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