Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 21-22/2024
Al-Rai: There Should Be No Compromise on Lebanon’s Identity
Kuwait Urges its Citizens to Leave Lebanon “As Soon As Possible”
Senior European Diplomat Reveals Upcoming EU Discussions on Cyprus
Borrell: EU Stands in Solidarity with Cyprus
Israeli Media: Iran Funds West Bank Cells Through Lebanon
Netanyahu teetering on brink of war with Lebanon, White House
UN chief warns: Lebanon cannot become another Gaza
Israel-Hezbollah border clashes: Latest developments
Report: Egypt presses US on preventing escalation in Lebanon
German FM to visit Lebanon next week
What we know about Israel's plans for Lebanon offensive
Report: No plan B for south de-escalation between Hezbollah and Hochstein
Sporadic Clashes in South Lebanon
U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon says 'no inevitability to conflict' in south visit
Foreign Ministry stresses firmness of relation with Cyprus
Blinken to Israeli Officials: To Avoid Further Escalation With Lebanon
GCC: Deep Concern at Escalation in Southern Lebanon
Spain FM says working with partners on de-escalating Lebanon-Israel border tensions
Netanyahu says US arms crucial to defeat Hamas, 'deter' Hezbollah
Blinken pushes for diplomatic solution as fears grow of wider Lebanon war
German foreign minister to visit Beirut as fears rise of wider conflict with Israel
Disallowing phones: The directives indicating Hezbollah is panicking - report
Strikes on Haifa and Tel Aviv: Hezbollah's plan of attack if war erupts with Israel - report
Repossessed Lands in Damour and Naameh
The Hezbollah Time Bomb Is Ticking ...Downplaying the Lebanese terrorist group puts Israel in peril/David Daoud and Jonathan Schanzer/The Dispatch/June 21/2024
Biden has no answer to Hezbollah’s spreading threat/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Arab News/June 21, 2024

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 21-22/2024
Israeli strikes on tent camps near Rafah kill at least 25 and wound 50, Gaza health officials say
Israeli bombardment kills dozens across Gaza, amid fierce fighting
Israeli airstrike levels Gaza municipal garage, killing 5
Qatar working to ‘bridge the gap’ between Israel and Hamas
Israel ‘pause’ in Gaza had no impact on aid supplies: WHO
Israel Steps Up Gaza Strikes Amid Fears of Regional Spread
Israel’s pledge to guard aid route into Gaza falls flat as lawlessness blocks distribution
Israel Reportedly Assassinated Zahidi’s Successor
Iran condemns Canada's listing of Revolutionary Guards as terrorist group
Roadside bomb attack targeting security convoy kills 5 soldiers and wounds 2 in northwest Pakistan
Armenia recognizes Palestine as a state, foreign ministry announces
US destroys six Houthi drones in Red Sea
German FM to travel to Middle East next week

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 21-22/2024
New Israeli paradigm needed to prevent a nuclear Iran/Jacob Nagel/Ynet News/June 21/2024
The ‘Drip-Drip’ Genocide of Christians/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/June 21/2024
UK’s Early Elections: Are the Conservatives Facing Annihilation?/Ali A. Hamadé/This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Akrotiri and Dhekelia: The Last British Remnants in Cyprus/Malo Pinatel/This Is Beirut/June 21/2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 21-22/2024
Al-Rai: There Should Be No Compromise on Lebanon’s Identity
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
The Maronite Patriarch, Bechara al-Rai, stated on Friday that “we have gone through more difficult circumstances than those we are experiencing today, but Lebanon remained and will not fall.” He considered that the Lebanese and the nation are at a crossroads. “Our Lebanon is ours; there is no compromise on its identity or its existence,” he assured during the graduation ceremony at Notre Dame University-Louaize. The Maronite Patriarch indicated that the general national deterioration poses a significant threat to the future of our youth. However, the higher education sector has the capacity to play a role in defense with strong will, determination, and confidence.

Kuwait Urges its Citizens to Leave Lebanon “As Soon As Possible”
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait reiterated its call “for all esteemed citizens to refrain from traveling to the Republic of Lebanon at this time, due to the ongoing security developments in the region.”In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs late on Friday, the ministry urged all esteemed citizens currently in the Republic of Lebanon without an urgent need to remain, to leave as soon as possible.”“Those who are unable to depart are requested to immediately contact the Kuwaiti Embassy in the Republic of Lebanon,” the statement added.

Senior European Diplomat Reveals Upcoming EU Discussions on Cyprus
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
A senior European diplomat revealed on Friday, that “EU foreign ministers will discuss on Monday supporting Cyprus against looming threats,” noting that “Cyprus is not afraid of Hezbollah but of the influx of refugees and migrants if the conflict in Lebanon expands.”He stated that “the Cypriot Foreign Minister will inform his European counterparts on Monday about the imminent risks following Hezbollah’s threats.”“Hezbollah’s leader’s accusations against Cyprus are unfair and baseless,” he said, emphasizing that “the European Union is very concerned about the risks of war expanding in Lebanon.”The senior EU diplomat confirmed, “We are talking with Hezbollah, the Lebanese government, and Iran to stop the escalation.”Last Wednesday, Nasrallah warned Cyprus “against opening its airports and bases to Israel to target Lebanon,” revealing that Hezbollah had received information indicating that Israel, which conducts annual maneuvers in Cyprus, might use Cypriot airports and bases to attack Lebanese territory if Hezbollah targets Israeli airports. “The Cypriot government should beware that opening its airports and bases to Israelis for the purpose of targeting Lebanon means that the Cypriot government has become part of the war, and we will treat it as part of the conflict,” Nasrallah said in his televised appearance on Wednesday 19.The intensity of clashes and skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has significantly increased on both sides of the border since last week, along with heightened threats, especially following Israel’s assassination of Talib Abdullah, a prominent Hezbollah leader.

Borrell: EU Stands in Solidarity with Cyprus
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said that he spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Constantinos Kombos, expressing his “concern for rising tensions across the Blue Line and the situation in the Middle East.” He highlighted that “the EU stands in solidarity with Cyprus.” “We shared strong commitment to foster de-escalation efforts,” he stressed in a statement on his personal X account (formerly Twitter), reiterating his call “to avoid regional spillover.”

Israeli Media: Iran Funds West Bank Cells Through Lebanon
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation “Kan” reported on preparations for war in the north, but from a different front. According to their Arab affairs correspondent, Elior Levy, movements in the West Bank appear related to an assassination that took place today in Qalqilya. Levy mentioned that Palestinian security forces have noticed increased communications between activists of the “Islamic Jihad” and “Hamas” movements in Lebanon and their counterparts in the West Bank. The discussions involve new smuggling operations of weapons and funds from Lebanon to military activists of these movements in the West Bank.Levy also noted that Palestinian Authority security forces commented that arming fighters in the West Bank is part of preparations for a potential war scenario with Lebanon. “The Palestinian security forces believe that in the event of a war on the Lebanese front, these cells will prepare for a series of military operations in the West Bank and inside Israel,” he said, adding, “Therefore, they are being armed and flooded with funds for this phase, with Iran working intensively to deliver money and weapons through Jordan.”

Netanyahu teetering on brink of war with Lebanon, White House
TOVAH LAZAROFF, HANNAH SARISOHN/Jerusalem Post/June 21/2024
NEW YORK – The White House publicly and privately aired its frustrations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attacks against the Biden Administration Thursday, while Israel and Hezbollah threaten each other with war. Since Netanyahu released an English-language video on Tuesday accusing the United States of withholding specific weapons, the Biden administration has discredited every word the prime minister has said since. The video came as a surprise to the White House, National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters on Thursday. The administration has made its concerns over the content of the video clear “at various levels, through various vehicles,” he said. The Netanyahu video "was vexing and disappointing, as much as it was, incorrect, so difficult to know exactly what was on his mind,” Kirby said as he defended the Biden administration’s record of arms delivery to Israel.The idea that we had stopped helping Israel with their self-defense needs is just not accurate, Kirby said. He recalled how the US forces came to Israel’s defense in April when Iran launched an unprecedented attack of hundreds of drones and missiles against Jerusalem.
“There’s no other country that’s done more, or will continue to do more, than the United States to help Israel defend itself,” Kirby said. Netanyahu’s words were upsetting, he said, “Given the amount of support that we have, and will continue to provide.” On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the United States had delivered defense materials to Israel even after Biden paused one shipment of 2,000 and 500-pound bombs. Officials across the administration maintain no other shipment or delivery of defense articles to Israel has been paused. Netanyahu responded on Thursday, posting a message on X shortly after Kirby’s comments became public. “I am happy to endure personal attacks, as long as Israel receives the weapons shipment it so needs in this existential war,” Netanyahu wrote. On Wednesday, just one day after he made the initial accusation, his office posted a message on X that explaining that US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew had said that the weapons in question would be delivered to Israel. Netanyahu alerted the public to a weapons crisis and then announced its resolution, in advance of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s trip to Washington early next week and a month before his own expected address to a joint session of Congress. The back-and-forth between Netanyahu and the Biden administration over arms shipments, came as the White House worked to prevent Israel from launching an all-out war with Hezbollah. The White House for the first time on Thursday addressed the IDF’s announcement from this week that it had approved operational plans for an offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, repeating its cautious tone against Israel opening a second front of hostilities.US special envoy “Amos Hochstein has been in the region several days, shuttling back and forth between Tel Aviv and Beirut to have these exact conversations,” Kirby said, indicating the White House is taking both Israel and Hezbollah’s rhetoric seriously.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “We have seen a dramatic increase in strikes by Hezbollah across the border targeting Israeli villages, civilians infrastructure. “So we have been pursuing a diplomatic resolution to try to make clear that there should be no further escalation and that's what we'll continue to pursue,” Miller said. The issues of Lebanon, as well as other security topics such as Iran, Gaza, and a pending hostage deal, were expected to be part of discussions held Thursday between Israeli and US officials. Kirby confirmed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and US Security of State Antony Blink were meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. Miller and Kirby said that efforts were ongoing to close a deal that would see the return of the remaining 120 hostages held in Gaza, which would include a pause to the war.
“We continue to actively pursue a ceasefire in Gaza primarily to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people” and “to secure the return of hostages.  Such a pause to the war, which the US hopes would turn into a percent ceasefire, would make “it much easier to achieve a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution along the Israel Lebanon,” Miller stated.

UN chief warns: Lebanon cannot become another Gaza
 Michelle Nichols/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters)/ June 21, 2024
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday he is profoundly concerned by escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah and that U.N. peacekeepers are working to calm the situation and prevent miscalculation. "One rash move - one miscalculation - could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination," he told reporters. "Let's be clear: The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." Iran-backed Hezbollah has been firing rockets at Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas since the Gaza war erupted in October, forcing tens of thousands to flee homes in Israel, where political pressure is building for tougher action. Tens of thousands of Lebanese have also fled their homes following Israeli strikes in south Lebanon. Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Friday that Hezbollah has the capability to defend itself and Lebanon against Israel, warning that "perhaps the time for the self-annihilation of this illegitimate regime has come." "Any imprudent decision by the occupying Israeli regime to save itself could plunge the region into a new war," Iran's U.N. mission posted on X. A U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL, as well as unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, have long been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line. "U.N. peacekeepers are on the ground working to de-escalate tensions and help prevent miscalculation," Guterres said."The world must say loudly and clearly: immediate de-escalation is not only possible – it is essential," he said. "There is no military solution."

Israel-Hezbollah border clashes: Latest developments
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
Hezbollah targeted Friday soldiers in the Ras al-Naqoura coastal post with an array of suicide drones in response to the Israeli strike on Deir Kifa. The group later targeted four posts in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Kfarshouba Heights. Israeli artillery shelled in response the outskirts of Halta and Kfar Hamam, and a house in the outskirts of al-Naqoura. Israeli strikes were reported earlier on Friday on al-Wazzani in the country's south and warplanes had raided overnight Deir al-Seryan and Rab Tlatin in the Marjayoun district, and the southern border town of Aitaroun. A Hezbollah fighter was killed Thursday in a drone strike on a vehicle in south Lebanon's Deir Kifa area. Hezbollah targeted an Israeli barracks "with dozens of Katyusha rockets", in response.
The Israeli military said the fighter killed in Deir Kifa was "responsible for planning and carrying out terror attacks against Israel and commanding Hezbollah ground forces" in south Lebanon's Jouaiyya area. Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged near-daily fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, and the bellicose talk has escalated along with the strikes. The cross-border violence has killed at least 479 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also 93 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israeli authorities say at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the country's north.

Report: Egypt presses US on preventing escalation in Lebanon
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
Egypt has delved into the ongoing efforts to prevent an Israel-Hezbollah escalation, after Hezbollah warned Cyprus against allowing Israel to use its territory in any war with Lebanon, a media report said. “Officials from the Egyptian foreign ministry and intelligence services carried out contacts with the United States to contain the Israeli signals of escalation,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday. “The contacts with Washington focused on the disastrous consequences for all parties should war erupt on the Lebanese front,” a senior Egyptian official told the daily.
The Egyptians stressed to the U.S. side the need to “deal seriously with the statements of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and not to underestimate the military operations that Hezbollah might carry out,” al-Akhbar said. According to the same Egyptian official, Washington is seeking to prevent an expansion of the war and it believes that the problem today is no longer about who will “fire the first shot,” but rather about “the repercussions that will happen in the absence of a clear vision that could stop the war if it erupts.”“The Egyptian officials heard from the Americans that they are preparing to urgently send a high-ranking delegation to meet with Israeli officials and conduct a regional tour aimed at preventing war’s eruption,” the newspaper said, noting that some of the visits will be public. Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will meanwhile play a bigger role in the Lebanese file over the coming days, which might lead to a visit to Beirut soon by an Egyptian intelligence delegation, the daily revealed. According to al-Akhbar, the contacts that Egypt has carried out included communication with Cypriot officials, who “emphasized that Nicosia does not intend to engage in any alliances or actions targeted against Lebanon nor to aid Israel in its war.”

German FM to visit Lebanon next week
Agence France Presse/June 21, 2024
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Lebanon for talks with officials in Beirut, including the migration minister. Baerbock's discussions with officials would focus on "the war in Gaza and the continuing catastrophic humanitarian situation", as well as "the question of what a future could look like that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live together in safety", the ministry spokeswoman said. "The particularly tense and dangerous situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon," would also be discussed on the trip. Before traveling to Lebanon, Baerbock will visit Israel and the occupied West Bank.

What we know about Israel's plans for Lebanon offensive
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
The plans approved by the Israeli army regarding Lebanon include a broad invasion of southern Lebanon and the occupation of large parts of it, in order to end Hezbollah’s combat capabilities, a western diplomat in Jerusalem said. The diplomat told Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida, in remarks published Friday, that the Israeli army has recently completed extensive maneuvers in various areas of Israel, including training to occupy villages and cities after systematically destroying them by air and land, using new advanced weapons. The Israeli army had said earlier this week that plans for an offensive in Lebanon were "approved and validated". In a televised address on Wednesday, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned that "no place" in Israel would "be spared our rockets" if a wider war began. He also threatened nearby Cyprus if it opened its airports or bases to Israel "to target Lebanon". Nasrallah said his group has information that the Israel’s military is conducting maneuvers in Cyprus in mountainous areas similar to those of Lebanon adding that they also use Cypriot airports. The level of threats between Israel and Hezbollah intensified following last week’s killing by Israel of Hezbollah’s most senior commander since the fighting began. Hezbollah retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel in retaliation.

Report: No plan B for south de-escalation between Hezbollah and Hochstein
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
Sources have told al-Jadeed that Hezbollah is not discussing any plan B with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, after reports about such a plan for south Lebanon in case a Gaza ceasefire failed. "There is no finalized agreement with the Americans except for the clear Lebanese stance on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,” the sources said. Hochstein on a trip to the region called for "urgent" de-escalation, as cross-border violence killed at least 479 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also 93 civilians. Israeli authorities say at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the country's north.

Sporadic Clashes in South Lebanon
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Clashes in southern Lebanon continued on Friday, but at a slower pace than on previous days. The Israeli air force carried out a drone attack on the locality of al-Wazzani, followed by a sweep with automatic weapons. The Israeli army also carried out artillery bombardments on the outskirts of Naqoura, setting fire to a house. Bombardments hit the Houra region between Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila, as well as the Azziya hill. The area between Taybeh and Deir Siriane was hit by phosphorus shells, resulting in a fire in the targeted area. For its part, Hezbollah claimed to have partially destroyed the Ras Naqoura post with a squadron of assault drones, wounding Israeli soldiers, in retaliation for the Deir Kifa attack. The pro-Iranian party also announced that it had targeted, with missiles, the al-Ramtha post in the Kfarchouba Hills, the Sammaqa post and Roueisset al-Qarn in the Shebaa Farms.Earlier, on Thursday night, Israeli aircraft bombed Deir Siriane and Rab Thalathin in the Marjayoun caza, without causing any casualties.

U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon says 'no inevitability to conflict' in south visit
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
On her first visit to UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, U.N. Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert met with UNIFIL Force Commander and Head of Mission Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro and with UNIFIL peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon.
After visiting the Blue Line, the Special Coordinator stated, “Our joint efforts are aimed at restoring stability along the Blue Line after over eight months of intense exchanges that have severely disrupted tens of thousands of lives on both sides. It is crucial for all sides to stop the firing and for the parties to commit to sustainable solutions in line with Security Council Resolution 1701. There is no inevitability to conflict.”The Special Coordinator highlighted UNIFIL’s leadership and the dedication of its peacekeepers, who remain present and continue to patrol the area south of the Litani River despite the challenging and dangerous conditions. Welcoming the Special Coordinator on her first visit to UNIFIL, Head of Mission and Force Commander Lázaro said: “Despite the current challenges, peacekeepers will continue to support the implementation of Resolution 1701 on the ground, and to engage both parties through our liaison and coordination mechanisms. We will continue to work closely with the Special Coordinator to urge de-escalation and steps toward a lasting political and diplomatic solution.”Both U.N. officials reaffirmed that the parties can choose negotiations and peace and that the U.N. remains committed to engaging with all parties and international partners to restore peace, security, and stability in Lebanon, Israel, and the broader region at this critical juncture.

Foreign Ministry stresses firmness of relation with Cyprus
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants on Thursday stressed that “the Lebanese-Cypriot relations are built on a rich history of diplomatic cooperation,” after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Cyprus against allowing Israel to use its air bases to bomb Lebanon in the event of war. The Lebanese statement also affirmed “continuous and ongoing communication and consultation at the highest levels between the two countries to discuss matters of mutual interest."Earlier in the day, LBCI television quoted Foreign Ministry officials as saying that “the decision to close the Cypriot embassy for one day (Thursday) has nothing to do with Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s remarks,” explaining that the closure had been previously scheduled for “administrative reasons related to hiking (visa) fees” and that the admission of visa applications “will resume as of tomorrow.”Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Wednesday that his island nation “is in no way involved” in any military operations in the region. "Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war," Nasrallah warned earlier in the day.

Blinken to Israeli Officials: To Avoid Further Escalation With Lebanon
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized on Thursday the “importance of avoiding further escalation in Lebanon through a diplomatic solution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families, who were displaced due to the exchange of fire on the border, to return to their homes.”Blinken was meeting Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. He reasserted his country’s “unwavering commitment to Israeli security,” according to spokesman Mathew Miller.
Israel has been exchanging strikes with Hezbollah since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned on Wednesday that his party has new weapons and intelligence capabilities that could help it target more critical positions deeper inside Israel in case of an all-out war.

GCC: Deep Concern at Escalation in Southern Lebanon
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
The Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, expressed on Thursday “deep alarm at the military escalation in Southern Lebanon.”In a statement, Al-Budaiwi called on the stakeholders “to practice maximum restraint to spare the region and its peoples the dangers of war and its repercussions.”
He condemned the Israeli declaration of a plan to wage an offensive on Lebanon, emphasizing the need to implement UN Resolution 1701 that calls for the cessation of all military operations in Lebanon. Al-Budaiwi asserted the GCC’s unwavering stand toward Lebanon, in line with the resolutions of the GCC Supreme Council at its 44th session (December 2023), affirming the GCC stance on the Lebanese people’s side and its continuing support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, sec

Spain FM says working with partners on de-escalating Lebanon-Israel border tensions
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced Friday that Spain is working with its partners to de-escalate tensions in south Lebanon. "We have repeatedly warned against escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border," Albares said in an interview with Al Jazeera, adding that "the cycle of violence in the Middle East cannot be allowed to expand further."Last month, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state in a coordinated decision. Albares said it was a day that would be "etched in Spain's history".Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said recognition was "essential" for peace, insisting the move was "not against anyone, least of all Israel" and the only way to secure a future of two states living side-by-side "in peace and security". The decision also reflected Spain's "outright rejection of Hamas, which is against the two-state solution" and whose October 7 attacks led to the Gaza war, he added.

Netanyahu says US arms crucial to defeat Hamas, 'deter' Hezbollah
Naharnet/June 21, 2024
The flow of U.S. arms to Israel is necessary in order to “defeat Hamas” and “deter” Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. “Now this is crucial. It’s crucial for our common war aims to defeat Hamas and to prevent an escalation in Lebanon to a full-fledged war to have this supply,” Netanyahu told U.S. news portal Punchbowl News in an interview published Friday. “Because, otherwise, it hinders Israel’s ability to fight this war, which is an actual war of survival and multi-front war against Iran,” he added. “We’ll win this war against Hamas, deter a future war in the north with this Hezbollah and assure our common interest in the Middle East,” Netanyahu went on to say. He noted there has been “a great slowdown in the provision of the important ammunition and weapons.”“I’m not talking about F-35s or F-16s that are years down the line. I’m talking about what is necessary now to both win the war in Gaza quickly and avoid a war in Lebanon that, in the absence of such a correction, the risks of it breaking out are increasing,” Netanyahu added. New tensions emerged this week between President Joe Biden's administration and Netanyahu over the Israeli premier's public criticism of U.S. weapons deliveries -- comments the White House described Thursday as "vexing" and "disappointing."The issue began when Netanyahu claimed in a video posted on social media earlier this week that the U.S. administration -- Israel's main military backer -- has been "withholding weapons and ammunitions" from his country in recent months.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that "we genuinely do not know what he's talking about." With the exception of "one particular shipment of munitions," Jean-Pierre said "there are no other pauses. None."She was referring to a shipment of 2,000 pound bombs that Washington has said is under review because of concerns about their use in densely populated areas.

Blinken pushes for diplomatic solution as fears grow of wider Lebanon war
Agence France Presse/June 21, 2024
Lebanese media reported early Friday fresh Israeli strikes on al-Wazzani in the country's south, as fears of a regional conflict grew after Israel revealed it had approved plans for a Lebanon offensive and the Iran-backed militants vowed to blanket their foe in rockets. Israeli artillery later shelled a house in the outskirts of al-Naqoura. Warplanes had raided overnight Deir al-Seryan and Rab Tlatin in the Marjayoun district, and the southern border town of Aitaroun. Hezbollah fired Thursday dozens of rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for a deadly air strike in south Lebanon that Israel said killed one of the group's operatives. Hezbollah also claimed several other attacks on Israeli troops and positions over the course of the day. The Israeli military said its jets had struck two weapons storage facilities and several other sites belonging to the group, and that it had fired artillery "to remove threats in multiple areas in southern Lebanon". Just before midnight, the army said it had "successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon". Experts are divided on the prospect of a wider war, almost nine months into Israel's campaign to eradicate Hezbollah's ally Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged near-daily fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, and the bellicose talk has escalated along with the strikes. Israel's main military backer the United States has sought to discourage any expansion of hostilities along the border. In a meeting Thursday with visiting Israeli officials in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored "the importance of avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes", according to a statement. In a televised address on Wednesday, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had warned "no place" in Israel would "be spared our rockets" if a wider war began. He also threatened nearby Cyprus if it opened its airports or bases to Israel "to target Lebanon". European Union member Cyprus houses two British bases, including an airbase, but they are in sovereign British territory and not controlled by the Cypriot government. On Thursday, Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis dismissed as "totally groundless" any suggestion of possible involvement in a conflict related to Lebanon. Warplanes from the British airbase in Cyprus have, along with U.S. forces, attacked Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels who have for months been targeting Red Sea shipping. On Thursday the U.S. military said it had destroyed several Houthi drones, a day after its forces struck two rebel sites in Yemen.
'Urgent' de-escalation
The October Hamas attack on Israel reportedly resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people.
The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 41 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,431 people, mostly civilians. The latest toll on Thursday included at least 35 deaths over the previous day, the ministry said.The Houthis and Hezbollah both say they are acting in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. On Tuesday, Israel's military announced that "operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved and validated". The same day, Hezbollah published a video showing drone footage it purportedly recorded over northern Israel, including parts of Haifa's city and port. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein on a trip to the region called for "urgent" de-escalation, while the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said there was "no inevitability to conflict" as she visited UN peacekeepers in the country's south. The cross-border violence has killed at least 479 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also 93 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israeli authorities say at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the country's north. Weary residents of Beirut on Thursday downplayed the chances of war in Lebanon, which political deadlock has left essentially leaderless while a five-year economic meltdown continues. In Israel, some citizens called for action against Hezbollah, and Noam Galili, 29, said: "I know what it is like to live close to Lebanon, but it never felt as dangerous as it does now."The violence has already displaced tens of thousands of people, mostly in Lebanon, but also in northern Israel.
Pressures
In southern Gaza, a United Nations mission found hundreds of thousands of displaced people "suffer from poor access to shelter, health, food, water and sanitation", a U.N. report said late Wednesday. In central Gaza, residents said they had turned to cooking oil to power their cars. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for the implementation of a ceasefire plan he outlined last month. Hochstein and Blinken say a deal to curb fighting in Gaza would by extension help resolve the Hezbollah-Israel violence. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners strongly oppose a Gaza ceasefire. Netanyahu is also facing regular street protests demanding a deal to free the hostages and accusing him of prolonging the war. "We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all of the hostages return," Netanyahu said Thursday to relatives of hostages killed in the territory. "We do not have the option of giving up."In a separate statement, he called the war a battle for Israel's existence. But the viability of the war's stated goal of eradicating Hamas has been questioned in some corners. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told Israel's Channel 13 on Wednesday: "To say that we are going to make Hamas disappear is to throw sand in people's eyes. If we don't provide an alternative, in the end, we will have Hamas."Blinken last month said Washington had not seen an Israeli post-war plan, adding "the trajectory Israel is on" would still leave thousands of Hamas fighters.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Thursday that Hamas's "final stronghold" in Rafah on the border with Egypt was systematically being taken apart. "And we will win," he told a press briefing.

German foreign minister to visit Beirut as fears rise of wider conflict with Israel
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/June 21, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib met with French Ambassador Herva Magro, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and US Ambassador Lisa Johnson on Friday. The minister reiterated Lebanon’s call for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701. Hennis-Plasschaert said there was “no inevitability (to wider conflict with Israel)” during her visit to UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Also on Friday, it was announced that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will make shuttle visits to Lebanon, Israel, and the West Bank. Concerned at the risk of Israel’s war on Gaza spreading across the region, US President Joe Biden sent his special envoy Amos Hochstein to embark on a new round of diplomacy last week. Hochstein called for “urgent” de-escalation during talks with Lebanon and Israel on Tuesday, informing both sides that “the threat of a full-scale war persists and must be avoided.”It is widely believed in Lebanon that Hochstein convinced Israel to refrain from escalating its military actions against Lebanon for the time being. In a meeting with visiting Israeli officials including National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Washington on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of “avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes,” according to a statement.
According to his spokesperson, Matthew Miller, Blinken also stressed America’s “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”During his talks in Beirut, Hochstein reportedly reassured Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that Biden’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was being viewed positively, and that Qatar was working to make it happen. Hochstein also reportedly told Mikati that “things are under control and positive when it comes to the war between Lebanon and Israel.”
Former Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Riad Tabbarah, described threats of war as a “mere outburst.”He told Arab News: “Since military operations began on the southern front about nine months ago, the Lebanese have been hearing that war is coming, but it never arrives.
“During diplomatic negotiations, it is common for both sides to face pressure and threats,” he continued. “It appears that there are numerous and diverse negotiations happening behind the scenes, including discussions between the Americans and Iranians, as well as between the Americans and Hezbollah.”
Tabbarah acknowledged the recklessness of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said the Israeli leader “has two options — either war or prison. And there is significant pressure on him, especially from the families of the hostages.”Tabbarah noted that there are limits to what military action can achieve. “We still recall the time when former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon crossed those limits in 1982 when he set the Litani Line as his target. However, he went beyond that and reached Beirut. As a result, international powers united to bring him back to the Litani Line. “No one has an interest in war,” he continued. “Americans, Europeans, and Iranians are working in the opposite direction. The general trend is to avoid escalating to open war.”
Military operations on the Lebanese front decreased significantly on Friday, although the outskirts of Naqoura in the western sector were targeted by Israeli artillery, causing a fire in a house. In the morning, an Israeli military raid targeted the town of Wazzani.
Hezbollah made a series of announcements about their operations, which were “focused on specific targets within the rules of engagement.”Hezbollah attacked the sites of Ramtha and Samaka in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shouba Hills, the Zabadin site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, and carried out an air attack using drones on the Ras Al-Naqoura naval site, aiming at locations containing Israeli military personnel. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that, up to June 19, it has recorded a total of 1,774 casualties, including 432 fatalities, caused by Israeli attacks.

Disallowing phones: The directives indicating Hezbollah is panicking - report
Maariv/June 21/2024
According to the report, instructions were given not to sleep in headquarters, and those sleeping in cars or temporary living quarters were asked to change places frequently. Hezbollah has prevented its members from using cell phones when passing between the terror organization's positions on the border between Syria and Lebanon due to the Israeli strikes on Hezbollah terrorists in Syrian territory, according to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Terrorists reportedly asked to change locations frequently . The report also claims instructions were given not to sleep in headquarters, and those sleeping in cars or temporary living quarters were asked to change places frequently. The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights reported that following the repeated Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets, the terror organization abandoned the Syrian-Lebanese border area. Two local officials said that a state of anxiety dominates the citizens in the areas where Hezbollah is in Syria and that the terror organization's cars cross their agricultural lands at great speed for fear of attacks. However, the sources also noted that while some residents offered to rent out their homes or land to Hezbollah terrorists, hoping to receive large amounts of money, residents are now avoiding them out of fear.

Strikes on Haifa and Tel Aviv: Hezbollah's plan of attack if war erupts with Israel - report
Maariv/June 21/2024
According to the report, Hezbollah plans to attack Haifa if Israel expands the fighting and in the next stage, additional cities, including Tel Aviv. After the IDF announced that it had approved operational plans for an attack on Lebanon, Hezbollah quickly clarified that the Shi'ite terrorist organization is also preparing for the possibility that Israel will declare war on the Cedar State, as reported on Thursday by Lebanese newspaper Elnashra. According to the report, Hezbollah plans to attack Haifa if Israel expands the fighting and, in the next stage, additional cities, including Tel Aviv. "It is not by chance that Haifa was included in the equation of the war currently being waged in southern Lebanon," the Lebanese media outlet stated. "This city has been marked by Hezbollah as a target in the event of an expansion of the war. If the Israelis enter into large-scale military confrontations… in the area south and north of Litani, Haifa will be a legitimate target for Hezbollah."
Tit-for-tat
"Strategic, military, and civilian facilities were scanned, continuing the equation drawn by Hezbollah that destruction will be met with destruction, and civilian casualties will be met with civilian casualties,” Elnashra wrote. “The drone also scanned a military-industrial facility belonging to Rafael, which is the most dangerous thing the video contained for the Israelis."Sources quoted in the newspaper warned Israel that Hezbollah has precision missiles capable of hitting these targets. "The footage was evidence for the Israelis that Hezbollah holds a database of strategic Israeli targets," the sources explained, adding that "this was not the drone's first visit, and it will not be the last. It indicates that Hezbollah has eyes inside Israel, which worries the Israelis."The sources cited in Elnashra presented a possible scenario for the first days of the war, during which Haifa and Tel Aviv would be attacked. "If Israel makes a decision to expand the war in the south or launch a major military operation in the south, Hezbollah will respond according to the level of escalation, and the vital area in Haifa will be targeted with conventional missiles. To distract the defense systems, the organization will simultaneously attack targets related to the Iron Dome and David’s Sling. Israel's air defense will be exposed to direct hits, as has happened before. In the next stage, Hezbollah will launch dozens of precision missiles carrying large warheads at specific targets in and around Haifa port." The sources claimed that "Israel has not seen this scenario before and understands it will experience it if it decides to enter into a large-scale war."

Repossessed Lands in Damour and Naameh
Bassam Abou Zeid/This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Since the late 1970s and up to this day, armed members of this Palestinian organization, loyal to the Moumanaa or “Resistance” axis, have been present in the area. They have dug extensive tunnels and seized large areas of land stretching from Damour to Naameh and reaching Baawerta (south of Beirut), preventing landowners from using or benefiting from these lands. These plots of land are essential for the security of the tunnels. Throughout these years and despite the 2006 parliamentary decision that approved the disarmament of Palestinians outside the camps, the Lebanese government has not addressed this issue. The tunnels have remained as is, and the armed presence has continued unabated. From a military standpoint, the presence of these tunnels is deemed to have no strategic value, although some claim that they are used to store weapons and ammunition for other parties.
In this context, residents of towns along the Chouf coast, especially in Damour and Naameh, staunchly opposed this situation, insisting on the return of their properties. They called for the Lebanese army to intervene in the matter, which led to talks that started two and a half years ago with the PFLP-GC. Recently, an agreement was reached wherein these Palestinian militants agreed to release approximately 196,000 square meters of land. The Lebanese army has currently started operations to clear these areas of mines, explosives, rockets and unexploded artillery left from previous Israeli attacks on these locations. Some sources of information have indicated that the army, in collaboration with the specialized mine-clearing organization MAG (Mines Advisory Group), has successfully cleared around 16,000 square meters. Efforts are ongoing to clear the reclaimed area completely and return the lands to their rightful owners.
Furthermore, the information suggests that the army will continue negotiations with the PFLP-GC to free up more lands and ultimately fully withdraw from the area, as these sites are deemed unnecessary. Currently, there are reportedly around 50 armed members stationed in the tunnels awaiting a final agreement regarding the organization’s presence in Lebanon.

The Hezbollah Time Bomb Is Ticking ...Downplaying the Lebanese terrorist group puts Israel in peril.
David Daoud and Jonathan Schanzer/The Dispatch/June 21/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130962/130962/
Let’s not mince words: The Middle East is on the precipice of the most destructive war of the region’s modern history.
This war did not begin on October 7. It actually began one day later, when Hezbollah, the most powerful proxy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, began attacking Israel. The Israelis, already on their back foot from the Hamas assault in the south of their country, struggled to gain equilibrium.
The Israeli Defense Forces began with proportional responses to Hezbollah’s unprovoked attacks. But when that failed to deter the Lebanese terror group, the IDF steadily stepped up its retaliatory strikes. This, too, has done little. Hezbollah has lost more than 300 of its senior Radwan Forces along the border. An estimated 91,000 Lebanese citizens have been forced to evacuate from southern Lebanon. Yet, Hezbollah continues to fire at Israel.
The Israelis, for their part, have been forced to evacuate roughly the same number of citizens from their northern communities. This is an unacceptable situation for Israelis across the political spectrum, and the public is demanding decisive action from the government to resolve this threat. With peaceful resolutions appearing increasingly elusive, Israel and Hezbollah are inching toward what is expected to be their bloodiest confrontation yet.
A flurry of international efforts has been mounted to forestall the fight. This includes American and French proposals based on a gradual—or at least partial—implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution calls for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, which runs laterally across Lebanon, roughly 10 miles north of the border. In theory, this would solve the threat posed by Hezbollah ground forces, which are a legitimate concern after the October 7 attacks by Hamas, a less potent Iran-backed proxy. The resolution also calls for the deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces and U.N. troops to south Lebanon to help restore order, and for all armed groups, including Hezbollah, to disarm.
But the fact is that this resolution was never implemented after the last major dustup between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. This reflects a lack of international will, as well as zero interest on the part of Hezbollah, not to mention Iran, for a permanent ceasefire with Israel. Why? Because Hezbollah—like its patron in Tehran—seeks nothing less than Israel’s total destruction. This is borne out of the group’s immutable hostility to Judaism and resulting aversion to Israel, a Jewish state, built on what it believes is sacred Islamic and Arab land. The group has therefore declared eternal war upon Israel, to be fought in perpetuity but gradually—”victory in increments,” in the words of its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. Over time, the Iranian-led “Axis of Resistance” seeks to amass sufficient strength to deal the Jewish state a “fatal blow.”
Preventing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has become even more complicated in recent years. Lebanon is a failed state. Elections continue to be held, but the government in Beirut is a feckless placeholder. The country is in debt exceeding $200 billion, while its currency has lost almost 100 percent of its value. No economic or political reforms are on Lebanon’s horizon.
Hezbollah has contributed significantly to this political and economic collapse. But it is also an integral part of Lebanon’s social and political fabric, supported by a sizable bloc of Lebanese Shiites—perhaps the country’s largest sect. The group won the most parliamentary votes of any party in 2022, and it continues to perform well in the polls. Since all Lebanese decision-making is done by sectarian consensus, and Hezbollah commands this large Shiite support, Hezbollah is an immovable object.
Complicating matters further is the sheer power that Hezbollah has amassed. The group has an arsenal of 200,000 rockets and missiles, a fleet of deadly drones, roughly 1,500 precision-guided munitions, and well-trained fighters. Some estimates suggest that Hezbollah’s power is tantamount to a midsize European army. The Lebanese Armed Forces can therefore never forcibly disarm, relocate, or restrain Hezbollah. That would certainly spark a civil war, which the terror group would likely win.
Meanwhile, the international community’s fixation on futile deals has only whetted Hezbollah’s appetite for violence. The group sees the desperation to prevent a wider war. Its leaders note with glee how Israel has been restrained by the Biden administration. Their belief—mistaken and dangerous—is that Israel’s hands are tied by the White House. Nasrallah believes that “America controls Israel,” that the country is merely an American “forward military base. ” Indeed, the Hezbollah leader said in March, “When the Americans put their foot down, threatening to halt funds, Israel quakes in fear. When the Americans halt weapons shipments, the Israeli Chief of Staff quickly takes stock of his remaining ammunition.”
The Biden administration’s baseless signals of public displeasure with Jerusalem are undeniably seen by Hezbollah as a constraint on Israeli freedom of action. They are also treated as a green light for Hezbollah’s provocations. Washington’s decision to pause weapons shipments to Israel surely encouraged Hezbollah’s latest and most dangerous escalation. The group’s attacks suddenly became more destructive, reaching deeper into Israel.
For now, Israelis are weighing two terrible options. They can succumb to growing international pressure to accept a bad ceasefire deal. That would restore a deceptive quiet to their northern border, but it would also leave Hezbollah intact and able to harm Israel in ways that the country has vowed to prevent after the 10/7 attack.
Alternatively, Israel could hit back, initiating a conflict themselves to eliminate Hezbollah. The so-called “Dahiyeh Doctrine” adopted by the Israeli military promises to eviscerate the group’s bases of operations throughout Lebanon.
However, the Israelis are keenly aware of the price of such a war. Hezbollah’s destructive forces—with perhaps help from Iran and other surrounding proxies—could force Israel to fight a war that yields tens of thousands of Israeli deaths, and billions of dollars in destruction.
Off-ramps for this conflict are increasingly difficult to locate. The Biden administration, if it seeks to prevent this war, must quickly reverse its current course. Diplomatic efforts must evolve into pressure campaigns against the Iranian regime and its proxies. And the public attempts to restrain Israel in Gaza and Lebanon must immediately cease. Such messaging is only pushing the region to a conflict of historic proportions.
*David Daoud is a senior fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies
*Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow him on Twitter @JSchanzer.
https://thedispatch.com/article/the-hezbollah-time-bomb-is-ticking/

Biden has no answer to Hezbollah’s spreading threat
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Arab News/June 21, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130977/130977/
Amid increasingly violent cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and growing fears of a full-scale war, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week threatened to attack Cyprus if the Mediterranean island made its military bases available to Israel.
Washington has cautioned Israel against any escalation that might encourage other Iran-backed Shiite militias from Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria to join in, but that warning poses questions: What would the US advise European capitals to do if Nasrallah threatened them over any disagreements they might have with Tehran? And who will guarantee that Tehran, once it produces nuclear weapons, will not threaten to use them against Cyprus or the rest of Europe? Cyprus has caught Iran’s attention for its role in inspecting humanitarian aid bound for Gaza. Hamas opposes aid not channelled through its militia, fearing that losing control over aid distribution might weaken its grip on power.
It is no secret that America is restraining Israel from restoring calm in its north by engaging Hezbollah. What is puzzling is that Washington offers no alternative other than asking Israel to accept Nasrallah’s terms: Hezbollah will stop attacking Israel only if it ends its war in Gaza, a position Nasrallah restated last week. If Israel followed American advice and Lebanese demands, it would give Nasrallah a say in matters that do not concern him — specifically, relations between Israel and the Palestinians. That would undermine the concept of the nation state and the foundation of the global order, but US President Joe Biden appears to be fine with it. In July 2006, Hezbollah initiated a devastating 33-day war with Israel, ostensibly to force the latter into a prisoner swap, which occurred after the war. The conflict ended with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ordered the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon, the redeployment of Hezbollah fighters north of the Litani River (about 30 kilometers from the Lebanese Israeli border), and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces alongside an expanded UN Interim Force in Lebanon between the river and the border.
Who will guarantee that Tehran, once it produces nuclear weapons, will not threaten to use them against Cyprus or the rest of Europe?
The resolution also required Lebanon and Israel to negotiate border disputes. In 2022, they demarcated their maritime border, but Hezbollah has since refused to negotiate the 13 disputed land points, insisting that Israel withdraw unilaterally or face battle. Hezbollah launched an offensive against Israel last October, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory invasion of Gaza. Nasrallah declared that this war was not about the border, but to pin down Israeli forces in the north, diverting them from the Gaza front. Hezbollah’s offensive had not only occupied 100,000 Israeli soldiers in the north but also displaced tens of thousands of Israelis and inflicted economic and tourism losses, he said, and analysts were now discussing a Hezbollah security zone in northern Israel. Taking a victory lap even before the fighting has escalated into full-scale conflict, Nasrallah assured his followers that the forthcoming battle with Israel would change the region, be the most honorable battle since 1948, and lead to Israel's annihilation. The Biden administration appears to have few strategies to help Israel beyond asking it to stop its southern offensive to avoid northern conflict. Washington merely echoes Iran and Hezbollah’s threats, advising Israel — and perhaps now Cyprus too — to heed them. This reverses the classic diplomatic strategy of speaking softly while wielding a big stick. Instead, the Biden administration talks tough against Iran and its militias but has yet to make its threats look believable. Nasrallah probably understands that Biden is more focused on his re-election in November than on Middle Eastern affairs, and he may believe the US will allow Hezbollah to continue its aggression against Israel — and now apparently Europe too.
*Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington DC. X: @hahussain

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 21-22/2024
Israeli strikes on tent camps near Rafah kill at least 25 and wound 50, Gaza health officials say
Wafaa Shurafa/DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)/June 21, 2024
Israeli forces shelled tent camps for displaced Palestinians north of Rafah on Friday, killing at least 25 people and wounding another 50 according to Gaza’s Heath Ministry and emergency workers, in the latest deadly attack in the tiny Palestinian territory where hundreds of thousands have fled fighting between Israel and Hamas. According to Ahmed Radwan, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense first responders in Rafah, witnesses told rescue workers about the shelling at two locations in a coastal area that has become filled with tents. The Health Ministry reported the number of people killed and wounded in the attacks. The locations of the attacks provided by Civil Defense were just outside an Israeli-designated safe zone. The Israeli military said they were looking into the strikes at the reported coordinates. Israel has previously bombed locations in the vicinity of the “humanitarian zone” in Muwasi, a rural area on the Mediterranean coast that has filled with sprawling tent camps in recent months. The strikes came as Israel pushed ahead with its military operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from fighting elsewhere in Gaza. Most have now fled Rafah, but the United Nations says no place in Gaza is safe and humanitarian conditions are dire as families shelter in tents and cramped apartments without adequate food, water, or medical supplies. Friday’s strikes took place less than a month after an Israeli bombing triggered a deadly fire that tore through a camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza, drawing widespread international outrage — including from some of Israel’s closest allies — over the military’s expanding offensive into Rafah. Israel says it is targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure and that it tries to minimize civilian deaths. It blames the large number of civilian casualties on militants and says it’s because they operate among the population. With Israel’s war against Hamas now in its ninth month, international criticism is growing over Israel’s campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide ” in Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies. Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,100 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. Israel launched the war after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250.

Israeli bombardment kills dozens across Gaza, amid fierce fighting
Nidal al-Mughrabi/CAIRO (Reuters)/June 21, 2024
Israeli forces pounded Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday, as well as other areas across the enclave, killing at least 38 Palestinians as troops engaged in close-quarter combat with Hamas militants, residents and Israel's military said. Residents said the Israelis appeared to be trying to complete their capture of Rafah, which borders Egypt and has been the focus of an Israeli assault since early May. Tanks were forcing their way into the western and northern parts of the city, having already captured the east, south and centre. Israeli forces fired from planes, tanks and ships off the coast, forcing a new wave of displacement from the city, which had been sheltering more than a million displaced people, most of whom have been forced to flee again. Later on Friday, Palestinian health officials said at least 18 Palestinians were killed in Mawasi in western Rafah in what Palestinians said was a tank shelling that hit a tent housing displaced families. "Our teams have so far dealt with 18 martyrs and 35 injuries due to the occupation’s targeting of displaced people’s tents in Mawasi #Rafah, west of the governorate," said the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in a statement on X. Palestinian health officials said at least 38 Palestinians had been killed in separate Israeli military strikes on Friday. The Israeli military said on Friday it was looking into the reported strikes on Mawasi and a separate incident in Gaza City. It said its forces were conducting "precise, intelligence-based" actions in the Rafah area, where troops were involved in close-quarter combat and had located tunnels used by militants. The military also said that over the past week its forces had targeted a university that it said served as a Hamas headquarters from which militants fired on its soldiers and had found weapons and barrel bombs. It did not name the university. In the central Gaza Strip area of Nusseirat, the military said, soldiers killed dozens of militants over the past week and found a weapons depot that contained mortar bombs and military equipment belonging to Hamas. Some Rafah residents said the pace of the Israeli raid has accelerated in the past two days. They said sounds of explosions and gunfire, indicating fierce fighting, have been almost non-stop. "Last night was one of the worst nights in western Rafah, drones, planes, tanks, and naval boats bombarded the area. We feel the occupation is trying to complete the control of the city," said Hatem, 45, reached by text message. "They are taking heavy strikes from the resistance fighters, which may be slowing them down."
AREAS OF FOCUS
More than eight months into the war in Gaza, Israel's advance is now focused on the two last areas its forces had yet to storm: Rafah on Gaza's southern edge and the area surrounding Deir al-Balah in the centre."The entire city of Rafah is an area of Israeli military operations," Ahmed Al-Sofi, the mayor of Rafah, said in a statement carried by Hamas media on Friday. "The city lives through a humanitarian catastrophe and people are dying inside their tents because of Israeli bombardment," he added. Sofi said there was no medical facility functioning in the city, and that remaining residents and displaced families lacked the minimum daily needs of food and water. Palestinian and U.N. figures show that fewer than 100,000 people may have remained in the far western side of the city, which had been sheltering more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people before the Israeli assault began in early May. The Israeli military accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields, an allegation Hamas denies. "The soldiers located inside a civilian residence large quantities of weapons hidden in wardrobes, including grenades, explosives, a launcher and anti-tank missiles, ammunition, and arms," the military said in a statement late on Thursday. Hamas' armed wing said on Thursday its fighters had hit two Israeli tanks with anti-tank rockets in the Shaboura camp in Rafah, and killed soldiers who tried to flee through the alleys. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Hamas claim. In nearby Khan Younis, an Israeli air strike on Friday killed three people, including a father and son, medics said. In parallel, Israeli forces continued a new push back into some Gaza City suburbs in the north of the enclave, where they fought with Hamas-led militants. Residents said army forces had destroyed many homes in the heart of Gaza City on Thursday. Later on Friday, an Israeli air strike on a Gaza City municipal facility killed five people, including four municipal workers, the territory's Civil Emergency Service said. It added that rescue teams were searching the rubble for more missing victims. In the nearby Beach camp, an Israeli air strike on a house killed at least seven people, medics said. Israel's ground and air campaign was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The offensive has left Gaza in ruins, killed more than 37,400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and left nearly the entire population homeless and destitute.

Israeli airstrike levels Gaza municipal garage, killing 5
Associated Press
Palestinian Civil Defense authorities said an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City hit a municipal garage, killing five people. The strike on the garage in the center of Gaza City came Friday and killed four municipal workers and one passer-by, while leaving an unknown number of others buried under the rubble of the damaged building, the Civil Defense said. The Gaza municipality confirmed that the strike hit its employees but did not give a breakdown on the casualties. Israel launched the war after Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Since then, the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure has suffered heavy damage, and the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians who are facing widespread hunger. Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 37,400 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Qatar working to ‘bridge the gap’ between Israel and Hamas
AFP/June 22, 2024
MADRID: Qatar said Friday it was pursuing efforts to “bridge the gap” between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release Israeli hostages held there. The Gulf emirate, the United States and Egypt, have been engaged in months of negotiations for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that erupted on October 7. There has been one seven-day pause in November which led to the release of more than 100 hostages. Efforts since have been deadlocked. “We have continued our efforts without interruption over the last few days,” Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a news conference in Madrid with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. “There have been several meetings with the Hamas leadership to try to bridge the gap between the two parties and reach an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages,” he added. The talks are based on a plan US President Joe Biden laid out on May 31 calling for an Israeli withdrawal from “major population centers” in Gaza and a six week ceasefire, which could be extended if negotiators need more time to seek a permanent deal.“Efforts are continuing, but so far we have not reached a formula that we feel is the most appropriate and closest to what has been presented,” the Qatari prime minister said. “As soon as this is done, we will communicate with the Israeli side to try to bridge the gap and reach an agreement as quickly as possible,” he added. Qatar-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the Palestinian Islamist movement was open to “any document or initiative that ensures the foundations of the resistance’s position in ceasefire negotiations.”Hamas has insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire before the release of all hostages sought by Israel. The Israeli goverment has rejected the demands. Haniyeh said “the priority is to stop the criminal war on our people.”The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,431 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Israel ‘pause’ in Gaza had no impact on aid supplies: WHO
AFP/June 21, 2024
The Israeli military had over the weekend announced a daily humanitarian “pause” in fighting on a key road in eastern Rafah
World Food Programme has warned that a massive public health crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of clean water, food and medical supplies. Geneva: The “pause” that the Israeli military had declared in Gaza to facilitate aid flows has had no impact on deliveries of the badly-needed aid, the UN’s health agency said on Friday. “So overall, we the UN can say that we did not see an impact on the humanitarian supplies coming in since that, I will say, unilateral announcement of this technical pause,” said Richard Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories.
“That is the overall assessment,” he said. The Israeli military had over the weekend announced a daily humanitarian “pause” in fighting on a key road in eastern Rafah, but a United Nations spokesman said days later that “this has yet to translate into more aid reaching people in need.”
Intense heat in Gaza could worsen health crisis for Palestinians
The World Health Organization warned on Friday that scorching heat in the Gaza Strip could exacerbate health problems for Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and heavy fighting between its forces and Hamas militants. The World Food Programme has warned that a massive public health crisis is looming in Gaza due to the lack of clean water, food and medical supplies. “We’ve seen massive displacement over the last weeks and months, and we know that combination and the heat can cause a rise in diseases,” said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for Gaza and the West Bank.
“We have water contamination because of hot water, and we will have much more food spoilage because of the high temperature. We will get insect mosquitoes and flies, dehydration, heat stroke.” Extreme heat has killed hundreds worldwide as the northern hemisphere summer begins. Peeperkorn said in Gaza, due to poor water and sanitation conditions, the number of cases of diarrhea were 25 times higher than usual. Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and hepatitis A, according to the WHO. The WHO has been unable to carry out medical evacuations from Gaza since the closure of the Rafah crossing in early May. Peeperkorn said an estimated 10,000 patients still required medical evacuation from Gaza, half of whom are suffering from ailments related to the war. Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 37,400 people in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to health authorities there. More than eight months of war, sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, have led to dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory and repeated UN warnings of famine. The October Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 41 are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,431 people, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory..

Israel Steps Up Gaza Strikes Amid Fears of Regional Spread
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Israel bombed Gaza on Friday as exchanges of fire and threats over the Lebanese border raised fears of a wider war. Five municipal workers died “during an Israeli bombing” of a garage in Gaza City, said Mahmud Basal, spokesman for the civil defense agency in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory. In southern Gaza, AFPTV captured an overnight strike on a residential district of Khan Yunes. A ball of fire and sparks erupted, followed by gray smoke, before residents inspected the damage in the darkness. There were further exchanges of fire across Israel’s northern border with Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the clashes must not turn Lebanon into “another Gaza.” Increased “bellicose rhetoric” from both sides risked triggering a catastrophe “beyond imagination,” he said. Just before midnight on Thursday, Israel’s Army said it had “successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon.” Israel’s military on Friday identified two more soldiers killed during fighting in the territory, bringing its military toll since ground operations began to at least 312. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, faces regular street protests accusing him of prolonging the war and demanding an agreement to free the hostages. On Thursday night near his Jerusalem residence, some protesters painted their hands red to appear bloody, but Netanyahu told relatives of captives killed in Gaza: “We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all the hostages return.”In a statement on Thursday, he said he was “prepared to suffer personal attacks provided that Israel receives the ammunition from the US that it needs in the war for its existence.”Netanyahu’s statement came as an apparent doubling down after a video statement this week in which he accused Washington of “withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel.”The White House on Thursday described his comments as “vexing” and “disappointing.” Except for one shipment, “there are no other pauses, none,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Several weeks ago, the US administration paused delivery of a shipment of 2,000-pound (907-kilo) bombs. The war has revived a global push for Palestinians to be given a state of their own. Armenia on Friday declared its recognition of “the State of Palestine,” prompting Israel’s foreign ministry to summon its ambassador for “a severe reprimand.”

Israel’s pledge to guard aid route into Gaza falls flat as lawlessness blocks distribution
Associated Press/June 21, 2024
The Israeli military said Sunday that it was establishing a new safe corridor to deliver aid into southern Gaza. But days later, this self-declared "tactical pause" has brought little relief to desperate Palestinians. The United Nations and international aid organizations say a breakdown in law and order has made the aid route unusable. With thousands of truckloads of aid piled up, groups of armed men are regularly blocking convoys, holding drivers at gunpoint and rifling through their cargo, according to a U.N. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media on the issue. The lawlessness is a major obstacle to aid distribution to southern and central Gaza — where an estimated 1.3 million Palestinians displaced from Rafah, or more than half of Gaza's entire population, are now sheltering in tent camps and cramped apartments without adequate food, water, or medical supplies.
Here is a closer look at the security challenges facing the U.N. and aid organizations.
Israel's 'tactical pause' stymied
Israel said Sunday it would observe daily pauses in combat along a route stretching from Kerem Shalom — the strip's only operational aid crossing in the south — to the nearby city of Khan Younis. Before the pause, aid organizations had reported that the need to coordinate trucks' movement with the Israelis in an active combat zone was slowing aid distribution. The head of the U.N.'s World Food Program said Thursday that the pause has made "no difference at all" in aid distribution efforts. "We haven't been able to get in," said Cindy McCain in an interview with Al-Monitor. "We've had to reroute some of our trucks. They've been looted. As you know, we've been shot at and we've been rocketed."The U.N. official familiar with the aid effort said that there has been no sign of Israeli activity along the route. The U.N. tried to send a convoy of 60 trucks down the road Tuesday to pick up aid at Kerem Shalom. But 35 of the trucks were intercepted by armed men, the official said. In recent days, the groups have moved closer to the crossing and set up roadblocks to halt trucks loaded with supplies, the U.N. official said. They have searched the pallets for smuggled cigarettes, a rare luxury in a territory where a single smoke can go for $25. The surge in lawlessness is a result of growing desperation in Gaza and the power vacuum left by Hamas's waning power over the territory, said Mkhaimar Abusada, an associate professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza who is now in Cairo. With the enclave's police force targeted by Israel, he said, crime has reemerged as an untreated issue in Gaza. "After Hamas came to power, one of the things that they brought under their control was the lawlessness of the so-called big clans," said Abusada. "Now, that's left for the Palestinians on their own to deal with it. So once again, we are seeing shootings between families, there are thefts, all the bad things are happening."UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, used to deploy local Palestinian police to escort aid convoys, but many refused to continue serving after airstrikes killed at least eight police officers in Rafah, the agency said.
Israel says the police are legitimate targets because they are controlled by Hamas.
Is any aid still getting into Gaza?
The situation has largely paralyzed aid distribution to the south — particularly since Gaza's nearby Rafah crossing with Egypt was closed when Israel invaded the city early last month. The U.N. official said that 25 trucks of flour used the route Tuesday. Some private commercial trucks also got through — many of which used armed security to deter groups seeking to seize their cargo. An AP reporter stationed along the road Monday saw at least eight trucks pass by, armed security guards riding on top. Before Israel's offensive into the city of Rafah, hundreds of fuel trucks routinely entered the area. The U.N. has now begun rerouting some fuel trucks through northern Gaza. Farhan Haq, a U.N. spokesman, said five fuel trucks entered Gaza Wednesday. The U.N. humanitarian office reported that these were the first fuel deliveries since early June and supplies remain scarce. Aid groups say only a ceasefire and a reopening of the Rafah crossing could significantly increase aid flow to the area. The military body in charge of coordinating humanitarian aid efforts, COGAT, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Security concerns also afflict aid from U.S. pier project The U.S. installed a pier off Gaza's coast last month, aiming to provide an additional route for aid to enter Gaza. But the ambitious project has suffered repeated logistical and security setbacks. Cyprus and US officials said the pier was up and running again Thursday after being detached for a second time last week because of rough seas. COGAT said Thursday there were "hundreds of aid pallets awaiting collection and distribution by the U.N. aid agencies."But there, too, security concerns are hindering distribution of aid. The U.N. suspended its cooperation with the pier on June 9 – a day after rumors swirled that the Israeli military had used the area in a hostage rescue operation that left over 270 Palestinians dead. Photos of the operation showed an Israeli military helicopter in what appeared to be the vicinity of the pier. Both Israel and the US deny the pier was used in the operation. But the perception that the pier was used for military purposes could endanger humanitarian workers, and threaten humanitarian groups' principles of of neutrality, the U.N. says. Aid workers said they are working with the Israelis to find a solution, but that the security burden falls squarely on Israel's shoulders. Officials from the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations, including Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, met with Israel's military chief and COGAT officials this week to seek solutions. USAID said afterward that the meeting ended with promises of specific actions, but gave no details.

Israel Reportedly Assassinated Zahidi’s Successor
This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Israel reportedly assassinated Major General Saeed Aibar (an Iranian advisor in Syria and a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard) less than a month ago in an airstrike on Aleppo targeting his convoy just hours after his return from Iran. During his visit, he had assumed his duties as commander of the Revolutionary Guard front in Lebanon and Syria. He succeeded Commander Mohammad Reza Zahidi, who was assassinated by Israel when it launched an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the death of Zahidi along with several of his aides. The position remains vacant to this day after Israel assassinated Zahidi’s successor. According to information, there is a re-gathering, reportedly positioning and deployment of the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah elements in Syria. This step has led the Revolutionary Guard to reduce the number of its members, and Hezbollah has done the same due to its need for its members in the confrontation.

Iran condemns Canada's listing of Revolutionary Guards as terrorist group
DUBAI (Reuters)/June 21, 2024
-Iran condemned Canada's listing of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization as "an unwise and unconventional politically motivated step," foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement on Thursday. "Canada's action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards' legitimate and deterrent power," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Kanaani as saying, adding that Tehran reserves the right to respond accordingly to the listing. Iran's foreign ministry summoned Italy's envoy, who represents Canadian interests in Tehran, to protest against Canada's move, state media reported on Friday. On Wednesday, Ottawa listed the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, a step that could lead to the investigation of former senior Iranian officials now living in Canada. The United States took a similar step in 2019 against the Revolutionary Guards, which Western nations accuse of carrying out a global terrorist campaign. Tehran rejects such claims, saying that the elite force is a sovereign institution responsible for safeguarding national security.

Roadside bomb attack targeting security convoy kills 5 soldiers and wounds 2 in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) June 21, 2024
A roadside bomb exploded near a security convoy in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing five soldiers and wounding two others, officials said, a sign of increasing attacks on security forces in the volatile region. The latest attack in the region happened in the district of Kurram, a former militant stronghold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. In a statement, the military said a search operation was underway in the region where the attack happened “to eliminate any terrorists present in the area and perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice.”No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack. However, blame was likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, an ally of the Afghan Taliban but is a separate group. It has stepped up its assaults in the region since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, authorities said Friday that suspected separatists kidnapped at least 10 people from Harnai, a district in the restive southwestern Baluchistan province, and efforts were underway to secure their release. A government administrator, Bashir Bugulzai, said the men were abducted Wednesday. The separatist Baluchistan Liberation Army group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings without giving any further details. Baluchistan has been the scene of an insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades.

Armenia recognizes Palestine as a state, foreign ministry announces
Jerusalem Post/June 21/2024
Israeli FM summons Armenian ambassador amid bold step to back Palestinian state, increased Armenia-Iran dialogue
Armenia recognized Palestine as a state on Friday morning, according to Russian TASS news agency, citing Armenia's foreign affairs ministry. In response to the recognition, Israel's foreign affairs ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador to Israel for a "stern reprimand." “Always being a support[er] of [a] two-state solution in [the] Israeli-Palestinian conflict #Armenia made [the] decision to recognize the independent state of #Palestine," the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan wrote in a post on X. In a longer statement posted on its website, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict is one of the primary issues on the international political agenda that require resolution.”It condemned the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and called for the release of the remaining 120 hostages held in Gaza. “The Republic of Armenia has joined the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, which call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” it said. “Moreover, the Republic of Armenia is sincerely interested in the establishment of peace and stability in the Middle East, the establishment of lasting reconciliation between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples.
“At various international platforms, we have always advocated for a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and support the 'two-state' principle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict solution. “We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can realize their legitimate aspirations,” the Armenia Foreign Ministry added. Some 145 countries have recognized Palestine as a state since 1988, with Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia making that move in the last two months.
The gestures come as the Palestinian Authority has renewed its push to become the 194th member of the United Nations, but its efforts have been blocked by the United States. The PA has asked countries that have not yet recognized it as a state state to do so in light of the Gaza war. The war was sparked by the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on October 7, in which over 1,200 people were killed and 251 seized as hostages. Hamas has asserted that over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in war-related violence, verifying some 25,000 of those fatalities. Israel has said that over 14,000 of those deaths are combatants.
Antisemitism has been rampant in Armenia since the war broke out, as well, with Jewish communities in the region fearful and having been attacked several times. Armenian ties with Iran. Armenia has become more and more closely associated with Iran in recent years amid the rising tensions with Azerbaijan. Several sources reported 2023 spotting Iranian soldiers on the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan. According to French reports, Iran sent agents to Yerevan to manage the Blue Mosque, which was built in Armenia during Iran’s rule. Iran and Israel have been consistently opposed, with Iran attacking Israel in a massive bombardment of rockets and missiles in April. In addition, Armenia is an observer state of the Arab League. Palestine is recognized as a member state in said league.

US destroys six Houthi drones in Red Sea
Agence France Presse/June 21/2024
The U.S. military said Thursday that it had destroyed four Houthi nautical drones and two aerial ones over the Red Sea off Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched scores of drones and missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, describing the attacks as being in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The United States and its allies, particularly Britain, have responded with an increased naval presence to defend shipping in the vital waterway and with retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets.The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement Thursday night that its forces had "destroyed four Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USV) in the Red Sea and two uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) over the Red Sea" in the past 24 hours. CENTCOM said the day before that it had destroyed "one ground control station and one command and control node" in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. This week, a merchant ship whose hull was breached in an earlier Houthi attack, the M/V Tutor, was believed to have sunk in the Red Sea after its crew was evacuated, according to a maritime security agency run by the British navy. A Filipino sailor aboard the vessel was killed in the attack. A Sri Lankan crew member on another ship, the M/V Verbena, was seriously injured in a separate attack, and the vessel had to be abandoned. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned those attacks in a statement and said Washington would "continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping." He also called on the Houthis "to release all detainees, including the United Nations, diplomatic, and non-governmental organization staff they detained earlier this month."The Houthis earlier this month arrested a number of people they claimed were part of a U.S.-Israeli spy network, adding that those held worked under "the cover of international organizations and U.N. agencies." The heads of six United Nations agencies and three international NGOs subsequently issued a joint call for the release of their staff, with U.N. rights chief Volker Turk dismissing the spying accusations as "outrageous." The Houthis are engaged in a long-running civil war that has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than half of the population is dependent on aid in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country.

German FM to travel to Middle East next week
Agence France Presse/June 21/2024
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit the Middle East next week, Berlin said Friday, as the Gaza war grinds on and fears grow of a wider regional conflict. Baerbock will travel to Israel Monday immediately after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said. On arrival in Israel, Baerbock -- who has visited the region several times since the start of the Israel-Hamas war -- will give a speech at the Herzliya Security Conference. On Tuesday, she will hold talks with Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Baerbock will also meet with the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in Jerusalem. Subsequently, Baerbock will travel to Lebanon for talks with officials in Beirut, including the migration minister. Baerbock's discussions with officials would focus on "the war in Gaza and the continuing catastrophic humanitarian situation", as well as "the question of what a future could look like that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live together in safety", the ministry spokeswoman said. "In the Palestinian territories, the situation in the West Bank will also be a focus, as will the reform efforts of the Palestinian Authority," the spokeswoman said. "The particularly tense and dangerous situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon," would also be discussed on the trip. More than eight months of war, sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, have led to dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory and repeated U.N. warnings of famine.

Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 21-22/2024
New Israeli paradigm needed to prevent a nuclear Iran
Jacob Nagel/Ynet News/June 21/2024
Analysis: The biggest threat to Israel’s existence remains Iran's nuclear program and Israel must prevent the Islamic Republic from reaching its goal of achieving an atomic weapon of mass destruction
Israel continues the war in Gaza and Lebanon to dismantle and eliminate Hamas’ military, governmental, and organizational capabilities, kill its leaders, bring back the hostages, and confront Hezbollah to allow the evacuated citizens to return home. At the same time, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continues his ultimate strategy to achieve an atomic weapon of mass destruction.Unfortunately, many in Israel, the West, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are falling again and again into the clerical regime’s sophisticated trap. The Israeli leadership, hopefully together with the U.S. (but it will probably happen only after elections in November) should make a substantial switch in their working priorities to prevent Iran from reaching its goal.
For more than two decades, Iran has continued its efforts to enhance its nuclear weapons capability –mainly by enriching uranium – causing Israel and the world to concentrate on the fissile material. The International Atomic Energy Agency recently confirmed that Iran has a huge stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, as well as more enriched to 20%, and the IAEA board of governors adopted the E3 (France, Germany, U.K.) proposed resolution to censure Iran for the violations and lack of cooperation with the agency. The Biden administration tried to block it, but joined the resolution when it understood its efforts to block it had failed.
Tehran has enough enriched uranium to create weapons-grade material for seven nuclear weapons in about two weeks to a month, according to experts’ analyses. But we all must realize that Iran’s decision not to enrich uranium now to 90% is meaningless. The 20% enriched uranium is more than 90% of the effort required to make weapons-grade uranium, and 60% enrichment is 98% of the needed time. This is why Iran decided to stop before 90% until after it finished all the other parts needed to build a nuclear device.
Iran is causing Israel and the world to continue their fight only against the amounts of enriched uranium, the width and depth of enrichment facilities, and the number of installed centrifuges, exactly as is happening now, while waiting for Iran to break the 90% barrier. But this is not going to happen because Iran will do it only during the last month.
Israel must adopt a totally new approach, concentrating mainly on two main efforts: Iran’s weaponization actions, and weakening the regime hoping it will lead to its replacement. Israel should continue the fight against Iran’s enrichment facilities (especially against the new deep underground facility being built near Natanz) and uranium stockpiles, but it should not be the only goal, and for sure not priority. It was the right direction for almost two decades, but not anymore. Nuclear scientists in Teheran revived the weaponization program, doing it under a deniability umbrella, working toward completing as many parts and technologies as needed for the nuclear warheads. U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies believe this weaponization work is not yet officially approved by the supreme leader, but even if he has not yet given the go-ahead approval, there is no doubt he knows what they are doing. The knowledge is continuing to accumulate in areas such as special materials, simulation, fast detonators, computerized models, and many other related areas. The work is being done, of course, under academic and “civilian” excuses. The agencies believe that without this work It will take 18 to 24 months once a decision is fully made, but the ongoing “scientific” efforts can significantly shorten this time. If, while doing it, Iran also moves enough weapons-grade enriched uranium to a secret underground site, with a small number of advanced centrifuges, Israel and the U.S. would find it very difficult to act militarily to stop Iran from becoming nuclear.
American and Israeli intelligence should focus on the Iranian weaponization development threat. Both countries should collect intelligence on the weaponization program’s progress and build all necessary capabilities to strike the program’s components, putting leading scientists to work on it, inside and outside the Islamic Republic.
Israel and the U.S. should work together to identify key Iranian targets (physical assets and personnel) who are working on weaponization, and determine their vulnerabilities.
The second front should be weakening the regime. It is long overdue to weaken the regime in all possible ways, including squeezing the Islamic Republic’s finances, helping the internal opposition (funding, weapons, intelligence, doctrine and more), and initiating wide cyber and influence operations.
After the mistakes of October 7, Israel has no other choice but to change its paradigm. The fight against Iran should be managed as a wide, organized and synchronized campaign, while confronting Iranian threats on all fronts, no longer allowing Tehran to encircle Israel in a ring of fire.
The biggest danger threatening Israel’s existence remains the nuclear program. It would be better to confront this threat with Washington, but Israel also must be fully prepared to do it alone.
*Brig. Gen. (res.) Professor Jacob Nagel is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a professor at the Technion. He served as the National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and as the head of the National Security Council (acting).

The ‘Drip-Drip’ Genocide of Christians
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/June 21/2024
While outright violence is a well-known — and very obvious — way of annihilating a people, lesser known are the subtle, slow-motion ways that can be exerted to suffocate a people into extinction.
Thus, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, leader of the Chaldean church in Iraq, recently sounded the alarm over the near extinction of Christianity in Iraq (where it had been firmly embedded for nearly 2,000 years, since shortly after the time of Christ). While he mentioned the most obvious form of persecution — the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other “radical” elements — he also made clear that anti-Christian sentiment infused the whole of Iraq’s Muslim society and (U.S.-installed) government.
Cardinal Sako spoke of how “attacks on Christians are still continuing on their skills, their jobs, the seizure of their properties,” and told of “cases of forced conversion by ISIS or others, the Islamization of minors, failure to preserve their rights, an attempt to deliberately erase their heritage, history, religious legacy, [and] expressions of hatred in some religious discourses as well as in education books.”
The article summarizing Sako’s words, “Vanishing Faith: the Exodus of Iraq’s Christians,” concludes: “It is this steady ‘drip, drip drip’ of intolerance and marginalisation that sends the message: ‘You are no longer welcome’ to a people that have lived in the region for nearly 2,000 years.”
Ethnically Cleansing the Christians
This is not the first time the slow genocide of Christians is described as a “drip-drip” event. In 2017, noted author, journalist, and Pakistani politician Farahnaz Ispahani said, Right before the partition of India and Pakistan, we had a very healthy balance of religions other than Islam. Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Zoroastrians. [Now] Pakistan goes from 23 percent [non-Muslim], which is almost a quarter of its population, to three percent today. I call it a “drip drip genocide,” because it’s the most dangerous kind of wiping out of religious communities… It doesn’t happen in one day. It doesn’t happen over a few months. [emphasis added]
That Muslims have cleansed non-Muslim peoples by the sword since the seventh century to the present is, of course, factually well-documented. But what of this more subtle “slow-motion genocide”? How does that work?
The answer is connected to another question: Why did so many non-Muslims become Muslim in the first place?
Persecution Isn’t a Bug but a Feature
Many modern-day Muslims and Western apologists claim the ancestors of today’s 1.5 billion Muslims converted to Islam due to its intrinsic appeal; that the modern-day coercion and persecution ISIS and others commit is an aberration.
Conversely, many Muslim and non-Muslim historical records make clear that most people embraced Islam, not out of sincere faith, but for myriad reasons — from a desire to enjoy the boons of being on the “winning team” to seeking to evade the dooms of being on the “losing team.”
Because well-documented facts have little influence on the modern West’s ahistorical sense of reality, happily common sense validates what history records: the Islamic world is built atop not so much the physical genocide of infidels, but the spiritual and cultural genocide of their identity.
This killing of two birds with one stone was always more advantageous for Islam: while the non-Muslim’s former religious/cultural identity is purged, his body remains to strengthen the ranks of Islam.
Egypt Was Once as Christian as Alabama
Egypt serves as an ideal paradigm. It had been Christian for centuries by the time Islam was being formulated. Alexandria was the most important ecclesiastical center of ancient Christian learning and, along with Rome and Antioch, one of the original three sees.
Writing around the year 400 — roughly two-and-a-half centuries before the Arab invasions — John Cassian, a European, observed that “the traveler from Alexandria in the north to Luxor in the south would have in his ears along the whole journey, the sounds of prayers and hymns of the monks, scattered in the desert, from the monasteries and from the caves, from monks, hermits, and anchorites.” In recent times, both the oldest parchment to contain words from the Gospel (dating to the first century) and the oldest image of Christ were discovered in separate regions of Egypt.
What made such an ancient and heavily Christian nation become Islamic? More specifically, what made the ancestors of today’s Egyptian Muslims — most of who were Coptic Christians — embrace Islam?
Before answering these questions, we must examine another overlooked factor. From the time Islam conquered Egypt (and much of the then-known Christian world), in the seventh century and well into the premodern era, religion was not something to be casually adhered to or changed, as it is today in the West. People then were sincere believers; there was no alternative narrative — no so-called “science vs. God” claims. As Thomas Madden once put it, “for medieval people, religion was not something one just did at church. It was their science, their philosophy, their politics, their identity, and their hope for salvation. It was not a personal preference but an abiding and universal truth.”
In other words, even if Islam held some intrinsic appeal, the idea that pre-modern Christians were “free” to choose to convert — free of guilt, free of fear of Hell, free of existential trauma that comes with apostasy — is anachronistic and implausible. Those who change religions as often as they change shoes may have great difficulty in fully appreciating this idea, but it is true nonetheless.
Centuries of Jim Crow Apartheid and Periodic Lynchings
If Europeans were this dedicated to Christianity in the medieval era, naturally so too were the Copts of Egypt, who became Christian centuries before most Europeans. What, then, made them convert to Islam, so that a mere 10% to 15% of Egypt is still Coptic?
Is it true, to quote Georgetown University professor John Esposito, that Christians “were free to practice their faith to worship and be governed by their religious leaders and laws in such areas as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. In exchange, they were required to pay tribute, a poll tax (jizya) that entitled them to Muslim protection from outside aggression and exempted them from military service”?
And yet, despite such Muslim “magnanimity,” and though left in peace and unpressured, Egypt’s original Christians found the new creed of sword-swinging, camel-riding Arabs so intrinsically appealing that they willingly apostatized en masse from the religion of their forefathers?
Common sense suggests that nothing less than extremely severe persecution prompted the Copts and others to convert to Islam.
The historian who reads the primary sources — as opposed to the mainstream works of fiction being peddled as “history” by the likes of Karen Armstrong and others — the above exercise in common sense is superfluous. The original sources make abundantly clear that, while Egypt’s Copts acquiesced to dhimmi status — constantly paying large sums of extortion money and accepting life as second-class subjects with few rights, in exchange for remaining Christian — bouts of extreme persecution regularly flared up. And with each one, more Christians converted to Islam in order to find relief.
Crushed Until They Abandoned Christ
One telling example: in Muslim historian Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi’s (d. 1442) authoritative history of Egypt, anecdote after anecdote is recorded of Muslims burning churches, slaughtering Christians, and enslaving their women and children. The only escape then — as it is increasingly today — was for Christians to convert to Islam.
After recording one particularly egregious bout in which countless Christians were slaughtered, enslaved, and raped, and some 30,000 churches in Egypt and Syria were destroyed — a staggering number that further indicates how Christian the Near East was before Islam — the pious Muslim historian makes clear why Christians converted: “Under these circumstances a great many Christians became Muslims.”
Thus, while many Christians were physically purged, many more were spiritually/culturally purged into becoming Muslims. According to internationally recognized definitions, both are forms of genocide. “Killing” and causing “serious bodily or mental harm” to members of any group of people are the first two of five legal definitions of genocide.
The third definition encapsulates the “slow-motion genocide” we’re discussing here: “Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”
This is exactly what Islam did to its conquered non-Muslim subjects throughout the centuries. Indeed, it is no coincidence that this is known in Islamic parlance as the “Conditions of Omar.”
A System Designed to Break People
Thus if bouts of wholesale persecution were haphazard, the entrenched dhimmi system, built atop the “Conditions of Omar,” was always present to “inspire” increasingly impoverished non-Muslim dhimmis to convert.
Consider the words of Alfred Butler, a nineteenth-century historian writing before political correctness came to dominate academia. In The Arab Conquest of Egypt, describes this in detail before concluding:
The wonder, therefore, is not that so many Copts yielded to the current which bore them with sweeping force over to Islam, but that so great a multitude of Christians stood firmly against the stream, nor have all the storms of thirteen centuries moved their faith from the rock of its foundation.
The same “drip-drip” form of genocide applies to the rest of conquered Christian and non-Muslim lands in general. Today, North Africa and Turkey are about 97 percent Muslim — even though, along with Egypt and Syria, both regions once formed the heart of the Christian world. (St. Augustine, the father of Western Christian theology, hailed from modern-day Algeria; and Anatolia — “Turkey” — is the site of the oldest churches that received epistles from the apostles.)
In short, it is no exaggeration to say that “the Islamic world” would be a fraction of its size (and perhaps might not exist at all) were it not for the fact that more non-Muslims were pressured into self-purging their largely Christian identities to evade persecution than those who were physically struck down by the sword
As Islam continues to grow in if not inundate those historically Christian lands that did manage to keep Islam out — namely, Europe — the same dynamic continues, slowly but surely, aided and abetted by the godless Left.
https://www.raymondibrahim.com/2024/06/20/the-drip-drip-genocide-of-christians/

UK’s Early Elections: Are the Conservatives Facing Annihilation?
Ali A. Hamadé/This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
With just 15 days until the snap general elections in the United Kingdom, the ruling Conservative Party has never been this weakened. The party is now fighting for its survival. Alarming polls predict not only a landslide victory for the opposition Labour Party but also the implosion of the Conservatives, who are projected to secure an embarrassingly low number of seats—their lowest since the party’s inception.
According to the most pessimistic forecasts, the right-leaning Daily Telegraph newspaper predicts just 53 seats for the Conservatives compared to 516 for Labour. While other independent polling institutes do not confirm such figures, they still indicate a strong anti-Conservative trend in the UK after 14 years of Conservative rule. Can we affirm with certainty that the opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will emerge victorious and be appointed Prime Minister on July 5? Are the Conservatives truly on the brink of annihilation?
It’s extremely likely, if not almost certain, that the Labour opposition will emerge from these elections with a resounding victory, securing a commanding supermajority in the new Parliament. King Charles III is expected to appoint Sir Keir Starmer as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on the morning of July 5. Labour have to secure an absolute majority of 326 seats, supported by consistent polling figures—excluding the outlier from the Daily Telegraph—which predict the Conservatives will likely secure between 90 to 150 seats at best. There is no indication of a Conservative victory on the horizon.
According to a survey conducted by the British channel Sky News, the Conservatives are predicted to secure 108 seats, while Labour is projected to win 425 seats, surpassing even Tony Blair’s largest majority in 1997. According to the same source, in the best-case scenario, the Conservatives would secure 150 seats. But what justifies this highly humiliating outcome?
The highly probable crushing defeat in the upcoming early general elections on July 4 can be justified in several ways. One primary reason is the Conservative government’s track record over the past 14 years, marked by recurring scandals and the tumultuous tenure of Liz Truss. In addition, successive global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine compound the situation. While this aspect largely explains an impending electoral defeat, it does not encompass all the factors that have contributed to the erosion of public trust in the Conservative Party.
Another explanation could be a miscalculation in the Prime Minister’s adopted electoral strategy in calling for early elections. It was widely believed that Rishi Sunak’s decision was based on the expectation that substantial economic improvements introduced could change the facts. Earlier this week, the Bank of England announced that annual inflation had reached the targeted 2%, originally projected for late 2025. Furthermore, despite unchanged interest rates, there is anticipation of a decrease in the coming months, possibly even weeks. Lastly, Sunak pinned hopes on the potential adoption of the “Rwanda Bill” after months of procrastination, aimed at deporting all illegal immigrants to the African country as a deterrent.
The miscalculation also encompasses the decision to run a lengthy six-week election campaign, instead of opting for the minimum duration stipulated by the Constitution of just 25 days.
On May 22, when the Prime Minister made the shocking announcement calling for early general elections, some Conservative MPs questioned the decision to lead a prolonged campaign.
During an interview with The Times of London, a particular MP estimated that Sunak’s decision endangered the party and diminished any chance of reversing the trend. He also highlighted that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, revered as an icon of the Conservative Party and a symbol of its past glory, ran election campaigns lasting no more than three to four weeks during each of the three successive elections she won. To this exceptional political strategist, this decision appeared to be the most ingenious. Both history and current events have since proved it right.
With the Conservatives trailing Labour in the polls for months, Sunak had clearly hoped that a lengthy campaign would give his party more time to recover and narrow the gap between both parties. However, the opposite seems to have occurred. As the campaign progresses, with just two weeks until election day, polls indicate increasingly significant losses for the Conservatives.
In the April local municipal elections, which saw the Conservatives defeated, Sky News initially projected an encouraging outcome for the caretaker government ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The British channel anticipated a narrow majority for the Labour Party in Westminster, with the Conservatives closely behind.
Moreover, just 15 days ago, the Daily Mail published a new poll endorsed by The Daily Telegraph and The Times of London, showing the Conservatives trailing Labour by only 12 points. This sharply contrasted with all other polls indicating a gap of at least 20 points. In light of these encouraging poll results, Sunak clearly sought to capitalize on a favorable tide for his party, attempting to reverse the trend, yet without significant success. He also banked on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s lack of charisma and his unclear electoral program. Sunak thus proposed several successive televised debates that underscored Labour’s lack of real convictions and clear plan.
However, two unexpected factors have weakened Sunak’s position. First, his scandalous departure from the Normandy Landings commemorations portrayed him as leader lacking credibility on the international stage. The second and most striking factor is the significant surge in the polls for Reform UK, a breakaway party from the far-right wing of the Conservative Party, led by Nigel Farage, which is polling at 12%. A considerable portion of these votes would normally be attributed to the Conservatives.
Therefore, is it too little, too late for the Tories? The answer seems henceforth clear: yes.
The pressing question today is no longer whether the Conservatives will lose the upcoming July 4 general elections, but rather if the party is truly on the brink of annihilation. If annihilation is literally defined as the total destruction of something, completely wiping it out from existence, the polls suggest that the Conservatives may be heading in that direction. Given the near-impossibility of changing the course of the upcoming elections, the best-case scenario for the Conservatives would be to secure as many seats as possible just to narrow the gap and mitigate an imminent humiliation.

Akrotiri and Dhekelia: The Last British Remnants in Cyprus
Malo Pinatel/This Is Beirut/June 21/2024
Cyprus is home to two British-operated military bases, Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These bases have been brought to the fore at a time when Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is directly threatening Nicosia. A key point from Hezbollah’s Secretary General’s latest speech was the threats directed at the Republic of Cyprus. He warned, “We will consider ourselves at war with Cyprus if the island opens its airports and military bases to Israel for targeting Lebanon.” While the involvement of the easternmost member of the European Union might seem amusing, it is highly probable that the leader of the pro-Iranian group is primarily targeting two British installations on the island.
Known as the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, these installations are significant remnants of the British Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean. Strategically located, these bases play crucial roles in the military and political objectives for the United Kingdom and its allies.
Sovereign base areas
Akrotiri and Dhekelia cover approximately 254 square kilometers, which is about 3% of the total area of the island. These well-known British sovereign base areas were established in 1960, concurrently with Cyprus gaining its independence.
Under the Zurich and London agreements, which led to the establishment of the Cypriot state, the British retained these territories for geopolitical reasons. Indeed, these bases provide a strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean, crucial for controlling maritime and aerial routes. Furthermore, they are located near the Middle East conflict zones, thus providing an ideal platform for British operations in the region. The Akrotiri base, situated in the southern part of the island, is especially significant as it features a long runway and infrastructure able to accommodate the largest cargo planes. Meanwhile, Dhekelia is mainly a land base, serving as a logistics and intelligence hub.
Airbase and monitoring station
Akrotiri and Dhekelia fulfill three primary roles for the British government. The first, with a strong military focus, is predominantly represented by Akrotiri. It serves as a base for the Royal Air Force (RAF), the British Air Force branch, conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions. The United Kingdom and its allies, especially the United States, use this base for operations in the Middle East.
The second function is represented by the Ayios Nikolaos station, situated in the Dhekelia area. It functions as an electromagnetic intelligence gathering station (telecommunications, radar signals, etc.), integrated into the ECHELON network—a partnership among British, American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand intelligence services. This station provides surveillance across a broad region encompassing North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe.
Finally, the third function is humanitarian. Due to their proximity to various conflict zones, these bases serve as essential transit points for international aid missions. Akrotiri, in particular, played a pivotal role during the Yazidi genocide by the jihadist group Islamic State in 2014, with RAF aircraft conducting humanitarian aid drops over Mount Sinjar. More recently, the airbase was used to deliver aid to the besieged population of Gaza, amidst Israeli military actions.
Relations with Nicosia
These British bases are a persistent source of tension between the UK and Cyprus. Nicosia regards these territories as remnants of the colonial period.
In 2005, a resolution adopted by the Cypriot Parliament recognized only partial sovereignty of London over these territories, asserting it was confined to military matters rather than administrative and financial ones. In turn, the British government asserted its refusal to recognize Cypriot claims. However, bilateral agreements govern their use and ensure economic and security benefits for Cyprus. The bases provide employment opportunities for many Cypriots while also injecting substantial funds into the local economy.
Cyprus, Akrotiri, and War
Cyprus and Israel have deepened their military cooperation. Since 2014, the two countries have regularly conducted joint military exercises, with the most recent taking place in May 2023. While Cyprus has consistently allowed Israel to use its airspace for exercises, this does not extend to periods of conflict. This position was recently underscored by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in response to Hassan Nasrallah’s statements, asserting that “the Republic of Cyprus does not in any way participate in hostilities.” In practice, Nicosia’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict has mainly focused on humanitarian efforts. Cyprus has notably facilitated the establishment of a maritime humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza since March.
A stance that does not extend to the British bases established on the island. London has notably used Akrotiri to launch strikes against the Houthis. However, according to information published by the British media outlet Declassified UK in November 2023, this British base has primarily been used to transit weapons to Israel from the UK and the US. While London claims to regularly inform Nicosia about activities conducted at the base, the British military stated in a parliamentary hearing that it has no “formal obligation” to do so. With Akrotiri falling under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, the Cypriot government lacks any legal means to enforce estrictions on its British counterpart regarding ongoing operations. This scenario highlights the ongoing ineffectiveness of Hassan Nasrallah’s threats.