it is important to regularly practice “cyber hygiene” in order to keep oneself safe. Always be aware of the latest tactics used by cybercriminals and hackers in order to stay ahead of the threats, protect one’s private information online and on all devices, and stay up to date when it comes to the latest software, operating systems and security protections. Other cyber hygiene steps individuals can take include using multifactor authentication and a VPN, thinking twice before clicking on a link, using stronger passwords, avoiding unprotected Wi-Fi networks and being careful about fake websites and links.
On a wider scale, we should not underestimate the damage that cyberattacks can cause to a whole nation or government. For example, cyberwarfare could have consequences at least as severe as military actions. Cyberattacks can take control of or disrupt an entire nation’s infrastructure, including public services, hospitals, transportation, the internet, municipal or governmental institutions, and the energy sector. They can steal people’s private information, take control of another country’s missiles and drones, and even its military’s intelligence, command, control and communications.
Cyberattacks can be sponsored by a rival government, which may view a virtual war as an attractive alternative to a physical war because it provides the benefit of anonymity, making it extremely difficult to hold the responsible party accountable. Cyberattacks are also considered to be less costly. The cyber capabilities of some nonstate actors are advancing at a pace that needs to be addressed by regional and global powers because it is a matter of national security.
The increasing dangers of this modern-day threat have been highlighted by several high-level officials. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last year warned that cyberattacks “can be as damaging and as dangerous” as an armed attack and are “as serious as any other attack on a NATO ally.” And Daniel Coats, who served as the US director of national intelligence, previously stressed at a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: “We face a complex, volatile and challenging threat environment … Our adversaries, as well as the other malign actors, are using cyber and other instruments of power to shape societies and markets, international rules and institutions, and international hotspots to their advantage.”
One of the most effective ways to counter the rising cyberwarfare threat is for governments to send a strong message to those who are responsible. If they remain silent, the perpetrators will be emboldened and empowered to target more governments with their cyberattacks. Organizations and individuals who are behind cyberattacks or their financing must be targeted and sanctioned as well.
In a nutshell, cyberattacks have escalated to a record level as the world becomes more digitally connected. It is important for governmental organizations, private companies and individuals to be proactive, practice cyber hygiene regularly and be aware of the tactics used by cybercriminals in order to stay ahead of the threat.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh