English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For January 04/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Prophet, Anna, Blesses The Child Jesus In The Temple
Luke 02/36-40/There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 03-04/2025
Elias Bejjani/Video and Text: "Astrologers Have Lied, Even If They Speak the Truth"
Elias Bejjani/Text and Video: Our Faithful Wishes for the New Year: Love, Peace, Faith, Fear of God, and the Last Day of Judgment
An outstanding and thought-provoking interview with director Youssef El Khoury
Youssef ElKhoury interview covered a wide range of critical Lebanese issues, including:
Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash
Lebanon’s PM discusses with Syria’s de facto ruler relations between two countries
Lebanese army unit clashes with Syrian gunmen at illegal border crossing
Report: Hochstein to chair 'important' ceasefire panel meeting
US, France reportedly reassure Lebanon that Israel won't stay in south
Jeffers tours Khiam, lauds army as Israeli violations continue
Incessant Ceasefire Violations as Israel Escalates Border Operations
A second Iranian plane searched on Friday
Lebanon allows Iranian suitcases in after airport controversy
Hezbollah Supporters Protest in Beirut Over Search of Iranian Plane
Mawlawi says search of Iranian planes aims to 'protect Lebanon'
Army clashes with gunmen on Syria border as Lebanese barred from entering Syria
Four Lebanese Soldiers Injured in Border Clashes with Syrian Gunmen
Efforts underway for president to be elected on January 9
US Army veteran accused of trying to join Hezbollah
Chamoun: Joseph Aoun Is the Most Prominent Candidate
Rising Tensions Between Hospitals and Insurers
Electing a President vs. Agreeing on One!/Johnny Kortbawi/This is Beirut/January 03/2025
Lebanese Court Releases Rifaat al-Assad’s Granddaughter, her Mother
Amer Foundation Pres Release

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published  on January 03-04/2025
German, French FMs Meet Syria's New Rulers in Damascus
Syria to Include All Sectors in New Government, Foreign Minister Says
Germany to Expand Financial Program for Syrians Seeking to Return
Arab League Plans ‘Exploratory Visit’ to New Syria
Fourth Saudi Relief Plane Carries Essential Aid Supplies to Syria
White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release
At Least 42 People Killed by Israeli Strikes in Gaza
Israeli negotiators will head to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks
Israel army says intercepted missile, drone launched from Yemen
Three Palestinians Killed in Standoff with Security Forces in West Bank
Israel struggles to deter escalating attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels as other fronts calm
At UN, Israel defends Gaza hospital raid, UN rights chief says its explanation is vague
Suicide rate in Israeli army hits 13-year high amid ongoing war
Iran Summons Italian Ambassador over Arrest of Iranian Wanted by US

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources  on January 03-04/2025
Question: “What is the key to living a victorious Christian life?/January 03/2025
Syria: Christians Facing Existential Terrorist Threat/Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/January 03/2025
From Oil to Captagon: How al-Assad’s Failures Fueled Syria’s Collapse and a Grim Legacy/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
The New Middle East: The Elephant in the Room/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Al-Aqsa Flood’ and ‘Deterrence of Aggression’: Shutting Down Debate and Opening it up/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published  on January 03-04/2025
Elias Bejjani/Video and Text: "Astrologers Have Lied, Even If They Speak the Truth"
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/138623/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeu7gwAElnw
/02 January 2025
Have those who practice astrology, prophecies, lies, and hypocrisy replaced Almighty God?
Have they truly become capable of reading the future and knowing the unseen?
There is no doubt that in Lebanon, almost all the owners of media facilities (TV stations, radio stations, YouTube channels, newspapers, and online websites) neither fear Almighty God nor the hour of His last reckoning. They brazenly promote infidelity, hoaxes, and lies through programs that epitomize spiritual decadence. These programs—whose stars are alleged astrologers claiming to know and predict the future—are mere swindlers and hypocrites. Some of them are even linked to regional and local intelligence groups that use misinformation to propagate various conspiracies.This heretical media status is deeply flawed, sad, disgusting, and frightening. Many Lebanese media institutions have sunk into a mire of faithlessness and immorality.
To those responsible for these outlets—who promote the lies and trivialities of heretics practicing magic, astrology, and false prophecies—we ask: Do you fear God?
Do you believe in the Holy Scriptures? Are you aware of the dire consequences awaiting those who engage in such satanic practices, condemned by Christian, Jewish, and Islamic teachings alike?
We also ask Lebanese religious authorities: Why do you not take a firm stand against every media outlet that promotes infidelity and Satanism through programs of predictions, prophecies, and claims of knowledge of the unseen? These programs blatantly defy all heavenly laws. Similarly, we question the inaction of MPs, ministers, and other state officials: Why have you not enacted laws to prevent these heresies, which are sinful according to all monotheistic religions?
For those who follow the heresies promoted by most Lebanese media during the New Year—whether in the homeland or the diaspora—this situation evokes memories of the sinful eras of Sodom, Gomorrah, Noah, and Nimrod's arrogance. Have astrologers, false prophets, and hypocrites replaced God Almighty, claiming to read the future and uncover the unseen? Do clerics, politicians, media professionals, and heretics not understand that only God knows the future? Even the prophets and messengers were not granted this grace. The holy books of monotheistic religions unequivocally condemn practices such as spirit preparation, sorcery, divination, astrology, and the reading of horoscopes. These are considered satanic acts, and believers are urged to reject and avoid anyone who engages in them. Such practices divert believers from God, leading them toward darkness and deception.
In Islam, astrology and all forms of fortune-telling are explicitly prohibited and forbidden (haram). As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated in Sahih Muslim: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” If merely consulting a fortune-teller results in such consequences, what fate awaits the fortune-tellers themselves?
Christianity and Judaism similarly denounce these practices. The Bible teaches that Satan often masquerades as good, using astrologers, magicians, and fortune-tellers to deceive people and lead them astray. Those who fall into these traps risk distancing themselves from God and embracing satanic deception.
Astrologers and fortune-tellers often become victims of their own delusions, unknowingly serving as tools of Satan. As humans created in God’s image, we are called to seek His will through prayer, faith, and adherence to His teachings, not through sorcery or astrology.
Anyone who believes in the false claims of astrologers and fortune-tellers commits a grave sin, as these acts defy the core tenets of all monotheistic religions. It is no wonder our country faces tribulations, hardships, and divine wrath. As our society mirrors the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, it should come as no surprise that we endure God’s righteous judgment.
In conclusion, all who practice astrology, divination, and similar acts stand in direct opposition to the teachings of heavenly religions. They defy God’s will, becoming tools of Satan and slaves to sin, infidelity, and ingratitude. Those who believe in or promote such practices are complicit in these acts and share in their guilt. We end with a verse from Leviticus 20:27 (Old Testament): "A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads."

Elias Bejjani/Text and Video: Our Faithful Wishes for the New Year: Love, Peace, Faith, Fear of God, and the Last Day of Judgment
/January 01, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2024/12/81879/
How transformative and healing it would be if each and every one of us were fully ready to welcome the year 2025 with a clear conscience, a reconciled spirit, and a renewed commitment to love and understanding. Imagine entering the new year with a heart unburdened by the weight of past grievances, a mind freed from the chains of hostility, hatred, and jealousy, and a soul glowing with forgiveness and compassion.
Life, as fleeting as it is precious, unfolds in the blink of an eye. The gift of life that Almighty God has granted us is a treasure that He may choose to reclaim at any moment. These undeniable truths compel us to reflect deeply on how we live our days and how we engage with those around us. Let us, therefore, make a conscious decision to leave behind the pains, hardships, and disappointments of 2024, embracing the opportunity for a fresh start.
As we turn the page to 2025, let us commit to filling the blank slate of this new year with acts of kindness, gestures of goodwill, and moments of genuine connection. Let us strive to build bridges where walls once stood, to sow seeds of hope where despair had taken root, and to light the path of love where shadows of division lingered.
For our beloved Lebanon, a nation enduring the heavy yoke of occupation and oppression, let this new year ignite a collective yearning for peace and freedom. May it inspire all its people—the impoverished, the marginalized, and the oppressed—to find strength in unity, courage in faith, and resolve in their pursuit of justice and sovereignty. Let us pray that 2025 brings a renewed spirit of hope and the dawn of a brighter, liberated future for our homeland.
To every faithful and wise individual, the call is clear: Begin this new year with open hands, a forgiving heart, and unwavering faith. Extend love to those who may have wronged you, embrace the gift of reconciliation, and walk forward with self-confidence and hope.
Let us usher in 2025 with prayers for a year marked by peace, love, and the fear of God. May it be a time of renewal and blessings for all. From the depths of our hearts, we wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with forgiveness, faith, hope, and enduring love.
May Lebanon’s suffering come to an end, and may its people rise with strength and dignity to reclaim their freedom and future.
Elias Bejjani/Video: Our Faithful Wishes for the New Year: Love, Peace, Faith, Fear of God, and the Last Day of Judgment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKkvH5SrJac
Elias Bejjani/January 01, 2025

An outstanding and thought-provoking interview with director Youssef El Khoury, who passionately expresses his profound love for Lebanon—its identity, culture, sovereignty, freedom, neutrality, mission, and people. He delivers bold, educational insights, exposing those who fail to honor Lebanon’s sanctity or defend it, driven instead by self-serving, submissive, and power-hungry agendas. This sovereign and visionary interview holds political figures accountable, unmasking traitors, profiteers of the so-called resistance, cowards, and slaves to foreign-imposed decrees. It is an urgent need for all political figures to watch the interview and draw powerful lessons from the Youssef's unwavering principles, dignity, and courage in calling things prudently by their true names.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/138691/
03 January/2025

Youssef ElKhoury interview covered a wide range of critical Lebanese issues, including:
*The concept of good and evil, emphasizing the clear moral distinction between them.
*Hezbollah’s Iranian-Islamic resistance, devoid of any genuine Lebanese identity.
*The stark contrast between true martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Lebanonو and those who perished on jihadist missions for Jerusalem.
*The ceasefire agreement and Amos Hochstein’s role in enabling Hezbollah’s continued influence.
*Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri’s deceptive political maneuvers and distractions.
*The disgraceful condition of presidential candidates following the Taif Agreement, which marginalized the powers and role of the president.
*The humiliating political submission to the new Syriain ruler while Lebanon remains occupied by the statues of tyrants who devastated the nation, such as Hafez al-Assad and Gamal Abdel Nasser.
*The emergence of a new fundamentalist regime in Syria.
*Key historical stances by prominent leaders and intellectuals, Bacher Jemayel, Pere Charbel Kassis, Salim Jaheal.
*The illegitimacy of the current Lebanese Parliament, elected under Iranian occupation.
*The shameful alignment of Hezbollah, Berri, and Mikati, including the government's signing of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
*The role of the Iranian ambassador, injured in the Beirut explosion and the grave mistake of not expelling the Iranian ambassador and severing diplomatic ties with Iran.
*Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s historical parallel with King Jehu of Israel, (King Jehu, is an Israeli historical military commander who overthrew King Joram in the 9th century BC, fulfilled divine prophecy by eliminating the House of Ahab, and led a campaign against Baal worship).
*The likelihood of Netanyahu resuming military action if the Lebanese government fails to uphold its commitments.
*U.S. guarantees for Israel as part of the ceasefire terms, with no such assurances for Lebanon.

Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Syria has imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP on Friday, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians. The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours since opposition factions topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month. Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID. But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP Friday that they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side".The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet. A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented "new procedures" since last night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission. The Lebanese army said in a statement on X that its soldiers and Syrians had clashed at the border as the armed forces tried to "close an illegal crossing". "Syrians attempted to open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots into the air. The Syrians opened fire on army personnel, injuring one of them and provoking a clash". "Army units deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures," the statement added. Earlier, a Lebanese military official had said Syria's move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese army and Syrian armed men at the border" who were briefly detained by the army.

Lebanon’s PM discusses with Syria’s de facto ruler relations between two countries
Reuters/January 03, 2025
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, in a phone call on Friday with Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed Al-Sharaa, discussed relations between the two countries, according to a statement from Mikati’s office posted on X, and said that he received an invitation from Sharaa to visit Syria to discuss common files. Sharaa also affirmed that Syrian authorities took the necessary measures to restore calm on the border between the two countries, the post on X said.

Lebanese army unit clashes with Syrian gunmen at illegal border crossing
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/January 03, 2025
BEIRUT: A Lebanese army unit clashed with a group of armed Syrian nationals at the border on Friday as the soldiers attempted to “close an illegal crossing” in the Maarboun-Baalbek area of eastern Lebanon. The Syrians were trying to forcibly reopen the crossing with a bulldozer, the army said. Soldiers fired warning shots into the air and Syrians responded by returning fire. The “armed Syrians fired at the Lebanese soldiers, injuring one and sparking a clash between both sides,” the army command added. “Artillery shells were used” and other Lebanese army units in the area also responded with strict military measures, it added. Subsequently, “reinforcements from the army’s mobile regiment arrived in the area, following the retreat of the armed Syrians, some of whom sustained injuries,” and the illegal crossing remained closed. Maarboun is a town in Baalbek-Hermel governorate, and a natural crossing point between the two countries. However it is an illegal crossing mainly used by smugglers and human traffickers. The surrounding area is known to be pro-Hezbollah.
The incident at the illegal crossing coincided with the actions of Syrian authorities on Friday morning that prevented hundreds of Lebanese from crossing the border between Masnaa in Lebanon and Jdeidet Yabous in Syria. The Syrians suddenly imposed new conditions on Lebanese visitors, including requirements that they have a hotel reservation and at least $2,000 in cash. People visiting Syria for surgery or other medical care must now have proof of an appointment and a Syrian sponsor who can confirm their identity. A valid residence permit for the stay in Syria is also required. Lebanese authorities imposed similar rules on Syrians entering Lebanon after the civil war in Syria began more than a decade ago. Buses carrying Lebanese passengers who intended to visit Syria were forced turn back at the border as a result of the new Syrian rules. Lebanon’s General Security Directorate decided to “prohibit any Lebanese from entering Syria through illegal crossings between both countries in Bekaa and the north, pending clarity during this stage,” a source from the agency said.
After the fall of President Bashar Assad and his regime in Syria in early December, the directorate held two meetings with officials from the new Syrian administration to discuss the regulation of movement between the two countries. Though media delegations, politicians and civilians have crossed into Syria in recent days, Lebanese authorities have tightened security at land crossings, following similar actions at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. Normal operations at the airport resumed on Friday after an incident on Thursday night involving an aircraft belonging to Iranian airline Mahan Air. Airport security decided to conduct a thorough inspection of all passengers when the plane landed, including luggage belonging to diplomats on board. The diplomats protested and chose instead to leave their luggage at the airport. It was taken to a storage facility for inspection the following day using scanners.
Footage circulated on social media apparently showing young men on motorcycles heading to the airport to protest against the measures. It was believed the heightened security was motivated by concerns that passengers might be carrying money for delivery to Hezbollah. A second Iranian plane that landed on Friday faced similar security measures. Lebanon’s interior minister, Bassam Mawlawi, described the move as a routine procedure and added: “What the airport security is doing aims to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese people. We are enforcing the law, protecting the airport and safeguarding all of Lebanon because it cannot withstand any new aggression.”The decision covered the inspection of all luggage, he said, including that carried by diplomats. The heightened measures drew criticism from the vice president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib. During his Friday sermon, he called on the interior minister “to demonstrate his heroism against the enemy, not against those who made sacrifices to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Also on Friday, US Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, head of the international committee monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, toured Khiam, where the Lebanese army was deployed after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Tony Faris, commander of the Lebanese army’s 7th Brigade. Their visit came as Israel continued to face criticism for violating Lebanese sovereignty, including reconnaissance flights over southern Lebanon, extending as far as the southern suburbs of Beirut. Israeli forces were also accused of demolishing houses and roads in Dhayra and Jebbayn, and there were renewed warnings to residents of southern Lebanon not to return to homes in border areas until further notice. There was a heavy presence of UN Interim Force in Lebanon forces along the Bayada-Naqoura road. The Lebanese army has placed concrete barriers on the road to Naqoura, preventing people other than UNIFIL personnel from entering. The UN force’s headquarters is located there. The Lebanese army said it was surveying military remnants in Naqoura following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the town on Thursday. When this task is complete, Lebanese forces will be redeployed to the area, it added.

Report: Hochstein to chair 'important' ceasefire panel meeting
Naharnet/January 03/2025
An “important” meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee will be held on Monday in Naqoura, al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted sources as saying on Friday. “This time it will be chaired by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, which will give a bigger impetus to the committee’s work,” the sources added.
Hochstein is the civilian co-chair of “the cessation of hostilities implementation and monitoring mechanism” while U.S. general Jasper Jeffers is its military co-chair. Jeffers of the U.S. Special Operations Command Central had arrived in Beirut on November 27. The cessation of hostilities implementation and monitoring mechanism is chaired by the United States and consist of the Lebanese Army, the Israeli army, the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and France. Hochstein will serve as the civilian co-chair until a permanent civilian official is named. This group is assisting in the monitoring and implementation of the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon that went into effect on Nov. 26. The truce has been marked by mutual accusations of violations from both sides. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese Army is to deploy alongside U.N. peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period. Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south. In late December, the U.N. peacekeeping force expressed concern at the "continuing" damage done by Israeli forces in south Lebanon.

US, France reportedly reassure Lebanon that Israel won't stay in south
Naharnet/January 03/2025
Lebanese officials have received reassurances from U.S. and French officials that the international ceasefire monitoring committee will press Israel to stop its ceasefire violations and that the Israeli army will not stay in Lebanon after the 60-day period and might even withdraw before that, informed sources said. “The reason behind the Israeli withdrawal decision is the presence of an international decision to pacify the southern front and the fear that the truce agreement might collapse, in addition to the fact that the Israeli government wants to commit to the new U.S. president Donald Trump’s desire to stop wars in the region prior to his inauguration,” the sources told al-Binaa newspaper in remarks published Friday. “The Israeli government also considers that it has achieved a lot of the war goals and that it can tell the Israelis that it has restored security in the north and returned settlers to it, seeing as any collapse of the agreement and return to war would obstruct the return of settlers and displace more of them, something that Israel cannot bear,” the sources added.

Jeffers tours Khiam, lauds army as Israeli violations continue
Naharnet/January 03/2025
The co-chair of the ceasefire monitoring committee, U.S. general Jasper Jeffers, toured the southern town of Khiam on Friday, accompanied by the commander of the Lebanese Army’s 7th Brigade, Brig. Gen. Tony Fares. Israeli forces had recently withdrawn from the town, allowing for the deployment of the Lebanese Army as per the ceasefire agreement. A U.S. Embassy statement said Jeffers inspected Lebanese soldiers deployed in the South Litani Area and that the trip included a stop in Khiam, "the first border region to fully transition back to Lebanese control since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities on November 27, 2024.""I am incredibly impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the LAF (Lebanese Army). They are working around the clock to provide security and dismantle unexploded ordnance so Lebanese citizens can safely return home," Jeffers said. In the last few weeks, the Lebanese Army cleared over 9,800 pieces of explosive ordnance from more than 80 locations. Israel’s violations meanwhile continued on the ground in south Lebanon and through surveillance drones over Beirut and its suburbs. “Smoke is still bellowing from the vicinity of the mosque of the town of Bani Hayyan after the detonation that was carried out by enemy forces there,” the National News Agency reported. Israeli forces also torced two homes in the town after searching them and staged bulldozing works in the valley that is located west of the town, NNA said. Israeli bulldozers had also razed residential neighborhoods in the coastal border town of Naqoura, which delayed the entry of the Lebanese Army into the town. The Israeli army also combed the area between the towns of Bani Hayyan and Tallousa with medium- and heavy-caliber machine guns, after having dynamited areas in Bani Hayyan and Kfarkela overnight.

Incessant Ceasefire Violations as Israel Escalates Border Operations
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
Civil Defense teams retrieved the bodies of three people from under the rubble in eastern Khiyam on Friday, as they continue their search for missing people. The General Directorate of the Civil Defense indicated in a statement. that “the search operations will resume Saturday morning until all missing persons are found.”Meanwhile, an Israeli force moved from Kfar Kila toward the Burj al-Molouk outskirts, and cut off the road with barbed wire, before they withdrew. Israeli forces also blew up houses in the towns of Dhaira and Jibbin, while setting fire to houses in Houla in the district of Marjayoun, according to the National News Agency. While, Israeli drones hovered over Tyre, Bint Jbeil and the southern suburbs of Beirut for the third consecutive day on Friday, the Israeli army renewed its warning to the inhabitants of south Lebanon to stay clear of border villages “until further notice.” Several Israeli military operations were carried out overnight from Thursday to Friday, resulting in increased violations of the ceasefire agreement established on November 27. At midnight on Thursday, the Israeli army bombed the outskirts of Bani Hayyan in Marjayoun. A large-scale sweeping operation with heavy machine gun fire was conducted in the area, including the village of Tallous in the same district. In Marjayoun, Israeli soldiers opened fire towards Kfar Kila.In Naqoura, several homes and neighborhoods were destroyed by Israeli bulldozers, impeding the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the region.
On Friday, multiple patrols by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) blocked the road connecting Hamra-Bayada to Naqoura with cement blocks. Furthermore, engineering teams from the seventh Brigade of the LAF continued their mission as part of the truce agreement's implementation. They monitored areas vacated by Israeli soldiers, particularly in Chamaa and Bayada.
Jeffers Visits Khiam
The head of the five-member supervisory committee, General Jasper Jeffers, visited the village of Khiam on Friday – a location that suffered deadly attacks during the war. He was accompanied by the commander of the LAF’s seventh Brigade, General Tony Fares.

A second Iranian plane searched on Friday
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
International Airport on Friday, without causing any problems similar to those which erupted the previous day on arrival of the Iranian Mahan Air plane. Speaking in a television interview, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi pointed out: “We only want to protect Lebanon. These searches are routine measures. We are applying the law and protecting the airport and Lebanon, which can no longer withstand further Israeli attacks.”The truce agreement between Lebanon and Israel includes measures designed to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military arsenal. This explains the strict control applied by the Lebanese authorities at the airport through which Iranian arms and money were reaching Hezbollah. The day before, the search of a Mahan Air aircraft caused a stir in Hezbollah circles, sparking protests and prompting Iranian diplomacy to make clarifications. General Security officers conducted a thorough search of the Mahan Air plane on Thursday evening, despite objections from an Iranian Embassy employee.The man vehemently protested the search of his bag, citing diplomatic immunity Nevertheless, airport security officers insisted on retaining the suitcase at the airport and seizing its contents until the diplomat complied with the search. Mawlawi confirmed that evening to MTV channel that the Iranian plane was undergoing inspection, emphasizing that the airport security service was executing its directives meticulously. This incident provoked reactions among Hezbollah affiliates. Videos circulating online depicted numerous motorcyclists brandishing Hezbollah flags and roaming the streets near the airport. In a video aired on al-Manar, an individual at the airport confronted security personnel, declaring, “This is not Tel Aviv airport. This has turned into Tel Aviv’s airport.”According to a report on the X platform, the military deployed tanks on the road leading to the airport to prevent Hezbollah bikers from entering. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates received a written explanation from the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon on Thursday evening concerning the contents of two small diplomatic pouches carried by the Iranian diplomat. According to the note, the bags contained documents and money intended exclusively for operational expenses and for embassy use. The bags were admitted in compliance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Lebanon allows Iranian suitcases in after airport controversy
Naharnet/January 03/2025
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced Friday that “two small diplomatic suitcases carried by an Iranian diplomat aboard a Mahan Air flight” were allowed to enter through Beirut airport after the Iranian embassy “clarified that they contained papers, documents and cash for paying operational expenses exclusively related to the embassy’s operations.”“Accordingly, the two suitcases were allowed to enter as per the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the Foreign Ministry added. The Iranian flight was delayed upon arrival and searched at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Thursday, after Lebanon reportedly received intelligence of an Iranian plan to smuggle cash into the country to fund Hezbollah. According to reports in Lebanon, members of an Iranian diplomatic delegation aboard the plane tried to prevent it from being searched, citing diplomatic immunity, but after security forces were called in, the plane was eventually scanned. Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi confirmed the incident in a statement saying “the Iranian Mahan Air plane is now being searched bag by bag at Beirut airport.”Citing defense sources, Lebanese media also reported that an Iranian diplomat was removed from the flight and detained after refusing to allow his personal belongings to be searched by airport authorities. One report said the contents of the diplomat’s bag were confiscated by Lebanese authorities after cash was found in his belongings. According to the reports, “intensive negotiations” were held between Lebanese and Iranian authorities, who said the contents of the diplomat’s bag were solely intended for use at the Iranian embassy, and are protected under international law. Hezbollah supporters meanwhile staged a motorbike protest on the airport road to denounce the incident, as an apparently Lebanese passenger of the plane decried in a video circulated online that Beirut’s airport has turned into “Tel Aviv’s airport.”

Hezbollah Supporters Protest in Beirut Over Search of Iranian Plane
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
Hezbollah supporters protested near the Iranian embassy in Beirut following the delay of an Iranian flight at Beirut International Airport on Thursday evening caused by the thorough search of the passengers.

Mawlawi says search of Iranian planes aims to 'protect Lebanon'
Naharnet/January 03/2025
Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi stressed Friday that “what the ministry and the Airport Security Apparatus are doing is aimed at protecting Lebanon and the Lebanese,” hours after controversy at the airport over the entry of two Iranian suitcases. “The decision has been taken to search all diplomats,” Mawlawi told al-Jadeed TV. “The search of the Iranian plane (on Thursday) was a routine measure and we are implementing the law and protecting the airport and entire Lebanon, because it cannot bear any new (Israeli) attack,” the minister explained. He added: “We also searched the Iranian plane that arrived this morning without any problem and no one objected, and we only want to protect Lebanon.” The Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced Friday that “two small diplomatic suitcases carried by an Iranian diplomat aboard a Mahan Air flight” were allowed to enter through Beirut airport after the Iranian embassy “clarified that they contained papers, documents and cash for paying operational expenses exclusively related to the embassy’s operations.”“Accordingly, the two suitcases were allowed to enter as per the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the Foreign Ministry added. The Iranian flight was delayed upon arrival and searched at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport on Thursday, after Lebanon reportedly received intelligence of an Iranian plan to smuggle cash into the country to fund Hezbollah. According to reports in Lebanon, members of an Iranian diplomatic delegation aboard the plane tried to prevent it from being searched, citing diplomatic immunity, but after security forces were called in, the plane was eventually scanned.

Army clashes with gunmen on Syria border as Lebanese barred from entering Syria
Agence France Presse/January 03/2025
Armed clashes erupted on Syria's border between the Lebanese Army and a group of gunmen following an attempt to reopen an illegal border crossing. "Clashes have stopped in the Maaraboun area between the Lebanese Army and Syrian gunmen after several armed men were wounded. The gunmen retreated as the illegal border crossing remained closed," al-Jadeed TV reported on Friday afternoon. The army had sent reinforcements to the area after the injury of one of its officers. In a statement, the army said that “as an army unit was working on closing an illegal border crossing on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Baalbek area of Maaraboun, Syrian individuals tried to reopen the crossing with a bulldozer, prompting army troops to fire warning shots in the air.” “The Syrians then opened fire at the army soldiers, wounding one of them and triggering a clash between the two sides,” the army added, noting that “strict military measures have been taken by the army units deployed in the sector.” Syria meanwhile imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens following the clashes, a military official and two security sources from Lebanon told AFP. A General Security official told AFP they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side," with another security source saying "it seems they (Syria) have new procedures" allowing in only Lebanese with residency permits or official permission. The military official said the move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese Army and Syrian fighters at the border."A Syrian source, however, told MTV that "the border clash that broke out at night was between the Lebanese Army and smugglers who are known in the area and what happened has nothing to do with the closure of the border." "Syrian authorities have asked the Lebanese interior minister to communicate with his Syrian counterpart to resolve the issue of barring the Lebanese from entering Syria," security sources told MTV. MTV had earlier reported that the “sudden” decision to restrict the entry of Lebanese was taken overnight and that “the Lebanese side was not notified of the matter, which caused major confusion.” “Efforts are underway today to address this issue,” MTV said. The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbors -- who share a fraught history -- since Islamist-led rebels topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month. Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.

Four Lebanese Soldiers Injured in Border Clashes with Syrian Gunmen
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
Four Lebanese soldiers were injured on Friday during clashes between the army and Syrian gunmen in the Maaraboun-Baalbek region on the Lebanese-Syrian border. According to a statement by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the Syrian gunmen used “medium-caliber weaponry to target a military unit, causing moderate injuries to four soldiers.”Earlier Friday, the Army Command had announced that a LAF military formation was in the process of closing an illegal crossing at the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Maaraboun region, when Syrians tried to reopen the passage using a bulldozer. “To ward them off, the Lebanese army first fired in the air,” the army said, adding that the warning shots provoked a violent reaction from the Syrians, who opened fire on the Lebanese soldiers. Additionally, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Hezbollah members and Syrian Defense Ministry personnel engaged in “fierce clashes” on the Lebanese border in the Rif Damascus area. In this context, a Syrian source told MTV that the Lebanese army and local smugglers engaged in combat near the border Thursday night. The same source emphasized that “the events in Maaraboun involve the Lebanese army and a group of smugglers impacted by the tightened border control following the fall of the Assad regime," adding that “this has nothing to do with the closure of the border.” Syria’s new rulers led by the Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) sent reinforcements to guard the Syrian-Lebanese border and stop any smuggling operations, according to a later MTV report.

Efforts underway for president to be elected on January 9
Naharnet/January 03/2025
Political parties in Lebanon are working to agree on two or three presidential candidates ahead of a presidential vote session scheduled for next week, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa told Al-Jadeed on Friday.
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one, and unable to reach a consensus.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has called for parliament to convene on January 9 to elect a president, in an attempt to break a gridlock of over two years and reactivate the country's crippled state institutions. The five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, has been working for months to facilitate the election of a president. "The five-member group is pushing for a president to be elected on January 9," Moussa told al-Jadeed. He said the ambassadors' last meeting with Berri was very positive and that Berri has vowed that the voting session will be open with successive rounds until a president is elected. "Berri told us he is seeking to reach a consensus president who would support United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Moussa said.
Resolution 1701 intends to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces would fully withdraw while the Lebanese army and UNIFIL — Hezbollah excluded — would be the exclusive armed presence south of Lebanon’s Litani River. the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for the resolution in 2006 to end a bruising monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah and pave the way for lasting security along the border. But while there was relative calm for nearly two decades, Resolution 1701's terms were never fully enforced.
The resolution was again on the table as part of a U.S.-French brokered ceasefire deal that ended, in late November, 13 months of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The clashes had escalated in September into an all-out war.

US Army veteran accused of trying to join Hezbollah
Agence France Presse/January 03/2025
A U.S. Army veteran who allegedly went to Lebanon and Syria to try to join Hezbollah has been indicted for attempting to support a "terrorist" organization, the U.S. Justice Department said. Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, a dual U.S.-Irish national, was arrested in Chicago last month and brought to Pennsylvania on Monday to face charges, the department said in a statement. According to the indictment, Molloy traveled to Lebanon in August and attempted to join Hezbollah, which Washington has designated as a "terrorist" group. When his efforts were rebuffed, he went to Syria in an attempt to join the organization there. Molloy returned to the United States and allegedly continued his attempts to join Hezbollah, communicating online with individuals in Lebanon. According to the Justice Department, Molloy promoted violence against Jewish people on social media and said in a WhatsApp exchange with a family member that his "master plan was to join Hezbollah and kill Jews."Molloy faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of providing material support to a "terrorist" organization.

Chamoun: Joseph Aoun Is the Most Prominent Candidate
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
MP Camille Chamoun announced on Friday that Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun is the opposition’s leading presidential candidate.
He made this statement during a meeting with MP Samy Gemayel, the head of the Kataeb Party, at Gemayel’s residence in Bikfaya.
Chamoun emphasized that the phase leading to the upcoming electoral session on January 9 “requires firm and responsible decisions regarding the presidential candidate who will embody the aspirations of the Lebanese people and steer the country toward stability and prosperity.”
Opposition’s Criteria for the Presidency
A day prior, the opposition outlined clear and non-negotiable criteria for the next president, without specifying a direct candidate. The candidate must be capable of:
• Restoring the authority of the Constitution and upholding the rule of law.
• Reinstating decision-making power on critical national matters.
• Restricting weapons to official state forces.
• Implementing international resolutions and agreements.
• Initiating reforms to address the financial and economic collapse.
• Rebuilding Lebanon’s legitimate economy and repairing relations with Arab and international nations.
Chamoun outlined the necessity of ongoing consultations among opposition forces to ensure the chosen candidate meets these criteria.

Rising Tensions Between Hospitals and Insurers
This is Beirut/January 03/2025
A heated conflict has erupted between the Syndicate of Hospital Owners in Lebanon and the Association of Insurance Companies.
The Syndicate of Hospital Owners in Lebanon, led by Sleiman Haroun, has announced that, starting February 2, 2025, hospitals will increase the rates agreed upon with insurance companies by 15%. This increase is aimed at ensuring that hospitals “can continue providing high-quality services to insured patients.”
The syndicate argues that “the actual cost of services no longer aligns with the rising prices of products, particularly non-billable items included in hospital services, notably due to the removal of subsidies on some of these items.”
In addition, according to the syndicate, “other factors have contributed to the increase in service costs.”In an interview with This is Beirut, Assaad Mirza, the President of the Association of Insurance Companies, firmly rejected the proposed increase, specifying that Mr. Haroun had informed him of the decision via letter on December 24. Mirza further explained that he contacted university hospitals, which confirmed that the increase in fees, commonly referred to as “the cost of living,” ranges between 3% and 5%. In his response to Haroun, Mirza reminded him that insured individuals and the Lebanese population in general “are already struggling with the high cost of living,” making it “impossible to impose another increase on them.”Furthermore, he pointed out that most insurance policies have already been issued and do not account for such a significant rise. Mirza concluded by emphasizing that the health insurance sector cannot bear this additional financial burden, especially given its current 130% loss rate.

Electing a President vs. Agreeing on One!
Johnny Kortbawi/This is Beirut/January 03/2025
In the forthcoming session, Lebanon does not need to elect a president but rather to agree on one. This distinction is significant and critical, especially given the current circumstances.
Electing a president could have been achieved before former President Michel Aoun left office, during successive and uninterrupted parliamentary sessions that maintained quorum. Candidates could have stepped forward – as some have done in recent days, despite being well over two years past the reasonable timeframe for candidacy. MPs would then have cast their votes, with dynamics shifting in each new session, even if it required numerous consecutive meetings. Only then could a president have been elected.
However, this scenario is unlikely to unfold today, particularly during the January 9 session. That session cannot accommodate all the declared and undeclared candidates, nor can it handle the diverse range of ideas and proposals on the table. Furthermore, it is constrained by the significant number of parliamentary blocs and MPs who remain hesitant to make a decision or put forward a candidate. No political side, except the Democratic Gathering bloc, has settled on a candidate, nor is it clear whether the Amal-Hezbollah duo will back Sleiman Frangieh during the session. What is needed is a consensus on a president – or at the very least, a clear declaration of intent – so that candidates unable to gather sufficient support can withdraw, thereby narrowing the presidential race to two or three candidates at most. Assuming a president is elected in the upcoming January 9 session – which remains unlikely – the situation in Lebanon will quickly shift back to renewed political debates. The country will then face the challenge of appointing a prime minister, with no capable Sunni figure to assume that position, or at least none publicly willing to take on the role. Moreover, according to available information, Arab countries are reportedly unwilling to repeat the experience of Najib Mikati.
What kind of prime minister will be appointed, considering it took over two years to agree on a president? How will the ministries be distributed among the parties? Who will join the government, who will be excluded and who will be barred from participating? Will Hezbollah repeat its experience of joining the government? What will the government’s policy statement include? Will Hezbollah and its allies insist once again on the “Army, People, Resistance” formula?
These are complex issues, each of which would require a month to resolve given Lebanon’s way of addressing problems. How, then, can these questions be tackled when the first challenge – electing a president – has yet to be overcome?
These possibilities remain mere speculation as long as we approach the presidential deadline with over a hundred MPs who have yet to make a decision or be swayed by any candidate. How can we rely on those who lack a clear stance to lead the next phase and address all the remaining issues?

Lebanese Court Releases Rifaat al-Assad’s Granddaughter, her Mother
Beirut: Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Lebanese authorities have released Shams Duraid al-Assad, granddaughter of Syria’s Rifaat al-Assad, and her mother, Rasha Khazem, a week after their arrest at Beirut Airport for using forged passports to try to travel abroad. A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Raed Abou Chakra, a deputy prosecutor general in Mount Lebanon, released the pair after the completion of the initial investigations. They were charged with possessing and using forged passports, and the case was referred to Baabda Criminal Court for trial. The source said their release followed the end of their pretrial detention period, noting the charge is a misdemeanor. The court may consider the detention sufficient or impose a fine. Also, they must stay in Lebanon until their trial ends and the sentence is carried out. A judicial source described their legal situation as “difficult and complex.”The source said that after the court’s ruling, General Security could issue documents allowing them to move freely in Lebanon until a legal way for them to leave is found. This will remain the case until they obtain new passports, either from Syrian authorities or the Syrian embassy in Beirut. The embassy halted consular services after being linked to the forgery of their previous passports. Moreover, they admitted after their arrest that they entered Lebanon illegally because their passports had expired. They said they were unprepared for the rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which left them unable to obtain new passports.A judicial source said the two women can legally return to Damascus to get new passports, as they face no charges in Syria. “Many families linked to the Assad regime still live in Syria,” the source said, adding that Lebanon will not force them to return unless they choose to.

Amer Foundation Pres Release
Face Book/03 January/2025
As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, we take great pride in the progress our organization has made. This past year, we successfully launched numerous impactful projects, including the co-hosting of the "Heroes Among Us" event featuring Paul Rusesabagina, who shared his harrowing experiences held hostage in Rwanda. We facilitated important discussions on hostage diplomacy, collaborating with the Lantos Foundation, Foley Foundation, and the World Affairs Council to share personal narratives and insights. Additionally, the Fakhoury family launched the book *Silenced in Beirut*, which has sold thousands of copies, with all proceeds benefiting the Amer Foundation. Our "Lebanon Needs You" project has been instrumental in delivering essential aid to families in southern Lebanon, addressing the gaps in government assistance due to infrastructure challenges. Our dedicated team on the ground has worked tirelessly to provide fuel, food, medicine, and baby necessities to those in need.As a non-profit organization committed to human rights, we are grateful for the achievements of the past year and look forward to continuing our mission in 2025. A special thank you to all the donors who have helped make these accomplishments possible.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 02-03/2025
German, French FMs Meet Syria's New Rulers in Damascus
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
The foreign ministers of Germany and France said they wanted to forge a new relationship with Syria and urged a peaceful transition as they met its de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday on behalf of the European Union.
Germany's Annalena Baerbock and France's Jean-Noel Barrot are the first ministers from the EU to visit Syria since opposition fighters seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8 and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee.
"My trip today...is a clear signal to the Syrians: A new political beginning between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria, is possible," Baerbock said before she left for Damascus. Barrot expressed his hope "for a sovereign, stable and peaceful Syria" after arriving in Damascus, where he also visited the French embassy, which has been closed since 2012. Barrot, who met with the Syrian staff who looked after the French embassy's closed facilities, said France would work towards re-establishing diplomatic representation in line with political and security conditions, diplomatic sources said. Baerbock and Barrot visited Syria's Saydnaya prison, an emblem of abuses under Assad. "Now it's up to the international community to help bring justice to the people who have suffered here in this prison of hell," Baerbock said.

Syria to Include All Sectors in New Government, Foreign Minister Says
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Syria's foreign minister has told Saudi Arabian officials that the new leadership in Damascus wants to set up a government involving all parts of Syrian society following the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad last month. Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani was making the first foreign trip by a member of Syria's new administration as Western and regional powers seek signs on whether it show inclusivity in government.Al-Shibani and Syria's defense minister met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh on Thursday. "Through our visit, we conveyed our national vision of establishing a government based on partnership and efficiency that includes all Syrian components, and working to launch an economic development plan that opens the way for investment, establishes strategic partnerships, and improves living and service conditions," Al-Shibani said in a post on X, Reuters reported. Since ousting Assad on Dec. 8, opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have sought to reassure Arab countries and the international community that they will govern on behalf of all Syrians.

Germany to Expand Financial Program for Syrians Seeking to Return
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Germany plans to expand a financial program for Syrian nationals seeking to return to their home country in the wake of the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, a spokesperson for the interior ministry said on Friday.
"In future, we want to expand the program for those who want to leave voluntarily," the spokesperson said, adding that 200 euros ($205) in travel expenses and 1,000 euros in start-up costs were available for each adult seeking to leave Germany.
"I think the situation is still too unclear for larger return movements," the spokesperson added. Opposition fighters seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8 and forced al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war, ending his family's decades-long rule. Many Syrian refugees have since returned to their home country.

Arab League Plans ‘Exploratory Visit’ to New Syria
Cairo: Fathiya al-Dakhakhni/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts and growing Arab engagement with Syria’s new administration, the Arab League is planning to send a special envoy to Damascus. The mission will aim to “assess the situation, meet with the new government, and engage with various groups in the country,” according to an Arab diplomatic source. The source, speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, explained that, in light of recent developments, “there is a push within the Arab League to send a special envoy to Syria.” “The goal is to establish communication with the new authorities, understand their vision, and inform them about the Arab League’s operations and its relationship with Syria,” they added. Although the timing and nature of the visit have not yet been decided, the source emphasized that it would not be limited to meeting Syria’s new leaders but would also involve discussions with different social groups. “The visit is exploratory and aims to open communication channels and show the Arab League’s readiness to work with the new administration,” the source added. One key objective of the visit is to offer an honest assessment of the situation in Syria and present the new administration’s views to other Arab nations, especially in North Africa. On May 7, 2023, the Arab League reinstated Syria’s membership, reversing a suspension that began in November 2011 after the country’s protests. This decision formed a contact group of six Arab countries to work directly with Syria on a comprehensive solution to the crisis. The diplomatic source pointed out that with Bashar al-Assad’s regime fallen, the goal of the Syria-focused group has shifted to helping Syrians adapt to the new political reality. The Arab League’s planned visit comes as Syria sees increasing Arab attention. This includes a recent visit to Riyadh by Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, marking his first foreign trip. The visit coincided with the arrival of Saudi humanitarian aid to Syria. The UAE, Kuwait, and Oman have also held talks with Syrian officials. Egypt, while cautious about closer ties with Syria, has emphasized that Syria should be a source of regional stability. Egypt has been monitoring the new administration's actions closely. Observers note a growing “Arab openness” to Syria, driven by fears of Syria’s fragmentation and concerns over security issues, including terrorism.
The Arab League’s engagement reflects a shared interest in Syria's future, with a focus on stability, reconstruction, and political transition.

Fourth Saudi Relief Plane Carries Essential Aid Supplies to Syria
Riyadh/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
The fourth relief plane of the Saudi airlift, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), arrived on Friday at Damascus International Airport in Syria, carrying food, shelter, and medical supplies.
The assistance is an extension of Saudi Arabia's continuous humanitarian and relief efforts through the Kingdom’s humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to support those in need worldwide during times of crisis.

White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday. Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration. Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed. On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave. US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”

At Least 42 People Killed by Israeli Strikes in Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Israeli strikes killed at least 42 people in Gaza, including children, overnight and into Friday, hospital and emergency response workers said. Staff at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said that more than a dozen women and children were killed in strikes in central Gaza, including in Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al-Balah. Dozens of people were killed across the enclave the previous day. “We woke up to the missile strike. We found the whole house disintegrated,” Abdul Rahman Al-Nabrisi said in the Maghazi refugee camp. Later Friday, officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said that an airstrike killed three people in a car in Zawaida in central Gaza. And the Civil Defense, first responders affiliated with the Hamas-run government, said that an airstrike killed seven people, including four children and a woman, in the Shijaiyah neighborhood outside Gaza City, and another strike killed two people at Al-Samer junction in Gaza City. The Israeli army said in a statement that during the past day it had struck dozens of Hamas gathering points and command centers throughout Gaza. And it warned people to leave an area of central Gaza, saying that it would attack following launches toward Israel. The military said that a few projectiles entered from central and northern Gaza, with no injuries reported.

Israeli negotiators will head to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks
Associated Press/January 03/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says he has authorized a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency and the military to continue negotiations in Qatar toward a ceasefire deal in Gaza. The statement had no further details, but Israeli media said the delegation would depart Friday. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The U.S.-led talks have repeatedly stalled, and at one point last year Qatar suspended its mediation efforts, expressing frustration. Egypt also is a mediator.

Israel army says intercepted missile, drone launched from Yemen
Agence France Presse/January 03/2025
Israel's military reported that it shot down a missile and a drone launched from Yemen on Friday, the latest in a series of attacks from the country targeting Israel in recent weeks. "A missile that was launched from Yemen and crossed into Israeli territory was intercepted," the military said in a statement posted to its Telegram channel. "A report was received regarding shrapnel from the interception that fell in the area of Modi'in in central Israel. The details are under review." Israel's emergency service provider, Magen David Adom, reported that it had treated several people who were injured or experienced panic attacks on their way to shelters after air raid sirens sounded in the center and south of the country. Hours later the military announced that it had also shot down a drone launched from Yemen. The drone was intercepted before it entered Israel, the military added.
On Tuesday, Israel also said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. Much of Yemen is controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Houthis have stepped up their attacks since November's ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has also struck Yemen, including targeting Sanaa's international airport at the end of December.

Three Palestinians Killed in Standoff with Security Forces in West Bank
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
A Palestinian man and his son were killed in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, local medical officials said on Friday, as a month-long standoff between Palestinian security forces and armed militant groups in the town continued. Separately, a security forces officer died in what Palestinian Authority (PA) officials said was an accident, bringing to six the total number of the security forces to have died in the operation in Jenin which began on Dec. 5. There were no further details. The PA denied that its forces killed the 44-year-old man and his son, who were shot as they stood on the roof of their house in the Jenin refugee camp, a crowded quarter that houses descendants of Palestinians who fled or were driven out in the 1948 Middle East war. The man's daughter was also wounded in the incident, Reuters reported. At least eight Palestinians have been killed in Jenin over the past month, one of them a member of the armed Jenin Brigades, which includes members of the armed wings of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah factions. Palestinian security forces moved into Jenin last month in an operation officials say is aimed at suppressing armed groups of "outlaws" who have built up a power base in the city and its adjacent refugee camp. The operation has deepened splits among Palestinians in the West Bank, where the PA enjoys little popular support but where many fear being dragged into a Gaza-style conflict with Israel if the militant groups strengthen their hold. Jenin, in the northern West Bank, has been a center of Palestinian militant groups for decades and armed factions have resisted repeated attempts to dislodge them by the Israeli military over the years. The PA set up three decades ago under the Oslo interim peace accords, exercises limited sovereignty in parts of the West Bank and has claimed a role in administering Gaza once fighting in the enclave is concluded. The PA is dominated by the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas and has long had a tense relationship with Hamas, with which it fought a brief civil war in Gaza in 2006 before Hamas drove it out of the enclave.

Israel struggles to deter escalating attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels as other fronts calm
Tia Goldenberg, The Associated Press/January 3, 2025 at 2:01
The rockets from Gaza have mostly fallen silent. A ceasefire with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has taken hold. But repeated fire from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a faraway foe, is proving a stubborn threat for Israel.
The Iran-backed Houthis are stepping up their missile attacks, sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis scrambling for shelter in the middle of the night, scaring away foreign airlines and keeping up what could be the last major front in the Middle East wars. “It's like musical chairs,” said Yoni Yovel, 31, who left the northern Israeli city of Haifa late last year to avoid rocket fire from Hezbollah only to see his apartment in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa neighborhood heavily damaged by a Houthi missile.
Israel has repeatedly bombarded ports, oil infrastructure and the airport in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, some 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away. Israeli leaders have threatened to kill central Houthi figures and have tried to galvanize the world against the threat.But the Houthis persist. In recent weeks, missiles and drones from Yemen have struck nearly every day, including early Friday morning, setting off air raid sirens in broad swaths of Israel. In some cases, the projectiles have penetrated Israel’s sophisticated aerial defense system, most recently toppling an empty school and shattering the windows of apartments near an empty playground where one missile landed. Because most missiles are intercepted and because the fire is usually a single missile at a time, the strikes have not caused major physical damage, although a few attacks have been fatal during the 15-month war in Gaza as the Houthis attack in solidarity with Hamas. But the rocket fire is posing a threat to Israel’s economy, keeping many foreign airlines away and preventing the country from jump-starting its hard-hit tourism industry. Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have all but shuttered an Israeli port in the city of Eilat and have prompted ships destined for it to take a longer, more costly route around Africa to Israel's Mediterranean ports.
The Houthi strikes are also a symbolic reminder for Israel of the Iran-backed enemies that encircle it, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” and the last major holdout. And because Israel’s counterstrikes have yet to deter the Houthis, their persistent attacks defy Israel’s image as a regional military powerhouse.
“They are the only ones who are active now,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank. The Houthis, he said, “are a challenge of a different kind.”Shortly after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Houthis began striking Israel-linked ships in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait along Yemen’s coast. Those attacks expanded to include other ships with no ties to Israel, disrupting cargo and energy shipments that are critical for worldwide trade. The Houthis said it was part of their campaign aimed at pressuring Israel and the West over the war in Gaza. In response, U.S. and partner forces have launched multiple rounds of coordinated airstrikes against Houthi launch sites and weapons storage sites. Throughout the war, the Houthis have also been firing missiles and drones at Israel, at first focusing on Eilat and eventually broadening attacks to include major population centers and the seaside metropolis of Tel Aviv. The launches have intensified in recent weeks.
“There was thunder the other night and my daughter thought it was a missile. She woke up and started screaming,” said Ibrahim Sosa, 53, whose home in Jaffa is near the site of a recent missile landing. Israel has retaliated repeatedly and vowed to escalate if the attacks don't stop. “We will hunt down all of the Houthis' leaders and we will strike them just as we have done in other places," said Defense Minister Israel Katz, shortly after Israeli jets struck Yemen last week. The Israeli strikes have been deadly, with several people killed. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The Associated Press that Israel’s strikes focused on “military infrastructure which was used and directly contributed to Houthi terror activities, including to smuggle arms and finance their terror activities."Hagari acknowledged the battle would be complex. And despite massive Israeli air power, the Houthis have continued their assaults. That stands in contrast to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran — three other enemies Israel has largely neutralized over the past 15 months. “Israel has many years of familiarity with those enemies. There is intelligence and there is the important element of a ground maneuver, and in Yemen we can't do that. The scale here is different,” said Eyal Pinko, a former Israeli defense official and senior research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, an Israeli think tank.
Yemen does not border Israel, and Israel cannot easily stage a ground invasion as it has in Gaza and Lebanon to dismantle enemies’ infrastructure. Israel has to orchestrate complex air missions to fly to Yemen, which are costly and limited in what they can achieve. Pinko also said the Houthis have learned over years of fighting against a Saudi-led coalition how to bounce back from airstrikes. While the Houthis have been active as an insurgent force for years, Israel hasn’t seen them as a priority or invested as much in gathering intelligence against them.
Against Hamas, yearslong intelligence helped target and erode the group's forces. With Hezbollah, Israel penetrated deep into the organization, allowing it to unleash an offensive last year that detonated the pagers of rank-and-file members and decimated its senior ranks in secret bunkers. In Iran, Israel struck Hamas’ top leader in an apartment in Tehran and knocked out many of its air defenses in an October strike that left parts of the capital exposed. But the Houthis' hideouts, weapons and infrastructure are less known to Israel, making its counterstrikes somewhat less effective. Hagari recognized that Israel’s intelligence in Yemen was “an issue” and said the military was working to improve. Until then, some in Israel are steeling themselves for a war of attrition with the distant enemy. “There's no quick fix,” Citrinowicz said. “Even if the war in Gaza ends, this is a threat that will not disappear.”

At UN, Israel defends Gaza hospital raid, UN rights chief says its explanation is vague
Michelle Nichols/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters)/January 3, 2025
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Israel on Friday defended its raid on a north Gaza hospital last week while the U.N. human rights chief called the justification unsubstantiated and the World Health Organization urged Israel to release the hospital's director from detention. Israel's U.N. ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, posted on social media a letter he sent on Friday to the WHO and Volker Turk, the U.N. human rights official. It said the raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital a week ago was "triggered by irrefutable evidence" that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants were using the hospital. He said Israeli forces had taken "extraordinary measures to protect civilian life while acting on credible intelligence."Turk told the U.N. Security Council on Friday that Israel did not "substantiate many of these claims, which are often vague and broad. In some cases, they appear to be contradicted by publicly available information.""I am calling for independent, thorough and transparent investigations into all Israeli attacks on hospitals, healthcare infrastructure and medical personnel, as well as the alleged misuse of such facilities," he told the 15-member body. Israel's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Jonathan Miller said more than "240 terrorists were apprehended, including 15 who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre" in southern Israel in 2023, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. The hospital's director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was also detained in the raid. "We suspect him of being a Hamas operative as hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were hiding inside the Kamal Adwan Hospital under his management. He is currently being investigated by Israeli security forces," Miller said. The WHO is deeply concerned about Abu Safiya, said WHO representative Richard Peeperkorn, adding: "We have lost contact with him since and call for his immediate release." The United States is gathering information about Abu Safiya, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the Security Council. Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour broke down in tears as he recalled words that a doctor from Médecins sans Frontières, Mahmoud Abu Nujaila, wrote at Gaza's Al Awda Hospital before he was killed in a strike in November 2023. Mansour said that Nujaila had written on a hospital whiteboard used for planning surgeries: "Whoever stays until the end, will tell the story. We did what we could. Remember us."

Suicide rate in Israeli army hits 13-year high amid ongoing war
Anaelle JONAH/FRANCE 24 English/January 3, 2025
The Israeli army has reported a sharp increase in the number of suicides since the start of the war in Gaza, adding that thousands of soldiers have stopped serving in combat roles due to mental distress. The trend has led the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to adopt new preventive measures 15 months into a conflict that has mobilised hundreds of thousands of reservists. The Israeli army said Thursday that 28 soldiers had taken their own lives since the start of the war, marking the highest toll in 13 years and raising concerns about a potential mental health crisis in the army. The IDF noted that these are "suspected" suicides, as all cases remain under investigation to this day. In a casualty report for the past two years, the IDF said it recorded 21 suicides in 2024, up from 17 the year before – including 10 that occurred before the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants that triggered the war.
The increase was most notable when compared to previous years, with 14 suspected suicides in 2022 and 11 in 2021.

Iran Summons Italian Ambassador over Arrest of Iranian Wanted by US
Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Italian ambassador on Friday over the detention of an Iranian national wanted by the United States for his alleged role in a deadly drone strike against US forces, Iranian state media reported. The summons came a day after a similar move by Italy over Iran's arrest of Italian reporter Cecilia Sala, who was seized in Tehran on Dec. 19 while working under a journalist visa. An Iranian foreign ministry official "urged Italy to reject America's hostage policy - which is contrary to international law, particularly human rights - and provide for Mr. (Mohammad) Abedini's release as soon as possible and prevent damage to bilateral ties", state media reported, according to Reuters. On Thursday, the Iranian embassy in Rome said Sala was being given all the humanitarian care necessary, and for the first time, linked her case to that of Abedini. Iran's said on Monday that Sala had been arrested for "violating the laws of the Islamic Republic". It gave no further information. Sala was detained three days after Abedini, an Iranian businessman, was arrested at Milan's Malpensa airport on a US warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts that Washington says were used in a 2023 attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. Iran has denied involvement in the attack. Abedini is currently being held in prison and a court is due to decide this month whether to grant him house arrest while judges consider the US extradition request. In recent years, Iran's security forces have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran denies this.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on January 03-04/2025
Question: “What is the key to living a victorious Christian life?”
GotQuestions.org//January 03/2025
Answer: The victorious Christian life is the life that is lived, by faith, in a moment-by-moment surrender to God. The victorious Christian life is rooted and grounded in faith. The whole of Hebrews 11 tells the stories of men and women who, by faith, were victorious in some way. Our God is always victorious, no matter the foe. Even the cross of Christ was not a defeat for the Lord, but a victory: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out,” Jesus said in the final week of His earthly ministry. At His trial before the high priest, Jesus testified, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). That’s the victory believers share in.
The victorious Christian life is a life lived in triumph over “everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). It is the conquering of fear, knowing God’s peace (John 14:27; 16:33). It is perseverance through “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” (Romans 8:35), showing us to be “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (verse 37). The victorious Christian life naturally leads to a defeat of death itself (1 Corinthians 15:54–55) and a glorious reward in heaven (Revelation 21:7).
“The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17), and it’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of faith in living the victorious Christian life: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4–5).
Part of living the victorious Christian life is properly dealing with temptation. First Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” In the context of this verse, Paul is speaking to a church surrounded by idolatry and temptation. There were social, financial, and political pressures to return to their old ways and participate in pagan practices. God in His faithfulness told them, and us, that there is no temptation anywhere at any time that will take Him by surprise, and He will always make a way to escape it and thus endure. When a Christian faces a temptation, God will always give a clear way of avoiding the sin, but it is still the choice of the individual to take the way out or not. Avoiding temptation requires moment-by-moment submission to God.
In John 15, Jesus tells a parable that gives a key to the victorious Christian life. Jesus Christ is the vine, the source of life and health and wholeness, and we are the branches, utterly dependent on the vine. The word used over and over throughout the passage is most often translated as “abide” or “remain.” The original Greek word really means “stay where you are.” Where is the Christian? The Christian is in Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
The victorious Christian life is a journey of faith, not just for eternal salvation, but of daily decisions building up into lifestyle that reflects Christ (Galatians 2:20). Faith is the calm assurance that what we do not yet see is far more real, more substantial, more trustworthy than what we do see (Hebrews 11:1). The life of faith chooses to believe God in all things (Romans 4:3). “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1–4, ESV).
The victorious Christian life is lived with eyes set on the things of heaven, not of this world. Jesus is our model in this: “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2–3). The eternal life of the believer is set securely in Christ. We, too, are at God’s right hand, by faith. The victorious Christian is one who lives in that reality.

Syria: Christians Facing Existential Terrorist Threat
Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/January 03/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/01/138677/
The leader of [the al-Qaeda-and-ISIS-linked terrorist group] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, has openly stated that his goal is to establish sharia law: "Syria will be governed by the shari'a of Allah," he has pledged. He has already banned music from restaurants and cafés.... The group is largely supported by Turkey.
The Biden administration, apparently never to be deterred from a woozy hope of bringing terrorists in from the cold, just removed a $10 million bounty from Jolani's head.
Syria's HTS regime has appointed Anas Hassan Khattab, a former Al-Qaeda commander and a UN-designated terrorist, to head the General Intelligence Service (Mukhabarat).
Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church are the largest Orthodox entities, yet they still have not publicly addressed the situation of the Syrian Christians, or even attempted to send humanitarian aid.
Sadly, most Christians, with a few impressive exceptions, do not seem to be supporting their Christian brethren in Syria, just as they basically do not seem to be supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, China or Egypt.
So far, the US government, which at least officially promotes universal respect for religious freedom, has, under the Biden administration, allowed Turkey to help HTS conquer Syria.
One hopes that the incoming Trump administration will right this wrong and not allow the new Sunni "head of the octopus," through its al-Qaeda-affiliated proxy, the HTS, to run Syria.
Since the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Syria last month, hostility against Christians and other minorities in the country has soared. Christians are increasingly the victims of intimidation, vandalism, violence and discrimination. They are hostages at the hands of Islamists. Pictured: HTS gunmen in Damascus on December 27, 2024. (Photo by Izzalden Alkasem/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
The al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant" -- a coalition of Syrian and international Islamist groups -- took control of Syria, after a 10-day offensive, on December 8, 2024.
Since then, hostility against Christians and other minorities in Syria has soared. Christians are increasingly the victims of intimidation, vandalism, violence and discrimination. They are hostages at the hands of Islamists.
The Christian population of Syria is around 500,000. Most are of Greek ancestry, dating from the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.
Currently, the predominantly Christian ancient town of Maaloula, where the people still speak the language of Jesus, Aramaic, is being targeted by Islamists.
Internet access has been largely cut off from Maaloula since December 26. Although news from the town is scarce, it is alarming. According to many X (Twitter) accounts and people approached by this author, some of the Islamists are terrorizing their Christian neighbors. One video on X showed Christians escaping Maaloula while jihadists mock them.
The Twitter account "Greco-Levantines Worldwide" reported:
"The same jihadist group that previously kidnapped 13 nuns from the Monastery of St. Thecla in Maaloula—Jabhat al-Nusra—has returned to the town, declaring a 'victory' over its Christian community and its ancient monastery. For the past two days, Maaloula has been completely cut off, with no internet or communication. The town is besieged by these Islamist forces, and there is a growing fear that a massacre may already be unfolding."
On December 28, the same X account issued an urgent appeal:
"In 2024, the ancient Aramaic-speaking Christian population of Maaloula, Syria—one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, predating Christ—is facing extermination. This tragedy unfolds under the watch of foreign missions in Syria and Arab League countries. Immediate action is needed to prevent the loss of this irreplaceable community and heritage."
Another account notes:
"Numerous reports on social media & from large Syrian Christian pages indicate half of Maaloula's Christians have been displaced due to repeated threats & violations. Christian properties are being seized."
Eiad Herera, spokesman of the Antiochian Greek Organization (AGO), told Gatestone:
"According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and some of our sources in the town, certain opposition militants from the Muslim minority—previously expelled by the Assad regime—have returned to Maaloula. They appear to harbor a sense of vengeance against the Christian residents, whom they believe were responsible for preventing their return to their homes.
"Several incidents of theft, assaults, and property destruction have been reported. The most recent involved armed masked individuals attempting to break into and rob a local farm, leading to an altercation that resulted in the death of one of the attackers.
"The farm owner surrendered to authorities, presenting documents and video evidence demonstrating that he was subjected to an armed assault and acted in self-defence.
"Due to these circumstances, many Christian families have fled the town and are asking HTS to restore stability and security. The interim transitional authority HTS has so far been unable to stabilize the situation or prevent the actions of these armed groups."
In the meantime, HTS reportedly has forbidden any civilians and "those without permits" from recording its gunmen, declaring that "any home or place used for recording will be dealt with severely."
HTS also announced that "no one can bear arms but the state". The ban includes Christians in Wadi al-Nasara, also known as "Valley of the Christians," who may need a way of defending themselves, given the threats against them. According to local reports, the HTS policy of disarming Christians in Wadi al-Nasara began on December 29.
Just days after the collapse of the Assad regime and the formation of a new interim government led by the HTS, alarming reports of anti-Christian violence and discrimination were already spreading across Syria.
Two Greek Christians, Samaan Satme and Helena Khashouf, from the village al-Jamasliyye, were murdered in their home. Their relatives said Satme was beheaded and Khashouf was shot dead. Meanwhile, a Christian priest in Homs reported that a group of Muslims first ridiculed Christian farmers in a Christian village, then beat them for being "infidels."
Video footage has also surfaced on social media of jihadists from HTS factions desecrating the Hagia Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in al-Suqaylabiyah. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama was fired on, and nearby Christian graves desecrated. Masked men in al-Suqaylabiyah burned down a tall artificial Christmas tree in the main square, while, according to videos, stopping observers and firefighters from extinguishing the fire.
Other disturbing footage emerged from Hama. The video shows a Muslim sheikh and Islamist radicals entering a Christian man's home to "invite him to Islam." The unease on the man's face is visible as the group insists that they are acting as "callers to Allah's message."
Still other footage shows a liquor store being broken into and vandalized in the Antiochian Greek town of Kafr Buhum.
The Greco-Syrian Nation, a digital platform that serves as an online voice for the Syro-Greek people, posted on X:
"The new HTS-controlled government is allowing Rum [Greek], Syriacs [Assyrian Christians], and Alawites to be targeted and scapegoated as if they were responsible for the crimes of the previous 'infidel' [kafir] regime. Meanwhile, their social media pages joke about committing genocide against Rum, Syriacs, and Alawites."
The post also called on Greeks, other Christians and their supporters to organize protests, demonstrations and rallies around the world to support Christians in Syria.
Meanwhile, the leader of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, has openly stated that his goal is to establish sharia law: "Syria will be governed by the shari'a of Allah," he has pledged. He has already banned music from restaurants and cafés. The HTS leadership was historically composed of Islamists, with links to the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda. The group is largely supported by Turkey.
The Biden administration, apparently never to be deterred from a woozy hope of bringing terrorists in from the cold (such as here, here, here, here and here), just removed a $10 million bounty from Jolani's head.
Syria's HTS regime has appointed Anas Hassan Khattab, a former Al-Qaeda commander and a UN-designated terrorist, to head the General Intelligence Service (Mukhabarat). In 2012, the U.S. designated Khattab a terrorist and sanctioned him for funding and logistically supporting al-Qaeda to facilitate terrorism. In 2014, the UN Security Council included him in the sanctions list for his links with al-Qaeda.
HTS's predecessor, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusrah, also known as the "Nusrah Front," was al-Qaeda's former branch in Syria. Nusrah's leader, Jolani, is now leader of HTS. In 2018, HTS was added to the State Department's existing designation of Jabhat al-Nusrah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
HTS established its base of operations in northern Syria's Idlib, at the Turkish border, taking over the province in 2015. Since then, it has since persecuted non-Muslims and non-Arabs. The violence in Idlib resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
According to a report by the organization "Syrians for Truth and Justice," after HTS terrorists took over Idlib, many Christian families fled, leaving all their property behind. In 2018, HTS started confiscating homes and businesses belonging to Christians who had been forced by terrorism to leave the city. The report added:
"In 2015, the church of Idlib was seized by groups affiliated to Al-Nusra Front/Jabhat al-Nusra, who turned part of it to a Sharia institute and used the other parts as accommodations for their fighters."
The human rights organization Open Doors reported in January 2024:
"Christians are particularly under pressure in the last bastions of control by radical Islamic groups... where IS and Turkish military and Turkey-supported opposition forces have attacked civilian and church targets."
Under HTS-control in Idlib, Christian clergy are not allowed to walk in public wearing any clothing that makes them recognizable as priests or pastors. Crosses have been removed from church buildings.
In 2019, HTS arbitrarily arrested scores of residents in areas under their control in Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo governorates, apparently because of their peaceful work documenting abuses or protesting the group's rule.
Now that HTS jihadists have taken over Syria, the lives of Christians and other minorities there, such as the Kurds, are at stake.
The Church has been present in Syria since the time of the New Testament, where the conversion of Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus is mentioned. In the 7th century AD, when an Islamic army invaded and conquered Byzantine-ruled Syria, Christianity was its majority religion. Throughout the following centuries under Islamic rule, Syria's Christians have been exposed to harsh discrimination and today are a persecuted minority.
They have also suffered greatly from the effects of the civil war in Syria. It is estimated that only one-third of the 1.5 million Christians who lived in Syria before the war remain.
In spite of the danger that Syria's new terrorist rulers may completely end the presence of any Christians in Syria, the international Christian community has yet to protest.
The total number of Orthodox Christians in the world is estimated at about 300 million. The majority-Orthodox countries of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia and Cyprus are all EU members – yet no one has even brought the situation of Syrian Christians to the agenda of the EU or the UN.
Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church are the largest Orthodox entities, yet they still have not publicly addressed the situation of the Syrian Christians, or even attempted to send humanitarian aid.
The Vatican's investment office in 2023 made a profit of €45.9 million (USD $49.6 million). Yet, no concrete step has been taken by the Vatican to help Christians in Syria.
Sadly, most Christians, with a few impressive exceptions, do not seem to be supporting their Christian brethren in Syria, just as they basically do not seem to be supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Afghanistan, China or Egypt.
So far, the US government, which at least officially promotes universal respect for religious freedom, has, under the Biden administration, allowed Turkey to help HTS conquer Syria.
One hopes that the incoming Trump administration will right this wrong and not allow the new Sunni "head of the octopus," through its al-Qaeda-affiliated proxy, the HTS, to run Syria.
**Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

From Oil to Captagon: How al-Assad’s Failures Fueled Syria’s Collapse and a Grim Legacy
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
When Bashar al-Assad lost control of the oil-rich areas in eastern Syria, most of which came under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), he turned to Iran for oil and its derivatives to enable his forces to continue fighting and to maintain services in the areas under his rule. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. His weak economy was collapsing, and the government was in a state of bankruptcy as it waged war without any revenues. He relied on drugs and terrorism, which became the regime’s most significant exports.Some might think this is an exaggeration or propaganda against a fallen regime incapable of defending itself. However, the regime itself did not hide this reality and even used it as leverage in negotiating its regional and international relations. No Saudi ambassador has arrived in Damascus despite the agreement reached in May 2023. Diplomatic representation was limited to operating out of the Four Seasons Hotel, and Saudi Arabia did not send its ambassador to the Syrian capital for the first time until the entry of the new leadership and its forces. Relations slowed as the regime failed to fulfill its promises, including halting the smuggling of Captagon. Al-Assad, as usual, delayed delivering on the promised reconciliation and expected billions of dollars in compensation to stop the smuggling operations. Riyadh was not pleased with this, especially since rewarding drug traffickers for halting their activities would encourage further extortion. Assad acted like Colombia’s infamous drug lord, Pablo Escobar, earning, according to Western estimates, over $5 billion annually from Captagon sales – more than his oil revenues before the war.
I met the ousted president at least five times in direct sessions, where we talked for hours. Even so, I cannot claim to truly know him. I published most of the discussions from those meetings in Asharq Al-Awsat at the time but stopped after the assassination operations in Lebanon, as his threats began targeting journalists. I was also blacklisted from entering Lebanon. I met him again shortly before the revolution against him, in a group session, where he appeared confident and assured of his safety. In any case, despite the horrifying revelations about him after his downfall, which added to what we already knew about his terrifying regime, he always seemed polite in person during meetings, ready to listen and respond. Rarely did he lose his composure. This was his demeanor with all his guests.
This left many puzzled about his true nature. Was there a sinister group behind the atrocities in Syria and Lebanon? Was it his brother Maher, his officer Ali Mamlouk, his wife Asma, or the Iranian Qassem Soleimani? The truth is that he was behind it all, orchestrating and managing it – not the image he projected. He compensated for his failure to govern the state by wielding brute force. The impoverished country became even poorer, contrary to his claims of being targeted by hostile nations. The truth is, al-Assad received widespread regional and international support after assuming power. There was hope he would move Syria beyond Hafez al-Assad’s legacy toward openness and modernization. Instead, he increased the number of prisons, surpassed his father in assassinations and bombings, and hosted terrorist organizations. Thus, the Syrian revolution against Bashar was no surprise, even though it erupted three months after Tunisia’s uprising. Having failed economically, al-Assad resorted to drug trafficking and hosting armed groups during the Iraq war in coordination with Iran, repeating the same approach during his decade-long war. I cannot recall him ever discussing economic development, modernization, or improving citizens’ livelihoods before the revolution.
Today, Syria and its new leaders need to reflect on the history of the al-Assad regime. It is no surprise that a regime collapses when a soldier guarding it or a university professor, who represents the societal elite, earns about $20 a month. The profound lesson is that the risks of economic failure are greater than those of security failure. Economic failure preceded the war by years, as well as the “Caesar” sanctions, the freezing of state assets abroad, and the collapse of the currency. It was the result of al-Assad’s mismanagement, rampant corruption, weak governance, and the regime’s reliance on a shadow economy fueled by drugs and foreign wars.Despite their severe hardships in the countries they sought refuge in, Syrians have achieved successes in every field they entered. Today, a great opportunity lies ahead. The government of Ahmed al-Sharaa must first bring together all Syrians in their diversity to become part of the state and open up to the world to attract investment.

The New Middle East: The Elephant in the Room
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
As the new year begins, think tanks and policy circles start buzzing with ideas about “the future” of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, in short, the Middle East. Some futurologists prefer to talk of a “new Middle East” made possible by the “liberation” of Syria, the near annihilation of Hamas and the serious downgrading of Hezbollah and the Houthis. All this is happening in a feel-good context as policy wonk have decided that in a region, which hasn’t known good news for decades if not centuries, one should be content with news that is “less bad”. Thus, the fall of the Butcher of Damascus is news that is less bad rather than good because, despite Ahmad al-Sharaa’s trimmed beard, silk necktie and Colgate smile, no one knows where the new rulers might be heading. One has to agree that “less bad” is better than no good.Compared to what happened in other “Arab Spring” countries, what is unfolding in Syria may appear reassuring. Unlike in Libya, while instruments of state repression have been destroyed, the Syrian state structures have not totally collapsed. Thus, there is hope that once reformed they could prevent Syria from becoming another ungoverned territory.
Syria may also avoid what happened in Iraq where the brutal disbanding of the regular army and police and hasty de-Baathification created deep-rooted resentment that in turn generated violence and war. Unlike in Tunisia, Syria may not face the threat of a radical Islamist challenge if only because the new rulers are themselves “lite” versions of that ideology. Again unlike Egypt in “Arab Spring” days, Syria doesn’t have a well-organized army to counter act by drawing red lines.
Right now, at least 60 nations are directly or indirectly interested in the hoped-for “new Middle East”. Some like Russia, Türkiye and the United States are militarily present in that county while others like Israel and even Jordan have a national security interest in what may happen there. Egypt, the GCC countries are also keenly interested for political and security reasons. Despite its current problem with leaderlessness, the European Union is also concerned for a number of reasons, including the future of millions of refugees whose presence is causing tensions across the union. Increasingly dependent on Middle East oil, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are also hoping to secure a ticket on the promised gravy train while India in its intensifying competition with China won’t stay a by-stander.
Some multinational giants are already licking their lips in anticipation of juicy contracts generated by the rebuilding of a devastated region.
All that is well and good, but the fact remains that the current rush in brainstorming on the future of the Middle East ignores the geopolitical aspect of this complex situation. That in turn is symbolized by the elephant in the room: Iran. True, the Khomeinist regime was thrown out of Syria and all but ran away from Lebanon in a most humiliating manner. It is also true that those who look for solutions to the region’s myriad of problems have no desire to see the trouble-making elephant as participant in problem solving.
The problem is that the elephant all wish to ignore is big one. Right now it is a wounded beast barely standing not to try grand-standing. But thinking of the “new Middle East” isn’t concerned with today alone and would have no meaning if it doesn’t envisage tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. This elephant has a genetic tendency to going rogue. In editorial last week, the daily Kayhan reputed to reflect the views of the “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei dismissed “the recent problems our revolution has faced in Syria and Lebanon” as “minor hurdles on a glorious path to total victory”. Using a phrase popularized by Arnold Schwarzenegger in his films, the Guard’s number-two chief Brigadier-General Mohammad-Reza Naqdi says: “We left Syria because Assad was no longer worth supporting. But we will be back!”Anyone familiar with Iran’s history under the theomaniacal system created by Khomeini would know that the regime has faced a die choice from the start: become like the rest of the Middle East, or make a whole Middle East like itself.
Over the past five decades, numerous efforts were made by the United States, the European Union, the GCC countries, Japan and even Russia and China to persuade the Khomeinist leadership to subscribe to the “if you can’t beat them, join them!” mantra but failed to make the mullahs move in that direction.
The rogue elephant is the region’s second largest beast in terms of population, territory and the size of its economy. It is also unique in the world in terms of experience in investment and experience in asymmetrical warfare, hostage taking, terrorism and corrupting the elites of weaker neighbors with Samsonites filled with crisp greenbacks.
For almost 30 years, the ruling clique in Tehran literally took the bread out of the mouths of Iranians to feed “Resistance” fighters in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen, and other countries. Last week, the British Police raided two London “charities” linked to Tehran and used for money-laundering to finance fake opposition groups and recruit Muslim youths for careers in “resistance” politics.
Similar “charities” have also been raided in Germany, France and Belgium.
Policy wonks in the room would ignore the elephant at their peril.

‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ and ‘Deterrence of Aggression’: Shutting Down Debate and Opening it up
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/03 January/2025
We have been hit with two earthquakes since October 7, 2023: Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" and Operation "Deterrence of Aggression." jointly and in opposition to one another the two operations have changed almost everything in the Levant and reshaped the broader Middle East.
One fundamental difference between the two operations is linked to the public debate around each of them.
The Arab circles that supported "The Flood" prohibited voicing any criticism or even reservations of the operation- mind you, this is an operation that anyone who maintained a few rational, humanist, and self-interested convictions would find difficult to support. To the latter, "The Flood" seemed like an extemporaneous attack that made no distinction between people and people, and showed no concern for the balance of power, to say nothing about the fact that it was grounded in extremely primitive ideas and values, and bound to end in disaster for the Palestinian people. Despite this, every slur in the book was hurled at those who opposed this dark day or urged caution. Betrayal, treason, Zionism, and mercenary raced to create an abominable climate of self-adulation coupled with the silencing of any dissent. With this consciousness that seeks the extermination of reason, ethics, and freedom, things that cannot be overlooked were overlooked. Thus, supposedly sensible people chanted behind Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif and supposed atheists borrowed Hassan Nasrallah’s mystical rhetoric, while staunch feminists found in spokesperson Abu Ubaida, and perhaps in his colleague Yahya Saree, the ideal man for a society of gender equality.
In short, pettiness armed with the power of "the cause" shut the door to the debate, and it became clear that this "cause’s" ultimate demand was the suspension of everything that lives. The people of "The Flood" showed themselves to be one-dimensional human beings incapable of being "for" and "against" at the same time- tribal people who sacrifice all meaning and every value to fight Israel and to fight it in any way possible. In a word, they are like soldiers who carry out orders but do not object afterward, preparing themselves entirely to rejoicing in a shining victory.
The milieus excited about the overthrow of Assad and his regime, on the other hand, did not conduct themselves in this manner. They presented a different scene. Instead of waiting for the revolution's opponents and enemies to point their arrows at the new authorities, they endeavored to criticize it themselves, and to do so mercilessly. Thus, loudest attacks against the authorities that managed to overthrow Assad, free the prisoners, make it possible for refugees to return, and liberate Syria from Iranian and Russian hegemony came from within. The door to debate just about everything, from politics to society and from the concept of legitimacy to the status of women, has very much been opened...
While some saw the pledges of allegiance to "The Flood" as evidence that this was a nationalist battle, or a religious battle, meaning that the "The Flood's" “cause” constitutes a "primary contradiction" which life ought to be postponed for, the same cannot be said about the commentary around "Deterrence of Aggression.” We rarely hear the term "cause" used to characterize this event that has immediate implications for the lives of 24 million people and that ended 54 years of criminal rule. It was as though the constituency happy to see Assad ousted was apprehensive about allegiance discourse as they celebrated his downfall. After all is said and done, the discourse around "The Flood" stifles contradiction and puts life on hold much the same way as Assad's despotic discourse.
Then, while both operations were carried out by political-religious actors, the constituency that pledged allegiance to "The Flood" did so because of their commitment to an ideology- religious, nationalist, or leftist- that is haunted by the "primary contradiction" with imperialism, which is one reason for its unreserved alignment behind Sinwar and Nasrallah. As for the second case, because of the shift away from the world of "causes" and its discourse, and perhaps the influence of democratic societies that Syrian critics sought refuge in, the group that carried out "Deterrence of Aggression" has been rewarded with nothing but criticism and reservations.
Those who thanked Ahmad al-Sharaa quickly coupled their gratitude with critique. We know that in our culture, both pre-modern and modern, the grateful are expected to bow their heads before those they thank without addressing their shortcomings, which must be overlooked to avoid nullifying the expression of gratitude. The poet Faraj Birqdar, who spent many years in Assad's prisons, offered one of the thousands of articulations of this nuanced position. "In truth, the military command’s achievement was miraculous. I mean, they wrote the final chapter of the Assad dynasty, and I believe that most Syrians appreciate this feat. However, the success of the military command in regard, indeed their extraordinary leap, does not mean that they are now the de facto representatives of the revolution and its initial and fundamental goals. Representing the revolution requires achieving many steps, the most basic criterion being that its words and actions must be antithetical to those of Assad and his apparatuses."
Thus, we find ourselves facing a major development that tells us, as though to postpone or close off life: "Do not speak, pledge allegiance," and another significant event that demands us discussion and making "a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend," in line with the slogan that Mao Zedong had raised before betraying it. So, which direction will we take?