English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For April 30/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all
Mark 10/35-45: "James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’"

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 29-30/2025
Devils, Scribes, Pharisees, and Trojans Tarnish the Reputation of Monsignor Mansour Labaki/Elias Bejjani/April 29/2025
The Vile and Lewd Attack by Hezbollah's Thuggish Street Mobs and Their Mouthpieces to Terrorize and Silence Director Youssef El Khoury/Elias Bejjani/April 28, 2025
Lebanese president calls for Syria sanctions to be lifted to facilitate refugee return
Lebanon’s President to make official visit to UAE
Aoun to Meet Jeffers Before UAE Trip for Talks
What did Aoun tell Americans after Israeli strike on Dahieh?
Aoun urges US to help Lebanon achieve stability
Salam warns over stability if Israel doesn't withdraw from South
Paris reportedly seeking to activate work of ceasefire committee
Qatar, UK reaffirm commitment to Lebanon's reform process — joint statement
French delegation holds key talks on Beirut Port explosion case
Uncertainty clouds Beirut municipal race as parity concerns grow
Hezbollah Leader Calls on Government to Work Harder to End Israel's Attacks on Lebanon
Carnegie Endowment: “Trusting the Americans Is a Bad Idea”/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This is Beirut/April 29, 2025
Bint Jbeil Residents Intercept a UNIFIL Patrol
Antoun Sehnaoui Condemns A Defamatory Campaign Driven By Political Motives
Will a weakened Hezbollah in Lebanon disarm?/Abby Sewell/The Associated Press/April 29, 2025
Mr. Prime Minister, Publish the Agreements/By Dr. Charbel Azar – April 29, 2025
Justice for an American: Why the U.S. Must Continue Pursuing Accountability for the death of Amer Fakhoury/Jason Ian Poblete/The Poblete Dispatches/Apr 29, 2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 29-30/2025
Liberals projected to finish just shy of majority in razor-close race
Carney takes aim at Trump, promises 'humility' in victory speech
Three people shot dead in Sweden, police say
Iraq detains Islamic State suspect accused of helping to incite New Orleans truck-ramming attack
Lacking aid, Syrians do what they can to rebuild devastated Aleppo
More than a dozen killed in sectarian clashes near Syrian capital
Syria’s top diplomat to meet US State Department officials in New York
Syria vows to pursue gunmen involved in deadly clashes near Damascus
Israel's spy chief announces resignation following row with Netanyahu
Over 50 Gaza aid workers faced abuse in Israeli detention: UNRWA
UN rights chief demands world act to stop Israel’s Gaza ‘catastrophe’
Israeli forces detain prominent Palestinian journalist in early morning West Bank raid
Surge in attacks signals jihadist comeback in Nigeria's northeast
France warns of sanctions on Iran if nuclear deal not reached
US hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March: Pentagon
Iran says fire contained at key port after deadly blast
US sanctions companies in China and Iran for helping IRGC develop ballistic missiles
Zelenskyy calls for fair peace with no ‘rewards’ for Putin
Modi gives Indian military ‘operational freedom’ to respond to Kashmir attack: Source

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on April 29-30/2025
World Economic Forum needs a visionary new leader/Khalid Abdulla-Janahi/Arab News/April 29, 2025
UK-US trade deal important but not at any price/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/April 29, 2025
An Obscure Arab Summit Awaits/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 29/2025
Protecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is Our Shared Responsibility/Hassan Sheikh Mohamud-President of Somalia/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 29/2025
Regional Messaging Between Israel and Iran/Johnny Kortbawi/This is Beirut/April 29/2025
Washington Draws the Line: Iran Must Comply/Philippe Abi-Akl/This is Beirut/April 29/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 29-30/2025
Devils, Scribes, Pharisees, and Trojans Tarnish the Reputation of Monsignor Mansour Labaki
Elias Bejjani/April 29/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142855/
Enough with the populism, leftist hypocrisy, immorality, and Trojan betrayal. Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at Monsignor Mansour Labaki.—shameless accusers! We are truly living in an age of moral collapse… a time ruled by devils, lawbreakers, and the profane.

The Vile and Lewd Attack by Hezbollah's Thuggish Street Mobs and Their Mouthpieces to Terrorize and Silence Director Youssef El Khoury
Elias Bejjani/April 28, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142815/
"Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ". (Galatians 01/01-24)
There is no doubt that President Aoun’s tenure, is expected to properly see that the Lebanese judiciary is not biased and execute its role with fairness in accordance to the laws, and is thus put to the test — either to confront the terrorist Hezbollah’s filthy judicial and media assaults targeting patriotic citizens who speak the truth, or to turn a blind eye and succumb.
The judiciary’s true stance will be judged by the way it handles the satanic and fabricated schemes aimed at intimidating and silencing director Youssef El Khoury and at crushing the will of sovereign and honorable voices.
Will the judiciary, in its so-called new form, possess the courage and integrity to confront and end the depravity and shamelessness of Hezbollah's Trojins and hired gung propagandists?
In this context, we condemn the injustice and the dirty, street-level slander to which the writer and director Youssef Youssef Yaacoub El Khoury is being subjected, and we repeat what the Lord Jesus Christ said to the scribes and Pharisees who demanded that he silence the shouts of the believers as he entered Jerusalem: "If these keep silent, the stones will cry out." (Luke19/40)

Lebanese president calls for Syria sanctions to be lifted to facilitate refugee return
Arab News/April 29, 2025
DUBAI: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday urged the international community to lift sanctions on Syria. This would revitalize Syria’s economy and create the necessary conditions for the return of displaced Syrians to their home country, he said.In a meeting with a delegation from the Middle East Institute in Washington, led by retired US Gen. Joseph Votel, Aoun said that Lebanon has reached its limit in hosting the large number of displaced people residing in the country. He added that the political and security conditions that once justified the presence of displaced people in Lebanon have significantly changed, making their return both possible and essential. “We are committed to the return of these displaced persons to their country,” Aoun said, adding that many now remain in Lebanon purely as “economic migrants.”He described the return of refugees as a humanitarian necessity and crucial for Lebanon’s long-term stability. The Lebanese president said that removing sanctions on Syria would revitalize the country’s economy and create the necessary conditions for Syrian refugees to return. This would help alleviate the pressures Lebanon faces, both economically and in terms of its strained infrastructure and resources, he said. Aoun also called on Washington to support Lebanon’s security institutions, particularly the army, which he described as urgently needing assistance to maintain national stability and carry out its responsibilities under UN Resolution 1701. On the broader issue of Lebanon’s economic recovery, Aoun discussed the reforms being carried out in the country. Lebanon’s political unity and the consistent implementation of reforms are critical for restoring the country’s economic and financial health, he said. “We must remain focused on the reform process, as only through internal unity and consistent progress will we be able to gain back the trust of the international community, and attract much-needed support,” Aoun added.

Lebanon’s President to make official visit to UAE
LBCI/April 29, 2025
Lebanon’s Presidential Media Office announced that President Joseph Aoun will make an official two-day visit to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During the visit, President Aoun is scheduled to hold talks with the Emirati leader and other senior officials.

Aoun to Meet Jeffers Before UAE Trip for Talks
This is Beirut/April 29, 2025
President Joseph Aoun stressed that the decision to collect illegal weapons was “irreversible.”The Lebanese Presidency announced on its X account that President Joseph Aoun will travel on Wednesday to the United Arab Emirates for a two-day official visit at the request of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Emir of Abu Dhabi. According to the statement, Aoun will hold talks with Sheikh Al Nahyan and other senior Emirati officials during his visit. Before departing, Aoun will receive General Jasper Jeffers at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. Jeffers chairs the international committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Their discussions will focus on the situation in southern Lebanon, as well as Israeli violations of the ceasefire and Lebanese detainees held in Israel. On the eve of General Jeffers’ arrival, President Aoun commented on the situation in southern Lebanon during a meeting with a delegation from the Middle East Institute (MEI), led by retired US General Joseph Votel. He outlined the measures taken by the Lebanese Army to deploy south of the Litani River, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. However, Aoun criticized Israel’s continued presence on five border hilltops, claiming that while these areas hold no strategic importance, they prevent the army from fully deploying to the border. “Israel should have withdrawn from these positions on February 18, in accordance with the November 27 ceasefire agreement. Despite our repeated appeals to the sponsors of this agreement—the United States and France—no action has been taken,” he lamented. He once again called on Washington to pressure Israel to withdraw from these positions and to release Lebanese prisoners so the army can fully carry out its mission in cooperation with UNIFIL and thereby extend the state’s sovereignty across the entire southern territory.
No Security Disruption
President Aoun also stressed that the decision to give sole authority over arms possession to the state is “irreversible.”“This direction enjoys broad support both from Lebanon and from friendly and allied nations,” he emphasized, adding that “removing illegal weapons will not lead to security unrest.”This process, according to Aoun, would be conducted through dialogue with the concerned parties, who also value stability, peace and the role of the central state. He noted that the current regional context favors peaceful solutions, “even if their implementation requires time to prevent any escalation.”In this context, the president also highlighted the urgent need for increased support for the army and security forces. “Military units need rapid assistance to continue fulfilling their role in maintaining order and stability,” he said. According to Aoun, “It is in the interest of the United States to see Lebanon remain stable and secure. They must help achieve this.”
‘No Longer Possible to Host Refugees’
The president also addressed the issue of displaced and migrant Syrians, asserting that Lebanon “can no longer accommodate them.” He said that the majority of Syrian refugees are now able to return home, as “the political and security conditions that once justified their continued stay have largely changed.”He added that lifting economic sanctions on Damascus would help revive the Syrian economy and create favorable conditions for the refugees’ return. Finally, the head of state reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to continuing economic, financial and administrative reforms. He emphasized the fight against corruption, calling it “a priority being pursued in collaboration with the government and parliament.”

What did Aoun tell Americans after Israeli strike on Dahieh?
Naharnet/Apr 29, 2025
The latest Israeli airstrike on Dahieh prompted Lebanese officials to intensify their contacts with foreign countries with the aim of pressing Israel to halt its attacks, a media report said. They also sought to “obtain guarantees that there will be no aggression, especially during the upcoming municipal and mayoral polls,” Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday. “President Joseph Aoun communicated with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and held a phone call with the head of the international committee monitoring the ceasefire in the South, U.S. general Jasper Jeffers, who will come to Beirut today (Tuesday) to meet with the three presidents (Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam) to follow up on the situation,” the daily said. Aoun stressed that “the Lebanese Army is performing the missions requested from it and there is clear foreign appreciation of its work, but the Israeli enemy is the side obstructing the continuation of its deployment and missions though its continued violations and occupation of the five points,” the newspaper added.

Aoun urges US to help Lebanon achieve stability
Naharnet/Apr 29, 2025
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Tuesday on the United States to help Lebanon achieve stability. "It is in the interest of the United States for Lebanon to remain a stable and secure country, and therefore it must help Lebanon achieve this goal," Aoun said.
Aoun had earlier called for France and the United States, guarantors of a fragile November 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, to compel Israel to halt its attacks, following a Sunday strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. He condemned the strike and urged the United States and France "to assume their responsibilities and compel Israel to halt its attacks immediately".

Salam warns over stability if Israel doesn't withdraw from South
Naharnet/Apr 29, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed Tuesday that “the attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs and the other Israeli attacks represent a violation of the cessation of hostilities arrangements,” adding that “it is necessary to activate the monitoring mechanism to put an end to these attacks.”“Lebanon wants an end to all these violations and to the Israeli occupation of the five hills and all Lebanese territory,” Salam added, in a meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate.“If Israel doesn’t fully withdraw, that will jeopardize stability,” the PM warned, adding that “Lebanon is committed to the agreement and the Israeli side must in turn abide by it.”“We have an interest in keeping the U.S. and French stances on our side to achieve that,” Salam went on to say. Revealing that efforts are still ongoing to “rally all diplomatic forces to halt the attacks,” the premier pointed out that “communication is ongoing with the Americans, the French and all influential forces, especially Arab and European countries, to maintain this pressure and activate it further.”Asked about Hezbollah’s stance on limiting arms to the hands of the state, Salam said: “Hezbollah always announces that it stands behind the state and the state has taken a clear decision in this regard based on the ministerial statement, which Hezbollah voted in its favor.”

Paris reportedly seeking to activate work of ceasefire committee
Naharnet/Apr 29, 2025
The U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring committee might convene on Thursday after it had suspended its meetings and work following a U.S. decision, informed sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper.“Washington had sought to replace the technical military committee with diplomatic committees, which was rejected by Lebanon,” the sources added. “Paris is seeking to activate the committee’s work and has rejected to grant justifications for the repeated Israeli aggression against Lebanon, contrary to the Americans, who are granting Israel freedom of action and agreeing to strikes,” the sources said.
190 people have been killed and 485 injured in Lebanon by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect as Israel continued to carry out strikes on south and east Lebanon. Israeli troops also remain on five hills in south Lebanon they deem "strategic."On Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck Beirut's southern suburbs after issuing a warning, marking the third Israeli strike on the area since the ceasefire took effect in late November. The Israeli military said it carried out more than 50 strikes in Lebanon this month.

Qatar, UK reaffirm commitment to Lebanon's reform process — joint statement
LBCI/April 29, 2025
In a significant diplomatic move, Qatar and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Lebanon's ongoing reform process during the Second Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue. In a joint statement, Qatar and the UK agreed to enhance collaboration in Syria, with a focus on humanitarian assistance and supporting the economic recovery and reconstruction of the war-torn country. Both nations also called for an immediate return to the ceasefire and the establishment of a credible political framework for the creation of a Palestinian state, highlighting the urgent need for action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The two countries further reiterated their commitment to supporting diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran and expressed determination to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

French delegation holds key talks on Beirut Port explosion case
LBCI/April 29, 2025
A French judicial delegation met with Lebanon's top prosecutor, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, on Tuesday morning before holding a lengthy meeting with Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator in the Beirut Port explosion case. The discussions focused on the exchange of information related to the ongoing investigation. While the delegation did not hand over the French technical report, a second meeting with Judge Bitar is scheduled for Wednesday to continue the discussions on the case.

Uncertainty clouds Beirut municipal race as parity concerns grow
LBCI/April 29, 2025
Achieving parity in the Beirut municipal council remains a major concern, particularly for Christian religious and political leaders. Beirut has 515,000 registered voters, with a demographic breakdown estimated at 66% Muslim, 33% Christian and about 1% Jewish. Concerns about failing to ensure equal representation are growing amid disarray among key political forces, most notably the Future Movement. The party has distanced itself from the election process as an organization, though some individual members remain active without a clear direction. Talks aimed at forming a consensus electoral list are ongoing. Key players include Christian parties, the Hezbollah-Amal Movement political duo, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, the "Association of Islamic Charitable Projects," and MP Nabil Badr. Some activists affiliated with the Future Movement are also involved, but the overall outlook remains uncertain.
According to LBCI, Christian parties have agreed on nine candidates and are working with other stakeholders to finalize three additional names from independent Christian candidates. Meanwhile, there are reports that Ahmad Hechmieh, head of the Beirut Association for Social Development, is attempting to form a consensus list through outreach to various political actors in the capital. However, the Future Movement’s official position remains to abstain from both running candidates and endorsing any list. Separately, MPs Paula Yacoubian, Ibrahim Mneimneh, and Melhem Khalaf are working to form a civil society-backed list modeled after the "Beirut Madinati" campaign from the 2016 municipal elections. Some candidates have already been selected. Another initiative is being led by MP Waddah Sadek, who proposes forming a committee within three months to clarify the division of powers between the Beirut governor and the municipal council. He is also working toward establishing a consensus list in the capital. While the principle of parity remains under threat, the fragmentation of the Sunni vote—which represents the largest voter bloc in Beirut—could help preserve it, but only if participants in the consensus list vote for it in full without crossing out individual names.

Hezbollah Leader Calls on Government to Work Harder to End Israel's Attacks on Lebanon
Asharq Al-Awsat/April 29/2025
The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group called on the government Monday to work harder to end Israel’s attacks in the country a day after an Israeli airstrike hit a suburb of Beirut. Naim Kassem said in a televised speech that Hezbollah implemented the ceasefire deal that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war in late November. But despite that, Israel is continuing with near-daily airstrikes. Kassem’s comments came as the Israeli military said it carried out more than 50 strikes in Lebanon this month saying they came after Hezbollah violated the US-brokered ceasefire, The Associated Press reported. On Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck Beirut’s southern suburbs after issuing a warning about an hour earlier, marking the third Israeli strike on the area since a ceasefire took effect in late November. The Israeli military said it struck a precision-guided missiles facility. “The resistance complied 100% with the (ceasefire) deal and I tell state officials that it's your duty to guarantee protection,” Kassem said, adding that Lebanese officials should contact sponsors of the ceasefire so that they pressure Israel to cease its attacks. “Put pressure on America and make it understand that Lebanon cannot rise if the aggression doesn’t stop,” Kassem said, pointing to Lebanese officials. He added that the US has interests in Lebanon and “stability achieves these interests.”Kassem said the priority should be for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, an end to Israeli strikes in the country and the release of Lebanese held in Israel since the war that ended on Nov. 27. Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel by its Hamas allies ignited the Israel-Hamas war. The Palestinian Hamas group killed about 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251 others during the 2023 attack.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict exploded into all-out war last September when Israel carried out waves of airstrikes and killed most of the militant group’s senior leaders. The fighting killed over 4,000 people. The Lebanese government said earlier this month that 190 people have been killed and 485 injured in Lebanon by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect.

Carnegie Endowment: “Trusting the Americans Is a Bad Idea”
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This is Beirut/April 29, 2025
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an American think tank, believes that “trusting the Americans is a bad idea.” Carnegie’s Michael Young did not qualify what he meant by “the Americans.” Did he mean the US government? Its policies? Or just all of the Americans, wholesale? Young even took a swipe at the May 17, 1983 peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, a now defunct treaty that America facilitated. That an American think tank warns of “trusting the Americans,” and that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has issues with peace between Lebanon and Israel, are two ideas that sound ironic and rather surreal. The phenomenon of American institutions being used as launchpads against America, its people, and its government, must come to an end.
The writer of these lines is a freedom of expression absolutist. Short of instigating to violence, no opinion should be censored or those who uphold it punished. Yet, freedom of expression does not mean that fine American institutions lend their imprimatur to anti-Americanism. There is a clear line between criticizing American policies, which is ok and even encouraged, and vilifying America by revising its history to depict it as an evil project built on the corpses of indigenous natives, enslaved Africans, and colonized nations. The majority of Americans are patriots, proud of the founding principles of their nation — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — aware that their Republic is not a utopia, but an ongoing experiment that is continuously evolving and improving. There is something wrong when American institutions, such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, go after “the Americans.”
This problem goes beyond Carnegie and includes a host of top US colleges that have opened the door for tyrant autocracies, with deep pockets, to use the colleges’ imprimatur to bash America.
Georgetown University is the poster child of cashing big fat Qatari checks and lending Doha and its Islamists a hand in tarnishing the reputation of the American model. Georgetown Doha has hosted dozens of conferences with themes centering around supporting the Global South and its model of government while bashing the West and its principles. Using the prestige of fine academic institutions to undermine America’s global standing has spread to American universities at home. Many US colleges today vilify America but bask in the largesse of American taxpayers. If Uncle Sam is so evil, why cash his checks?
President Trump has been right to threaten with cutting funding for universities thrashing, not his administration’s policies, but the very foundations of the republic.
Fortunately, many of these universities have stepped back, some of them have even gone in the opposite direction. A glimpse of light comes from the American University of Beirut (AUB). The Christian mission that started in1866 became America’s earliest significant presence in the Middle East. But by the 1950s, Arab nationalism and Marxism had swept campus. The same AUB whose mission was to spread American values became the hotbed of the most notorious terrorists, the likes of the founders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) — George Habash and Wadih Haddad.
With the outbreak of the civil war, AUB wisely shut down student politics on campus — including stopping the publication of its weekly student newspaper, Outlook — and steered clear of the civil war. AUB’s neutrality continued until the late 1990s, when Lebanon had become stable and students started demanding re-politicizing their campus.
Once re-politicized, AUB became — again — a bastion of anti-Americanism. And with anti-Americanism came censorship of dissenting voices —supporters of the West and liberal values.
Then Hezbollah launched its war on Israel, whose aftermath caused a shift in Lebanon’s political tectonic plates. Over the past 12 months, AUB has visibly distanced itself from anti-Americanism, prompting Hezbollah’s daily Al-Akhbar to run hit pieces against the university and its leadership.
For standing up to Hezbollah’s bullying, AUB deserves America’s support. For vilifying “the Americans,” Carnegie Endowment must dissociate from its Middle East office. For cashing Qatari checks, Georgetown must show every cent it has made off Doha, should be shamed for it, and should lose federal grants until it corrects course. The American people are generous in supporting friendly nations, building their government capacity, and spreading liberty, freedom and democracy. But the American people are not stupid, and know the difference between protected speech and anti-Americanism.
We, Americans, will be always happy to fund like-minded champions of liberty, freedom and democracy. But we must never fund, or franchise, those who vilify us and our values or denigrate our republic and its founding principles.

Bint Jbeil Residents Intercept a UNIFIL Patrol
This is Beirut/AFP/April 29, 2025
A UNIFIL patrol was intercepted on Tuesday by residents of Bint Jbeil after entering the town without an escort from the Lebanese Army. This marks the second such incident in southern Lebanon in less than a week. Last Friday, another UNIFIL convoy was briefly blocked twice near the town of Tayr Dabba. According to local media, a group of young men on motorcycles obstructed the convoy, shouting hostile remarks at the peacekeepers. The incidents come amid rising tensions in southern Lebanon, as Israeli attacks persist despite the ceasefire.

Antoun Sehnaoui Condemns A Defamatory Campaign Driven By Political Motives
This is Beirut/April 29, 2025
In a statement issued on Tuesday, attorney Cynthia Georges Ephrem denounced a defamatory campaign against her client, Antoun Sehnaoui, describing it as an act of political score-settling. The Lebanese public has grown increasingly exasperated by the recurring tendency to unjustly implicate Mr. Antoun Sehnaoui in every unfortunate incident or reprehensible crime, to the point that such claims now verge on the absurd. It is as though the old saying, “Blame it on the Italians,” has, in the minds of certain malicious individuals, been replaced by “Blame it on Sehnaoui.” These repeated accusations are clearly motivated by attempts to settle political scores or serve personal and electoral agendas that are no longer concealed from the public eye. The latest of these malicious campaigns emerged in the wake of a heinous assault committed by a mentally unstable individual against two women. In this context, and in my capacity as Mr. Sehnaoui’s legal representative, I wish to clarify the following:
1.⁠ Mr. Sehnaoui unequivocally condemns the violent attack against the two women and expresses his full solidarity with the victims. He calls on the security forces and competent judicial authorities to take the strictest measures against the perpetrator and to impose the most severe penalties under the law.
2.⁠ Mr. Sehnaoui has absolutely no connection—direct or indirect—with the named assailant, Tony Felfli. The latter has never been employed by Mr. Sehnaoui nor has he had any affiliation with his institutions. Any attempt to associate the two constitutes deliberate defamation and is indicative of harmful and premeditated intent.
3.⁠ The recent defamatory campaigns have been orchestrated by known individuals, including a Member of Parliament from the Achrafieh district, who has sought to mobilize feminist groups and social media accounts by supplying them with false information, misrepresented as having been "relayed by activists," despite being entirely unfounded. Certain media platforms, recognized for their biased agendas, have also contributed to the spread of these allegations.
Such defamatory acts expose their perpetrators to legal liability for the reputational harm caused to Mr. Sehnaoui. Accordingly, we issue a clear and firm warning: any continuation of these baseless attacks will lead to legal action against all responsible parties.
The defamatory campaign targeting Mr. Antoun Sehnaoui began nine days after the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) issued a statement announcing the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping and violently assaulting two women.

Will a weakened Hezbollah in Lebanon disarm?
Abby Sewell/The Associated Press/April 29, 2025
BEIRUT (AP) — Israel's latest airstrike on what it called a Hezbollah missile storage facility in Beirut's southern suburbs came during increasing pressure for the Lebanese militant group to disarm. The disarmament of what has been the region's most powerful non-state armed group has come to look increasingly inevitable. Hezbollah is severely weakened after a war with Israel in which much of its top leadership was killed, and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms. Israel and the U.S. are pushing for swift disarmament, but when and how it will happen - if it does - is contested. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has said he is committed to bringing all arms in the country under state control, but that it will happen through discussions around a national security plan and not through force.
Many fear that an attempt to force the issue would lead to civil conflict, which Aoun has called a “red line.”Hezbollah officials have said in principle that they are willing to discuss the group's arsenal, but leader Naim Qassem said in a speech earlier this month that any serious discussions are contingent on Israel withdrawing its forces from territory they occupy in southern Lebanon and halting near-daily airstrikes.
“The Lebanese have to strike a delicate balance” on disarmament, said Aram Nerguizian, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Go too slow ... and you will lose internal momentum and international legitimacy. Go too fast and you get accused by a still-hurting and battered Shia community" — who make up most of Hezbollah's constituency — "of acting as a proxy for Israel, while risking Hezbollah remnants ... waging an insurgency against the Lebanese government.”
What would disarmament look like?
After Lebanon’s 15-year civil war ended in 1990, the country went through a process of disarming most of the militias that had taken part. Hezbollah was the exception, given special status as a “resistance force” fighting against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon at the time. Aoun has outlined his vision of a similar disarmament process. Former Hezbollah fighters could apply to join the Lebanese army as individuals, the president said. Weapons deemed "usable” by the army would become part of its arsenal, while those deemed “unusable” would be destroyed.
Nerguizian said that more than 90% of Hezbollah's “sophisticated and heavy weapons” — which once included tens of thousands of missiles and drones — are believed to have been destroyed already, the vast majority of them by Israel.
What remains, he said, would not be compatible with the Lebanese army's arsenal, which is largely Western-supplied, while Hezbollah uses Iranian, Russian and Chinese-made weapons. Nerguizian said it is unlikely that large numbers of Hezbollah's tens of thousands of fighters would be incorporated into the army because their ideology has not been compatible as a paramilitary force that has largely been “tied to the preferences of Iran."
Retired Lebanese army Gen. Hassan Jouni agreed that much of Hezbollah's arsenal would not be easily integrated but said the post-civil war era provides a precedent for integrating fighters. After going through training, “they become like any other soldier,” he said. While there might be a “religious and ideological obstacle" for some Hezbollah fighters, "I do not think this is the case for everyone.”
Ibrahim Mousawi, a member of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, told The Associated Press that “everything is open for discussion."“We don’t want to jump into discussing the details,” he said. "This is something that is being left in the hands of the president and the Hezbollah leadership to deal with.”
Mousawi said the destruction of Hezbollah’s arsenal “shouldn’t be acceptable to Lebanon.”The cash-strapped Lebanese army has struggled to maintain its aging arsenal. In recent years, it has turned to the U.S. and Qatar to help pay soldiers' salaries.
“We are part of the Lebanese strength," Mousawi said. ”If the Americans are really keen to show us that they really respect Lebanon and they care for the Lebanese, ... why don’t they equip the Lebanese army with defensive weapons?”
When might disarming occur?
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus said earlier this month in an interview broadcast on Lebanese channel LBCI that Hezbollah should be disarmed “as soon as possible."
A Lebanese diplomat said there is ongoing pressure from the Americans on that front. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Hezbollah’s stance that it will not discuss giving up its armed wing before Israel withdraws from five key border points in southern Lebanon appears likely to drag out the process. Israeli officials have said that they plan to remain there indefinitely to secure their border and guard against any ceasefire violations by Hezbollah.
Israeli officials did not respond to a request for comment on the issue of Lebanon's army integrating former Hezbollah weapons and fighters. Lebanese officials say that the Israeli presence violates the ceasefire agreement in November, under which Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw their forces from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army taking control alongside U.N. peacekeepers. The Lebanese diplomat said that U.S. officials had acknowledged that Israeli forces remaining in the five border points constituted an “occupation” but had not put strong pressure on Israel to withdraw quickly.
A “smart way to break the deadlock” and avoid further escalation is for Washington to increase its support for the Lebanese army and push Israel to withdraw, said Bilal Saab, a former Pentagon official and senior managing director of the Washington-based TRENDS US consulting firm.
Retired Lebanese army Gen. Elias Hanna said he believes that Hezbollah is "still in the phase of denial” regarding the diminution of its military and political clout. He said disarmament needs to take place as part of broader discussions about Lebanon's military doctrine and strategy. The Lebanese army could benefit from the experience of Hezbollah, which for many years maintained deterrence with Israel before the latest war, he said. Saab said he believes the outcome is not in doubt.
“Hezbollah has a choice,” he said. “Either lay down its arms or have them removed by Israeli force.”
*Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Mr. Prime Minister, Publish the Agreements
By Dr. Charbel Azar – April 29, 2025
(Free translation from Arabic by Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/04/142844/
Two days ago, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri declared in a press interview that Lebanon has fulfilled its obligations under the ceasefire framework: the Lebanese army was deployed in the south, and Hezbollah has withdrawn from that region. He added that Lebanon would not surrender its weapons until Israel fulfills its part—namely, a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.
But this is not the first time we’ve been asked to take political assurances at face value without seeing the actual agreement.
On the day Lebanon signed the maritime border demarcation deal with Israel—conceding the Karish field and approximately 1,500 square kilometers of maritime territory—many military and legal experts voiced concern. Several high-ranking former and current generals insisted that the disputed Karish field should have remained under Lebanese sovereignty. Some even argued that the unsigned May 17 Agreement with Israel had secured Karish for Lebanon.
Despite widespread public and parliamentary calls to submit this maritime agreement for review, you, Mr. Speaker, refused to present it to Parliament. The agreement was implemented without transparency, bypassing democratic oversight. The Lebanese people remain unaware of its full content, and many rightly suspect that national rights were sacrificed in secrecy.
Today, Mr. Prime Minister, the same troubling scenario is unfolding again.
You personally negotiated and approved the current "ceasefire agreement" with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein—absent the President of the Republic. Your government, led by Najib Mikati and including Hezbollah and Amal ministers, unanimously approved the deal during its November 27, 2024 session. Yet the full text of the agreement remains unpublished. You now claim that Lebanon has met all its obligations. However, the United States—the agreement's main sponsor—the Quintet Committee, and international partners across the West and the Arab world, all say the opposite. They argue that Hezbollah has failed to fulfill its commitments, and as a result, international aid to Lebanon remains frozen.
So here is the question: If Lebanon has truly done its part, then why the secrecy?
Why are the Lebanese people still being denied access to the agreement that governs their sovereignty, their borders, and their future?
Publishing the full, literal text of the "Ceasefire Agreement between Hezbollah and Israel" is not just a moral obligation—it is a national necessity. The Lebanese people, especially your own political base, deserve to know what has been agreed upon in their name. Only with full disclosure can we determine who has complied and who has violated the terms. Only with transparency can we judge whether Israel’s persistent overflights—from the South to the Bekaa and beyond—are justifiable or not.
Mr. Prime Minister, history is watching. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Publish the agreements. Let the people judge.

Justice for an American: Why the U.S. Must Continue Pursuing Accountability for the death of Amer Fakhoury
Jason Ian Poblete/The Poblete Dispatches/Apr 29, 2025
Amer Fakhoury (right), pictured with Donald J. Trump in 2016, was an early supporter of President Trump in New Hampshire, a state traditionally dominated by Democratic politics. Source: The Amer Foundation and the Fakhoury Family
The pursuit of justice for Americans harmed abroad is a fundamental duty of the U.S. government. One case that demands renewed attention is that of Amer Fakhoury, a Lebanese-American citizen from New Hampshire, who was lured to Lebanon under false pretenses in 2019.
Once there, he was arrested by Lebanese security services, specifically under the authority of figures like Abbas Ibrahim, then head of Lebanon’s General Security Directorate, an entity heavily influenced by Hezbollah. Fakhoury was imprisoned under brutal conditions and sustained grave injuries that led to his death shortly after he was finally returned to the United States.
Five years after Amer Fakhoury’s passing, his family continues to advocate for justice. They and their supporters in Lebanon now face a new wave of attacks from a several sectors in Lebanon including Lebanese Hezbollah-aligned operatives and their sympathizers.
Take for example, Hassan Bazzi, a Lebanese lawyer with a history of incendiary rhetoric, has publicly threatened legal action against Youssef El-Khoury, a Lebanese journalist and supporter of the Fakhoury family, as well as MTV Lebanon, a prominent television station. Bazzi alleges that El-Khoury and MTV “celebrated” the tragic explosion in Beirut’s southern suburb—an accusation eerily reminiscent of tactics used to suppress dissenters under authoritarian systems.
Bazzi, although once known for filing corruption complaints, has himself become embroiled in legal troubles. In 2023, the Beirut Bar Association revoked Bazzi’s professional immunity, a serious sanction that allows criminal proceedings against him to move forward. The Bar authorized his prosecution for alleged defamation after Bazzi publicly attacked a municipal leader already under investigation for corruption.
Lifting a lawyer’s immunity in Lebanon is rare and signals profound concern by his peers about professional misconduct. Bazzi’s pattern of aggressive and often defamatory public accusations, now turned against those seeking justice for an American citizen and those who support them, further undermines the credibility and motivation behind his threats against Youssef El-Khoury and others.
The real reason for these attacks seems clear: individuals like Youssef El-Khoury have bravely stood with the Fakhoury family, exposing the complicity of Lebanon’s corrupted judiciary and security apparatus with Hezbollah’s broader strategy to intimidate and eliminate opposition.
As Guila Fakhoury said on her X account recently:
“Five years after my hero’s passing, Hezbollah and their allies remain fixated on slandering our family and anyone in Lebanon who supports our fight for truth. They fabricate lies because Amer’s case exposed their corruption and the deep rot of Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon’s government. We are grateful for patriots like Youssef El-Khoury who, despite grave risks, continue to stand for what is right.”
Amer Fakhoury’s daughters, friends, and other family celebrate the launch of Silenced in Beirut alongside U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen at a special Amer Foundation event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The book tells the story of their father’s ordeal and the ongoing fight for justice. Source: The Amer Foundation
I asked the Amer Foundation for more information about this latest round of misinformation coming out of Lebanon. Guila provided the following context:
Two weeks ago, Hassan Bazzi, a Lebanese lawyer known for incendiary rhetoric, brought renewed attention to my father, Amer Fakhoury’s case. Hassan Bazzi works for Hezbollah and officials like Abbas Ibrahim a prominent figure in my father’s illegal detention. During an interview, he threatened to reopen the file and warned everyone involved.
So why is Bazzi targeting Youssef El Khoury? Part of the reason is that he knows how to tell complex stories in a simple way. But more critically, El Khoury’s influence extends far beyond storytelling—he is a respected filmmaker, writer, and human rights advocate who has spent decades challenging corruption and promoting peace in the Middle East.
As a public critic of Hezbollah’s militarization and corruption since 2006, and a leader of independent movements for democracy in Lebanon, El Khoury’s work directly threatens entrenched interests like Bazzi’s. Despite facing arrests, harassment, and surveillance, El Khoury’s growing public stature and unwavering commitment to the truth make him a powerful voice that adversaries like Bazzi are desperate to silence.
“So what, Jason,” you may ask, “let the courts deal with it.”
The Lebanese judiciary is neither independent nor credible. In Lebanon today, there is no rule of law, only rule by political factions, chief among them Hezbollah and its Iranian backers. Courtrooms that should be instruments of justice have instead become tools for political revenge. The American people and their elected leaders must understand: there is no meaningful justice in Lebanon without deep and systemic reform.
Since the 1980s, Hezbollah, funded and directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has infiltrated Lebanon’s military, intelligence, political, and judicial institutions. Today, Hezbollah operates a parallel state within Lebanon, using the veneer of governmental legitimacy to shield illicit activities—terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering—and to suppress political opponents through violence and intimidation.
It was under this environment of fear and corruption that Amer Fakhoury was unlawfully detained, tortured, and ultimately killed.
Securing justice for Amer Fakhoury is not only about holding a handful of individuals accountable; it is about reaffirming the U.S. commitment to protect its citizens and stand against transnational repression. While the complexity of Lebanese politics—where regional conflicts, humanitarian considerations, and U.S. security interests intertwine—makes direct action difficult, it must not deter efforts.
Lebanese officials, Hezbollah operatives, and any other actors involved in the unlawful detention, torture, and death of an American citizen must be investigated, sanctioned, and held to account. Failure to do so would only embolden Hezbollah and similar groups worldwide to believe they can act with impunity.
The United States has a moral, political, and national security obligation to continue pursuing accountability. This means:
Using the Magnitsky Act and other sanctions tools against perpetrators.
Investigating the role of individuals like Abbas Ibrahim and others who were directly responsible for or complicit in these abuses.
Supporting civil society organizations and journalists in Lebanon who risk their lives to speak the truth.
Enforcing the accountability mechanisms provided in the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, and using all instruments of state power to hold perpetrators and those who helped them to account.
The case of Amer Fakhoury is a tragic example of what happens when America’s enemies abroad believe there will be no consequences. We owe it to Amer—and to all Americans—to ensure they are wrong.
The Poblete Dispatches is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, including finding and cultivating new writers and analysts, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
https://pobletedispatches.substack.com/p/justice-for-an-american-why-the-us

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 29-30/2025
Liberals projected to finish just shy of majority in razor-close race
Craig Lord/The Canadian Press/April 29, 2025
OTTAWA — The Canadian Press decision desk is projecting Prime Minister Mark Carney will lead a minority Liberal government. Elections Canada has nearly wrapped up counting all the ballots in what turned out to be a razor-close race that will leave the Liberals three seats short of winning a majority. Just before 4 p.m. EDT, Elections Canada shows the Liberals projected to win 169 ridings. The Conservatives trail with 144 seats and will form the official opposition, while the Bloc Québécois won 22 seats, the NDP won 7 and the Green Party was elected in one riding. Recounts in some ridings are expected. The Liberals are set to return to the House of Commons for a rare fourth consecutive mandate. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 29, 2025.

Carney takes aim at Trump, promises 'humility' in victory speech
The Canadian Press/Kyle Duggan and Anja Karadeglija/Tue, April 29, 2025
OTTAWA — Fresh off his election win, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is at a "hinge" moment in its history as he promised to build relationships with countries other than the United States and to build up housing and new trade and energy corridors.
"We will need to do things previously thought impossible at speeds we haven't seen in generations," Carney told a cheering crowd of Liberal supporters at the party's election night event in Ottawa. Carney vowed to stand firm against U.S. President Donald Trump, who has levied tariffs against Canada and made threats targeting Canada's sovereignty. "As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country," he said. "These are not these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen."Carney also promised to govern with "humility" and to work with other parties. "Humility underscores the importance of governing as a team, in cabinet and in caucus, and working constructively with all parties across Parliament," he said. As Carney was delivering his speech, the Liberals were leading in seat count but it was not yet clear if he would lead a minority or a majority Liberal government. Carney extended an olive branch to those Canadians who did not vote Liberal, saying "millions of our fellow citizens preferred a different outcome.""And my message to every Canadian is this: no matter where you live, no matter what language you speak, no matter how you voted, I will always do my best to represent everyone who calls Canada home."
Earlier in the evening, Liberal party supporters assembled in an Ottawa hockey arena erupted in applause and cheers after media outlets confirmed the party had won Canada's 45th general election. Carney, who was elected leader of the Liberal party less than two months ago, also won his own riding of Nepean — the first time he has been elected as an MP. Supporters gathered in TD Place in Ottawa wearing Liberal red, many sporting "Carney" buttons and "Canada strong" shirts. They broke into more cheers as TV reports showed the results coming in from Carney's Nepean riding. Among the Liberal supporters gathered Monday was a jubilant Dorothy Goubault, who was wearing a red cowboy hat and dancing to the music. She said she was impressed by Carney’s response to Trump and that Carney was in the right place at the right time.
"He's got that international flavour. He's grounded. He's stable. He's rock solid," she said.
Standing next to her, fellow volunteer Meseret Haileyesus cited Carney’s credentials in governance and international relations. "This election is very important for Canada's economy and I believe Mark Carney would be the right leader," she said.It was a pivotal night for a party that, just months ago, seemed to be marching toward defeat. Canadians went to the polls Monday after a short 37-day campaign, casting their votes in 343 ridings across the country.
When Parliament was dissolved, the Liberals held 153 seats in a minority government and the Conservatives formed the official Opposition with 120 seats. The Bloc Québécois held 33 seats, the NDP 24 and the Greens two. There were three independent MPs. Earlier in the day, Carney cast his ballot at an Anglican church in Ottawa alongside Fox Carney. He voted in the Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester riding where he currently lives and where Liberal candidate Mona Fortier has now won re-election. Carney, a former central banker and a political novice, became Liberal leader and prime minister in March. He focused much of his campaign on presenting himself as the best leader to take on Trump. Carney paused his campaign several times to deal with Trump’s tariffs in his capacity as prime minister. Carney revealed late in the campaign that in a phone call, Trump had brought up his idea of making Canada a U.S. state — even though Carney initially described the discussion as "cordial" and said Trump treated Canada with respect as a sovereign nation.
In early January, polls suggested the Conservatives would win the election, as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre led the Liberals by more than 25 points. But with the departure of former prime minister Justin Trudeau and Trump’s tariffs and threats against Canadian sovereignty, Liberal fortunes turned around dramatically. Quito Maggi, president and CEO of Mainstreet Research, attending the Liberal campaign event Monday night, described the past four months as "unprecedented." "Trump gets inaugurated. Trudeau resigns. Conservatives were leading in our polling by as high as 29 points in November, and then suddenly it closes up," he said. "A couple weeks later, suddenly it's a tie, and then the Liberals start taking the lead."He noted that a one-point difference in the polls could translate into a major difference in seats. "Everybody knows a one-point difference could turn into 162 seats and a one-point difference the other way turns into 191 seats," he said. Carney campaigned in four different provinces on Sunday but cancelled several planned events and dropped Calgary from his itinerary after a tragic vehicle attack in Vancouver on Saturday. His campaign style took on a more muted tone on his final day on the campaign trail — shorter speeches, no mention of Poilievre. Instead, Carney continued attacking the Trump administration's trade war and calling for Canadians to unite against Trump's calls for Canada to become a U.S. state. Following the vehicle attack on a Filipino community event in Vancouver — which claimed 11 lives — Carney's team agonized about whether it was appropriate to continue campaigning. Carney ultimately decided to join a crowd of mourners on Sunday near the site of the incident, along with B.C. Premier David Eby, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and local MLA Mable Elmore. A community member broke out into an impromptu rendition of Amazing Grace and the crowd of mourners soon joined in. None of the politicians spoke throughout the event.

Three people shot dead in Sweden, police say
AFP/29 April ,2025
Three people were shot dead in a city north of the Swedish capital on Tuesday, police said, the latest shooting to rock the Nordic nation. Police said they received reports of shots fired in the center of Uppsala, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the capital Stockholm and that “a certain number of people have been found with wounds that could have resulted from a shooting.”In an updated statement, police said “three people are confirmed deceased following a shooting,” adding they had opened a murder investigation. SVT public television reported that witnesses said a suspect had fled on a scooter. Broadcaster TV4 said the shots were fired inside a hair salon in the center of the city. The Nordic country has struggled in recent years to rein in shootings and bombings linked to score-settling between rival criminal gangs. Perpetrators are often young teens who are hired as contract killers because they are under 15, the age of criminal responsibility in Sweden. Swedish police said in January that the number of shootings had declined in 2024 for the second year in a row, with 296 shootings – a decrease of 20 percent compared with the year before.

Iraq detains Islamic State suspect accused of helping to incite New Orleans truck-ramming attack
The Associated Press/Qassim Abdul-zahra And Jeff Martin/April 29, 2025
An official with the Islamic State group has been detained in Iraq, suspected of being involved with inciting the pickup truck-ramming attack in New Orleans that killed more than a dozen people celebrating the start of 2025, Iraqi authorities said. Iraqi authorities had received requests from the U.S. to help in the investigation of the attack in the predawn hours of New Years Day in the famed French Quarter of New Orleans, Iraqi judicial officials said. A U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck that bore the flag of the Islamic State group sped down Bourbon Street, running over some victims and ramming others, authorities said at the time. The Federal Bureau of Investigation identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, and said it was working to determine any potential associations with terrorist organizations. After driving his pickup truck onto a sidewalk around a police car blocking an entrance to Bourbon Street and striking the New Year’s revelers, he crashed into construction equipment, authorities said. He then opened fire on police officers and Bourbon Street crowds, and was shot and killed by the officers, authorities said. Investigators found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the vehicle, along with other devices elsewhere in the French Quarter. Iraqi officials said that Baghdad’s Al-Karkh Investigative Court specified the suspect who was later detained and turned out to be a member of the Islamic State group’s foreign operations office. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not release the name of the suspect, only saying that he is an Iraqi citizen. The officials said the man will be put on trial in accordance with the country’s anti-terrorism law, adding that Iraq is committed to international cooperation in fighting terrorism. “The FBI’s investigation into the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans remains active and ongoing," the FBI said in a statement Tuesday. “While we continue to work with our law enforcement partners, both in the U.S. and internationally, based on the information to date, we continue to believe that Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack on Bourbon Street,” the agency said, saying that anyone with information is encouraged to contact them. Despite its defeat in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later, Islamic State still has sleeper cells that carry out deadly attack in both countries as well as other parts of the world. The group once attracted tens of thousands of fighters and supporters from around the world to come to Syria and Iraq, and at its peak ruled an area half the size of the United Kingdom and was notorious for its brutality. It beheaded civilians, slaughtered 1,700 captured Iraqi soldiers in a short period, and enslaved and raped thousands of women from the Yazidi community, one of Iraq’s oldest religious minorities.

Lacking aid, Syrians do what they can to rebuild devastated Aleppo
Reuters/April 29, 2025
ALEPPO: Moussa Hajj Khalil is among many Syrians rebuilding their homes from the rubble of the historic and economically important city of Aleppo, as Syria’s new leaders struggle to kick-start large-scale reconstruction efforts. Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was deeply scarred by more than a decade of war between government and rebel forces, suffering battles, a siege, Russian air strikes and barrel bomb attacks.Now, its people are trying to restore their lives with their own means, unwilling to wait and see if the efforts of Syria’s new Islamist-led government to secure international funding come to fruition. “Nobody is helping us, no states, no organizations,” said Khalil, 65, who spent seven years in a displacement camp in Al-Haramain on the Syrian-Turkish border. Impoverished residents have “come and tried to restore a room to stay in with their children, which is better than life in camps,” he said, as he observed workers repairing his destroyed home in Ratyan, a suburb in northwestern Aleppo. Khalil returned alone a month ago to rebuild the house so he can bring his family back from the camp. Aleppo was the first major city seized by the rebels when they launched an offensive to topple then-leader Bashar Assad in late November. Assad was ousted less than two weeks later, ending a 14-year war that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions and left much of Syria in ruins. ’Doing what we can’While Syria lobbies for sanctions relief, the grassroots reconstruction drive is gaining momentum and providing work opportunities. Contractors labor around the clock to meet the growing demand, salvaging materials like broken blocks and cement found between the rubble to repair homes. “There is building activity now. We are working lots, thank God!” Syrian contractor Maher Rajoub said.
But the scale of the task is huge.The United Nations Development Programme is hoping to deliver $1.3 billion over three years to support Syria, including by rebuilding infrastructure, its assistant secretary-general told Reuters earlier this month.
Other financial institutions and Gulf countries like Qatar have made pledges to help Syria, but are hampered by US sanctions. The United States and other Western countries have set conditions for lifting sanctions, insisting that Syria’s new rulers, led by a faction formerly affiliated to Al-Qaeda, demonstrate a commitment to peaceful and inclusive rule. A temporary suspension of some US sanctions to encourage aid has had limited effect, leaving Aleppo’s residents largely fending for themselves.“We lived in the camps under the sun and the heat,” said Mustafa Marouch, a 50-year-old vegetable shop owner. “We returned and are doing what we can to fix our situation.”

More than a dozen killed in sectarian clashes near Syrian capital
Reuters/April 29/2025
DAMASCUS - More than a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital on Tuesday in clashes sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen, rescuers and security sources said. The fighting marked the latest episode of deadly sectarian violence in Syria, where fears among minorities have been swelling since Islamist-led rebels ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad from power in December, installing their own government and security forces. Those fears spiked after the killings of hundreds of Alawites in March in apparent revenge for an attack by Assad loyalists. The clashes began overnight when gunmen from the nearby town of Maliha and other predominantly Sunni areas converged on the mostly Druze town of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, security sources said. The fighting, with small and medium arms fire, left 13 people dead, according to local rescue workers. Among the dead were two members of Syria's General Security Service, a new security force comprised mostly of former rebels, according to interior ministry spokesperson Mustafa al-Abdo. Abdo denied that armed gunmen had attacked the town, saying instead that groups of civilians angered by the voice recording had staged a protest that came under fire from Druze groups. The Interior Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the origin of the voice recording and called for calm, urging citizens not to let emotions lead to violence or damage to public property. Druze elders met with security forces in a bid to prevent further escalation, a Syrian security source said. "What was said by a few individuals against our Prophet represents only them and is rejected by us and all of society," Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou said, calling on both communities to reject efforts to fuel sectarian divisions. Syria's nearly 14-year war carved the country into various zones of influence, with the Druze - an Arab minority who practise a religion originally derived from Islam - arming themselves to defend their own towns. The new Islamist-led leadership in Damascus has called for all arms to fall under their authority, but Druze fighters have resisted, saying Damascus has failed to guarantee their protection from hostile militants. Community leaders blamed the government for failing to prevent Tuesday's attack and warned that it would bear responsibility for any future repercussions. "The authorities are responsible for preserving security," Rabei Munzir, a local Druze activist in Jaramana, told Reuters. Neighbouring Israel has said that it was willing to intervene in Syria to protect the Druze, thousands of whom also live in Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day war.

Syria’s top diplomat to meet US State Department officials in New York
Al Arabiya English/April 29/2025
Syria’s top diplomat, Assad al-Shaibani, is scheduled to meet US officials from the State Department later Tuesday in New York, US officials told Al Arabiya English. Asaad al-Shaibani, who is in New York to attend meetings at the United Nations, was granted a limited visa to enter the US, Al Arabiya English reported last week. Reuters was first to report about the US-Shaibani meeting, which also said that he was expected to press Washington for a clear roadmap toward permanent sanctions relief for Syria. Asked about the meeting, State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that the US was not normalizing diplomatic relations with Syria at this time, but did not publicly confirm the scheduled sit-down. Last week, he raised the three-star flag of Syria’s uprising as the official Syrian flag 14 years after the war erupted.
The meeting is the first between US officials and al-Shaibani that is taking place on US territory and comes after Syria responded earlier this month to a list of conditions set by Washington for possible partial sanctions relief. The United States last month handed Syria a list of eight conditions it wants Damascus to fulfill, including destroying any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and ensuring foreigners are not given senior governing roles. Syria is in desperate need of sanctions relief to kickstart an economy collapsed by 14 years of war, during which the United States, Britain and Europe imposed tough sanctions in a bid to put pressure on former president Bashar al-Assad. In January, the US issued a six-month exemption for some sanctions to encourage aid, but this has had limited effect. Damascus is keen to hear a realistic timeline from the United States for permanent sanctions relief, one of the sources said. With Reuters

Syria vows to pursue gunmen involved in deadly clashes near Damascus
Al Arabiya English/29 April ,2025
Syria’s interior ministry on Tuesday vowed to pursue those involved in sectarian clashes that erupted near Damascus, blaming “gunmen” and saying security forces were deployed to control the situation. The interior ministry reported casualties following “intermittent clashes between groups of gunmen,” adding that security forces “went to break up the clashes and protect the residents.”“We affirm our keenness to pursue those involved and hold them to account,” it said in a statement. Clashes broke out in Jaramana early Tuesday between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters, leaving a number of casualties. The fighting in the southern Damascus suburb reportedly broke out after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man attacking Islam’s Prophet Mohammed. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric, who later denied being involved. The Interior Ministry had said in an earlier statement it was investigating the audio clip, adding that its initial probe showed the cleric was not responsible. The ministry urged people to abide by the law and not to act in a way that undermines security. Jaramana’s Druze religious leadership in a statement condemned “the unjustified armed attack” that “targeted innocent civilians and terrorized” residents. “We strongly condemn any insult against” the Prophet Mohammed, the statement said, calling the “fabricated” audio recording an attempt to “sow strife and division.” It said that the Syrian authorities bore “full responsibility for the incident and for any further developments or worsening of the crisis.”With agencies

Israel's spy chief announces resignation following row with Netanyahu
Euronews/Kieran Guilbert/April 29, 2025
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said he will step down on 15 June, following a dispute with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attempted to oust him last month. Bar made the announcement on Monday at a memorial event for fallen Shin Bet soldiers.
"After years on many fronts, one night, on the southern front, the skies came down," Bar said in reference to the attack, which killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel and triggered the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. "All systems collapsed. The Shin Bet also failed to give a warning." Everyone who failed to stop the attack should bow their heads "in humility before the murdered, the dead, the wounded, the kidnapped and their families and act accordingly", he said at the event.
Netanyahu attempted to fire Bar last month over what he said was a crisis of confidence surrounding Hamas' attack. But the move caused uproar domestically because the Shin Bet is probing ties between Netanyahu's office and Qatar, a mediator between Hamas and Israel over the Gaza war. The Shin Bet is looking into allegations that close advisers of Netanyahu acted as paid consultants for Qatar — which does not have full diplomatic relations with Israel — while also working for the prime minister. Netanyahu has not been directly implicated in the investigation. Israel’s Supreme Court froze the firing of Bar following multiple legal challenges against the move and called on the sides to reach a compromise. In his address on Monday, Bar said the court proceedings are "not about my personal case but about the independence of the next heads of the Shin Bet". Bar filed a document with the Supreme Court last week that accused Netanyahu of trying to exploit the power of the Shin Bet for political and personal gain. Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that a "deep state" of civil servants and unelected judges is out to topple him. Civil society organisations say the Shin Bet chief is meant to be an independent figure and fear that Bar’s departure will pave the way for the prime minister to appoint an ally to the sensitive post. The Shin Bet is responsible for monitoring Palestinian militant groups, and Bar has previously acknowledged his agency’s failures in preventing Hamas’ 7 October attack. Netanyahu has blamed the failures on the army and security agencies and repeatedly resisted calls for an official state commission of inquiry. Bar is one of several senior Israeli security figures to resign or be dismissed in the aftermath of the Hamas attack — including the former defence minister and army chief. This month, Netanyahu moved to name a former navy commander as the new Shin Bet chief. The appointment was cancelled less than 24 hours later after it became known that the nominee had participated in anti-government protests.

Over 50 Gaza aid workers faced abuse in Israeli detention: UNRWA
AFP/29 April ,2025:
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, on Tuesday said more than 50 of its staff in Gaza were abused and used as human shields while in Israeli military detention.
“Since the start of the war in October 2023, over 50 UNRWA staff among them teachers, doctors, social workers, have been detained and abused,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X. “They have been treated in the most shocking & inhumane way. They reported being beaten + used as human shields.”Lazzarini cited the testimony of one of the staff members who had been detained by the Israeli military before being released. “I wished for death to end this nightmare I was living through,” the staff member was quoted as saying. “Received this awful testimony from a colleague who was rounded up in Gaza, tortured while in Israeli detention and finally released,” they added. Lazzarini said those detained had been subjected to “sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of harm to them & their families + attacks by dogs.”
“Many were subjected to forced confessions. This nothing short of harrowing & outrageous.”The military had no immediate response to the accusation. Israel has banned UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil, after accusing some of its staff of taking part in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the Gaza war. Independent investigations say it has not provided evidence for its allegation. The International Court of Justice is currently hearing dozens of nations and organisations to draw up a so-called advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians, more than 50 days into its total blockage on aid entering war-ravaged Gaza. Israel is not participating at the ICJ but hit back immediately, dismissing the hearings as “part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of the country. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday said the hearings were “part of a systematic persecution and delegitimization of Israel.” “It is not Israel that should be on trial. It is the UN and UNRWA,” he said.

UN rights chief demands world act to stop Israel’s Gaza ‘catastrophe’
AFP/29 April ,2025
The UN rights chief called on countries to halt a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza, where a total Israeli blockade on aid is pushing the Palestinian territory towards a collapse of critical life-saving support. “As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new, unseen level,” Volker Turk said in a statement. Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war. Supplies are dwindling and the UN’s World Food Program last Friday said it had sent out its “last remaining food stocks.” The UN rights office cautioned that Gaza bakeries had now stopped working as flour and fuel had run out, while the remaining stocks of food were being rapidly depleted.
‘War crime’
“Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment,” Turk stressed in the statement. The UN rights chief also warned that a reported Israeli plan to declare the Rafah governorate in the far south of Gaza as a new “humanitarian zone” would require Palestinians to move there to receive food and other aid. “Such a plan will almost certainly mean large parts of Gaza and those who cannot easily move, including people with disabilities, those who are sick or injured, and women supporting entire families, will be forced to go without food,” he said. Turk also decried that Israel was continuing to strike locations in Gaza where civilians were sheltering. Between March 18 and April 27, the UN rights office said it had recorded 259 attacks on residential buildings and 99 on tents of internally displaced people, most of them resulting in fatalities. Forty of the attacks on tent dwellings reportedly took place in al-Mawasi, where the Israeli army has repeatedly told civilians to seek refuge, it pointed out. Turk warned that such “incidents reflect the pattern we have seen during this escalation, of attacks that raise grave concerns of violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions.”“Each of these incidents must be fully investigated,” he insisted, stressing that “intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities would constitute a war crime.”The rights chief also highlighted continued targeting of “civilian objects indispensable to the survival of the population,” like water trucks and excavators needed to remove debris to allow aid to reach those in need. The rights office warned that the cumulative impact of Israeli forces conduct in Gaza appeared to be inflicting “conditions of life increasingly incompatible with (Palestinians’) continued existence as a group in Gaza.”“Third States have clear obligations under international law to ensure that such conduct stops immediately, and they must act accordingly,” Turk insisted. “They also must search for and bring to justice all perpetrators of crimes under international law.”

Israeli forces detain prominent Palestinian journalist in early morning West Bank raid
Kareem Khadder and Abeer Salman, CNN/April 29, 2025
Israeli forces detained prominent Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi in an early morning raid on his son’s home in the occupied West Bank. The raid occurred in the city of Jenin, where Samoudi’s son told CNN the Israeli military came in at 5 a.m. and took the 58-year-old journalist to an undisclosed location. Samoudi “underwent a field interrogation” by Israeli forces for 30 minutes, Mohammad Samoudi told CNN, saying they had searched the house and destroyed some of its contents. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment. In addition to writing for the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper, Samoudi routinely worked with international news outlets, including CNN, Al-Jazeera, Reuters, and others. In May 2022, Samoudi was working near the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp when Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Samoudi was shot and injured in the gunfire.The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the raid and Samoudi’s arrest. Samoudi is the latest of dozens Palestinian journalists to be arrested by Israeli forces over the past 18 months. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel has arrested at least 84 journalists in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

Surge in attacks signals jihadist comeback in Nigeria's northeast
Reuters/Ope Adetayo/April 29, 2025
ABUJA -A surge in attacks in Nigeria's northeast by Boko Haram and its splinter rival ISWAP has raised fears of a major comeback by jihadists, whose tactics now include armed drones and explosive devices planted on major roads, security experts said. At least 22 people were killed in weekend raids by militants in Adamawa and Borno states, while 26 others died on Monday after an explosive device ripped into two vehicles in Borno. Dozens more have been killed by a string of jihadist attacks since January. In Borno state, the heartland of the insurgency for over 15 years, governor Babagana Zulum has warned that insurgents were making gains, with little push back from the military. Security experts attributed the resurgence to a lull in fighting between Boko Haram and Islamic West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the adoption of aerial technology by the groups. "Both groups have become a bit bolder and showed they have some sophisticated technology," said James Barnett, a Hudson Institute research fellow who conducts fieldwork on insecurity in Nigeria. The use of armed drones also suggested ISWAP was receiving more funding from Islamic State, analysts said. Last month, insurgents used drones to attack a military outpost near the Cameroonian border, killing several soldiers. Vincent Foucher, a research fellow at the French National Centre for Scientific Research who has interviewed former fighters, said there were reports that Islamic State advisers had been sent in to help ISWAP fighters on the ground. "They can improve the tactics and we have seen the use of drones and explosives and large-scale attacks. This could be taken as impact of the advice from the Islamic State," Foucher said. Boko Haram and ISWAP had fought bitterly for supremacy since splitting in 2016. But Foucher said "they are less busy fighting each other and have more time to carry out attacks."Last Friday, Zulum told reporters that militants were regrouping in the Lake Chad area and Sambisa hills in Borno, near the Cameroonian border. The Nigerian military did not respond to a request for comment. Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at security think-tank Good Governance Africa, said jihadists had shown to be resilient and adaptive to strategies deployed by the military. "Their current resurgence mirrors previous periods when they took the fight to the military, instead of waiting for the military to attack before repelling them," he said.

France warns of sanctions on Iran if nuclear deal not reached
RFI/April 29, 2025
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will not hesitate to reimpose sanctions against Tehran if European security is threatened by Iran's nuclear program, the French foreign minister said at the United Nations on Monday. "Iran has crossed all the boundaries it had committed to respect," and the country "is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons," Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on non-proliferation, which he had convened. "There is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear problem. There is a diplomatic path to achieve it, but it is a narrow road," he added. Barrot voiced hope that the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington on the issue would bear fruit, adding that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were in "close contact" with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Will US-Iran nuclear talks break the deadlock or fan the flames? The highest-level talks in years between long-time foes Washington and Tehran are targeting a new deal that would stop Iran developing nuclear weapons – an objective Tehran denies pursuing – in return for relief from sanctions. US President Donald Trump pulled out of an earlier, multilateral agreement on Iran during his first term. The United States and Israel have repeatedly threatened Iran with military strikes.
'Snapback mechanism' The option to use the mechanism expires in October.

US hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March: Pentagon
AFP/29 April ,2025
US forces have struck more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since Washington launched the latest round of its air campaign against the Houthi militants in mid-March, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The Houthis began targeting shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in late 2023 and the United States responded with strikes against them starting early the following year. Since March 15, "USCENTCOM strikes have hit over 1,000 targets, killing Houthi fighters and leaders... and degrading their capabilities," Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, referring to the military command responsible for the Middle East. CENTCOM on Sunday had put the figure at more than 800 targets hit since mid-March, saying hundreds of Houthi fighters had been killed as a result. Hours after that announcement, Houthi-controlled media said US strikes had hit a migrant detention center in the city of Saada, killing at least 68 people, while a United Nations spokesperson later said preliminary information indicated that those killed were migrants. A US defense official said the military is looking into reports of civilian casualties resulting from its strikes in Yemen. Attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal -- a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of the world's shipping traffic. The Houthis say they are targeting shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel's military after a shock Hamas attack in October 2023.


Iran says fire contained at key port after deadly blast
AFP/29 April ,2025
Firefighters have brought under control a blaze at Iran’s main port, following a deadly explosion blamed on negligence, authorities in the Islamic Republic said.The explosion, heard dozens of kilometers (miles) away, hit a dock at the southern port of Shahid Rajaee on Saturday. At least 70 people were killed and more than 1,000 others suffered injuries in the blast and ensuing fire, which also caused extensive damage, state media reported. Red Crescent official Mokhtar Salahshour told the channel late Monday that the fire had been “contained” and a clean-up was under way. State television aired live footage on Tuesday showing thick smoke rising from stacked containers. Iran’s ILNA news agency quoted Hossein Zafari, spokesman for the country’s crisis management organization, as saying the situation had improved significantly since Monday.
However, “the operation and complete extinguishing process may take around 15 to 20 days,” the agency reported. Iran’s customs authority said port operations had returned to normal, according to the IRNA news agency. The port of Shahid Rajaee lies near the major coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes. Hormozgan provincial governor Mohammad Ashouri ruled out sabotage. “The set of hypotheses and investigations carried out during the process indicated that the sabotage theory lacks basis or relevance,” he told state television late Monday. The port’s customs office said the blast may have started in a depot storing hazardous and chemical materials. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said there were “shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence.” A committee assigned to investigate the blast cited similar factors as the likely cause.

US sanctions companies in China and Iran for helping IRGC develop ballistic missiles
Al Arabiya English/29 April ,2025
The US slapped new Iran-related sanctions on Tuesday, in a sign that the Trump administration has no intention of easing its maximum-pressure campaign on Tehran despite ongoing negotiations over a potential nuclear deal. The Treasury Department designated six entities and six more individuals based in Iran and China for their involvement in helping procure ballistic missile propellant ingredients for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “This network has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from [China] to Iran. Sodium perchlorate is used to produce ammonium perchlorate, which is controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a multilateral political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology,” Treasury said in a statement. The statement added that ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are chemicals usable in solid propellant rocket motors, which are commonly used for ballistic missiles. “Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. He said Iran’s ballistic missile program also destabilizes the region and violates international non-proliferation agreements. “To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran’s access to resources necessary to advance its missile program,” he added, in reference to a slogan routinely used by the Trump administration.

Zelenskyy calls for fair peace with no ‘rewards’ for Putin
Agencies/29 April ,2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Tuesday for a “fair” end to the war with Russia without “rewards” for Vladimir Putin, pushing back against demands for Kyiv to make territorial concessions. “We all want this war to end in a fair way – with no rewards for Putin, especially no land,” Zelenskyy said via videoconference at a summit organized by Poland. The comment came amid reports the United States suggested to freeze the front line and accept the Russian control of the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014, something Zelenskyy balks at. But US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed the Ukrainian leader might concede the Black Sea peninsula as part of a settlement. Russia has also repeatedly demanded to keep the territory in southern and eastern Ukraine that it occupies and for Kyiv to cede even more land.
Moscow holds about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory after launching its 2022 invasion that has killed thousands of people and devastated swathes of land. Washington has said that this week will be “critical” for peace efforts.Zelenskyy also suggested on Tuesday that Russia was “preparing something” in Belarus this summer, using military drills as an excuse. “This summer Russia is preparing something there, under cover of military exercises,” Zelenskyy said, without giving details or citing evidence. Russia and Belarus have announced joint military drills for September.

Modi gives Indian military ‘operational freedom’ to respond to Kashmir attack: Source
AFP/29 April ,2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given India’s military “operational freedom” to respond to a deadly attack in Kashmir last week, a senior government source told AFP Tuesday, after New Delhi blamed it on arch-rival Pakistan. Modi told army and security chiefs in a closed-door meeting Tuesday that the armed forces had the “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response to the terror attack on civilians in Kashmir,” the source said. Modi also said that it was India’s “national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism,” the source added. The government source was not authorized to speak to the media, but reports of Modi’s comments matched those carried in several of India’s major newspapers. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing the deadliest attack in years on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, in which 26 men were killed. Islamabad has rejected the charge, and both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir, diplomatic barbs, expelled citizens and ordered the border shut. Modi, the source added, had expressed his “complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian Armed Forces,” and had given them his government’s full backing. The government released video images of a stern-faced Modi meeting with army chiefs as well as Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.Last week Modi vowed to pursue those who carried out the attack in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam in Kashmir, and those who had supported it. “I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer,” he said on Thursday. “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.” Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men – two Pakistanis and an Indian – who they say are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organization. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full. Rebels in the Indian-run area have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on April 29-30/2025
World Economic Forum needs a visionary new leader
Khalid Abdulla-Janahi/Arab News/April 29, 2025
With Klaus Schwab stepping down after more than five decades at the helm of the World Economic Forum, the organization he is synonymous with stands at a historic impasse. As the world grapples with increasing economic fragmentation, geopolitical unrest and a rapidly evolving technological transformation, the time has come not just to find a new leader — but to reinvent the WEF itself. As the world shifts, the WEF must do more than change leadership. It must evolve. Reinvention is no longer optional; it is imperative.
We live in a rapidly evolving context. The assumptions that governed 20th and early 21st-century globalism no longer hold. Today, we face fragmentation, a trend toward multipolarity, fraying trust in institutions and intensifying inequality. The Global South — long marginalized in elite conversations — is now the seat of the world’s future and the center of population growth. A new WEF must not just acknowledge this; it must be shaped by it. Africa, home to a billion young people, is on the cusp of being an engine of creativity, talent and economic growth. The 21st century was once heralded as the “Asian Century” and, public health, geopolitical and economic issues notwithstanding, Asia remains the fastest-growing economic region in the world. Other emergent actors notably include the resource-endowed Gulf Cooperation Council states, which are rapidly diversifying their economies and shifting the center of global innovation and investment eastward.
In reality, the WEF’s traditional emphasis was on the needs and priorities of its corporate and government clients
The WEF’s mission — to improve the state of the world — is noble, but in reality the traditional emphasis was on the needs and priorities of its corporate and government clients, those “paying to play.” In many cases, they managed to improve the state of themselves but with less regard for the underserved, the underbanked, the underrepresented and those without access to the many of the privileges reserved for the Global North and the elite circles within the Global South.
The hallowed corridors of the Davos Congress Center, where paying WEF members and government leaders mingle, was traditionally where all the action was during the forum’s annual meeting. Over the course of the last decade, however, the venue has become even more the bastion of corporatism, with more deal-making and less critical thinking and exchanging of ideas.
The town of Davos and notably its promenade has been overrun by a new crowd of venture capital investors, technology entrepreneurs, thought leaders, philanthropists and activists engaging directly with WEF constituents, via side events and bilateral meetings, on the back of the WEF, but always seen as a distraction by the organization’s secretariat and more of a challenge than an opportunity. The unofficial, promenade-centered Davos conference is where there is open dialogue and where there is a safe space for critical thinking. It needs a leader who can inspire global trust, navigate and manage complexity, and deal effectively with leaders from all sectors
The WEF undoubtably owes its origin and visionary leadership to Schwab. Today, however, the organization is no longer a private Swiss foundation. Since 2015, it has been an official multilateral institution. It therefore needs a leader who can inspire global trust, navigate and manage complexity, and deal effectively with leaders from all sectors, irrespective of politics. This person should have the experience and legitimacy to convene, foster collaboration and push innovation without losing sight of inclusivity.
For the past few decades, the WEF team has included many notable ex-CEOs, government and multilateral leaders, and subject matter experts. Most, however, have come and gone, since the organization offered little space for dissent with the founder. Senior staff were either pushed out or opted out to achieve their potential with other platforms. A rebooted WEF needs both its conductor and an orchestra, and this can become a critical success factor for real impact if led and managed right.
If the WEF truly wishes to remain committed to improving the state of the world, then it must redefine what that world looks like — and who gets to define it. This is not revolution, it is evolution. *Khalid Abdulla-Janahi is a leading financier, global strategy pundit and philanthropist. He is co-founder of the Maryam Forum Foundation (UK). He previously served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Middle East and North Africa and vice chair of the Arab Business Council.

UK-US trade deal important but not at any price
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/April 29, 2025
Much political attention in the UK last week was focused on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ visit to Washington on the occasion of the International Monetary Fund’s spring talks. But the talk in Britain was mainly about how Reeves would use the visit to handle the highly delicate matter of UK-US trade negotiations.
President Donald Trump is increasingly specializing in creating volatility, uncertainty and, consequently, panic in the global economy and the UK is no exception in this regard. Worse for London, the debacle of imposing additional tariffs comes at a moment that could result in it unnecessarily rushing into agreeing an unfavorable trade deal with the US, which might contribute little to growth and perhaps even mean concessions on issues that could affect public health and social cohesion, with long-term adverse consequences.
The UK government is facing enormous dilemmas in handling the economy, which are as much political and societal as being about “pure” economics, if such a thing exists. When Labour came to power, it had to deal with the Conservatives’ legacy: a horrendous 14 years of low growth, growing inequalities, low productivity, a persistent national debt that has almost tripled since the beginning of the century, and an inflation rate that is still above the Bank of England’s target. Furthermore, there is the ever-lingering impact of Brexit, which has left the UK in an inferior position in trade negotiations.
It is not unreasonable for a government that was elected less than a year ago to expect some patience from the public as it tries to fix a broken economy that has been through leaving the EU, a pandemic and a general neglect of its public services under previous Tory governments. However, patience is not a characteristic of modern politics and promises made during last year’s election campaign have created expectations. The perfect storm that Reeves is facing by dint of her country no longer being part of the largest economic bloc in the world, coupled with the imperative to increase defense expenditure to support Ukraine and increased tariffs, is a real one. Objectively, it should mitigate some of the criticism she is facing, despite some questionable decisions taken since she became chancellor.
For decades, the UK’s economy has been suffering from structural distortion, concealed by more favorable macroeconomic figures
Interestingly, what should stop the British government from signing a deal under Washington’s duress is paradoxically one of the country’s most severe economic challenges: its long-standing structural weakness. For many decades, the UK’s economy has been suffering from structural distortion, concealed by more favorable macroeconomic figures. Nationwide employment figures do not instantly reveal the substantial divide of a 10 percent-plus employment gap between the north and the south of the country in favor of the latter.
It is partly explained by the fact that the north and Wales, which largely rely on the steadily declining manufacturing sector, both suffer from markedly lower employment rates than those who rely on a prosperous services sector, which is mainly based in London and the southeast. Such a discrepancy in sources of wealth generation, and along a geographical divide, is a socially destabilizing factor and leaves the economy more vulnerable to fluctuations in the world economy. However, in the case of US tariffs, it provides some sort of a silver lining, as there are no tariffs on services.
Bizarrely enough, increased US tariffs were supposed to be imposed only on countries that have an export surplus with the US. At the end of last year, Britain entered what was admittedly a rare deficit in goods trade with the US, which hardly justifies even the 10 percent across-the-board tariff and 25 percent levies on cars, aluminum and steel.
What Reeves should consider in negotiating a trade deal with the US is that the official government estimate in 2019, while it was hyping up leaving the EU as the magic wand that would guarantee the UK’s future prosperity, was that such a deal would increase the country’s gross domestic product in the long run by no more than 0.07 percent. Not a figure to be sniffed at, but not one that merits selling the family silver, so to speak, by agreeing to the widespread deregulation that the US demands.
Moreover, being too keen to be first to get a deal does not necessarily equate to getting the best deal — rather, it hints at desperation. There are signs that there are pressures building on the US, which currently does not seem to be able to tell the difference between friend and foe, to back off from a trade war with the entire world. Moreover, this US administration is constantly, sometimes daily, changing its policies, including on tariffs, and by that creating a nervousness that has already cost many investors, including American ones, trillions of dollars. These are not the conditions that suggest rushing into a trade deal will be beneficial. To lower UK tariffs on US car imports to 2.5 percent, as Reeves indicated she was willing to consider, would do little harm, since the market for US-made vehicles imported to the UK is very limited. Nevertheless, concessions in sectors such as agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary are a different matter. Being too keen to be first to get a deal does not necessarily equate to getting the best deal — rather, it hints at desperation
Although the UK has left the EU, many of its food standards have remained and the practices of many American farmers to use, for instance, growth hormones as a standard element of their beef production or chicken chlorine treatment, are regarded on this side of the Atlantic as creating products that are unsafe to consume. Concessions to allow the import of such goods will face resistance from consumers and health authorities, not to mention farmers.
Similarly, removing trade barriers when they are protectionist in nature is one thing, but to cave in, as was widely reported to be demanded by Vice President J.D. Vance, and backtrack on hate speech and online safety laws, as well as a digital services tax, is putting our societies at risk of being torn apart.
There is always the fear, considering that Trump’s biggest supporters in the UK are the anti-European type, that Washington might try to lure London into a trade deal, realizing the difficulties the Labour government is facing, separately from the EU. This is a temptation that the Starmer government must resist.
Rightly, the British prime minister has said that the UK does not have to choose between the US and Europe. But in the current atmosphere and considering America’s treatment of Ukraine, any trade deal should look at the wider geopolitical implications as much as at preserving British values. And a strong Europe is in Britain’s national interest and should not be compromised.
**Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg

An Obscure Arab Summit Awaits
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 29/2025
It would be reckless, very reckless... to speculate that developments in the Arab region between now and the Arab League summit scheduled for May 17 will follow a logical trajectory! Anything could happen, as there are no guardrails or constraints between us and the abyss. The most prominent of the many factors behind this state of affairs is Washington’s ambiguous strategy for dealing with Tehran and the Israeli right-wing government’s escalating penetration into the heart of the Levant, where it is "managing" fragmentation, division, and historical distortion. Meanwhile, the broader landscape seems foggy as far as the eye can see, from Lebanon and Jordan to Syria and Iraq. The timing of the recent developments in Jordan should be read carefully. It would be extremely naive to explain these events in isolation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to reshape Gaza and the West Bank and to force neighboring states to deal with the repercussions for Palestinians. Of course, it would also be naive not to recognize that the Israeli right’s approach to “political Islam,” both Sunni and Shiite, is built on provocation, domination, and exploitation.
It would thus be reasonable to assume that some Islamist movements in Jordan, whose presence cannot be denied, have several reasons to worry:
Chief among their concerns is that the "alternative homeland" project has become a permanent fixture of the Israeli political establishment’s strategy. Indeed, the extreme right is imposing its agenda on Israel’s domestic politics, its American ally, and its Arab neighbors...Secondly, Hamas’s gamble on October 7, 2023, changed things on the ground, whatever we hear about global sympathy for the innocent martyrs of Gaza. It has strengthened the momentum behind Netanyahu’s effort to swallow the West Bank, starting with Jenin, Tulkarm, and the suburbs of Jerusalem.
Thirdly, the hopes that some Islamists had for the political shift in Syria seem to have been misguided. It has become clear that the "interim leadership" in Damascus is more concerned with practical interests than sentiment, as became clear with Syria’s recent negative stance on Palestinian factions aligned with Iran, which had been a long time coming in truth. It never made sense for Palestinian factions that had grown out of the Muslim Brotherhood to support a regime that demonizes "political Sunnism," equates it with extremism, and uses foreign militias to repress Sunni movements.
Fourthly, Türkiye (the largest regional power presenting itself as a patron of Sunni political Islam across the Levant) has to make complex calculations vis-a-vis the United States, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. These calculations regarding its Middle East strategy are far from centered on supporting Hamas and similar movements.
That covers Jordan, but what about Syria and Lebanon?
All signs point to a decline in Iran’s influence over developments in Syria and Lebanon. This is both beneficial and troubling. In theory, Tehran's waning ability to shape affairs in the "arenas" of Syria and Lebanon has given many citizens of both countries a renewed sense of hope; with goodwill from their leaders and the international community, they believe, “reconstruction” might finally begin. “Reconstruction,” here, encompasses both countries’ infrastructure and societies. It entails a vast effort coupled with broad and profound national compromises between different communities that heal wounds and strengthen the belief in a shared destiny. Unfortunately, none of this has materialized yet, as the vacuum left by Iran’s setbacks is being rapidly exploited by "Likudist" Israel, which can rely on unwavering US support and take comfort in the accelerating pace of Arab normalization with Israel.
As for Lebanon, some of Israel’s old allies now feel that the defeat of the Resistance Axis opens the door to "another Lebanon" and reshapes the country on their terms and Israel’s. This has given rise to sharp polarization over key questions: how to disarm Hezbollah, how to rebuild the Lebanese state and its sectarian power-sharing framework, the electoral law, Lebanon’s security and economic architecture, and the country’s "relationship" with Israel, with whom Lebanon shares both land and maritime borders in a region rich in promising natural resources.
As for the transnational communities present in Israel and both Lebanon and Syria, Israel is developing an array of sectarian, religious, and ethnic schemes that could destabilize and destroy its two northern neighbors.
In fact, the Israeli government, which sensible observers believe will probably not abandon its "Nationality Bill" it has passed or the "Greater Israel" project advocated by some of its ministers, is moving forward with its effort to exploit the sensibilities of various communities in Syria and Lebanon, particularly minorities.For some time now, it has been seeking "de facto partition" by undermining the national cultures of its neighbors, though it continues to hide behind softer terms like "federalism" and "decentralization."
Its engagement with the Kurdish issue, specifically, is by no means new. Now, however, it is using firepower as it awaits clarity from Türkiye’s.
As for the Druze, their situation is becoming increasingly perilous. Israel has waged a war explicitly aimed at erasing their Arab and Islamic identities. Compounding the threat, it is offering financial incentives and arms deals, as well as playing on sectarian sensibilities and fueling incitement online, to shape Druze politics in Syria and Lebanon.
... And then there is Iraq, where the next Arab summit will be held. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is a pragmatic figure. He is well aware of the circumstances that brought him to power, as well as the irreconcilability of the "state-building project" and "sectarian militias."
More than that, Al-Sudani is cognizant of Iraq's geographic location, sectarian composition, natural wealth, and, last but not least, the interests of the major global powers in the country.
At this confusing moment regionally and internationally, he is aware that a great deal is expected of Iraq. Like any rational actor, however, he also knows that he does not have much room to maneuver.
Thus, the bitter truth has not changed. Under the umbrella of Washington’s interests, Iraq, and indeed the entire Levant, has become a secondary player in the grand "power struggle" between Israel, Iran, and Türkiye.

Protecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is Our Shared Responsibility
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud-President of Somalia/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 29/2025
I have survived six assassination attempts by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab since my tenure as President of Somalia began in 2012. The most recent attempt on my life came on March 18, 2025. I was in Mogadishu, on my way to the airport to join our heroic forces on the front lines, when the terrorists tried to end my journey with the use of explosives. By the grace of God and thanks to the vigilance of our security forces, however, their plan failed, just like all of their previous attempts had.
These assassination attempts are not so much attacks on me as an individual as they are a reflection of the fact that the enemy has understood the nature of our national project. Our mission is to save Somalia from terrorism and build a stable future for its people and the region. Al-Shabaab has come to understand that rooting them and similar terrorist groups out would not only liberate Somalia, but also lay the foundations for security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the broader region, which they correctly see as an existential threat.
Since assuming office for a second time in 2022, I have made taking the fight to Al-Shabaab and ISIS my priority. We have developed a holistic strategy, targeting them on two main fronts: ideological and financial.
On the ideological front, we have worked with more than 300 leading scholars to expose the falsehood of these groups’ discourse and show that Islam is innocent of their crimes. Through media campaigns and awareness programs, the peaceful Somali people have clarity again, and we reject extremism in all its forms. On the financial front, we have diligently sought to cut off sources of terrorist financing. We shut down hundreds of suspicious bank accounts and dismantled many of the networks that the groups had used to extort citizens and businesses. These efforts have allowed our armed forces to clear vast areas of the country. Thus, our resolve remains strong despite the severe challenges and losses; our progress is tangible, and our succession of victories continues.
Our battle with terrorism is not merely a domestic struggle. It is a battle for the peace and stability of the entire region. Indeed, terrorism knows no borders, and defeating terror in Somalia means nipping the problem in the bud before the terrorists can threaten our neighbors and the world.
The strategic importance of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for global security and economy is well understood. Several terrorist groups operate there, most notably Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, ISIS, and the Houthis (groups that, despite their apparent differences, secretly collaborate and coordinate their roles against the states of the region, including Somalia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf region as a whole).
Having recognized these threats, we stood with our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from day one, joining the Islamic coalition to combat Houthi terrorism, which has attacked the Kingdom, its religious and economic stature, as well as harming the Yemeni people by imposing foreign hegemony on the country.
Our intelligence services recently detected communications between the Houthis in Yemen and both ISIS and Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Their relationship has evolved, and they are now exchanging weapons and expertise. We have also succeeded in intercepting and seizing shipments of explosives and drones en route from Yemen to Somalia and arrested an arms trafficking network. On the field, we are engaged in fierce battles on two main fronts. The first in the Cal Miskaad Mountains and the Golis mountain range (adjacent to the Gulf of Aden in the northeast of the country), where our forces have won one victory after the other. However, we need the support of regional partners to prevent the Gulf of Aden from becoming a hub for terrorist groups.
The second front is in the center, along the banks of the Shebelle River. Our soldiers have been waging decisive battles for years with the support of the African Union Mission to Somalia. These operations aim to prevent the terrorist group Al-Shabaab from seizing Somalia’s coastline along the Indian Ocean, and significant progress is being made.
The terrorists intend to take control of vital maritime waters, both in the Gulf of Aden and along the Indian Ocean coast, two arteries crucial to the region and the world. Rooting out the terrorist groups active in these two regions will determine our shared security and economic future as nations along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and it is crucial for preventing the fires of terrorism from spreading to other regions.
We have paid a high price and taken a difficult path, but we believe that our destination is worth every sacrifice. By God’s grace, and with the determination of our people and the support of our friends, we will press forward until we see a new, safe Somalia that constitutes a pillar of regional and international peace. Achieving peace and security in Somalia cannot be isolated from regional stability in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. As we continue to relentlessly combat terrorism, we extend a hand to our partners and brothers in the region and beyond. We count on their support, because we believe that the security of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is a collective responsibility that demands cooperation and integration among all the countries of the region.

Regional Messaging Between Israel and Iran
Johnny Kortbawi/This is Beirut/April 29/2025
The hands of the clock have frozen in the Middle East as the region waits out the deadline set by US President Donald Trump and his administration to conclude negotiations with Iran—before a potential military escalation that would decisively tip the balance in Israel’s favor.
But everything unfolding in the region during this lull amounts to little more than indirect messaging—calculated moves on the ground designed to exert pressure while the real negotiations take place behind closed doors. The recent renewed airstrike on an ammunition depot in Beirut’s southern suburbs can be interpreted within this context. Media outlets reported the incident through their respective political lenses. Those who doubted the target was in fact an arms depot had their suspicions confirmed by the army’s statement, which announced the detonation of unexploded munitions left by the strike. Meanwhile, media aligned with the obstructionist axis continued to cast doubt on what had occurred and ignored the army’s official account. Israel was well aware of the depot’s existence long before. Hezbollah, under constant surveillance, knew it couldn’t relocate the ammunition after the last war. The timing of the strike sends a clear message, tied to the negotiations, meant to demand seriousness and dispel any illusions that resistance movements in the region can continue to operate as they once did.
Whatever the outcome of these talks, one thing is certain: Israel stands to benefit. Proof of that lies in the recent statement by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who insisted that any discussion about Hezbollah’s weapons is no longer acceptable, and that anyone who disagrees should simply stay out of the debate. Naturally, he criticized the government’s diplomatic efforts and negotiations through traditional political channels, conveniently overlooking the fact that, while the government remains passive, Hezbollah’s pursuit of liberation and continued fighting could ultimately dismantle what’s left of the South—and its military strength.
What Hezbollah fails to understand is that current developments represent a grace period—an opportunity granted by Israel to the Lebanese state, allowing it to resolve all forms of disorder and unchecked weaponry under its control. Yet, Qassem views this period as a test of the government’s ability to achieve liberation—which, if failed, would give Hezbollah the green light to reclaim control over decisions of war and peace.
In this equation, it’s clear that Hezbollah remains trapped in a dangerous state of denial, one it has not escaped since the doomed war that ended in military defeat. Qassem’s problem goes beyond a lack of charisma or presence, or even the absence of compelling political arguments. His problem is a stubborn fixation on the issue of arms, provoking Israel yet again to do what it did just days ago in the southern suburbs.
A little humility would go a long way, Sheikh Naim. Clinging to armed resistance while simultaneously betting on negotiations is a losing strategy. Like it or not, Israel is the one emerging victorious.

Washington Draws the Line: Iran Must Comply
Philippe Abi-Akl/This is Beirut/April 29/2025
Washington and Tehran are moving on starkly opposing trajectories in the Middle East. Under President Donald Trump, the United States has prioritized dismantling any armed presence operating outside the framework of state legitimacy and eradicating terrorism from the region. This approach is part of a broader strategy to prepare the ground for a new Middle East and pursue comprehensive peace.
Iran, by contrast, is working to preserve what remains of its regional military proxies, seeking to use them as bargaining chips in the nuclear negotiations, now approaching their fourth round this coming Saturday.
In the lead-up to President Trump’s visit to the region—beginning with Saudi Arabia—the US administration directed its forces to maintain counterterrorism operations, “particularly in Syria,” and also called on Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to prohibit all political and military activity by Palestinian factions and to expel their operatives from the country.
Acting on these demands, Syrian security forces arrested several leaders of the Islamic Jihad movement, prompting Saraya al-Quds to call for their release. President al-Sharaa subsequently banned Palestinian groups from bearing arms, declaring that only the Syrian State may hold that authority. He also refused to allow Syrian territory to serve as a base for attacks on neighboring countries.
As Syria’s Foreign Minister stated before the UN Security Council, “Syria poses no threat to any country in the region, including Israel.”
Before meaningful peace talks can advance in the Middle East, the Trump administration is focused on disarming Iran’s military factions, particularly Hamas and Hezbollah, as a key precondition to any discussions on normalization.
Diplomats are closely tracking regional pivotal developments, including growing protests in Gaza against Hamas’ rule, calling for Hamas to leave the Strip, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ announcement of the creation of a new position—Vice President for Gaza. Hamas now finds itself caught between the pressures of the Palestinian Authority and the frustration of its own people, while simultaneously facing the ongoing threat of Israeli military action. As peace efforts take shape, President Abbas has outlined his conditions for a lasting resolution, which include, “The establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State with full United Nations membership and global recognition; a complete cessation of Israeli military operations in the West Bank; a freeze on Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence; the protection of holy sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem; and a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, coupled with confidence-building measures to pave the way for a genuine political process that will lead to a just and comprehensive peace, based on the principles of international law and its resolutions.”
Abbas emphasized that these steps must lead to a just and lasting peace, grounded in international law and aligned with relevant UN resolutions.
On the Iranian front, Tehran is closely monitoring regional developments and working to preserve the strategic gains and influence secured by the Iranian Revolution, particularly through its proxies. After President Trump called for the nuclear issue to be resolved either through diplomacy or war, Iran swiftly seized the diplomatic opportunity, seeking to bypass Israel’s military options. According to Iranian officials, indirect negotiations have taken place, with Tehran expressing its intention to involve European officials behind the scenes, signaling its readiness to engage within the international framework. In response, Iran has abandoned its military factions, including Hezbollah, and has firmly rejected discussions on any related issue. Instead, Iran insists on direct negotiations with the leadership of these groups, a stance it has communicated to both Washington and Riyadh.Amid these developments, a Lebanese security official has confirmed that the security situation in the country remains under control. However, Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following his statement that “disarmament is a clear conspiracy against the state.” Prior to his appearance, Amani issued a public clarification, reaffirming that “Iran respects Lebanon’s internal agreements on Hezbollah’s weapons and does not impose its vision on Lebanese internal affairs.” The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded the ambassador of the necessity “to adhere to the Vienna Convention, especially regarding national sovereignty and non-interference in their internal matters.” The message was clear, “Lebanon is a sovereign, independent state that will not tolerate foreign interference in its domestic affairs, nor will it allow anyone to dictate its position or negotiate on its behalf. With the election of Joseph Aoun, Lebanon has exited the axis of resistance (Al-Moumanaa),” declared a prominent sovereign leader, signaling a clear shift. Hezbollah understood the message, especially after President Aoun stated, “There is no solution in Lebanon except through diplomacy.” He further added, “To those who seek war, I say: We can no longer bear the language of war.”On another front, sources within the Lebanese Forces (LF) argue that the Shiite Amal-Hezbollah duo, particularly Hezbollah, is in a difficult position and is actively seeking a way out. The party is advocating for dialogue and a strategy to resolve the weapons issue, aiming to preserve its position and to legitimize the gains it has achieved through its military strength—essentially negotiating weapons for political leverage. In response, Hezbollah officials have escalated their rhetoric, reaffirming their commitment to retaining their weapons while outlining conditions for their eventual relinquishment.
This was echoed by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in a statement, “We will not surrender our weapons now until Israel’s conditions are met. Our weapons are our cards, and we will not give them up without the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and a dialogue about their future.” A prominent sovereignist leader emphasized that the duo, in particular Hezbollah, can no longer impose its demands or pursue further gains. The party has lost, though it refuses to acknowledge this reality. Israel has assassinated its leaders, destroyed the south and displaced its once-supportive base, which no longer backs Hezbollah but instead calls for liberation and a state that represents all its citizens.
The decision to prevent weapons outside the law has been made, and the implementation phase has begun. Proxies should now comply, just as the Iraqi factions affiliated with Iran voluntarily handed over their weapons to the state.