English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 07/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?’For from him and through him and to him are all things.
Letter to the Romans 11/25-36: “So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’‘And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?’For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 06-07/2025
Text & Video/From Blindness to Belief: The Healing Miracle of Bartimaeus/Elias Bejjani /April 05/2026
Text & Video/The Proposal for a “National Defense Strategy”: A Circumvention of International Resolutions, a Violation of the Ceasefire Agreement, and a Renewed Surrender of Lebanon to Hezbollah After Its Defeat and the Disasters It Caused/By: Elias Bejjani/April 05/2025
LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript/LBCI/April 06/2025
Reforms and state control over weapons: Key focuses of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Lebanon visit — details
Lebanese Army dismantles Israeli-made roadblocks and explosives in South Lebanon
U.S. envoy says Hezbollah must be disarmed 'as soon as possible'
Ortagus Puts Lebanon at a Crossroads: Disarm Hezbollah or Lose Aid
Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governor Discuss Reforms with Ortagus
Israeli Night Raids in Southern Lebanon
Lebanon ministry says two dead in Israeli strike on south
Southern Lebanon: Israeli Drone Attacks In Naqoura And Zibqin
The Lebanese Information Center Lauds Bipartisan U.S. Senate Statement on Lebanon
Wildfire Erupts in Remhala, Civil Defense Races to Contain Flames
Rai: Some People's Aim Is to Control the State, Not to Modernize the System
Lebanon's prison crisis: 83% of detainees remain without trial amid worsening conditions
Lebanese University Contract Professors: A One-Week Warning Strike
Bishop Audi: The season of Lent provides us with a sacred opportunity to engage in acts of repentance, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Frankly Speaking: Will President Aoun deliver on his pledges for Lebanon?/Arab News/Nadim Shehadi/April 06, 2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 06-07/2025
From Syria to Tehran: Netanyahu brings the battle plan to Washington
Tariffs on Canadian goods having a 'devastating effect,' U.S. farmers say
Israel: Document Reveals Iran's Support for October 7 Attack
Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities, Israel issues evacuation orders in Gaza
Palestinian teenager with U.S. citizenship killed by Israeli forces in West Bank
‘Women and children killed’ in Israeli strikes in Gaza
Israel walks back account of killing of 15 medics in Gaza after video seems to contradict it
Syria's president to visit Turkey and UAE next week
Rubio says US is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders
Zelensky Says 'No Response' from US After Putin Rejected Truce

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 06-07/2025
Russia’s foothold in Syria presents conundrum for Trump/Laura Kelly/The Hill/April 6, 2025
Far from being cowed by US airstrikes, Yemen’s Houthis may be relishing them/Nadeen Ebrahim and Tim Lister, CNN/ April 6, 2025
The US relationship with Canada is changing — here’s what you need to know/Mark Lawson and Matthew Bondy, opinion contributors/The Hill/April 6, 2025
Is a nuclear weapon a serious option for Iran?/Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/April 06, 2025
A pathway to stability in the Middle East/Dr. Khalil Gebara and Dr. Norman Ricklefs/Arab News/April 06, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 06-07/2025
Text & Video/From Blindness to Belief: The Healing Miracle of Bartimaeus
Elias Bejjani /April 06/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/73575/
"I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind." - John 9:39
On this sixth Sunday of Lent, our Maronite Catholic Church prayerfully remembers Jesus' powerful healing of Bartimaeus, the blind son of Timaeus. This transformative event in Jericho, near the Pool of Siloam, is recorded in the Gospels of Mark (10:46-52), John (9:1-41), and Matthew (20:29-34).
For Maronites in Lebanon and across the globe, Jesus is the sacred light that guides believers along God's paths of righteousness. Without His illuminating presence, the darkness of evil inevitably encroaches upon our hearts, souls, and minds, leaving us vulnerable to temptation.
"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." - John 9:5
While some in our communities possess perfect physical sight, they may suffer from a deeper spiritual blindness – a lack of faith, hope, and a life lived in the shadows due to separation from God and His Gospel. In contrast, true blindness is not merely a physical ailment, but a condition of the heart: hardened, the conscience: numbed, and the spirit: defiled by sin.
John's Gospel provides crucial insight into Bartimaeus' life after his miraculous healing. The scriptures reveal that he and his parents faced intimidation, fear, threats, and terror for his newfound sight and faith. Yet, he stood firm, refusing to deny the truth of his experience.
He recounted the miracle with unwavering accuracy, bravely witnessing to the power of Jesus and proclaiming his strong conviction that the one who healed him was the Son of God. His faith became his strength, banishing fear and granting him courage. The Holy Spirit Himself interceded through him.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." - Romans 8:26
Our modern world often celebrates atheism and secularism, sometimes even persecuting those who hold faith in God. We see echoes of the crowd who initially scorned Bartimaeus, hypocritically trying to keep him from Jesus, only to change their tune when Jesus Himself called for him.
Even today, Christian believers in many nations endure severe persecution from oppressive regimes, extremist groups, and leaders who reject the truth. Yet, thanks be to God, countless humble believers like Bartimaeus remain steadfast in their faith, undeterred by any obstacle.
Lord, shine Your light into our minds and hearts, opening our eyes to Your loving and merciful nature. Help us to follow Bartimaeus' example of unwavering faith. Grant us the strength to overcome the sins that lead us away from Your light, and deliver us from all evil temptations.


Text & Video/The Proposal for a “National Defense Strategy”: A Circumvention of International Resolutions, a Violation of the Ceasefire Agreement, and a Renewed Surrender of Lebanon to Hezbollah After Its Defeat and the Disasters It Caused
By: Elias Bejjani/April 05/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/141955/
Video links/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epC20HoYsKU&t=37s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6tfpbcvLpM&t=238s

It is both sad and disappointing that President Joseph Aoun proposed from Paris the revival of the fallacy known as a "National Defense Strategy" that would discuss the Iranian terrorist Hezbollah's weapons through a so-called comprehensive Lebanese dialogue. This old-new proposal is the height of hypocritical cleverness and a blatant attempt to maintain the occupation hegemony of Hezbollah — a terrorist jihadist group entirely affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and an enemy of Lebanon and its people.
This proposal hands Hezbollah and Iran a political lifeline to escape the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which explicitly stipulates the complete disarmament of Hezbollah across all Lebanese territory and the exclusive use of force by the Lebanese Army alone.
In reality, this proposal is nothing more than a rescue operation for Hezbollah from its current predicament — an attempt to legitimize the illegitimate, and a clear circumvention of the ceasefire agreement signed by the previous Lebanese government under Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with the participation of Hezbollah's own ministers. The agreement was also approved and sponsored by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who is simultaneously the head of the Shiite Amal Movement, an ally of Hezbollah and its partner in the last war against Israel — a war that ended with Hezbollah's crushing defeat, the near-total destruction of the Bekaa, South Lebanon, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, the killing of most of its leaders, and the displacement of tens of thousands from the southern suburbs, the South, and the Bekaa.
Presidency and Government: An International Decision Imposed Despite Hezbollah, Berri, and All Components of Iran’s Axis of Evil
It is necessary to remind both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that neither of them reached their current positions through the will of Hezbollah nor with the approval of Nabih Berri. They were imposed by international and regional consensus following intense pressure to implement international resolutions — foremost among them the ceasefire agreement and Resolutions 1559, 1701, 1680, and the Taif Accord. All of these resolutions clearly call for the disarmament of all Lebanese and Palestinian militias and the exclusive handover of all weapons to the Lebanese Army without exception.
Therefore, any step taken by President Aoun or Prime Minister Salam that contradicts these obligations is a rebellion against international will and a dangerous squandering of the opportunity to rescue the Lebanese state from the grip of Iranian hegemony.
Aoun and Salam’s Positions: Total Submission to Hezbollah and Sabotage of State Liberation Efforts
What President Joseph Aoun — backed by Nawaf Salam — is proposing today is nothing short of a complete surrender to Hezbollah’s will and a humiliating submission to Nabih Berri. It is a direct obstruction of all international and regional efforts aimed at ending Hezbollah’s occupation of Lebanon and restoring the kidnapped state. Therefore, the call for “dialogue” regarding Hezbollah’s weapons is a misleading tactic that only serves to keep the weapons in place under the excuse of future agreement.
This position blatantly violates the ceasefire agreement, all international resolutions, and the Taif Accord. It offers dangerous political cover for the continued Iranian occupation of Lebanon. If the President and Prime Minister are either unwilling or unable to implement the commitments that brought them to power, then they must resign immediately — rather than serving as false witnesses to the crime of keeping Lebanon hostage to a terrorist, Iranian-controlled gang that is fully and directly affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Nawaf Salam: A Nasserist Leftist Living in the Time of Abdel Nasser
In the context of this rebellion against the ceasefire agreement, it is important to note that Nawaf Salam is not a sovereign Lebanese statesman. He is a product of the Nasserist-Arabist school that still lives in the delusions of Abdel Nasser and his dream of "throwing Israel into the sea." He previously worked with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and holds a deeply ideological hatred toward Israel, completely at odds with the new phase of building peace and stability in the region. This defeated ideological path followed by Salam and his peers cannot build a functioning state. Instead, it would drag Lebanon back to the era of occupation, destruction, and militias.
Morgan Ortagus in Beirut: Washington Is Not Pleased
Coinciding with these developments, American envoy Morgan Ortagus has arrived in Beirut, representing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. During her official meetings, she is expected to convey the Trump administration’s dissatisfaction with the Lebanese state’s failure to implement the ceasefire agreement and its suspicious hesitation to form official committees to engage in talks with Israel about peace, normalization, and border demarcation. This hesitation is a clear evasion of explicit commitments endorsed unanimously by the previous government when it signed the ceasefire agreement. It also obstructs the path toward a settlement that aims to dismantle Hezbollah's Ministate and occupation and to restore a free, sovereign, and independent Lebanese state.
Israel Is Implementing the Ceasefire Agreement Precisely
In the face of ongoing distortions and a willful blindness toward the terms of the ceasefire agreement, it must be stated clearly: Contrary to the propaganda spread by the Lebanese government and Hezbollah’s media, Israel is not waging a war on Lebanon. Rather, it is strictly implementing the agreement’s provisions.The agreement stipulates that if Israel detects any violation by Hezbollah, it must notify the Quintet Committee, which in turn informs the Lebanese state. If the Lebanese Army fails to address the violation, Israel has the right to eliminate the threat itself. What has been happening since the agreement was signed is the precise implementation of its articles. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's repeated violations are a blatant breach that exposes Lebanon to constant danger due to the absence of state authority and its subjugation to Hezbollah, a group fully subordinate to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
In Conclusion
What is required of President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam is to act as true statesmen, not as political cover for Hezbollah's Mini-State Occupation. They must fully uphold their international commitments without hesitation — or else resign if they are not up to the historical responsibility for which the international and regional consensus brought them to power: rescuing Lebanon and ending the Iranian occupation.

LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript
LBCI/April 06/2025
In an exclusive LBCI interview, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus offers a comprehensive look at the Trump administration's vision for Lebanon's future, touching on critical issues such as disarmament, economic reforms, and the ongoing challenges facing the Lebanese people.
During her second visit to Lebanon, Ortagus reflects on her meetings with Lebanese officials, emphasizing the importance of disarming Hezbollah, while underscoring the U.S. commitment to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and stability.
From the need for economic reforms to the potential for future partnerships, Ortagus sheds light on what lies ahead for Lebanon in its path toward recovery.
Here is the full transcript of the interview:
Toni Mrad: Miss Ortagus, thank you for joining us. This interview will be your first public statement during your second visit to Lebanon.
Morgan Ortagus: Yes, that's right. Thank you for having me.
Toni Mrad: Thank you again. Let me start with your meetings in Beirut. How were your talks with the Lebanese officials? Did they include the subject of Hezbollah's weapons and the establishment of a clear timeline for the disarmament?
Morgan Ortagus: Well, I’ll go to your first question. I had fantastic meetings. I have a very good relationship with the president, President Aoun, and Prime Minister Salam. Of course, I met with the Speaker as well. We communicate regularly. So I don't have to be in Lebanon to meet with them. But it's always good to be with them face to face.
What's different for me this time — that I was not able to do last time — was that the government was not yet formed. In fact, very quickly after I left, they did form the government. So this time, I was able to meet, I think, almost nine ministers in different Cabinet posts. I got to meet the new reformers that the Prime Minister brought in to be part of his cabinet. And I'm very impressed. I think they have a very clear and articulate vision for how Lebanon can move into the future.
You know, the past five or ten years were almost depressing. When you looked at what happened here between the explosion and the financial crash. And now, you have a group of people who are real patriots. They are coming back to Lebanon. They are pushing for the economic reforms that the IMF, the United States, and our Gulf Arab partners have all stressed must happen in order to get investment in Lebanon.
So I’m very excited and encouraged about this new government. We, of course, always bring up disarming Hezbollah. But not just Hezbollah — all militias in this country. President Aoun said clearly in his inaugural speech that he wanted the state to have the monopoly of force. He wanted the state to be the one with the weapons. That is a position that we support. And so, we continue to press this government to fully fulfill the cessation of hostilities. That includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias.
Toni Mrad: Is there a clear timeline?
Morgan Ortagus: As soon as possible. We’ll see. We do have a lot of excellent people from our U.S. military who work here. We’ve been supporting them for decades now. The American people have been providing aid and assistance, training, funding, and equipment to the LAF. That’s a very important American priority.
Now that we’re in this new era — where the LAF is really able, under President Aoun’s leadership, to exert more authority over the state — we want to help them move toward those goals. Those goals are real. They’re clear.
I also think we’re in a fixed time to do it. There’s not necessarily a timetable, so to speak. But we know it should happen as soon as possible. The sooner the LAF is able to meet these goals and disarm all militias, the sooner the Lebanese people can be free. Free from foreign influence. Free from terrorism. Free from the fears that have been so pervasive in society.
Toni Mrad: Following on that point, if Hezbollah were disarmed, would the U.S. allow Hezbollah to have a political role in Lebanon?
Morgan Ortagus: I think you have to take a step back and understand how the Trump administration sees this. I’m here representing President Trump. I’m not representing myself. I’m representing him and his administration.
How do we look at the Middle East? How do we look at Lebanon? This is an independent, democratic, sovereign state. We respect the sovereignty here. We are partners. We are friends. We work together to achieve goals. We work together for a hopeful and more peaceful future in the Middle East.
I don’t come here as a U.S. official representing the Trump administration to make demands — “You must do X, you must do Y.” Rather, I encourage and say: if you want continued partnership with the United States, you have to meet certain goals and criteria.
When I came here the first time, it was important to me that Nawaf Salam did not have Hezbollah represented among his ministers. Just as important was that there not be corrupt ministers. Corruption has eroded society’s confidence. When you have a society like that, what we want to do is help Lebanon move beyond being a cash-based society — and toward one that can move into the future.
We know, for example, the banking sector here is on the FATF gray list. As a U.S. official, I say: This is again an independent, democratic, sovereign state. The leadership and the people of Lebanon have choices to make.
If they choose to work together and partner with the U.S. government, to disarm Hezbollah, to fulfill the cessation of hostilities, to end endemic corruption — we’re going to be a wonderful partner and friend. And there will be more of that to come.
But if the government and the leaders choose to slow-walk that — or not be part of that vision for Lebanon that we share — that’s a choice they can make. But they shouldn’t expect partnership if they’re not achieving these goals.
Toni Mrad: Switching to the issue of normalization. The Lebanese Prime Minister has rejected normalization with Israel. Meanwhile, President Trump’s administration seems committed to it. Can you elaborate on what we should expect moving forward?
Morgan Ortagus: I didn’t have a single conversation about that topic here in Lebanon. What we’re focused on now is implementing the cessation of hostilities. We’re focused on disarming Hezbollah. We’re focused on economic reforms.
We hope we can reach a position where we are negotiating and solving border disputes and other issues between Israel and Lebanon. But you have to crawl before you run. We’re still at the crawling stage. The LAF, the security forces, and the entire government need to get step one right.
Toni Mrad: So, is it not a priority right now?
Morgan Ortagus: Well, peace is always a priority for President Trump. One of the things my boss, Steve Witkoff, is working on is trying to get a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. He’s working on that. We’ve spent a huge amount of time on that.
Steve is the Special Envoy and Ambassador. I’m his deputy. We’ve also spent a huge amount of time trying to get the remaining hostages — especially the American hostages — out of Gaza.
In the first Trump administration, I was incredibly lucky to be the State Department spokesperson. I was part of the small team that helped with the Abraham Accords. That was a beautiful moment in my career.
President Trump campaigned on being a president of peace. A president who would end wars. We’re not even 100 days into our presidency yet. But President Trump is working on what he promised the American people: ending wars.
And here’s a very important point — he’s a president of strength. You don’t end wars by being weak. You don’t end wars by being afraid of terrorist groups. You end wars by standing up to them.
Toni Mrad: Lebanon rejects the probation of three diplomatic-led committees to address detainees, land border demarcation, and Israeli army withdrawal. Does the United States still insist on this approach, despite Lebanon’s position that Israeli withdrawal and detainee matters are not negotiable?
Morgan Ortagus: Who is Lebanon? You said Lebanon rejects — who rejects?
Toni Mrad: The President and the Prime Minister?
Morgan Ortagus: The President hasn’t rejected it to me.
Toni Mrad: That’s not what we’ve heard from the President.
Morgan Ortagus: I don’t think that’s accurate.
Toni Mrad: Let’s move to the subject of reforms. In a previous interview, you said: we are working with our partners to rebuild what was destroyed in Lebanon, but we will not accept a repeat of the 2006 reconstruction model. We want Lebanon to be a destination for investment. Could you elaborate more on what you meant?
Morgan Ortagus: Yes, I’m glad you brought that up. From the Trump administration’s perspective, we’re looking at rebuilding that will need to happen in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and Syria. There is a massive need for investment in the Middle East.
Our vision for Lebanon is not just as a donor country always asking for donations. There are very sophisticated people in Lebanon and in the diaspora — in financial services, in business, in consulting. So my encouragement, especially to this impressive new cabinet, is:
How do we think of a better way to rebuild southern Lebanon? We want people to have jobs. We want them to have hope for the future.
Can we create a new economic model? Can we attract private-sector investment? Of course, everyone depends on the World Bank and the IMF — and I understand that.
But from the U.S. perspective, we’re not just looking at southern Lebanon. We’re looking at Syria. We’re looking at Gaza.
The world has to look differently at these war-torn regions. We need to rebuild. And we need new, creative ways to do it. We need a vision that includes the people — especially the young people — of these regions, so they can take part in rebuilding a better future.
Toni Mrad: Mrs. Ortagus, is the assistance from the IMF conditional on disarmament and reforms?
Morgan Ortagus: Well, I don’t speak for the IMF. I speak for the Trump administration. But we work closely with them.
We think the reforms they’ve suggested are practical and important. Lebanon must get off things like the FATF gray list. It must move beyond a cash-based economy. It must return to having a sophisticated financial sector — the one Lebanon used to be known for.
If you want to save Lebanon — I was driving here and saw a big sign. I took a picture of it. I want to show it to President Trump. It said, “Make Lebanon Great Again.” I loved that sign.
If you want to make Lebanon great again, you must implement these reforms. It’s tough.
We had our own crash in the U.S. in 2008. I was at the Treasury then. We made tough decisions as a people and a government.
No country is immune. But Lebanon is in one of the worst financial conditions I’ve seen in the past 20 or 30 years. We can’t sugarcoat it.
“Precarious” is too soft a word. It’s devastating. And to rescue yourselves, you’ll need reforms — some of them radical — to save the country.
Toni Mrad: As you know, there can be no economic growth without stability. Will Israel keep targeting Hezbollah, despite the damage to Lebanon’s economy?
Morgan Ortagus: I don’t speak for Israel. But I can say this — when we talk about the cessation of hostilities, it’s clear Hezbollah must be disarmed. It’s clear Israel won’t accept rockets fired into their country. We understand that position.
This is why I’m here. This is why the mechanisms are here. This is why we provide U.S. money and investment. Why we bring new equipment. Why we support the LAF — so Lebanon can do this themselves.
Toni Mrad: Israel will keep targeting Hezbollah?
Morgan Ortagus: I don’t speak for Israel.
Toni Mrad: Ms. Ortagus, thank you again for your time. Will we see you again soon in Lebanon?
Morgan Ortagus: Of course. I love Lebanon. Everyone treats me so well here. And I shouldn’t say this — but it’s the best food in the Middle East. If I’m coming to the Middle East, I’m stopping in Lebanon.

Reforms and state control over weapons: Key focuses of US envoy Morgan Ortagus' Lebanon visit — details
LBCI/April 06/2025
Reforms and Hezbollah’s disarmament were key themes during the second visit of U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus.
On Saturday night in Awkar, Ortagus met with Lebanon’s ministers of energy, administrative reform, industry, and public works, with the discussion focused on the issue of weapons outside state control. The ministers understood from their host that the state must show greater seriousness in asserting exclusive control over weapons, as failure to do so could give Israel a pretext to intervene. They also understood that no investments or reconstruction funding would be available if weapons remained outside state authority.
Government sources said both the president and prime minister had previously assured Ortagus that the Lebanese army is coordinating with the ceasefire monitoring committee and will continue to do so in line with the constitution and the Taif Agreement.
The president also asked Ortagus to activate the committee’s role beyond simply being informed of developments. On the second day of meetings, which included members of Lebanon’s delegation to the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington — namely, the finance and economy ministers and the central bank governor — the focus shifted to reforms. In short, Ortagus’ message was clear: help yourselves so we can help you. The finance minister outlined key reform steps the government is taking, including the first-time approval of banking secrecy reforms, an upcoming banking sector restructuring plan to be presented in Washington, and planned appointments to the Council for Development and Reconstruction and other regulatory bodies.
He also emphasized that draft laws passed by the Cabinet must also be passed in Parliament. Ortagus, however, indicated that the United States is evaluating the performance of the state as a whole, and that implementation is what ultimately matters. Lebanon, aware of years of state mismanagement, also presented the economic impact of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Lebanese Army dismantles Israeli-made roadblocks and explosives in South Lebanon

LBCI/April 06/2025
The Lebanese Army announced on Sunday that one of its units removed engineering obstacles placed by Israeli forces in the areas of Aalma El Chaeb and Labbouneh in the Tyre district. The barriers had been set up to block a road located within Lebanese territory.
According to a statement from the Army Command – Directorate of Guidance, the unit also dismantled two explosive devices planted by Israeli forces to booby-trap the barriers.
The army said it continues to work on removing Israeli violations in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), while Israel continues its assaults on various areas in Lebanon and its violations of the Lebanese people's security.

U.S. envoy says Hezbollah must be disarmed 'as soon as possible'
Reuters/April 6, 2025
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that Hezbollah and other armed groups should be disarmed "as soon as possible" and that Lebanese troops were expected to do the job.Ortagus spoke to Lebanese broadcaster LBCI at the end of a three-day visit to Beirut, where she met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and other officials and political representatives. Her visit followed several weeks of intensifying Israeli air strikes on Lebanon targeting members of Iran-backed Hezbollah and the group's weapons depots, including two strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, and rocket fire from Lebanon onto Israel. Hezbollah denied any role in the rocket attacks.The exchange of fire tested an already shaky ceasefire that ended a year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, and calls for the disarmament of armed groups across the country. "It's clear that Hezbollah has to be disarmed and it's clear that Israel is not going to accept terrorists shooting at them, into their country, and that's a position we understand," Ortagus said. "We continue to press on this government to fully fulfill the cessation of hostilities and that includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias," she said. Asked whether the U.S. had set a timeline for the disarmament to take place, Ortagus said, "As soon as possible." "There's not necessarily a timetable so to speak, but we know that the sooner that the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) is able to meet these goals and disarm all militias in the state, the sooner the Lebanese people can be free," she said. The ceasefire agreement calls for Lebanese troops to dismantle armed groups' military positions and confiscate unauthorised arms "starting with" south Lebanon. The army has destroyed hundreds of weapons caches in south Lebanon since the deal was agreed in November, security sources have told Reuters. Hezbollah has long rejected attempts to disarm it. It says the ceasefire applies exclusively to southern Lebanon, and not the entire country, and points to Israel's air strikes and continued presence in five hilltop positions in southern Lebanon as major breaches of the truce.

Ortagus Puts Lebanon at a Crossroads: Disarm Hezbollah or Lose Aid
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
Lebanon is at a crossroads: disarm Hezbollah "as soon as possible," implement the ceasefire agreement with Israel, and carry out essential reforms, or face isolation. This was made clear by Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, during an interview with LBCI on Sunday evening. While expressing optimism about the new government, Ortagus emphasized the need for concrete actions to form a genuine partnership with the United States. She praised the inclusion of reformers in the government but stressed that measures must be taken to move forward. Ortagus repeatedly raised the issue of disarming Hezbollah. She pointed out that this issue is not just about Hezbollah but all militias in Lebanon, including Palestinian factions supported by Iran. "We always bring up this issue with Lebanese officials and continue to pressure the government to fully implement the ceasefire with Israel," she said. Though Ortagus expressed being "very encouraged" by the current government, she also conveyed some skepticism. Her central message was clear: "If you want a partnership with the US, you must meet certain criteria."Lebanon now faces a crucial decision: "Disarm Hezbollah, implement the ceasefire, and end corruption. If these goals are achieved, we will be strong partners. But if there are delays, Lebanon should not expect cooperation from us," Ortagus warned. She also highlighted the US support for the Lebanese Army over the years through training, funding, and equipment. "Now, under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun, the army is ready to exercise more authority. We will help it achieve its goals," she said. Ortagus stressed that the sooner the Lebanese Army attains its goals, the sooner the Lebanese people will be liberated from foreign influence, terrorism, and fear. When questioned about the possibility of normalization with Israel, Ortagus explained that this topic had not been discussed with Lebanese officials. "The US is focused on ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire, disarming Hezbollah, and supporting economic reforms in Lebanon," she noted. "We hope to eventually enter negotiations with Israel to resolve border disputes and other issues." Ortagus also revealed that President Joseph Aoun did not reject, in her presence, the idea of establishing three diplomatic commissions to discuss with Israel the issue of Lebanese detainees, border demarcation, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
“Help Us to Help You”
Ortagus gave a sort of summary of her two-day series of intensive meetings with Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime minister Nawaf Salam. Among the topics discussed were Hezbollah’s weapons, the implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, and the financial reforms Lebanon is expected to make. She disclosed that she met with nine Lebanese ministers to discuss reforms, particularly those aimed at ending endemic corruption. Unlike her first visit to Lebanon in February, Ortagus did not make any public statements after her meetings this time. During her earlier visit, she had openly shared details of her discussions with Lebanese officials. According to political sources quoted by Houna Loubnan, Ortagus remained silent about the details of her conversations because “she was not convinced” by the Lebanese responses she heard. When the officials presented the measures already taken and those being considered during their meetings with her, such as implementing the ceasefire and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as financial reforms, Ortagus reportedly reminded them, “Many promises have been made in the past, but none have been fulfilled, which is unacceptable.” "We will judge based on results," she reportedly added. The sources indicated that Ortagus’s message was firm, particularly when she linked Lebanon's reconstruction to the swift and definitive resolution of Hezbollah’s weapons issue. She repeated the remark made by French President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, during his mission to Lebanon in June 2020: “Help us to help you.”

Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governor Discuss Reforms with Ortagus
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
A meeting was held this morning between Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, Minister of Economy Amer Bisat and Governor of the Central Bank Karim Souhaid with US envoy Morgan Ortagus. The discussion focused on the reform process launched by the Lebanese government. The officials presented the reform laws that have already been passed and are in the process of implementation, as well as those still under discussion. They also reviewed the broader economic reform program, which marks a new and serious phase in the government's commitment to structural reforms—a process that began with recent key appointments. It is worth noting that Ministers Jaber and Bisat, along with the Central Bank Governor, will represent Lebanon as an official delegation at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington later this April.

Israeli Night Raids in Southern Lebanon
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
The Israeli air force carried out a number of raids on Naqoura in Southern Lebanon on Sunday evening and dropped sound bombs on Aita al-Shab. It then carried out an airstrike on this village. An Apache helicopter swept over the village of Naqoura before launching a raid on prefabricated houses located near a Lebanese army post. Later, it carried out a second raid, also targeting prefabricated houses. No casualties were reported, according to the National News Agency. Another Israeli military warplane simultaneously dropped sound bombs on the village of Aita al-Shab, raising fears of an imminent raid that soon followed. Earlier on Sunday, an Israeli drone targeted a Rapid vehicle on the Naqoura road, while another targeted a bulldozer in the locality of Zibqin, killing two people

Lebanon ministry says two dead in Israeli strike on south
AFP/April 06, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed Sunday in an Israeli strike on the country’s south, as Israel said it hit Hezbollah operatives amid a fragile truce. The toll in the “strike launched by the Israeli enemy on the town of Zibqin rose to two dead,” the health ministry said in a statement, adding that the toll was final after earlier reporting one dead.The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike targeting two Hezbollah operatives in the Zibqin area, adding in a statement that they were “attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites.”A fragile ceasefire in late November largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon. The latest raid came after visiting US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus discussed the situation in south Lebanon with senior officials on Saturday. On Friday, Israel killed a commander of Palestinian militant group Hamas in a pre-dawn raid in the south Lebanese port city of Sidon that also killed his adult son and daughter.A day earlier, Israel’s military said it carried out an air strike targeting a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon. On Tuesday, Israel struck south Beirut, killing a Hezbollah Palestinian liaison officer, in only the second raid on the capital since the November 27 ceasefire. Lebanon’s health ministry reported four dead in that strike, including a woman. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to redeploy its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel was to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions in south Lebanon that it deems “strategic.”

Southern Lebanon: Israeli Drone Attacks In Naqoura And Zibqin
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
According to preliminary information, an Israeli drone targeted a Rapid vehicle on the Naqoura road while another targeted a bulldozer in the town of Zibqin. The Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Operations Center issued a statement announcing that the final toll of the Israeli raid on the town of Zibqin resulted in the death of two citizens. Reports speak of the death of Ali Slaiby and Adnan Bzeih. Two Syrian workers were also injured. Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee announced on “X” that an Israeli Air Force jet targeted two alleged Hezbollah operatives in the Zibqin area. According to Adraee, the individuals were working on an engineering vehicle and attempting to rebuild Hezbollah-related infrastructure when they were struck. A bulldozer was targeted by a drone strike in Beit Lif, resulting in two injuries. Israeli artillery bombarded the Wazzani area. Artillery bombs and flares were dropped on the locality of Hula on the Ghajar side and on Markaba. An Israeli drone dropped a bomb between the towns of Taybeh and Rab al-Thalathin. The Media and Public Relations Department of the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced in a press release that specialized search and rescue teams from the General Directorate of Civil Defense, in coordination with the Lebanese army, succeeded in recovering the remains of a deceased person in the town of Kfar Hammam on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The remains were transferred to the government hospital in Marjayoun, where the necessary laboratory tests, including DNA analysis, will be carried out to determine the person's identity. An Israeli bulldozer protected by a Merkava tank moved towards Birkat al-Naqqar, south of the town of Shebaa, carried out a sweeping operation and built berms in the area.

The Lebanese Information Center Lauds Bipartisan U.S. Senate Statement on Lebanon
USA/April  06, 2025
Washington, D.C. – The Lebanese Information Center (LIC) warmly welcomes and expresses deep appreciation for the recent bipartisan statement by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, regarding the new Lebanese government and the path forward for the country. Their statement—highlighting strong support for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah, reforms, and border control—comes at a pivotal moment for Lebanon’s future. It sends a clear and much-needed message to all stakeholders in Lebanon and abroad: the United States remains committed to a sovereign, secure, and democratic Lebanon, free from foreign interference and the influence of non-state armed groups. The LIC shares the Senators’ conviction that Lebanon now has a rare and historic opportunity to reclaim its independence, stabilize its institutions, and initiate long-overdue reforms. Statements like this are critical in maintaining momentum on the ground, empowering reformers, and isolating malign actors, particularly Hezbollah, whose parallel military and political apparatus continues to obstruct national sovereignty and undermine state authority.The LIC also strongly supports the Senators’ emphasis on the need for government control over customs, airports, and border crossings, and their reaffirmation of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the sole legitimate security institution. These are essential pillars for re-establishing the rule of law and ensuring the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701. As the largest grassroots organization of Americans of Lebanese descent, the LIC remains committed to working with U.S. partners to advance policies that promote a sovereign, unified, and prosperous Lebanon. We thank Senators Risch and Shaheen for their principled leadership and continued advocacy, and we encourage the broader international community to echo their call for reform, accountability, and national unity.

Wildfire Erupts in Remhala, Civil Defense Races to Contain Flames
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
A large wildfire broke out on Sunday morning in the forested valleys of Remhala, in the caza of Aley, prompting an urgent response from Lebanon’s Civil Defense units and the Lebanese Army, as the flames threatened to reach nearby residential areas. According to a statement from the Directorate of Media and Public Relations at the General Directorate of Civil Defense, the fire ignited at approximately 10:10 AM local time and quickly spread due to strong winds and the dry terrain. The operation was launched under the direction of Minister of Interior Ahmad al-Hajjar and supervised by Acting Civil Defense Director Brig. Gen. Nabil Farah. Around 70 firefighters and 12 fire trucks from 12 different Civil Defense centers were mobilized. Reinforcements were rushed to the scene, but responders faced significant challenges, including limited road access to the heart of the blaze deep within the valley, which connects the towns of Remhala and Selfaya. High winds further complicated containment efforts. To support aerial firefighting, Civil Defense crews constructed an artificial water reservoir on site. This reservoir allowed a Lebanese Army Air Force helicopter to drop water from above—a crucial addition to the ground operation. Despite the difficult conditions, officials confirmed that firefighters successfully prevented the flames from reaching residential areas in Remhala. However, operations remain ongoing as crews work to fully control the blaze and prevent it from spreading toward neighboring forested zones, including the area near Jisr el-Qadi. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire. In a public advisory, the General Directorate of Civil Defense urged citizens to avoid lighting fires in forested areas, especially with temperatures rising during spring. “Such actions pose a serious threat to public safety and endanger Lebanon’s critical forest resources,” the statement read. Officials also warned against burning dry grass when clearing farmland, a common but risky practice that has sparked devastating wildfires in the past.
The public is advised to report any fire incidents immediately by calling the emergency number 125.

Rai: Some People's Aim Is to Control the State, Not to Modernize the System
This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed that “we live under a parliamentary democratic system and a national accord,” explaining that pluralism, federalism and centralization are foreign words in our political and constitutional lexicon. In his sermon during Sunday mass in Bkerke, he said that “the aim of some is to control the state, not to modernize the system.” He pointed out that “some who call for changing the constitution aim to extend their power in the state, not to improve it,” considering that “the role of the citizen is absent in Lebanon.”“What's needed,” he added, ”is for the communities to yield to the State, not the State to the communities.”

Lebanon's prison crisis: 83% of detainees remain without trial amid worsening conditions
LBCI/April 06/2025
Based on 2024 statistics from the Directorate of Prisons in the Ministry of Justice, there are approximately 8,500 prisoners in various prisons across Lebanon, with 83% of them being detainees without trial. The primary issue is the worsening overcrowding crisis and the inhumane and unhealthy conditions for prisoners of all categories.More than a third of the prisoners are Syrians, with a smaller number of foreign nationals, particularly Palestinians. Meanwhile, the issue of detained Islamists presents its own set of security, procedural, and humanitarian challenges, particularly due to the high number of those detained without trial.  However, the most concerning aspect of Lebanon's prison overcrowding crisis is the detainment of individuals facing serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, theft, gang formation, attempted murder, forgery, fraud, assault, and identity theft.
These detainees represent the majority of prison inmates, with the largest group being those accused of drug-related crimes, numbering about 2,650 prisoners, including 80 women. Additionally, there are 269 women in prison and 107 minors. Minors face particularly difficult conditions due to overcrowding and a lack of qualified services and trained staff to address their psychological, health, and rehabilitation needs.  Despite efforts to improve their conditions and transfer them to the Al-Warwar Center for rehabilitation, challenges remain. According to those involved, three measures are required to improve the conditions in Lebanese prisons. First, suitable conditions must be ensured for prisoners, addressing their health, psychological, and humanitarian needs. Second, trials should be expedited, and criminal procedural rules must be applied to reduce prolonged detention without trial. Lastly, rehabilitation programs should be provided for all categories of prisoners, particularly minors, to help reintegrate them into society. All of these measures may require an emergency judicial plan in cooperation with security forces, the Bar Association, and civil society organizations to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons and move toward a permanent, lasting solution.

Lebanese University Contract Professors: A One-Week Warning Strike

This is Beirut/April 06, 2025
The Committee of Contract Professors at the Lebanese University announced a week-long warning strike starting tomorrow, Monday, April 7, until Monday morning, April 14, 2025, with the possibility of extension if demands are not urgently met. In a statement, the professors complained of “the most horrific forms of marginalization and neglect” they have endured since 2019. They claim to have been deprived of distance learning allowances, most welfare benefits and productivity allowances, some of which have long been irregularly paid. In particular, they point out that the university has not been respecting the contracts it signed with them, either in terms of regularity of payments or compliance with transfer decrees. Consequently, they demanded:
1. The acceleration of procedures leading to the approval of sabbatical leave, which remains the main requirement to ensure the stability of the university and the fairness of contractual professors.
 2. Improvement of the hourly wage by no less than 70% of its pre-crisis value, similar to the salaries of those who are equal to them in terms of specialization and functions.
3. Payment of transport allowances for all days of actual attendance.
4. Immediate payment of all dues.

Bishop Audi: The season of Lent provides us with a sacred opportunity to engage in acts of repentance, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
NNA/April 6, 2025
Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Audi, Metropolitan of Beirut and its Dependencies, presided over the Mass at St. George's Cathedral, attended by a crowd of faithful. After the Gospel, he delivered a sermon in which he said: “Our Holy Church has ordained that the fifth Sunday of the Holy Forty Days of Lent be dedicated to the commemoration of our righteous mother, Mary of Egypt. The angelic life of Saint Mary of Egypt is an example of the journey of repentance called for by the Holy Fathers in order to attain the heavenly kingdom. As we embark on the journey of Holy Lent, we are called to delve into the importance of repentance in the Orthodox Church. Repentance (in Greek, metanoia) means “change of mind.” Repentance lies at the heart of our spiritual journey, a process of transformation that leads us to the joyful celebration of Holy Easter. Repentance is profoundly important in preparing our hearts for full and effective participation in the mystery of Christ’s Holy Resurrection. Repentance is not merely a superficial confession of sins, but a radical reorientation of our entire being toward God. It is a change of mind in the way it responds to temptations. Saint John Chrysostom says: “Repentance is the medicine that heals the wounds of sin.” Through sincere repentance, we humbly acknowledge our sinfulness. As we break before God and realize our need for His mercy and forgiveness, the Orthodox tradition teaches us that repentance is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process, a journey of renewal and spiritual growth, rooted in humility, contrition, true sorrow, and weeping over our sins. He added: “The season of Lent provides us with a sacred opportunity to engage in acts of repentance, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, as we prepare to commemorate the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. These spiritual exercises and practices purify our hearts, strengthen our resolve, and deepen our communion with God and with one another. When we fast from earthly pleasures, we remember our dependence on God for our daily needs, including food. Through fervent prayer and intercession, we offer our hearts and lives to God, seeking His guidance and grace to overcome temptation and sin. Through acts of charity and mercy, we extend God’s love and compassion to those in need, embodying the spirit of Christ’s selfless sacrifice on the cross. Furthermore, repentance is closely linked to the sacramental life of the Church, especially confession. Therefore, the Holy Church has combined these two processes into one sacrament, the sacrament of penance and confession. We often hear people accuse our Church of not having the sacrament of penance and confession, but this is ignorance of Tradition.” Our Church, which alone continues to preserve the noble Tradition as it received it from Christ, through the Apostles and their successors. In the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession, we have the opportunity to confess our sins before a priest, receive spiritual counsel and guidance, and experience the healing power of God's forgiveness. Orthodox Tradition teaches us that confession is not merely a formal act, but a holy encounter with the living God, who offers us the gift of reconciliation and restored communion with Him. Our sins are forgiven through the prayers of the priest and the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we are reconciled with God and His Church and worthily prepared to partake of the Holy Mysteries. He continued: "Moreover, repentance is essential for our participation in the holy season of Easter, for it prepares us to enter into the fullness of Christ's Resurrection. As we approach the radiant feast of Easter, we are called to embrace the Paschal Mystery with hearts purified by repentance and renewed by grace. The Apostle Paul says: "For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:5). Through repentance, we die to sin and selfishness and rise to newness of life in Christ, participating in His victory over sin and death. He concluded: “Finally, repentance is the gateway to the holy season of Easter, a sacred journey of transformation and renewal that leads us to the joyful celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. As we continue our “Lenten struggle,” we must repent with humility and contrition, seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness with sincere hearts. Fasting with discipline, praying fervently, and giving generously will guide us on this spiritual journey as we prepare to receive the Risen Lord with hearts ablaze with love and joy.”

Frankly Speaking: Will President Aoun deliver on his pledges for Lebanon?
Arab News/Nadim Shehadi/April 06, 2025
RIYADH: Lebanon faces a pivotal moment in its history as President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam take the reins of a country battered by years of economic crisis, political paralysis, and regional instability. Upon taking office in January, ending a two-year political vacuum, Aoun pledged to prioritize reform and recovery, address the influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, revitalize the Lebanese economy, and pursue regional cooperation and stability. Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi examined whether Aoun is likely to deliver on his pledges or if notions of Lebanon’s rebirth are overly optimistic. “There is certainly a lot of optimism, not just because of local developments in Lebanon, but because of major regional ones and international developments,” Shehadi said.
“It looks like the international and regional forces are aligned to resolve the problems of the region as a whole, not just of Lebanon. And that’s the cause of the optimism, because a lot of the problems here depend on a regional solution in a way.”One of the defining features of Aoun’s leadership is his outsider status. Unlike many of his predecessors, Aoun hails from the military rather than Lebanon’s entrenched political establishment — a fact that has bolstered hopes for meaningful change. “The election of General Aoun, which came with international support, one of the significant features of this is that he’s from outside the political establishment,” Shehadi told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen.
“Same with the prime minister, who has also been brought in from outside the political establishment,” he added, referring to Salam’s background in the judiciary. “That’s another cause for optimism.” However, optimism alone cannot solve Lebanon’s deep-seated problems. The country remains mired in economic turmoil, with widespread poverty and unemployment exacerbated by years of mismanagement and corruption.
The Lebanese pound has lost more than 90 percent of its value since the 2019 crash, plunging millions into hardship. This was compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, the Beirut port blast, and the war between Israel and Hezbollah. When asked whether Hezbollah, which has dominated Lebanese political affairs for decades, could derail Lebanon’s reform and recovery efforts, Shehadi was unequivocal. “Absolutely. This is the main issue,” he said. Hezbollah emerged from the Lebanese civil war of 1975-90 as a formidable military and political force, drawing on support from Lebanon’s Shiite community and the backing of Iran, which used it as a bulwark against Israel.
In solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah fought a year-long war with Israel that resulted in the gutting of the militia’s leadership, the loss of its once formidable arsenal, and the emptying of its coffers, leaving it unable to financially support its base.
Adding to its woes, the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in neighboring Syria deprived Hezbollah of a long-term ally, which had provided a land bridge for the delivery of weapons and funds from Iran via Iraq. Despite its enfeebled state, which is reflected in its limited role in the new Lebanese government, Shehadi said Hezbollah’s continued grip on Lebanon’s Shiite community poses a significant challenge to Aoun’s aim of achieving national unity and progress. “The question is not about the destruction of Hezbollah or of its infrastructure,” he said. “The question is the liberation of the community, of the Shiite community, from the grip of Hezbollah.” He argued that Hezbollah’s Achilles’ heel lies within its own enabling environment — its constituency — which must decide to reject its agenda and integrate fully into Lebanese society. Shehadi said Hezbollah’s economic stranglehold on its community is a critical issue. “Even the institutions of Hezbollah that are being targeted — the economic institutions of Hezbollah — the money is not Hezbollah’s money. The money is in large part that of the community, and that money has been hijacked by Hezbollah,” he said.
Addressing this issue requires a political solution rather than a military confrontation, he added. Under the US-brokered ceasefire deal struck between Hezbollah and Israel last November, it was agreed that the militia would disarm, handing the monopoly on the use of force to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
In exchange for Israeli forces withdrawing from Lebanese territory, Hezbollah fighters were also required to retreat from Israel’s border to the Litani River — a key stipulation in the UN resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Little progress has been made on this front, leading to suggestions that the Lebanese army could be deployed to disarm Hezbollah by force. However, Shehadi dismissed this idea as both impractical and undesirable. “No, I don’t think (Aoun) ever meant to say that either,” he said. “He never meant that the Lebanese army would clash with Hezbollah and disarm Hezbollah by force. That was never on the cards and will never be on the cards. And it’s not possible.” Far from risking a replay of the Lebanese civil war, Shehadi said that rebuilding Lebanon would require a political agreement among all communities.
“Even if it was possible (to disarm Hezbollah by force), it’s not desirable because reconstituting the country, putting it back on track, includes a political agreement between all its components,” he said. Shehadi expressed confidence that Hezbollah is unlikely to return to its previous position of strength due to growing dissatisfaction within its constituency. “I don’t think its own constituency would accept that,” he said.
In light of US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, questions have arisen about whether Lebanon could follow suit under Aoun’s leadership. Shehadi said this is unlikely without first addressing the Palestinian question.
“I don’t think that normalization is possible without a solution to the Palestinian issue, especially not with Lebanon and also not with Saudi Arabia,” he said. He pointed out that both countries adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, which calls for the full Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian occupied territories and a two-state solution before normalization can occur. Instead, Shehadi suggested revisiting historical agreements like the May 1983 accord between Israel and Lebanon as a potential model for coexistence. “Lebanon can also look back to … the 17th of May Agreement … which I think is the best Lebanon can achieve with Israel,” he said. Furthermore, domestic resistance to normalization remains strong due to Israel’s past military actions in Lebanon. “There are lots of issues that need to be resolved with Israel,” said Shehadi. “Israel’s bombing of the country is not conducive to peace. It’s not a way of getting yourself loved, if you like, by the way they destroyed the villages and all that.
“So, there would be a resistance to normalization for internal reasons. And because we do not see Israel as being in a mood for peace.”
Lebanon's economic collapse in 2019 has left billions missing from banks and central reserves — a crisis that new central bank governor, Karim Souaid, must urgently address. Shehadi said that resolving these losses will be pivotal for Lebanon’s recovery.
“The biggest question is where are the losses going to go? There are billions of dollars that have disappeared from the banks and from the central banks. These are the depositors’ money and the banks’ money. And so the big question is who will bear the cost of that?
“The way you resolve this should also set the country on a path to recovery. And the binary view of this is that it is the state versus the banks, but in reality, Lebanon cannot survive without the banks and Lebanon cannot survive without the state. “So, there’s going to be a middle ground, hopefully favoring the banking system, because I believe that the banking system is the main engine of the economy. The new governor has a huge job to do.” While corruption is often cited as a primary cause of many of Lebanon’s problems, Shehadi challenged this narrative. “This is a very dominant narrative about Lebanon, that it was years of corruption. What happened in Lebanon and the reason for the meltdown is not years of corruption,” he said. “What happened is the result of years of the state and society being pounded, being battered, if you like, through assassinations, through declarations of war, through paralysis of government. “We’ve had three periods of between two to three years of total paralysis with no president, no government and parliament in any way. We’ve had 2 million Syrian refugees, which are a huge burden on the economy. “We’ve had a constant state of war in the sense that every year Hezbollah declares war on Israel five times. And that paralyzes the economy. That cancels trips, cancels investment opportunities.“So, all of that accumulated cost of the paralysis, the wars, is what brought the country down. It’s wrong to emphasize the corruption of the country as a reason for it.”
He added: “The rich political elite want stability. And the bankers want stability. The financiers want stability. Because they are very invested in the country. There has been a wrong narrative that has set in.”Saudi Arabia has historically played a significant role in Lebanese affairs — a relationship Aoun sought to strengthen during his recent visit to Riyadh. However, challenges remain — most notably Riyadh’s travel ban on Saudis visiting Lebanon. Shehadi expressed optimism about Saudi-Lebanese relations returning to normalcy. “I’m optimistic that this will come back,” he said. “The normal state of affairs is good relations. What we had in the last probably 15 years was an exception. It was not a normal state of affairs. It’s not the default state of relations.”He dismissed sectarian interpretations of Saudi support in Lebanon. “I don’t think it was ever that clear-cut, that they support a prime minister because the prime minister is Sunni,” he said. “Saudi Arabia had allies in Lebanon and supported the country and had opponents from (different sects). I don’t think it was determined by sect or religion. I don’t think the Kingdom behaves that way.”
With Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa signaling a shift toward respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty following the fall of Assad, questions arise about future Lebanese-Syrian relations. “The whole region is entering a new phase,” said Shehadi. “The phase we are getting out of, which we have been in for probably the last half century, was one which did not respect the sovereignty of individual countries in the region. “It was one dominated by political parties that aimed to dominate their neighbors. Like the Ba’ath. I mean, the example is Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, of course, and Syrian intervention in Lebanon and Syrian problems with Turkiye, with Jordan. “We have an order which is changing. We’re entering a new order. And, hopefully, that order will be more in line with the original protocols that set up the Arab League in 1944, which was the Alexandria protocols, which enhanced cooperation between the Arab countries, both culturally and economically, but also respect for each other’s sovereignty.”

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 06-07/2025
From Syria to Tehran: Netanyahu brings the battle plan to Washington
LBCI/April 6, 2025
Israel considers Monday’s meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to be a historic moment. The talks are expected to go beyond trade tariffs and focus heavily on urgent Middle East issues, primarily Iran and Syria. On Syria, Netanyahu is expected to present a security plan drafted by Israeli intelligence agencies that envisions the country divided into spheres of influence. According to the plan, eastern Syria would fall under U.S. oversight with an Israeli presence; Russia would control the west and Turkey the north. Israel would maintain a presence in the south in addition to the east, while the interim Syrian regime would retain what remains. This division would stay in place until a stable, elected government is formed in Syria—an outcome not expected for several years. On Iran, Israel seeks continued close coordination and full support from Washington. As a second U.S. THAAD missile defense system arrived in Israel to counter potential ballistic threats, Israeli officials anticipate that Netanyahu will be briefed by Trump on a proposal for a new agreement with Tehran. If reached, such a deal would have wide-ranging implications, particularly on the Lebanese front. In Gaza, both sides have reached understandings on Israel’s planned actions. However, there is also discussion of a potential shift in approach that could lead to a near-term hostages exchange. Despite the optimistic tone projected by Netanyahu’s office ahead of the meeting, sources familiar with the preparations have voiced concern over Trump’s insistence on holding the talks so quickly—before the Jewish holiday of Passover—raising questions about the urgency and nature of the agenda items to be discussed.

Tariffs on Canadian goods having a 'devastating effect,' U.S. farmers say
CBC/April 6, 2025
American farmers say U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canadian goods are having a "devastating effect" on the local agriculture sector south of the border. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs for dozens of countries. Canada and Mexico were notably spared in this round, but previous 25 per cent tariffs on some Canadian products will remain. Some U.S. farmers say the tariffs are already making it harder for producers in their country, already long accustomed to hardship, to make a living. "Most farmers are pretty used to adversary things and situations like this," Doug Sombke, president of the South Dakota Farmers Union, said. "But I think many of them were actually struck and shocked."The tariffs are having a "devastating effect on both ends" for producers in the state, who will likely see the price they're paid for their product go down amid tariffs and counter-tariffs, even as the cost of fertilizer and equipment rises, said Sombke. There were already drops in market prices after Trump announced the latest tariffs this week, he noted. "This was just a horrible idea," he said." Whoever thought that tariffs were good for the country, they really don't understand civics and/or economics very well."
Sombke said 90 per cent of the state's potash — which is used as a fertilizer and is currently being tariffed at 10 per cent — comes from Canada, while much of its farming equipment carries a "made in Canada" stamp. North Dakota Farmers Union vice-president Bob Kuylen also said he's "very frustrated" with the tariffs, warning they could be detrimental to the future of agriculture in Manitoba's neighbouring state. The 25 per cent steel tariffs could make purchases of necessary farm equipment much more expensive, he told host Marcy Markusa in a Friday interview with CBC's Information Radio. For example, he says Canada makes good-quality no-till drills — specialized equipment that plants seeds without disturbing the soil — but their $1-million price tag would cost a U.S. farmer $250,000 more with the tariff. "That's a heck of a hit," he said. 'Time machine' needed to undo damage: economist North of the border, Canadian agriculture economists worry that the U.S. tariffs have already done irreparable damage to the economies of both countries. Ryan Cardwell, a professor with the University of Manitoba's department of agribusiness and agricultural economics, says a "time machine" might be the only way to fix it.
"The degree of uncertainty that has been created by the last few months of policy change in the United States, I think has done permanent damage," he said. "It's all very troubling and creates a lot of uncertainty and barriers to trade that have not existed for a very long time between Canada and the U.S." He said Trump's "chaotic trade policy" has shaken predictability for investors, which will inevitably slow economic growth in Canada, the U.S. and almost all countries that trade with the two. "People, investors, farmers, producers now have less certainty. They are less willing to undertake the kind of investment that generates economic growth," he said. It's still possible that Trump could reverse the tariffs yet again, but Cardwell worries it might be too late. "Even if these tariffs disappear tomorrow, that uncertainty still exists," he said. "I don't see a way to turn that around."In North Dakota, where Trump took nearly 68 per cent of the vote in November's election, Kuylen said it feels as if the president is "fighting with food all the time.""We should be eating well instead of fighting with our food, with all of our friends and neighbours to the north and the south of us."Sombke says he's disappointed to see Trump — who was backed by 63 per cent of voters in South Dakota — turn close trading allies into adversaries. Instead, he wants to see farmers "visit with your neighbours" across international borders. "What we need to do is find ways to work together to help each other, as a world market, rather than go through these tit-for-tat types of situations that are never helpful for anyone.""We've become such enemies just because of this one man."

Israel: Document Reveals Iran's Support for October 7 Attack
This is Beirut/April 6, 2025
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed on Sunday a communication between Iran and Mohammed Al-Deif, the General Commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, as well as Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, confirming "Iran's support for the October 7, 2023, plan."During a visit to the intelligence unit in the "Amshot" division on Sunday, Katz explained that "Al-Deif and Sinwar requested $500 million from the commander of the Quds Force to destroy Israel."He presented a document for the first time, which includes, as he explained, recordings of conversations discovered in the tunnels of senior Hamas leaders in Gaza. The document allegedly proves a direct connection between Iran, Sinwar, and Al-Deif as part of Iran’s support for Hamas’s plan to destroy Israel. Katz added that the head of the Palestinian branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Izadi, responded to Al-Deif and Sinwar's request by saying, "Despite Iran's difficult economic situation and the suffering of the Iranian people, we will continue to funnel money to Hamas."The secret correspondence revealed by Katz, claimed to have been sent from Hamas leaders to Iran, stated, "At this stage, we are in dire need of your full and determined support to restore our strength, replenish what has been exhausted in this confrontation or targeted, and develop our capabilities manifold." The Hamas leaders further allegedly wrote in the message, "To achieve these significant goals, which will, God willing, change the face of the universe, we urgently need financial support of $20 million monthly for two years, totaling $500 million over the two years, and we trust that by the end of these two years or during them, God willing, we will eradicate this monstrous entity, and together we will change the face of the region and end this dark era by God's will."The secret message was signed by Mohammed Al-Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Marwan Issa. Iran has repeatedly denied knowledge of the attack carried out by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 others.


Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities, Israel issues evacuation orders in Gaza
Emily Rose and Nidal al-Mughrabi/JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters)/April 6, 2025
Palestinian militant group Hamas said it fired a barrage of rockets at cities in Israel's south on Sunday in response to Israeli "massacres" of civilians in Gaza. Israel's military said about 10 projectiles were fired, but most were successfully intercepted. Israel's Channel 12 reported a direct hit in the southern city of Ashkelon.Israeli emergency services said they were treating one person for shrapnel injuries, and teams were en route to locations of fallen rockets. Smashed car windows and debris lay strewn on a city street, videos disseminated by Israeli emergency services showed. Meanwhile, Gaza local health authorities said Israeli military strikes killed at least 39 people across the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Shortly after the rocket firing, the Israeli military posted on X a new evacuation order, instructing residents of several districts in Deir Al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip to leave their areas, citing earlier rocket firing.
"This is a final warning before the attack," the military warning statement said. Later, it said it struck the rocket launcher from which projectiles were launched earlier from the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a flight to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, was briefed on the rocket attack by his Defense Minister, Israel Katz. A statement issued by his office said Netanyahu instructed that a "vigorous" response be carried out and approved the continuation of intensive activity by the Israeli military against Hamas. Israel's Channel 12 television said at least 12 lightly injured people have been treated as a result of the rocket firing from Gaza, quoting officials at the Bazilai Hospital in Ashkelon. The first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on January 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel said on March 19 that its forces resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. Both parties blamed one another for a stalemate in the ceasefire talks. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. Israel began its offensive after thousands of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Palestinian teenager with U.S. citizenship killed by Israeli forces in West Bank
Reuters/April 6, 2025
A Palestinian teenager with U.S. citizenship was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, with the Israeli military saying it shot a "terrorist" who endangered civilians by hurling rocks. The incident is the latest in a surge of violence and near-daily confrontations in the volatile West Bank, where settler violence and clashes between Israeli forces and armed Palestinians have kept it on edge. The mayor of Turmus Ayya, Adeeb Lafi, told Reuters earlier in the day that Omar Mohammad Rabea, 14, was shot along with two other teenagers by an Israeli settler at the entrance to Turmus Ayya and that the Israeli army pronounced him dead after detaining him. However, the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the incident as an "extra-judicial killing" by Israeli forces during a raid in the town, saying it was the result of Israel's "continued impunity"."During a counterterrorism activity in the area of Turmus Aya, IDF soldiers identified three terrorists who hurled rocks toward the highway, thus endangering civilians driving," the Israeli army said in a statement. "The soldiers opened fire toward the terrorists who were endangering civilians, eliminating one terrorist and hitting two additional terrorists." Settler violence in the West Bank, including incursions into occupied territory and raids on Bedouin villages and encampments, has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023. European countries and the previous U.S. administration under President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, though the White House under President Donald Trump removed these sanctions. The Israeli military has also in recent months carried what it called a "large-scale military operation" in the West Bank to root out militants. Militant group Hamas, based in Gaza, has over recent years expanded its reach in the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the rival Fatah faction, exercises limited governance.

‘Women and children killed’ in Israeli strikes in Gaza
Associated Press Reporter/April 6, 2025
Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip killed at least 15 people, including 10 women and children, overnight and into Sunday, according to local health officials. Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas and renewed its air and ground war last month. It has carried out out waves of strikes and seized territory in order to pressure the militants to accept a new deal for a truce and hostage release. It has also blocked the import of food, fuel and humanitarian aid. The latest strikes hit a tent and a house in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing five men, five women and five children, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Fifty-nine hostages are still being held in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals.
Israel’s offensive has killed at least 50,695 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says another 115,338 people have been wounded. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Israel walks back account of killing of 15 medics in Gaza after video seems to contradict it
AP/April 06, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: The Israeli military backtracked on its account of the killing of 15 Palestinian medics by its forces last month after phone video appeared to contradict its claims that their vehicles did not have emergency signals on when troops opened fire on them in the Gaza Strip. The military initially said it opened fire because the vehicles were “advancing suspiciously” on nearby troops without headlights or emergency signals. An Israeli military official, speaking late Saturday on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said that account was “mistaken.”The footage shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defense teams driving slowly with their emergency vehicles’ lights flashing, logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier. The teams do not appear to be acting unusually or in a threatening manner as three medics emerge and head toward the stricken ambulance. Their vehicles immediately come under a barrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses. The owner of the phone can be heard praying. “Forgive me, mother. This is the path I chose, mother, to help people,” he cries, his voice weak. Eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers and a UN staffer were killed in the shooting before dawn on March 23 by Israeli troops conducting operations in Tel al-Sultan, a district of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Troops then bulldozed over the bodies along with their mangled vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. UN and rescue workers were only able to reach the site a week later to dig out the bodies. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society's vice president, Marwan Jilani, said the phone with the footage was found in the pocket of one of its slain staffers. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the video to the UN Security Council. The Associated Press obtained the video from a UN diplomat on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public. One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed, confirmed the veracity of the video to the AP. Two block-shaped concrete structures visible in the video are also seen in a UN video released Sunday showing the recovery of the bodies from the site — a sign they are in the same location.Asked about the video, the Israeli military said Saturday that the incident was “under thorough examination.”
One medic remains missing
The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younes Al-Khatib, called for an independent investigation. “We don’t trust any of the army investigations,” he told a briefing at the UN on Friday. One medic, Assaad al-Nassasra, is still missing, the Red Crescent says. Abed said he saw al-Nassasra being led away blindfolded by Israeli troops. Al-Khatib said the organization has asked the military where it is holding the staffer. Al-Khatib said the slain men had been “targeted at close range” and that a forensic autopsy report would be released soon. Israel has accused Hamas of moving and hiding its fighters inside ambulances and emergency vehicles, as well as in hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, arguing that justifies strikes on them. Medical personnel largely deny the accusations. Israeli strikes have killed more than 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense, most of them while on duty, as well as over 1,000 health workers, according to the UN. The Israeli military rarely investigates such incidents.
Ambulances under a barrage of Israeli fire
Ambulances started heading to Tel al-Sultan at around 3:50 a.m. on March 23, responding to reports of wounded, Jilani said. The first ambulance returned safely with at least one casualty, he said. But, he said, subsequent ambulances came under fire.
His hands trembling, Abed told the AP on Saturday that as his ambulance entered the area, its siren lights were on. “All of a sudden, I am telling you, there was direct shooting at us,” so intense that the vehicle ground to a stop, he said. A 10-year veteran of the Red Crescent, Abed said he was sitting in the back seat and ducked to the floor. He said he could hear nothing from his two colleagues in the front seat — the only others in the vehicle. They appear to have been killed instantly. Israeli troops, some with night goggles, dragged Abed out of the ambulance and onto the ground, he said. They made him strip to his underwear, beat him all over his body with their rifle butts, then tied his hands behind his back, he said. They interrogated him, asking him about his paramedic training and how many people were in the ambulance with him, he said. One soldier pressed the muzzle of his automatic rifle into his neck. Another pressed his knife blade into Abed’s palm, almost cutting it, until a third soldier pulled them away and warned Abed, “They’re crazy.” Abed said he witnessed them opening fire on the next vehicles to arrive. Soldiers forced him onto his stomach and pressed a gun into his back, he said, and amid the shooting in the darkness, so he could only see two Civil Defense vehicles.
Video shows medic’s terror
The phone video shows a rescue convoy of Red Crescent and Civil Defense vehicles that was sent out after contact was lost with the stricken ambulance. Taken from the dashboard of one vehicle, it shows several ambulances and a fire truck moving down a road through a barren area in the darkness. The emergency lights on their roofs are flashing the entire way. They arrive at an ambulance on the side of the road and stop next to it, their lights still flashing. No Israeli troops are visible. “Lord, let them be OK,” a man in the car says. Then he cries out, “They’re tossed around on the ground!” — apparently referring to bodies. Three men in orange Civil Defense clothing can be seen getting out of the vehicles and walking toward the stopped ambulance. A shot rings out and one of the men appears to fall. Gunfire erupts. The man holding the phone appears to scramble out of the car and onto the ground, but the screen goes black, though the audio continues. The gunfire goes on for nearly five and a half minutes, with long, heavy barrages followed by silences punctuated by individual shots and shouts and screams. Throughout, the man with the phone says over and over, “There is no God but God and Muhammad is God’s prophet” — the profession of faith that Muslims say when they fear they are about to die. Near the end of the six-minute, 40-second video, voices can be heard shouting in Hebrew. “The Jews are coming,” the man said, referring to Israeli soldiers, before the video cuts off. The Israeli military official asserted there was “no mistreatment,” and said he didn’t know why the vehicles had been buried. He had no information about the medic who remained missing.
Israel claims they found militants afterward
The Israeli military says that after the shooting, troops determined they had killed a Hamas figure named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. However, none of the 15 slain medics has that name, and no other bodies are known to have been found at the site.
The military has not said what happened to Shobaki's body or released the names of the other alleged militants. The Israeli military official said Israel was “working to bring evidence” that Hamas operatives were killed. Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the UN humanitarian office OCHA, dismissed allegations that the slain medics were Hamas militants, saying staff had worked with the same medics previously in evacuating patients from hospitals and other tasks. “These are paramedic crews that I personally have met before," he said. “They were buried in their uniforms with their gloves on. They were ready to save lives.”

Syria's president to visit Turkey and UAE next week
Reuters/April 6, 2025
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa will make his first visit to the United Arab Emirates and is also scheduled to visit Turkey next week, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday, as he continues to garner support for the new administration.
Sharaa, who previously visited Turkey in February, will make the UAE his second Gulf destination after traveling to Saudi Arabia that same month on his first foreign trip since assuming the presidency in January. He and other members of the new Syrian leadership have been working to strengthen ties with both Arab and Western leaders following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive in December, led by Sharaa's Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Sharaa and his officials have also called for a full lifting of sanctions on Syria. Syria is in desperate need of sanctions relief to kick start an economy collapsed by nearly 14 years of war, during which the United States, the U.K. and Europe placed tough sanctions on people, businesses and whole sectors of Syria's economy in a bid to squeeze now-ousted leader Assad.

Rubio says US is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders
The Associated Press/April 6, 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the United States was revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, accusing the African nation's government of “taking advantage of the United States.” “Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio said in a statement, adding that “South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle." Besides revoking visas, Rubio said the U.S. would "prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders.”South Sudan’s political landscape is fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions. Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged regional and international leaders to prevent South Sudan from falling “over the abyss” into another civil war. Guterres warned that the world’s newest and one of its poorest countries is facing “a security emergency” with intensifying clashes and a “political upheaval” culminating with last week’s arrest by the government of First Vice President Riek Machar.
Houthis say US strikes kill four as Trump’s bombing video suggests higher overall death toll
AP/April 06, 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Suspected US airstrikes killed at least four people Sunday in Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa, the Houthi-run health ministry said, while a bombing video posted by US President Donald Trump suggested casualties in the overall campaign may be higher than the rebels acknowledge. The strikes in Sanaa hit a home and injured 16 other people, the ministry said. Earlier on Sunday, the Iranian-backed Houthis said suspected US airstrikes killed at least two people overnight in a rebel stronghold Saada and wounded nine others. Footage aired by the Houthis’ Al-Masirah satellite news channel showed a strike collapsing what appeared to be a two-story building. The rebels aired no footage from inside the building, which they described as a solar power shop. The intense campaign of US airstrikes targeting the rebels over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters — related to the Israel-Hamas war — has killed at least 69 people, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis. The Houthis have not acknowledged any casualties among their security and military leadership — something challenged after an online video posted by Trump.
Trump bombing footage suggests rebel leaders targeted
Early on Saturday, Trump posted what appeared to be black-and-white video from a drone showing over 70 people gathered in a circle. An explosion detonates during the 25-second video. A massive crater is left in its wake.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump claimed, without offering a location or any other details about the strike. “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”
The US military’s Central Command, which oversees Mideast military operations, has not published the video nor offered specific details about the strikes it has conducted since March 15. The White House has said over 200 strikes have targeted the Houthis.
The rebel-controlled SABA news agency in Yemen, citing an anonymous source, described the bombing as targeting “a social Eid visit in Hodeida governorate.” Muslims around the world just celebrated Eid Al-Fitr at the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. SABA had published images of other commanders meeting fighters during the holiday, though not any high-level Houthi officials. “Those present at that gathering had no connection to the operations carried out by the (Houthis), which are implementing the decision to ban navigation on ships linked to the American and Israeli enemy,” the SABA report said, adding that the attack killed and wounded “dozens.”The Houthis previously have not acknowledged any strike on Hodeida during that time with such a high casualty count. The SABA report also did not describe those killed as civilians, suggesting they did have ties to the rebels’ security or military forces. Hodeida has been a site of Houthi attacks into the Red Sea. Moammar Al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen’s exiled government opposing the Houthis, claimed the strike killed some 70 Houthi fighters and leaders, as well as “experts” from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He offered no evidence for the claim, though Iran has backed the Houthis. Neither the Iranian government nor the Guard has acknowledged the attack. Mohammed Al-Basha, a Yemen expert of the Basha Report risk advisory firm, cited social media condolence notices suggesting a colonel overseeing police stations for the Houthis in Hodeida had been killed in the strike Trump highlighted, alongside his two brothers. “The strikes have expanded significantly, hitting multiple governorates simultaneously, alongside telecommunications infrastructure, command nodes, properties tied to senior Houthi leadership and previously untouched tunnel networks in mountainous areas,” Al-Basha told The Associated Press. “We’ve also seen direct targeting of Houthi force gatherings, indicating a more aggressive and evolving shift in the targeting strategy,” Al-Basha said.
Intense US bombings began nearly a month ago
An AP review has found the new US operation against the Houthis under Trump appears more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities. The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted. The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.The attacks greatly raised the profile of the Houthis, who faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting dissent and aid workers in Yemen amid a decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation. The US campaign shows no signs of stopping, as the Trump administration has linked its airstrikes on the Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Zelensky Says 'No Response' from US After Putin Rejected Truce
AFP/April 6, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment on Sunday over the lack of a "response" from the United States to Russian President Vladimir Putin's "refusal" to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, following new deadly strikes, particularly in Kyiv. The United States had proposed a 30-day ceasefire in March, which Kyiv accepted. However, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has developed closer ties with Vladimir Putin, was only able to secure from Moscow an agreement for a truce in the Black Sea and a vague moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, which both sides accuse each other of violating. "Ukraine accepted the U.S. proposal for a total and unconditional ceasefire. Putin refuses," Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his daily address to the nation. "We are waiting for a response from the United States - so far, there has been none," he criticized, calling for action from Europeans and "all those in the world who want peace." Volodymyr Zelensky, whose relations with Donald Trump have been tumultuous in recent months, is urging Washington to pressure Russia. He has repeatedly called on his allies to strengthen economic sanctions against Moscow. Earlier on Sunday, he wrote on social media that "the pressure on Russia is still insufficient, and the daily Russian strikes on Ukraine prove it."New contacts between Russian and American officials are possible "next week," Russian President Vladimir Putin's economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, indicated in a televised interview cited by Russian agencies on Sunday. Kirill Dmitriev did not specify the nature of these contacts, though he is not officially involved in discussions on Ukraine.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 06-07/2025
Russia’s foothold in Syria presents conundrum for Trump

Laura Kelly/The Hill/April 6, 2025
The Trump administration is torn over how to respond to Russia’s military presence in Syria and whether to ask the new transitional government to oust Russian forces from a naval and air base in the country. U.S. sanctions on Syria provide Washington with enormous leverage to influence the new government headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former U.S.-designated terrorist who led the overthrow of longtime dictator Bashar Assad. Last month, Trump officials provided al-Sharaa’s representatives with a list of conditions for eventual sanctions relief. But ousting Russia’s military presence in the country was not included, according to two people familiar with the situation. “There’s a huge internal debate within the administration about what position to take on the Russian base,” said one person familiar with the matter. “This was debated within the State Department and White House, there was a push by some in the administration to remove the Russian base.”The person added that ousting Russian forces is currently “not being demanded of the Syrians to remove sanctions.”Russia’s involvement in Syria is another potential flashpoint as Trump tries to bring Moscow to the table on a ceasefire with Ukraine. In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18 about Ukraine, Trump spoke broadly about the Middle East “as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts.”But Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin over his refusal to halt fighting with Kyiv, and threatened sanctions.
Russia hawks in Congress say the removal of Russian military assets in Syria is an easy ask of al-Sharaa that would deliver major geopolitical wins for the U.S. in the region. “I’m hopeful that every effort is going to be made to remove the Russian navy base of Tartus and equally to remove the air base that the Russians have in Syria,” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) told The Hill. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took a more cautious tack, saying Damascus’s turn away from Russia and its partners — China, Iran and North Korea — would benefit the U.S. “If we want it and they want it, we ought to try to make it happen,” he said. Risch said he’s still in a “wait and see” mode with whether the new authorities in Damascus are to be trusted, but said some sanctions relief is possible.
“I think what we should do, is do some suspension of some of the sanctions — so that they can start rebuilding their country. I think we should give them that opportunity, but I’m still in a wait-and-see mode to see where this country is going,” he said.
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and Armed Services Committee, called last month for Russia to be kicked out of Syria.
“If we want lasting peace in Ukraine, we can’t allow Russia to capitalize on the chaos in Syria and maintain control of its airbases,” he posted on the social platform X. “Russia’s presence in Syria benefits Iran’s terrorist proxies, who seek to destabilize the region and undermine U.S. national security interests.”There’s little love for Russia among the Syrian people, al-Sharaa, or the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the insurgents who overthrew Assad. Russia’s intervention in Syria in 2015 shored up Assad’s dwindling power against the Syrian rebels, with air and ground forces carrying out widespread attacks that spurred allegations of war crimes.
“During the onslaught on Aleppo in 2015 to the end of 2016, Russia dropped tens of thousands of tons of munitions on residential areas in Syria including cluster bombs,” said Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, a Syrian Civil Society leader and human rights activist, testified in front of Congress in July. Cluster bombs are banned by more than 100 countries because of their devastating impact, spreading multiple submunitions or bomblets over an area as large as a city block, and that can kill, maim, and also lie dormant until triggered. “Russia has committed extensive war crimes killing thousands of Syrian civilians and obliterating hospitals, schools, mosques, marketplaces, churches and residential neighborhoods,” Ghanem said. But Putin is reportedly reaching out to al-Sharaa and offering “practical cooperation” at a time when the government faces an overwhelming economic crisis, and ongoing international sanctions put in place against Assad. In February, Russia delivered the equivalent of $23 million in Syrian currency at official rates to the central bank in Damascus, The Wall Street Journal reported, extending a lifeline to the new Syrian authorities in the absence of other potential donors. Europe, Arab and Gulf countries have so far held back transferring funds, wary over running afoul of U.S. sanctions.
And Russia reportedly started oil and gas shipments to Syria in an effort to maintain its military bases, according to the Moscow Times. The Syrian government is facing an acute energy crisis without the ability to develop its own oil reserves. The Assad regime relied on oil provided by Iran, which has largely been cut off with Assad’s flight and Iran’s expulsion from the country. U.S. sanctions are “suffocating” Syria, said Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Zelin said that even as Europe signals easing of sanctions on Syria, it’s given little confidence to investors or Arab and Gulf states to enter the country, over fear of running afoul of American restrictions.
The Biden administration in January offered a six-month reprieve on certain transactions in Syria, but advocates and analysts say more sanctions relief is needed to give the transitional government an opportunity to provide stability, while working on other U.S. priorities, like eliminating Assad’s chemical weapons stockpiles, ramping up counterterrorism cooperation, preventing a resurgence of ISIS and investigating the disappearance of American Austin Tice. “To ensure that Syria is stable, peaceful, and free of Iran and other adversaries, the Trump administration must lift sanctions ASAP,” said Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and who has led multiple international and religious delegations to Syria testing the new government’s promises of inclusivity and openness.
“President Trump has an opportunity to make Syria an ally of the U.S., bring troops home in the right way, and keep China and Iran away from Syrian territory and natural resources by normalizing with a new free Syria.”
Advocates for conditional sanctions relief say al-Sharaa and the new care-taker government, announced late last month, are positive steps that should be rewarded with targeted relief.
“I think we need to look at a tiered approach to easing sanctions, so you do certain things and we lift certain sanctions, you do certain other things, we lift certain sanctions,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“But we need to get moving because right now we don’t have a Syria policy and Russia is already moving back in, Iran is looking to move back in so, it’s important for us to send a clear message about what we expect and what we’re willing to do as a result.”
Zelin, of the Washington Institute, said the new government in Damascus is an improvement to the transitional authority that al-Sharaa headed alongside HTS. While HTS officials hold high-profile portfolios like foreign policy, interior, justice and defense, minority groups like Kurds, Christians, Druze and Alawites are represented — although there is only one woman. “Obviously I think it’s a bit disappointing that there’s only one woman considering the fact that it’s 23 ministries,” Zelin said.
“Relatively speaking, it’s definitely a better version of what they were running before.”
But some in the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill argue that al-Sharaa’s Salafi-jihadist past should make Washington skeptical.
“I’ve been studying Jihadi movements for 24 years, I have never seen a successful jihadi leader become a democrat or a lover of representative government,” said Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior counterterrorism official on the National Security Council. “There’s only moderation if the jihadi leader loses. He didn’t lose in Damascus, he won, so let’s apply a little common sense.”
“Just because a terrorist puts on a suit doesn’t mean he’s the father of the country,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East. “We need to see signs that they are providing equal protection to all groups, majority and minority, and when we see that then we have the beginnings of an opportunity,” he added. “We also have to look at the outflow and inflow of refugees, because that says a lot about what the people of Syria believe about the new government.”
The Hill has reached out to the National Security Council. A State Department spokesperson told The Hill that the administration is monitoring the Syrian interim authorities’ actions across a number of issues as “we determine future U.S. policy for Syria,” when asked about whether the shutdown of Russian bases are a condition for sanctions relief. “Ultimately, the United States wants a Syria that lives in peace with its neighbors, respects human rights, and prohibits terrorists from using its territory as a safe haven,” the spokesperson said.

Far from being cowed by US airstrikes, Yemen’s Houthis may be relishing them
Nadeen Ebrahim and Tim Lister, CNN/April 6, 2025
For weeks, US airstrikes have pounded Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting oil refineries, airports and missile sites, with President Trump vowing to use “overwhelming force” until the US achieves its goal of stopping the Houthis from targeting shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis began the campaign in solidarity with Palestinians when Israel went to war in Gaza in October 2023. The group has carried out more than 100 attacks and have sunk two vessels. The result: 70% of merchant shipping that once transited the Red Sea now takes the long route around southern Africa. The US says the campaign is working. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that multiple Houthi leaders had been killed.
But every round of strikes provokes more defiance.
The Houthis are what one veteran Yemen-watcher calls the honey badgers of resistance, referring to the belligerent mammal known for its fearless attitude toward predators. Bitten by a cobra, they get up minutes later and attack the snake.
While as many as 80 Houthi military officers may have been killed, according to analysts, the senior echelon of its military and political leadership appears intact. So are at least some of its missile-launching sites. Since mid-March, the Houthis have launched a dozen ballistic missiles at Israel, and barrages of drones and missiles at US navy ships. While none caused major damage, the threat remains. CNN reported on Friday that the total cost of the US military’s operation against the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen is nearing $1 billion in just under three weeks, according to three people briefed on the campaign, but the attacks had so far had limited impact on destroying the group’s capabilities. “We are burning through readiness — munitions, fuel, deployment time,” said one official.
Far from being cowed, the Houthis have threatened to extend their range of targets to the UAE, which backs the rival government to the Houthis in Yemen’s Civil War. Similarly, Saudi officials say the Kingdom’s air defenses are on high alert.
“The dozens of airstrikes on Yemen will not deter the Yemeni Armed Forces from fulfilling their religious, moral, and humanitarian duties,” said a Houthi spokesman earlier this week.
There’s no doubt that the US campaign has degraded the Houthis’ capabilities. Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, says he suspects the Houthis “have lost a lot of drone manufacturing capability, and there does seem to be more effective interdiction of resupply shipments coming via the sea and via Oman. So the Houthis are not comfortable.”But history shows that the Houthis have an extraordinarily high tolerance for pain. And the Trump administration’s determination to eradicate the threat they pose may ultimately require a ground offensive.“The Houthis are just inured to being at war with a first world military,” Knights says.“They’re ideological, but they’re also very tough tribal fighters from northern Yemen.”
Such equipment could enable Houthi UAVs to carry larger payloads and to travel for far longer periods. That would “greatly extend the potential threat posed by the Houthis,” CAR reported. The Houthis survived several offensives during the long presidency of Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen, then a Saudi offensive ten years ago, followed by more recent Israeli, UK and US airstrikes. Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst on Yemen at the International Crisis Group, says Israel and western powers lack a deep understanding of the Houthis. “Their opaque leadership and internal structure have created persistent gaps in intelligence.”
Another Yemen expert, Elisabeth Kendall, questions the endgame of the US campaign. “The Houthis have been bombed tens of thousands of times over the past decade and remain undeterred. So one is left thinking that the bombing is largely performative: let’s show the world - we’ll do it because we can.”Coercing the Houthis, Knights told CNN, is “really, really difficult.”“They are an extremely aggressive movement. The best way to end them permanently is to overthrow them, remove them from the capital, remove them from the Red Sea coast.”Regional diplomatic sources, as well as analysts, say that ultimately only a ground offensive can dislodge the Houthis, who currently control the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, its major port, Hodeidah, and much of northern Yemen.
Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst on Yemen at the International Crisis Group, says the US is wrong to believe that airstrikes can compel the Houthis to back down. “This approach failed under the Biden administration and is unlikely to succeed under the Trump administration.”
“Their logic is shaped by years of war; they see resilience as a form of strength and are driven to prove they are not easily deterred.”“The only times I’ve ever seen the Houthis go to the negotiating table or compromise has been when they’ve been threatened with the realistic prospect of defeat on the ground: territorial loss, loss of control of populations and loss of access to the Red Sea coastline,” said Knights. That briefly happened in 2017 when forces backed by the United Arab Emirates threatened Houthi access to the Red Sea, critical for the Houthis’ revenue and military supplies. The Houthis, if anything, may actually be relishing US strikes. They are a “direct answer to the Houthi prayers to have a war with the US,” said Farea Al-Muslimi, a Yemeni research fellow at Chatham House. The group “wants to drag the US into a larger regional escalation.”
A ground offensive
The Houthis are fighting for control of Yemen against the internationally recognized government that controls part of the south and is supported mainly by the UAE. The unanswered question is whether forces loyal to that government can take the fight to the Houthis. “They’re already trained and equipped,” says Knights. But there are doubts about their unity. Analysts do not expect the US to put any troops on the ground, beyond a handful of special forces to help direct airstrikes. The US would perhaps provide [Yemeni forces] “with a bit of logistics, certain key munitions,” Knights says.
The UAE would be “quietly supportive” as it has long supplied the Aden-based government, he adds. The Saudi perspective is less clear. Knights believes Riyadh is apprehensive about the Houthis retaliating with long-range drones and missiles against its infrastructure. But the US has accelerated deliveries of anti-missile defenses to Saudi Arabia in recent months. The US will have to say to Riyadh: “We are going to protect you in the same way that we protected Israel in 2024 from the two rounds of Iranian strikes,” says Knights.
Regional diplomatic sources say preparations are underway for a ground operation that would be launched from the south and east, as well as along the coast. A coordinated offensive could also involve Saudi and US naval support in an attempt to retake the port of Hodeidah. “Whether such an operation is feasible remains unclear, as the past decade has shown mixed outcomes, successes in some areas and failures in others,” Nagi told CNN.
The Iran link
From day one, President Trump and other US officials have linked the campaign against the Houthis to Iran. Trump said he would hold Iran responsible for “every shot” fired by Houthi rebels and it would face “dire” consequences for any attacks by the Yemeni militants.
So far it hasn’t, and it’s unclear whether Tehran can simply order the Houthis to stop firing. While very much part of Iran’s axis of resistance, the Houthis retain considerable autonomy.
Trump continues to warn Iran that it will face a massive bombing campaign if it doesn’t do a deal to limit its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. For the administration, the Houthi campaign and the “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran are two sides of the same coin.
The Iranians are treading carefully, offering moral support to their ally in Yemen. Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezaee hailed “the barefooted resistance forces of Yemen, who will bring advanced American warships to their knees.”
But the Iranian leadership does not want to be seen providing further military support for the Houthis right now as it tries to work out Trump’s mixture of small carrot and large stick.
The US appears ready to expand its campaign. B-2 bombers and KC-135 refuelling planes have arrived on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. That may presage strikes on hardened targets in Yemen but may equally be a signal to Iran.
The next few weeks may be a crucial test of the honey badgers’ resilience.

The US relationship with Canada is changing — here’s what you need to know
Mark Lawson and Matthew Bondy, opinion contributors/The Hill/April 6, 2025
It was significant — and wise — that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first trip abroad was to the United Kingdom and France.
Rather than focusing on Washington, Canada’s next elected prime minister, whether Carney or Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, should continue thinking generationally about Canada’s economic and security partnerships with Britain and Europe.
America under President Trump is withdrawing from its postwar global leadership role, but Europe is moving in precisely the opposite direction. Europe is getting much more serious on geopolitical risk management and national security. Meanwhile, Canada needs a more diversified portfolio of strategic friends and assets following the close of Pax Americana.
Two huge opportunities have arisen that could boost Canadian defense capability in tandem with Europe’s. According to the Financial Times, the European Union intends to bulk purchase weapons, opening procurement exclusively to EU defence contractors and “those from third countries that have signed defence agreements with the [EU].” Additionally, according to Bloomberg, major European pensions are — in the spirit of better late than never — reviewing their Environmental, Social and Governance or ESG policies to enable investment in defense industries once again.
The former initiative alone represents nearly $900 billion in demand signal for British and European defense industries — why shouldn’t Canada be considered?
Canada already has the core building blocks in place to present an ambitious plan for Euro-Atlantic defense production during future Europe-Canada discussions. Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada developed the Canada-European Union free trade deal, known as CETA. Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada launched a basic free trade agreement with the UK, with talks of expansion now back on the table.
As a next step, Canada could announce its intent to replicate our U.S. defense-industrial cooperation privileges with Britain and Europe, so that the EU and UK governments treat the Canadian defense industry as domestic and free from trade friction — with Canada reciprocating. Canada should also fast-track defense and security pact negotiations with the EU, leveraging relationships and processes built through CETA.
This would not simply serve Canada’s interests; Canada produces some of the most critical defense assets for Europe. This includes 155mm howitzer shells, for which global allied stockpiles have plummeted as the free world feeds Ukraine’s defensive efforts, along with light weapons platforms in common use by allied militaries across North America, Britain and Europe. Not only that, but a potential pivot in Ottawa from the balance of its F-35 fighter jet order with the U.S. to a European fighter to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s fleet of aging CF-18s – a move officially under consideration by the governing Liberals – could sweeten the deal even further.
This rebalancing of Canada’s North Atlantic security relationships should not be seen as merely a kneejerk reaction to President Trump’s trade war provocations. Frankly, diversifying Canada’s trade and defense posture is run-of-the-mill geostrategic housekeeping that Canada should have been more serious about decades ago. The nation’s “concentration risk,” in terms of outright dependency on the U.S. in both spheres, is very high.
Historically, the quid pro quo for American security guarantees is a commitment by American allies to buy from U.S. defense companies. Without that financial pull toward U.S. industry, global defense investment patterns are rebalancing toward Europe. Without over-correcting, and while clearly remaining in the Western sphere for purchases and technology integration, Canada should tilt its defense industrial base to where the puck is going.
Canada’s recently announced partnership with Australia on Over-the-Horizon Radar technology for deployment in the Canadian Arctic may prove a template for future procurement and partnership. This collaboration on key technology demonstrates Canada’s solid intent to remain within the U.S. sphere of influence (Australia is a key partner in the AUKUS nuclear submarine procurement), protects an area of vital interest to both the United States and Canada, and deftly balances the need to develop alternative bilateral partnerships for defense and technology procurement.
By working with the Europeans to create powerful new procurement architecture for pressing defense concerns, Canada’s next prime minister could do more for its domestic military-industrial base than any prime minister in living memory.
Importantly, there is a historical symmetry to this moment. In World War II, Canada served as the armory of the allies, producing small arms, artillery and vehicles for the allied war effort in Europe, owing in part to our still-relevant geographic insulation from the war. Lee-Enfield rifles protected British Commonwealth forces, while Colt pistols sat upon many allied hips. Canada produced 800,000 military vehicles for the effort, while “bomb girls” across Ontario helped Canadians and our allies march toward Germany with the munitions needed for victory. In spite of the clear near-term tensions, the Canada-U.S. relationship will remain the most important defense relationship for both countries. It is in each country’s best interest that Canada take measures to serve European allies and to build more links with aligned countries on a basis of technology sharing and defense.
Ultimately, the U.S. seeks a reliable, well-resourced ally to defend against Chinese and Russian incursion in the continent’s northern reaches, while Canada seeks to maintain confidence and influence in organizations such as NORAD. Anticipating the country can indeed find success in meeting European needs, a Canadian industry actively serving and pursuing defense and technology collaboration with Asian allies such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan could also help Washington understand Canada’s value.
The opportunity for Canada to partner in Europe’s rearmament may prove fleeting, as Europe looks to rearm quickly. If Canada’s next prime minister wants to signal serious Canadian leadership on the world stage and trade diversification in the near term, another trip to Europe should occur shortly after an anticipated Canadian federal election.
**Mark Lawson, a former deputy chief of staff to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, is an
independent consultant based in Toronto. Matthew Bondy is a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the Center for North American Prosperity and Security and the founder of Bondy & Associates.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Is a nuclear weapon a serious option for Iran?

Hassan Al-Mustafa/Arab News/April 06, 2025
The deadline set last week by US President Donald Trump for the Iranian government to engage in negotiations with Washington regarding its nuclear program, as well as related issues such as its ballistic missile program and Tehran’s influence and alliances in the Middle East, seems to have exerted pressure on the Iranian political leadership and even on the elites surrounding Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran submitted its response to Trump’s message through Omani mediators, who conveyed it to the White House. The Iranian foreign minister stated that responding through the sultanate is a natural course of action, given the trust that Iranians place in Omani leadership and the experience Muscat has gained as a mediator over many years. Furthermore, the Iranian leadership believes that any future discussions between the two countries will prominently involve Oman, especially since Iran continues to reject direct negotiations and prefers discussions to be conducted through intermediaries.
In parallel with this development, it is worth noting the remarks made by former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who was appointed as an adviser by Khamenei. Larijani stated that “the leader’s fatwa prohibits nuclear weapons; however, if America makes a mistake, the Iranian people may feel compelled to demand their production.” He further added in a television interview: “Their (the Americans’) wise individuals recognize that, if they attack Iran, it will drive the country toward nuclear armament.”
These statements are significant because they come from a prominent figure within the Iranian elite, who is also categorized as a moderate rather than a hard-liner. Larijani previously expressed critical views regarding the fundamentalist approach in Iran. This suggests that a perspective advocating for the acquisition of a “nuclear bomb” as a deterrent is gaining traction in discussions, especially in light of the Israeli strikes against Iran following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on Oct. 7, 2023, as well as the shifting balance of power and Tehran’s loss of military strength with respect to its two main allies: Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The military and security exposure faced by Iran has prompted some of its elites to adopt a more rigid approach, rather than pursuing more flexible diplomacy and direct negotiations with the US.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif were among the figures who advocated for a more pragmatic approach, encouraging direct negotiations. However, Khamenei has taken a different stance. While he did not outright reject the idea of negotiations and indicated a willingness to make specific concessions to mitigate the escalating losses, the election of Trump prompted Khamenei to reassess his position. He opted for indirect negotiations instead, rejecting direct talks and adopting a rigid stance against what he perceives as negotiations under duress or harsh preconditions.
Revisiting Larijani’s perspective on nuclear bomb manufacturing, he asserts that “the people will push to defend the country” and that “Iran has the capability to produce nuclear weapons, but it emphasizes that there is a fatwa prohibiting this.” However, he notes that “the fatwa is distinct from political decisions,” even though the fatwa issued by Khamenei is recorded with the UN.There are numerous diplomatic alternatives that could be more beneficial for Tehran than pursuing a nuclear bomb.
These statements elicited a range of both supportive and opposing reactions. Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi stated that “the leader’s fatwa regarding the prohibition of nuclear weapons is not merely a legal opinion on branches of jurisprudence, but rather is based on immutable religious principles that are not subject to change and are not merely interpretative branches that can be altered.”
Iranian Middle East conflict researcher Mostafa Najafi said: “We should be skeptical about whether this threat will be effective, especially since he (Larijani) announces an attack on the country as a condition for manufacturing weapons.” He added: “I don’t know of any country in the world that is like that. They usually manufacture weapons so they won’t be attacked. Who knows if there will be anything left to build after an attack?” He believed that “Larijani’s remarks will intensify the threat rather than diminish it.”
Ali Hashem, a Lebanese researcher specializing in Iranian affairs, stated that “Mr. Larijani’s threat to pursue nuclear bomb production if the US attacks Iran is quite similar to the threat made by the late Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the onset of the Gaza war to escalate the conflict.” Hashem emphasized that “the reality that the Iranians fail to grasp is that threats are ineffective; rather, they indicate weakness rather than strength.”
This rejection of Larijani’s statements reflects the views of a significant segment of the reformist movement in Iran, as well as those aligned with former President Hassan Rouhani and some supporters of the late Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. However, a notable figure from the Construction Party founded by Rafsanjani, former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ataollah Mohajerani, endorsed Larijani’s position. He stated that “the announcement regarding a shift in Iran’s nuclear doctrine, which was articulated in a thoughtful and timely interview with Dr. Ali Larijani, appears to be a clear and explicit decision by the regime aimed at safeguarding the country, the nation, the system and the Islamic revolution.”Yadollah Javani, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Joint Command Council, affirmed that “we will reconsider our defense doctrine if the enemy carries out its threats.”
This raises the question of whether these statements are merely a bargaining chip in negotiations to avert any potential military action by the US and Israel, or if they clearly indicate that the Iranians now believe that acquiring a nuclear weapon has become a national necessity. If Iran’s nuclear doctrine were to change and it pursued the acquisition of a nuclear bomb, as stated by Larijani, this would negatively impact its relations with its Arab neighbors, particularly the Gulf states. Iran has recently adopted a policy of openness toward these countries, which have engaged in diplomatic efforts, led by Saudi Arabia, to alleviate tensions. Therefore, proponents of the nuclear military option should not only focus on deterring Washington and Tel Aviv, as they often claim, but also consider the adverse consequences such a decision would have on its relations with the Gulf states, which require trust-building, cooperation and the enhancement of economic, tourism and security partnerships. There are numerous diplomatic alternatives that could be more beneficial for Tehran than pursuing a nuclear bomb that could effectively safeguard it from potential attacks. Smart and long-term diplomacy remains the safest approach, even if it is a challenging and protracted process.
**Hassan Al-Mustafa is a Saudi writer and researcher interested in Islamic movements, the development of religious discourse and the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. X: @Halmustafa

A pathway to stability in the Middle East

Dr. Khalil Gebara and Dr. Norman Ricklefs/Arab News/April 06, 2025
Many perceive history as a slow-moving process marked by gradual developments and incremental change. However, it is often punctuated by abrupt paradigm shifts that unexpectedly reshape entire regions. The Middle East, a region long characterized by instability and conflict, has entered a new phase following the ceasefire in Lebanon in late November and the fall of the Assad regime at the beginning of December. These events mark the onset of a potentially transformative period. This shift is particularly evident in the evolving dynamics between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the conflict-ridden nations of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. A notable example is the breakthrough last month that saw Saudi Arabia sponsor an agreement between Lebanon and Syria on border demarcation and enhanced cooperation on security. These developments signal renewed engagement and the potential for regional cooperation. Yet, the crucial question remains: what should be the next steps? Over recent years, state-to-state relations within the Middle East have significantly improved, as characterized by a notable diffusion of tensions and a growing commitment to reconciliation, particularly between Iran and other regional states, highlighted by the 2023 Beijing agreement between Tehran and Saudi Arabia. The perceived reduction in American engagement in the region created both challenges and opportunities, prompting detente between the GCC states, Iran and Iraq.
However, as states reengaged diplomatically, Iran found space to maneuver through its so-called axis of resistance network, including Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias. This strategic recalibration allowed Iran to reduce state-level tensions while expanding its influence through nonstate actors.
These subtle shifts culminated in a seismic event: the Oct. 7 attacks, which dramatically altered regional calculations. However, Iran’s axis of resistance failed to achieve its intended objectives. It did not deter Israel, serve effectively as the first line of defense for the Iranian regime or significantly influence American policy in the region. Despite these setbacks — or perhaps because of them — Iran remained committed to maintaining stable, state-level relationships with the GCC, Egypt and other regional actors, even as its proxies continued to employ resistance rhetoric and carry out military attacks.
This delicate balancing act was particularly visible in Lebanon, where Israel’s offensive undermined Hezbollah’s credibility as a resistance force. Over recent decades, Hezbollah’s role has undergone a profound transformation. Initially a guerrilla group conducting asymmetric warfare, Hezbollah increasingly assumed the characteristics of a conventional, hierarchical military organization, especially following its perceived successes in 2006. This transition fundamentally altered its strategic position and, most importantly, exposed its vulnerabilities. Its evolution from a resistance force to a semi-conventional army diminished its tactical advantages, rendering it more predictable and vulnerable.
For lasting regional stability, the demilitarization of militias and strengthening of state institutions is essential. For Lebanon and Syria to rebuild and thrive, prioritizing state-building over militarized resistance is crucial. Such a shift demands a new narrative away from the decades-old dominance of resistance discourse. Lebanon and Syria represent critical testing grounds for this approach. Currently, two competing narratives shape their future trajectories. Despite arriving at this juncture from distinct starting points, both nations share fundamental similarities, standing at a crossroads with mutually exclusive paths forward.
The first narrative maintains that military resistance remains the most effective approach to national and regional challenges, guaranteeing deterrence. Popular in Lebanon after the 2006 war, this view contributed to Syria’s prolonged civil war. The alternative narrative, championed by segments of the new Lebanese and Syrian governments and civil society activists, prioritizes diplomacy and state-to-state engagement over armed conflict. This diplomatic approach was clearly articulated in the ministerial statement of the Lebanese government. Recent developments suggest that the second narrative is gaining traction. The US has actively facilitated diplomatic engagements, starting with the successful maritime border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon in 2022. The Lebanese government’s increasing emphasis on diplomatic channels to address the withdrawal of Israeli forces from remaining positions in the south of the country and its readiness for border demarcation negotiations mark a potential turning point in Beirut’s approach to regional affairs. Similarly, the new Syrian government appears committed to embracing diplomatic solutions. Moving forward, the region must prioritize several key actions to ensure a successful transition from conflict to stability and cooperative economic development. These include the demilitarization of militias and the strengthening of state institutions, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, which must rebuild institutions capable of providing effective governance, security and economic growth. Effective governance will be essential in addressing corruption, delivering critical services and restoring public trust in state institutions.
Additionally, economic cooperation and infrastructure development are crucial, as years of conflict have left Syria and Lebanon facing significant rebuilding challenges. Regional collaboration, especially with GCC states, will accelerate economic recovery and attract investments in infrastructure, energy and trade.
Shifting the regional narrative requires a concerted diplomatic effort. International actors, including the US, China and the European powers, should actively support diplomatic initiatives. Encouraging negotiations, establishing conflict resolution mechanisms and implementing confidence-building measures will be critical to fostering a new postconflict reality in the Middle East. The Middle East stands at a historic crossroads. Recent events and subsequent developments underscore the urgent need for a strategic reassessment. The potential benefits of the border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Syria, the integration of Kurdish-led forces into Syria’s new national army, and the reliance on international mechanisms to ensure the proper implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 all point to profound regional changes. This shift suggests that negotiation and dialogue are proving more constructive than continued conflict. While these positive changes in Lebanon and Syria remain fragile, they are undeniably real. Tangible incentives to reward state-building efforts must accompany diplomatic initiatives. The potential for significant transformation exists. By emphasizing demilitarization, institutional strengthening, economic cooperation and sustained diplomacy, the Middle East can move beyond persistent cycles of conflict into an era marked by stability and prosperity. Today’s choices will determine whether the region capitalizes on this critical moment or remains entrenched in past patterns.
**Dr. Khalil Gebara is a Lebanese academic and public policy expert. X: @gebarak
Dr. Norman Ricklefs is CEO of NAMEA, a geopolitical consultancy. He is also an honorary fellow of Macquarie University in Sydney. X: @normanricklefs