English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 19/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Holy Saturday
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
27/62-66/:”The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief
priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember
what that impostor said while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise
again.”Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day;
otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, “He has
been raised from the dead”, and the last deception would be worse than the
first.’Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure
as you can.’So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the
stone.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 18-19/2025
Holy Saturday: When Light Triumphed Over Darkness, and Hope Over
Despair/Elias Bejjani/April 19/2025
Good Friday: The Day of Greatest Love and Perfect Sacrifice/Elias Bejjani/April
18/2025
Holy Thursday – A Celebration of Love, Sacrifice, and Divine Mysteries/Elias
Bejjani/April 17/2025
What is Holy Saturday?/gotquestions.org/April 18/2025
The Atrocities of the Islamic Group in Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/April 17, 2025
Video link to a commentary by Dr. Saleh Al-Mashnouq from Al Mashhad TV
The Fifth (Khums) in the Eyes of Legitimacy and Religion/Dr. Ali Khalifa/Nidaa
Al Watan/April 18, 2025
President Aoun and the First Lady participated in the Prostration of the Cross
ceremony at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK)
Abbot Mahfouz to the President of the Republic: There is no doubt that you will
lead Lebanon towards the state.
Hezbollah official rules out talk of arms handover until Israel withdraws
Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions
Lebanese soldiers inspect the site near a burnt-out vehicle reportedly hit by an
Israeli strike
Power balance at risk: Could sectarian parity collapse in Beirut's municipal
elections?
US views Lebanon ceasefire as 'historic step' toward ending Hezbollah: Massad
Boulos
Army Seizes Weapons Smuggled Between Syria and Lebanon
Illegal Weapons: Hezbollah Continues to Stall
To Those Betting on the International Monetary Fund
‘The Hand That Tries to Reach the Weapons Will Be Cut’: Lebanon’s President Aims
to Disarm Hezbollah, Iran-Backed Group Objects
Analysis: Syria, Lebanon embark on long healing process to repair relations/Dalal
Saoud/United Press International/April 18, 2025
Hezbollah says it won't hand over weapons while Israeli troops remain in
southern Lebanon/Bassem Mroue/The Associated Press/April 18, 2025
Sheikh Qassem: We Will Fight Whoever Wants to Disarm Hezbollah/Al-Manar English
Website/April 18/2025
Naim Qassem: Disarming the Hezb Is Off the Table
Aoun Stresses to Sudani Strength of Ties between Lebanon, Iraq
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on April 18-19/2025
Trump says 'not in a rush' for military option against Iran
Iran FM says has ‘serious doubts’ over US intentions ahead of talks
Iran Wants Guarantees Trump Will Not Quit a New Nuclear Pact, Iranian Official
Says
Secret talks in Paris: Israel pushes US to back military action against Iran's
nuclear sites
EU Needs to Decide on Possible Iran Sanctions, Rubio Says
Vance arrives for talks in Italy, Easter at the Vatican
More than 70 killed in US airstrikes on Yemen port, Houthis say
French frigate shoots down drone fired from Yemen targeting shipping routes in
Red Sea
Israeli Army Says It Intercepted a Missile Launched from Yemen
Israeli strikes kill Palestinians in tented area for displaced in Gaza
Israeli strikes kill at least 25 in Gaza and Huckabee makes first appearance as
US ambassador
Hamas signals rejection of Israel's latest truce proposal
Protest letters from former Israeli soldiers lay bare profound rifts over the
ongoing war
Iraqi and Syrian Leaders Meet in Qatar, Marking a Significant First Encounter
Trump Administration Faces Pressure to Ease Sanctions on Syria
Palestinian president meets Syrian leader in Damascus
US to withdraw 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than 1,000 to help counter
IS militants
Congress members pay an unofficial visit to Damascus as US mulls sanctions
relief
Career diplomat becomes the face of Trump's 'America First' agenda at the UN
Trump Uses Easter Prayer Service to Herald the Savior (Himself)
Vice President JD Vance visits Vatican after clashing with pope over immigration
policy
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sourceson
on April 18-19/2025
Trump's Anti-Israel Officials Sabotaging His Efforts to Disarm Iran/Con
Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/April 18, 2025
Will U.S. Forces Leave Syria for Good in 2025?/Seth Frantzman/19FortyFive/April
18, 2025
Lebanon and the ‘Arms Test’/Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
Trump’s Trillions and Palestine/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/April
18/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on April 18-19/2025
Holy Saturday: When Light Triumphed Over Darkness, and Hope Over Despair
Elias Bejjani/April 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142476/
Each year, in the stillness of contemplation and the sacred anticipation of the
Resurrection, the Church commemorates one of the most profound and spiritually
rich moments in the journey of redemption: Holy Saturday—the day that stands
between the agony of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection.
This is not a day of mourning, but a day of radiant hope. It is the silent
threshold before Easter dawns—the moment when Christ passed through death to
illuminate humanity’s path to eternal life. On this sacred day, the earth may
have closed over the body of Jesus, but heaven remained open, and hope was alive
and burning.
Even in death, Jesus was not absent from the world. He descended into Hades,
into the depths of human suffering and death, to break the chains of bondage and
liberate the souls held captive.
“For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to
see decay.”(Acts 2:27, quoting Psalm 16:10)
These prophetic words, spoken by St. Peter in his sermon at Pentecost, remind us
that even as Christ lay in the tomb, the work of salvation was still unfolding.
Holy Saturday was not an empty pause between death and life, but rather a sacred
fullness, a divine mystery where the first rays of resurrection pierced the
heart of darkness.
On the dawn of that first Easter Sunday, the women came to the tomb with sorrow
in their hearts and spices in their hands. But what they found there changed
everything: “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it... But
the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus
who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.’”(Matthew 28:2,
5–6)
Fear and confusion turned to awe and sacred joy. The One who was crucified was
no longer in the grave. The tomb was not a symbol of absence, but rather of
divine presence revealed in a new and glorious way. Christ's resurrection became
the eternal flame of hope—igniting faith in hearts and dispersing every shadow
of despair.
Holy Saturday is a sacred invitation to every believer not to remain in the
shadow of the cross, but to look forward to the radiance of the promised glory.
As Jesus foretold: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of
men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise on the third
day.”
(Mark 9:31)
On this day, we contemplate the eternal conflict between life and death, and we
rejoice in the victory of light over darkness. The Resurrection was not merely a
past event—it is the foundational truth of our Christian faith. It proclaims
that love is stronger than hatred, that forgiveness triumphs over vengeance, and
that hope rises above every fear and despair.
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who
raised Christ Jesus will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit
who dwells in you.”(Romans 8:11)
On Holy Saturday, we do not simply recall an ancient story—we renew our hope in
the promise of the Resurrection. We draw strength to face the struggles, pain,
and disappointments of this world, knowing that injustice may crucify the
righteous, but the light of Christ will rise from the grave.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:18)
Let us remember, in the sacred silence of this day, that the grave is never the
final word. The sorrow will give way to joy, and the darkness will bow before
the eternal dawn. Christ is alive forever, and He calls us to walk as children
of the light, never surrendering to hopelessness, but clinging always to the
promise of the empty tomb.
Let us ignite within our hearts today the unquenchable flame of faith and hope.
Let us rejoice, because darkness has not and will never overcome the light.
Christ is risen—not as a memory, but as a living and eternal presence in the
life of every believer.
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in
the tombs bestowing life.”
Glory to You, O Lord, who turned the sorrow of Holy Saturday into the dawn of
Resurrection, and who transformed the darkness of the grave into a light that
never fades.
Good Friday: The Day of Greatest Love and Perfect Sacrifice
Elias Bejjani/April 18/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142417/
At the heart of history, on a hill called Golgotha outside the
walls of Jerusalem, the greatest scene of divine love was written: Jesus Christ,
the incarnate Son of God, was crucified to redeem humanity from the bondage of
sin and death. This is Good Friday — a day of sorrow, yes, but also a day of
hope; a day of the Cross, yet in essence, a day of complete love.
The cross, once a tool of shame and torment, was transformed in Christ into a
throne of the Kingdom and an altar of redemption. Jesus carried the cross not
for any sin He had committed, but for the sins of the whole world. As the
prophet Isaiah wrote: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for
our iniquities…” (Isaiah 53:5).
In the cross we see the full revelation of divine love — a love without limits,
one that moved Jesus to willingly offer Himself: “Greater love has no one than
this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is perfect
sacrifice: God giving Himself on our behalf so that we may return to Him free
and justified.
The Word Became Flesh: God With Us in Our Pain.
Good Friday is not just a commemoration of the crucifixion. It is also a
proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation. God did not remain distant in
the heavens but “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus
shared in everything human — in joy and sorrow, in hunger and fatigue, in cries
and tears, even in death itself.
Christ’s suffering on the cross bears witness that God does not observe human
suffering from afar — He enters into it. He is the God who understands human
pain — not in theory, but through experience. “For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in
every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
In the peak of His agony, Christ forgave His executioners: “Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). From the cross, He
opened the doors of forgiveness to all — to the thief on the right, to the
soldiers, to all of humanity. This is the essence of Good Friday: love stronger
than death, and forgiveness more powerful than hate.
Though Good Friday appears to be a day of grief, it is not the end of the story
— it is its beginning. The cross is never separate from the resurrection.
Christ’s death is the seed through which eternal life blossoms. Through His
suffering, we passed from death to life, from darkness to light.
Good Friday calls us not only to weep for the crucified Christ but to open our
hearts to the risen One — the One who loved us to the end and rose to give us
life. It is a call to faith, to hope, and to walk with Jesus on the path of the
cross, knowing that suffering is not the end, but the beginning of resurrection.
Let us carry our crosses each day with trust and hope, knowing that the One who
died for us is alive, and that “the love of Christ compels us…” (2 Corinthians
5:14).
On Good Friday, we do not only see a raised cross — we hear the voice of divine
love calling us: “Behold, I have loved you to the uttermost.”
Holy Thursday – A Celebration
of Love, Sacrifice, and Divine Mysteries
Elias Bejjani/April 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/38445/
On the Thursday preceding Good Friday—the day when Jesus was crucified—Catholics
around the world, including our Maronite Eastern Church, commemorate Thursday of
the Holy Mysteries. This sacred day is also known as Washing Thursday, Covenant
Thursday, and Great and Holy Thursday. It marks the Last Supper of Jesus Christ
with His twelve Apostles, as described in the Gospels. It is the fifth day of
the Holy Week of Lent, followed by Good Friday, Saturday of the Light, and
Easter Sunday.
At its core, Christianity is a faith of love, sacrifice, honesty, transparency,
devotion, hard work, and humility. During the Last Supper, Jesus reaffirmed and
embodied these divine values. In this solemn and meaningful setting, He
performed several key acts that laid the spiritual foundation of our faith:
He ordained His Apostles as priests, commanding them to proclaim God's message:
“You are the ones who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a
kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at
my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
(Luke 22:28–30)
He warned against betrayal and spiritual weakness, teaching that temptation and
evil can overcome those who detach themselves from God, lose faith, or worship
earthly treasures. Even Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus Himself had chosen, fell to
Satan’s temptation:
“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. The Son of
Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” (Luke
22:21)
He washed His Apostles’ feet, setting an eternal example of humility, love, and
service:
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me
‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s
feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
(John 13:12–15)
When the Apostles began arguing about who among them was the greatest, Jesus
responded with a powerful lesson in modesty:
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them... But you are not to be like that.
Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who
rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table
or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you
as one who serves.” (Luke 22:24–27)
Thursday of the Holy Mysteries is so named because during the Last Supper, Jesus
instituted two of the most sacred sacraments of the Church: the Eucharist and
the Priesthood.
“Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and share it among
yourselves. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in
remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke
22:17–20)
On this Holy Day, the Maronite Church relives the spirit of the Last Supper
through reverent prayers, liturgies, and longstanding sacred traditions:
The Patriarch blesses the Holy Chrism (Myron), along with the oils used for
baptism and anointing, which are then distributed to all parishes.
During the Holy Mass, the priest washes the feet of twelve parishioners—often
children—to symbolize Jesus’ act and the humility of service.
The faithful visit seven churches, a ritual signifying the fullness of the seven
sacraments of the Church: Priesthood, Eucharist, Holy Oil, Baptism,
Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Service.
It also honors the seven stations believed to be visited by the Virgin Mary as
she searched for her Son after His arrest: the place of detention, the Council
of the Priests, Herod’s palace (twice), Pilate’s headquarters (twice), and
finally Calvary.
This tradition is believed by some scholars to have originated in Rome, where
early Christian pilgrims visited the Seven Pilgrim Churches as a form of
penance: Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul Outside
the Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and
traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls. For the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope
John Paul II substituted the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for Saint
Sebastian.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is marked by the ringing of bells, which then fall
silent until the Easter Vigil. Worshipers spend the evening in prayer and
contemplation before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, meditating on the Agony in
the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent His final night before His
crucifixion.
Following the homily and foot washing, the Eucharist is solemnly processed to
the Altar of Repose, where it remains throughout the night. The main altar is
then stripped bare—along with all others in the church—symbolizing Christ’s
humility and the anticipation of His Passion.
Before celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, Christians live the
Paschal Mystery beginning with Thursday of the Sacraments, continuing through
Good Friday, and culminating in Saturday of the Light.
Because He loves us and desires our eternal salvation, Jesus Christ willingly
endured suffering, pain, humiliation, and death on the Cross—for our sake.
Let us pray on this Holy Day that we may always remember His love and sacrifice,
and strive to live lives of true faith, humility, forgiveness, and service.
What is Holy Saturday?
https://youtu.be/DDRziC0ekx8
gotquestions.org/April 18/2025
Holy Saturday is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter
Sunday. Some Christians recognize Holy Saturday, the seventh day of Holy Week,
as the day on which Jesus “rested” from His work of providing salvation. As
Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” There was no further price to pay;
sin had been atoned for. After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a nearby tomb,
and His body remained there the entirety of Holy Saturday (Matthew 27:59-60;
Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42). Churches that celebrate Holy Saturday
traditionally do so by observing a day of somber reflection as they contemplate
the world of darkness that would exist without the hope of Christ’s
resurrection. Indeed, without the resurrection of Christ, we would be in dire
straits. If Christ had never been raised, “your faith is futile; you are still
in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The disciples had scattered when Jesus was
arrested (Mark 14:50), and they spent the first Holy Saturday hiding for fear of
also being arrested (John 20:19). The day between Christ’s crucifixion and His
resurrection would have been a time of grief and shock as the stunned disciples
tried to understand the murder of Jesus, the betrayal of Judas, and the dashing
of their hopes. The only biblical reference to what happened on Holy Saturday is
found in Matthew 27:62-66. After sundown on Friday—the day of Preparation—the
chief priests and Pharisees visited Pontius Pilate. This visit was on the
Sabbath, since the Jews reckoned a day as starting at sundown. They asked Pilate
for a guard for Jesus’ tomb. They remembered Jesus saying that He would rise
again in three days (John 2:19-21) and wanted to do everything they could to
prevent that. As we know, the Roman guards were inadequate to prevent the
resurrection, and the women who returned to the tomb Sunday morning found it
empty. The Lord had risen.
The Atrocities of the Islamic Group in Lebanon
April 17, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142404/
Elias Bejjani/The Islamic Group in Lebanon is a fully affiliated branch of the
criminal jihadist Muslim Brotherhood, involved with the Brotherhood cell in the
treacherous and warlike plot against Jordan. Therefore, it is necessary to
arrest and prosecute all the sheikhs and figures leading it in Lebanon. Hamas
must not complete what it started in Gaza from Lebanon.
Video link to a commentary by Dr. Saleh Al-Mashnouq from Al
Mashhad TV
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142455/
Video link to a commentary by Dr. Saleh Al-Mashnouq from Al Mashhad TV station
discussing the blustering, bombast, and empty rhetoric of Hezbollah leaders –
their illusory boasts far removed from their capabilities after the defeat of
Hezbollah and the entire Iranian axis of evil, and Iran's submission while
threatened by a decisive military strike. Al-Mashnouq asks: Is civil war on
Lebanon's doorstep?
April 18, 2025."
The Fifth (Khums) in the Eyes of Legitimacy and Religion
Dr. Ali Khalifa/Nidaa Al Watan/April 18, 2025
(Free translation by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142446/
Hezbollah's political and religious ideology represents a hybrid doctrine,
rooted in the convergence of political and religious authority within the
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. This figure has exerted significant
control over the nation, arguably undermining popular legitimacy and fundamental
religious principles by asserting a divine essence and the attributes of
prophets and saints within his own person.
A critical aspect of Hezbollah's operations is its parallel economy, functioning
outside the established frameworks of legitimate commercial and financial
transactions. This makes it susceptible to sanctions. While substantial annual
financial support, estimated at around one billion dollars, flows from Iranian
institutions linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps or overseen by the
Supreme Leader, Hezbollah also relies heavily on khums. Ayatollah Khamenei has
redefined the Ja'fari understanding of khums, which historically was a
circumstantial levy in a stateless society. Traditionally, khums was derived
from war spoils and annual surplus provisions, intended for the sayyids
(descendants of the Prophet), with a preference based on lineage, within the
Imam's share. Its expenditure, destination, and equivalents were largely
discretionary, directed towards the poor, orphans, and wayfarers. Thus, khums
differs from zakat. Both concepts present complexities in the context of the
modern state, which serves as a regulatory body with a welfare function based on
the economic and social rights of citizenship, ensuring equality among citizens
through a unified tax system, irrespective of religious affiliation.
The Islamic regime in Iran has, however, arguably distorted the historical and
contextual implications of the Ja'fari school of thought regarding khums. This
reinterpretation serves to benefit Hezbollah by financing its military
activities and war efforts. Consequently, this practice represents a departure
from the state's legitimate economy and carries the risk of funding terrorism,
potentially leading to further sanctions. To date, the US Treasury Department
has listed over 80 entities and individuals affiliated with Hezbollah.
Specifically, the Supreme Leader appoints representatives outside Iran to
collect khums. In Lebanon, Muhammad Yazbek acts in this capacity, collecting
these dues from Shiites under the direct command of the Supreme Leader in Iran.
The Supreme Leader controls half of these proceeds and authorizes the use of the
other half for Hezbollah's activities, particularly its military operations. As
a result, some Shiites, in paying this so-called khums to Iranian agents,
inadvertently finance the very weapons that have caused the destruction of their
rebuilt villages, facilitated invasions after liberation, and triggered severe
sanctions – all seemingly for the sake of Iran, under the guise of legitimacy
and the state, and through a perceived distortion of religious principles.
President Aoun and the First Lady participated in the Prostration
of the Cross ceremony at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK)
Abbot Mahfouz to the President of the Republic: There is no doubt that you will
lead Lebanon towards the state.
NNA/April 18, 2025
Christians in Lebanon commemorated Good Friday, at the Holy Spirit University of
Kaslik (USEK) . The ceremony was presided over by the Superior General of the
Maronite Order, Abbot Hadi Mahfouz, with the participation of President of the
Republic General Joseph Aoun and First Lady Nemat Aoun. In his sermon, Abbot
Mahfouz addressed President Aoun, saying, "We have no doubt that, with your
determination and wisdom, you will lead Lebanon in the best, calmest, and wisest
way towards the state." He added, "From our side, as a society, we must respond
to you in the affirmative, aware of the great responsibility placed on us all,
to rise together and to establish transparent and effective laws and mechanisms
that strengthen citizenship and allow every citizen access to necessary and
dignified services, without any wishful thinking or interference. This is how
the dignity of every citizen is preserved, and this is how we live together as
we should live, with joy and an optimistic outlook for the future."
Hezbollah official rules out talk of arms handover until Israel
withdraws
AFP, Beirut/April 18/,2025
A Hezbollah official said Friday that the Iran-backed movement categorically
refused to discuss handing over its weapons to Lebanon’s army unless Israel
withdrew completely from the south and stopped its “aggression.”A ceasefire
agreement in November ended more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah
and Israel sparked by the Gaza war, including two months of open warfare that
decimated the group’s leadership. “It is not a question of disarming,” Wafic
Safa said in an interview with Hezbollah’s Al-Nur radio station.“What the
president (Joseph Aoun) said in his inauguration speech is a defensive
strategy.”Safa, said by experts to belong to the movement’s most radical
faction, said Hezbollah had conveyed its position to Aoun, who on Tuesday said
he sought “to make 2025 the year of restricting arms to the state” alone.
In his interview, Safa asked: “Wouldn’t it be logical for Israel to first
withdraw, then release the prisoners, then cease its aggression... and then we
discuss a defensive strategy?”“The defensive strategy is about thinking about
how to protect Lebanon, not preparing for the party to hand over its
weapons.”Analysts have said that the once unthinkable idea of Hezbollah
disarming may no longer be so, and may even be inevitable. Under the November
ceasefire, Israel was to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon.
But despite the deal, Israeli troops have remained at five south Lebanon
positions that they deem “strategic.”Israel has also continued to carry out
near-daily strikes against Lebanon -- including on Friday -- saying it is
targeting members of Hezbollah.
Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of Lebanon’s
Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.
Lebanon’s army has been deploying in the south near the border after Israeli
forces pulled back. Hezbollah says the ceasefire does not apply to the rest of
Lebanon, despite being based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls
for the disarmament of non-state groups.Hezbollah was the only group to keep its
weapons after Lebanon’s 15-year civil war ending in 1990, saying that they were
for “resistance” against Israel. US special envoy for the Middle East Morgan
Ortagus, who visited Beirut this month, said Washington continued to press
Lebanon’s government “to fully fulfil the cessation of hostilities, and that
includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias.”Safa said on Friday that both
Hezbollah and the Lebanese army were respecting the terms of the truce. “The
problem is Israel, which has not done so,” he said. On Saturday, a source close
to Hezbollah told AFP that the group had ceded to the Lebanese army around 190
of its 265 military positions identified south of the Litani.
Lebanese Govt Approaches Hezbollah Arms File Without Decisions
Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with no concrete
decisions made during the recent cabinet discussions. Government sources who
spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Lebanese Forces bloc demanded that
timeline for the disarmament of Hezbollah be set, but there was no response to
their demand. Other ministers argued that the matter of exclusive state control
over weapons is already addressed in the government's ministerial statement.
Moreover, and in a gesture underscoring its commitment to international
cooperation, the government approved the extension of the mandate for the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), highlighting Lebanon’s “keenness on
partnership with the international community to maintain stability.”It also
reported 2,740 Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement was put in
place. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, government sources said that President
Joseph Aoun has vowed to discuss the matter of setting a timeline to disarm
Hezbollah with the relevant parties, and will report the outcome of his
consultations back to the cabinet. Following the cabinet session, Information
Minister Paul Morcos reaffirmed the government's commitment to asserting state
authority over all Lebanese territory. He underscored the need to bolster the
Lebanese Army amid growing security challenges—particularly in the south, where
the army continues to carry out its duties despite repeated Israeli aggressions.
The Minister stated that Army Commander General Rodolph Haikal delivered a
security briefing during the meeting, outlining ongoing operations and the
army's position. Haikal stressed Lebanon’s full commitment to implementing UN
Security Council Resolution 1701, in contrast to Israel’s repeated violations,
which, he said, hinder the army’s deployment and the extension of state
authority in the region.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calls for the Lebanese Army’s deployment
south of the Litani River and the removal of all unauthorized armed groups.
Despite limited resources, Morcos noted, the army “continues to fulfill its
duties under difficult conditions”. Industry Minister, Joe Issa el-Khoury, said
after the cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace that ministers of the Lebanese Forces
bloc raised the issue of setting a six-month timeline for the handover of all
illegal weapons—both Lebanese and non-Lebanese. They proposed beginning the
process with the Palestinian refugee camps. Morco also announced that the
Cabinet approved the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon,
stressing the Lebanese state’s commitment to its partnership with the
international community in preserving stability.
For his part, President Aoun, at the onset of the session, described his meeting
with Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Tamim Al-Thani, in Doha as “fruitful and
excellent,” revealing that a Qatari delegation may visit Lebanon next week to
discuss the electricity file.
Aoun also thanked the Intelligence Directorate and General Security for
arresting members of a cell involved in rocket launches from southern Lebanon.
He expressed hope that the cell recently dismantled in Jordan—whose members
admitted to receiving training in Lebanon—will be fully unraveled. Prime
Minister Nawaf Salam, for his part, spoke about his recent visit to Syria. He
said four major issues were discussed: securing and eventually demarcating the
Lebanese-Syrian border, the case of Lebanese detainees who disappeared in Syria,
Lebanese nationals wanted by authorities who are currently in Syria, and the
issue of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon. Salam underscored that some of the
most pressing matters discussed was the return of Syrian refugees back to their
homeland, and the need to lift sanctions on Syria in order to facilitate this
process.
The visit also included an official request for information related to the
Beirut port explosion.
Lebanese soldiers inspect the site near a burnt-out vehicle
reportedly hit by an Israeli strike
AFP/April 18/2025
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed two people in the
south on Friday, with Israel announcing attacks in the same areas targeting
Hezbollah militants. Despite a November 27 ceasefire that sought to halt more
than a year of conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, Israel has
continued to conduct near-daily strikes in Lebanon. An Israeli attack on “a car
on the Sidon-Ghaziyeh road resulted in one dead,” a Lebanese health ministry
statement said on the fourth straight day of Israeli attacks in the south. Hours
later, the ministry said another Israeli strike on a vehicle around Aita al-Shaab
had also killed one. Israel’s military said it had “conducted a precise strike
in the area of Sidon and eliminated the Hezbollah terrorist Muhammad Jaafar
Mannah Asaad Abdallah.”It said Abdallah was “responsible, among other things,
for the deployment of Hezbollah’s communication systems throughout Lebanon.”On
Friday evening, it announced “a Hezbollah terrorist was struck and eliminated by
the (Israeli military) in the area of” Aita al-Shaab. An AFP journalist said the
Israeli attack in Sidon had hit a four-wheel-drive vehicle, sending a column of
black smoke into the sky. At the scene of the strike, members of the security
forces stood guard as a crowd gathered to look at the charred remains of the
vehicle after firefighters had put out the blaze. The Israeli military has also
said it was behind other attacks this week that it said killed Hezbollah
members. Hezbollah, significantly weakened by the war, insists it is adhering to
the November ceasefire, even as Israeli attacks persist.
Power balance at risk: Could sectarian parity collapse in
Beirut's municipal elections?
LBCI/April 18/2025
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's decision to withdraw the Future Movement
from Lebanon's upcoming municipal and mukhtar elections has sparked fears over
the delicate sectarian balance in the Beirut municipality. Hariri, who announced
Wednesday that his party would not participate, cited his conviction that
municipal elections should remain developmental and non-political. However, his
decision has intensified anxieties about the preservation of parity between
Muslims and Christians in the capital's municipal body.
The primary concern stems from demographic realities: Muslim—particularly
Sunni—voters significantly outnumber Christian voters in Beirut. Without a
unified political list or consensus among major political forces, Christian
candidates could lose all 12 council seats allocated to them under the
majoritarian voting system. Second, during the leadership of the late Prime
Minister Rafic Hariri, the Future Movement historically played a key role in
maintaining sectarian balance in the capital, leveraging its large Sunni voting
base to support Christian candidates. Under Saad Hariri, the party is no longer
in the race, and no single Sunni-led political force appears capable of
replicating that influence. Currently, Beirut's Sunni vote is fractured across
at least three emerging electoral lists. One reportedly brings MP Fouad
Makhzoumi, the Lebanese Forces, Al-Ahbash, and the Amal Movement together.
Another is being formed by Change MPs Ibrahim Mneimneh, Paula Yacoubian, and
Melhem Khalaf, in partnership with Beirut Madinati and other civil society
groups. A third list is reportedly being shaped by MP Nabil Badr. Based on the
2022 parliamentary elections, around 138,000 voters participated in Beirut
II—predominantly Sunni and Shia—compared to roughly 42,000 in the predominantly
Christian Beirut I. These figures underline the imbalance and the potential
impact of vote fragmentation, raising fears of the inability to secure a
complete 24-seat list equally divided between Christians and Muslims without a
broad political consensus. The growing concerns have led to speculation that the
elections might be postponed altogether, possibly at the last minute, to avoid
the collapse of Beirut's sectarian parity for the first time.
US views Lebanon ceasefire as 'historic step' toward ending
Hezbollah: Massad Boulos
LBCI/April 18/2025
The United States views a potential ceasefire agreement in Lebanon as a
"historic opportunity" to bring an end to Hezbollah's influence, Massad Boulos
told Al Arabiya in an interview on Friday. Boulos, the Senior Advisor to
President Donald Trump, said it is now up to the Lebanese state to assert
control over all its territories and borders.
Army Seizes Weapons Smuggled Between Syria and Lebanon
This is Beirut/April 18/2025
Control operations and security monitoring enabled a unit of the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF), supported by a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate, to arrest
“eight citizens” in the locality of Kfarzabad, in the Bekaa Valley, on Friday
evening, accused of smuggling weapons from Syria. They are accused of having
“formed a gang to smuggle and sell weapons and munitions of war from Syrian
territories to Lebanese territories”, according to an LAF press release
published on X. At the time of their arrest, they had in their possession
“weapons, munitions of war, and several vehicles used in their operations.”The
objects seized “have been handed over” and an investigation into the persons
arrested has been opened “under the supervision of the competent judicial
authorities,” the Lebanese army press release also states. In addition, these
security rounds enabled the troops to seize “a quantity of rockets, weapons,
munitions of war and explosive devices” on the outskirts of the localities of
Ayha Marj al-Tout and Rachaya, in the Bekaa governorate.
Illegal Weapons: Hezbollah Continues to Stall
This is Beirut/April 18/2025
Hezbollah continues to reject any talks about disarmament, insisting that the
issue is off the table until Israel fully withdraws from southern Lebanon. Wafiq
Safa, a senior Hezbollah official, reiterated this stance on Friday, dismissing
any suggestion of giving up the group’s weapons. “There will be no disarmament.
In fact, the only people using that word are those trying to provoke debate on
social media,” Safa said during a radio interview. His comments came ahead of a
scheduled appearance by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, who is
expected to address the same issue in an interview on al-Manar TV later in the
evening. The ceasefire agreement that ended over a year of hostilities –
including two months of open warfare – on November 27 includes a provision
calling for the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, mainly
between the Litani River and the Israeli border. Safa said Hezbollah had
communicated its position directly to President Joseph Aoun, who earlier this
week declared that 2025 should see the “monopoly of arms” in the hands of the
state. “Wouldn’t it make more sense for Israel to first withdraw, then release
prisoners and stop its aggression, before we start discussing a national defense
strategy?” Safa said, stressing the need for a broader conversation on how best
to protect Lebanon.
He went on to claim that both Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army are adhering to
the terms of the ceasefire. “The problem is that Israel has not done the same,”
he added.
To Those Betting on the International Monetary Fund
This is Beirut/April 18/2025
An official Lebanese delegation is heading to Washington, DC to participate in
the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, carrying with it new promises and
commitments aimed at pleasing these two international institutions. It seeks to
convince them that Lebanon has indeed embarked on the path of reform and seeks
to go even further by fulfilling all of the IMF's requirements, in pursuit of a
final agreement on a financial assistance program. The IMF has always been
associated with major and attractive promises for countries, such as financial
support, rescue programs, backing financial stability, restoring confidence,
opening doors to external funding, returning to financial markets and more. But
in truth, history also bears witness to the failures and additional financial
hardships experienced by many countries after entering into IMF loan programs.
In reality, the Fund’s programs have often failed to pull countries out of
economic and financial crises; on the contrary, many were pushed into deeper
collapse. Several countries received IMF loans but failed to restore their
economies and even became hostages to the Fund—finishing one loan only to be
forced into another. The IMF’s conditions are harsh, often ignoring human
rights, and in many cases, they drain the capacities and resources of the state.
The Fund uses a standardized set of “recipes” across all countries, which
typically include:
• The IMF is a financial institution that provides loans under conditions, and
ultimately needs to ensure these loans are repaid. Therefore, it does not enter
programs with countries that cannot control their debt. One of its conditions is
reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio, which requires cutting the state's financial
obligations. (This was evident in Lebanese Cabinet Resolution No. 3 dated May
20, 2022, on the strategy to revive the financial sector, which included
“cancelling a large portion of the Central Bank’s foreign currency obligations
to commercial banks, to reduce the capital shortfall of the Central Bank and
close its net open FX position.” This decision was later annulled by the State
Council in February 2024, which affirmed that these amounts were borrowed by the
state and that such borrowing was illegal. However, the Council ruled that the
state remains indebted and must repay the banks, and thus the depositors.) Here,
the government was aiming to implement the IMF's condition of reducing public
debt and obligations.
• The state should bear no losses or costs, even if it is responsible for
financial mismanagement, and no losses should be carried forward. In other
words, if a country wants to enter into an IMF program, it must first write off
all its losses and obligations. For Lebanon, this essentially means transforming
the debt—confirmed by the State Council in February 2024, which is in fact
depositors’ money—into losses that must be wiped out.
• Liberalization of the exchange rate and removal of all subsidies, especially
on basic goods and services like flour, electricity, water, transportation and
fuel—which has already happened in Lebanon.
• Reduction of social support programs, up to the point of eliminating all
social protections, particularly health, education and social affairs benefits.
• Downsizing of the public sector and restructuring of salaries—meaning salary
cuts—which has already occurred in Lebanon, a country that still has not
undergone any real restructuring of its public sector.
• Increasing taxes and fees—which Lebanon has already implemented in the 2024
and 2025 budgets, while relying on debt for growth.
Legitimate Questions… But Who Will Answer Them?
Today, Lebanese authorities are trying to convince the people that signing an
IMF agreement is a mandatory gateway for Lebanon’s return to financial markets
and international funding. But fundamental questions remain:
• Does Lebanon truly need the IMF’s signature if it implements reforms,
especially if it restructures its debt and reaches an agreement with its
creditors?
• Does Lebanon need the IMF if it fairly restructures its banking sector in a
way that protects both the sector and depositors’ funds?
• Does Lebanon need the IMF if it carries out structural and institutional
reforms related to electricity, regulatory bodies, smuggling, tax evasion and
the judiciary?
• Lebanon is rushing to meet the IMF’s conditions at any cost, passing laws
described as “reformist” by their drafters, though they contain many flaws and
weaknesses. What happens if Lebanon fails to reach a final agreement with an IMF
that continues to impose impossible conditions?
• What if Lebanon approves this additional IMF quota payment, tying it to a
financial program that might never materialize? We’re talking about $423
million, including a $100 million initial payment that could be used to fund
infrastructure projects in Lebanon, such as the “completion of the Damascus
International Highway” and others?
• And most importantly: What if former US President Donald Trump carries out his
threat and decides to withdraw the United States from the IMF, which holds the
largest individual share in the institution, over 16%? And what if other
countries follow suit? Would the IMF still survive?
‘The Hand That Tries to Reach the Weapons Will Be Cut’:
Lebanon’s President Aims to Disarm Hezbollah, Iran-Backed Group Objects
FDD/April 18/2025
Latest Developments
‘All Arms Must Be Under the Sole Authority of the State’: Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun said on April 15 that he aims to disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah
terrorist group this year through dialogue. He added that qualified current
members of Hezbollah would be allowed to join the Lebanese Army but not through
independent units along the lines of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces
(PMFs) in Iraq. “A decision has been made that all arms must be under the sole
authority of the state — and that includes Palestinian weapons as well,” Aoun
said. He added that dialogue is needed to “understand Hezbollah’s concerns and
perceived threats” and address them to avoid a civil war.
Hezbollah Leader Says Resistance Will Continue: Hezbollah signaled that it would
not disarm. “The hand that tries to reach the weapons of the resistance will be
cut off, whether it is an Israeli hand or foreign terrorism, or the hand of the
‘domestic Jews,’” Hezbollah politburo member Mahmoud Qmati said. In an interview
last month, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared, “When we say the
resistance [against Israel] is continuing, and while we speak of a strong state,
what do we mean by ‘continuing?’ With books?! It is continuing on the
battlefield.”
Suspects in Rocket Launches Arrested: Lebanese officials have said that the army
is making progress in deploying its troops south of the Litani River — formerly
Hezbollah’s stronghold — in accordance with the November 2024 ceasefire
agreement with Israel. On April 16, the Lebanese army said it “detained a number
of Palestinian and Lebanese suspects” that it believed were responsible for
rocket attacks against Israel in March but did not specify if they were
Hezbollah operatives.
FDD Expert Response
“Aoun has said he is seeking to monopolize the use of force in the hands of the
Lebanese state and doesn’t want Beirut to imitate Iraq’s PMF model. If sincere,
this should be welcomed. However, Aoun seeks to achieve his stated goals through
bilateral dialogue with Hezbollah, which has made clear that the president’s
vision is just that: his own. Hezbollah’s officials have said they intend to
retain their arms, interpreting the state’s monopoly on the use of force as
helping to keep ‘the resistance’ intact. Hezbollah will seek to leverage every
bit of their remaining military power and massive social leverage to ensure that
their vision, not Aoun’s, prevails.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow
“Aoun’s blueprint for Hezbollah is good, and there are credible reports that the
Lebanese Armed Forces are taking over Hezbollah positions and arms caches and
sealing their tunnels. The only problem is that Aoun’s outline does not have a
Plan B: What happens if Hezbollah refuses to surrender its arms to the state?
Still, Aoun should be given credit for going where no Lebanese president or
prime minister dared to go before him.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow
Analysis: Syria, Lebanon embark on long healing process to repair
relations
Dalal Saoud/United Press International/April 18, 2025
BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 18 (UPI) -- Leadership changes in Syria and Lebanon,
driven by the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the weakening of
Hezbollah's influence, have created a rare opportunity for the two neighboring
countries to repair their relations and move beyond decades of political
domination and military interference.
The stunning collapse last December of the Syrian Baath regime at the hands of
Islamist rebels, led by Ahmad Sharaa -- now Syria's new ruler -- has created a
new reality in the country and across the region. Just a month later, Lebanon
began to show signs of its own transformation with the election of Joseph Aoun
as president and the appointment of Nawaf Salam to lead the new government. The
once-powerful Hezbollah, long accustomed to dictating national policy and
hand-picking key officials, was forced to compromise and endorse these new
leadership choices. Leaders in both countries were quick to offer assurances to
one another, expressing a willingness to move beyond their troubled, tense and
often hostile past, and to open a new chapter in relations based on mutual
respect. The road to recovery will be far from easy, burdened by long-standing
and complex disputes, deeply rooted historical grievances and a rapidly shifting
Middle East landscape ravaged by years of destructive conflicts.
However, the visit by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus earlier
this week, where he met with Syria's ruler, Ahmad Sharaa, laid the groundwork
for dialogue aimed at resolving key points of contention between the two
countries. The visit marks "a watershed moment" in Lebanon-Syria relations,
according to Imad Salamey, a senior Middle East policy adviser and associate
professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese
American University in Beirut. Salamey explained that for the first time, both
states are engaging on equal sovereign footing, signaling a departure from
decades of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon. "This diplomatic shift recognizes
Lebanon's independence and Syria's need to recalibrate its regional posture
post-Assad's ouster," he told UPI. The Sharaa-Salam talks, Salamey added,
suggest that both parties are now willing to talk as peers, with mutual
interests in securing sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The emerging approach emphasizes non-interference in each other's affairs, with
Syria committing to refrain from aggression against Lebanon and Lebanon ensuring
it will not serve as a base for launching attacks against Syria. "This process
would pave the way for consolidating stability between the two countries," a
well-informed Lebanese source told UPI. Lebanon has suffered from decades-long
Syrian military presence, political domination and manipulation that greatly
impacted its governance, political life, economy and stability.
The Syrian Army first entered Lebanon in 1976 to stop the then-raging civil war
and remained until it was forced to pull out after the assassination of
Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a powerful explosion that
targeted his convoy in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005. Syria, which imposed itself as
the main power broker after having been granted guardianship over Lebanon when
the civil war ended in 1990, was accused of being behind Hariri's assassination
and numerous other such killings during the civil war and in peace.
But its influence on Lebanon began to wane rapidly starting in 2011, when
anti-Assad peaceful protests broke out and soon turned into a bloody civil war.
Syrians, on their part, hold grudges against Hezbollah -- and its patron, Iran
-- for siding with the Assad regime and joining the bloody battles against the
opposition fighters in 2012. The Hezbollah-Iran involvement in Syria ended with
Assad's fall. Last month, three soldiers in Syria's new army and seven Lebanese
were killed when clashes erupted near the border town of Al-Qasr in northeastern
Lebanon --- one of several key smuggling and supply routes long used by
Hezbollah. The fighting ended after two days, with the Lebanese Army deploying
in the area. "No attacks or smuggling will be allowed from the Lebanese side,"
the source said. "The army now has control of the border to prevent any drug and
weapons smuggling, as well as any cross-border interaction or interference."
Smuggling has been a main problem since the establishment of the border between
Syria and Lebanon, which extends for approximately 230 miles from the east to
the north, with no clear demarcation in many areas.
Land and sea border demarcation, security coordination, preventing smuggling,
closing illegal crossings, and adopting security and military measures to
prevent the recurrence of the cross-border clashes were at the top of the Salam-Sharaa
discussions, according to the Lebanese source. He said the discussions also
covered gas and oil exploration, boosting trade and potential joint projects
that would bring mutual benefits in the fields of economy, agriculture and
investment. Both countries, he added, agreed to form a joint committee that
included the ministers of justice and defense to address lingering issues, such
as uncovering the fate of Lebanese detainees and missing persons in Syria, as
well as Syrians held in Lebanese prisons. "The committee will also work to shed
light on the dozens of political assassinations that took place in Lebanon
during the Assad regime's rule," the source said.
While historical grievances are "deeply embedded," Lebanon and Syria have a
shared interest in securing and demarcating the borders, especially in
compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1680, Salamey said. "This
provides an achievable starting point," he said. Controlling illegal crossings,
which has cost Lebanon some $5 billion annually due to smuggling, per the World
Bank's estimates, and halting currency outflows from Syria "are pragmatic,
mutually beneficial goals." Salamey said border control could encourage greater
economic cooperation and mutual stabilization, but emphasized the need for
international guarantees, technical support and "political insulation from
spoilers -- particularly Hezbollah and other non-state actors who benefit from
open borders."
Encouraged by the recent political shifts, Saudi Arabia stepped in to bring
Syria and Lebanon closer, playing a key mediating role in helping the two
countries address their long-standing disputes. The Lebanese source revealed
that land and maritime border demarcation talks will proceed with the support of
Saudi Arabia, which believes that there is "a serious opportunity" for both
countries to emerge from their successive crises and embark on a new process
aimed at consolidating stability.
Besides the disputed territories, securing the return of 1.5 million Syrian
refugees from Lebanon represents a major challenge. While crisis-ridden Lebanon
can no longer host them, war-ravaged Syria is not yet ready to take them back
because of its limited resources. Salamey also noted that their divergent
political systems -- Lebanon's consociational democracy versus Syria's Islamist
autocratic trajectory -- also pose "enduring risks." He said that without
broader regional reconciliation and internal reforms, progress may be limited to
"transactional arrangements" rather than leading to "transformational peace."
"The road to healing is long and fraught, but the current moment offers a window
for engagement that didn't exist in recent decades," he said.
Hezbollah says it won't hand over weapons while Israeli troops
remain in southern Lebanon
Bassem Mroue/The Associated Press/April 18, 2025
BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group said on Friday
that its fighters will not disarm as long as Israeli troops remain in southern
Lebanon and the Israeli air force regularly violates Lebanese air space. Naim
Kassem addressed supporters in a speech broadcast on Hezbollah’s television
station. Kassem took over Hezbollah after Israeli airstrikes killed longtime
leader Hassan Nasrallah, his successor Hashem Safieddine and other top Hezbollah
figures last year, decimating the group's leadership. Kassem said Hezbollah had
implemented its commitments related to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted
the fighting in Hezbollah’s latest, 14-month war with Israel. Since the
ceasefire went into effect in late November, Israeli airstrikes have killed
scores of people in Lebanon including civilians and Hezbollah members. Israel
says it’s targeting Hezbollah holdouts in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, the
office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights said that at least 71
civilians, including 14 women and nine children, have been killed by Israeli
strikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect.
Hezbollah launched its own attacks on Israel a day after the Israel-Hamas war
erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 with the Palestinian militants’ attack on southern
Israel, saying it was doing so to ease the pressure on Gaza by keeping part of
the Israeli military busy along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon. In
response, Israeli troops pushed into Lebanon. The 14 months of the
Hezbollah-Israel war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and caused
destruction that will take $11 billion to rebuild, according to the World Bank.
As part of the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull out from parts of southern
Lebanon and give up its military positions and weapons south of the Litani River
while Israeli forces were to pull back into Israel. The Lebanese army was to
take over Hezbollah's positions and guarantee security in the south, along with
the U.N. peacekeeping mission. Israel withdrew much of its troops from southern
Lebanon in February but kept five posts inside Lebanese territory in what
Lebanon says is a violation of the ceasefire deal. Last week, deputy U.S.
Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus visited Beirut and called on the
Lebanese state to assert its control all over Lebanon — and not only in the
south along the border with Israel south of the Litani River. “We will not allow
anyone to remove Hezbollah’s weapons,” Kassem said. “These weapons gave life and
freedom to our people."Kassem spoke hours after two separate Israeli drones
killed two people in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it killed two
Hezbollah members in the strikes. “Does anyone expect us to discuss a national
defense strategy as warplanes fly over our heads and there is occupation in
south Lebanon,” Kassem asked. “These are not discussions. This is surrender. Let
Israel withdraw first and stop its flights in the air.”
Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press
Sheikh Qassem: We Will Fight Whoever Wants to Disarm Hezbollah
Al-Manar English Website/April 18/2025
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem indicated that the Resistance is
a reaction to the occupation, which is grabbing the land and expanding to impose
a fait accompli, adding that this happens when the state is incapable of
defending the citizens and territories. In a speech via Al-Manar TV aimed at
tackling the defense strategy and latest developments, Sheikh Qassem maintained
that Hezbollah believes in the Resistance from the religious and the national
perspectives of liberating the occupied territories.
Sheikh Qassem stressed that ‘Israel’ is an expansionist entity that is not
confined to occupying Palestine, adding that the Israeli ambitions include
controlling entire Lebanon.
The Resistance in Lebanon made great and significant achievements in face of the
Israeli occupation which would not have ended without the resistance, according
to Hezbollah Secretary General. Sheikh Qassem emphasized that, during the recent
war, the Resistance fighters legendarily managed to prevent the Israeli
occupation forces, backed by the US and international support, from advancing
into Litani River despite the heavy sacrifices.
The outcome of the war cannot be measured by the number of buildings destroyed,
but through the enemy’s goals frustrated by the resistance fighters, according
to Sheikh Qassem.
The Zionist entity wants Hezbollah disarm because it is planning to control
entire Lebanon in order to build new settlements and naturalize the displaced
Palestinians, Sheikh Qassem said. ‘Israel’ wants Lebanon to be weak in order to
carry out its schemes, his eminence pointed out. Sheikh Qassem indicated that
Hezbollah is giving the diplomatic ways an opportunity that is not open, noting
that the Israeli enemy has violated the ceasefire 2700 times, including air
raids, killings, etc.
Those who think that Hezbollah is weak are delusional, Sheikh Qassem said,
adding that the Resistance is not afraid of anything because it relies on God
and the most honorable people.
Hezbollah has many options which will resort to at the appropriate time to face
the Israeli violations, which are backed by the United States and will not last
longer, Sheikh Qassem affirmed. Sheikh Qassem added that the first problem in
Lebanon is the Israeli occupation, pointing out that expelling it is a priority
for the noble people in Lebanon.
“Some discordant voices in Lebanon portrait the resistance as the main cause of
the problem.”Those who call for Hezbollah disarm in Lebanon are serving the
Israeli interests, and this is a strife that will not take place , Sheikh Qassem
maintained.
The Israeli enemy with its entire army failed to disarm Hezbollah, according to
Sheikh Qassem who added, “We will not let anyone disarm the Resistance.”This
weapon is what liberated the occupied territories and defended the country,
Sheikh Qassem emphasized.
Sheikh Qassem underlined that Hezbollah will fight any those who plan to disarm
the Resistance just as it confronted ‘Israel’. Sheikh Qassem quoted Imam Sayyed
Moussa Al-Sadr as saying that holding the weapons to defend the nation is a
duty.
His eminence reiterated allegiance to the vow of the Martyr Sayyed Hasan
Nasrallah regarding defending the Resistance weaponry. The text of the ceasefire
agreement stipulates that its implementation is limited to the area, South of
Litani River, according to Sheikh Qassem. His eminence recalled that the UN
Resolution 1701 imposes on the Israeli enemy to withdraw from all the Lebanese
territories and stop its aggression.
Dialogue
Hezbollah Secretary General asserted that discussing the defense strategy
requires benefiting from all the national strengths, away from any Israeli
aggression or pressure.
Hezbollah may never accept to discuss the defense strategy via the media
outlets, adding that, after the Israeli withdrawal, the halt of the Zionist
aggression, the release of the Lebanese prisoners, and the start of the
reconstruction project, President Jospeh Aoun can call for the dialogue,
according to Sheikh Qassem. His eminence maintained that Hezbollah has fully
committed to the agreement, adding: “Let ‘Israel’ fulfill its part, and let the
Lebanese State fulfill its part”
“The Defense strategy is not about disarming the resistance, but rather it’s a
discussion of the diplomatic, economic, and military levels of an integrated
defense policy.”
Sheikh Qassem called on the government to put the issue of reconstruction on its
agenda and develop a plan for it. Sheikh Qassem called on the Lebanese officials
to reject the US dictates, vowing readiness to support any governmental decision
to face the Zionist occupation militarily.
Miscellaneous
Elsewhere, Sheikh Qassem affirmed Hezbollah rejection of the US hegemony that
sponsors the cancer gland, ‘Israel’, adding that the Americans must respect
Lebanon’s sovereignty and dignity. “Stand firm in face of the US and we are with
you.”
Regarding the municipal elections, Sheikh Qassem stressed that Hezbollah
encourages all what contributes to the state construction. Sheikh Qassem called
on the judiciary to hold those, who made abusive remarks against the Supreme
Islamic Shiite Council, accountable because they are considered as an
infringement on the institution. Hezbollah wishes that the Iranian-US talks
yield positive results; however, all outcomes are possible, according to Sheikh
Qassem. Finally Sheikh Qassem hailed the Yemeni stand against the US and
‘Israel’ in support for Gaza, greeting Head of Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement
Sayyed Abdul Malik Badreddine Al-Houthi.
Naim Qassem: Disarming the Hezb Is Off the Table
This is Beirut/April 18/2025
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared Friday evening that any attempt
to disarm the "resistance" is a direct service to Israel and will be firmly
opposed. In his speech, Qassem said, “We will not allow anyone to strip
Hezbollah or the resistance of its weapons. This idea should be removed from the
Lebanese political dictionary altogether.”He argued that "resistance" is not an
optional stance but a necessary response to ongoing Israeli aggression and
occupation, especially given what he described as the Lebanese state's limited
capacity to defend its people and territory. “The resistance is a reaction to
the state's inability to protect the land and its citizens,” he said. Qassem
emphasized that Hezbollah’s weapons are not the source of Lebanon’s problems.
“Calls to forcibly remove those weapons are an invitation to internal conflict,
and a provocation aimed at dividing the army and the resistance, ultimately
weakening the state,” he added. Commenting on UN Resolution 1701 and the
ceasefire in South Lebanon, Qassem reiterated that Israel continues to violate
the agreement, while Hezbollah and the Lebanese state remain in compliance.
“Let's first see Israel's commitment to the agreement, and then we will talk,”
he said, adding, ”After Israel fulfills its commitments, Lebanon will start
discussing the other clauses of 1701.”
He stressed that any national defense dialogue must be based on principles such
as preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty, liberating its occupied lands, and
confronting all forms of aggression. He also revealed positive exchanges with
President Joseph Aoun regarding implementing the resolution south of the Litani
River. Qassem also addressed reconstruction efforts, asserting that rebuilding
war-damaged areas is not a favor granted to Lebanon but a national right. He
rejected attempts to link reconstruction to Hezbollah's disarmament, saying,
“They say they will tie reconstruction to our weapons; we say we tie our weapons
to reconstruction.”In conclusion, Qassem said Hezbollah is open to future talks
on a national defense strategy at the appropriate time but warned against
setting preconditions or timelines. He also rejected US tutelage over Lebanon
and confirmed that Hezbollah will run in the upcoming municipal elections in
full coordination with the Amal Movement and allied parties.
Aoun Stresses to Sudani Strength of Ties between Lebanon, Iraq
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed on Thursday the strength of relations
between his country and Iraq “away from any external factors that may impact
them.”Aoun held telephone talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani,
said the Lebanese Presidency. Aoun expressed to the PM Lebanon’s desire to
bolster ties with Iraq in various fields, it added. In a statement, the PM
underlined Iraq’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity and efforts to launch a reconstruction process after the war between
Israel and Hezbollah. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry had on Wednesday summoned the
Lebanese Ambassador to Baghdad to express its “discomfort” with statements Aoun
had made over the Popular Mobilization Forces. Aoun on Tuesday said Lebanon will
not “replicate” the PMF experience in Iraq in terms of merging the Hezbollah
armed group with the military. He made his comments as he was addressing the
issue of the Lebanese state having monopoly over the possession of weapons in
the country.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on April 18-19/2025
Trump says 'not in a rush' for military option against Iran
Agence France Presse/April 18, 2025
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he is "not in a rush" to take
military action against Iran's nuclear facilities but did not confirm a New York
Times report that he had intervened to prevent an Israeli strike. "I wouldn't
say 'waved off,'" he said, in reference to the Times report that he told the
Israelis he would not support strikes. "I'm not in a rush to do it because I
think that Iran has a chance to have a great country," he added. "That's my
first option. If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran
and I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they're wanting to talk."
Iran FM says has ‘serious doubts’ over US intentions ahead of talks
AFP, Moscow/April 18/2025:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday cast doubt over the intentions
of the United States a day ahead of a second round of nuclear talks with
Washington. “Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and
motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow’s
negotiations,” said Araghchi during a press conference in Moscow with his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Araghchi will set off on Saturday for Rome
for a fresh round of Omani-mediated talks with US Middle East envoy Steve
Witkoff. The new round will come a week after the longtime foes held their
highest-level negotiations since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark
nuclear deal in 2018. “We are fully prepared to pursue a peaceful resolution for
Iran's peaceful nuclear program,” Araghchi said. Western countries including the
United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an
allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its program is for
peaceful civilian purposes. On Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) said the country’s military capabilities were off limits in the
discussions. The official IRNA news agency reported Iran's regional influence
and its missile capabilities -- long criticized by Western governments -- were
among its “red lines” in the talks. On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister
said Iran's enrichment of uranium was not up for discussion, after Witkoff
called for it to end. “If there is similar willingness on the other side, and
they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe
reaching an agreement is likely,” Araghchi said during the press conference.
Iran Wants Guarantees Trump Will Not Quit
a New Nuclear Pact, Iranian Official Says
News Agencies/April 18/2025
Iran told the United States in talks last week it was ready to accept some
limits on its uranium enrichment but needed watertight guarantees President
Donald Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official
told Reuters on Friday. Iran and the United States are set to hold a second
round of talks on Saturday in Rome, a week after a first round of negotiations
in Oman which both sides described as positive. Trump, who has restored a
"maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran since February, ditched a 2015 nuclear
pact between Iran and six world powers in 2018 during his first term and
reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. In the intervening years, Tehran has
steadily overstepped the 2015 agreement's limits on its nuclear program,
designed to make it harder to develop an atomic bomb. Former US President Joe
Biden, whose administration unsuccessfully tried to reinstate the 2015 pact, was
not able to meet Tehran's demand for guarantees that no future US administration
would renege on it. Tehran has approached the talks warily, skeptical they could
yield a deal and suspicious of Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran
if it does not halt its accelerating uranium enrichment program, which Iran says
is peaceful. While both Tehran and Washington have said they are set on pursuing
diplomacy, they remain far apart on a dispute that has rumbled on for more than
two decades. Tehran's red lines "mandated by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei" could
not be compromised in the talks, the official told Reuters, describing Iran's
negotiating position on condition of anonymity. He said those red lines meant
Iran would never agree to dismantle its centrifuges for enriching uranium, halt
enrichment altogether, or reduce the amount of enriched uranium it stores to a
level below the level it agreed in the 2015 deal that Trump abandoned. It would
also not negotiate over its missile program, which Tehran views as outside the
scope of any nuclear deal. "Iran understood in indirect talks in Oman that
Washington doesn’t want Iran to stop all nuclear activities, and this can be a
common ground for Iran and the US to start a fair negotiation," the source said.
Iran said on Friday reaching a deal with the United States was possible if "they
demonstrate seriousness of intent and do not make unrealistic demands". Top US
negotiator Steve Witkoff, in a post on X on Tuesday, said Iran must "stop and
eliminate its nuclear enrichment" to reach a deal with Washington.Tehran has
said that it is ready to work with the UN nuclear agency, which it sees as "the
only acceptable body in this process", to provide assurances that its nuclear
work is peaceful, according to the source. The source said Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araqchi had told the Americans that, in return for that
cooperation, Washington should promptly lift sanctions on Iran's oil and
financial sectors.
Secret talks in Paris: Israel pushes US to back military action
against Iran's nuclear sites
LBCI/April 18/2025
Israel's security establishment has warned that a rare and historic opportunity
to carry out a military strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure could vanish
within months if not acted upon, according to recommendations delivered to the
political leadership. The renewed urgency comes amid high-level Israeli
discussions about the viability of launching a military operation targeting
Iran's nuclear facilities. According to Israeli media sources, Strategic Affairs
Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief David Barnea recently traveled to Paris on
a secret mission, where they met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Their talks came
ahead of the second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations scheduled for Saturday and
were aimed at influencing Washington's stance on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
During the Paris meeting, both Dermer and Barnea reportedly stressed that
diplomacy would not succeed and that a military solution was the only viable
path to halting Iran's nuclear program. However, the prospect of unilateral
action has drawn internal concern. Several Israeli security and military
officials have warned of the high risks associated with going it alone. Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for swift action, hoping to
green-light the operation soon. Israel's security establishment is preparing a
plan for a wide-scale aerial offensive but insists it would require U.S.
support—to shield Israel from an anticipated Iranian response and also deter or
respond to any potential preemptive strike by Tehran.
EU Needs to Decide on Possible Iran Sanctions, Rubio Says
Reuters/April 18/2025
Europe needs to decide if it is willing to reimpose sanctions on Iran when it
becomes clear it is close to developing a nuclear weapon, US Secretary of State
Marco Rubio said on Friday. "The Europeans have a decision to make, because I
believe we should all anticipate that they're about to get a report from the
IAEA that says not just Iran is out of compliance, but Iran is dangerously close
to a weapon, closer than they've ever been," Rubio said in Paris after meeting
with European leaders. Rubio said the US administration is looking for a
peaceful solution with Iran, but will never tolerate the country developing a
nuclear weapon. "It has to be something that not just prevents Iran from having
a nuclear weapon now," he said about a possible agreement. "But in the future as
well, not just for ten years with some sort of sunset provision or the like."
Vance arrives for talks in
Italy, Easter at the Vatican
AFP, Rome/April 18/2025
US Vice President JD Vance was in Rome Friday for talks with far-right Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni, before celebrating Easter at the Vatican and a meeting
with Pope Francis’ right-hand man. Meloni shares conservative views with Vance
and President Donald Trump, whom she met in Washington just a day before on
charm offensive aiming for a US-EU tariffs deal. Trump’s threatened tariffs
could have a major impact on Italy, the world’s fourth-largest exporter, which
sends around 10 percent of its exports to the United States. Vance is to meet
Meloni at 11:00 am (0900 GMT), and is also due to talk with Cardinal Pietro
Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, the second-highest official at the
Holy See after the pope. The 40-year-old Vance, who converted to Catholicism in
his mid-30s, travelled with his wife and three young children, with the family
due to celebrate Easter at the Vatican on Sunday. Meloni was the first leader
from Europe to visit Trump since he slapped 20 percent tariffs on EU exports,
which he has since suspended for 90 days. The two leaders struck a warm tone
Thursday during a working lunch and a meeting in the Oval Office, with Trump
hailing the 48-year-old Italian premier as “fantastic.”
Casting herself as the only European who can de-escalate Trump’s trade war,
Meloni highlighted their conservative common ground and said she wanted to “make
the West great again.”Meloni’s decision to personally intercede with Trump has
caused some disquiet among EU allies, who are concerned that her visit could
undermine bloc unity. While Trump expressed confidence about an eventual deal
with the 27-nation bloc he accuses of trying to “screw” the United States, he
said on Thursday that he was in “no rush.”Russia’s war in Ukraine meanwhile
remained a touchy subject between the US and Italian leaders. Meloni has been a
staunch ally of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia’s invasion
of the country in 2022, most recently calling Moscow’s Palm Sunday attack on the
city of Sumy “horrible and vile.”Trump however has stunned allies with a pivot
toward Moscow and repeated attacks on Zelensky, whom he and Vance berated in an
Oval Office meeting in February. The US leader said with Meloni beside him that
“I don’t hold Zelensky responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact
that that war started,” adding that he was “not a big fan” of the Ukrainian
leader.
More than 70 killed in US
airstrikes on Yemen port, Houthis say
Kareem El Damanhoury and Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN/April 18, 2025
The death toll from US airstrikes on an oil port in western Yemen has risen to
at least 74 people, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported, marking one of the
deadliest days since the United States escalated its aerial military campaign
against the Iranian-backed group in recent weeks. US Central Command said
Thursday the strikes on Ras Isa fuel port in Hodeidah province were aimed at
cutting off revenue to the Houthis, adding the port has been used as a source of
illicit profits to the group. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the
economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great
pain upon their fellow countrymen,” the US Central Command said in a statement.
“This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen.”Some 171 others were
also wounded, Al-Masirah TV said Friday, citing the Hodeidah Health Office. CNN
reached out to the Pentagon for comment regarding the reported toll and was
directed to the US Central Command’s earlier statement. Since mid-March, US
airstrikes have pounded Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting oil refineries,
airports and missile sites, with US President Donald Trump vowing to use
“overwhelming force” until the US achieves its goal of stopping the Houthis from
targeting shipping in the Red Sea. Houthis have launched numerous missiles
against Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea in what they say is in
solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s war in Gaza since the October 7,
2023 attacks. Video aired on Al-Masirah shows the injured receiving treatment at
a hospital after dawn, many with visible burns to their bodies. “Multiple air
raids targeted the area,” a man who identified himself as a civil defense worker
told Al-Masirah as he lay on an examination table, breathing heavily. “I found
myself falling on the ground as a rocket hit.” Another survivor at the hospital
described the moment the port was struck. “One strike after another, the whole
area was lit on fire,” he told Al-Masirah. “When we managed to leave the area,
we saw the place where we were hiding earlier getting struck too.”The US says
its campaign is working. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that multiple
Houthi leaders had been killed. CNN earlier reported that the total cost of the
US military’s operation against Houthi militants in Yemen neared $1 billion in
three weeks, according to three people briefed on the campaign, but the attacks
had so far had limited impact on the group’s capabilities.
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. On Monday, the
Houthi-run health ministry said US attacks had killed at least 123 people,
including women and children, and injured 247 others since March 15, the Houthi-run
Saba news agency reported. CNN cannot independently verify the numbers.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have continued to launch more than a dozen ballistic
missiles at Israel, and barrages of drones and missiles at US navy ships. While
none caused major damage, the threat remains. Early Friday, Israel’s military
said it intercepted a missile from Yemen. No injuries were reported, Israel’s
emergency service said. CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Tim Lister, Eyad Kourdi and Dana
Karni contributed reporting.
French frigate shoots down
drone fired from Yemen targeting shipping routes in Red Sea
Agencies/April 18, 2025
French frigate shoots down drone fired from Yemen targeting shipping routes in
Red Sea. A French frigate shot down a drone fired from Yemen that was targeting
shipping routes in the Red Sea, the French military said Friday. The French ship
is part of the EU's Aspides mission securing shipping corridors in the
high-traffic region.
Israeli Army Says It
Intercepted a Missile Launched from Yemen
Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
The Israeli army announced on Friday that it had intercepted a missile launched
from Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi group routinely targets Israel with
missiles and drones. The Israeli army said on Telegram: “Shortly after the
sirens sounded, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted”.
Israeli strikes kill
Palestinians in tented area for displaced in Gaza
Jessica Rawnsley - BBC News/April 18, 2025
At least 37 people have been killed in a series of Israeli strikes in Gaza, most
in areas where displaced civilians have set up tents, the Hamas-run civil
defence agency says. Witnesses in al-Mawasi told the BBC that tents were
engulfed in flames on Wednesday night, following a "powerful" explosion, causing
the deaths of dozens of Palestinians including children. One man said he woke to
"screaming and panic" and watched as "the flames spread rapidly from one tent to
another". Israel has told Palestinians to evacuate from other parts of Gaza to
al-Mawasi. The Israeli military said on Friday that it struck a "Hamas
terrorist" in the area and that the incident was under review. UN children's
agency Unicef's executive director Catherine Russell said on Thursday: "Images
of children burning while sheltering in makeshift tents should shake us all to
our core." Meanwhile, Hamas formally rejected Israel's latest ceasefire
proposal, saying it was ready to negotiate a deal that would see the release of
all 59 hostages it is still holding, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, in
return for an end to the war. Israel had offered a 45-day ceasefire in return
for the release of 10 hostages. In a video statement, the head of Hamas's
negotiating team Khalil al-Hayya said the group would not "accept partial deals
that serve [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's political agenda".
Israel's stated aim is the complete disarmament and destruction of Hamas. In
response to Hayya's remarks, Israel's far-right National Security Minister
Bezalel Smotrich said it was time "to open the gates of hell on Hamas".Civil
Defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said two missiles hit tents in the coastal al-Mawasi
area, near the southern city of Khan Younis, on Wednesday night, killing at
least 16 people, "most of them women and children". He said 23 others were
wounded.
Video verified by the BBC showed the charred remnants of the camp with
belongings strewn across the ground and survivors surveying the damage.
Survivors described waking to the "sound of screaming and panic" after a
"powerful" explosion hit the encampment. "I rushed outside and saw the tent next
to mine engulfed in flames," a man told the BBC's Gaza Lifeline programme.
"Women were running out, trying desperately to escape the fire," he continued.
"Many martyrs were lost in the fire and we were helpless to save them. It was
heartbreaking to watch them die right in front of us, unable to do anything as
the flames spread rapidly from one tent to another."He said that a "large
number" of children had died. A displaced woman from Khan Younis said that the
strike had killed 10 members of one family while they were sleeping, with
another five family members injured. A man described rushing to the scene with
others after hearing the explosion and attempting to extinguish the flames by
throwing sand on the tents. "But we failed," he said. "The fire was too intense,
consuming the tents and the people inside. We were helpless, we couldn't do
anything to save them."Amande Bazerolle, an emergency coordinator for Medicines
Sans Frontiers (MSF) in Gaza, said the strikes had occurred close to their
office and MSF received some of the victims. "Last night it was very close to
our office in the south. When the tents were targeted and caught on fire we
received the patients. Most of them are actually dead and arrive dead but we
have some very critical patients," she told the BBC. On Friday morning, the
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC that it had "struck a Hamas terrorist
in the area of Khan Younis" after taking steps to mitigate harm to civilians.
"The IDF is aware of the claim that as a result of the strike several uninvolved
civilians were harmed. The incident is under review," it added. Gaza's civil
defence agency said further air strikes killed seven people in the northern town
of Beit Lahia, two near al-Mawasi, and 10 people in Jabalia, including seven
members of one family in one attack and three people at a school building being
used as a shelter in another.The IDF said it was "unaware of a strike
corresponding to the reports" in Beit Lahia.
In a statement on Thursday, the IDF said that strikes over the past two days had
"struck over 100 terror targets" including "terrorist cells, military structures
and infrastructure sites". The IDF said that earlier in the week strikes in the
area of Khan Younis had killed Yahya Fathi Abd al-Qader Abu Shaar, the head of
Hamas' weapons smuggling network. It said steps had been taken to mitigate the
risk of harm to civilians. Israel put Gaza under a complete blockade on 1 March
and resumed the war on 18 March. Since then Israeli attacks have killed 1,691
people, the Hamas-run health ministry says. About half a million Palestinians
have been displaced by renewed Israeli evacuation orders and Israel has
incorporated 30% of Gaza into "security zones". On Thursday the heads of 12
major aid organisations said the humanitarian aid system in Gaza was "facing
total collapse". "This is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our
generation," the chief executives of 12 NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the
Children, wrote in a statement. Israel says it aims to pressure Hamas to release
hostages and has vowed to maintain the blockade. It claims there is no shortage
of aid because 25,000 lorry loads of supplies entered during the ceasefire. The
war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas carried out a cross-border attack on
Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages
according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign against Hamas has
killed at least 51,065 people, according to the territory's Hamas-run health
ministry. Red Cross chief says Gaza is 'hell on earth' as Israeli assault
continues.
Israeli strikes kill at
least 25 in Gaza and Huckabee makes first appearance as US ambassador
Wafaa Shurafa And Fatma Khaled/The Associated Press/April 18,
2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least
25 people on Friday including children, hospital workers said, as the new U.S.
ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. The dead
included 15 people killed in three strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis,
according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Ten people were killed
in Jabaliya, including eight from the same home, according to the Indonesian
Hospital, where the bodies were brought. The strikes came a day after more than
two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel continued attacks, pressuring Hamas to
disarm and return hostages it took in October 2023.
Ambassador arrives in Jerusalem
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall on Friday, the holiest
Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem’s Old City. He inserted a prayer into the wall,
which he said was handwritten by U.S. President Donald Trump. "Those are his
initials, D.T.,“ said Huckabee while showing the note to the media. In his first
act as ambassador, Huckabee said Trump told him to pray for the peace of
Jerusalem. Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring home the
remaining hostages held by Hamas. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has
acknowledged his past support for Israel’s right to annex the West Bank and
incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his
“prerogative” to carry out that policy. During his first term, Trump recognized
Jerusalem as Israel’s capital over Palestinian objections and moved the U.S.
embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinians seek the eastern part of the city, captured
by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as their future capital. Huckabee's arrival
comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators
including the U.S. are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track. Israel is
demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and
ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Israel has said it plans to
occupy large “security zones” inside Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’
negotiating delegation, said Thursday the group had rejected Israel’s latest
proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas’ stance that it will return
hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full
Israeli withdrawal and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct
ceasefire agreement reached in January. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of
whom are believed to be alive. Friday’s airstrikes came a day after aid groups
raised alarm over Israel’s blockade of of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all
food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become
malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks
dwindle, the United Nations said.
Israel’s Defense Minister says the blockade is one of the “central pressure
tactics” against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain
its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the
U.N. closely monitors distribution. Rights groups have called it a “starvation
tactic.”
Gaza’s Christians mark Good Friday
As Israel continued its offensive, Palestinian Christians gathered inside Gaza’s
Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrios to mark the Good Friday holiday.
Worshippers clad in black bowed their heads in prayer and lit votive candles to
commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. A building in the St. Porphyrios compound
was hit soon after the war began in October 2023, killing more than a dozen
people taking refuge there. Friday’s holiday was the second Good Friday
celebrated in Gaza since then. St. Porphyrios is believed to be the third oldest
church in the world, according to the World Council of Churches.
Gaza was home to about 1,300 Christians before the start of the war, according
to the U.S. State Department. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked
southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians,
and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire
agreements or other deals. Israel’s offensive has since killed over 51,000
Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry,
which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has
destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The
war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of
people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.
*Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv,
Israel and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Hamas signals rejection of
Israel's latest truce proposal
Agence France Presse/April 18, 2025
Hamas has signaled its rejection of Israel's latest truce proposal and called
for a "comprehensive" deal to end the 18-month-long war. The Palestinian
militants' chief negotiator spoke out after civil defense rescuers in Gaza said
new Israeli air strikes killed at least 40 people, most of them in camps for
displaced civilians, as Israel pressed its offensive in the Palestinian
territory. The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the strikes.
A Hamas source told AFP that the group sent a written response Thursday to
mediators on Israel's latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. Israel had wanted
the release of 10 living hostages held by the group, according to Hamas. It also
called for the freeing of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the
entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under complete blockade
since March 2. The proposal called for Hamas to disarm to secure a complete end
to the war, a demand the group rejects. "Partial agreements are used by (Israeli
Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for his political agenda... we
will not be complicit in this policy," Hamas's chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya,
said in a televised statement. He said Hamas "seeks a comprehensive deal
involving a single-package prisoner exchange in return for halting the war, a
withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the commencement of
reconstruction" in the territory. A previous ceasefire and hostage release deal
began on January 19 but collapsed two months later. Israel offered to extend the
first phase, while Hamas insisted that negotiations be held for a second phase,
as outlined by Joe Biden when he was US president. Israel resumed intensive
bombing of Gaza on March 18.
Qatar blames Israel -
The emir of Qatar, which with Egypt and the United States helped mediate the
January ceasefire, blamed Israel on Thursday for its collapse. "As you know, we
reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this
agreement," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said during a visit to Moscow. Civil
defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said two Israeli missiles hit tents in the Al-Mawasi
area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, killing at least 16 people, "most of
them women and children, and 23 others were wounded". Tens of thousands of
Palestinians flocked to Al-Mawasi after Israel declared it a safe zone in
December 2023. But the area has since been hit by repeated Israeli strikes.
Survivors described a large explosion at the densely packed camp that set tents
ablaze. "We were sitting peacefully in the tent, under God's protection, when we
suddenly saw something red glowing -- and then the tent exploded, and the
surrounding tents caught fire," Israa Abu al-Rus told AFP. Bassal said Israeli
strikes on two other camps for displaced Gazans killed a nine people -- seven in
the northern town of Beit Lahia, and a father and son near Al-Mawasi.
Separately, the civil defense reported two attacks in Jabalia -- one that killed
at least seven members of the Asaliya family, and another that killed six people
at a school being used as a shelter -- as well as Israeli shelling in Gaza City
that killed two. The military announced it had carried out a strike in Jabalia
on a Hamas "command and control" center. Israel said Wednesday that it had
converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in its widening offensive. The
United Nations said half a million Palestinians have been displaced since the
offensive resumed, triggering what it has described as the most severe
humanitarian crisis since the war began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on
Israel.
Red Cross base -
Hamas accused Israel of attempting to starve Gaza's 2.4 million people after
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel would continue
preventing aid from entering the territory. "This is a public admission of
committing a war crime," the group said in a statement. Medical supplies, fuel,
water and other essentials are in short supply, the UN says. The International
Committee of the Red Cross, said it was "outraged" that an explosive hit one of
its bases in Gaza on Wednesday, the second such strike in three weeks.
Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health
ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since
the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack
on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians,
according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Protest letters from former Israeli soldiers lay bare
profound rifts over the ongoing war
Melanie Lidman/The Associated Press/April 18, 2025
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an
open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military
responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed
the document.
But in the days since, thousands of retired and reservist soldiers across the
military have signed similar letters of support. The growing campaign, which
accuses the government of perpetuating the war for political reasons and failing
to bring home the remaining hostages, has laid bare the deep division and
disillusionment over Israel’s fighting in Gaza. By spilling over into the
military, it has threatened national unity and raised questions about the army’s
ability to continue fighting at full force. It also resembles the bitter
divisions that erupted in early 2023 over the government’s attempts to overhaul
Israel’s legal system, which many say weakened the country and encouraged Hamas’
attack later that year that triggered the war. “It’s crystal clear that the
renewal of the war is for political reasons and not for security reasons,” Guy
Poran, a retired pilot who was one of the initiators of the air force letter,
told The Associated Press.
A return to war The catalyst for the letters was Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s decision on March 18 to return to war instead of sticking to a
ceasefire that had facilitated the release of some hostages. Netanyahu says the
military pressure is needed to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
Critics, including many families of the hostages, fear that it will get them
killed.One month after Netanyahu resumed the war, none of the 59 hostages held
by Hamas have been freed or rescued, of whom 24 are believed to still be alive.
In their letters, the protesters have stopped short of refusing to serve. And
the vast majority of the 10,000 soldiers who have signed are retired in any
case. Nonetheless, Poran said their decision to identify themselves as ex-pilots
was deliberate — given the respect among Israel’s Jewish majority for the
military, and especially for fighter pilots and other prestigious units. Tens of
thousands of academics, doctors, former ambassadors, students and high-tech
workers have signed similar letters of solidarity in recent days, also demanding
an end to the war. “We are aware of the relative importance and the weight of
the brand of Israeli Air Force pilots and felt that it is exactly the kind of
case where we should use this title in order to influence society,” said Poran.
Elusive war goals
The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out a surprise cross-border
attack, killing about 1,200 people in southern Israel and taking 251 others
hostage. Throughout the war, Netanyahu has set two major goals: destroying Hamas
and bringing home the hostages.
Israel’s offensive has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed more than
51,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who don't differentiate
between civilians and combatants. While Israel has come under heavy
international criticism over the devastation in Gaza, the domestic opposition to
the conflict reflects a widespread belief that Netanyahu’s war goals are not
realistic. Nearly 70% of Israelis now say bringing home the hostages is the most
important goal of the war, up from just over 50% in January 2024, according to a
study conducted by the Jerusalem think tank Israel Democracy Institute. Nearly
60% of respondents said Netanyahu’s two goals cannot be realized together. The
survey interviewed nearly 750 people and had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage
points. Netanyahu’s opponents have also accused him of resuming the war to
pander to his hardline coalition partners, who have threatened to topple the
government if he ends the fighting.
Steering clear of politics
Many people were surprised by the military’s snap decision to dismiss air force
reservists who signed the protest letter. The army, which is mandatory for most
Jewish men, has long served as a melting pot and unifying force among Israel’s
Jewish majority. Many key units rely heavily on reservists, who often to serve
well into their 40s. In a statement, the military said it should be “above all
political dispute.” As the protest movement has grown, a military official said
the army is taking the letters “very seriously.” He said it joins a list of
challenges to calling up reservists and that the army is working to support
them. A growing number of reservists have stopped reporting for duty, citing
exhaustion, family reasons, and the financial burden of missing work. “Any
civilian can have his opinions. The problems come when people use the army as a
tool promoting their opinions, whatever they may be,” the official said,
speaking on condition of anonymity under military guidelines.
The army’s dilemma
Eran Duvdevani, who organized a letter signed by 2,500 former paratroopers, told
the AP that the army faces a dilemma. “If it will keep on releasing from service
the pilots, what about all the others who signed the letters? Will they be
discharged from service as well?” he said. He said he organized the letter to
show “the pilots are not alone.” Their concern over the war’s direction “is a
widespread opinion, and you have to take it into consideration.” Although only a
few hundred of the signatories are still actively serving, the Israeli military
has been stretched by 18 months of fighting and isn’t in any position to be
turning away anyone from reserve duty. Many Israelis are also furious that as
reservists repeatedly get called up for action, the government continues to
grant military exemptions to Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox governing partners. The
number of Israelis continuing to report for reserve duty has dropped so low that
the military has taken to social media to try to recruit people to keep serving.
Protest letters illuminate widespread divisions
Eran Halperin, an expert in social psychology at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University,
called the letters “the most important indication of the erosion of the ethos in
this particular war.”
Though the war enjoyed widespread support at the outset, doubts have grown as so
many hostages continue to languish in captivity and the Israeli death toll
mounts. Nearly 850 soldiers have been killed since the war started. “It’s very,
very difficult to maintain and manage a war in such violent conflict when there
are such deep disagreements about the main questions pertaining to the war,”
Halperin said. In recent days, Netanyahu’s office has published a flurry of
messages touting meetings with families of the hostages, stressing he is doing
everything he can to hasten their return. On Tuesday, he and his defense
minister toured northern Gaza, where Netanyahu praised the “amazing reservists”
doing “marvelous work.”Netanyahu’s office released videos of him marching
through the sandy dunes surrounded by dozens of soldiers.“We are fighting for
our existence,” he said. “We are fighting for our future.”
Iraqi and Syrian Leaders
Meet in Qatar, Marking a Significant First Encounter
Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met on Thursday in Qatar with
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the first encounter between the two leaders,
Iraqi and Syrian state news agencies reported. The meeting was brokered by
Qatar, with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani present. It came ahead
of Sharaa's expected attendance at the Arab Summit in Baghdad on May 17. In
January, Sharaa was named as interim president and pledged to form an inclusive
transitional government that would build up Syria's gutted public institutions
and run the country until elections, which he said could take up to five years
to hold. Syria issued a constitutional declaration, designed to serve as the
foundation for the interim period led by Sharaa. The declaration kept a central
role for Islamic law and guaranteed women's rights and freedom of expression.
During Thursday's meeting, al-Sudani called for the beginning of a comprehensive
political process and the protection of social, religious, and national
diversity in Syria, especially after an attack on Alawites last month. The Iraqi
prime minister also stressed the importance of the new Syrian government taking
serious steps to combat ISIS militants. He said progress made on these issues
could help in building growing relations between Baghdad and Damascus. Both
leaders agreed to respect the sovereignty of the two countries and reject all
kinds of foreign interference.
Trump Administration Faces Pressure to Ease Sanctions on Syria
Washington: Ali Barada/Asharq Al Awsat/April 18/2025
US lawmakers have renewed pressure on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and
Treasury Secretary Scott Pruitt to provide answers on their plans to ease the
crippling economic sanctions on Syria. The move comes as the United States seeks
to influence the transitional process following the fall of President Bashar
al-Assad’s regime. Two weeks after their initial letter, US Senators Elizabeth
Warren, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs, and Representative Joe Wilson, Member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, sent a bipartisan follow-up letter to Rubio, urging the State
Department to provide details and a clear timeline on the Trump Administration’s
plans to revise US sanctions on Syria following the collapse of the Assad
regime.In their letter, they acknowledged the historic opportunity Syria faces
for rebuilding in the absence of Assad’s repressive regime. “We are writing to
request a follow-up briefing to discuss the specifics of the State Department’s
plans to update US sanctions on Syria. As noted by your response, we mutually
recognize Syria’s historic opportunity to rebuild in the absence of Assad’s
repressive rule,” wrote the lawmakers. The request follows a letter Warren and
Wilson sent to the Department of State last month, pressing the administration
to reevaluate outdated, broad-based sanctions that now risk undermining regional
stability and reconstruction. “Our current sanctions not only threaten Syria’s
economic and social stability but also risk spurring migration, worsening
dependency on illicit drug exports, and once again providing inroads for Iran or
Russia,” they also noted.
Palestinian president meets
Syrian leader in Damascus
AFP/April 18/2025
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas met Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in
Damascus on Friday, on his first visit to Syria in 16 years. According to a
Syrian government source, the pair were expected to discuss reinforcing ties
between Syria and the Palestinians, as well as the “threats” faced by both
parties. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), 560,000
Palestinians lived in Syria before the outbreak of civil war in 2011. Around
438,000 remain, 40 percent of whom were displaced during the war.Abbas last
visited in 2009, meeting with then-president Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in
December by an opposition-led group alliance headed by al-Sharaa. Abbas and al-Sharaa
met for the first time on the sidelines of an Arab summit in March aimed at
hammering out a plan for rebuilding the devastated Gaza Strip, where Palestinian
militant group Hamas has been at war with Israel since October 2023.
US to withdraw 600 troops from Syria, leaving fewer than
1,000 to help counter IS militants
Tara Copp/The Associated Press/April 18/2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will withdraw about 600 troops from Syria, leaving
fewer than 1,000 to work with Kurdish allies to counter the Islamic State group,
a U.S. official said Thursday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity
to discuss details not yet announced publicly. The U.S. troops have been
critical not only in the operations against the Islamic State but as a buffer
for the Kurdish forces against Turkey, which considers them to be aligned with
terror groups. President Donald Trump tried to withdraw all forces from Syria
during his first term, but he met opposition from the Pentagon because it was
seen as abandoning allies and led to the resignation of former Defense Secretary
Jim Mattis.
The departure of the 600 troops will return force levels to where they had been
for years, after the U.S. and its allies waged a multiyear campaign to defeat
IS. The U.S. had maintained about 900 troops in Syria to ensure that the IS
militants did not regain a foothold, but also as a hedge to prevent
Iranian-backed militants from trafficking weapons across southern Syria. The
number of U.S. troops was raised to more than 2,000 after the Oct. 7, 2023,
attacks by Hamas in Israel, as Iranian-backed militants targeted U.S. troops and
interests in the region in response to Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
Three U.S. troops in Jordan were killed by a drone fired by an Iranian-backed
militia in January 2024. In December 2024, Syrian President Bashar Assad fled
the country. In the months since, Syrians displaced by more than a decade of war
have returned home, but the country remains unstable. Israel has targeted Syrian
weapons installations, and there are some indications that the Islamic State
group is trying to reconstitute itself, and Iranian-backed militias in Syria
remain a threat to U.S. interests. The withdrawal of the 600 troops was first
reported by The New York Times.
Congress members pay an unofficial visit
to Damascus as US mulls sanctions relief
Omar Sanadiki And Abby
Sewell/AP)/April 18, 2025
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A pair of Republican Congress members were in the Syrian
capital Friday on an unofficial visit organized by a Syrian-American nonprofit,
the first by U.S. legislators since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar
Assad in December.
Also Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Syrian President Ahmad
al-Sharaa in his first visit since Assad’s fall and the beginning of the Syrian
uprising-turned-civil-war in 2011. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Rep. Cory
Mills of Florida visited the Damascus suburb of Jobar, the site of a historic
synagogue that was heavily damaged and looted in the civil war, and the
Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma, where they met with Christian religious
leader. They also were set to meet al-Sharaa and other government officials. The
Trump administration has yet to officially recognize the current Syrian
government, led by al-Sharaa, an Islamist former insurgent who led a lightning
offensive that toppled Assad. Washington has not yet lifted harsh sanctions that
were imposed during Assad’s rule. Mills, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, told The Associated Press that it was “very important to come here to
be able to see it for myself, to be with various governmental bodies, to look at
the needs of the Syrian people, to look at the needs for the nation for
stability.” Mills said he expected discussions with al-Sharaa to include the
issue of sanctions, as well as the government’s priorities and the need for the
transitional administration to move toward a “democratically elected society.”
“Ultimately, it’s going to be the president’s decision” to lift sanctions or
not, he said, although “Congress can advise.”The Congress members came at the
invitation of the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, a nonprofit
based in Indiana that describes its mission as fostering “a sustainable
political, economic, and social partnership between the people of Syria and the
United States.”Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat, the
only woman and only Christian serving in the transitional government, joined the
congressional team on a visit to Bab Touma, which she said was “very important”
to Syrians.
Palestinian leader visits as Israeli troops remain in Syria
The Palestinian official news agency Wafa said Abbas's visit was “to discuss
matters of mutual interest and regional developments,” without giving more
detail. Syria has a population of about 450,000 Palestinian refugees. The
Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus was once widely considered the capital of
the Palestinian diaspora before it was largely destroyed in the war. Palestinian
refugees in Syria have never been given citizenship, ostensibly to preserve
their right to go back to the homes they fled or were forced from during the
1948 creation of the state of Israel. But in contrast to neighboring Lebanon,
where Palestinians are banned from owning property or working in many
professions, in Syria, Palestinians historically had all the rights of citizens
except the right to vote and run for office. Syria does not have diplomatic
relations with Israel. While the new Syrian authorities have said publicly that
they are not interested in entering a conflict with Israel, the Israeli
government regards the Islamist former insurgents now in in power in Damascus
with suspicion. Israeli forces seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone inside Syria
after the rebels toppled Assad and have launched an extensive series of
airstrikes on military facilities in Syria. Israeli officials have said that
they will not allow the new Syrian military south of Damascus. Abbas’ arrival in
Damascus was delayed after Israeli authorities denied permission for a
helicopter to land in Ramallah that was supposed to arrive from Jordan to take
the Palestinian president, said a Palestinian official who spoke on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. Israeli officials
did not respond to a request for comment on the incident.
Career diplomat becomes the
face of Trump's 'America First' agenda at the UN
Farnoush Amiri/The Associated Press/April 18, 2025
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The highest-ranking U.S. representative now at the United
Nations told Congress two years ago that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was
“unprovoked" and “unjustified,” urging U.N. members to condemn Moscow’s
aggression and demand an end to the war. In February, it was the same career
diplomat, Dorothy Shea, who voiced the Trump administration's extraordinary
decision to split with European allies and refuse to back a U.N. resolution
blaming Russia for its invasion on the third anniversary of the war.
While it is typical for diplomats to stay on as U.S. presidents — and their
political parties — change, Shea's interim role has unexpectedly made her a face
of the stunning U.S. transition on the world stage, with President Donald
Trump's “America First” approach increasingly upending the post-World War II
international order.Shea will be in place longer than expected after Trump's
unusual decision last month to withdraw his nominee for U.N. ambassador, Rep.
Elise Stefanik, from consideration because of a slim Republican House majority.
“I would say (Shea’s) position is unique. It is probably particularly unique in
that because of the extraordinary change, not just from one administration to
another, but really an era of U.S. foreign policy, even when there were nuanced
differences," said Phillip Reeker, the former acting assistant secretary of
state for Europe. "The change in the vote that took place at the U.N. on the
Russia-Ukraine war was really an inflection point in U.S. policy.”
A UN vote changes US messaging on Ukraine
On Feb. 24, the U.S. joined Russia in voting against a European-backed Ukrainian
resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Moscow's forces. A dueling U.S.
resolution noted “the tragic loss of life” and called for “a swift end to the
conflict,” but it didn't mention Moscow’s aggression as the Trump administration
opened negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire. “Continuing to engage in
rhetorical rivalries in New York may make diplomats feel vindicated, but it will
not save souls on the battlefield,” Shea, 59, said at the time. “Let us prove to
ourselves and to our citizens that we can come together and agree on the most
basic principles. Let us show one another that the bold vision of peace that
once pulled us out of hell can prevail.” The message was a shocking retreat for
the U.S. in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, whose resolutions are not
legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. It also reinforced
the fears of some allies about what a second Trump presidency could mean for
longstanding transatlantic partnerships — and whether the U.S. could remain a
bulwark against aggressors like Russia. For Shea, it was another day at work.
She has spent the last 30-plus years serving as a diplomat under both Republican
and Democratic presidents — from Bill Clinton to Trump — carrying out their
policies even if they were a departure from longstanding U.S. positions. “I
don’t know what her personal views are on things. But administrations change,
policies change. And your job as a diplomat is to advocate for those policies,”
said a former colleague and deputy U.S. ambassador, Robert Wood, who recently
retired. The U.S. mission to the U.N. declined to comment. The State Department
did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The roots of a diplomat
Shea's work has included stints in South Africa, where she witnessed Nelson
Mandela become the first democratically elected president, and Israel, where she
worked on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Shea grew up in the suburbs of
Washington — her father a World War II veteran and her mother active in the
local Japanese American friendship society. The experience of Japanese exchange
students staying with her family over several summers and wanting to understand
world events propelled her into international relations at the University of
Virginia. After graduation, she scored a job offer with the U.S. Foreign
Service. She worked her way up and in 2019 was tapped to be Trump's ambassador
to Lebanon, where the soft-spoken diplomat made headlines for her criticism of
the Hezbollah militant group. A Lebanese judge banned local and foreign media
outlets from interviewing Shea for a year, saying her criticism of Hezbollah was
seditious and a threat to social peace.
In 2023, Biden nominated Shea to become No. 2 at the U.N.
The top US role at the UN — for now
It is unclear when Shea will hand off to a Senate-confirmed political appointee.
Stefanik went through a confirmation hearing, but her nomination was pulled last
month because her vote to advance Trump's agenda remains crucial to Republicans
in the House. The GOP congresswoman was the fourth Trump nominee not to make it
through the confirmation process. Trump has made no mention of whom he would
nominate to replace Stefanik and fill his last remaining Cabinet seat. Until
then, Shea is at the helm at a critical moment for U.S. foreign policy, selling
big changes to dealing with both allies and adversaries and defending the
administration's slashing of foreign assistance. The White House recently
proposed additional drastic cuts to the State Department, which would include
eliminating funding for nearly all international organizations, such as the U.N.
The proposal is highly preliminary but reflects the administration's
isolationist view, which, along with funding uncertainties, poses a major
challenge to the mandate and work of the U.N.
Trump Uses Easter Prayer
Service to Herald the Savior (Himself)
Leigh Kimmins/The Daily Beast/April 18, 2025
Easter is coming up, but President Donald Trump thinks the savior is already
here.
The president used an Easter prayer service in the White House’s Blue Room
Wednesday evening to roll off a list of his achievements, saying he has enjoyed
“maybe the best three months ever for a president.”“With God’s grace over these
past three months—and we have had a great three months; they say maybe the best
three months ever for a president and an administration,” Trump said. “We’ve
achieved more than most administrations do in four years or even eight years.”
Faith leaders from various Christian denominations attended the Easter Prayer
Service and Dinner, a part of a series of Holy Week events leading up to Easter
Sunday. Ignoring the stock market turmoil resulting from his “Liberation Day”
tariffs and side-stepping the furor over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful
deportation, Trump described his very personal connection to the Christian
holiday. “I think there’s a whole new spirit in our country,” Trump said. In a
customary dig at former president Joe Biden, Trump said the United States was
“not respected” abroad five to six months ago. But now that he’s in office,
things are on the right track. “I think November fifth did a lot to get that
respect, frankly,” he added. “I think it was a big day, I hope it’s going to go
down as one of the most important days in the history of our country.”Catering
to the audience of right-wing religious leaders, the president said he was
“proud” to have created a task force to fight “anti-Christian bias.”“You don’t
hear about that very much, but there is anti-Christian bias,” Trump said,
scanning the room for approval. Perhaps his biggest round of applause of the
night came when he told those gathered, “I banned men from women’s sports, seems
easy. And I signed an executive order making it official.”Just hours into his
first day of his second term, Trump signed an executive order decreeing that the
government would only recognize two sexes, male and female. “God created two
genders, male and female. That’s not too difficult!” he declared. Trump did
manage to talk about Easter at the Easter Prayer Breakfast. “This is really—I
hope—going to be one of the great Easters ever, because we have something going
that I don’t think this country has seen in 100 years," he said. “And as we
gather with family and friends, we’ll not forget the true source of our joy and
our strength: America has put our trust in God. It will always be ‘In God We
Trust.’ We will never change that.” The White House will host its annual Easter
Egg Roll on the South Lawn on Easter Monday. Tickets are traditionally given out
for free in a lottery, but Trump has put the event up for sale, offering
sponsorships of up to $200,000.
Vice President JD Vance visits Vatican after clashing with pope over immigration
policy
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY/April 18, 2025
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Rome on Good Friday with second lady Usha
Vance and their three children on the first leg of a six-day foreign trip that
includes discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a visit to
the Vatican. Vance, who is Catholic, will attend the Good Friday service on
April 18 at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican complex and stay on for Easter
in Rome. Meloni, who was in the White House just 24 hours earlier meeting
President Donald Trump, Vance and members of the cabinet, joked that she “was
really missing him” as Vance arrived for a bilateral meeting at Palazzo Chigi,
Meloni’s office complex. “I'm proud that you decided to pass the Easter here in
Rome, and we really hope you enjoy this time,” Meloni said, adding that she had
a “wonderful meeting” in Washington discussing various topics. The leaders held
a private meeting, and Vance told reporters he would provide updates on the war
between Ukraine and Russia, among other topics.“We do feel optimistic that we
can hopefully bring this brutal war to a close,” Vance said. While Vance is
visiting the Vatican, no meeting with Pope Francis has been announced. The
88-year-old Bishop of Rome is recovering from a recent battle with
life-threatening pneumonia. The pontiff has been critical of the Trump
administration’s mass deportation of migrants and has disputed Vance’s
interpretation of theology. Vance, who was baptized Catholic in 2019, invoked
that Christian concept of “ordo amoris,” or "rightly ordered love," during a
television interview in January to defend the deportations of migrants. "You
love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your
community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, and then
after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world,” Vance said
during the interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. In a letter to U.S. bishops on
Feb. 10, the pope appeared to be criticizing Vance, writing: "Christian love is
not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other
persons and groups," he wrote, saying instead it is a “love that builds a
fraternity open to all, without exception." On Feb. 28, Vance led a prayer for
the pope during the 20th National Catholic Prayer Breakfast as the pontiff
battled pneumonia. Vance addressed the pontiff's criticism, saying: “We are not
called as Christians to obsess over every social-media controversy that
implicates the Catholic church, whether it involves the clergy, a bishop or the
Holy Father himself.” Vance will arrive in India on April 21 for the second part
of his trip.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on April 18-19/2025
Trump's Anti-Israel Officials Sabotaging His
Efforts to Disarm Iran
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/April 18, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142451/
The appointment, however, of several officials to key national security
positions in the Trump administration, who vehemently oppose direct military
action against Iran, has raised concerns that the White House might be backing
away from its commitment to eliminate the threat Iran poses to global security.
In particular, these concerns relate to the recent appointments to the Pentagon
of influential figures such as John Byers for Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense (South and South-East Asia), and Michael DiMino, a former career CIA
military analyst and counterterrorism official, for Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense (Middle East).
Similarly, concerns have arisen that DiMino will be able to use his position as
the Pentagon's new chief Middle East policy adviser to advance an anti-Israel
stance while questioning the Trump administration's confrontational stance
towards Iran.
As with Byers, DiMino was previously linked to the libertarian Koch brothers,
having held tenure as a fellow at the Washington think tank Defense Priorities,
which is funded by the Koch team.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently downgraded Trump's professed demands by
asking Iran just to lower uranium enrichment -- a statement he quickly had to
walk back. Iran has already stated that it could move its stockpiles of highly
enriched uranium to "safe and undisclosed locations," presumably for use at a
later time. Russia, in an apparent burst of generosity, has offered to host the
enriched uranium. How kind of them!
While Trump keeps offering perfect negotiating parameters, such as, "All
hostages must be released by Saturday or all hell will break out," or, "Iran
issue is easy to solve, they cannot obtain nuclear weapons," his statements
always seem to be instantly undermined.
While President Donald Trump keeps offering perfect negotiating parameters, such
as, "the Iran issue is easy to solve, they cannot obtain nuclear weapons," his
statements always seem to be instantly undermined by officials in his
administration. If this continues, the growing band of isolationists, both media
personalities such as Tucker Carlson and people who occupy senior positions in
the Trump administration, will have won the policy battle -- a victory that will
seriously imperil the US and the wider world.
Fears that the Trump administration is back-tracking on its declared policy of
seeking to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme have deepened following the
appointment of several officials to key national security positions who are
reportedly opposed to launching military action against Tehran.
Following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in
Washington earlier this month, US President Donald Trump was explicit about his
determination to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren't successful, I
actually think it'll be a very bad day for Iran," Trump told reporters after
meeting with Netanyahu.
Trump even suggested that Israel could be the "leader" for any future military
action against Iran if the ayatollahs refused to give up its nuclear weapons
programme.
"If it requires military, we're going to have military," Trump said. "Israel
will obviously be very much involved in that. They'll be the leader of that. But
nobody leads us, but we do what we want to do."
Prior to the commencement last weekend of talks between US and Iranian officials
in the Gulf state of Oman over Tehran's nuclear programme, several key members
of the Trump administration -- including the president himself -- further warned
that they had no intention of allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.Trump's
uncompromising stance on Iran's nuclear aspirations has been echoed by other
senior members of his administration. White House National Security Adviser Mike
Waltz stated unequivocally last month that the ultimate objective of the talks
in Oman is the "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear programme. "Iran has to
give up its program in a way that the entire world can see.... It is time for
Iran to walk away completely from its desire to have a nuclear weapon, and they
will not and cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapons program. That's
enrichment, that is weaponization, and its strategic missiles program."The
appointment, however, of several officials to key national security positions in
the Trump administration, who vehemently oppose direct military action against
Iran, has raised concerns that the White House might be backing away from its
commitment to eliminate the threat Iran poses to global security. In particular,
these concerns relate to the recent appointments to the Pentagon of influential
figures such as John Byers for Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (South and
South-East Asia), and Michael DiMino, a former career CIA military analyst and
counterterrorism official, for Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Middle
East). Both Byers and DiMino have reputations for opposing direct military
action against hostile states, preferring instead to pursue other, less
confrontational options.
According to Jimmy Quinn, the national security correspondent for National
Review: "Byers, a longtime history professor who oversaw the Charles Koch
philanthropic network's grants promoting libertarian foreign policy stances at
universities... is a self-described proponent of foreign policy "restraint" — a
term popularized by Koch-backed philanthropies that describes a particular
variety of foreign policy retrenchment."
While Byers' main focus is on China, where he claimed in a recent article for
American Conservative that disagreements between the US and China were primarily
caused by misperception, his position means that he will inevitably be able to
bring his influence to bear regarding other hostile states, such as Iran.
Similarly, concerns have arisen that DiMino will be able to use his position as
the Pentagon's new chief Middle East policy adviser to advance an anti-Israel
stance while questioning the Trump administration's confrontational stance
towards Iran.
As with Byers, DiMino was previously linked to the libertarian Koch brothers,
having held tenure as a fellow at the Washington think tank Defense Priorities,
which is funded by the Koch team.
Having urged the Biden administration to "pressure" Israel to deliver more aid
to Gaza, DiMino has argued that the US has "no vital or existential" interests
in the Middle East, and instead advocates a policy of "offshore balancing" that
would enable the Pentagon to withdraw US forces from Iraq and Syria --
regardless of what adversaries might be delighted to fill the vacuum.
DiMino's opposition to taking direct military action against hostile states such
as Iran was clearly evident during his participation in a recent webinar, when
he insisted that Washington's main interests in the region were acquiring
natural resources and countering terrorism, while downplaying the threat posed
by Iran.
"We're really there to counter Iran, and that's really at the behest of the
Israelis and the Saudis," he said, of the U.S. troop presence in Iraq and Syria.
Instead of taking direct action against Iran, DiMino argues in favour of
pursuing a policy of "offshore balancing." Rather than relying on the US
military to fulfil the role of the world's policeman, other powers are urged to
take responsibility for maintaining regional balances of power and addressing
local issues. Critics argue that such a policy, if applied to Iran and its
nuclear ambitions, would amount to little more than pursuing a policy of
appeasement towards the ayatollahs, as well as an agreement waiting to be
violated.
"I'm absolutely in favor of getting closer to a point of offshore balancing,
reducing US security commitments in the region," DiMino said. "Removing troops
is a way to do that."
The highly influential positions held in the Trump administration by officials
such as Byers and DiMino, together with other senior officials with links to the
isolationist, anti-military military agenda supported by the Koch brothers,
Tucker Carlson and prominent Republicans such as Senator Rand Paul, have now
raised significant questions about the Trump administration's commitment to
requiring Iran to dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes
completely.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently downgraded Trump's professed demands by
asking Iran just to lower uranium enrichment -- a statement he quickly had to
walk back. Iran has already stated that it could move its stockpiles of highly
enriched uranium to "safe and undisclosed locations," presumably for use at a
later time. Russia, in an apparent burst of generosity, has offered to host the
enriched uranium. How kind of them!
Iran has, unsurprisingly, also protested that it has a non-negotiable right to
enrich uranium. The regime will also doubtless protest that it needs at least
some centrifuges to enrich low-grade uranium for peaceful nuclear energy – an
excuse that worked with President Barack Obama -- and then continue enriching
uranium at unknown locations until it achieves nuclear weapons breakout.
The prominent positions that these advisers, official and unofficial, hold in
the Trump administration, moreover, is all the more surprising given that many
of them, such as Sen. Paul, actively opposed Trump during the presidential
election campaign.
Consequently, while Trump himself insists that military action remains an option
if there is not sufficient progress in the talks with Iran, which are due to
resume in Rome at the weekend, there are already suggestions that Trump is not
serious about demanding that Iran totally dismantle its nuclear and ballistic
missile programmes. Instead, the administration appears to be shifting its
position to one where the focus is on preventing Iran from developing its
nuclear activities to the point where it can produce weapons -- an objective not
so different from the dangerously flawed JCPOA nuclear deal that the Obama
administration negotiated with the ayatollahs back in 2015. In addition, just as
happened with the JCPOA, there are indications that Witkoff is focusing only on
the nuclear issue, and not also on broader concerns such as Iran's ballistic
missile programme and support for regional terror groups. Iran produces short,
medium, and long-range missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBMs). Iran has already launched hundreds into Israel, and can reach the
entire Middle East and Europe.
Witkoff, who already admitted, "Maybe it was me getting duped by Hamas," when
the terrorist group seemed to have agreed to a ceasefire deal which it later
denied, still seems to be causing Trump unintentional embarrassment. Witkoff
stated this week that Iran might be allowed to enrich uranium to 3.7%, then
quickly had to walk it back.
If a seasoned national security negotiator is not appointed soon for discussions
with Iran (and Russia), the Trump administration's claims that it wants to
dismantle Iran's nuclear programme may prove to have been nothing but an empty
threat, exposing Trump to international humiliation.
While Trump keeps offering perfect negotiating parameters, such as, "All
hostages must be released by Saturday or all hell will break out," or, "the Iran
issue is easy to solve, they cannot obtain nuclear weapons," his statements
always seem to be instantly undermined by officials in his administration.
Additionally, the growing band of isolationists, both media personalities such
as Tucker Carlson and people who occupy senior positions in the Trump
administration, will have won the policy battle -- a victory that will seriously
imperil the US and the wider world.
**Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a
Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Will U.S. Forces Leave Syria
for Good in 2025?
Seth Frantzman/19FortyFive/April 18, 2025
U.S. forces in Syria continue to support their partners in the war against ISIS.
This is part of a mission that dates back to 2015, when the U.S. first became
involved in Syria. However, recent reports point to an increasing likelihood
that the U.S. role in Syria may end within months. US forces appear to be
withdrawing from several posts near the Euphrates river, according to local
reports. ISIS was largely defeated in Syria and Iraq in 2019, and what remains
is mostly small cells in the desert. . As a new transitional Syrian government
takes shape and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agree to
integrate within the new security forces of Damascus, U.S. support may be less
necessary. The U.S.-backed SDF controls around a third of Syria—primarily the
part of the country east of the Euphrates. U.S. forces support the SDF as part
of the U.S.-led Coalition against ISIS and Combined Joint Task Force Inherent
Resolve. U.S. forces are also located in Tanf Garrison, a small post in Syria
near the Iraqi and Jordanian border. This isolated post is used to back the
Syrian Free Army, a small group of former Syrian rebels who are now helping
support Damascus in securing areas of the desert between Tanf and Palmyra. This
is a strategic area. Even though it is located in the desert, it sits near key
roads that link Iraq with Syria. These roads were previously used by
Iranian-backed militias to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah.
Creating Stability in Syria
Operation Inherent Resolve has been highlighting work at Tanf these days,
including mine clearance operations and training. Elements of the 10th Mountain
Division are at Tanf. On April 11 the Americans trained with their Syrian
partners to practice firing mortars. Meanwhile, in eastern Syria, the Combined
Special Ops Joint Task Force-Levant continues to back the SDF in countering
ISIS. Across the border in Iraq, the same American unit is backing Iraqi forces
who perform similar missions.
The broader work of the Coalition in Syria has been to help create stability as
the new government in Damascus seeks an agreement with the SDF. U.S. forces –
there have been up to 2,000 troops in eastern Syria – helped train the SDF into
a powerful fighting force. With tens of thousands of men and women under arms,
the SDF has made eastern Syria safer and more secure. However, it has always
suffered from a lack of resources, as eastern Syria is not only poor, but also
cut off from most of the world. This is one of the contradictions of American
policy in Syria: The anti-ISIS campaign was primarily a military-first policy.
This meant it included no component of what might once have been called
“nation-building.” The operation was about purely working “by, with and through”
the SDF, and U.S. involvement was characterized as temporary, transactional, and
tactical. Now, it is also likely to be transitional.
Allaying Concerns
The SDF always knew the day would come when the U.S. would leave. The first
Trump administration sought to leave Syria, but U.S. forces remained, despite
some changes on the ground due to a Turkish invasion in 2019. The SDF clashed
with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, a group of Syrian rebels that
Ankara turned to as a proxy. When the Assad regime fell on Dec. 8, 2024, the SDF
and SNA used the opportunity to expand their areas of influence in Syria,
increasing the clashes that occurred between the two groups. Now the U.S.
appears to have offered a way to reduce these tensions. On March 10, SDF
commander Mazloum Abdi flew to Damascus and signed an agreement with the new
transitional president in Damascus, Ahmed al-Shara’a.
On April 12, that agreement appeared to bear its first fruits. With U.S.
support, the SDF and Damascus appear to have agreed to a handover of the
strategic Tishreen Dam on the Euphrates. The SDF had controlled the dam, but now
the new Syrian government will take over. If the handover goes well, it will
help build confidence about integrating more SDF-held areas to Damascus’
control. In addition, SDF-aligned units in Aleppo handed over a Kurdish
neighborhood to government control. This matters because the SDF is based
largely around Kurdish fighters from eastern Syria. If Kurds feel secure in
Aleppo, then the sense of concern in eastern Syria may shift.
The concerns are legitimate. The government in Damascus is dominated by former
members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group Shara’a ran for many years during the
Syrian civil war. Shara’a was viewed as a terrorist by the U.S. during the war,
and views in Washington have only shifted now that he is in power. Not everyone
agrees with the change in perception. Some Israeli officials continue to
characterize Shara’a as a potential threat. However, the rest of the region is
embracing Damascus. Shara’a recently travelled to Turkey, the United Arab
Emirates, and Qatar.
A Successful American Mission
The Syrian president’s travels illustrate how he is making inroads in countries
with very different Syria policies. For instance, Turkey and Qatar were more
cold toward the Assad regime than the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or Egypt were over the
last several years. Turkey often criticized the U.S. role in eastern Syria. Even
though Turkey is a member of NATO, and thus a U.S. ally, it was displeased by
the U.S. backing of the SDF, believing that group was linked to the Kurdistan
Workers Party. Ankara wanted the SDF swept aside, rather than cemented in power.
The outlook may be changing from Ankara, and this could enable the U.S. to leave
eastern Syria, confident that Turkey will not invade anew. If the SDF integrates
into the new Syrian Ministry of Defense forces, then Ankara may feel less
threatened. In addition, Turkey could finally wrap up its own role in northern
Syria, where it backs the SNA. Rumors have swirled about a U.S. withdrawal from
Syria for years. Reports from NBC in February said the U.S. was drafting plans
to leave, and a report on Israel’s Ynet on April 15 said the withdrawal would be
a phased drawdown. This redeployment of US forces now appears to be in its first
stage. That would make sense, because a phased withdrawal could be reversed if
Damascus does not adhere to agreements with the SDF. It would also prevent ISIS
or other groups from attempting to fill any vacuum left by U.S. forces. This is
important in Tanf, and also the desert areas along the Euphrates. ISIS thrived
in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, recruiting from tribes in this area.
Later, Iranian-backed militias entered the same area on the western bank of the
Euphrates. Now the Syrian government controls the area the militias withdrew
from. However, the Iranian-backed militias continue to be active across the
border in Iraq, and they view the new government in Damascus with suspicion.
U.S. forces in eastern Syria, under U.S. Central Command, have played a key role
in the area for a decade. This was a successful mission that America can be
proud of. Paving the way for a transition to stability will be an important
symbol of success. Winning the peace is as important as winning the war. This
will mean making sure that ISIS remains defeated, and also dealing with the ISIS
detainees still held in eastern Syria. It also means standing by the SDF and
Syrian Free Army partners. An orderly drawdown of U.S. forces, one that allows
U.S. partners to feel secure, will strengthen American influence in the region.
**About the Author: Seth Frantzman
*Seth Frantzman is the author of The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security
in Gaza (2024) and an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of
Democracies. He is a Senior Middle East Analyst for The Jerusalem Post. Seth is
now a 19FortyFive Contributing Editor.
Lebanon and the ‘Arms Test’
Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al Awsat/April
18/2025
Between Aoun's insistence on the state monopolizing arms and Hezbollah reverting
back to its position on maintaining its arms, reproducing its previous taboos
and reiterating the notorious threat “to cut off the hand that reaches for the
weapons,” Lebanon (its state, people, sectarian and political parties) face two
opposing challenges. Indeed, the state seeks to align itself with a new regional
order and strictly enforce its political and strategic rules, particularly those
concerning the state’s monopoly on “the means of violence.” On the other hand,
political and sectarian forces that had long relied on their outsized power and
foreign backing to place themselves “above the state” are seeking to preserve
their privileges. Hezbollah was the most extreme model of these ideological
armed groups, both within Lebanon and beyond, in terms of its role and
influence. However the party has suffered a military, strategic, and social blow
that has recalibrated the domestic balance of power in Lebanon, as seen in the
terms of the ceasefire with Israel following the “support war.”
Nonetheless, Hezbollah seeks to liberate itself from previous commitments and
has begun linking its future to the negotiations in Muscat between Washington
and Tehran, which will determine how much regional influence the latter retain
as it trades proxies’ arms for shares of influence, for itself or subordinates
who fall into its sphere of influence, wherever they may be. In this sense, the
Lebanese question could be considered ground zero for an Iranian-American
understanding.
In fact, Lebanon, as a state and society, is dealing with two opposing camps.
The first considers confining arms to the state a national responsibility needed
to spare Lebanon as a whole, not just those who insist on holding onto the
weapons, potentially exorbitant costs. The second camp, however, refuses to
separate “arms from ideology;” it sees its arsenal as the only safeguard of a
particular sectarian or ideological group. It has even begun tying its arsenal
to mystical beliefs; one of Hezbollah’s intellectuals, for instance, has said
that the party’s weapons would be maintained until the reappearance of the Mahdi.
Since the “support war,” Hezbollah has prioritized safeguarding two things: its
support base and what remains of its arms. It is trying to weave sharp domestic
discourse that links the two and frames them as mutually dependent. This
discourse seeks to remilitarize the ideological identity of its base, which has
shaped the ideological identity of the Shiite sect as a whole, allowing
Hezbollah to draw a line around both its weapons and its domestic role.
In the Southern conscience, these weapons are the “weapons of resistance” that
liberated their land, deterred the enemy, and “pushed fear from South Lebanon to
the North (i.e., occupied Palestine).” As a result, defending Hezbollah’s
arsenal became synonymous with defending this resistance, and defending
Hezbollah became defending the sect... However, that changed when the deterrence
assumption collapsed after the support war. Fear returned to the South and
beyond, and extreme military power turned into extreme suffering; most Shiites
found themselves trapped in a harsher dilemma amid “fear for the weapons” and
“fear of the weapons.”The questions that have imposed themselves after the
“support war,” then, are the following. Has Hezbollah failed the test of arms,
disappointing its own base, sect, and supporters first and foremost, and the
rest of the Lebanese, whether opponents or critics, second? Has this conflict
proved that its deterrence or “balance of terror” vis-à-vis the enemy had been
an illusion? For decades, Hezbollah and its propaganda machine had constantly
boasted of “keeping the enemy on its toes” for years, but that same enemy is
pressing forward with its assault: from South Lebanon to the northern Bekaa,
passing through Beirut’s southern suburbs, with nothing standing in its way.
Caught between “fear for the weapons” and “fear of the weapons,” the party, as
well as its community, sect, and supporters, are in turmoil following their loss
of dominance. No one has the power to deter Israel’s hubris and crimes. Survival
is not enough to declare victory, and the narrative that Israel failed in its
ground incursion does not restore deterrence. Accordingly, in Hezbollah’s
current discourse and new narratives, there are early attempts to once again tie
the sect to its position, its strength, and “the arsenal.” This effort is the
gravest threat facing the push to rebuild the state, and it is just as dangerous
to the Shiite sect itself, whose role, partnership, and weight are being
presented as determined solely by this question. Meanwhile, these weapons now
seem to be facing a difficult test whose costs might be even more difficult.
Trump’s Trillions and Palestine
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al
Awsat/April 18/2025
Some are preempting US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to Saudi Arabia
and the Gulf next month by discussing the promised three trillion dollars,
suggesting it should be conditional upon achieving political deals – ranging
from Gaza to a Palestinian state, to Yemen and Iran.
First, these are business deals, including civil, military, and investment
projects – not political trade-offs. If the Palestinian cause could be measured
in dollars and what’s been spent on it, it would be the most expensive cause in
history. And if the two-state solution could be bought for a billion – or even a
trillion – dollars, it would have happened long ago. We’d paid the price
already. Political demands and commercial deals don’t always align.
In terms of expenses and losses, sadly, the billions spent directly on the
Palestinian cause since the 1960s until now are beyond imagination. They’ve
yielded no tangible political or practical benefit for its people. The spending
has continued since the 1967 and 1973 wars, through the ongoing financial
support of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah, and Hamas – alongside arms
purchases by Arab states confronting Israel. Add to that the losses suffered by
Lebanon and Syria, their infrastructure, and the damage to investment, tourism,
agriculture, and industry during Hezbollah and Hamas’s confrontations with
Israel over the past thirty years... Those costs are in the trillions – far
exceeding what Trump is expected to receive in Gulf deals in exchange for
economic initiatives to be implemented in the coming years. The promised three
trillion dollars are intended to serve Gulf states, whose priority – like every
other country in the world – is their own citizens, not the Palestinian cause or
others. Their goal is to advance their economic infrastructure and complete
their development programs.
Look at Iran – since 1980 until today, it has spent its citizens’ money on
battles and wars in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and Yemen, and it funds networks
spread across the globe. Yet after all these years, it hasn’t liberated a single
inch of Palestine, nor has it been able to hold on to what it built or invested
in Lebanon and elsewhere. Just imagine how much Iran has spent on these foreign
operations over 40 years. The amounts must be astronomical. And if we add to
that the toll of sanctions and missed economic opportunities, the figure would
easily surpass a trillion dollars – all wasted, only bringing misery to the
Iranian people.
Meanwhile, if you look at the promised trillion-dollar deals between the Gulf
states and Trump, they are indeed massive. But the bulk of this spending – or
most of it – is in return for large-scale projects that offer significant and
meaningful returns for the future of these countries. Part of it also includes
profitable investments in US markets.
Trump isn’t unique in pushing for deals that benefit his country – everyone does
it. But he does it with more noise and showmanship. Like Washington, world
governments – China, Japan, the European Union, and other major industrialized
nations – strengthen commercial relations with friendly countries. What’s
different about the Trump administration is its directness and transparency,
even with partners like the Europeans, Japanese, and South Koreans. He
constantly criticizes them, arguing that their trade exchanges are unfair in
terms of trade balance and their commitments to joint alliances such as NATO, or
their shares in defense agreements.
Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the United States is strategic and reciprocal –
it’s over 80 years old. It has always benefited the region in general,
especially when its people are willing to listen and cooperate. And the promised
trillion is not a handout – it will be spent over the coming years on major
projects currently under negotiation, including nuclear energy use, liquefied
gas exports, and domestic military manufacturing in the Kingdom.