English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 26/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Jesus Appears to His Disciples/Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20/19-23/On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 25-26/2025
Text and Video: The Anniversary of the Syrian Army's Withdrawal from Lebanon Is Marked by Defeat and Disappointment/Elias Bejjani/April 26/2025
Anniversary Of The Massacres Committed By The Ottoman Empire Against The Armenian People—Alongside Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, & Greeks/Elias Bejjani/April 24, 2025
World Council of the Cedar Revolution: Urgent Warning to Lebanese Expatriates – Military Court is waiting for you at at Beirut Airport
Former Lebanese PM Diab questioned over Beirut port blast
Aoun says 'diplomacy is only solution' for the South
President Aoun says Lebanon remains a beacon of values after Pope Francis tribute
Berri: We will not hand over weapons now
Why has Hezbollah escalated its rhetoric on arms?
Lebanese army tightens border security after crossfire with Syria over smuggling dispute
Lebanon gets $250 million World Bank loan to ease electricity crisis
Drone wounds 8 in Lebanon after exchange of shelling on Syria border
Banking secrecy amendment boosts Lebanon’s reform credibility — will donors see it as real change?
Beirut municipal election saga: Sectarian tensions flare in Lebanon’s parliament ahead of vote

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 25-26/2025
Negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program return to secluded Oman
Iran FM Araghchi in Oman ahead of nuclear talks with US
US lists demands at UN as Syria seeks sanctions relief
New Syrian foreign minister attends UN Security Council in first US appearance since Assad's fall
US visit by far-right Israeli minister draws tense protests and 'big fissures' in Jewish community
Rescuers say death toll from Israeli strike on north Gaza home rises to 23
In reverse of a longtime stance, US says UN Palestinian refugee agency isn't immune from lawsuits
While the world watches Gaza, here is what’s happening in the West Bank
UN food agency says its food stocks in Gaza have run out under Israel's blockade
Houthi rebels have shot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks
African leaders call for more peacekeepers for Somalia to defend against al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab
World Bank is not an American bank, German development minister says
A Russian general was killed by a car bomb just outside Moscow

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on April 25-26/2025
China Helping the Houthis Attack U.S. Navy Vessels/Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/April 25, 2025
Question: “Can I really do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13)?”/GotQuestions.org/April 25, 2025
Muslim Brotherhood branch in Egypt threatens Jordanian state/Ahmad Sharawi/ FDD's Long War Journal/April 25/2025
Jordan Drops the Hammer on the Muslim Brotherhood/Ahmad Sharawi/FDD/April 25/2025
Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood ban a turning point/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/April 25, 2025
Ankara aims to strengthen ties with Cairo through NATO/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/April 25, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 25-26/2025
Text and Video: The Anniversary of the Syrian Army's Withdrawal from Lebanon Is Marked by Defeat and Disappointment
Elias Bejjani/April 26/2025
April 26, 2005, is not merely a date to remember—it marks the end of a long and painful chapter that began in 1976, when the Syrian army entered Lebanon and began suppressing the free will of the Lebanese people.
Today, the Lebanese commemorate the withdrawal of the Assad regime’s brutal army from their homeland—a retreat marked by humiliation, defeat, and disgrace. This historic exit was the result of persistent, peaceful, and honorable pressure by the Lebanese people of the Cedar Revolution, backed by international and regional support. However, the vacuum left by the Syrian occupation was swiftly filled by the Iranian army’s proxy—Hezbollah, a terrorist, sectarian militia that now occupies Lebanon, strips it of its sovereignty, and suppresses its free citizens and their independent leaders.
The key difference between these two brutal occupations lies in their form: the Syrian Ba’athist occupation was carried out by a foreign force supported by traitorous Lebanese factions. That regime has now collapsed, its atrocities—including those against its own people—fully exposed. In contrast, the Iranian occupation continues through Hezbollah—an armed gang composed of our own people from the Shiites community, who have been misled and manipulated. Their decisions, allegiance, funding, arms, culture, and ideological direction are entirely dictated by Iran’s clerical regime. Since 1982, this regime has worked tirelessly to dismantle the Lebanese state and replace it with a theocracy governed by the concept of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist).
Despite countless international, Arab, and regional resolutions—and despite almost daily, devastating Israeli strikes—Hezbollah remains in a state of arrogant denial. It refuses to acknowledge the defeat reflected in the ceasefire agreement and continues its threats and provocations. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s new leadership—its president and cabinet—remain hesitant and submissive, appeasing Hezbollah instead of taking a firm stand to set a clear timeline for disarmament or to impose it by force. Hezbollah’s weapons are not pointed at Israel—they are aimed at the Lebanese people.
Therefore, the Iranian occupation, executed through the treacherous, criminal, jihadist, and Persian-backed Hezbollah, is far more dangerous than the previous Syrian Assad occupation. Hezbollah was crushed in its confrontation with Israel, and the myth of its so-called resistance has been shattered. For this reason, every patriotic Lebanese citizen who believes in a Lebanon of peace, coexistence, and sovereign purpose must rise against this occupation. They must reject and expose every official, politician, or religious leader who enables its survival.
Ultimately, evil can never triumph over good. Lebanon represents goodness, while the Iranian jihadist occupation embodies evil. And because of that truth, Lebanon will prevail—no matter how long the struggle takes. All occupying forces will eventually suffer defeat, disgrace, and destruction.
Yet even more dangerous to Lebanon's identity, culture, and future than foreign occupations are the shameful, narcissistic behaviors of many current and former Lebanese politicians, clerics, and officials. Their hatred and envy resemble that of Lucifer—the fallen angel cast out of heaven for defying the greatness of God. These figures have similarly fallen, betraying Lebanon for personal gain and power.
Yes, the Syrian army withdrew on April 26, 2005. But its domestic mercenaries remain—especially Hezbollah, along with the toxic remnants of radical leftist groups, Arab nationalists tainted by Nasserism, and frauds who continue to deceive the public with empty slogans of resistance and liberation. These forces, blinded by primitive instincts, hatred, and ignorance, are the true enemies of Lebanon. They cloak themselves in hypocrisy and lies, peddling slogans about “resistance,” “defiance,” and “throwing Jews into the sea,” all while functioning as Trojan horses undermining Lebanon from within. With malice, corruption, and violence, they actively sabotage efforts to restore sovereignty and freedom—resorting to assassinations, invasions, terrorism, and mafia-like intimidation.
Lebanon, with its divine message, ancient civilization, and sacred identity, has endured for over 7,000 years. It is a flame that burns the hands of those who try to destroy it. And in time, it will always rise up to crush those who insult its dignity, freedom, and people.
On this solemn and truly national day, let us bow our heads in prayer for the souls of our martyrs, for the return of our heroic, honorable refugees living in exile in Israel, and for those still forcibly disappeared in the Assad regime’s criminal prisons.
In the end, sacred Lebanon will endure—despite hardship and suffering—because angels guard it, and because the Virgin Mother intercedes lovingly on its behalf. Just as the Syrian occupation fell, so too will the Iranian one—whether sooner or later, by God’s will.

Anniversary  Of The Massacres Committed By The Ottoman Empire Against The Armenian People—Alongside Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, & Greeks
Elias Bejjani/April 24, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/129151/
On this day each year, the human conscience stands before one of the most horrific crimes in modern history: the massacres committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people—alongside the Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, and Greeks. A crime that does not expire with time, that cannot be justified by any context, and that history will never forgive.
More than a century ago, in 1915, the Ottoman killing machine launched a systematic, brutal campaign of religious and ethnic extermination. One and a half million innocent Armenians—children, women, elderly, and men—were slaughtered, starved, displaced, and dragged across death marches, simply because they were Armenian, because they were Christian. It was not a war—it was a full-scale ethnic cleansing project, comparable in scale to the Holocaust, and perhaps even more barbaric in execution.
Yet despite the catastrophe, the Armenian people did not perish. Their spirit was not broken. Their faith did not falter. Rising from the ashes of genocide, they spread across the globe like a phoenix, carrying with them their message, their culture, their Christian faith, and their sacred history. From this sorrow, from this blood, emerged a vibrant Armenian diaspora—resilient, proud, and brilliant.
As a Lebanese Maronite Christian, I do not merely sympathize with the Armenian people—I share their pain, I stand by their just cause, and I am united with them in faith, in values, and in the belief in Christ the Redeemer. I am also proud that my homeland, Lebanon, is home to a strong and dignified Armenian community that has contributed immensely to the survival and defense of our nation.
The massacres committed by the Ottomans against the Armenians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Maronites, and other Christians of the East are not merely events of the past—they remain an open wound in the conscience of humanity. A wound that deepens with every official Turkish denial, every international silence, and every attempt to falsify or erase history.
The time has come to end political appeasement at the expense of historical justice. The international community, human rights organizations, religious institutions, and global cultural bodies must speak out boldly and without hesitation. Recognizing the Armenian Genocide is not only a duty toward the victims—it is a moral responsibility toward future generations and toward the values humanity claims to uphold.
There can be no true peace without justice, no genuine reconciliation without truth. Turkey, the legal heir of the Ottoman Empire, must assume full ethical, legal, and humanitarian responsibility by officially acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and taking meaningful steps toward reparation—just as Germany did in the case of the Holocaust.
A heartfelt salute to the Armenian people—resilient and faithful—who gave the world the first Christian kingdom in history, and who continue to inspire with their saints, martyrs, thinkers, and creators. A tribute to the innocent souls of the Armenians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Maronites, and Syriacs who were slaughtered for their faith and identity, yet never surrendered their dignity or their cross.
And in the end, let us say this with unwavering conviction: Those who escape the justice of man will never escape the justice of God. Innocent blood does not vanish. Truth never dies. And though justice may be delayed, it never disappears. Glory to the martyrs, eternal memory to their cause, and light to the truth.

World Council of the Cedar Revolution: Urgent Warning to Lebanese Expatriates – Military Court is waiting for you at at Beirut Airport
Al Markazia – April 25, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142705/
The World Council of the Cedar Revolution issued a statement warning all free Lebanese around the world who are considering a visit to their homeland to exercise extreme caution. Despite the recent election of a new president and the formation of a new government, the belief that Lebanon has fully returned to normalcy may be premature.
The statement cautioned: “Although many hope that the era of oppression—marked by the use of the military court and other institutions to support Hezbollah and its sponsors—is behind us, troubling signs remain. The previous period was defined by repression of free speech, silencing of dissent, intimidation, accusations of treason, and arbitrary arrests, including the confiscation of passports and mobile devices. This warning is especially relevant now, as some Lebanese citizens have expressed, via social media, their desire for Lebanon to join regional peace efforts—only to provoke retaliation from the repressive apparatus loyal to Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. In response, judicial orders have reportedly been issued to target these patriotic voices, further curtailing freedoms and deterring anyone from advocating for change.”
The statement continued: “The World Council of the Cedar Revolution calls on the new government—one that has presented itself as committed to reform and restoring Lebanon’s image as a free and just nation for both residents and expatriates—to translate its promises into action. It must immediately rein in the military court and prevent it from encroaching on civilian affairs. The current environment resembles the darkest days of totalitarian regimes, when security agencies crushed any expression of freedom out of fear of foreign occupiers—first the Palestinians under the Cairo Agreement, then the Syrians, and now the Iranians. For half a century, any call for peace or to halt cross-border violence to protect Lebanon has been systematically silenced.”
The Council added: “We urge the President of the Republic—whose term many hope will mark a return to Lebanon’s leadership in regional freedoms, and who pledged to dismantle the ‘mini-state’ and restore national sovereignty—to take bold and transparent action. He must work to purge Lebanon of the remnants of occupation and the ideologies of hatred and violence. The President must honor the freedoms that define the global Lebanese diaspora, promote their safe return, and rebuild trust with the state—not contribute to their intimidation or prevent them from visiting their homeland and loved ones.”
In conclusion, the statement affirmed: “The Lebanese expatriate community has always been—and will remain—the nation’s lifeline and its true global extension. Those who seek to control and manipulate it must end their oppressive tactics that destroy free expression and suppress independent thought. It is time to abolish arbitrary rulings, unjust legal practices, and outdated authoritarian systems. Only then can Lebanon encourage its citizens to return, invest, and lead efforts to integrate the country into regional peace initiatives, rather than allowing them to be driven away by dictatorship, fear, and the failed ideologies of isolation and hostility.”
**Free translation from Arabic by Elias Bejjani

Former Lebanese PM Diab questioned over Beirut port blast
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/April 25, 2025
BEIRUT: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab appeared before Judge Tarek Bitar on Friday for questioning related to the devastating Beirut port explosion of Aug. 4, 2020. Diab was interrogated for two and a half hours before being remanded for further questions. The session came a week after Bitar questioned former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. In recent weeks, former General Security Chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and former Head of State Security Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba also appeared before the judge.
The explosion devastated the capital’s waterfront, resulted in thousands of casualties, and has been compared in scale to a nuclear bomb. It prompted widespread outrage both at home and abroad due to the long-term neglect in safely storing large quantities of ammonium nitrate at the port. Diab, who was prime minister at the time of the explosion, had previously failed to attend hearings into the disaster for various reasons, notably claiming that “the investigative judge lacked jurisdiction to question” him, or stating that he was abroad. For more than 18 months, several individuals contested their summons, arguing that Bitar was not the appropriate authority to investigate them. They also initiated lawsuits against Bitar, whose work was suspended for a significant period due to political pressures and legal challenges. During their unexpected appearances before the investigative judge, these individuals all expressed their intention to cooperate.In Lebanon, political and judicial powers are intertwined, contrary to the constitution’s separation of powers principle. The judiciary is mostly subject to political pressure, starting with judicial appointments, as with other institutions and administrations, which hinders reform efforts and the full independence of the judiciary. A ministerial source told Arab News that President Joseph Aoun had always stressed two key pillars essential for the state’s recovery are security and the judiciary. “The security appointments have been finalized, and measures are in place to restore security. “The minister of justice and the High Judicial Council are actively working on judicial appointments to restore processes free from political interference and corruption. “These procedures have started to affect the justice system, and everyone has begun to understand that the authority of the judiciary is not negotiable; the previously accepted method is no longer valid.”The source emphasized that gaining political support for the judiciary is essential to shield it from interference.
This should be prioritized, particularly in light of the president’s commitment to maintaining judicial independence. Additionally, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is dedicated to implementing the ministerial statement that received unanimous support through the vote of confidence in his government, said the source. Political authorities are still debating the law on judicial independence, but it remains unapproved and is currently stalled in joint parliamentary committees. Aoun has previously stressed his belief in the judiciary as a cornerstone of reform. In a recent meeting with the Bar Association, he noted that the challenge is not the coubtry’s laws themselves, but their implementation and accountability for violations.“Too often, laws are interpreted for personal gain and interests. By working together, individuals committed to justice and accountability can address imbalances, fight corruption, and promote responsibility,” he said. “Only the judiciary has the authority to deter offenders and corruption,” the president added. Currently, the High Judicial Council is investigating bribery cases involving several judges and has issued a preliminary arrest warrant for one of them, who was arrested and transferred to the prison run by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces.
The council recently set up three bodies to investigate cases against judges.
Lawyer Ghida Frangieh — who represents victims of the Beirut port explosion — told Arab News that the “renewed cooperation between the Public Prosecution and investigative Judge Bitar is a crucial development. “It will help revive the port explosion case and allow the investigation to continue until an indictment is issued and, ultimately, a trial takes place,” Frangieh said. “The election of the republic’s president, setting up a functional government instead of a caretaker government, and the political will for reform would collectively help reactivate Lebanon’s judicial system.
“This should have been the scenario in the port investigations three years ago, and all pending judicial cases should now be addressed and resolved in due order,” Frangieh added. A French delegation is set to arrive in Beirut next Monday, following the transfer of judicial summons from the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation in Lebanon to France. Bitar has requested access to French investigations regarding the port explosion, and the French judiciary has expressed willingness to support the judge by providing all necessary files and documents for his investigation.
Several French nationals were among those killed and injured in the Beirut port explosion.

Aoun says 'diplomacy is only solution' for the South
Naharnet/April 25, 2025
President Joseph Aoun stressed Friday that “diplomacy is the only solution” for ending Israel’s occupation of parts of south Lebanon. “We can no longer bear the rhetoric of war,” Aoun reiterated. Aoun has repeatedly pledged to implement a state monopoly on arms. But it is a "delicate" matter that must be approached through dialogue and carried out when "the circumstances" allow, he said on Sunday. The United States has been pressing Lebanon's government to disarm Hezbollah, which was severely weakened in the latest war with its arch-foe Israel. A November truce accord was based on a U.N. Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon. It calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups. Last Friday, Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said the group "will not let anyone disarm" it, adding it was ready for dialogue on a "defense strategy," "but not under the pressure of occupation" by Israel. Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but troops remain in five positions that it deems "strategic".

President Aoun says Lebanon remains a beacon of values after Pope Francis tribute
LBCI/April 25, 2025
After President Joseph Aoun and the first lady had paid their final respects to Pope Francis, Aoun said his visit to Rome was not only to offer condolences but also to reaffirm Lebanon’s spiritual and moral role on the global stage. He said, “We are here to say that Lebanon, despite all its wounds, will remain a model of unity in diversity and a beacon of the human values that His Holiness championed and defended, holding firmly to enduring principles for a world of greater justice and compassion.”

Berri: We will not hand over weapons now
Naharnet/April 25, 2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Hezbollah will not hand over its weapons before Israel fulfills its ceasefire agreement obligations. “We will not hand over the weapons now before the implementation of the terms requested from the enemy” as per the ceasefire agreement, Berri said in an interview with the Asas Media news portal. “Our weapons are our cards which we will not give up without an actual implementation of the ceasefire agreement and consequently heading to a dialogue over their fate,” Berri added. The Speaker also expressed support for dialogue between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah, but added that “it is also important to press the enemy to implement its ceasefire agreement obligations.”“We have implemented what’s requested from us and no one doubts that. As for (Israel), it has not. This is certainly the responsibility of the Americans and this also means that we don’t hand over all our cards,” Berri added. “What’s requested from us are two points that have been accomplished by Lebanon, which are the army’s deployment in the South and Hezbollah’s withdrawal from it, and ever since (Hezbollah) has not fire a single gunshot,” the Speaker went on to say. “Israel must cease fire completely and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory, both of which have not happened, and Israel has instead doubled its attacks and airstrikes. Let it at least halt its fire,” Berri added.

Why has Hezbollah escalated its rhetoric on arms?
Naharnet/April 25, 2025
The issue of Hezbollah’s arms is “present on the table of indirect dialogue between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah’s leadership” and Speaker Nabih Berri is following up on the matter, the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal quoted “credible sources” as saying.
The sources attributed the latest “conflicting stances” by Hezbollah’s leaders to “raising the ceiling of its demands regarding its role in the reconstruction of the South, its political future and the number of members who will be integrated into the army and security forces.”
“What President Aoun mentioned prior to his travel to Doha about his rejection of repeating (Iraq’s) Popular Mobilization Forces in Lebanon and his rejection of the creation of a special army unit for Hezbollah’s fighters are part of this dialogue, to which (Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim) Qassem responded in an escalatory tone,” the sources added. “Some escalatory stances of Hezbollah’s leaders reflect personal wishes based on a wrong analysis of the U.S.-Iranian negotiations and of the directions of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard,” the sources went on to say.

Lebanese army tightens border security after crossfire with Syria over smuggling dispute
LBCI/April 25, 2025
The Lebanese army announced Friday it had implemented heightened security measures along the Lebanese-Syrian border following an exchange of fire that wounded individuals on both sides. According to a statement from the Army Command, gunfire erupted on April 24 in the Hermel region after shots were fired from Lebanese territory toward Syria, reportedly due to disputes linked to smuggling activities. Syrian forces responded, leading to injuries on both sides. In response, army units deployed in the area conducted exceptional security operations to determine the source of the gunfire on Lebanese soil.
Raids were carried out alongside surveillance efforts by military intelligence, resulting in the arrest of a citizen, identified as A.A., suspected of involvement in the shooting and of belonging to an armed group active in smuggling operations. The army said it held urgent contacts with Syrian authorities, which helped de-escalate the situation. Military units remain on high alert and continue to pursue others suspected of involvement in the incident.

Lebanon gets $250 million World Bank loan to ease electricity crisis
Associated Press/April 25, 2025
The World Bank will grant Lebanon a $250 million loan that will be used to help ease electricity cuts in the crisis-hit country, the country's finance ministry said. Lebanon has faced major electricity problems for decades, but the situation became worse following an economic meltdown that began in late 2019. The 14-month Israel-Hebzollah war that ended in late November also badly damaged electricity and other infrastructure in parts of Lebanon.The state-run National News Agency said the deal between Lebanon and the World Bank was signed in Washington by Finance Minister Yassin Jaber and Jean-Christophe Carret, the bank's regional director. Lebanese officials including Jaber, Economy Minister Amer Bisat and Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid are in Washington for the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. "This loan forms a strong push to steps of reforms that Lebanon is carrying out to fix this sector," Jaber was cited by the news agency as saying. Most people in Lebanon rely on private generators to produce electricity that is high in cost and causes pollution. The loan will be used to improve collection of electricity bills as well as improving solar farms that would save $40 million annually, according to the report. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have vowed to work on implementing reforms and fighting corruption and decades-old mismanagement by the ruling class to get Lebanon out of an economic crisis that the World Bank has described as among world's worst since the 1850s. In Beirut, parliament on Thursday approved a law to meet a key demand of the International Monetary Fund to remove the decades-old banking secrecy before the IMF agrees to a bailout program. The 1956 banking secrecy law, that prevents revealing information about clients and their accounts, attracted lots of foreign deposits into the country in its early years but more recently it was seen as an obstacle to fighting corruption and money laundering in the small nation. The new law, which was approved in parliament by 87 votes with 13 against, states that there is a 10-year retroactive period, meaning pre-2015 accounts will not be covered by the secrecy provision. Since Lebanon's economic slide began in October 2019, three-quarters of the population of 6 million people, including 1 million Syrian refugees, plunged into poverty. The Lebanese pound has lost more than 90% of its value.

Drone wounds 8 in Lebanon after exchange of shelling on Syria border
Agence France Presse/April 25, 2025
Lebanese official media said eight people were wounded in a drone attack in a border village, as Syria said it responded to artillery fire from Lebanon. Eight Syrian refugees were wounded and taken to hospital in the northeast Lebanese area of Hermel after an "explosives-laden drone blew up" in the border village of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali, Lebanon's National News Agency said.The Lebanese Army sent reinforcements "after gunfire was heard," the report added. Syrian state news agency SANA, carrying a statement from an unnamed defense ministry source, said Lebanon's Hezbollah had launched artillery shells at Syrian army positions in the Qusayr area of Homs province, near the Lebanese border. "Our forces immediately targeted the sources of the fire," the statement said. "We are in contact with the Lebanese Army to evaluate the incident and have stopped targeting the sources of fire" at the Lebanese Army's request, the statement added. Lebanon and Syria's defense ministers signed an agreement last month to address border security threats after clashes left 10 dead. Earlier in March, Syria's new authorities accused Hezbollah of abducting three soldiers into Lebanese territory and killing them. The Iran-backed group, which fought with the forces of toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, denied involvement, but the ensuing cross-border clashes left seven Lebanese dead. Lebanon and Syria share a porous 330 kilometer (205 mile) frontier that is notorious for the smuggling of goods, people and weapons.

Banking secrecy amendment boosts Lebanon’s reform credibility — will donors see it as real change?
LBCI/April 25, 2025
An 87-vote amendment to Lebanon’s banking secrecy law was a key component of the Lebanese delegation’s mission to Washington. Following negotiations between Lebanese delegations in Washington and Beirut, and at the request of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the amendment added auditors or assessors appointed by the central bank or the Banking Control Commission to the list of entities authorized to lift banking secrecy. Passing the amendment in this form will allow Lebanon to participate in an upcoming roundtable on recovery and reconstruction with a strong reform agenda, strengthening its position in reports to be prepared by conference participants. The conference will include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, and the United States, as well as international organizations and financial institutions. It is considered a first step toward securing the sought-after $2 billion reconstruction loan. The conference follows a meeting with the IMF’s managing director, which Lebanon’s finance minister described as “very positive.”The seriousness and coordination shown by the Lebanese delegation were met with optimism, as international partners reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate if the reform process continues and actions match rhetoric. This cooperation has already begun, with offers of technical assistance to Lebanon in various sectors, and an IMF delegation is expected to visit Beirut in May.

Beirut municipal election saga: Sectarian tensions flare in Lebanon’s parliament ahead of vote
LBCI/April 25, 2025
As Lebanon’s municipal elections draw closer, debates in parliament have become increasingly sectarian, particularly regarding the Beirut municipal elections. A sense of chaos has engulfed the chamber, which has also resonated within political circles recently. This prompted Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to propose the formation of a committee led by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab to find a consensual solution. The committee would present legal proposals or formulas to be referred to the general assembly for approval in a session that Berri could schedule before the Beirut elections. Several changes have occurred in recent hours, particularly as political forces involved in the Beirut municipal elections have intensified their meetings and communications. According to information available to LBCI, no committee will be formed, as Bou Saab informed Speaker Berri, deeming it unnecessary. As a result, it appears that consensus has become the only realistic option, with political forces taking action and the situation beginning to take shape. Amending the law now seems nearly impossible, with consensus focusing on achieving a balanced representation through the formation of a coalition list that includes most of the city’s political factions.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 25-26/2025
Negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program return to secluded Oman
Jon Gambrell/The Associated Press/April 25, 2025
MUSCAT, Oman — Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program will return on Saturday to the secluded sultanate of Oman, where experts on both sides will start hammering out the technical details of a possible deal. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on half a century of enmity. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Neither Iran nor the U.S. has offered any explanation on why the talks will return to Muscat, the Omani capital nestled in the Hajar Mountains. Oman has been a mediator between Tehran and Washington. Last weekend's talks in Rome offered a more-equal flight distance between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations. But Rome remains in mourning after the death of Pope Francis, whose funeral will be held on Saturday. And Iranian state television, in covering last weekend's talks, complained at length on air about the “paparazzi” gathered across the street from the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighborhood. Araghchi himself took time out Friday night to sign copies of his latest memoir, “The Power of Negotiation,” at the Muscat International Book Fair. But he found himself swarmed by cameras even in the Omani capital, showing the intense international interest in the talks.Asked by The Associated Press about the negotiations on Saturday, Aragchi simply replied: “I'm here for the book.”
'Peaceful use of nuclear energy'
The Muscat talks come as Iran appears to have lined up Chinese and Russian support. Araghchi traveled to Moscow last week and this week visited Beijing. On Thursday, Chinese, Iranian and Russian representatives met the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog that likely will verify compliance with any accord like it did with Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. That deal included China and Russia, as well as France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in addition to Iran and the U.S. However, Iran has greatly restricted the IAEA's inspections — leading to fears internationally that centrifuges and other nuclear material could be diverted for non-peaceful purposes. The IAEA offered no readout from the talks, but China's state-run Xinhua news agency on Friday described the three nations as saying the agency has “the necessary potential and expertise to contribute constructively to this process.”“China, Russia and Iran emphasized that political and diplomatic engagement based on mutual respect remains the only viable and practical path for resolving the Iran nuclear issue,” the report said. It added that China respects Iran's “right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”The Trump administration has kept France, Germany and the U.K. out of its direct negotiations with Iran, something similarly reflected in Witkoff's negotiations with Russia over ending its war on Ukraine. Witkoff traveled Friday to Moscow ahead of Saturday's meeting in Muscat. Araghchi meanwhile has said he's open to visiting Berlin, London and Paris to discuss the negotiations. “The ball is now in the E3’s court,” Araghchi wrote on the social platform X on Thursday, using an acronym for the countries. “They have an opportunity to do away with the grip of Special Interest groups and forge a different path.”
U.S. stance on enrichment hardens
Two Iranian deputy foreign ministers, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, are expected to lead Tehran’s expert team, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported. Takht-e Ravanchi took part in the 2015 nuclear talks, while Gharibabadi as well has been involved in atomic negotiations. The U.S. technical team, which is expected to arrive in Oman on Friday, will be led by Michael Anton, the director of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's policy planning staff. Anton does not have the nuclear policy experience of those who led America's efforts in the 2015 talks. He was an early supporter of Trump, describing the 2016 election as a “charge the cockpit or you die” vote. “A Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto,” Anton wrote. “With Trump, at least you can spin the cylinder and take your chances.” He also criticized “Iran sycophancy” in the same essay. Rubio, speaking on a podcast released this week, also kept up a Trump line that Iran needed to stop its enrichment of uranium entirely. “If Iran wants a civil nuclear program, they can have one just like many other countries can have one, and that is they import enriched material,” Rubio said. However, former CIA director Bill Burns, who took part in the secret negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal, expressed skepticism Iran would give up its program like Libya did in 2003. “I don’t personally think that this Iranian regime is going to agree to ... zero domestic enrichment,” Burns said in a talk Monday at the University of Chicago. “To hold out for the Libya model is virtually to ensure that you're not going to be able to reach an agreement.”
Iran ‘on high alert’
But Iran has insisted that keeping its enrichment is key. Witkoff also has muddied the issue by first suggesting in a television interview that Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later saying that all enrichment must stop. Meanwhile, one more wildcard is Israel, whose devastating war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip grinds on. Trump initially announced the Iran talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. But Israel, which for years has targeted Iran's nuclear program with attacks on its facilities and scientists, has kept open the possibility of airstrikes to destroy Tehran's enrichment sites. On Monday, Israel's military conducted drills preparing for possible new Iranian missile attacks, the country's public broadcaster KAN reported. Araghchi has described Iranian security services as being “on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.”However, Iranians on Friday in Tehran remained hopeful the talks could be successful, as the Iranian rial has rebounded from historic lows. “It’s OK to negotiate, to make the nuclear program smaller or bigger, and reach a deal,” Tehran resident Farzin Keivan said. “Of course we shouldn’t give them everything. After all, we’ve suffered a lot for this program.”

Iran FM Araghchi in Oman ahead of nuclear talks with US
AFP/April 25, 2025
MUSCAT: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared for fresh nuclear talks with the United States in Oman on Friday after apparent progress in previous rounds. Araghchi flew into Muscat ahead of Saturday’s meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, their third encounter in as many weeks. Araghchi will lead Iran’s delegation of diplomats and technical experts in indirect discussions with the US side, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X. Iran’s top diplomat was a negotiator of the landmark nuclear accord abandoned by Trump during his first term in 2018. Araghchi refused to discuss the talks as he signed copies of an Arabic translation of his book, “The Power of Negotiation” at a book fair in Muscat on Friday. The latest round will include expert-level talks on Iran’s nuclear program, with Michael Anton, who serves as the State Department’s head of policy planning, leading the technical discussions on the US side, the department said. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that deputy foreign ministers Kazem Gharibabadi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi will head the Iranian technical team.
Baqaei posted that Iran’s delegation is “resolved to secure our nation’s legitimate and lawful right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while taking reasonable steps to demonstrate that our program is entirely peaceful.”“Termination of unlawful and inhumane sanctions in an objective and speedy manner is a priority that we seek to achieve,” he added. According to Baqaei, the dialogue will again be mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi — who appeared with Araghchi at the book signing — on Saturday morning. The meeting follows two earlier rounds of Omani-mediated negotiations in Muscat and Rome starting on April 12. Since his return to office in January, Trump has reimposed sweeping sanctions under his policy of “maximum pressure” against Tehran. In March, he sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for talks but warning of possible military action if they failed to produce a deal. 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. Baqaei earlier Friday said “progress in the negotiations requires the demonstration of goodwill, seriousness, and realism by the other side.”Iran will treat Saturday’s talks seriously, Araghchi said in a recent interview, “and if the other party also enters seriously, there is potential for progress.”
In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal signed three years earlier between Tehran and major world powers. The agreement eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. After Trump’s pullout, Tehran complied with the agreement for a year before scaling back its compliance. Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 percent limit in the 2015 deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material. In an interview published by Time Magazine on Friday, Trump said the United States will “lead the pack” in attacking Iran if nuclear talks do not lead to a new deal. But he expressed hope that an agreement could be reached and said he would be willing to meet Khamenei.

US lists demands at UN as Syria seeks sanctions relief
Michelle Nichols/Reuters/April 25, 2025
UNITED NATIONS - The United States publicly spelled out at the United Nations on Friday the steps it wants Syria to take before Washington will change its stance toward the country, as Syria's foreign minister appealed for tough sanctions to be lifted. Reuters reported last month that Washington had handed Syria a list of conditions it wants Damascus to fulfill in exchange for partial sanctions relief. On Friday, acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea listed them publicly. She said the U.S. wants Syria's authorities to fully renounce and suppress terrorism, adopt a policy of non-aggression to neighboring states, exclude foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles, prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory, destroy weapons of mass destruction, assist in the recovery of U.S. citizens disappeared in Syria, and ensure the security and freedoms of all Syrians. "The United States continues to observe the actions of the interim authorities and will determine our actions based on a pattern of behavior. The core leadership must move beyond its past," Shea told the 15-member Security Council. Former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December by a lightning rebel offensive after a brutal 14-year civil war and there is now a new Islamist leadership in Damascus. The newly adopted Syrian flag was raised at the U.N. on Friday.
SYRIA SEEKS TO SHOW PROGRESS
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, addressing the Security Council for the first time, sought to show that Syria was addressing some of the demands listed by the U.S. and appealed for sanctions to be lifted. "Those who demand more from Syria are the same ones who insist on maintaining many sanctions imposed against it. These sanctions force Syria to play the role of an aid dependent country rather than being a partner in global economic growth," he told the Security Council. Tough U.S. sanctions imposed during Assad's rule remain in place. In January, the U.S. issued a six-month exemption for some sanctions to encourage aid, but this has had limited effect and Reuters reported in February that efforts to pay public sector salaries with foreign financing had been hampered by uncertainty over whether it could breach U.S. sanctions. "These restrictive measures imposed against the previous regime prevent capital and expertise from entering our country while allowing illicit networks to flourish," al-Shibani said. He said Syria was combating Islamic State militants, working constructively with the U.N. chemical weapons watchdog, uniting military factions, preserving state institutions and taking steps toward constitutional reform. It had also launched a national dialogue, he said. "We will also announce genuine steps towards a national parliament that represents the Syrian people," al-Shibani said. He said Syria would establish a commission for missing persons and was ready to coordinate with the U.S. to also search for Americans missing in Syria.

New Syrian foreign minister attends UN Security Council in first US appearance since Assad's fall
Abby Sewell And Farnoush Amiri/AP/April 25, 2025
UNITED NATIONS — Syria's foreign minister attended a U.N. Security Council briefing Friday after raising his country’s new flag at the international body's headquarters. It was the first public appearance by a high-ranking Syrian government official in the United States since the fall of President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December. Asaad al-Shibani is part of a delegation of authorities from Damascus' new government who have traveled to the United States this week in hopes of receiving relief from harsh sanctions that were imposed by America and its allies after Assad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 that spiraled into a civil war. “The brutal policies of that era deepened divisions, forcing entire families to immigrate and leaving behind their hopes and dreams that were reduced to ashes,” al-Shibani said in his remarks to the Security Council. “However, I’m here today to represent that new Syria.” His arrival marks a stunning new chapter for the war-torn country, which has spent the better part of the last several decades isolated and ostracized from the rest of the world.
Marking the arrival of a new Syria
The presence of the new Syria was evident outside the U.N. headquarters as al-Shibani watched the three-starred flag previously used by opposition groups replace the two-starred flag of the Assad era as the country's official emblem. "This flag is not a mere symbol but rather a proclamation of a new existence ... embodying a future that emerges from resilience and a promise of change after years of pain," al-Shibani said. Members of the Security Council, the U.N.’s most powerful body, welcomed the new interim minister, saying his attendance is a “positive step" toward a more prosperous Syria. But many countries and U.N. officials warned there is still much more work to be done to heal the country's wounds. “Syria has moved beyond a caretaker government to a new, expanded and more diverse cabinet,” Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, told the council. "This is an improvement from what went before. Yet it is still not a fully inclusive framework for political transition. And this leaves many Syrians unsure of their place in the emerging new Syria.”The U.N.’s deputy humanitarian chief, Joyce Msuya, described the situation on the ground in Syria as among the “world’s largest” humanitarian crises, with nearly three-quarters of the population requiring assistance, more than half of the country facing food insecurity and at least 7 million people displaced. “Millions of refugees and internally displaced persons who have expressed their desire to return home will continue to be dissuaded by a lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities,” Msuya said, urging U.N. members to deliver the basic funding required to address these issues.
The US hasn't recognized the new government yet
Other Syrian officials attended meetings at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund this week in Washington, but it was unclear if Trump administration officials would meet al-Shibani during the visit. Dorothy Shea, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said in her remarks Friday that the U.S. “continues to closely monitor the actions of the Syrian interim authorities,” while remaining hopeful that the interim cabinet ”represents a positive step.” But, she added, the U.S. expects “to see additional action and the appointment of more qualified and representative individuals to serve in critical positions.” She also laid out the most public and explicit outline of what it would take for the U.S. to lift sanctions on Syria, saying the new government must, among other things, fully renounce and suppress terrorism, adopt a policy of "non-aggression to neighboring states, destroy any remaining weapons of mass destruction and assist in the recovery of U.S. citizens disappeared within Syria. President Donald Trump's administration has yet to officially recognize the current Syrian government of Ahmad al-Sharaa, an Islamist former insurgent who led the offensive that toppled Assad. The Republican administration has also left the Assad-era sanctions in place, although it has provided temporary relief from some restrictions. The militant group that al-Sharaa led, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, remains a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. “While Syria has opened its doors to states and given hope to its people to return, the burden of sanctions continues to threaten our stability,” al-Shibani told the Security Council. “When international organizations and corporations seek to invest in and rebuild our economy, they find that these sanctions that have expired stand in the way.”
Two Republican members of the U.S. Congress, Reps. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Cory Mills of Florida arrived in Damascus last week on an unofficial visit organized by a Syrian-American nonprofit group and met with al-Sharaa and other government officials.
Mills told The Associated Press before meeting with al-Sharaa that “ultimately, it’s going to be the president’s decision” to lift sanctions or not, although he said that “Congress can advise.”Mills later told Bloomberg News that he had discussed the U.S. conditions for sanctions relief with al-Sharaa, including ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons left over from the Assad era, coordinating on counterterrorism, making a plan to deal with foreign militants who fought alongside the armed opposition to Assad, and providing assurances to Israel that Syria wouldn't pose a threat. He also said that al-Sharaa had said that Syria could normalize relations with Israel “under the right conditions,” without specifying what those conditions are. Other Western countries have warmed up to the new Syrian authorities more quickly. The U.K. government on Thursday lifted sanctions against a dozen Syrian entities, including government departments and media outlets, and the European Union has begun to roll back its sanctions.

US visit by far-right Israeli minister draws tense protests and 'big fissures' in Jewish community
Jake Offenhartz/AP/April 25, 2025
NEW YORK— Far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was speaking to a small crowd at a Manhattan steakhouse Thursday afternoon when a Brooklyn man, who had been hiding in a bathroom for two hours, stormed into the private event. “Get the (expletive) out of New York!” cried the protester, Gabriel DeFazio. He was swiftly removed by security, though not before telling the minister he would be “remembered as a Nazi and Palestine will be free.”So it has gone for Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader once on the fringes of Israeli politics, as he embarks on his first official U.S. state visit since joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet in 2022. His appearances near Yale University on Wednesday drew hundreds of demonstrators, along with the resignations of several members of the Jewish society that hosted him.
The following night, he visited the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Brooklyn, where he was greeted by scores more protesters who waved Palestinian flags. The group jostled with Orthodox Jewish counter-demonstrators, resulting in six arrests and leaving one woman, who was draped in a kaffiyeh, bloodied, according to social media videos. Rabbi Motti Seligson, a spokesperson for Chabad, said Ben-Gvir was invited by some members of the community, but that the event was not officially sanctioned or organized by the synagogue’s leadership.
The state visit has not only ignited fierce protests but “exposed big fissures in American Judaism,” said David Vincent Kimel, a former member of Shabtai, the group that hosted Ben-Gvir near Yale University. Kimel and two others resigned from the group this week, citing the decision by Shabtai’s co-founder, Rabbi Schmully Hecht, to host the “deliberately provocative event.”“Ben-Gvir represents a grotesque extreme that for tragic circumstances was elevated to high power,” said Kimel, who was born in Israel. “It’d be like a white society hosting the Ku Klux Klan.”Hecht didn't respond to inquires from The Associated Press, but he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he admired Ben-Gvir.
“Itamar promotes what he believes is best for his people that democratically elected him," Hecht said. A hard-line supporter of Jewish settlements, Ben-Gvir was previously convicted in Israel of racist incitement and support for terrorist groups. He has called for the deportation of all Arab citizens from Israel and, for years, hung a picture in his home of a man who massacred more than two dozen Muslim worshippers. In 2023, he said that his right to move through the West Bank was “more important than the right of movement of the Arabs.”Though once widely shunned by Israel's politicians, Ben-Gvir's influence has grown alongside a rightward shift in the country's electorate. And his brand of ultranationalist religious ideology, which once prompted President Joe Biden's State Department to accuse him of “sowing chaos,” appears to be finding purchase with American officials as well. He kicked off his trip to the U.S. with a dinner on Monday at Mar-a-Lago, where he said he met with Republican Party officials who expressed support for his plan to bomb food and aid depots in Gaza. A spokesperson for Ben-Gvir did not reply to a request for comment about who he had met with, though it did not appear that President Donald Trump was among the attendees. From there, he visited the Miami Police Department, a Jewish school in Florida and a Jewish-owned gun shop, according to social media posts. Other scheduled events have since been canceled, including a meeting with a Hasidic congregation in Brooklyn and a Modern Orthodox synagogue on Long Island, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. On Thursday, a group of Jewish leaders gathered in New York to denounce Ben-Gvir, including U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who called him a “racist, terrorist, Jewish supremacist.” As a response to Ben-Gvir’s visit, Nadler said he planned to introduce legislation to combat violence in the West Bank. DeFazio, the protester who confronted Ben-Gvir at the steakhouse event, said his brief disruption was aimed at calling attention to the extremist politics that were becoming “normalized” in both the U.S. and Israel. “I was shocked to see he can freely traipse around the U.S., through our most prestigious campuses and even New York City,” he said. “When I realized this guy was coming here, it became my duty to make sure he didn’t feel welcome.”

Rescuers say death toll from Israeli strike on north Gaza home rises to 23
AFP/April 25, 2025
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defense agency reported on Friday that the death toll from an Israeli air strike the day before on a house in the north of the Palestinian territory had risen to 23. “Civil defense teams recovered 11 bodies last night and this morning following the Israeli bombing that targeted a residential house ... in Jabalia,” Mohammed Al-Mughayyir, an official with the agency, told AFP. “This is in addition to the 12 victims recovered at the time of the attack yesterday,” he added. Gaza’s northern area of Jabalia has repeatedly been a focus Israel’s military offensive since the start of the war on October 7, 2023 following Hamas’s attack on Israel. The military has returned to the district several times after announcing it had been cleared of militants, saying Hamas fighters had regrouped there. In another strike in the area on Thursday, Israel hit what was previously a police station, rescuers said. The toll from that attack has risen to 11, Mughayyir said, after initially announcing that nine people had been killed. The military said on Thursday that it had struck a Hamas “command and control center” in the area of Jabalia, without specifying the target. Israeli strikes continued on Friday, with the civil defense agency reporting that at least five people — a couple and their three children — had been killed when their tent was struck in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern city of Khan Yunis. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that the deceased woman had been pregnant. Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas, at least 1,978 people have been killed in Gaza, bringing the overall death toll of the war to 51,355, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

In reverse of a longtime stance, US says UN Palestinian refugee agency isn't immune from lawsuits
Eric Tucker/AP/April 25, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has decided that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is not immune from being sued, reversing the U.S. government's longstanding position that the organization was protected from civil liability.
The Justice Department revealed its new stance in a letter it filed in federal court in New York on Thursday as part of a lawsuit that aims to hold the agency, known as UNRWA, accountable for the Oct. 7, 2023, deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. The change in position underscores the hardened perspective toward the agency under the Trump administration following allegations by Israel that some of the agency staff was involved in the Hamas rampage. The lawsuit, filed by families of some of the victims of the massacre, alleges that UNRWA had aided Hamas by, among other things, permitting weapons storage and deployment centers in its schools and medical clinics and by employing Hamas members. Lawyers for UNRWA have called the lawsuit “absurd” and have said in court filings that the agency was immune from liability as a “subsidiary organ” of the United Nations.
The previous US stance protected the agency
In a statement Friday, UNRWA spokesperson Juliet Touma said the Justice Department filing reversed the U.S. government's “longstanding recognition that UNRWA is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and an integral part of the United Nations, entitled to immunity from legal process.” She said the agency would continue to make its case before the court and "will consider whether any other action is appropriate with respect to the letter.”The Justice Department acknowledged in its 10-page letter that though its position had been that UNRWA was shielded from litigation, “the Government has since reevaluated that position, and now concludes UNRWA is not immune from this litigation.”“The complaint in this case alleges atrocious conduct on the part of UNRWA and its officers. Of course, such allegations are only the first step on a long road, where plaintiffs will be required to prove what they have alleged. But UNRWA is not above that process — nor are the bulk of the remaining defendants,” the letter states. “The Government believes they must answer these allegations in American courts. The prior Administration’s view that they do not was wrong.”The letter was signed by Jay Clayton, the new U.S. attorney in Manhattan, and another lawyer in the office, as well as Yaakov Roth, the acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's civil division. The agency has assisted Palestinians since the 1940s UNRWA was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1949 to provide relief for Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes before and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which followed the establishment of Israel, as well as their descendants, until there is a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The agency provides aid and services — including health and education — to some 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Since the Israel-Hamas war, it has been the main lifeline for a population reliant on humanitarian aid in Gaza. Israel alleged that 19 out of UNRWA’s approximately 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and set off the war in Gaza. UNRWA said it fired nine staffers after an internal U.N. investigation concluded that they could have been involved, although the evidence was not authenticated or corroborated. Israel later alleged that about 100 other Palestinians in Gaza were Hamas members, but never provided any evidence to the United Nations.
Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

While the world watches Gaza, here is what’s happening in the West Bank
The Associated Press/April 25, 2025
After the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, ignited the devastating war in Gaza, a deadly new reality also took hold for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. With the world’s attention focused on Gaza, Israeli military operations in the West Bank grew in size, frequency and intensity. The army launched the stepped-up campaign to counter what it says is a growing militant threat. Here’s a look at where things stand, with data collected by the U.N.’s humanitarian office and Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement tracking group.
Palestinian deaths by Israeli fire have surged
Since the war in Gaza erupted, the majority of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank have been shot during military raids in villages and towns. Israel says the operations are needed to stamp out militancy. Many of the dead were militants killed in clashes, or youths throwing stones or firebombs. But Palestinians and rights groups say scores of uninvolved civilians have been caught in the crossfire. Of those killed since the Hamas attack, at least 182 have been children under 18, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, some of whom Israel says were involved in stone-throwing and militancy. Rights groups accuse Israel of using excessive force.
Israeli offensives evicted 40,000 from refugee camps
Israel is staging a massive offensive across four major refugee camps in the north of the West Bank. The raids, at their height, pushed 40,000 people from their homes. Many are now sheltering with relatives in neighboring villages, others racking up debt renting apartments while they wait to return. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said those displaced will not be allowed to go back for at least a year. Forces have ripped up roads, destroyed infrastructure and demolished hundreds of homes. Israel says it is dismantling terrorist infrastructure. But civilian homes have also been destroyed. In another escalation, the military has resumed previously rare tactics, like drone strikes, in these densely populated areas.
Settler attacks on Palestinians occur almost daily
Settler attacks causing injury or death to Palestinians surged in the wake of the Hamas attack. For Palestinians living in small Bedouin villages in areas under full Israeli control, the attacks have become a near-daily occurrence as settlers — emboldened by Israel’s pro-settler government— build new unauthorized outposts on nearby hilltops. Israel says it opposes settler violence and blames it all on a small, extremist fringe. Palestinians say that the Israeli army does little to protect them, and that the attacks are part of a systematic attempt to expel them from their land.
Israeli outposts spring up across territory
Settlers have established about 80 new outposts since the war began. Rights groups say the outposts, often populated by extremist activists, are the main drivers of violence against Palestinians. The tiny unauthorized land grabs are tolerated and even encouraged by Israel, which over the years has converted many outposts into authorized settlements as it cements its hold on the territory and moves to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israel’s government, dominated by settler leaders and supporters, has established 13 new settlements since the war began, at least five of which originally sprung up as outposts. That brings the total number of settlements to 140. Most of the international community considers settlements illegal, though U.S. President Donald Trump has supported them.
Checkpoints choke Palestinian movement
Meanwhile, movement between Palestinian towns and cities has only grown more difficult. New checkpoints have further divided the territory and created choke points the Israeli army can shut off on a whim. Crossings that had been open 24/7 started closing during morning and evening rush hours, disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and turning once-routine commutes into hours-long journeys. As the war in Gaza continues and the West Bank seethes, Palestinians say life is only growing more difficult.

UN food agency says its food stocks in Gaza have run out under Israel's blockade
Wafaa Shurafa And Lee Keath/The Associated Press/April 25, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days. Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the U.N. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza. Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime. COGAT, the Israeli military agency in charge of coordinating aid in Gaza, declined to comment on the amount of supplies remaining in the territory. It has previously said Gaza had enough aid after a surge in distribution during the ceasefire. Israel accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the U.N. strictly monitors distribution. They say the aid flow during the ceasefire was barely enough to cover the immense needs from throughout the war when only a trickle of supplies got in. With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables. Prices for what remains have risen dramatically, becoming unaffordable for much of the population. Most families rely heavily on canned goods. Malnutrition is already surging. The U.N. said it identified 3,700 children suffering from acute malnutrition in March, up 80% from the month before. At the same time, because of diminishing supplies, aid groups were only able to provide nutritional supplements to some 22,000 children in March, down 70% from February. The supplements are a crucial tool for averting malnutrition. Almost all bakeries shut down weeks ago and the WFP stopped distribution of food basics to families for lack of supplies. With stocks of most ingredients depleted, charity kitchens generally can only serve meals of pasta or rice with little added.
World Central Kitchen — a U.S. charity that is one of the biggest in Gaza that doesn’t rely on the WFP — said Thursday that its kitchens had run out of proteins. Instead, they make stews from canned vegetables. Because fuel is scarce, it dismantles wooden shipping pallets to burn in its stoves, it said. It also runs the only bakery still functioning in Gaza, producing 87,000 loaves of pita a day. The WFP said 116,000 tons of food is ready to be brought into Gaza if Israel opens the borders, enough to feed 1 million people for four months. Israel has leveled much of Gaza with its air and ground campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. It has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. In the Oct. 7 attack, militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. They still hold 59 hostages after most were released in ceasefire deals.

Houthi rebels have shot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks
Lolita C. Baldor/The Associated Press/April 24, 2025
WASHINGTON — Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones in less than six weeks, a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against the Iran-backed militants. According to defense officials, three of the drones were shot down in the past week — suggesting the militants' targeting of the unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen has improved. The drones were doing attack runs or conducting surveillance, and they crashed both into the water and onto land, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. has increased its attacks on the Houthis, launching daily strikes since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign. He promised to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor.
Central Command spokesman Dave Eastburn said Thursday night that the U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi targets. “These strikes have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, advanced weapons storage locations, and killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” Eastburn said. Another defense official said that although hostile fire is likely the cause of the drone losses, the incidents are still under investigation. The official noted that the increase in U.S. strikes can add to the risk to aircraft, but said the U.S. will take every measure possible to protect troops, equipment and interests in the region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on sensitive military issues. The sophisticated drones, built by General Atomics, cost about $30 million each, and generally fly at altitudes of more than 40,000 feet (12,100 meters). Houthis leaders have consistently touted the strikes in public statements. One of the defense officials said the U.S. lost Reaper drones on March 31 and on April 3, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 22. U.S. senators, meanwhile, are raising concerns about civilian casualties caused by the American strikes in Yemen. Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tim Kaine of Virginia wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday questioning whether the Trump administration is “abandoning the measures necessary to meet its obligations to reducing civilian harm.”Specifically, they questioned reports that U.S. strikes at the Ras Isa fuel terminal in Yemen last week potentially killed more than 70 civilians. “Military leaders agree that ingraining civilian harm mitigation practices within U.S operations leads to better outcomes and that civilian casualties actually undermine the mission that the military has been sent in to do,” their letter said. In addition to downing the drones, the Houthis have been persistently firing missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They haven't hit any. The U.S. has been using an array of warships, fighter jets, bombers and drones to strike the Houthis, and aircraft can now launch from two Navy carriers in the region. Hegseth decided in March to beef up the Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering the USS Harry S. Truman to extend its deployment there, as the USS Carl Vinson steamed toward the area. The Truman, along with two of the destroyers and a cruiser in its strike group, is now in the Red Sea. And the Vinson, along with two destroyers and a cruiser, is in the Gulf of Aden. The third destroyer assigned to the Truman is in the Mediterranean Sea. And two other U.S. Navy destroyers are in the Red Sea, but aren't part of the Truman's group. Hegseth is weighing whether to grant a request by U.S. Central Command to once again extend the Truman's deployment. A decision to do that could keep the Truman and at least some of its strike group in the region for several more weeks.
It has been rare in recent years for the U.S. to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time. Navy leaders have generally been opposed to the idea because it disrupts ship maintenance schedules and delays time at home for sailors strained by the unusually high combat tempo. Last year, the Biden administration ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to remain in the Red Sea for an extended time, as U.S. warships waged the most intense running sea battle since World War II. Prior to that it had been years since the U.S. had committed that much warship power to the Middle East. The Houthis have been waging persistent missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end the Israeli war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually.

African leaders call for more peacekeepers for Somalia to defend against al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab
Rodney Muhumuza/April 25, 2025
KAMPALA, Uganda — African leaders meeting in Uganda on Friday called for more peacekeepers for Somalia to defend against the extremist al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group that has been wreaking havoc in the Horn of Africa nation. A statement at the end of a regional leaders’ meeting in the Ugandan capital of Kampala suggested additional troops could possibly come from Egypt. More than 10,000 African Union troops are currently deployed to Somalia, nearly half of them from Uganda. The AU troops were authorized by the United Nations Security Council and multiple versions of the peacekeeping mission have been deployed there since 2007. The latest mission, which took over earlier this year and is known as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, faces funding challenges and regional disagreements over which countries are authorized to deploy troops. Somali authorities want Egyptian troops in the mission but not those from Ethiopia. However, relations between Ethiopia and Egypt have been strained in recent years over Ethiopia’s construction of a $4 billion dam on the Blue Nile, a key tributary of the Nile River. Egypt claims the project will likely diminish its share of the water from the Nile. Al-Shabab militants have fought for more than 15 years to overthrow Somalia’s internationally backed government. To this day, the extremists launch deadly raids and bombings, including in Somalia's seaside capital of Mogadishu, despite a new offensive by government troops as well as routine airstrikes by the United States. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the meeting in Kampala that the government offensive against al-Shabab is "now at a critical juncture,” urging for continued international support. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni encouraged Somalia to recruit volunteers among its citizens willing to fight al-Shabab."A small Somali national army, in terms of numbers, plus a small (AU) force from friends is a very dangerous underdose that has caused the chronic sickness of insecurity” Museveni said.

World Bank is not an American bank, German development minister says
Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by Paul Simao/Reuters/April 25, 2025
WASHINGTON -The Trump administration cannot determine the mission of the World Bank because the global lender's goals are based on agreement by many countries, Svenja Schulze, Germany's minister for economic cooperation and development, told Reuters. "This is not an American bank, it's a world bank," Schulze said in an interview on Thursday on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday called on the IMF and World Bank to refocus on their core missions of macroeconomic stability and development, arguing they have strayed too far into vanity projects such as climate change. Certain euphemisms are starting to be used in international institutions, such as "weather developments" instead of "climate change," and words like "gender" or "climate" or "inclusion" are being avoided."That is the founding mission of this bank, to take care of exactly these issues, and therefore we will now have to talk about what the U.S. actually wants," Schulze said. The U.S. is the largest single shareholder of the World Bank, with just under 16%. President Donald Trump's administration has cancelled billions of dollars in foreign aid, including funding for projects that provide lifesaving care for millions of people in some of the world's poorest countries. Schulze noted that these cuts have caused "a very large loss of trust" in developing countries, adding that rebuilding trust and showing that the World Bank and Germany are reliable partners were her goals for this week's meetings. Schulze's Social Democrats will retain control of the German development ministry as part of the coalition agreement reached by the parties forming Germany's next government. It is not clear who the next minister will be, though Schulze said she would like to remain in the position. "We want to continue investing in development," she said. "Investment in development policy is also part of our security policy. It's not just foreign policy and defence, but also development." Germany provided 30 billion euros ($34.16 billion), or 0.67% of its gross national income, for development aid in 2024, but failed to meet the agreed United Nations target of 0.7% of GDP, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) quota. The agreement reached by the incoming German coalition includes an "appropriate reduction in the ODA quota," which comes after years in which the budget was constantly reduced, according to the agreement.($1 = 0.8781 euros)

A Russian general was killed by a car bomb just outside Moscow
The Canadian Press/AP/April 25, 2025
MOSCOW — A Russian general was killed by a car bomb on Friday, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency said, in the second such attack on a top Russian military officer in four months that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine. The Investigative Committee said that Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow, Russia's capital. The committee's spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, said that the explosive device was rigged with shrapnel. She said that investigators were at the scene.Russian media ran videos of a vehicle burning in the courtyard of an apartment building. The committee did not immediately mention possible suspects, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova declared without offering evidence that “there are reasons to believe that Ukrainian special services were involved in the killing."Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the attack. “If the investigation confirms the Ukrainian trace in this case, this will once again demonstrate to the world community the barbaric and treacherous nature of the Kyiv regime, which is betting on an escalation of military confrontation with Russia and irresponsibly ignoring constructive proposals aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict,” Zakharova said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed that sentiment, telling Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin on Friday that Kyiv “continues its involvement in terrorist activity on our soil.” He also didn't offer any evidence. The attack follows the killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov on Dec. 17, 2024, when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office. Russian authorities also blamed Ukraine and Ukraine's security agency acknowledged it was behind the attack. Kirillov was the chief of Russia’s Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy’s use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the attack. Friday's bombing came as U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin on a U.S.-brokered peace plan for Ukraine. The meeting was their fourth encounter since February.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 25-26/2025
China Helping the Houthis Attack U.S. Navy Vessels
Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/April 25, 2025
China's regime, despite repeated warnings from Washington, is helping the Yemen-based militia try to kill American sailors. "Providing satellite data that is being used to identify U.S. and other ships in the Red Sea for missile strikes appears to be part of a deal between Beijing and the Houthis that would end attacks on Chinese shipping." — Bill Gertz, Washington Times, April 18, 2025. President Donald Trump should invoke the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 and end trade and investment ties with China. China's regime, by its actions and its words, is America's enemy. "We have to stop China before they sink an American ship." — Blaine Holt, retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, to Gatestone, April 2025. China, despite repeated warnings from Washington, is helping the Yemen-based Houthi militia try to kill American sailors. "We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. (CGSTL) is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on April 17th at her regular press briefing. Specifically, CGSTL has been providing targeting data and probably raw satellite imagery to the Houthis for their attacks on U.S. Navy vessels in the Red Sea.
China did not issue a clear official denial of the State Department charge. By now, one thing is clear: China's regime, despite repeated warnings from Washington, is helping the Yemen-based militia try to kill American sailors. The Trump administration should designate the Chinese regime as an enemy and impose costs accordingly. CGSTL is a commercial venture owned in part by the Jilin provincial government and the Jilin-based Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, a part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Chinese Academy of Sciences is a state research institution. CGSTL has, it says, the mission of "serving 7 billion people on the globe with the remote sensing information product integrating sky, space, and ground." Its customers include the worst elements in the world. In December 2023, for instance, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the company, along with Beijing Yunze Technology Co., for providing "high-resolution observation satellite imagery to U.S.-designated Private Military Company 'Wagner'" — the infamous paramilitary Wagner Group of Russia. No state-controlled enterprise such as CGSTL, in China's near-total surveillance state, could provide such data or imagery without the knowledge and approval of China's Communist Party. This means the Chinese regime was deliberately aiding attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, including U.S. Navy ships. "Beijing's support, by the way, of that company, the satellite company, even after we've engaged in discussions with them about this — the fact that they continue to do this is unacceptable, certainly contradicts their claims of being peace supporters," Bruce said. The Houthis began attacking shipping in the Red Sea in October 2023 in support of Hamas's assault on Israel. The United States, Bill Gertz of the Washington Times reports, "initially sought Chinese help in organizing an international coalition to protect shipping and counter the attacks." Beijing refused the request and tried to come to terms with the militant group in a side agreement. Nonetheless, the Houthis attacked a Chinese ship last year. "Providing satellite data that is being used to identify U.S. and other ships in the Red Sea for missile strikes appears to be part of a deal between Beijing and the Houthis that would end attacks on Chinese shipping," reports Gertz. The U.S. did not announce sanctions on CGSTL when Bruce made her comments, so imposing those measures is the first thing to be done.
Yet China has insulated its companies from Washington's measures. "It is time for attribution," Blaine Holt, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, told Gatestone. "Look for Chang Guang's 'Center of Gravity.'""Where do they bank?" Holt, who has participated in numerous Sino-U.S. Track II dialogues and lectured in China at universities and think tanks, asked. "Where is the management team? Do they have kids studying in the U.S.? What other business lines do they have?" "Continued Communist Party aggression must inform U.S. government policy about permitting American businesses to continue ties with China," he says. "We must show strength when they are so weak."
Sanctions, however, should hit more than CGSTL.
For one thing, the Communist Party of China, which should also be sanctioned, runs a unitary state and demands absolute obedience from all parties in society. Businesses and state research institutions may operate as separate entities and may have separate controlling institutions, but they are not separate. Washington must stop assuming that Chinese society is organized the same way as America's. All Chinese entities should, therefore, be treated as one single organization. It is time for American officials to stop playing what has become sanctions whack-a-mole. "The United States will not tolerate anyone providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis," Bruce said on the 17th. Unfortunately, the United States has in fact long tolerated Beijing's support to such groups, which means it is time to change course and now go after the Chinese regime hard. Among other things, President Donald Trump should invoke the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 and end trade and investment ties with China. China's regime, by its actions and its words, is America's enemy. "We have to stop China before they sink an American ship," says Holt, reminding us of what is at stake. "The time to act is now."
*Gordon G. Chang is the author of Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America, a Gatestone Institute distinguished senior fellow, and a member of its Advisory Board.
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Question: “Can I really do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13)?”
GotQuestions.org/April 25, 2025
Answer: In Philippians 4:13 the apostle Paul writes, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” The “him” of this verse is the Lord Jesus, and Jesus is, of course, all-powerful (Colossians 2:10). But does this verse mean that we can do anything and everything we set our minds to?
The context of this verse focuses on the God-given power to endure any circumstance. Verse 12 notes, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Paul had faced times of abundance, yet he had also faced many trials for his faith.
In 2 Corinthians 11:24–27, Paul shares some of his sufferings up to that point in his faith: “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” Despite these and other problems, Paul believed and taught he could persevere because he could do “all things through him who gives me strength.”
Also, the focus in Philippians 4 is what the believer can do through the strength that Christ gives. This is not a promise that Christians will have superpowers or that they will be invincible or immune to life’s challenges. Instead, the promise of Philippians 4:13 is that we will have strength from the Lord to faithfully endure the difficulties that arise in life.
This passage is not about having financial abundance. Some teach a prosperity gospel that says God will bless us financially if we are faithful; in contrast, Paul taught that the believer will endure suffering but can be content in any circumstance, given Christ’s strength. Just as Christ faithfully endured on the cross, His followers can faithfully endure the problems they face. In fact, Philippians 4:11 states, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Paul focused on contentment, not earthly abundance.
Finally, Philippians 4:13 is part of a larger passage that addresses Christ’s ability to meet our needs. Christ can give contentment during times of plenty and of poverty. He can help us do all things through His strength. In Paul’s case, it was the strength to serve as a missionary despite facing intense suffering. In our lives, this same strength is available. Whether we serve in another country or help someone in our own community, Christ’s power can enable us to stand firm on His promises and endure the most difficult of life’s challenges. Paul concludes this passage with these words: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (verses 19–20).

Muslim Brotherhood branch in Egypt threatens Jordanian state
Ahmad Sharawi/ FDD's Long War Journal/April 25/2025
On April 24, Al Arabiya reported that the Muslim Brotherhood’s foreign branch, the “Change Movement,” issued a new call to its members in response to Jordanian authorities banning the group. The organization urged its supporters in Jordan to confront the state. It called on followers to “revise their strategy and confront the Arab regimes,” accusing those regimes of “neglecting support for the Palestinian cause and aligning with Israel.”
The full translated statement by the Change Movement follows:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
In light of the ongoing Zionist escalation against our people in Gaza and attempts to break the will of the resistance, the systematic targeting of the living forces of the Ummah and its resistant heroes continues as part of an organized campaign aiming to silence every free voice and eliminate every project and movement of resistance.
In this context, the General Office of the Muslim Brotherhood has followed the decision issued by the Jordanian authorities to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, in a step that reflects an extremely dangerous level of political subordination and an outrageous alignment with the Zionist project and its agenda hostile to the Ummah’s causes and the aspirations of its peoples.
In response to this decision, the General Office of the Muslim Brotherhood announces a set of principles and positions, as follows:
First: At a time when the challenges facing the Ummah are increasing, and the need for the energies of Islamic movements and their roles in supporting the causes of the Ummah is intensifying, repressive regimes insist on pursuing these movements, banning them, and restricting their freedom instead of supporting and empowering them. The decision of the Jordanian authorities at this sensitive time reveals a dangerous alignment with the Zionist-American project and a direct blow to the tools of resistance and popular support for Palestine. The security justifications accompanying this decision are an integral part of a regional campaign aiming to break the will of the people, confiscate their right to struggle and resist, and cut off any project that confronts the occupation or rejects the path of normalization.
Second: The stance of the Jordanian regime toward the Palestinian cause has never been in harmony with the pulse of the Ummah nor with the demands of the current stage. Rather, it has always been laden with complicity, betrayal, and disgrace. This decision comes as a continuation of a long path of betrayal of the cause and dismantling the trenches of resistance, confirming that this regime has clearly chosen its place outside the ranks of the Ummah and alongside its enemies.
Third: We categorically reject considering support for the resistance as a crime or accusation; rather, we regard it as a badge of honor worn by everyone who has sincerely and consciously stood by Palestine. The persecution of the free because of their support for their central cause is a blatant indication of these regimes’ alignment with the enemies of the Ummah and their complete subordination to the Zionist project.
Fourth: The figures and active forces of the Islamic project must realize that what comes after the Al Aqsa Flood is not like what came before, and that the current moment imposes a radical review of strategies, policies, and positions—a review that goes beyond the logic of waiting and reaction. The equations have changed, the masks have fallen, and it is no longer acceptable to overlook the reality that these regimes, organically linked to the Zionist project, now represent the most prominent obstacle to any liberation or resistance project. Confronting these regimes has become a strategic necessity, the true beginning of the path toward the liberation of Al Aqsa and the restoration of the Ummah’s decision and will. There is no longer room for maneuvering or compromise in the current scene, nor is there room for hesitation or narrow calculations. The time for decisiveness and clarity has come: either a clear alignment with the Ummah’s project and its resistance or a fall into the swamp of regimes that have lost their dignity and sold their causes.
Fifth: To the youth of the Islamic movements, especially in Jordan: You are the weapon of the Ummah in its decisive moment, and confrontation has become a historic duty that is inescapable. Confronting the regimes that guard the Zionist project is not a choice—it is the inevitable path to liberate Al Aqsa and save the Ummah from occupation and tyranny in all its forms: political, military, and intellectual. Do not let this decision break your resolve; rather, make it your starting point. Do not wait for change from anyone … you are the change.
We ask God to steady the feet of the free, to raise the banner of truth high, and to make the Al Aqsa Flood the beginning of a comprehensive awakening that restores the Ummah’s dignity, the resistance’s status, and Al Aqsa’s freedom.
A 2022 report from the Egyptian media site Al Youm al Sabe details that the Change Movement represents one of the most significant recent splinters within the Muslim Brotherhood. The faction is led by Mahmoud El Gamal, a hardline Qutbist figure and a key member of Mohammad Kamal’s armed organization, which has orchestrated major terrorist operations in Egypt.
Unnamed sources told Al Youm al Sabe that foreign actors are attempting to back the Change Movement, hoping it can dominate the Muslim Brotherhood’s warring camps and steer the group in a more militant direction. The report states that the Change Movement has revived and reasserted the jihadist ideologies of Sayyid Qutb, Mohamed Qutb, and Mohamed Kamal, also drawing on the strategic vision of Mahmoud Ezzat, the Muslim Brotherhood’s former acting guide and the spiritual leader of its paramilitary wing.
**Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant.

Jordan Drops the Hammer on the Muslim Brotherhood
Ahmad Sharawi/FDD/April 25/2025
“The Muslim Brotherhood and all its activities are banned.” With that declaration, Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen al-Farayya broke with decades of restraint toward the influential Islamist movement. The April 23 announcement came just days after authorities arrested 16 operatives accused of building rockets and drones, stockpiling weapons, and recruiting terrorists on Jordanian soil. Ever since the Brotherhood came out in fierce opposition to the 1994 peace treaty with Israel, tensions with the government have simmered — escalating further during the Arab Spring, the wave of protests in the Arab world that led to the overthrow of regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Yet the Jordanian Brotherhood did not take part in violent episodes, unlike other branches of the movement across the region. So, Jordan stood apart from its neighbors, opting to contain rather than confront. That strategy is now in ruins.
Brotherhood Operatives Tied to Terror Plot
Jordanian intelligence has laid bare the details of a series of terrorist plots in which “members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) were planning on targeting sensitive sites.” In a video released by the General Intelligence Directorate (GID), several operatives confessed to direct ties with the Brotherhood. Abdullah Hisham, a member of the rocket manufacturing cell, stated, “My relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood began in 2020” but only later did it task him with manufacturing rockets. Another cell member, Muath al-Ghanem, said he “remains an active member to this day.” The rocket manufacturing cell confessed it “received $20,000 from a Brotherhood figure in Lebanon to purchase materials for rocket production.” A member of the recruitment cell confessed to enlisting Brotherhood members for terrorist activities while serving as the organization’s administrative manager in Zarqa and serving on the Brotherhood’s Shura Council, the MB’s decision-making body.
Previous Ban of Brotherhood Was Symbolic, Not Enforced
In 2020, Jordan’s highest court issued a ruling that formally dissolved the Brotherhood for failing to register as a legal entity. However, the court stopped short of banning the Brotherhood’s political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), which continued to operate with legal cover. This leniency allowed the movement to remain politically active through the IAF, which won 31 out of 138 seats in the 2024 parliamentary elections, the most of any party.
In response to the government’s declaration of a ban, the IAF announced “that its leadership is independent of any other entity,” attempting to distance itself from the Muslim Brotherhood, but as the Brotherhood’s political arm, the IAF is deeply tied to the group’s operations. The Brotherhood’s Shura Council handpicks the IAF’s leadership, the IAF shares offices with the MB, and its funding flows through the Brotherhood’s financial networks.
In this instance, before the GID exposed the terror plot, the IAF had called for the release of several cell members, framing them as political prisoners. The list included two individuals from the drone unit, two from the rocket cell, and two from the recruitment cell.
Since the court’s ban did not formally include the IAF, outlawing it would likely require a separate ruling and an official decision by the Independent Electoral Commission. Nevertheless, the ban is likely to erode the IAF’s political base well before the next elections in 2028. Even if it remains a legal party, the loss of Brotherhood-linked funding could cripple its chances at the ballot box.
To Prevent Future Attacks, Security Cooperation for Jordan is Key
By outlawing the Brotherhood, Jordan risks driving the group underground — a path that led to a spike in terrorist attacks in Egypt in the 1990s. For years, Amman opted for containment to help it monitor the Brotherhood and prevent militant activity, but that strategy has failed. The danger now is a covert, radicalized network that poses a greater threat to national security. The United States should urge Jordan to deepen intelligence cooperation with Gulf allies and Israel to keep the Brotherhood in check and prevent future attacks.
* Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.

Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood ban a turning point
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/April 25, 2025
Jordan’s decision to formally ban all activities of the dissolved Muslim Brotherhood marks a watershed moment in the kingdom’s modern political history — a decision that could reverberate well beyond its borders. Announced by Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya on Wednesday, the move came on the heels of a shocking revelation: a foiled plot involving the manufacture of rockets by individuals allegedly linked to the group. This development sent shock waves through Jordan’s security apparatus and fundamentally reshaped the national discourse on the role of political Islam within the state.
Since the establishment of the Jordanian state in 1946, the Muslim Brotherhood has played a paradoxical role — at once an integrated actor in Jordan’s political development and a perennial source of ideological friction. Its founding in Jordan was marked by a pragmatic collaboration with the Hashemite monarchy, built on mutual concerns about communism and Arab nationalism. Over the decades, the Brotherhood crafted a unique position within the kingdom’s political architecture. Unlike its outlawed counterparts in neighboring states, Jordan’s Brotherhood operated with relative openness, participating in parliamentary elections, running charitable institutions and mobilizing support through grassroots networks. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 2000s, the Brotherhood managed to straddle the line between loyalty to the monarchy and advocacy for a distinct sociopolitical agenda rooted in Islamic principles. It garnered support from a wide spectrum of society, particularly among those in the middle and lower classes, who felt marginalized by the economic liberalization policies of successive governments. Its role in advocating for the Palestinian cause — especially during crises such as the ongoing Gaza war — further amplified its resonance with the Jordanian public, culminating in a stronger-than-expected performance in the 2024 legislative elections.
What once served as a pressure valve for societal grievances has, in the eyes of the state, transformed into a potential vector for subversion. However, what once served as a pressure valve for societal grievances has, in the eyes of the state, transformed into a potential vector for subversion. The recent discovery of a clandestine rocket-manufacturing operation, allegedly orchestrated by the son of a senior Brotherhood figure, has shattered long-held assumptions about the group’s strict adherence to nonviolence. Although the Brotherhood’s leadership was quick to disavow any connection to the plot and reiterated its commitment to peaceful activism, the incident has nonetheless cast a dark cloud over the movement’s credibility and internal coherence.
In response, the government launched a sweeping crackdown: banning all Brotherhood-related activities, shuttering affiliated offices, freezing financial assets and pursuing legal action against anyone promoting or collaborating with the outlawed group. The tone was unambiguous — Jordan would no longer tolerate political entities that, under the guise of ideological pluralism, harbor or inspire elements posing a threat to national cohesion.
Domestically, the ban has reignited fierce debates. Supporters of the move argue that Jordan’s stability must come above all else, particularly in a region plagued by insurgencies and ideological militancy. Critics, however, warn of the dangers of conflating dissent with subversion. For many Jordanians, especially those disillusioned by stagnant political reforms and economic hardship, the Brotherhood once symbolized an alternative — albeit an imperfect one. Its community-driven initiatives, female-led platforms and focus on social justice filled a void left by traditional political parties. Yet, the exposure of violent plots has irreversibly undermined the group’s moral capital, casting doubt on whether it can still claim the mantle of peaceful opposition. Regionally, Jordan’s decision represents more than a domestic policy shift — it is a calculated geopolitical signal. By outlawing the Brotherhood, Amman aligns itself more explicitly with a regional bloc that includes Egypt and the UAE, both of which have adopted aggressive stances against Islamist movements. Jordan’s pivot thus underscores its intent to stay firmly within the fold of Western-aligned, security-focused regimes that prioritize order over ideological pluralism. Regionally, Jordan’s decision represents more than a domestic policy shift — it is a calculated geopolitical signal. The timing of this crackdown is especially significant. The Middle East remains in flux due to the devastating conflict in Gaza, which has intensified regional polarization and exposed the fragile fault lines running through many Arab societies. With Iran-backed militias expanding their influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, and with extremist networks seeking new footholds amid growing public anger, Jordan’s leadership is understandably concerned about the risks of internal radicalization. The foiled rocket plot — believed to be targeting security installations — was not just an act of criminal defiance, it was a direct challenge to the state’s monopoly on force and legitimacy.
The path forward is fraught with uncertainty. The Brotherhood’s ideological imprint will not vanish overnight. While the organization may be structurally dismantled, its supporters are unlikely to simply abandon their beliefs. The risk of splinter groups radicalizing or operating underground is real. To mitigate this, Jordan must walk a careful line: safeguarding national security without extinguishing avenues for legitimate political expression.
This moment also presents an opportunity. The end of the Brotherhood’s formal political role could open space for new, reform-minded movements that advocate transparency, inclusivity and constructive engagement. But such developments will only materialize if the state demonstrates a genuine commitment to democratic renewal, economic equity and responsive governance. Simply replacing one set of actors with another will not address the deeper societal grievances that fueled the Brotherhood’s rise in the first place.In essence, Jordan’s ban on the Muslim Brotherhood is not merely the closing of a political chapter — it is the culmination of a complex and often uneasy relationship between religion, ideology and statehood. It is also a bold recalibration of the kingdom’s political doctrine in response to an evolving regional order marked by ideological polarization and shifting alliances. Whether this move ushers in a new era of stability or sows the seeds of future discord will depend largely on what the government does next — not just in terms of repression or security, but in its ability to offer a compelling, inclusive vision for the nation’s future.
• Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh

Ankara aims to strengthen ties with Cairo through NATO
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/April 25, 2025
When NATO launched a military intervention in Libya in 2011, Egypt adopted a cautious stance because of concerns about the scope and intentions of the action. Cairo viewed the alliance’s intervention as exacerbating Libya’s instability, creating a larger security vacuum in the region. Turkiye, a NATO member, initially opposed the intervention, perceiving it as risky, but eventually joined in albeit reluctantly.
NATO’s image in the Middle East has been contentious for decades, partly because of its intervention in Libya, which further fueled negative perceptions and mistrust among both the political elite and the general public. These perceptions were intensified by the lack of strategic dialogue between NATO and Egypt. However, Ankara, which is currently NATO’s contact point with Egypt, is keen to strengthen ties between the alliance and Cairo and to contribute to increasing public awareness of this relationship.
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo hosted an event last week to discuss NATO-Egypt relations and the NATO contact point role that Turkiye and Italy will share. The event also focused on the NATO Southern Neighborhood Action Plan, which was adopted at the NATO summit in Washington in 2024. A joint initiative aimed at boosting ties between Egypt and NATO was launched at the event, which was viewed as the continuation of Egypt’s long-standing policy of cooperating with the alliance without seeking membership.
Turkiye plays a significant role in NATO-Egypt relations. In the past, when those relations were strained, Turkiye blocked Egypt’s partnership activities with NATO, to prevent Cairo developing a partnership with the alliance. In 2021, Turkiye removed its block and supported Egypt’s progress to partnership with NATO as part of Mediterranean Dialogue, and its participation in all activities with NATO. This paved the way for the normalization of relations between Ankara and Cairo.
Since the 1990s, NATO has engaged closely with states in the Middle East, including Egypt, through its Mediterranean Dialogue. Established in 1994, it aims to facilitate political dialogue with Middle Eastern countries. As a NATO partner, Egypt engages in political dialogue with the alliance. NATO members issued a joint report last year asserting that Egypt was a strategic partner for peace, security and stability in the region. For Turkiye, Egypt is a key player in the eastern Mediterranean, an area of significant interest where Turkiye has high stakes.
The rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara has been significant for regional dynamics. The Gaza war in particular has played a pivotal role in consolidating their renewed relationship, as both view Israeli attacks as destabilizing. As ties were restored, both countries also made it clear that a priority for renewed cooperation would be stabilizing Libya. It is evident then that closer relations between Turkiye and Egypt also align with NATO’s objectives and ambitions in the region and Libya presents an opportunity to strengthen their cooperation. NATO has expressed interest in helping build defense structures in Libya, but it requires cooperation with Egypt and Turkiye to do so effectively.
Egypt faces significant security concerns in Sinai, Libya, and Sudan, with Libya posing a particularly critical challenge. Libya continues to struggle with the aftermath of years of crises since the NATO intervention. While NATO and Egypt may differ on approaches to their objectives there, they have a common goal of stabilizing the country, a shared interest thatcould foster closer cooperation between them.
Turkiye supports NATO establishing partnerships with regional countries, including Egypt, to ease tensions that threaten regional stability through effective security and political collaboration. As a NATO member, Turkiye aims to play a crucial role in NATO’s Middle Eastern strategy, with the priority being to enhance the security of regional states, rather than risking their security through more active involvement in resolving ongoing crises, including Libya.
Turkiye’s interests in strengthening NATO-Egypt ties are driven by several key considerations, particularly regarding Libya and the eastern Mediterranean, where they have different agendas and partnerships. However, by improving their relations, they hope to turn challenges into opportunities.
First, Turkiye needs partners in the eastern Mediterranean, a region that plays a critical role in its foreign policy. Closer relations with Cairo may enhance Ankara’s influence there, particularly on the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, from which Turkiye has been excluded. While Egypt is unlikely to jeopardize its existing partnerships in the region, improved ties with Ankara could at least prevent Cairo from actively aligning with initiatives that are against Turkiye’s interests. The eastern Mediterranean is also strategically significant for NATO’s southern flank.
Second, Turkiye seeks to transform Libya from a contested area into a space for cooperation with Egypt. Both Turkiye and Egypt are facing economic challenges, and the economic benefits of collaboration in Libya are a powerful force for their cooperation. For NATO, Libya’s instability has allowed the rise of non-state actors and uncontrolled migration to Europe, making the country a major concern. Thus, Libya’s significance in foreign policy considerations for Turkiye, Egypt, and NATO is related to strategic interests in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as migration routes.
Last, Turkiye seeks to strengthen its position within NATO by bridging the alliance’s relations with Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt. The current state of relations between Egypt and Turkiye will undoubtedly affect the level of cooperation between Cairo and the alliance in the future.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz