English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For August 15/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary -
Our Lady of the Vineyard
From the book The Liturgical Gospel (Bkerki-2005)/Assumption of
the Virgin Mary The Christian tradition in the East and West tells us, and the
Church proclaims a belief that our Lady, the Virgin Mary, has ascended to heaven
with her body and soul. This was announced by Pope Pius XII in the year 1950. We
do not deny the death of the Virgin, but rather we believe that she moved later
to heaven without her body seeing corruption, by a special privilege from God.
Just as He chose her as a mother and a virgin, and just as He protected her from
original sin, He also transferred her to Him in her perfect human nature, body
and soul. The history of this feast is old, dating back to before the sixth
generation on the constant. And we find for every saint a place where they honor
his body, except for the Virgin, as there is no single tradition about honoring
the body of the Virgin. Today, all Christians in the East and West, Catholics
and non-Catholics - except for Protestants - celebrate this feast. May our
Virgin Mother intercede for us, and may her prayers be a wall for us, Amen..
Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Saint Luke 01/46-55: "Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the
lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me
blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown
strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their
hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the
lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the
promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’"
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on August 14-15/2025
Gebran Bassil’s New Stance Against Hezbollah’s Weapons: A Pinnacle of
Hypocrisy, Opportunism, and Deadly Narcissism/Elias Bejjani/August 13/2025
Larijani’s Visit to Lebanon: A Brazen Iranian Provocation and an Insult to the
State and People/Elias Bejjani/August 12/2025
A delegation from the “SDF,” headed by Mr. Abdul Salam Ahmad, the Representative
of the Autonomous Administration in Lebanon, met with the Head of the
“Alternative Option Movement,” Engineer Alfred Madi.
A Dangerous Development After Larijani's Visit to Beirut... A Permanent Iranian
Envoy in Lebanon!
Video Link to a Panel Discussion from the Washington Institute: The Future of
UNIFIL and Hezbollah Disarmament
Hezbollah chief thanks Iran for ongoing support against Israel
Katz quoted as saying Israel not planning new war on Lebanon
Israeli military official says Hezbollah must be disarmed across Lebanon
Israeli army chief visits south Lebanon post, says 'won't allow threats to grow'
Al-Zein says Barrack paper 'scary', govt. to discuss army plan on Sep. 2
Riachi says army's plan will satisfy everyone, even Hezbollah
Israel keeps up strikes on south as Lebanon mulls disarming Hezbollah
Qassem meets Larijani, thanks Iran for 'continuous support'
Bassil stresses Lebanon will outlive Israel
Salam slams Iran interference after Larijani meeting
Water shortages plague Beirut as low rainfall compounds woes
Why disarming Hezbollah cannot wait/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/August 14, 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on August 14-15/2025
Iran FM says ‘working with China and Russia’ to stop European sanctions
Diplomacy or defiance: Iran rulers face existential choice after US-Israeli
strikes
South Africa’s top general under fire for remarks in Iran
Turkey reports mass return by Syrians
Israel’s Smotrich announces settlement plan to ‘bury’ idea of Palestinian state
UAE joins Jordan, EU countries in Gaza humanitarian airdrops
US says stable West Bank in line with Trump goal for regional peace
Gaza civil defense says 17 killed in Israel strikes
Syrian authorities arrest Assad-era militant suspected of mutilating bodies
Blast kills four in northwest Syria
Turkiye reports mass return by Syrians
Trump says Putin summit could fail, promises Ukraine say
Saudi Crown Prince, UAE president discuss regional developments, cooperation
Russia labels Reporters without Borders an ‘undesirable organization’
UAE says mediation between Russia, Ukraine secures release of 168 prisoners
Putin praises ‘sincere’ US as Ukraine braces for Trump-Putin summit
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on August 14-15/2025
Another
Al-Jazeera Reporter Was a Hamas Terrorist; Al-Jazeera Should Be Designated a
Foreign Terrorist Organization/Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute/August 14/2025
Under Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, Saudi sets gold standard for
counter-terrorism/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/14 August/2025
Major European cities have little but tourism left/Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab
News/August 14, 2025
Climate change fueling the region’s water crisis/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/August 14, 2025
Assad Is Gone. The Syrian Problem Persists/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is
Beirut/August 15/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on August 14-15/2025
Gebran Bassil’s New Stance Against Hezbollah’s Weapons: A
Pinnacle of Hypocrisy, Opportunism, and Deadly Narcissism
Elias Bejjani/August 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146232/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1DN7AChDVU
Gebran Bassil in political life can only be described as a fraud, a hypocrite, a
chameleon, and utterly corrupt to the core. He did not enter public affairs and
politics through merit or achievement, but because he is the son-in-law of
General Michel Aoun, and because Hezbollah decided to grant him political cover
in exchange for selling Lebanon’s sovereignty and providing Christian legitimacy
to the weapons of Iran’s terrorist jihadist militia.
The U.S. administration did not place him on the Magnitsky sanctions list for
nothing. That came after investigations confirmed his involvement in political
and financial corruption, shady deals, and power-sharing arrangements at the
expense of the Lebanese people. Today, in a blatantly deceitful maneuver, he
tries to rebrand himself to Christians and Americans, claiming to stand with the
Lebanese state against Hezbollah’s weapons. Yet even in this so-called
“opposition,” he continues to tie the survival of those weapons to the falsehood
of a so-called “defense strategy” and the tired heresy of “preserving Lebanon’s
strength” through the arms of Iran’s militia.
The Dark History of Alliance with Hezbollah
The undeniable truth—untouched by any speech or press conference—is that Bassil
and his Father In law Michel Aoun entered into a strategic alliance with
Hezbollah upon signing the "Mar Mikhael Agreement", on February 6, 2006. This
agreement was a coup against Lebanon’s independence, explicitly stating:
Clause 4: “The weapons of the resistance are an honorable and necessary means of
defending Lebanon…”
Clause 5: “The future of the resistance’s weapons cannot be discussed until the
Israeli threat is gone and a capable state is established…”
This language, endorsed by Aoun and Bassil, tied the fate of Hezbollah’s arsenal
to the existence of Israel and effectively nullified any commitment to U.N.
resolutions—especially Resolution 1559, which calls for the disbanding of all
Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias. Worse still, the agreement whitewashed the
Syrian occupation of Lebanon, describing it as “an experience marred by some
mistakes,” thus absolving the Assad regime that murdered, assassinated, and
occupied Lebanon for three decades.
Complicity in Wars and Internal Coups
Aoun, with Bassil behind him, backed Hezbollah in the 2006 July War, granting it
full political cover despite the immense destruction it brought upon Lebanon. In
May 2008, when Hezbollah invaded Beirut and the Chouf Mountains, Aoun stood by
the militia against fellow Lebanese.
Most dangerously, Michel Aoun stood against the Lebanese Army, declaring more
than once that the army could not protect Lebanon and that real protection was
in Hezbollah’s hands. His brazenness peaked when Hezbollah killed Lebanese Army
pilot Samer Hanna in the south; Aoun shamelessly asked in public: “What was
Samer Hanna doing in the south where Hezbollah holds authority?” He even visited
the so-called “Resistance Museum” in Mlita alongside MP Mohammad Raad, declaring
Hezbollah the “protector of the homeland,” a clear message that the national
army was not Lebanon’s shield—Hezbollah was.
Betraying the Christians and Aligning with Murderers
Bassil frequently grandstands about Christian rights, yet in practice, he has
betrayed them at every political juncture. He allied with the criminal Assad
regime, which displaced Christians from their towns, destroyed villages, and
emptied entire areas of their population. He also supported schemes to grant
citizenship to non-entitled individuals—registered by Assad’s regime and its
Lebanese proxies—tens of thousands of whom were placed in Christian areas,
skewing demographics and weakening Christian political weight.
An Enemy of the Lebanese Diaspora
Bassil’s hostility toward Lebanese expatriates was made clear in his position on
their voting rights. He opposed allowing them to vote for all 128 MPs in their
home districts, siding with Hezbollah and Nabih Berri in the absurdity of
limiting them to electing only six MPs—an impractical and illusory scheme.
This electoral conspiracy was designed primarily to reduce the influence of
expatriates, most of whom are Christians who oppose Hezbollah and distrust
Bassil. It proves that Bassil cares neither for Christian rights nor for the
rights of Lebanese abroad, but only for the political benefits secured through
his alliances with Berri and Hezbollah.
A Shame Parliamentary Representation
Bassil’s entire parliamentary and political stature stems from Hezbollah’s
backing, not from any genuine popular mandate or national achievements. He
represents neither the conscience, identity, nor history of Lebanese Christians.
He is the epitome of the opportunistic politician who changes positions as
easily as changing clothes, in pursuit of personal and political gain—even if
the cost is selling sovereignty, betraying national partnership, and granting
Christian cover to the most destructive project Lebanon has seen in its modern
history.
Conclusion
After Gebran Bassil, along with his Father In law Michel Aoun, has been stripped
bare and their dark history of selling sovereignty, identity, and
independence—while allying with Hezbollah and the Assad regime—has been exposed,
it is baffling that any Lebanese citizens, especially in the Diaspora, still
support them. In our humble opinion, these misguided individuals should seek the
nearest clinic specialized in mental and psychological disorders.
Larijani’s Visit to Lebanon: A Brazen Iranian Provocation and an Insult
to the State and People
Elias Bejjani/August 12/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146171/
In a move that represents the height of provocation, arrogance, and domination,
the Secretary-General of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani,
is preparing to visit Lebanon next Wednesday. This visit is entirely unwelcome
and firmly rejected by most Lebanese at the popular, political, and official
levels—especially in light of his recent statements, which constitute blatant
interference in Lebanese internal affairs and a direct challenge to the
constitution, laws, and international resolutions.
In an openly insolent and shameless remark, Larijani declared: “Iran will not
allow Hezbollah to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state.” This is a blunt
rejection of the Lebanese constitution, United Nations Security Council
resolutions—chief among them Resolution 1701—and the recent ceasefire agreement
between Lebanon and Hezbollah. It is also a direct insult to Lebanon’s state
institutions and its army.
The matter does not stop with Larijani. Other Iranian officials, before and
after him, have made similar remarks. Among them is the Supreme Leader’s
advisor, who recently stated: “Hezbollah’s weapons are the guarantee of
Lebanon’s strength and will not be handed over to anyone.” This statement
entrenches Tehran’s role as Lebanon’s self-appointed guardian and confirms
Hezbollah’s full alignment with the Iranian project—at the expense of the
state’s sovereignty and unity. Inside Lebanon, Hezbollah leaders have escalated
their defiant rhetoric. MP Mohammad Raad declared: “Our weapons are our honor
and our destiny, and whoever demands their removal is demanding the elimination
of our existence.” He accompanied this with Karbala-style doctrinal and suicidal
overtones in an attempt to give a false sacred character to an Iranian–military
project that is destroying Lebanon.
Why Should Larijani’s Visit Be Rejected?
Because he incites Hezbollah against the Lebanese government and legitimizes
illegal weapons that threaten national unity and civil peace.
Because he represents the security and ideological arm of Iran’s project in
Lebanon, aimed at turning it into a forward base for the IRGC.
Because his statements are a direct insult to Lebanon’s sovereignty, its
president, and its institutions—and his visit sends a clear message of defiance
to the international community and outright rejection of implementing UN
resolutions.
What Must Be Done Immediately
A clear and explicit governmental decision must be issued to refuse Larijani’s
entry into Lebanon. An official message should be sent to Tehran making it clear
that interference in Lebanese affairs is completely unacceptable. Moreover, it
has become a national necessity to sever diplomatic and political ties with Iran
until it stops supporting terrorist militias at the expense of the Lebanese
state.
The fact remains that Iran is a cancer devouring the body of Lebanon, and
Hezbollah is its deadly tool. Eradicating this cancer begins with rejecting any
political or protocol legitimization for its figures and with official and
popular action to end the Iranian occupation disguised under the false slogan
and trade of so-called “resistance.”
In conclusion, the majority of the Lebanese people seek peace, and the
restoration of their country’s sovereignty, independence, and freedom. These
aspirations will not be realized as long as the national decision is held
hostage in Tehran, as long as Hezbollah’s illegal terrorist and jihadist weapons
remain above the law, and as long as visits by Iranian officials occur as though
Lebanon were a province belonging to the mullahs’ regime.
A delegation from
the “SDF,” headed by Mr. Abdul Salam Ahmad, the Representative of the Autonomous
Administration in Lebanon, met with the Head of the “Alternative Option
Movement,” Engineer Alfred Madi.
August 14, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146277/
The head of the “Alternative Option Movement,” Engineer Alfred Madi, issued the
following statement:
A delegation from the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), headed by Mr. Abdul
Salam Ahmad, the “Representative of the Autonomous Administration in Lebanon,”
visited the head of the “Alternative Option Movement,” Engineer Alfred Madi, at
his residence, in the presence of Mr. Hassan Qutb, Director of the “Lebanese
Center for Research and Consulting,” and Ms. Rima Saad, the Movement’s
coordinator.
The participants discussed the political and geo-strategic situation in Syria
and Lebanon, their impact on the region, and the region’s future.
Talks also covered the latest developments in the relationship between the SDF
and the new Syrian regime, as well as with other components of Syrian society,
and their repercussions on Lebanon’s situation and neutrality — leading to the
possibility of implementing Chapter VII in Lebanon — and the anticipated peace
in the region. It was agreed to continue discussions
on these shared topics in future meetings.
A Dangerous Development After Larijani's Visit to Beirut... A Permanent Iranian
Envoy in Lebanon!
Transparency Site/August 14/2025
(Free translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146286/
In a remarkable move to manage Iran's influence in Lebanon, the visit of former
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani to Beirut carried deep strategic
dimensions that went beyond a mere protocol visit.
According to exclusive information, Larijani informed the Hezbollah leadership
that the file concerning the party's weapons in Lebanon has been taken away from
both Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. In a shift that is the first
of its kind in decades, Larijani has been made directly responsible for the file
under a mandate from Supreme Leader Khamenei.
A Direct Mandate from Tehran
The data indicates that Larijani informed the party's leadership that the
decision was made in Tehran to transfer the Lebanese file from Hezbollah's field
and political supervision to a central administration that he will lead. He will
personally take charge of the overall political oversight, while the Iranian
Saeed Khatibzadeh will be tasked with following up on the implementation on the
ground.
A Pivotal Moment for Lebanon
The information confirms that Khatibzadeh will be in Beirut between August 27
and 29, coinciding with the Lebanese Council of Ministers' meeting to decide on
the "Army Paper" concerning the weapons file. He will be the person who
coordinates with the Iranian leadership on the final position: either to
escalate in case the paper is rejected, or to accept it if Tehran finds that it
serves its interests. This means that the final decision on this file has
completely transferred to Iran, and is no longer in the hands of Hezbollah or
even its local allies.
The Strategic Decision
This development means that Hezbollah is no longer the only party authorized to
make decisions related to its weapons or its military and political options; the
final decision is now in the hands of the central Iranian leadership. Even
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, known for his closeness to Hezbollah and his
political partnership with it, was informed that his authority on this matter
has been marginalized, and that direct channels between the Lebanese state and
Tehran will be managed through Khatibzadeh, not through local intermediaries.
Weapons and Confrontation Options
Khatibzadeh will handle direct negotiations with the Lebanese government and the
military establishment regarding the future of the party's weapons, and will
explore the possibilities of addressing the issue through a political settlement
or joint security arrangements with the Lebanese army. However, another scenario
the Iranians are putting on the table is the option of a military solution or
keeping the southern front with Israel open if Tehran's interests require it.
Regional Dimensions and a New Phase
With this step, Iran has moved the management of the Lebanese file to a higher
level of centralization, placing Hezbollah in the position of an "executive arm"
rather than a decision-maker. Observers believe this shift reflects Tehran's
desire to directly control the strings of the game in light of regional and
international changes, and to ensure that any negotiation about weapons,
borders, or even engagement in a confrontation with Israel will be a purely
Iranian decision, far removed from Lebanese domestic calculations.
Video Link to a
Panel Discussion from the Washington Institute: The Future of UNIFIL and
Hezbollah Disarmament
August 14/2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjpdhP7Fn2A&t=1416s
Washington Institute
With the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon set to expire August 31, the
Security Council will once again be debating the organization’s future—though
with the stakes raised dramatically this time. Five decades into what has become
the densest concentration of peacekeeping troops on earth, and months after an
Israel Defense Forces campaign devastated Hezbollah, UNIFIL continues to
underperform in seizing the militia's weapons, investigating its violations, and
reporting on its activities. Can the force play a useful role in disarming
Hezbollah and solidifying the ceasefire, or should Washington veto its mandate
and seek a different approach? In Beirut and Jerusalem, how do military
officials view UNIFIL, and how should they prepare to work with the force if the
UN decides to preserve or revise its mandate?
To discuss these questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a
virtual Policy Forum consisting of two separate, sequential video conversations:
the first with Gen. Khalil Helou (Lebanese Armed Forces, Ret.), and the second
with Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion (IDF, Res.) and Lt. Col. Sarit Zehavi (IDF, Res.).
Both panels will be moderated by Taube Senior Fellow David Schenker.
Gen. Khalil Helou (LAF, Ret.) served in the LAF Rangers Regiment and the hostage
rescue force of the military intelligence services. He is currently an associate
professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion (IDF, Res.) is The Washington Institute’s Rueven
International Fellow, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National
Security Studies, and former head of the IDF Strategic Planning Division.
Lt. Col. Sarit Zehavi (IDF, Res.) is founder and president of Alma, an Israeli
institute specializing in security challenges along the Lebanese border. She
served for fifteen years in the IDF Intelligence Corps, initially in research
and analysis and later with the Northern Command.
Hezbollah chief thanks Iran for ongoing support against
Israel
AFP/14 August/2025
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has thanked a senior Iranian official for his
country’s ongoing support in confronting Israel, the Lebanese militant group
said on Thursday. For decades, Tehran has been the main backer of the group,
which emerged badly weakened from last year’s war with Israel that saw its
arsenal pummeled and senior commanders killed. Qassem met with Iran’s Supreme
National Security Council chief Ali Larijani, who arrived in Beirut on
Wednesday, and thanked Iran “for the ongoing support to Lebanon and its
resistance against the Israeli enemy,” the group said in a statement. He also
thanked Iran for its support for Lebanon’s “unity, sovereignty and
independence,” and emphasized “the brotherly relations between the Lebanese and
Iranian people.”Larijani’s visit came after the Lebanese government tasked the
army with drawing up a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Recent
statements from Iranian officials in support of Hezbollah keeping its weapons
have angered Lebanese officials. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Larijani on
Wednesday that “we reject any interference in our internal affairs,” adding that
“it is forbidden for anyone... to bear arms and to use foreign backing as
leverage.”Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was equally firm, saying that “Lebanon will
not accept, in any form, any interference in its internal affairs, and expects
from the Iranian side a clear and explicit commitment to respect these
principles.”Larijani said that “any decision that the Lebanese government makes
in consultation with the resistance is respected by us.”“The one who interferes
in Lebanese affairs is the one who plans for you, gives you a timetable from
thousands of kilometers away. We did not give you any plan,” he said. He was
alluding to Washington, which put heavy pressure on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah
and even presented a detailed proposal, including a timeline, for the process.
Katz quoted as
saying Israel not planning new war on Lebanon
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
A senior U.N. official who has recently visited Israel has quoted Israeli
Defense Minister Israel Katz as saying that "the Israeli army does not intend to
launch a military operation against Lebanon if (U.S. envoy Tomb) Barrack's
mission fails,” ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Thursday.“Israel will not go
beyond the operations it is currently carrying out,” the official quoted Katz as
saying. “The 1982 scenario will not be repeated, and there will be no
large-scale military operation from Mount Hermon to al-Masnaa (border crossing),
as is being reported in the media. Operations will remain within their current
framework," Katz reportedly added. The U.N. official also conveyed to Lebanese
officials “an American decision to maintain stability in Lebanon, which is a
priority for Washington,” ad-Diyar said.
“This was also conveyed to the officials by the Lebanese-born U.S. congressman
Darrell Lahoud,” the daily added.
Israeli military official says Hezbollah must be disarmed
across Lebanon
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
An Israeli military official has said that “there is a chance to create a better
situation in Lebanon and Syria if it does not get wasted due to hatred.”“The
dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons must involve entire Lebanon and not only the
South,” the official said, according to Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel. “Our
previous policy of ‘buying calm’ with Hezbollah has failed and the October
(2023) events proved that,” the official added. He also noted that “Hezbollah
ignored the calls of (Iran’s) Quds Force for responding militarily (against
Israel) during the war (of Israel) against Iran.”
Israeli army chief visits south Lebanon post, says 'won't
allow threats to grow'
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
Chief of Staff of Israel's army Eyal Zamir who visited Wednesday a post in south
Lebanon said Israel is in a "multifront war" not just with Gaza but also in
Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. "This morning, we approved plans for the conquest of
Gaza, and now we are in Lebanon," he said. "At the same time, we are operating
in Syria, Yemen, Judea and Samaria (West Bank), and monitoring events in Iran.
We are in a multifront war," Zamir said, adding that Israel has achieved
"unprecedented" goals in Lebanon. "The achievements in the northern sector are
unprecedented. Since the ceasefire (reached in late November), over 240
terrorists have been eliminated and approximately 600 air strikes conducted."
"We are operating according to a new strategic concept - we will not allow
threats to grow," Zamir said. The visit comes amid tensions in Lebanon over
Hezbollah arms after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise plans to
disarm the group.Israel has kept up its strikes on Lebanon despite a November
ceasefire that sought to end over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah,
including two months of all-out war.It has warned it will continue to strike
until the Iran-backed militant group has been disarmed. Under the truce,
Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani river, about 30
kilometers from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese Army and United Nations
peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region. Israel was to withdraw all
its troops from Lebanon but has kept them in five areas it deems "strategic."
Al-Zein says Barrack paper 'scary', govt. to discuss army
plan on Sep. 2
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
Environment Minister Tamara al-Zein of the Amal Movement has revealed in an
interview on Al-Jadeed TV that “the cabinet session in which the Lebanese Army
will present its plan” for monopolizing arms across the country “will be held on
September 2.”“No one knows the content of this plan,” al-Zein added. Referring
to the two cabinet sessions that witnessed a walkout by the ministers of Amal
and Hezbollah in protest at the government’s decisions on Hezbollah’s
disarmament, al-Zein said “the two cabinet sessions should have been postponed
until securing consenus among the parties.”“The discussion of U.S. envoy Tom
Barrack’s paper resembled a surrenders,” al-Zein added, noting that “there had
been a tacit agreement to postpone the clause on army monopoly which was not
honored.”She added: “Speaker Nabih Berri will try until the end to prevent
Lebanon from reaching a clash or tensions.”She also reassured that “it is
totally impossible to witness inter-Lebanese fighting.”As for Barrack’s paper,
al-Zein said “the details of Barrack’s paper are scary and each clause contains
a trap.”“The Lebanese Army must approach the plan in a calculated manner and
must discuss it with President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf
Salam,” she added.
Riachi says army's plan will satisfy everyone, even
Hezbollah
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
MP Melhem Riachi of the Lebanese Forces has said that the Lebanese Army’s plan
to monopolize arms across the country will “surprise everyone.”“The army’s plan
will surprise everyone with the solution it will represent and will be
satisfactory to all Lebanese,” Riachi said in an interview on Al-Jadeed
television. “In my opinion, it will even be satisfactory to Hezbollah,” Riachi
suggested. “The army will perform its work in a wise, experienced and firm
manner,” he added. The Lebanese government has tasked the army with drawing up a
plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah has slammed the
government's disarmament push as a "grave sin" and said it will treat the
government’s resolution “as if it does not exist.”Lebanon's cabinet has also
approved the objectives of a U.S. proposal that includes a timetable for
Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action. Before
the latest war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the
Lebanese military. It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal in order to
defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for
political leverage.
Israel keeps up strikes on south as Lebanon mulls disarming
Hezbollah
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
An Israeli drone targeted Thursday an excavator in the southern town of Yaroun
as Israeli forces infiltrated Wadi Hounin, entering two Lebanese houses near
Adeisseh. Israel has kept up its strikes on Lebanon despite a November ceasefire
that sought to end over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two
months of all-out war.On Wednesday, one person was killed in an Israeli drone
strike on his car in the southern town of Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district.
These attacks come amid tensions in Lebanon over Hezbollah disarmament.Israel
has warned it will continue to strike until Hezbollah has been disarmed. The
Lebanese government meanwhile ordered the army to devise plans to disarm the
group, under mounting U.S. pressure.
Qassem meets Larijani, thanks Iran for 'continuous support'
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has met with Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s
Supreme National Security Lebanon, who began a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday,
Hezbollah said in a statement. The meeting was held in the presence of the
visiting Iranian delegation and Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani, the
party added. During the meeting, Qassem thanked Iran for “its continuous support
for Lebanon and its resistance against the Israeli enemy, as well as its support
for Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty and independence, emphasizing upon the
brotherly ties between the Lebanese and Iranian peoples,” Hezbollah said.
Larijani had met Wednesday with President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Aoun and Salam firmly rejected any efforts at
foreign interference by Iran or other countries, with the prime minister saying
Beirut would "tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat" after Tehran voiced
opposition to plans to disarm Hezbollah. The uncharacteristically blunt remarks
hinted at a changed balance of power in a country where Iran has long wielded
substantial influence by funding and arming Hezbollah. The visit by Larijani
comes after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise plans to disarm
the Tehran-backed militant group by the end of the year. Last week, an adviser
to Iran's supreme leader had said the Islamic republic was "certainly opposed"
to the disarmament plan. Hezbollah has been a key part of Tehran's so-called
axis of resistance against Israel, but Iran and its allies have suffered a
series of blows. Hezbollah experienced devastating losses, including the death
of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, over more than a year of hostilities with
Israel that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. A month later, longtime Syrian
ruler and Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted, depriving Hezbollah of its
main conduit for weapons and supplies from Iran.And finally, Israel went to war
with Iran itself in June, with the United States stepping in briefly to bomb
Iranian nuclear facilities. Ever since last year's war, Hezbollah's firm grip on
Lebanese politics has been slipping. Hezbollah has slammed the government's new
disarmament push as a "grave sin", while Tehran has also declared its
opposition. But in Beirut, Larijani said that no foreign power should give
orders to Lebanon, adding that it was not Iran but the United States that was
intervening. Lebanon's cabinet recently considered a U.S. proposal that included
a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take
action. "Any decision that the Lebanese government makes in consultation with
the resistance is respected by us," Larijani said.
Bassil stresses Lebanon will outlive Israel
Naharnet/August 14, 2025
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Thursday emphasized that Lebanon
will outsurvive Israel. “Lebanon existed thousands of years before Israel and
will remain after it forever and ever. Amen,” Bassil said in a post on the X
platform.“#Lebanon_will_never_vanish,” he stressed. Bassil had warned Tuesday
that “the idea of the presence of arms itself has become a source of threat,
danger and great harm for Lebanon.”“These arms must be placed in the hand of the
state exclusively and should not stay in the service of any axis,” the FPM chief
added.
Salam slams Iran interference after Larijani meeting
Agence France Presse/August 14, 2025
Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a
visit by Iran's security chief Wednesday, with the prime minister saying Beirut
would "tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat" after Tehran voiced opposition to
plans to disarm Hezbollah.
The uncharacteristically blunt remarks hinted at a changed balance of power in a
country where Iran has long wielded substantial influence by funding and arming
Hezbollah. The visit by Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani
comes after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise plans to disarm
the Tehran-backed militant group by the end of the year.Last week, an adviser to
Iran's supreme leader had said the Islamic republic was "certainly opposed" to
the disarmament plan. "We reject any interference in our internal affairs,"
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday, adding that "it is forbidden for
anyone... to bear arms and to use foreign backing as leverage", according to a
statement from his office. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was equally firm, saying
in a statement: "Lebanon will not accept, in any form, any interference in its
internal affairs, and expects from the Iranian side a clear and explicit
commitment to respect these principles."Hezbollah has been a key part of
Tehran's so-called axis of resistance against Israel, but Iran and its allies
have suffered a series of blows. Hezbollah experienced devastating losses,
including the death of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, over more than a year
of hostilities with Israel that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. A month
later, longtime Syrian ruler and Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted,
depriving Hezbollah of its main conduit for weapons and supplies from Iran. And
finally, Israel went to war with Iran itself in June, with the United States
stepping in briefly to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. Ever since last year's
war, Hezbollah's firm grip on Lebanese politics has been slipping.
'Grave sin' -
Hezbollah has slammed the government's new disarmament push as a "grave sin",
while Tehran has also declared its opposition. But in Beirut, Larijani said that
no foreign power should give orders to Lebanon, adding that it was not Iran but
the United States that was intervening. Lebanon's cabinet recently considered a
U.S. proposal that included a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with
Washington pressing Beirut to take action. "Any decision that the Lebanese
government makes in consultation with the resistance is respected by us,"
Larijani said. "The one who interferes in Lebanese affairs is the one who plans
for you, gives you a timetable from thousands of kilometers away. We did not
give you any plan."Salam, however, appeared to make clear the changed nature of
the relationship, declaring that "Lebanon's decisions are made by the Lebanese
themselves, who tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat"."Lebanon, which was the
first defender of the Palestinian cause and paid a heavy price in its
confrontation with Israel, has no lessons to receive from anyone," he continued.
Iran's government has long portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians,
with militant group Hamas in Gaza another member of its axis.
'Stand by' Lebanon
Before the latest war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed
than the Lebanese military. It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal in
order to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons
for political leverage.
In Beirut, Larijani vowed continued Iranian support. "If... the Lebanese people
are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear
people of Lebanon in all circumstances," Larijani told reporters. In addition to
meeting President Aoun, Prime Minister Salam, and parliament speaker Nabih Berri,
Larijani visited the grave of Nasrallah, who was killed in a massive Israeli
bombing in south Beirut last year.
Water shortages
plague Beirut as low rainfall compounds woes
AFP/August 14, 2025
BEIRUT: People are buying water by the truckload in Beirut as the state supply
faces its worst shortages in years, with the leaky public sector struggling
after record-low rainfall and local wells running dry. “State water used to come
every other day, now it’s every three days,” said Rima Al-Sabaa, 50, rinsing
dishes carefully in Burj Al-Baranjeh, in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Even when
the state water is flowing, she noted, very little trickles into her family’s
holding tank. Once that runs out, they have to buy trucked-in water — pumped
from private springs and wells — but it costs more than $5 for 1,000 liters and
lasts just a few days, and its brackishness makes everything rust.
In some areas, the price can be twice as high.
Like many Lebanese people, Sabaa, who works assisting the elderly, relies on
bottled water for drinking. But in a country grappling with a yearslong economic
crisis and still reeling from a recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, the
costs add up. “Where am I supposed to get the money from?” she asked. Water
shortages have long been the norm for much of Lebanon, which acknowledges only
around half the population “has regular and sufficient access to public water
services.”Surface storage options such as dams are inadequate, according to the
country’s national water strategy, while half the state supply is considered
“non-revenue water” — lost to leakage and illegal connections. This year, low
rainfall has made matters even worse. Mohamad Kanj from the meteorological
department told AFP that rainfall for 2024-2025 “is the worst in the 80 years”
on record in Lebanon. Climate change is set to exacerbate the county’s water
stress, according to the national strategy, while a World Bank statement this
year said “climate change may halve (Lebanon’s) dry-season water by 2040.”
Energy and Water Minister Joseph Saddi said last week that “the situation is
very difficult.”
The shortages are felt unevenly across greater Beirut, where tanks clutter
rooftops, water trucks clog roads and most people on the ramshackle state grid
lack meters. Last month, the government launched a campaign encouraging water
conservation, showing dried or depleted springs and lakes around the country.
North of the capital, levels were low in parts of the Dbayeh pumping station
that should have been gushing with water. “I’ve been here for 33 years and this
is the worst crisis we’ve had for the amount of water we’re receiving and can
pump” to Beirut, said the station’s Zouhair Azzi. Antoine Zoghbi from the Beirut
and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment said water rationing in Beirut usually
started in October or November, after summer and before the winter rainy season.
But this year it has started months early “because we lack 50 percent of the
amount of water” required at some springs, he told AFP last month. Rationing
began at some wells in June, he said, to reduce the risk of overuse and seawater
intrusion. Zoghbi emphasized the need for additional storage, including dams.In
January, the World Bank approved more than $250 million in funding to improve
water services for greater Beirut and its surroundings.
In 2020, it canceled a loan for a dam south of the capital after
environmentalists said it could destroy a biodiversity-rich valley. In south
Beirut, pensioner Abu Ali Nasreddine, 66, said he had not received state water
for many months. “Where they’re sending it, nobody knows,” he said, lamenting
that the cost of trucked-in water had also risen.
His building used to get water from a local well but it dried up, he added,
checking his rooftop tank. Bilal Salhab, 45, who delivers water on a small,
rusted truck, said demand had soared, with families placing orders multiple
times a week. “The water crisis is very bad,” he said, adding he was struggling
to fill his truck because wells had dried up or become salty. In some areas of
greater Beirut, wells have long supplemented or even supplanted the state
network. But many have become depleted or degraded, wrecking pipes and leaving
residents with salty, discolored water.Nadim Farajalla, chief sustainability
officer at the Lebanese American University, said Beirut had ballooned in size
and population since the start of the 1975-1990 civil war but water
infrastructure had failed to keep up. Many people drilled wells illegally,
including at depths that tap into Lebanon’s strategic groundwater reserves, he
said, adding that “nobody really knows how many wells there are.”“Coastal
aquifers are suffering from seawater intrusion, because we are pumping much more
than what’s being recharged,” Farajalla told AFP. As the current shortages bite,
rationing and awareness campaigns should have begun earlier, he said, because
“we all knew that the surface snow cover and rainfall” were far below average.
Why disarming
Hezbollah cannot wait
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/August 14, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146289/
Lebanon stands at a decisive crossroads. The choice is stark and unavoidable:
reclaim the monopoly on legitimate force or watch the slow, irreversible erosion
of the state. At the heart of this crisis lies Hezbollah’s arsenal — a parallel
military power that operates beyond government authority, answers to an external
command structure and wields enough influence to veto national decisions at
will. For decades, Hezbollah’s weapons have been justified under the banner of
“resistance,” originally framed as a necessary shield against Israeli
aggression. That narrative, however, has long since expired. What began as a
defensive posture has morphed into a political and military apparatus that holds
the Lebanese state hostage, subverts democratic institutions and serves as an
arm of a foreign power’s regional strategy. Today, Hezbollah’s weapons no longer
protect Lebanon — they protect Hezbollah’s ability to dictate Lebanon’s
future.The foundation of any sovereign state is its monopoly over the use of
force. In Lebanon, this principle is broken. Hezbollah maintains a standing
arsenal, a command structure independent of the national army and the capacity
to make war or peace without consulting the state. This dual security system
corrodes the very idea of sovereignty. One side is accountable to the Lebanese
people through democratic governance. The other side is accountable to
foreigners, drawing its legitimacy from an ideology and an external agenda that
do not always align with Lebanon’s national interests.
As long as Hezbollah retains its weapons, Lebanon’s national sovereignty is
conditional at best — a slogan for political speeches rather than a lived
reality. Foreign policy decisions will remain hostage to the calculations of an
armed faction whose priorities extend far beyond Lebanon’s borders.
Hezbollah’s weapons no longer protect Lebanon — they protect Hezbollah’s ability
to dictate Lebanon’s future
The consequences of this military imbalance are not theoretical. Every regional
escalation risks pulling Lebanon into confrontation, whether through military
exchanges with Israel or covert operations on Lebanese soil. This constant risk
makes the country a bargaining chip in geopolitical rivalries it cannot control
and should not have to endure. The region itself is moving toward a different
paradigm. Arab capitals are engaging in diplomacy and prioritizing economic
recovery over ideological confrontation. Yet Lebanon remains locked in a
militant posture that isolates it from these opportunities.
Instead of benefiting from economic partnerships, foreign investment and
integration into a stabilizing regional order, Lebanon remains vulnerable —
economically isolated, diplomatically constrained and politically paralyzed.
Hezbollah’s weapons are not only an internal security problem; they are a
structural barrier to Lebanon’s reintegration into a changing Middle East.
Supporters of Hezbollah’s armed status often argue that these weapons serve as a
deterrent against Israeli aggression. In practice, they have not prevented
conflict; they have invited it. Each round of escalation devastates Lebanese
infrastructure, displaces civilians and deepens the economic crisis. The
destruction of southern Lebanon in past confrontations and the lingering risk of
renewed war are proof that this deterrent is, at best, a temporary shield with a
devastating price tag. Moreover, the military balance has shifted in ways that
diminish Hezbollah’s strategic value. Israel’s technological and intelligence
capabilities have evolved, making Hezbollah’s arsenal less of a deterrent and
more of a liability. What remains is a political reality: the weapons are less
about protecting Lebanon from external threats and more about preserving
Hezbollah’s leverage in the internal balance of power. Beyond the battlefield,
the presence of an armed faction outside state control distorts Lebanon’s
democratic process. No government can operate freely when one political actor
can back its demands with the implicit — or explicit — threat of force. Cabinet
decisions, parliamentary debates and policy initiatives all exist under the
shadow of Hezbollah’s military muscle. This imbalance makes genuine reform
nearly impossible. Political leaders, even those opposed to Hezbollah’s
influence, must calculate their positions based not only on the public interest
but also on the risk of provoking an armed response. The result is a system in
which accountability is selective, governance is paralyzed and corruption
thrives in the absence of real checks and balances.
Lebanon’s prolonged economic collapse — marked by currency devaluation, banking
failures and mass emigration — has been compounded by political paralysis.
International donors have made clear that aid and investment depend on political
stability, transparency and a functioning state. None of these are possible
while an armed group operates outside the chain of command of the Lebanese Armed
Forces. Beyond the battlefield, the presence of an armed faction outside state
control distorts Lebanon’s democratic process
The longer the disarmament issue is postponed, the deeper Lebanon sinks into
dependency and division. As economic desperation grows, the state’s capacity to
assert itself will shrink, making eventual disarmament even harder. The country
risks reaching a point where the armed status quo becomes so entrenched that it
can only be dismantled through crisis, not consensus. Disarming Hezbollah will
not be easy. It will require a coordinated national strategy that combines
political consensus, regional diplomacy and international support. The Lebanese
state must reassert itself as the sole legitimate authority over arms within its
borders. This is not merely a security measure — it is a prerequisite for
national revival.
The process will demand courage from Lebanon’s political class, unity among its
fractured institutions and a clear message to both domestic and foreign actors:
the era of divided sovereignty must end. Regional partners must also recognize
that a stable, unified Lebanon serves the interest of the entire Middle East.
Without their support — political, financial and diplomatic — the Lebanese state
will struggle to break free from the cycle of dependency and coercion. In the
end, the debate over Hezbollah’s weapons is not just about disarmament; it is
about whether Lebanon chooses to be a real state or a geopolitical pawn. A
sovereign Lebanon can decide its own foreign policy, rebuild its economy and
restore public trust in governance. A Lebanon where an armed faction holds veto
power over national decisions will remain trapped in instability, vulnerable to
external manipulation and cut off from the opportunities of a changing region.
The choice is urgent. Delay will only make the cost higher and the consequences
more severe. Disarmament is not a favor to foreign powers, nor is it an act of
hostility toward a single community. It is an act of self-preservation — the
only path toward reclaiming Lebanon’s sovereignty, securing its future and
honoring the right of its people to live in a state where power is wielded by
elected leaders, not by the force of arms.
• Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh
The
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on August 14-15/2025
Iran FM says
‘working with China and Russia’ to stop European sanctions
AFP/14 August/2025
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday his country was working
with China and Russia to prevent the snapback of European sanctions over
Tehran’s nuclear program after Britain, France and Germany threatened to
reimpose them. “We will try to prevent it,” the top diplomat said in an
interview with state TV. “We are working with China and Russia to stop it. If
this does not work and they apply it, we have tools to respond. We will discuss
them in due course.” The trio of European powers told the United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday that they were ready to reimpose
sanctions on Tehran if no diplomatic solution was found by the end of August.
All three were signatories to a 2015 deal that lifted sanctions in return for
curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. The agreement, which terminates in October,
includes a “snapback mechanism” allowing sanctions to be restored. “If Iran
continues to violate its international obligations, France and its German and
British partners will reimpose the global embargoes on arms, nuclear equipment
and banking restrictions that were lifted 10 years ago at the end of August,”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X on Wednesday. The 2015 deal,
known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, effectively collapsed
after US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018 during his first term
and restored crippling sanctions.
European countries attempted to keep the deal alive, while Iran initially stuck
to the terms before later ramping up its uranium enrichment. Earlier this year,
the United States joined Israel in bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel
launched its attacks while Washington and Tehran were still pursuing nuclear
talks, which have not since resumed. Western powers have long accused Iran of
pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge the Iranian government strongly denies.
Diplomacy or defiance: Iran rulers face existential choice
after US-Israeli strikes
Al Arabiya English/14 August/2025
Weakened by war and diplomatic deadlock, Iran’s clerical elite stands at a
crossroads: defy pressure to halt its nuclear activity and risk further Israeli
and US attacks, or concede and risk a leadership fracture. For now, the Islamic
Republic establishment is focusing on immediate survival over longer-term
political strategy. A fragile ceasefire ended a 12-day war in June that began
with Israeli airstrikes, followed by US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
Both sides declared victory but the war exposed the military vulnerabilities and
punctured the image of deterrence maintained by a major Middle East power and
Israel’s arch regional foe. Three Iranian insiders told Reuters the political
establishment now views negotiations with the US – aimed at resolving a
decades-long dispute over its nuclear ambitions – as the only way to avoid
further escalation and existential peril. The strikes on Iranian nuclear and
military targets, which included killings of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) commanders and nuclear scientists, shocked Tehran, kicking off just
a day before a planned sixth round of talks with Washington. While Tehran
accused Washington of “betraying diplomacy,” some hardline lawmakers and
military commanders blamed officials who advocated diplomacy with Washington,
arguing the dialogue proved a “strategic trap” that distracted the armed forces.
However, one political insider, who like others requested anonymity given the
sensitivity of the matter, said the leadership now leaned towards talks as
“they’ve seen the cost of military confrontation.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that resuming talks with the United
States “does not mean we intend to surrender,” addressing hardliners opposing
further nuclear diplomacy after the war. He added: “You don’t want to talk? What
do you want to do? ... Do you want to go (back) to war?”His remarks were
criticized by hardliners including IRGC commander Aziz Ghazanfari, who warned
that foreign policy demands discretion and that careless statements could have
serious consequences. Ultimately, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei holds the final
say. Insiders said he and the clerical power structure had reached a consensus
to resume nuclear negotiations, viewing them as vital to the Islamic Republic’s
survival. Iran’s foreign ministry said no decision has been made on the
resumption of nuclear talks. Dynamics and external pressure. US President Donald
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned they will not
hesitate to hit Iran again if it resumes enrichment of uranium, a possible
pathway to developing nuclear weapons. Last week, Trump warned that if Iran
restarted enrichment despite the June strikes on its key production plants,
“we’ll be back.” Tehran responded with a vow of forceful retaliation.
Still, Tehran fears future strikes could cripple political and military
coordination, and so has formed a defense council to ensure command continuity
even if the 86-year-old Khamenei must relocate to a remote hideaway to avoid
assassination.
Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in
Washington DC, said that if Iran seeks to rapidly rebuild its nuclear capacity
without securing diplomatic or security guarantees, “a US-Israeli strike won’t
just be possible – it will be all but inevitable.”
“Re-entering talks could buy Tehran valuable breathing room and economic relief,
but without swift US reciprocity it risks a hardline backlash, deepening elite
divisions, and fresh accusations of surrender,” Vatanka said. Tehran insists on
its right to uranium enrichment as part of what it maintains is a peaceful
nuclear energy program, while the Trump administration demands a total halt – a
core sticking point in the diplomatic standoff.
Renewed United Nations sanctions under the so-called “snapback” mechanism,
pushed by three European powers, loom as a further threat if Tehran refuses to
return to negotiations or if no verifiable deal to curb its nuclear activity
results. Tehran has threatened to quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But
insiders say this is a pressure tactic, not a realistic plan – as exiting the
NPT would telegraph an Iranian race for nuclear bombs and invite US and Israeli
intervention. A senior Western diplomat said Iran’s rulers were vulnerable as
never before, and any defiance was a gamble liable to backfire at a time of
rising domestic unrest, impaired deterrence power and Israel’s disabling of
Iran’s militia proxies in wars around the Middle East since 2023. Among ordinary
Iranians, weariness over war and international isolation runs deep, compounded
by a growing sense of failed governance. The oil-based economy, already hobbled
by sanctions and state mismanagement, is under worsening strain. Daily blackouts
afflict cities around the country of 87 million people, forcing many businesses
to cut back. Reservoirs have receded to record lows, prompting warnings from the
government of a looming “national water emergency.”Many Iranians – even those
opposed to the Shia theocracy – rallied behind the country during the June war,
but now face lost incomes and intensified repression.
Alireza, 43, a furniture merchant in Tehran, said he is considering downsizing
his business and relocating his family outside the capital amid fears of further
air attack. “This is the result of 40 years of failed policies,” he said,
alluding to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the Western-backed
monarchy. “We are a resource-rich country and yet people don’t have water and
electricity. My customers have no money. My business is collapsing.”At least 20
people across Iran interviewed by phone echoed Alireza’s sentiment – that while
most Iranians do not want another war, they are also losing faith in the
establishment’s capacity to govern wisely. Despite broad discontent, large-scale
protests have not broken out. Instead, authorities have tightened security,
ramped up pressure on pro-democracy activists, accelerated executions and
cracked down on alleged Israeli-linked spy networks – fueling fears of widening
surveillance and repression. However, sidelined moderates have resurfaced in
state media after years of exclusion. Some analysts see this as a move to ally
public anxiety and signal the possibility of reform from within – without
“regime change” that would shift core policies. With Reuters
South Africa’s top general under fire for remarks in Iran
AFP/14 August/2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office criticized South Africa’s top general on
Thursday for reported comments about solidarity with Iran as unhelpful during
the process of resetting ties with the United States. The foreign ministry has
also condemned South African National Defense Force chief General Rudzani
Maphwanya for his statements during a recently-ended trip to Iran, and a leading
political party has called for his court-martial. Pretoria is working to improve
its rock-bottom ties with Washington, with the aim of reaching a new trade deal
that will avoid 30 percent tariffs on its exports. “We are in a process of
managing a very delicate exercise of resetting diplomatic relations with the
United States,” Ramaphosa’s spokesman said at a media briefing. During these
negotiations, it was “not helpful” to have “senior government or military
officials making statements that will inflame the situation,” Vincent Magwenya
said. The Tehran Times reported on Tuesday that Maphwanya had called for deeper
cooperation with Iran, especially in defense matters, during meetings with top
Iranian defense officials. Iran’s state-owned Press TV reported that the South
African general had affirmed the two countries had “common goals” and also
condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. “At this period of heightened geopolitical
tensions as well as conflict in the Middle East, one can say the visit was
ill-advised,” Magwenya said, adding that Ramaphosa had not been aware of the
visit.The Democratic Alliance, the second-largest group in the government of
national unity, has demanded that Maphwanya be court-martialed for “breaching
military neutrality.”
Turkey reports mass return by Syrians
AFP/14 August/2025
More than 410,00 Syrians who fled to Turkey during the rule of Bashar al-Assad
have returned home since he was overthrown in December, the government announced
Thursday. Turkey’s interior ministry said 411,649 Syrians had so far returned,
the rate picking up in recent weeks, with the immigration service recording
140,000 returns since mid-June. In June Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee
agency (UNHCR), said 600,000 Syrians had returned homme from neighboring
countries. Syria has seen outbreaks of violence in recent weeks. Around 2.5
million Syrian refugees still live in Turkey, according to the latest figures,
released in early August. In 2021, Turkey said up to 3.7 million Syrians had
taken refuge in the country.
Israel’s Smotrich announces settlement plan to ‘bury’ idea of Palestinian state
Reuters/August 14, 2025
MAALE ADUMIM: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said work
would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut
if off from East Jerusalem, a move his office declared would “bury” the idea of
a Palestinian state.
Standing at the site in Maale Adumim, Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the E1
scheme, though there was no immediate confirmation from either. “Whoever in the
world is trying to recognize a Palestinian state today will receive our answer
on the ground. Not with documents nor with decisions or statements, but with
facts. Facts of houses, facts of neighborhoods,” Smotrich said.Israel froze
construction plans at Maale Adumim in 2012, and again after a revival in 2020,
because of objections from the US, European allies and other powers who
considered the project a threat to any future peace deal with the Palestinians.
The move could further isolate Israel, which has watched some of its Western
allies condemn its military offensive in Gaza in the war with Palestinian
militant group Hamas and announce they will recognize a Palestinian state.
Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank — which has sharply
intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war —
will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. In a
statement headlined “Burying the idea of a Palestinian state,” Smotrich’s
spokesperson said the minister had approved the plan to build 3,401 houses for
Israeli settlers between an existing settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
In Maale Adumim, Smotrich told Reuters the plan would go into effect on
Wednesday, without specifying what would happen on that day. The Palestinian
foreign ministry called the plan an extension of crimes of genocide,
displacement and annexation. Israel has long rejected accusations of genocide
and rights abuses and said it is acting in its own defense. Hamas described the
plan as part of Israel’s “colonial, extremist” policies and called on
Palestinians to confront it. Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the move as a
flagrant violation of international law. Peace Now, which tracks settlement
activity in the West Bank, said there were still steps needed before
construction, including the approval of Israel’s High Planning Council. But if
all went through, infrastructure work could begin within a few months, and house
building in about a year. “The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and
for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution. We are standing at
the edge of an abyss, and the government is driving us forward at full speed,”
Peace Now said in a statement.
HOUSE BUILDING ‘IN A YEAR’
Palestinians were already demoralized by the Israeli military campaign which has
killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities,
and fear Israel will ultimately push them out of that territory. About 700,000
Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized by most
countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN
and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a
two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. The two-state plan
envisages a, Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza,
existing side by side with Israel. Israel disputes this, citing historical and
biblical ties to the area, which it calls Judea and Samaria, and says the
settlements provide strategic depth and security. Most of the international
community considers all settlements illegal under international law, a position
backed by numerous UN Security Council resolutions, including one which called
on Israel to halt all settlement activity. Israel rejects this interpretation,
saying the West Bank is “disputed” rather than “occupied” territory. Britain,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand imposed sanctions in June on Smotrich and
another far-right minister who advocates for settlement expansion, accusing both
of them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Smotrich’s popularity has fallen in recent months with polls showing his party
would not win a single seat if parliamentary elections were held today. His
party largely draws its support from settlers.
UAE joins Jordan, EU countries
in Gaza humanitarian airdrops
Arab News/August 14, 2025
LONDON: The UAE and Jordan, alongside Germany, Italy, Belgium, and France,
carried out humanitarian airdrops on Thursday to help deliver relief to the 2
million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The aid airdrop was the 71st of
Operation Birds of Goodness, part of the UAE’s Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in
support of Palestinians facing Israeli attacks, reported the Emirates News
Agency. The aid included essential food supplies which had been donated by
charities in the UAE. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023,
the UAE has delivered 3,956 tonnes of various items, including food and
essential supplies. The initiative underscores the UAE’s commitment to
supporting the Palestinian people, enhancing resilience, and promoting
humanitarian assistance in crisis areas, added WAM.
US says stable West Bank in line with Trump goal for regional peace
Reuters/14 August/2025
The United States on Thursday responded to Israeli far-right Finance Minister
Bezalel Smotrich’s announcement that work would start on a long-delayed
settlement that would divide the West Bank by saying that a stable West Bank is
in line with the Trump administration’s goal for peace in the region. Asked
about Smotrich’s statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US
President Donald Trump had agreed to the revival of the so-called E1
development, a spokesperson for the US State Department said the US remained
focused on ending the war in Gaza and ensuring Hamas will never govern that
territory again. “A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with
this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” the spokesperson
said, while referring to the Israeli government for further information.
Gaza civil defense says 17 killed in Israel strikes
AFP/14 August/2025
Gaza’s civil defense agency said at least 17 people were killed Thursday in
Israeli strikes as the military intensified its bombardment of Gaza City. The
dead included six civilians who had been waiting for humanitarian aid, said
civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal.“The Israeli occupation forces are
intensifying their raids in the Zeitun area” of Gaza City, he said. For the
latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page. The
Israeli military has yet to comment. “For the fourth consecutive day, the area
has been subject to a military operation, resulting in numerous deaths and
injuries,” said Bassal. “Since dawn today, we have received 28 calls from
families and residents of this neighborhood, some of whose children have been
killed. “Many people cannot leave these areas due to artillery fire,” the
spokesperson added. Maram Kashko, a resident of Zeitun, said the strikes had
increased over the past four days. “My nephew, his wife and their children were
killed in a bombardment,” he told AFP. An AFP videographer said their bodies
were taken to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City and buried shortly afterwards at the
Sayyid Hashim cemetery. On Wednesday, the head of the Israeli military said he
had approved a new plan for operations in the Gaza Strip aimed at freeing all
hostages and defeating Hamas. The military intends to take control of Gaza City
and neighboring refugee camps, some of the most densely populated areas in the
Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by more than 22 months of war.
Over the past three days, Zeitun has been the target of repeated air strikes,
according to multiple sources, including the military.
Adding to the dire humanitarian situation, Gaza has been experiencing a spell of
extreme heat, which is particularly difficult for displaced residents living in
tents and makeshift shelters. The heat is unbearable. We live in a nylon tent --
it’s like an oven. We cannot stay inside during the day, there is no
ventilation,” said Umm Khaled Abu Jazar, 40, displaced in the Al-Mawasi camp.
“My children have developed skin rashes. Even the water we drink is hot from the
sun. There is nothing to cool us down. The heat only adds to our daily
suffering,” the mother of five told AFP.
Syrian authorities arrest Assad-era militant suspected of mutilating bodies
Arab News/August 14, 2025
LONDON: Authorities in the Syrian Arab Republic arrested a suspect for grave
violations associated with the defunct Assad regime against civilians during the
country’s civil war. Security forces in the coastal governorate of Latakia have
arrested Naser Hani Ruslan, who is accused of participating in serious abuses
against Syrians, the Interior Ministry announced. The ministry added that Ruslan
was part of a militia linked to the former Assad regime and was reportedly
involved in operations against areas controlled by Syrian rebel forces,
including the mutilation of bodies. Authorities have begun investigations
against Ruslan, who is awaiting trial. Following the fall of the Assad regime
last December, the new government in Damascus has arrested several suspects,
including army officers, for crimes committed against Syrians during the
country’s civil conflict.
Blast kills four in northwest
Syria
AFP/August 14, 2025
DAMASCUS: A blast that rocked Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Thursday
killed four people, state media said, though the cause had yet to be officially
determined. Residents told AFP they heard the sound of explosions on the western
outskirts of the provincial capital, with a war monitor saying they came from a
nearby base for foreign fighters. State news agency SANA reported “an explosion
whose cause is unknown in the vicinity of the city of Idlib.”Citing the health
ministry, it reported at least “four dead and five others injured,” raising an
earlier toll of two dead. The civil defense said in a statement that a child was
among those killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported “the sound
of successive large explosions at a base for non-Syrian fighters containing a
weapons depot as a drone was in the air.”The Britain-based monitoring group
reported thick smoke and panic among residents of the area. Late last month, a
series of explosions in Idlib province killed at least 12 people and wounded
more than 100, the Observatory said at the time. Those blasts occurred at a
weapons depot belonging to Uyghur jihadist group the Turkistan Islamic Party
(TIP) in Maaret Misrin, the monitor reported. Authorities did not immediately
say what may have caused those explosions.
Turkiye reports mass return by Syrians
AFP/August 14, 2025
ISTANBUL: More than 410,000 Syrians who fled to Turkiye during the rule of
Bashar Assad have returned home since he was overthrown in December, the
government announced Thursday. Turkiye’s interior ministry said 411,649 Syrians
had so far returned, the rate picking up in recent weeks, with the immigration
service recording 140,000 returns since mid-June. In June Filippo Grandi, head
of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), said 600,000 Syrians had returned homme from
neighboring countries.
Syria has seen outbreaks of violence in recent weeks, testing the authorities’
ability to contain inter-religious strife after the fall of Assad. Around 2.5
million Syrian refugees still live in Turkiye, according to the latest figures,
released in early August.In 2021, Turkiye said up to 3.7 million Syrians had
taken refuge in the country.
Trump says Putin summit could fail, promises Ukraine say
AFP/14 August/2025
US President Donald Trump on Thursday acknowledged his high-stakes summit with
Vladimir Putin may fail, and said any Ukraine deal would come through a future
three-way meeting with Kyiv to “divvy things up.”Russian President Vladimir
Putin flies to Alaska on Friday at the invitation of Trump in his first visit to
a Western country since he ordered the 2022 invasion of Ukraine that has killed
tens of thousands of people. The Kremlin said that the two presidents planned to
meet one-on-one, heightening fears by European leaders that Putin will cajole
Trump into a settlement imposed on Ukraine. Trump, on the eve of the summit,
insisted that he would not finalize any deal with Putin and that he would
include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in any decisions. “This meeting
sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting
will not be a successful meeting,” Trump told Fox News Radio. “The second
meeting is going to be very, very important, because that’s going to be a
meeting where they make a deal. And I don’t want to use the word ‘divvy’ things
up. But you know, to a certain extent, it’s not a bad term,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy has refused any territorial concessions to Russia, which has ramped up
attacks and made sharp gains on the battlefield just ahead of the summit.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any future deal needed to ensure Ukraine’s
security. “To achieve peace, I think we all recognize that there’ll have to be
some conversation about security guarantees,” Rubio told reporters in
Washington, saying he was “hopeful” about the summit. Trump has previously ruled
out letting Ukraine join NATO and backed Russia’s stance that Kyiv’s aspirations
to enter the transatlantic alliance triggered the war. Ukraine and most of its
European allies reject Putin’s narrative and point to his remarks denying the
historical legitimacy of Ukraine.
Shifting Trump tone
Trump had boasted that he could end the war within 24 hours of returning to the
White House in January. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News
channel online or via the app. But his calls to Putin – and intense pressure on
Zelenskyy to accept concessions – have failed to move the Russian leader and
Trump has warned of “very severe consequences” if Putin keeps snubbing his
overtures. Putin on Thursday welcomed US efforts to end the conflict and said
that talks could also help yield an agreement on nuclear arms control. “The US
administration ... is making quite energetic and sincere efforts to end the
fighting,” Putin told a meeting of top officials in Moscow. The talks are set to
begin at 11:30 am (1930 GMT) Friday at the Elmendorf Air Force Base, a major US
military installation in Alaska that has been crucial in monitoring Russia.
“This conversation will take place in a one-on-one format, naturally with the
participation of interpreters,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in
Moscow. He said that delegations would continue discussions over a working lunch
and that Putin and Trump would hold a joint news conference. The White House has
not confirmed any plans for a joint press appearance. Trump faced heated
criticism over his joint news conference after his 2018 summit with Putin in
Helsinki where he sided with Russia over US intelligence in accepting Putin’s
denials of interfering in the 2016 US election to help Trump.
European support for Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy, who will not join Friday’s summit in Alaska, met Thursday with
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after talks a day earlier in Berlin.
Starmer greeted the Ukrainian leader with a warm hug and handshake on the steps
of his Downing Street residence and later voiced solidarity. European leaders
expressed relief after a call with Trump on Wednesday, saying he appeared
focused on a ceasefire rather than concessions by Ukraine. A day before the
summit, Ukraine fired dozens of drones at Russia, wounding several people and
sparking fires at an oil refinery in the southern city of Volgograd. Russia
meanwhile said its troops had captured two new settlements in eastern Ukraine,
where it has been advancing for months. Diplomacy since Russia’s invasion has
largely failed to secure agreements beyond swaps of prisoners. Russia said
Thursday it had returned 84 prisoners to Ukraine in exchange for an equal number
of Russian POWs in the latest exchange.
Saudi Crown Prince, UAE president discuss regional developments, cooperation
Al Arabiya English/14 August/2025
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by phone on Thursday with
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to review regional developments, the
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The two leaders discussed “developments in
the region and efforts to achieve security and stability,” SPA said. They also
examined bilateral ties and “ways to enhance cooperation in various fields,” the
agency added. Abbas thanks Saudi Arabia for rallying global support for
Palestinian statehood. Saudi Crown Prince reaffirms support for peace in call
with Ukraine’s president
Get the latest stories from AlArabiya on Google News
Russia labels Reporters without Borders an ‘undesirable organization’
Reuters/14 August/2025
Russia’s justice ministry said on Thursday it had designated the French-based
international press freedom organization Reporters without Borders an
undesirable organization. Russia regularly labels organizations it says
undermine its national security as “undesirable”. The designation means Russian
citizens working with or funding such groups face up to five years in prison.
Previously designated organizations include US government-funded Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, international environmental organization Greenpeace and
London-based Amnesty International. Founded in France in 1985, Reporters without
Borders (RSF) advocates for journalists and against censorship worldwide. RSF
did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The group ranked Russia
171st out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index this year, and has
listed 50 journalists who are detained in the country.
UAE says mediation between Russia, Ukraine secures release of 168 prisoners
Arab News/August 14, 2025
The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that its mediation between Russia
and Ukraine has resulted in a new prisoner exchange involving 84 detainees from
both sides,state news agency WAM reported. This raises the total number of
prisoners swapped during the conflict to 4,349. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
thanked both Moscow and Kyiv for their cooperation in facilitating the exchange,
saying the move reflects their recognition of the UAE’s commitment to supporting
efforts to resolve the crisis. This marks the 16th successful mediation by the
UAE since the outbreak of the war. The ministry reaffirmed that the UAE will
continue working to advance initiatives aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement
and alleviating the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
Putin praises ‘sincere’ US as Ukraine braces for Trump-Putin summit
Reuters/14 August/2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised “sincere efforts” by the US
to end the war in Ukraine and floated the prospect of a nuclear arms deal ahead
of a summit with President Donald Trump where Europe has urged Trump to stand
firm. Putin was speaking to his most senior ministers and security officials as
he prepared for the meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday that could
shape the endgame to the largest war in Europe since World War Two. It follows
intensified efforts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European
allies to prevent any deal that carves up Ukraine’s territory and leaves it
vulnerable to future attack. Putin said in televised comments that the US was
“making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the
hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all
parties involved in this conflict.”This was happening, Putin said, “in order to
create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and
in the world as a whole - if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the
area of control over strategic offensive weapons.”
His comments signaled that Russia will raise the issue of nuclear arms control
as part of a wide-ranging discussion on security when he sits down with Trump
for the first Russia-US summit since June 2021.A senior eastern European
official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said Putin would
try to distract Trump from Ukraine at the talks by offering him possible
progress on nuclear arms control or something business-related. “We hope Trump
won’t be fooled by the Russians, he understands all (these) dangerous things,”
the official said.
“The only strategic goal for the Russians is not to receive new sanctions, and
to lift the sanctions that the US and others (imposed) previously. The Russians
have no other big goals now. They think they will find a way to take all of
Ukraine in one way or another,” the source added.
Seeking clarity on security guarantees
Ukraine’s allies said Trump was willing to back security guarantees for Kyiv, a
potentially significant but as yet vague offer that could give some hope to
Ukraine. Trump had shown willingness to join the guarantees at a last-ditch
virtual meeting with European leaders and Zelenskyy on Wednesday, leaders said,
though he made no public mention of them afterwards. “Yesterday, together with
all our partners, and today in a bilateral format, we discussed expectations for
the meeting in Alaska and possible prospects,” Zelenskyy said after a meeting in
London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “We also discussed in
considerable detail the security guarantees that can make peace truly durable if
the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killings and engage in
genuine, substantive diplomacy.”
Friday’s summit comes at one of the toughest moments for Ukraine in a war that
has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since Russia’s full-scale
invasion in February 2022. Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting, French President
Emmanuel Macron said Trump insisted that the transatlantic NATO alliance should
not be part of security guarantees that would be designed to protect Ukraine
from future attacks in a post-war settlement. “President Trump also stated this
clearly, saying things that I find important: namely, that NATO should not be
part of these security guarantees - and we know this is a key point,
particularly for the Russian side - but (also) that the United States and all
willing allies should be part of them. That is what we are committed to,” Macron
said. Expanding on that, a European official told Reuters that Trump said on the
call he was willing to provide some security guarantees for Europe, without
spelling out what they would be. The official, who did not want to be named,
said this was the first time he has been so explicit about providing some
guarantees since the Coalition of the Willing talks led by Britain and France
began in March.
It “felt like a big step forward,” the official said. It was not immediately
clear what such guarantees could mean in practice. On Wednesday, Trump
threatened “severe consequences” if Putin does not agree to peace in Ukraine and
while he did not specify what the consequences could be, he has warned of
economic sanctions if his meeting on Friday proves fruitless. However, Russia is
likely to resist Ukraine and Europe’s demands strongly and previously has said
its stance had not changed since it was first detailed by Putin in June 2024.
A Kremlin aide said Putin and Trump will discuss the “huge untapped potential”
for Russia-US economic ties as well as the prospects for ending the war at the
meeting. Zelenskyy confirmed this week that Russian forces had advanced by about
9-10 km (6 miles) near the town of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. Ukraine,
suffering manpower challenges, was forced to move in reserves to stabilize the
situation. Trump has said a deal could include what he called a land swap.
Russia controls around a fifth of Ukraine and a land swap within Ukraine could
cement Moscow’s gains. Zelenskyy and the Europeans worry that would reward Putin
for 11 years of efforts to seize Ukrainian land and embolden him to expand
further west in Europe.
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources
on August 14-15/2025
Another Al-Jazeera Reporter Was a Hamas Terrorist; Al-Jazeera Should Be
Designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone
Institute/August 14/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/08/146273/
The television network al-Sharif worked for, Al-Jazeera (Arabic), has always
served as the official mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood organization and its
affiliates, including Hamas.
Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar, the Gulf state that has long
been endorsing the Muslim Brotherhood and providing shelter for the leaders of
Hamas.
A press badge or vest is not -- and should not be -- a shield for terrorism.
Even the BBC, widely known for its bias against Israel, has acknowledged that
al-Sharif worked for Hamas.
"Hamas's entire defense system relies on disguising its fighters—posing as
health workers, journalists, or ordinary civilians. That's their weapon. They
never admit that anyone killed was a Hamas member; it's always 'civilians,' as
if Israel never kills Hamas fighters." — Brother Rachid, X, August 12, 2025.
When it comes to Qatar's Al-Jazeera, it should come as no surprise that another
one of its employees has been exposed as an Islamist terrorist.
The IDF has disclosed intelligence information and countless documents found in
Gaza confirming the military affiliation of six Al-Jazeera journalists with
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.... The documents provide unequivocal
proof... of the integration of Hamas terrorists within Qatar's Al- Jazeera media
network.
Al-Jazeera (Arabic) is not -- and never was -- a real news organization. Since
its founding, the television network has been promoting radical Islam and
glorifying terrorism against Israel.
As such, Al-Jazeera, like the Muslim Brotherhood, should be designated a Foreign
Terrorist Organization.
Anas al-Sharif, the Al-Jazeera (Arabic) "journalist" who was killed by the IDF
in Gaza this week, never concealed his affiliation with Hamas. Al-Sharif was
recruited by Hamas on December 3, 2013, and served as the commander of a
rocket-launch squad. A press badge or vest is not -- and should not be -- a
shield for terrorism. Al-Jazeera (Arabic) is not -- and never was -- a real news
organization. Since its founding, it has been promoting radical Islam and
glorifying terrorism against Israel.
Anas al-Sharif, the Palestinian "journalist" who was killed by the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) this week, never concealed his affiliation with the
Iran-backed Hamas terror group. Before and after his death, photos of al-Sharif
continually socializing with top Hamas leaders appeared on social media
platforms. Al-Sharif was also known for his public support for terrorism against
Israel.
The television network al-Sharif worked for, Al-Jazeera (Arabic), has always
served as the official mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood organization and its
affiliates, including Hamas.
Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar, the Gulf state that has long
been endorsing the Muslim Brotherhood and providing shelter for the leaders of
Hamas.
A press badge or vest is not -- and should not be -- a shield for terrorism.
Al-Sharif was not killed because of his alleged journalistic work. He was killed
because of his affiliation with Hamas, a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization by the US and several other Western countries. Those who rushed to
condemn the killing of al-Sharif should have looked at the man's posts and
statements, especially on social media, to see that he was a proud member of
Hamas who celebrated the murder of Jews.
In one of his Telegram posts, from January 27, 2023, al-Sharif celebrated the
murder of seven Jews by Palestinian terrorists outside a synagogue in Jerusalem.
The posts show a bullet casing, with the tip replaced by the Dome of the Rock.
The caption, from Quran 17:5, reads: "We sent against them our servants of great
might and strength."
That Quranic verse is historically used to describe God sending warriors to
punish enemies. The imagery in the post ties the act of murdering the seven Jews
to the defense of the al-Aqsa Mosque – an apparent effort to frame the murders
as a sacred duty.
"This is not the language of a neutral observer or a humanitarian," commented
the award-winning British investigative journalist David Collier.
"It is not the language of a Palestinian journalist. It is the language of
someone who sees terrorism through a religiously sanctified lens, and a person
who glorifies, legitimizes and celebrates the murder of these innocent Jews as
part of a glorious religious duty. This is not journalism. This is not just a
cartoon celebrating 'resistance.' This is jihadist propaganda, religiously
justifying a brutal murder. His own public output shows he was not simply a
'journalist,' and this post is clear evidence he is not a semi-secular or
moderate voice – but a man who views the world and the conflict through a
genocidal jihadist vision."
Al-Sharif was recruited by Hamas on December 3, 2013, and served as the
commander of a rocket-launch squad in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip. His
Hamas ID number was 305342. On April 7, 2017, he was wounded in his left eye and
ear during a Hamas training exercise – but remained in the organization with a
salary of $200 dollars a month. A document seized by the IDF shows that
al-Sharif was a member of Hamas's Nukhba (Elite) Battalion in East Jabaliya in
the Gaza Strip.
Even the BBC, widely known for its bias against Israel, has acknowledged that
al-Sharif worked for Hamas:
"Anas al-Sharif, who has been a familiar face on Al-Jazeera for much of the war,
worked for a Hamas media team in Gaza before the current conflict, the BBC
understands."
In other social media posts, al-Sharif praised the Hamas-led October 7 massacre
against Israel and took smiling selfies with Hamas leaders.
On October 7, 2023, while thousands of Hamas terrorists and "ordinary"
Palestinians who invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip were slaughtering Israelis
and foreign nationals, al-Sharif posted on his Telegram account:
"9 hours [have passed] and the [Hamas] heroes are still roaming the country
(Israel) killing and capturing...Allah, Allah, how great you are."
Because of his membership in Hamas, al-Sharif was regularly given unlimited
access to the terror group and its activities. Last year, for instance, he was
the only "journalist" to document the release of Israeli female hostage Agam
Berger.
"Al-Sharif was a journalist only on the surface," remarked terrorism expert
Brother Rachid.
"In reality, he was a Hamas fighter using journalism as a cover while waging
jihad (holy war). He was even quoting the Quran 9:111 to justify it: 'Indeed,
Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for
Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is]
a true promise binding upon Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And who
is more faithful to His Promise than Allah? So rejoice in the transaction you
have made with Him. And that is the great triumph.'"
Brother Rachid also wrote:
"Hamas's entire defense system relies on disguising its fighters—posing as
health workers, journalists, or ordinary civilians. That's their weapon. They
never admit that anyone killed was a Hamas member; it's always 'civilians,' as
if Israel never kills Hamas fighters. Even the 'journalists' follow strict
orders never to say who's Hamas and who's not. The only exceptions are a few top
commanders like Muhammad Deif or Sinwar—and even then, only after Israel
announces it first. They denied Deif's death for days at the start. So don't
expect them to admit Anas Al-Sharif was one of them—they hide their operatives'
identities to protect their cover, and they always will."
In another post, Brother Rachid revealed that al-Sharif saw Jews and Christians
as an enemy:
"To all the Westerners who thought Anas was a cute, innocent journalist –
besides being a member of Hamas, he openly declared his hatred for Jews and
Christians."
On August 17, 2024 al-Sharif wrote: "And the Jews and the Christians will never
be pleased with you until you follow their religion." On August 18, 2024 he
wrote:
"Fight them [Jews and Christians]; Allah will punish them by your hands and will
disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the hearts of the
believers (Quran 2:6)."
Al-Sharif was not the only Palestinian journalist working for Hamas. Last year,
it turned out that three of four Israeli hostages rescued by IDF special forces
from the central Gaza Strip were being held at the home of Abdallah Aljamal, a
Palestinian journalist and member of Hamas terror group.
Aljamal had previously been a spokesman for the Hamas-run Labor Ministry and had
contributed to several news outlets.
In the Gaza War, numerous articles by Aljamal were published by the Palestine
Chronicle, while hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv were
being held captive in his home. The fourth hostage, Noa Argamani, was rescued
from a nearby building.
Aljamal also wrote for Al-Jazeera's website.
Argamani, Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv had been abducted from the Supernova music
festival near the Israeli community of Re'im on the morning of October 7.
No journalist, as every Palestinian child knows, can operate in the Gaza Strip
without the approval and backing of Hamas. This has been true since 2007, when
the terror group seized control of the Gaza Strip and forcibly ousted the
Palestinian Authority. The only Palestinian journalists allowed to work in the
Gaza Strip were those who supported Hamas or were members of the group.
When it comes to Qatar's Al-Jazeera, it should come as no surprise that another
one of its employees has been exposed as an Islamist terrorist.
The IDF has disclosed intelligence information and countless documents found in
Gaza confirming the military affiliation of six Al-Jazeera journalists with
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second-largest terror group in the Gaza
Strip. They are: Anas Jamal Mahmoud al-Sharif, Alaa Abdul Aziz Muhammad Salama,
Hossam Basel Abdul Karim Shabat, Ashraf Sami Ashour Saraj, Ismail Farid Muhammad
Abu Omar, and Talal Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Aruki.
The documents include personnel tables, lists of terrorist training courses,
phone directories, and salary documents for terrorists. The documents provide
unequivocal proof that these individuals serve as military operatives for the
terrorist organizations in Gaza, and of the integration of Hamas terrorists
within Qatar's Al- Jazeera media network.
The term "Al-Jazeera journalism" is an oxymoron. Al-Jazeera (Arabic) is not --
and never was -- a real news organization. Since its founding, the television
network has been promoting radical Islam and glorifying terrorism against
Israel.
As such, Al-Jazeera, like the Muslim Brotherhood, should be designated a Foreign
Terrorist Organization.
Terrorists masquerading as journalists are not only a disgrace to the
profession; they also endanger the lives of real journalists. In future wars, if
they are all wearing press vests, it will be difficult to distinguish between a
terrorist and a real journalist.
Al-Sharif chose to engage in terrorism instead of journalism. He chose to be a
"martyr" in Hamas's jihad to murder Jews and eliminate Israel. Israel helped him
achieve his goal of martyrdom.
**Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East. His work is made
possible through the generous donation of a couple of donors who wished to
remain anonymous. Gatestone is most grateful.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Under Mohammed
bin Salman’s leadership, Saudi sets gold standard for counter-terrorism
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/14 August/2025
Across the globe, nations have experimented with a wide array of
counter-terrorism strategies. From overwhelming military offensives to
ideological campaigns and regional alliances, countries have taken different
approaches to confronting one of the most persistent threats of the 21st
century. Yet, amid these diverse efforts, Saudi Arabia stands out for having
developed a uniquely comprehensive and effective model of counter-terrorism
under the decisive leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His vision
has transformed the Kingdom’s security doctrine into one that is neither
reactive nor narrowly focused. Instead, it integrates military power,
ideological engagement, digital innovation, regional diplomacy, and civic
awareness into a broad-spectrum framework. As terrorism continues to
evolve—particularly with the rise of lone actors, digital radicalization, and
transnational funding networks—Saudi Arabia’s proactive and layered response
offers a blueprint for others to follow. What makes Saudi Arabia’s strategy
particularly notable is that it addresses the full life cycle of terrorism:
prevention, detection, disruption, rehabilitation, and long-term reintegration.
Rather than relying solely on force, the Kingdom has developed institutions and
systems that strike at the root causes of extremism while also neutralizing its
manifestations. In doing so, Saudi Arabia has not only reduced attacks within
its borders but has also emerged as a leader in regional and global anti-terror
efforts. Its model deserves close study by other countries seeking long-term and
sustainable security.
Digital innovation as the first line of defense
In an era where extremist ideologies are spread through social media and
encrypted apps, Saudi Arabia has embraced technology as a core component of its
counter-terrorism strategy. The Kingdom has invested heavily in digital
monitoring systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced surveillance tools
capable of detecting potential threats before they materialize. This digital
vigilance is not confined to monitoring physical infrastructure or borders—it
extends deep into cyberspace where radical content is most often disseminated.
One of the central pillars of this digital approach is the Global Center for
Combating Extremist Ideology, known as Etidal, which was inaugurated in 2017 and
continues to evolve. Etidal’s mission is to use artificial intelligence and data
analytics to detect, analyze, and respond to extremist content online. It maps
out networks of radicalization and tracks the movement of extremist narratives
across different languages and regions. This kind of proactive data mapping
enables authorities to identify early-stage radicalization, dismantle online
cells, and interrupt recruitment pipelines before they metastasize into violent
action.
Saudi Arabia’s use of digital technology is also preventative.
It aims not only to detect threats but to dilute their ideological impact. By
amplifying counter-narratives, promoting moderate interpretations of religion,
and flooding the internet with verified information, the Kingdom attempts to
undermine the very foundation of extremist ideologies.
Military precision and institutional integration
While Saudi Arabia’s digital strategy targets ideology and recruitment, its
military and intelligence apparatus remains a robust and indispensable component
of its counter-terrorism efforts. The Kingdom’s military interventions are not
indiscriminate campaigns of suppression. Instead, they are highly coordinated,
intelligence-driven operations that work in tandem with national security
agencies. In recent years, Saudi Arabia consolidated many of its counter-terror
functions under the Presidency of State Security. This powerful institution
combines intelligence gathering, law enforcement, special operations, and
technical surveillance under a single command structure. The result has been a
more streamlined, responsive, and a unified security strategy that minimizes
bureaucratic silos and enhances operational efficiency. Furthermore, Saudi
Arabia leads the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), a
multilateral alliance comprising more than 40 Muslim-majority nations. This
coalition conducts joint exercises, facilitates intelligence-sharing, and trains
member states in the latest counter-terrorism techniques.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia hosted advanced human-intelligence training
sessions, further cementing its role as a hub for regional counter-terror
excellence.
These military dimensions are not meant to replace other strategies but to
complement them—targeting the operational and logistical capabilities of terror
cells while digital and ideological efforts attack their moral and psychological
roots. Raising awareness and rehabilitating the mind. Recognizing that terrorism
often begins in the mind before it materializes into action, Saudi Arabia has
placed significant emphasis on education, cultural engagement, and public
awareness. A centerpiece of this effort is the widespread reform of school
curricula, designed to promote tolerance, pluralism, and critical thinking.
These reforms are not cosmetic; they are aimed at ensuring future generations
are less susceptible to extremist ideology and more equipped to engage in
constructive dialogue.
Saudi Arabia’s public messaging campaigns also play a critical role.
Through television, radio, and digital platforms, the Kingdom actively counters
extremist propaganda and offers narratives of national unity and religious
moderation. Institutions like the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue
foster interfaith and intra-faith discussions, providing safe spaces for
communities to express differences while reinforcing a sense of shared identity.
Another standout initiative is the Mohammed bin Nayef Counseling and Care
Center, commonly known as the “Care Center,” which focuses on rehabilitating and
reintegrating individuals who were previously radicalized or involved in
terrorist activity.
Unlike punitive models that simply incarcerate, the Care Center emphasizes
psychological therapy, religious counseling, social reintegration, and even
vocational training. This holistic approach helps ensure that individuals who
have left extremist movements are not only de-radicalized but given a path back
into society.
Security reforms and intelligence coordination
Security in Saudi Arabia is no longer seen as the job of isolated agencies or
armed personnel scattered across checkpoints. It is a deeply integrated and
systemic function, operating across multiple layers of government and society.
The restructuring of national security under the Presidency of State Security
brought with it a level of coordination that other nations often struggle to
achieve. Border control, surveillance, biometric systems, and internal
checkpoints are now synchronized with national intelligence databases, allowing
real-time threat assessments and immediate responses. Intelligence gathering is
supported by ground operatives as well as cyber monitoring, ensuring that the
country’s response to terrorism is both swift and informed. What distinguishes
Saudi Arabia’s approach here is the prioritization of intelligence over brute
force. Arrests and raids are often preceded by extensive investigation, reducing
the potential for error and limiting the risk of collateral damage. The
Kingdom’s ability to disrupt domestic terrorist plots—often before they leave
the planning phase—is a testament to this coordinated approach. These operations
rarely make international headlines, precisely because they are so successful in
neutralizing threats before violence occurs.
Regional and global cooperation
Saudi Arabia understands that terrorism does not respect borders. To that end,
it has become a major player in international counter-terror diplomacy. It has
contributed substantial funding to global initiatives, including to the United
Nations Counter-Terrorism Center. But its contributions are not merely
financial; the Kingdom actively engages in shaping counter-terror policy through
organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, and
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Through the IMCTC, Saudi Arabia
works closely with African and Asian countries to address cross-border terror
threats, with a particular focus on cutting off financing and recruitment in
fragile states. In the Sahel, for instance, Saudi Arabia has supported regional
security efforts and helped train local forces to deal with militant groups
linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Moreover, the Kingdom regularly hosts regional
conferences and intelligence summits, creating platforms for information-sharing
and joint planning. This globalized approach ensures that Saudi Arabia is not
only protecting its own population but contributing meaningfully to
international security architecture.
Why sole reliance on military power falls short
One of the key lessons from Saudi Arabia’s experience is that military might,
while necessary, is insufficient on its own. Military campaigns can disrupt
terrorist operations, but they cannot eradicate the ideological and social roots
of extremism. The US and other Western nations have learned this the hard way in
Afghanistan and Iraq, where military victories were often followed by
ideological vacuums that enabled new forms of extremism to flourish. Saudi
Arabia’s model emphasizes that the fight against terrorism must also be a fight
for minds and hearts. Without digital vigilance, ideological reform, social
rehabilitation, and international cooperation, military victories are temporary
at best. Countries that focus solely on armed responses risk creating cycles of
violence and alienation that feed the very extremism they seek to defeat.
A model worth emulating
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s counter-terrorism strategy is not just
effective—it is exemplary. Under the decisive leadership of Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has combined traditional force with modern
tools, tactical precision with ideological depth, and domestic vigilance with
international solidarity. This multifaceted approach recognizes the complexity
of modern terrorism and rises to meet that challenge with a carefully layered
response. By integrating digital innovation, educational reform, military
coordination, security infrastructure, and global diplomacy, Saudi Arabia has
built a resilient defense system that is adaptable and sustainable. In a world
where terrorist threats continue to evolve, Saudi Arabia’s strategy offers not
just inspiration, but a practical roadmap for others. It is time for nations
grappling with extremism to look beyond one-dimensional tactics and adopt a more
holistic, forward-thinking approach—one that acknowledges, as Saudi Arabia does,
that the true war on terror must be fought on every front.
Major European cities have little but tourism left
Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab News/August 14, 2025
On the recent occasions I have returned to Paris, the city where I grew up, I
have noticed a shift. There was once a cafe and bakery in the Trocadero,
overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a place you could just walk into without a
reservation to enjoy a coffee and one of the best croissants in town. Now, every
time I pass by, there is a long queue of tourists waiting to be seated. A glance
at the terrace shows that most are there to film themselves pouring hot
chocolate and whipped cream to post on Snapchat or TikTok. This is textbook
social media-driven overtourism.
While it has certainly made the owners of the cafe happy, it has destroyed the
fabric of the place. Indeed, this constant rush of visitors has made it nearly
impossible for the locals to sit down and enjoy a coffee and a croissant or a
pain au chocolat, like I did with my family and friends when I still lived in
Paris. This has deprived many like myself of a “madeleine be Proust” spot that
reminds them of their younger years. I also imagine that the familiar faces we
would once see regularly and create a bond with must have all but disappeared.
In that instance, I would not mind and would be quite happy to see people from
across the world enjoying a nice Parisian terrace; if it were not for the fact
that no one was actually drinking their delicious hot chocolate or enjoying
their pastries, but only filming the moment to share on their social media
accounts.
Parisians (which I consider myself to be even before being French) are a special
breed and are quick to criticize. We are usually unimpressed by anything and
have an indifferent attitude. Today, however, locals in most cities across
Europe have started to feel resentment toward tourists, just as Parisians do.
And we should not forget that tourists, too, have their frustrations with the
City of Light.
Moreover, these changes have a real impact on people’s daily lives. It starts
with real estate and rental prices going up due to Airbnb and other furnished
rentals popping up. Small grocery stores then usually change their prices to
reflect “tourist prices.” Increased traffic and footfall increase inflation due
to rising demand. These countries and areas may be dependent on tourism and
might have to support some changes and sacrifice some local areas. France’s
tourism sector contributed a record-breaking €246 billion ($288 billion) in
2023, or 8.8 percent of gross domestic product. It accounts for nearly 2.9
million jobs.So, tourism is not just a romantic way for foreigners to make
memorable moments, but an economic necessity. Paris’ travel and tourism industry
brought in nearly $36 billion in 2022 and accounts directly for 3.5 percent of
the city’s economy, along with much more indirectly through supporting
activities. According to L’Institut Paris Region, tourism sustains more than
300,000 jobs. It is most certainly similar for other European hubs such as
London, Rome and Barcelona, which, with time and the changes in their countries’
economies, have also become highly reliant on tourism. Western capitals and
landmark cities are among the world’s most visited and have become addicted to
tourist inflow.
Today, locals in most cities across Europe have started to feel resentment
toward tourists, just as Parisians do
It is now becoming clear that overreliance on tourism is a risk, while also
being a witness to a changing world. One clear outcome is that it leaves cities
vulnerable to many crises. While locals are complaining and protesting, it might
not be their activities that stop the inflow of tourists, but a crisis such as a
shift in travel trends, a pandemic like we witnessed just a few years ago or
even a geopolitical shift with a lack of visas granted. Yet, many cities have
shifted their economies to be exclusively specialized toward tourists. This
makes them vulnerable. Can policymakers find a way to balance both locals’ lives
and tourism’s economic importance? I have my doubts. I think that until the “hot
chocolate on social media” trend passes, I will still be deprived of my favorite
pain au chocolat.
The show “Emily in Paris” encapsulates a specific aspect of this dynamic and the
importance of tourism for jobs. The show has been so influential that, of those
who said that pop culture inspired them to visit the city, 38 percent said it
was “Emily in Paris” that persuaded them. This impact even forced an
intervention from the highest level of politics in France, when news emerged
that the show might move its main character to Rome. Indeed, the reaction was
swift and French President Emmanuel Macron publicly declared: “We will fight
hard. And we will ask them to remain in Paris.”
Amid difficult times in the Middle East and rising global tensions, this is
futile. However, I believe it tells a deeper story of a changing world and
shifting balances of power. Global tourism is today also a barometer of how
economic power is shifting. While, 50 years ago, the Western tourist represented
the entire value of tourism, purchasing power is today increasingly dispersed
across a broader set of nations. The rapid rise in outbound travel from
countries such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico demonstrates how greater
disposable incomes in these nations are reshaping the flows of international
visitors.
This diversification of global purchasing power can also be seen in global
geopolitical dynamics, as nations capable of generating both capital flows and
outbound tourists are gaining more diplomatic and political weight globally.
Europe’s increasing reliance on these markets for economic vitality has
translated into a shift in their weight in terms of political affairs. It is
something we are already witnessing. While decisions and political solutions
used to mainly come from the West, now, just like the tourists, they come from
across the world.
There is undoubtedly a deficit in the power of the West, with the clear
understanding that it was economic power that allowed it to finance military
power and, hence, it had diplomatic power. This equation is now proving
successful for countries in many regions and the West has been welcoming their
citizens as tourists, while also becoming dependent on their markets. Tourism
includes not only the travelers that I have mentioned, but also students,
healthcare workers and more. Many critics of the last decade’s policies have
stated that Paris, London and other European cities now represent what the
countries have become: a hotel, a museum and a restaurant. They are only capable
of exploiting their past greatness, symbolized by grandiose architecture and a
way of life, including culinary delights. And that’s it. While I can imagine how
a foreign dignitary would have felt arriving in London at the beginning of the
last century and crossing The Mall, which projected power and advancements,
today it is no longer impressive. But it amazes as a historical passage that
attracts tourists and needs their money to fund its maintenance. In light of
this, the exclusive focus on artificial intelligence by Western powers could
look like a last effort to regain their advantage. But this time they are not
alone.
• Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused
investment platform. He is CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
Climate change fueling the region’s water crisis
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/August 14, 2025
In recent months, parts of the Middle East have been thrust into the center of
an unfolding environmental emergency, one that could rival the region’s
political and security crises in terms of its severity and long-term impact: the
deepening water scarcity crisis.
Nowhere is this danger more visible than in Iran, where the specter of a “day
zero” scenario is no longer a distant hypothetical but a looming reality for
Tehran’s more than 9 million residents. Day zero — a term that entered global
awareness during Cape Town’s 2018 crisis — refers to the moment when municipal
water supplies are effectively exhausted and taps run dry. In Tehran, dam
reserves are now at historically low levels, with water storage hovering between
9 percent and 14 percent of capacity. This is the lowest level in decades and in
some cases the lowest in recorded history.
Groundwater depletion has been equally alarming: the water levels in aquifers
beneath the capital have sunk by about 12 meters in two decades, triggering
dangerous land subsidence that is damaging roads, buildings and critical
infrastructure. Water bodies have shriveled to a fraction of their original
size, with Lake Urmia’s volume collapsing from 2 billion cubic meters to only
about 500 million — an ecological tragedy that has destroyed habitats and
livelihoods. Authorities have begun closing public offices during heat waves and
rationing electricity in an effort to slow the collapse, but these measures
barely scratch the surface of a problem decades in the making. The crisis is not
limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of ecological distress
are multiplying. Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, is depleting its groundwater at a
rate of 44 million cubic meters per year, with half of its wells already dry.
Kabul’s population has ballooned in recent decades, placing unsustainable
demands on aquifers that were never designed to serve such a large urban area.
As temperatures climb and populations grow, vulnerability to disruptions in
desalination capacity becomes a critical national security concern. The most
vulnerable areas share certain characteristics: rapid population growth,
overreliance on a single water source, weak or outdated infrastructure and
political or economic instability that limits the ability to invest in long-term
solutions. In Tehran, for example, the northern, wealthier districts enjoy
comparatively good water quality and pressure, while the poorer southern
neighborhoods face contamination risks and frequent shortages — an environmental
injustice that deepens social divisions.
In rural Iran, farmers depend on outdated irrigation techniques that waste
enormous quantities of water; in some regions, agricultural water use efficiency
is below 40 percent. Kabul’s vulnerability stems from its unchecked urban
expansion, lack of coordinated groundwater regulation and limited foreign aid
for infrastructure repair.
The crisis is not limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of
ecological distress are multiplying
At the heart of this escalating crisis is the intensifying impact of climate
change. The Middle East is already one of the hottest and driest regions on
Earth, but climate models predict a 20 percent to 30 percent decline in rainfall
by mid-century, combined with a sharp increase in average temperatures.
For Iran, the effects are already visible: rainfall in recent years has been
about 50 percent below long-term averages. Extended droughts are becoming the
norm, not the exception, with multiyear dry periods devastating agriculture,
drying out rivers and accelerating the depletion of groundwater reserves.
Climate change is not acting alone; it is amplifying and exposing decades of
poor water management, short-sighted infrastructure planning and the relentless
expansion of urban areas without adequate environmental oversight.
The legacy of poor water management is particularly damaging in Iran, where
decades of aggressive dam construction — often pursued for political prestige
rather than environmental need — have altered river systems, disrupted
ecosystems and undermined the natural replenishment of aquifers.
Across the Middle East, agriculture consumes the lion’s share of water
resources, yet outdated methods result in enormous waste. In Iran, billions of
cubic meters of water are lost each year to inefficient irrigation. Compounding
this is the widespread lack of maintenance for water delivery systems, leading
to losses of nearly 30 percent through leaks and aging infrastructure in Tehran.
Some people argue that governance failures, including political interference, a
lack of transparency and corruption in water-related decision-making, have
prevented meaningful reforms.
Population growth and urbanization have placed additional strain on these
fragile systems. Iran’s population has surged from about 28 million in 1969 to
more than 90 million in 2025. This dramatic growth, combined with rural-to-urban
migration, has driven explosive demand for water in cities. In Kabul,
uncontrolled urban expansion has paved over natural recharge zones for
groundwater, further accelerating depletion.
Without urgent intervention, the consequences will be severe. Water scarcity
threatens to disrupt economies by reducing agricultural productivity, raising
food prices and increasing reliance on costly imports. It could fuel social
unrest, particularly in countries where inequality already shapes access to
essential resources. In fragile states such as Afghanistan, the collapse of
water systems could trigger mass displacement, as people migrate in search of
drinkable water. And in geopolitically tense regions, competition over shared
water resources could inflame existing conflicts.
Yet the problems, while daunting, are not insurmountable. Several policy
measures could mitigate the worst impacts and lay the foundation for long-term
water resilience.
Reforming water pricing is one such step: by removing subsidies that encourage
overuse and introducing tiered pricing structures, governments can incentivize
conservation among both households and industries. In agriculture, switching to
high-efficiency irrigation systems such as drip or sprinkler technology,
reducing the cultivation of water-intensive crops and restoring natural wetlands
to support groundwater recharge can yield substantial savings. Addressing
leakage through large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation is equally important,
as modernized pipes and reservoirs can sharply reduce losses.
The crisis is not limited to Iran. Across the wider region, similar signs of
ecological distress are multiplying
Technological innovation offers another path forward. Solar-powered desalination
plants, such as Jordan’s ambitious Aqaba-Amman project, demonstrate how
renewable energy can reduce the environmental costs of producing fresh water
from seawater. Wastewater recycling and treatment can expand nontraditional
water sources, reducing dependence on dwindling freshwater reserves.
Groundwater recharge projects — using stormwater or treated wastewater — can
help restore aquifers, while carefully planned cloud seeding programs may
modestly boost rainfall in some areas. These approaches must be integrated into
broader, more sustainable water strategies rather than deployed as short-term
fixes. Regional cooperation will be critical, especially where countries share
transboundary rivers, lakes or aquifers. Agreements to manage shared resources
equitably can reduce the risk of conflict and ensure that all parties have a
stake in sustainable use. Institutional reform is essential, particularly in
Iran, where independent oversight bodies, transparent data sharing and
collaboration between scientists and policymakers could significantly improve
water governance.
Financing these measures will require a mix of domestic investment,
public-private partnerships and international assistance. The Middle East and
North Africa region will need an estimated $100 billion in water infrastructure
investment by 2030. Education campaigns — targeting both the public and
political leadership — can help shift attitudes toward water conservation and
encourage long-term stewardship. Water security must be embedded in school
curricula, media programming and civic initiatives to build a culture of
responsibility around one of the planet’s most precious resources.
In conclusion, parts of the Middle East stand at a crossroads. If current trends
continue unchecked, these areas could face a wave of humanitarian, economic and
political crises driven by something as fundamental as an inability to provide
clean water. But with decisive action — anchored in sound policy, innovative
technology and regional cooperation — it is still possible to avert the worst
outcomes.
Tehran’s looming day zero, Kabul’s collapsing wells and the shrinking of Lake
Urmia are all warnings. Whether they become a prelude to regional collapse or a
catalyst for transformative change depends on the choices made today. Water
scarcity is no longer a distant problem — it is the Middle East’s defining
environmental challenge of our time and time is already running out.
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Assad Is Gone. The Syrian
Problem Persists
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/August 15/2025
Nine months after Bashar al-Assad’s fall and Ahmad al-Sharaa’s rise to power,
the UN Security Council met to address Syria’s ongoing crisis. The Council urged
Damascus to establish a government “of the Syrians, by the Syrians, for the
Syrians.” Despite the change in leadership, the Security Council views Syria as
a failing state. Damascus must implement UNSCR 2254 and dismantle the Islamist
monopoly on power.
History shows that without a major power enforcing its resolutions, the Security
Council’s decisions are toothless. In the Middle East, and Syria in particular,
only the United States has the influence to effect change. Yet US Envoy Tom
Barrack appears enamored with Sharaa’s Islamist regime in Damascus.
While the world watches Sharaa’s forces massacre Alawites on the coast, Druze in
the south, and potentially Kurds in the northeast, Barrack extols the virtues of
a revived Ottoman Empire, with Damascus as its crown jewel. He defends Sharaa’s
regime, claiming that atrocities against the Druze were committed by Islamists
disguised in government uniforms. Overwhelming evidence—security camera footage
and confessions from Sharaa’s captured fighters—debunks this claim. Damascus is
complicit in these war crimes.
With America unwilling to curb Sharaa’s autocratic ambitions, no one can enforce
UNSCR 2254. Sharaa pretends to build a new, progressive Syria while constructing
a formidable autocracy, ruling with the same fire and fury as the Assad dynasty.
Last week, Syria’s Kurds held a conference in their de facto autonomous region
in the northeast, inviting representatives from all ethnic and religious groups.
Their goal: to demand local governance east of the Euphrates, free from
Damascus’s centralized control. They believe decentralization better serves
Syria’s future.
Sharaa, however, views such ideas as a challenge to his vision of undisputed,
autocratic rule. In retaliation, he ordered his delegation in Paris to boycott
talks with the Kurds aimed at resolving disputes. Under Sharaa, dissent is
punished as it was under Assad.
Like his predecessor, Sharaa has cultivated a network of shabbiha—thugs who
enforce his will and silence opposition. To his supporters, Sharaa is the new
Umayyad Caliph, whose orders are absolute.
Less than a year after Assad’s downfall, the Syrian revolution—fueled since 2011
by millions of Syrians and their friends like myself—feels betrayed.
When Assad fell on December 8, Sharaa claimed he had no interest in becoming
president, insisting all revolutionaries were equal. Six days later, I wrote him
an open letter, urging him to run for president, spread liberty, and step down
after his term to set a democratic precedent, as George Washington did in early
America.
I held no illusions that Sharaa was Washington, but his promises of change
warranted cautious optimism. Yet, as many feared, Sharaa has revealed himself as
another dictator-in-the-making. Hudoud, the Arabic weekly satire publication,
the equivalent of The Onion, captured it perfectly: “Sharaa declares himself
Hafez Assad.”
In his theater of “transitional power,” Sharaa has amassed more authority than
both Assads combined. There are no deadlines for a constitution or elections.
Any future constitution or vote will likely serve to legitimize his Islamist
autocracy, just as Assad’s did.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm offers a fitting parallel. After overthrowing the
negligent farmer, the pig Snowball declared all animals equal. Soon, the
constitution was amended: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than
others.” This now describes Sharaa and his former revolutionary comrades. One
day, even his Islamist allies may face purges. This is a familiar story,
replayed across Arab nations since the mid-20th century’s end of empires.
With America’s inaction likely to spark regret in years to come, Syria’s
neighbors are left to fend for themselves.
Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah and rally behind its national army. Its porous
border with Syria risks spillover from ongoing turbulence or renewed conflict.
Israel has little choice but to continue airstrikes to police Syria, as it does
in Lebanon. Sharaa pledges to honor the 1974 ceasefire, as Assad did for
decades, but there’s no guarantee he will comply—or remain in power long enough
to do so.
Iraq, too, faces spillover risks, much like Syria. The Islamic State ISIS once
spanned both countries, and similar threats could resurface.
Jordan must stay vigilant against destabilizing trends from Syria, including the
flow of Captagon drugs, Islamist militias, and other disruptive forces.
Continued UN Security Council meetings to discuss Syria mean the problem
persists, even after Assad’s fall.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at The Foundation for the Defense
of Democracies (FDD).
Selected tweets for 14
August/2025
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Arab populations of Lebanon, Syria, Palestinians and to an extent Jordan and
Egypt can never live in peace with Israel before they live in peace with their
own selves. Israel is just another wrinkle in a region that has been living in
perpetual civil war for centuries.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Lebanon Prez Aoun seen schooling top Islamist #Iran official Ali Larijani and
his large delegation. Don’t intervene in Lebanese affairs, Hezbollah will be
disarmed was Aoun’s message to Tehran.
Zéna Mansour
Chibani's attempt to shift blame to Israel for Swayda events constitutes clear
evidence of guilty avoidance & blameshifting, demonstrating a visual shameful
sidestepping of responsibility.Same tactic as the previous regime: blame Israel
to avoid accountability.
@POTUS @SecRubio
U.S. Embassy Beirut
We were pleased to welcome educators, teachers, and arts and culture partners,
and alumni to the Embassy for a warm introduction to our new Cultural Affairs
Officer, Evelyn Garrity. The evening was an opportunity to connect and share
ideas on how to collaborate and create opportunities through education and art.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
If you don’t think that Sharaa is building an Islamist dictatorship in #Syria,
you must be new to the Middle East.