English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For February 09/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of
wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it
dies, it bears much fruit
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12/20-28/:"Among
those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to
Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see
Jesus.’Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very
truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love
their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for
eternal life.Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my
servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.‘Now my soul is
troubled. And what should I say "Father, save me from this hour"? No, it is for
this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a
voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’"
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 08-09/2025
Text & Video: Ortagus Delivers a Stark Message To Aoun & Salam—No Rewards
for Hezbollah’s Defeat/Elias Bejjani/February 07/2025
Michel Aoun the Judas and the Humiliating and Treacherous Memorandum of
Understanding with the Party of Satan/Elias Bejjani/February 06/2025
Text & Video: Aoun and Salam’s Failure to Break Hezbollah and Berri’s Grip:
Lebanon Must Be Declared a Rogue State and Placed Under Chapter VII/Elias
Bejjani/February 06/2025
Abu Arz – Etienne Sakr: The Presidential Statement Following Deputy U.S. Special
Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus Remarks Was a Disgraceful Display of
Denial
Five Hezbollah and axis in the new government/Dr Walid Phares/X/February 08/2025
Who Are the Ministers in Nawaf Salam's Government?
President Aoun, PM Salam form Lebanon government
President Aoun: Cabinet members non-partisan & will certainly serve all
Lebanese, having Lebanon's utmost interest as their goal
Morgan Ortagus Concludes Visit to Beirut
Ortagus Reaffirms US Support for Lebanon’s Leadership and Reforms
Syrian Shelling on Lebanese Border Towns Causes Several Injuries
6 martyrs in the enemy raid on the "Al-Shaara" area
Martyrs and wounded in an Israeli raid on the Bekaa.. and a "feminist" stand
tomorrow denouncing Morgan!
Hermel clan gunmen retreat at the request of the Lebanese army..and the mukhtars
appeal to it!
Tension on the Syrian border.. and Lebanon responds after its territory is
targeted... Clashes between Syrian operations and Hezbollah-backed militants
Army says began responding to gunfire from Syria at Aoun's orders
EU urges 'reform-oriented agenda' from Lebanon's new govt.
UN welcomes 'brighter chapter' as crisis-hit Lebanon forms government
US Embassy welcomes formation of new government
J. Aoun Expresses Satisfaction Over New Government Formation
International Community Welcomes Lebanon’s New Government
Government: Salam and the Lebanese Forces Get the Lion’s Share/Bassam Abou Zeid/This
is Beirut/February 08/2025
Respect to Morgan Ortagus/Elie Aoun/February 08/2025
The Wand and the Magic Ring/Johnny Kortbawi/This is Beirut/February 08/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 08-09/2025
Hamas Hands Over Three Israeli Hostages in Fifth Gaza Exchange
Israel orders negotiators to Doha after fifth hostage-prisoner swap
Israeli Army Targets a Hamas Installation Near Damascus
Hamas accuses Israel of ‘slow killing’ of Palestinian prisoners
’Dad, is it really you?’ freed Israeli hostage reunites with family
Arab League reaffirms support for Jordan and Egypt, rejects displacement of
Palestinians
Iran Open to Negotiations but Rejects U.S. "Maximum Pressure" Policy
Kingdom’s security ‘red line’ for Egypt, says Cairo
Sudan army says retakes key district in Khartoum North
Trump Targets Biden and USAID
Trump to "Probably" Meet Zelensky Next Week
Russia says Baltic Sea cable damaged by ‘external impact’
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 08-09/2025
Iranian Regime's Survival Strategy: Delay, Deceive, Outlast Trump/Dr.
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/February 08/2025
How Gaza displacement could deepen Egypt’s already unbearable refugee
burden/ANAN TELLO/ArabNews/February 08, 2025
Call it what it is — forced displacement, not relocation/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab
News/February 08, 2025
Reform UK’s rise a symptom of populism’s growing strength/Dr. Diana Galeeva/Arab
News/February 08, 2025
Renewed Ukrainian offensive in Kursk/Luke Coffey/Arab News/February 08, 2025
What do shifting African migration patterns mean?/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab
News/February 08, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 08-09/2025
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Ortagus Delivers a Stark Message
To Aoun & Salam—No Rewards for Hezbollah’s Defeat
Elias Bejjani/February 07/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139944/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSR8NOEsHYY&t=57s
The message from U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, delivered today from Baabda Palace,
was unmistakable: Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist militia that dragged Lebanon
into devastation and lost its war against Israel, must not be rewarded with a
seat in the new government. Ortagus made it clear that Washington stands firm in
ensuring Hezbollah’s exclusion and preventing its continued stranglehold on
Lebanon.
Hezbollah and its so-called "resistance" have always been built on lies,
delusions, and empty bravado about throwing Israel into the sea. The truth is,
they only understand force. Their so-called victories are nothing but
hallucinations, and their leaders—many of whom turned out to be foreign
agents—have led Lebanon into ruin. As for Nabih Berri, his corruption is
well-documented, and rather than clinging to power, he belongs in court facing
accountability, possibly even on the U.S. sanctions list.
Today’s blunt message from Ortagus was not just a condemnation of Hezbollah but
a direct warning to President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf
Salam: The U.S. brought them to power despite Lebanon’s corrupt political class,
and they are expected to act accordingly. Washington will not tolerate any
compromise with the Iranian proxy or its enablers, including Berri, Naiem Qassem,
and Mohammad Raad, nor will it allow Lebanon to be held hostage by Tehran’s
puppets.
Echoing this stance, Lebanese nationalist leader Etienne Sakr (Abu Arz) tweeted
today: "After this shameful failure in forming a government and the disgraceful
theatrics surrounding it, the best course for the new era is to immediately
replace Nawaf Salam with a leader of greater courage and integrity." His words
ring true—Salam is a relic of the outdated Nasserist era, ideologically unfit
for the battle to rescue Lebanon from Iran’s grip.
Former Minister Youssef Salameh also weighed in, warning the Presidency against
repeating past mistakes. He underscored that Ortagus’s remarks indicate:
A new set of U.S. conditions that Lebanon must implement,
An unclear relationship between the Lebanese Presidency and President Trump’s
administration.
Salameh cautioned that if the Presidency miscalculates again, it will mark “the
end of Lebanon the Message.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah and its paid mouthpieces reacted with hysteria, resorting
to their usual incoherent and delusional rhetoric. Figures like Mohammad Raad
and Mufti Qabalan scrambled to respond, but their outbursts only confirmed the
severity of their defeat.
The reality is clear: Hezbollah lost its reckless war, and its place is not in
Lebanon’s future. The time has come for the country to break free from Iran’s
stranglehold and reclaim its sovereignty.
Michel
Aoun the Judas and the Humiliating and Treacherous Memorandum of Understanding
with the Party of Satan
Elias Bejjani/February 06/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/62374/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q_Y6-Y4ooY
On February 6, 2006, the traitor,
the Trojan, and the man of little faith, Michel Aoun, sold himself and Lebanon,
swallowed his slogans, and exchanged everything for a presidential chair on
which he sat as nothing more than a puppet and a mere shadow for six years. May
the curse of the heavens be upon him.
Elias
Bejjani/Text & Video: Aoun and Salam’s Failure to Break Hezbollah and Berri’s
Grip: Lebanon Must Be Declared a Rogue State and Placed Under Chapter VII
Elias Bejjani/February 06/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139892/
No more illusions, no more pleasantries, and no more poetic rhetoric—just
the harsh, undeniable truth. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate
Nawaf Salam have utterly failed to take decisive, sovereign stances that align
with Aoun’s inaugural oath and Salam’s pledges. Instead, they have disgracefully
plunged into a swamp of submission and servitude to Nabih Berri and Hezbollah.
Every move they have made thus far in dealing with Berri, Mohammad Raad, the two
Khalils, and the rest of the so-called “Resistance” faction has been a
catastrophic blunder—100% wrong, or rather, a fatal betrayal. Their
miscalculations expose appalling shortsightedness, a total inability to grasp
the Iranian project and its destructive Lebanese proxies, and a dangerous
blindness to Berri’s mafia-like stranglehold over the country.
A truly patriotic and sovereign government would have been formed without
Hezbollah, without Berri, and without the corrupt political class that has bled
Lebanon dry. Instead, Aoun and Salam have chosen the disgraceful path of
submission, appeasement, and power-sharing with the very forces responsible for
Lebanon’s destruction. The result? No one dares challenge Berri’s tyranny,
Hezbollah’s armed occupation remains untouched, and the so-called “new Aoun
tenure” has collapsed before it even began. Along with it, every hope of
restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and breaking free from Iran’s grip has been
crushed.
If Aoun and Salam do not immediately correct their humiliating course of
submission, then resignation is their only honorable option. Lebanon’s true
sovereign and patriotic forces, in coordination with allied nations, must act
decisively to declare Lebanon a rogue and failed state and demand its placement
under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. This would pave the way for
international intervention to dismantle Hezbollah’s occupation, crush Iranian
control, and restore Lebanon’s independence.
The time for hesitation is over. Lebanon must be rescued now—or it will be lost
forever!
Abu Arz
– Etienne Sakr: The Presidential Statement Following Deputy U.S. Special Envoy
for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus Remarks Was a Disgraceful Display of Denial
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139969/
The Finger on the Wound
Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz/February 8, 2025
The statement made by Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan
Ortagus from Baabda Palace yesterday evening struck at the heart of Lebanon’s
ongoing tragedy, accurately reflecting the sentiments of the overwhelming
majority of the Lebanese people.
However, the presidential response that followed was nothing short of shocking,
disgraceful, and utterly disappointing. Instead of acknowledging the bitter
truth, Lebanon’s so-called leadership chose to bury its head deeper in the sand.
The most tragic reality is that the Lebanese state now resembles a terminally
ill patient, visited by the world’s best doctors, yet stubbornly refusing
treatment—insisting instead on self-destruction.
Even more painful is the fact that the American administration appears to care
more about Lebanon’s future than its own corrupt rulers do. And therein lies the
real catastrophe.
(Free translation from Arabic & title by: Elias Bejjani)
Five Hezbollah and axis in
the new government
Dr Walid Phares/X/February 08/2025
Envoys to the Middle East asked the President and PM of Lebanon NOT to include
Hezbollah in the cabinet. In response, the top officials of the Lebanese
Republic named five Hezbollah and axis in the new government. Interestingly some
US officials "congratulated the new cabinet." Who is deciding on US foreign
policy? The President or bureaucrats?
Who Are the Ministers in
Nawaf Salam's Government?
This is Beirut/February 08/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the composition of his government on
Saturday from the Baabda Palace. Who are the new ministers?
Vice President of the Government: Tarek Mitri
Tarek Mitri, former minister and one of the architects of UN Security Council
Resolution 1701, was part of four governments between 2005 and 2011, holding the
portfolios of Environment, Administrative Reform, Culture, Information and
Foreign Affairs. He also served as interim foreign minister.
He currently holds the position of president of Saint George University of
Beirut.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Joe Rajji
Joe (Youssef) Rajji is a diplomat who built his career within the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs before being appointed ambassador to Jordan.
Minister of Defense: Michel Menassa
Michel Menassa is a retired senior officer of the Lebanese Army, having held
various roles within the armed forces. Before retiring, he was the inspector
general at the Ministry of Defense.
Minister of Interior: Ahmad Hajjar
Ahmad Hajjar is a retired general of the Lebanese Army and a member of Kulluna
Irada.
Minister of Finance: Yassine Jaber
Yassine Jaber is a politician close to the Amal movement. He was elected MP for
Nabatiyeh from 1992 to 2022 on the list of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih
Berri. He served as minister of economy (1996-1998) and minister of public works
and transport (2004-2005). He holds a degree in economics from the American
University of Beirut.
Minister of Energy: Joe Saddi
Joe Saddi, former CEO and chairman of Booz & Company, is an expert in energy
management and corporate strategy. He was appointed minister of energy on the
proposal of the Lebanese Forces.
Minister of Education: Rima Karami
Rima Karami is an academic specializing in educational administration and
policy, currently chair of the department at AUB. She was appointed minister of
education on the proposal of the National Agreement bloc in Nawaf Salam’s
government.
Minister of Culture: Ghassan Salameh
Ghassan Salameh is a political scientist and professor of political science at
the University of Sorbonne. He served as minister of culture between 2000 and
2003.
Minister of Social Affairs: Hanine el-Sayyed
Hanine el-Sayyed, an expert in human development and social protection, has led
poverty reduction programs at the World Bank. She is affiliated with the Kulluna
Irada group.
Minister of Environment: Tamara el-Zein
Before her appointment as minister of environment, Tamara el-Zein served as
Secretary-General of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) since
July 2022, becoming the first woman to lead this institution since its founding
in 1962. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of
Haute-Alsace.
Minister of Public Works: Fayez Rasamny
Fayez Rasamny is the CEO of RYMCO, a leading company in the Lebanese automotive
sector. He was appointed minister of public works on the proposal of the
Progressive Socialist Party (PSP).
Minister of Agriculture: Nizar Hani
Nizar Hani is an expert in protected area management, serving as the director of
the Chouf Cedars Natural Reserve since 2010. In 2021, he was elected Vice
President of the World Commission on Protected Areas for the MENA region.
Minister of Health: Rakan Nasreddine
Rakan Nasreddine is a Lebanese doctor specializing in vascular surgery who
graduated from AUB. Before his appointment as minister of health, he worked at
AUBMC (American University of Beirut Medical Center). His appointment was
supported by Hezbollah.
Minister of Labor: Mohammad Haidar
Mohammad Haidar is the director of the nuclear medicine department at the Beirut
University Hospital. He is part of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem.
Minister of Telecommunications: Charles Hajj
Charles Hajj is a businessman with international experience in consulting and
management. He was the former senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton,
where he led the company in the Middle East.
Minister of Tourism: Laura Lahoud
Laura Lahoud is the Executive Vice President of the Al-Bustan Festival, which
she co-directs with her mother, Myrna Boustani.
Minister of Information: Paul Morcos
Paul Morcos is a lawyer and academic, holding a PhD in law from the University
II Nancy Lorraine in France. He has taught law at several Lebanese and
international universities and has led legislative work as a consultant for the
human rights and women’s rights committees in the Lebanese Parliament.
Minister of Economy: Amer Bissat
Amer Bissat, an economist and financier, is a board member of Kulluna Irada.
Minister of State for Administrative Development: Fadi Makki
Fadi Makki is a specialist in economics and behavioral sciences and founder of
the first behavioral consulting unit in the Middle East, B4Development. He was
the Director-General of the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade.
Minister of Justice: Adel Nassar
The new Minister of Justice, Adel Nassar, is a lawyer, holding degrees in
private and public law from Saint Joseph University and Paris II Panthéon-Assas
University. His appointment is supported by the Kataeb Party.
Minister of Youth and Sports: Nora Bayrakdarian
Nora Bayrakdarian is an academic and expert in international relations and
international law. She has taught at the Lebanese University and the American
University of Beirut.
Minister of Industry: Joe Issa el-Khoury
The new Minister of Industry, Joe Issa el-Khoury, is a civil engineering
graduate from the American University of Beirut and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He
has held various leadership roles in the banking and financial sector, notably
as vice president of the Saradar Group. His appointment is supported by the
Lebanese Forces.
Minister of Displaced Persons and Minister of State for Information Technology
and Artificial Intelligence: Kamal Chehadeh
Kamal Chehadeh has held leadership positions in the telecommunications sector,
notably in the United Arab Emirates, and chaired the Lebanese Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority from 2007 to 2010.
President Aoun, PM Salam form Lebanon government
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/February 08, 2025
Salam’s cabinet of 24 ministers, split evenly between Christian and Muslim
sects, was formed less than a month after he was appointed
Lebanon is also still in the throes of a crippling economic crisis, now in its
sixth year
BEIRUT: Twenty-six days after Nawaf Salam was assigned to form a Lebanese
government, the decrees for its formation were announced on Saturday from the
Presidential Palace.
President Joseph Aoun accepted the resignation of Najib Mikati’s government.
The Council of Ministers is scheduled to hold its first session at the
Presidential Palace next Tuesday.
In a speech after announcing the formation of the government, Salam said he
hoped that “it would be a government of reform and salvation, because reform is
the only way for Lebanon to rise.” He added: “With President Aoun, we launch the
workshop to build a new Lebanon.”He said that “the diversity of ministers’ names
will not hinder the function of government, and no government formation will
satisfy everyone. We will work in a unified manner. I am keeping in mind the
establishment of a state of law and institutions, and we are laying the
foundations for reform and rescue. There is no room to turn back time, and we
must begin work immediately. “The government will have to work with parliament
to complete the implementation of the Taif Agreement and proceed with financial
and economic reforms. “The government will be a place for constructive joint
work and not for disputes. I am determined to lay the foundations for reform and
rescue in cooperation with President Aoun.” Salam continued: “This government
will strive to restore trust and bridge the gap between the state and the
aspirations of the youth. It must work toward the full implementation of the
Taif Agreement, proceed with financial and economic reforms, and establish an
independent judiciary.” He emphasized the importance of “ensuring security and
stability in Lebanon by completing the implementation of Resolution 1701.” He
said: “It is difficult for any government formation to satisfy everyone.
However, the government will endeavor to be cohesive, and diversity will not
serve as a source of obstruction to its work, nor will it provide a platform for
narrow interests.”
The government included
Tarek Mitri as deputy prime minister,
Michel Menassa as defense minister,
Ahmad Hajjar as interior minister,
Youssef Raji as foreign minister,
Yassine Jaber as finance minister,
Ghassan Salameh as culture minister,
Laura Khazen Lahoud as tourism minister,
Kamal Chehade as minister of displaced persons and artificial intelligence,
Nora Bayrakdarian as minister of sports and youth,
Rima Karami as education minister,
Adel Nassar as justice minister,
Rakan Nasser Eldine as health minister,
Mohammed Haidar as labor minister,
Joseph Sadi as energy minister,
Amir Bisat as economy minister,
Charles Hajj as telecommunications minister,
Joe Issa El-Khoury as industry minister,
Fayez Rasamny as public works minister,
Nizar El-Hani as agriculture minister,
Fadi Makki as minister of administrative development,
Tamara Zein as environment minister,
Hanin Sayyed as social affairs minister
Paul Marcos as information minister.
Salam’s government during Aoun’s presidency has broken the norms established by
Hezbollah and its allies over three terms, which dictated that the government be
composed of direct party representatives and that Hezbollah maintain a
significant influence capable of obstructing decisions at every critical
political or security juncture.
A technocratic government has been formed, one that is widely acknowledged and
uncontested by political parties.
Despite pressure from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement over the past few weeks to
form a government similar to its predecessor, both the president and the prime
minister-designate stood firm. As a result, they eventually formed a government
that reflects the reformist spirit expressed in Aoun’s oath speech.
The new government has no members affiliated with the Free Patriotic Movement,
but it does have representatives close to the Lebanese Forces Party.
Notably, it includes five women, and for the first time, a ministerial portfolio
has been dedicated to artificial intelligence.
The government consists of 24 ministers. Its formation was delayed from Friday
to Saturday due to disagreements over Shiite representation.
At noon on Saturday, Salam presented three candidates to the Presidential Palace
for selection to fill the fifth Shiite seat in the administrative development
portfolio.
Fadi Makki, former adviser to Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2002, was chosen.
Makki is known for pioneering the application of behavioral economics in public
policy across the Middle East.
The announcement of the new government coincided with the conclusion of the
two-day visit by US deputy envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, who held
discussions with several Lebanese officials.
Ortagus’s statement at the Presidential Palace on Friday caught many by
surprise, when she said: “The US expresses its gratitude to our ally Israel for
defeating Hezbollah. Hezbollah must not be part of the government in any way. It
must remain demilitarized and militarily defeated.”
According to Salam’s office, Ortagus met him and reaffirmed “the US support for
Lebanon in this new era and government.”
Salam emphasized to Ortagus the need for “international pressure to ensure
Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories by the Feb.
18 deadline. This withdrawal must occur without delay or procrastination, in
full compliance with international resolutions.”
Ortagus also met the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri. Notably, during this
meeting, she was not wearing the Star of David ring she had worn during her
earlier meeting with the president on Friday.
While Ortagus did not make a statement, Berri’s media office reiterated that
“Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese territories necessitates our
resistance.”
In a separate development, Israeli forces continued to demolish homes in
villages along the southern border.
Meanwhile, for a third consecutive day, deadly clashes intensified in north-east
Lebanon along the Syrian border and in villages straddling Lebanese and Syrian
territories.
On Friday, Aoun held a phone conversation with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
They both agreed to coordinate efforts to control the situation on the
Lebanese-Syrian border and prevent civilian casualties.
The border town of Jarmash was targeted by missiles and drones, while additional
missiles landed near the Lebanese town of Qasr, leaving one civilian seriously
injured.
After the shelling of the border area, the Lebanese Red Cross transported eight
wounded people to hospitals in Hermel.
The Lebanese town of Qanafez, on the northern border of Hermel, was hit by
artillery shelling from the Qusayr countryside, breaking a night of relative
calm.
Armed clansmen intercepted and shot down three Shaheen drones over the northern
border villages of Hermel, after they were launched from Syrian territory.
According to the Lebanese National News Agency, they also destroyed a tank in
the town of Jarmash. Lebanese media reports indicated that 10 members of Hayat
Tahrir Al-Sham were killed, while three others were captured in the aftermath of
the clashes.
The clashes broke out last Thursday when forces aligned with the new Syrian
administration advanced on the border town of Hawik as part of a sweeping
operation to “seal off smuggling routes for weapons and contraband.”
President Aoun: Cabinet members non-partisan & will
certainly serve all Lebanese, having Lebanon's utmost interest as their goal
NNA/February 08/2025
President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, expressed his satisfaction with
the new government formation, congratulating Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the
cabinet ministers and wishing them success in their new responsibilities.
The President confirmed that the formation of the "Reform and Rescue Government"
was based on the criteria agreed upon with PM Salam, most importantly not to
include any members affiliated with political parties. “Rather, their
appointment was based on competence, expertise and specialization, in addition
to their resumes and good reputation,” Aoun affirmed. He added, “These criteria
have been fulfilled so that the cabinet members will be homogeneous and united,
working as a cohesive team to achieve the hopes of the Lebanese for a better
tomorrow.” “The members of the government are non-partisan, but they will
certainly be at the service of all the Lebanese, because their goal will solely
be the interest of Lebanon,” President Aoun asserted.
Morgan Ortagus Concludes
Visit to Beirut
Rayan Chami/This is Beirut/February 08/2025
On the final day of her visit to Beirut, United States Deputy Special Envoy for
the Middle East Morgan Ortagus met with several senior Lebanese officials,
including Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, caretaker Prime Minister Najib
Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Ortagus Reaffirms US Support for Lebanon’s Leadership and
Reforms
This is Beirut/February 08/2025
United States Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus reiterated
Washington’s support for Lebanon’s current presidency and its incoming
government during a visit to Beirut on Saturday. In a meeting with Prime
Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, Ortagus affirmed US backing for his future
government, highlighting his commitment to financial, judicial and
administrative reforms. The discussions, attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon
Lisa Johnson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs Natasha Franceschi, also touched on the urgency of forming
a new government.For his part, Salam underscored the importance of cooperation
with the US and the international community to “help Lebanon rise, rebuild and
stabilize.” He also called for increased international pressure on Israel to
fully withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories by February 18, stressing that
this should happen “without delay.”
Mikati Calls for Full Implementation of UN Resolution 1701
Earlier on Saturday, Ortagus met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who
emphasized that adherence to international resolutions is key to stabilizing
Lebanon, particularly in the south. He urged the US, which co-sponsored the
ceasefire agreement with France, to ensure that Israel completes its withdrawal
from occupied Lebanese lands by the February 18 deadline. Mikati also condemned
Israel’s “systematic destruction” of southern Lebanese towns and villages,
calling for urgent action to resolve ongoing border disputes along the Blue
Line.
Meeting with Speaker Berri
Ortagus later held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh,
continuing diplomatic discussions on Lebanon’s political and security landscape.
Syrian Shelling on Lebanese Border Towns Causes Several
Injuries
This is Beirut/February 08/2025
After a calm night, residents of the Lebanese border town of Jarmash woke up on
Saturday to the sounds of Katyusha rockets and mortar shells fired from the
Syrian side. A barrage of 50 shells rained down on several towns in Jurud al-Hermel
during the early morning hours, escalating tensions along the border. The
Lebanese Red Cross has so far transported eight wounded civilians to hospitals
in Hermel following the indiscriminate shelling that targeted the towns of al-Qasr,
Sahlat al-Maa, Qald al-Sabaa and al-Zakba. One seriously injured individual was
rushed to al-Batoul Hospital for emergency treatment. Meanwhile, the town of
Kanafez, located on the northern edge of the Hermel caza, came under heavy
artillery fire from the Syrian countryside of al-Qusayr. In response, local
tribes and families armed themselves with light and medium weapons and managed
to shoot down three drones flying over the northern border villages of Hermel.
Additionally, they reportedly destroyed a tank in the town of Jarmash.Following
the downing of the drone, militants from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) resumed
shelling the outskirts of Hermel, heightening concerns of further escalation.
Calls for Reinforcements
Amid the intensifying attacks, local activists urged the Lebanese government to
deploy reinforcements from the Lebanese Army (LAF) to secure the border and
protect civilians from future assaults.
Lebanese-Syrian Coordination
In response to the deteriorating security situation, Lebanese President General
Joseph Aoun held a call with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to discuss
joint security coordination aimed at restoring stability and preventing further
civilian casualties.
According to the Lebanese daily Nidaa al-Watan, the call was described as
positive, with both sides agreeing on full cooperation between Lebanese and
Syrian authorities to control the situation. Officials assured that only state
institutions would oversee border security, and that efforts were underway to
de-escalate tensions. It is worth noting that the recent clashes at the
Lebanese-Syrian border between HTS militants and local tribes were triggered by
a combination of cross-border tensions, territorial disputes and retaliatory
actions.
6 martyrs in the enemy raid
on the "Al-Shaara" area
National News Agency/February 8, 2025
The National News Agency correspondent in Baalbek reported that the result of
the raid launched by an enemy drone on the "Al-Shaara" area adjacent to the town
of Janta, on the slopes of the eastern Lebanon mountain range, was six martyrs
and two wounded.
Martyrs and wounded in an Israeli raid on the Bekaa.. and a
"feminist" stand tomorrow denouncing Morgan!
Hussein Saad / Janoubia / February 8, 2025
The formation of the Lebanese government, after a difficult labor, hijacked the
event and security developments in the south, especially the occupied towns and
villages, in the districts of Marjeyoun and Bint Jbeil. Without that canceling
the confirmation of the majority of the new ministers, on the priority of
reconstruction and the withdrawal of Israel on the specified date, within the
ceasefire agreement, which is the eighteenth of this February. The internal
Lebanese political developments did not cancel Israel's continuation of its air
attacks for the fourth consecutive day, targeting supposed sites of "Hezbollah",
in more than one Lebanese region, especially in the south and Bekaa regions,
where an Israeli drone launched an attack on the "Shaara" area near the town of
Janta in the Bekaa, which resulted in a number of martyrs and wounded. The
Israeli occupation army claimed that its aircraft bombed Hezbollah elements in
the Bekaa region, who were inside a production and storage site for strategic
combat equipment. This raid was followed by an evening raid that targeted the
outskirts of the Syrian city of Ankhel, in the northern countryside of Daraa,
accompanied by ongoing battles between Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and elements of the
Bekaa clans, causing casualties on both sides. It was noted today that military
units in the Lebanese army received orders to respond to the sources of fire
launched from Syrian territory, based on the directives of President of the
Republic General Joseph Aoun. As for the Israeli aggressive practices inside the
occupied towns and villages, today the occupation soldiers burned houses in the
town of Adaisseh, in the Marjeyoun district, while the popular movement of the
residents of the occupied town of Blida, from the direction of the town of
Aitaroun, which was scheduled for tomorrow morning, Sunday, was postponed. In
protest against the positions of the American envoy to Lebanon, and her visit
yesterday to the areas of Shama and the triangle of Al-Jabin-Tair Harfa, an
invitation was sent to participate in a women's protest stand, entitled "Death
to America", at 10:30 tomorrow morning in the triangle of Tayr Harfa-Al-Jabin,
in denunciation of Morgan Ortagus' visit and her desecration of the land of the
martyrs, according to the invitation statement.
Hermel clan gunmen retreat at the request of the Lebanese
army..and the mukhtars appeal to it!
Janubiya/February 8, 2025
Tension is still prevailing on the Lebanese-Syrian border despite the calm that
prevails at night, after violent clashes in the town of Matraba on the
Lebanese-Syrian border. It was reported that the Hermel clan gunmen retreated at
the request of the Lebanese army, which is implementing a wide deployment in the
border area amid the flying of its drones.
Hermel Mukhtars
On the other hand, Hermel District Mukhtars stated in a statement that “the
border area in Hermel has been subjected to shelling from Syrian territory for
two days, targeting villages and homes in Lebanese territory, which led to the
death and injury of a number of civilians, in addition to targeting the funerals
of martyrs.” They called on “the state and the Lebanese army to carry out their
duties in defense of the homeland and its borders and the lives and livelihoods
of the people.”
Tension on the Syrian border.. and Lebanon responds after
its territory is targeted... Clashes between Syrian operations and
Hezbollah-backed militants
Al Arabiya.net/February 8, 2025
The Lebanese army announced its response to the sources of fire from Syrian
territory, under the directives of President Joseph Aoun. The Lebanese army
command, based on the directives of the President of the Republic, ordered the
forces stationed on the border with Syria to open fire in response to the
shelling of the northern and eastern regions of Syrian territory, according to a
statement issued by the army’s media office. The statement said that, based on
instructions from Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun, the Armed Forces
Command ordered military units stationed on the northern and eastern borders to
respond to the sources of fire from Syrian territory into Lebanese towns. It
added that army reinforcements were sent to northern Lebanon, which "began
responding using appropriate weapons after shelling several villages around the
city of Hermel." President Joseph Aoun held talks on Friday with Syrian
President for the transitional period Ahmad al-Sharaa, and they discussed the
situation on the two countries' borders. This came two days after the Syrian
authorities announced that they were launching a security campaign against
Hezbollah-affiliated militants to combat smuggling. The Lebanese army said it
opened fire in response to the shelling of northern and eastern Lebanese areas
from Syrian territory. Al Arabiya's camera documented the moment the military
operations targeted the positions of Hezbollah-backed militants in the border
mountains between Syria and Lebanon. Al Arabiya's correspondent accompanied the
military operations forces during their combing of the Akkoum Mountains on the
Syrian-Lebanese border, where clashes are taking place with Hezbollah-backed
militants.
Army says began responding to gunfire from Syria at Aoun's
orders
Agence France Presse/February 08/2025
The Lebanese Army said it had responded to incoming fire from across the Syrian
border on Saturday, two days after the new authorities in Damascus said they had
launched operations against smugglers in the area. Following directives from
President Joseph Aoun, "the army command issued orders to military units
deployed on the northern and eastern borders to respond to the sources of fire
launched from Syrian territory," it said. "These units have begun responding
with appropriate weapons, in light of recent clashes," the army added.
EU urges 'reform-oriented agenda' from Lebanon's new govt.
Naharnet/February 08/2025
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas on Saturday warmly congratulated Lebanon on
the formation of a new government, wishing Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the
entire government "full success in delivering on the aspirations of the Lebanese
people."
"I extend my congratulations in particular to Youssef Rajji for his appointment
as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, and look forward to engaging with
him," she added. "The EU reaffirms its steadfast support for the Lebanese people
and in particular for the rebuilding of state institutions capable of fulfilling
their missions at the service of all citizens," Kallas said. She also stated
that the EU stands ready to support the new government in taking forward "a
reform-oriented and forward-looking agenda and to relaunch the EU-Lebanon
Partnership, including by holding an Association Council this year."
UN welcomes 'brighter chapter' as crisis-hit Lebanon forms government
Agence France Presse/February 08/2025
The United Nations welcomed the formation of a new government in Lebanon on
Saturday, which ended more than two years under a caretaker cabinet. "Today’s
government formation heralds a new and brighter chapter for Lebanon," the office
of the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert, said in a statement. "The U.N. looks forward to working with
the Government of Lebanon in its efforts to advance key reforms and consolidate
security and stability through the full implementation of UNSCR 1701," it added.
US Embassy welcomes formation of new government
Naharnet/February 08/2025
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Saturday welcomed the formation of a new
government in Lebanon, despite the latest remarks by Deputy U.S. Envoy for
Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who warned against Hezbollah’s participation in the
new cabinet.
“The Lebanese people deserve a government that will rebuild Lebanese state
institutions, fight corruption, and implement needed reforms,” the Embassy said
in post on the X platform. “We urge drafting of a ministerial statement that
helps Lebanon turn the corner and chart a path toward achieving these
objectives,” it added. Though Hezbollah did not endorse Salam as prime minister,
the Lebanese group did engage in negotiations with the new prime minister over
the Shiite Muslim seats in government, as per Lebanon's power-sharing system.
That was despite comments by Ortagus who said in a speech in Beirut Friday that
Washington had "set clear red lines from the United States" that Hezbollah would
not be "a part of the government." The comments drew backlash from many in
Lebanon who saw them as meddling in internal Lebanese affairs. Lebanon's new
authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah, as
Beirut hopes to continue improving ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations
that have been concerned by Hezbollah's growing political and military power
over the past decade.
J. Aoun Expresses Satisfaction Over New Government
Formation
This is Beirut/February 08/2025
President Joseph Aoun expressed satisfaction over the new government formation,
congratulating its president, Nawaf Salam, and the ministers. He wished them
success in their new roles. According to the National News Agency, the president
emphasized that the government, dubbed the "Government of Reform and Rescue,"
was formed in accordance with the criteria agreed upon with Nawaf Salam. He
stressed that the most important criterion was the absence of ministers
representing political parties. "Competence, experience and specialization were
the key factors in their selection, alongside their professional backgrounds and
reputations," Aoun noted. He further explained that these criteria ensured the
creation of a "homogeneous and united" team, one that will work collaboratively
to meet the hopes of the Lebanese people for a better future. "The government
members may not be partisan, but they will undoubtedly serve all Lebanese
citizens, as their sole objective is the best interest of Lebanon," President
Aoun concluded.
International Community Welcomes Lebanon’s New Government
This is Beirut/February 08/2025
The formation of Lebanon’s new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has
drawn international support, with key diplomatic figures emphasizing the need
for reforms and stability. The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL),
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, described the government’s team announcement as a
"new and brighter chapter" for the country, reaffirming its commitment to
working with the government to implement key reforms and uphold UN Security
Council Resolution 1701. The US Embassy in Beirut welcomed the proposed cabinet,
stating, "The Lebanese people deserve a government that will rebuild Lebanese
state institutions, fight corruption and implement needed reforms." The embassy
also urged the drafting of a ministerial statement to "help Lebanon turn the
corner and chart a path toward achieving these objectives."The European Union's
High Representative, Kaja Kallas, also issued a statement congratulating Lebanon
on its new government's formation. She reaffirmed the EU's commitment to
supporting Lebanon, noting, "We stand ready to support the new government in
advancing a reform-oriented and forward-looking agenda, and to relaunch the
EU-Lebanon Partnership, including by holding an Association Council this year."
Finally, Kallas congratulated Joe (Youssef) Rajji for his appointment as
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, stating, "I look forward to engaging
with him."European Union ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele also expressed
support for the new government, highlighting Prime Minister Salam’s commitment
to reforms. "Reforms are necessary for Lebanon’s future, and we will continue to
support them. We count on all political actors to not only adopt but also
implement reforms," she said. Meanwhile, the French ambassador, Hervé Magro,
described the new cabinet as a "reform and rescue" government that marks the
beginning of a broader effort to strengthen the rule of law. He reaffirmed
France’s readiness “to support Prime Minister Salam and his team” in this
endeavor.
Government: Salam and the Lebanese Forces Get the Lion’s Share
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/February 08/2025
The first government of President Joseph Aoun’s mandate reflects the shifting
political balance in Lebanon after the war between Hezbollah and Israel, the
collapse of the Syrian regime and Western — particularly American — and Arab
(especially Saudi) efforts to help Lebanon engage on the path of building a
state.Notably, Hezbollah and its allies did not secure a blocking third (veto
power) in the government. Their participation, alongside the Amal Movement, is
merely symbolic. The Hezbollah-Amal duo did not receive full control over the
Shiite quota, securing only four ministers, while the fifth Shiite minister,
Fadi Maki, is considered close to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Additionally, the
Finance Minister, Yassin Jaber, will not be able to obstruct government
decisions due to certain guarantees, as the Shiite community itself needs the
government’s support, particularly after the war’s devastation.
Among the Sunni ministers, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam secured the lion’s share,
with five ministers under his influence, plus two additional ministers, Tarek
Mitri and Ghassan Salameh.
The Lebanese Forces (LF) also achieved their strongest representation in
government since 2005, securing five ministerial seats.
The president’s share included four ministers, while the Progressive Socialist
Party retained two ministers, and the Kataeb Party secured one minister.
The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) was completely excluded from the government
under the pretext of its unrealistic demands. This marks a major shift, as the
FPM had been one of the dominant forces in Lebanese governments since 2005, but
now holds no ministerial portfolios. The alignment of interests between
President Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Lebanese Forces led to the
exclusion of the FPM. Notably, Hezbollah did not stand by its former ally this
time, which can be seen as a form of retribution against the FPM for abandoning
its alliance with Hezbollah during the last war and for its refusal to continue
defending Hezbollah’s weapons, despite previously supporting them. The exclusion
also extended to another Hezbollah ally, the Marada Movement.
Many Challenges
The task ahead will not be easy for the government under Joseph Aoun’s mandate,
as it faces enormous challenges and obligations in politics, finance, economy,
administration and foreign relations. Each of these areas requires major reform
efforts, and the first task of this government should be to establish a clear
roadmap for these reforms. The political challenges are complex, starting with
the implementation of Resolution 1701 and previous international resolutions,
including Resolution 1559. This is the only way to ensure that Lebanon has a
single legitimate armed force — the Lebanese Army — while freeing the state’s
decision-making from Hezbollah’s grip. Additionally, the government must work on
securing Israel’s withdrawal from the South and resolving border disputes. The
border issue with Syria is equally important, particularly regarding the
demarcation of land and maritime borders.
Another crucial political deadline is the municipal and parliamentary elections.
The challenge is to ensure they are held on time, as they are vital for
maintaining political and institutional stability in the country.
The government must develop a clear financial and economic plan to restore the
banking sector’s operations, making it a key pillar of economic recovery. It
must also adopt a fiscal policy that avoids deficits and unnecessary spending
while working to stabilize the Lebanese pound, signaling an improvement in
economic conditions. In parallel, productive sectors must be given attention, as
they are crucial for investment and job creation. The government faces the
difficult task of reforming the public sector, completing administrative
appointments and overseeing diplomatic and judicial reshuffles. However, a deep
state exists within Lebanon’s institutions, backed by certain political forces
that sustain corruption and obstruct reforms. The government must prove its
seriousness in confronting this deep state to gain the trust of both the
Lebanese people and the international community. Success in this area would
encourage foreign investments and the return of expatriates to Lebanon.
Respect to Morgan Ortagus
Elie Aoun/February 08/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139976/
The brief interference in Lebanese sovereignty by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus is a
result of Iran’s forty years interference in that sovereignty. What is inviting
foreign intervention is the refusal of some of those who claim to be Lebanese to
respect and abide by a set of national principles.
Lebanon is an independent, indivisible, and sovereign state. That is
non-negotiable, and no part of that country’s territory should be subject to
Iranian or non-Iranian dominance.
Would Iran allow a militant group on its soil whose objective is to establish a
“Maronite Republic of Iran” and to have members in the Iranian parliament and
cabinet? If yes, let us know. If not, then it is also not permissible to allow
Iran’s stooges to have military presence on Lebanese soil and to participate in
any political activity in the country.
Those who attacked Ms. Ortagus should have looked beyond her comments on Israel.
Ms. Ortagus said: “You’re a beautiful, sophisticated country that deserves to
have the most impressive businessmen and women, the most impressive businesses,
companies and country from around the world investing in here. We want to get to
Lebanon, back to that place where it is, the place and the hope of the Middle
East. And I know we’ll get there together.”
Every Lebanese should have been grateful that a representative of the most
powerful country in the world is visiting Lebanon and telling them that they
want to restore it back to a prosperous future.
It was not correct for Lebanon’s Presidency to make a statement that some of
what was issued by Ms. Ortagus “expresses her point of view, and the Presidency
is not concerned with it."
Sure, the envoy expressed her point of view, but there was no need to add that
‘the Presidency is not concerned with it.” Instead, the Presidency should have
added to Ms. Ortagus’ comments and publicly expressed willingness to work
together with the United States and all well-intentioned nations to utilize the
talents of the most qualified Lebanese to restore the country to glorious days.
From his part, Mufti Qabalan warned of “not making a mistake against Nabih Berri”
and the Amal-Hizballah duo. In response to the Mufti, a 1985 report states that
“after many interrogations of Shiite prisoners, [it was discovered that] Nabih
Berri himself was involved in the planning of eight hijackings and two car
bombings.”
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000201460014-7.pdf
It was the Berri-Hizballah duo that made multiple mistakes against Lebanon
(along with other politicians, both Christians and Muslims). As a religious
leader and a self-declared “champion of the oppressed”, the Mufti should be on
the side of those who are “oppressed” by the duo.
Making corrections to a wrong path is not a chastisement of a community, but
enhancing the level of that community’s representation from those who are
criminals to those who are qualified to advance Lebanon to genuine security and
prosperity.
The “pact of mutual existence” is intended for honorable Lebanese who have the
heart and adequate vision to serve their country. Those who drafted the Lebanese
Constitution did not intend the “pact of mutual existence” to include Cabinet
representation for those who are in prisons, or deserve to be in prison.
Regarding Parliamentarian Mohammad Raad, all his statements against Israel are
of no value even if they are 100% correct. There is sufficient evidence to show
that it was Israel that facilitated the rise of Hamas and Hizballah to later use
their actions as justification for its own expansions and destruction of
Lebanese and Palestinian communities. The leaderships of the militant groups are
complicit in facilitating for Israel to do what it is accused by Raad of doing.
Despite all that had taken place, the militant groups continue to give excuses
for Israel to destroy and expand.
It was Hizballah, Nabih Berri, and their allies who surrendered a large portion
of Lebanese maritime territory to Israel. Hizballah cannot claim “victory” when
it acquiesced in writing for Israel to attack it at will.
Those who wish to “accommodate” Khamenei’s Party in Lebanon “just because they
are Lebanese” should inform us whether they should also be allowed to drive
against the traffic (as an example) “just because they are Lebanese.”
Educational institutions refer to politics as “political science.” Many problems
in Lebanon can be resolved if politics is treated as a science, rather than a
repeated attempt to achieve “consensus.”
In science, four plus five equals to nine. If a person does not like number
nine, he cannot seek a “dialogue” or “consensus” on a different answer.
Similarly, Lebanese national principles are non-negotiable. Being on Lebanese
soil, “Hizb Khamenei” must recognize Lebanese sovereignty and bow its head to
Lebanese laws which call for the dismantling of the armed group. There is
nothing to negotiate or accommodate.
The country must be saved, and not destroyed just to save the “prestige” of the
Berri-Hizballah duo.
There are qualified Lebanese (within and outside of Lebanon) who can assume
responsibility and elevate the country from its present situation towards a
better future. Those in Lebanon must rise above empty rhetoric, stop the
depletion of valuable time and resources, and abide by viable principles to
properly guide them for the decades ahead.
The Wand and the Magic Ring
Johnny Kortbawi/This is
Beirut/February 08/2025
The ring on the finger of the new U.S. deputy envoy to the Middle East Morgan
Ortagus was given more attention than it deserved, but its symbolism was far
greater than what Lebanon could endure. Opponents did not differentiate between
it being a religious symbol—perhaps because Judaism in Lebanon is often
associated with Zionism, which led Lebanese Jews to flee, never to return, due
to the harassment they faced over the years. This ring is akin to the hijab for
Muslim women or the cross on the necks of Christian women—nothing more, nothing
less. However, for the “Resistance,” it was the nail in the coffin of
Hezbollah’s political era, particularly given the unprecedented statements made
by the U.S. envoy from Baabda Palace. It is clear that President Donald Trump’s
administration is moving swiftly to wrap up key issues. The timeline has
changed; there is no longer the luxury of waiting months or years for political
solutions to be achieved through war or peace. The U.S. administration is in a
hurry to reach peace agreements with Israel. From this perspective, and just as
Trump spoke openly and explicitly about the departure of Palestinians from Gaza
without any ambiguity, the U.S. deputy envoy arrived at Baabda Palace to declare
that Hezbollah had been defeated militarily and that it could no longer
participate in the government. Suddenly, the government formation process was
set into motion, and the deadlock over the fifth Shiite minister seemed to have
been resolved. What actually happened is that the signal given by Ortagus to the
Lebanese left no room for interpretation: Lebanon is now under American scrutiny
in a Saudi-dominated era, and the entire framework of outdated Iranian politics
no longer has a place in Lebanese politics. Ortagus rushed to make this
announcement, paying no attention to protests on the airport road or the burning
of tires in opposition to her presence. She spoke candidly about the future of
the region, even if the “resistance” struggled to digest her words. The region
has entered a new era—one of peace, stability, and investment. Those who fail to
ride this wave have only themselves to blame. This is the essence of what the
Americans are saying: if you cannot keep up, all you can do is sit back and
await your fate, because the train is already on the tracks, and every state
institution is now moving in a direction opposite to the will of the
“resistance” and its allies.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 08-09/2025
Hamas Hands Over Three Israeli Hostages in Fifth Gaza Exchange
This is Beirut/With AFPAFP/February 08/2025
Hamas militants handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of the
fifth exchange under a fragile Gaza ceasefire, with 183 prisoners held by Israel
due to be released later in the day. The swap comes after US President Donald
Trump proposed clearing out the Gaza Strip of its inhabitants and for the United
States to take over the Palestinian territory—a plan that has sparked global
uproar and been rejected by Hamas. Jubilant crowds in Israel's commercial hub,
Tel Aviv, cheered as they watched live footage of the three hostages, flanked by
masked gunmen, brought on stage in Deir el-Balah before being handed over to the
International Committee of the Red Cross. The stage was festooned with a banner
bearing images of destroyed Israeli armored vehicles and a dejected-looking
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister. Dozens of armed Hamas fighters had
formed a cordon around the open area where the release took place, apparently to
control crowds of onlookers. The three hostages were identified as Eli Sharabi,
Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami. Sharabi, 52, was at his home in kibbutz Beeri with
his British-born wife and their two daughters when militants stormed it. The
armed men shot their dog before locking the family in their safe room and
setting it on fire. The bodies of his wife and two daughters were later
identified.Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival, where gunmen murdered
his wife. Ben Ami, who has dual Israeli-German citizenship, turned 56 in
captivity.
'Now is the time.'
Former hostage Yarden Bibas, who was freed last week by Hamas militants in Gaza,
on Friday urged Netanyahu to help bring back his wife and two children from the
Palestinian territory. "Prime Minister Netanyahu, I'm now addressing you with my
own words... bring my family back, bring my friends back, bring everyone home,"
Bibas said in his first public message following his release. Hamas previously
said his wife Shiri and his two sons Ariel and Kfir—the youngest hostages—were
dead, but Israel has not confirmed their deaths. Netanyahu, who is in
Washington, will "monitor this phase of the hostages' release from the control
center of the delegation in the US", the premier's office said in a separate
statement. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum urged the government on Friday
to stick with the Gaza truce, even as Trump's comments sparked backlash across
the Middle East and beyond. "An entire nation demands to see the hostages return
home," the Israeli campaign group said in a statement. "Now is the time to
ensure the agreement is completed—until the very last one," it added. Israel and
Hamas have completed four swaps under the first stage of the ceasefire
agreement.
Emaciated Faces
Stupefaction sweeps through the crowd gathered at the “Hostages’ Square” in Tel
Aviv as the gaunt faces of three Israeli hostages appear live from Deir al-Balah
in the Gaza Strip. On a giant screen, Ohad Ben-Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy
walk toward a platform, flanked by armed men from Hamas’s military wing.
Hundreds of people, who have flocked to this symbolic gathering place for the
hostage campaign, watch in stunned silence. They have spent nearly 500 days in
captivity—their bodies emaciated, their faces drawn. It is the first time since
the beginning of this truce that released hostages appear so visibly affected.
In their eyes: fear, physical pain—perhaps even an absence. In the coastal
metropolis, less than 100 kilometers from the site of their release, several
people cover their mouths with their hands, while others shake their heads in
disbelief. Moments earlier, the crowd had been jubilant, regularly applauding as
Israeli television broadcasted the preparations for their release. Yet soon,
consternation gives way to joy once more—the relief of seeing more compatriots
on their way back to Israel.
Israel orders negotiators to Doha after fifth
hostage-prisoner swap
AFP/February 08, 2025
DEIR EL-BALAH, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu ordered negotiators on Saturday to return to Qatar to discuss the
fragile ceasefire in the war with Hamas, after the fifth hostage-prisoner swap
agreed under the truce was completed. He repeated his vow to crush Hamas and
free all remaining hostages, denouncing the militant group as “monsters” after
the handover of three captives in Gaza who appeared emaciated and were forced to
speak on a stage. The hospital treating the three Israeli hostages released from
Gaza on Saturday said Or Levy and Eli Sharabi were in a “poor medical
condition,” while Ohad Ben Ami was in a “severe nutritional state.”Of the 183
inmates released by Israel in return, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy
group said seven required hospitalization and decried “brutality” and
mistreatment in jail. While 41 of those released returned to the West Bank city
of Ramallah, four were released in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, 131 were sent
to Gaza and seven were deported to Egypt. The fifth exchange since the truce
took effect last month came as negotiations were set to begin on the next phase
of the ceasefire, which is intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the
war. But senior Hamas official Bassem Naim on Saturday said Israel’s
“procrastination and lack of commitment in implementing the first phase...
exposes this agreement to danger and thus it may stop or collapse.”He also
described, in an interview with AFP, the condition of the hostages as
“acceptable under the difficult circumstances that the Gaza Strip was
living.”Saturday’s swap followed remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting
the United States should take control of the Gaza Strip and clear out its
inhabitants, sparking global outrage. The three Israeli hostages, who were all
seized by militants during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war,
“crossed the border into Israeli territory” on Saturday, the Israeli military
said. With their return, 73 out of 251 hostages taken during the attack now
remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Jubilant crowds in Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv cheered as they watched live
footage of the hostages, flanked by masked gunmen, brought on stage in Deir el-Balah
before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
But the joy at their release was quickly overtaken by concern for their
condition, with all three appearing thin and pale. Sharabi’s cousin Yochi
Sardinayof said “he doesn’t look well.”“I’m sure he will now receive the right
treatment and he will get stronger... He has an amazing family, and we will all
be there for him.”The choreographed handover included forced statements from the
three on stage, in which they stated support for finalizing the next phases of
the Israel-Hamas truce. The “disturbing images” from Gaza show that “we must get
them all out,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group.
The ICRC meanwhile called on “all parties, including the mediators, to take
responsibility to ensure that future releases are dignified and private.”Sharabi,
52, and Ben Ami, a 56-year-old dual German citizen, were both abducted from
their homes in kibbutz Beeri when militants stormed the small community near the
Gaza border. Sharabi lost his wife and two daughters in the attack. Levy was
abducted from the Nova music festival, where gunmen murdered his wife. In the
occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, relatives and supporters gathered to
welcome inmates released by Israel, embracing them and cheering as they stepped
off the bus that brought them from nearby Ofer prison. But Fakhri Barghouti, 71,
whose son was among the prisoners, told AFP that Israeli soldiers had stormed
his home and beaten him, warning him not to celebrate his son’s release. “They
entered after midnight, smashed everything, took me into a side room, and beat
me before leaving,” Barghouti told AFP. “I was taken to the hospital, where it
was found that I had a broken rib.”The Israeli military said in a statement it
had “conveyed messages that celebrations and processions in support of terrorism
are prohibited during the release of the terrorists,” but did not give an
immediate response when asked about Barghouti’s allegations. Israel’s prison
service said that “183 terrorists... were released” to the West Bank, annexed
east Jerusalem and Gaza. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said
“all the prisoners who were released today are in need of medical care... as a
result of the brutality they were subjected” to in jail. Hamas in a statement
accused Israel of undertaking a “policy of... the slow killing of
prisoners.”Gaza militants have so far freed 21 hostages, including 16 Israelis
in exchange for hundreds of mostly Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli
jails. Five Thai hostages freed last week from Gaza were discharged on Saturday
from a hospital in central Israel, where they had been treated since their
release, and were headed back to their home country. The ceasefire, mediated by
Qatar, Egypt and the United States, aims to secure the release of 17 more
hostages during the remainder of the 42-day first phase. Hamas’s October 2023
attack resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an
AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel’s retaliation has killed at
least 48,181 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run
territory’s health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
Israeli Army Targets a Hamas Installation Near Damascus
This is Beirut/With AFP/AFP/February 08/ 2025
The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike on Saturday targeting a
weapons depot used by Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Syria.
Israeli "fighter jets conducted an intelligence-based strike on a weapons
storage facility belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in the area of
Deir Ali in southern Syria", the military said in a statement. The army said it
would "continue to dismantle Hamas' capabilities on all of its fronts and will
operate against all attempts by terrorist organisations to entrench themselves
and build up their forces." Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria
since its civil war broke out in 2011, mainly on Iranian-linked targets. After a
lightning rebel offensive toppled longtime Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad in
December, Israel carried out hundreds more air strikes on Syrian military assets
in what it said was a bid to prevent them from falling into hostile
hands.Israeli troops also entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating
Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights.
Hamas accuses Israel of ‘slow killing’ of Palestinian
prisoners
Arab News/February 08/2025
GAZA CITY: Hamas accused Israel of adopting a policy it described as the “slow
killing” of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails after seven inmates
freed on Saturday were admitted to hospital. “The fact that seven prisoners were
transferred to hospitals immediately after their release... reflects the
systematic assaults and mistreatment of our prisoners by the Israeli prison
authorities,” Hamas said in a statement, adding that it was “part of the policy
of the extremist Israeli government, which pursues the slow killing of prisoners
inside the prisons.” Meanwhile Abdullah Al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian
Prisoners’ Club told AFP: “All the prisoners who were released today are in need
of medical care, treatment, and examinations as a result of the brutality they
were subjected to during the past months. There are seven who were transferred
to the hospital.”The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that seven inmates had
been admitted to hospitals.
’Dad, is it really you?’ freed Israeli hostage reunites
with family
AFP/February 09, 2025
TEL AVIV: After 16 months of captivity in the Gaza Strip, Ohad Ben Ami found the
strength to run toward his daughters, even cracking a joke during their
emotional reunion, filled with both joy and tears. “Dad, is it really you? I
can’t believe you’re here,” said one of his daughters, her eyes wide with
disbelief, as the freed Israeli-German hostage embraced her at Tel Aviv’s
Ichilov Hospital, following his release by Hamas militants during the fifth
hostage-prisoner swap on Saturday. “Yes, I’m here,” Ben Ami replied, hugging his
loved ones who had been waiting anxiously for his return at the hospital. “I
left XXL and came back medium,” joked the 56-year-old, who, according to doctors
at the hospital, had lost a significant amount of weight in captivity. “I have
so much to catch up on. It feels like someone has ripped me away and time kept
passing. “I have a million things pending, and I need answers ... And yes, I
need to know what happened that day,” said Ben Ami, referring to October 7,
2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel. The family reunion, away from the
media spotlight but filmed and photographed by the Israeli authorities, was
intimate.
The footage offered a stark contrast to those captured earlier that morning in
Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, where Ben Ami, emaciated and with a short white
beard, was paraded by masked Hamas militants before being released alongside two
other hostages, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy. Now free from wearing a T-shirt marked
“Hamas prisoner” and freshly shaven, Ben Ami appeared to have a new lease of
life as he entered the room where his three daughters and mother were waiting.
Laughter and tears filled the space while from among those gathered someone
shouted: “What a handsome guy you are!“Within moments they were catching up on
the months lost in captivity. Ben Ami learnt that one of his daughters had
enlisted in the Israeli army. “I’m proud of you,” he told her. “In the initial
medical assessment conducted, it is evident that Ohad returned in a severe
nutritional state and had lost a significant amount of his body weight,” Gil
Fire, deputy director at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv said, adding Ben Ami
had shown he was “resilient in spirit.”
Ben Ami and his wife were seized by Palestinian militants on October 7, 2023,
from kibbutz Beeri, close to the Gaza border, during the Hamas attack that
ignited the war. Two of their daughters, who were with them that day, survived
the attack. His wife was released on November 29, 2023, during a week-long
truce, the first of the war. Sharabi, also from Beeri, did not have the chance
for such a reunion. His wife and two daughters were killed in the attack, and it
appears unlikely that he was aware of this at the time of his release. Draped in
an Israeli flag, Sharabi was welcomed with tears at Sheba Hospital in Ramat Gan
by his two sisters and brother, his head covered with a talith, the Jewish
prayer shawl. The reunion of Levy with his family was a sober one, marked by
long embraces and crying. He and his wife, Einav Levy, were attending the Nova
festival, the site of the worst massacre committed on October 7, where he was
taken hostage while she was killed.
Arab League reaffirms support for Jordan and Egypt, rejects
displacement of Palestinians
Arab News/February 08, 2025
CAIRO: The Arab League on Saturday reiterated its firm stance against the
displacement of Palestinians, warning that such actions undermined the
Palestinian cause and regional stability. Speaking in a televised interview on
Saturday, the Arab League's Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki reaffirmed
the unity of the Arab position in rejecting displacement efforts and expressed
strong support for the Palestinians, as well as for Jordan and Egypt in their
opposition to such moves. Zaki emphasized that the Arab League was actively
working to mobilize both regional and international support for the
establishment of a Palestinian state. He also underscored the organization's
commitment to countering Israeli claims while reinforcing the principle of a
two-state solution as the foundation for peace in the region. The ambassador
further revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of
convening an Arab summit to address the Palestinian issue. While no date has
been set, Zaki stressed that the matter remains a priority for the league.The
reaffirmation of Arab solidarity comes amid escalating tensions and renewed
international focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with regional powers
emphasizing the need for a just and lasting resolution, Jordan News Agency
reported.
Iran Open to Negotiations but Rejects U.S. "Maximum
Pressure" Policy
This is Beirut/With AFP/February 08/2025
Iran is ready to negotiate with the United States but not under President Donald
Trump's "maximum pressure" policy, the Iranian foreign minister said on
Saturday. "Lifting sanctions requires negotiations, but not within the framework
of a 'maximum pressure' policy, as that would no longer be a negotiation but
rather a form of capitulation," Abbas Araghchi stated, according to a statement
published on his Telegram page. Araghchi's statement comes after Iran’s Supreme
Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged the government the previous day "not to
negotiate" with the United States, deeming such a move "reckless."The Supreme
Leader, who has the final say on all strategic decisions in Iran, justified his
stance by citing what he described as past agreements with the United States
that were not honored. In 2015, Iran reached an agreement with the United
States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, and Russia to regulate its
nuclear program.In return, the deal provided for the easing of international
sanctions against Tehran. However, in 2018, during his first term, Donald Trump
unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the agreement and reinstated heavy sanctions
against Iran, to the dismay of European signatories. On Wednesday, the U.S.
president stated that he was in favor of a "peace deal" with Iran, the United
States’ sworn enemy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But "Iran cannot have
nuclear weapons," Donald Trump insisted the following day, reinforcing his
commitment to the "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran.In this context, the
U.S. Treasury Department announced on Thursday new financial sanctions targeting
an international network "facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of
Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to China.""Iran does not
want to negotiate with a country that simultaneously imposes new sanctions,"
Araghchi emphasized on Saturday.
Kingdom’s security ‘red line’ for Egypt, says Cairo
Reuters/February 08, 2025
CAIRO: Egypt condemned on Saturday as “irresponsible” statements by Israeli
officials suggesting establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory,
according to a statement by Egypt's foreign ministry. The foreign ministry said
it considered the suggestion a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty”,
adding that the Kingdom's security was a “red line for Egypt”.
Sudan army says retakes key district in Khartoum North
AFP/February 08, 2025
PORT SUDAN: Sudan’s military said Saturday that it had regained control of a key
district in greater Khartoum as it presses its advance against the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The district of Kafouri in Khartoum North, or Bahri,
had been under RSF control since war between the army and the paramilitaries
began in April 2023. In a statement, military spokesman Nabil Abdullah said that
army forces, alongside allied units, had “completed on Friday the clearing of”
Kafouri and other areas in Sharq El Nil, 15 kilometers to the east, of what he
described as “remnants of the Dagalo terrorist militias.” The army has in recent
weeks surged through Bahri — an RSF stronghold since the start of the war —
pushing the paramilitaries to the outskirts. The Kafouri district, one of
Khartoum’s wealthiest neighborhoods, had served as a key base for RSF leaders.
Among the properties in the area was the residence of Abdel Rahim Dagalo, the
brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his deputy in the paramilitary
group. The recapture of Kafouri further weakens the RSF’s hold in the capital
and signals the army’s continued advance to retake full control of Khartoum
North, which is home to one million people. Khartoum North, Omdurman across the
Nile River, and the city center to the south make up greater Khartoum. On
Thursday, a military source told AFP that the army was advancing toward the
center of Khartoum, nearly two years after the city fell to the RSF at the start
of the war.
Eyewitnesses in southern Khartoum reported hearing explosions and clashes coming
from central Khartoum Saturday morning. The developments mark one of the army’s
most significant offensives since the war broke out between army chief Abdel
Fattah Al-Burhan and his erstwhile ally Dagalo’s RSF, which quickly seized much
of Khartoum and other strategic areas. The conflict has devastated the country,
displacing more than 12 million and plunging Sudan into the “biggest
humanitarian crisis ever recorded” according to the International Rescue
Committee.
Trump Targets Biden and USAID
This is Beirut/With AFP/February 08/2025
President Donald Trump on Friday revoked his predecessor Joe Biden's security
clearance in a blizzard of new orders, while escalating his campaign to
dismantle the US humanitarian agency charged with helping the world's poorest
and extending American influence around the globe. In a new series of rapid-fire
power plays, the 78-year-old billionaire also froze aid to South Africa, where
his top donor Elon Musk was born, and named himself head of one of the country's
premier cultural venues, the Kennedy Center. "There is no need for Joe Biden to
continue receiving access to classified information," Trump said on his Truth
Social network, adding that he was "immediately" revoking the Democrat's
security clearances and ending his daily intelligence briefings. US presidents
are traditionally given the right to receive intelligence briefings even after
they step down. Trump also stepped up his assault on the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID), which distributes humanitarian aid
globally.
"THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!" he wrote on his
Truth Social app about USAID, without offering evidence. USAID has received the
most concentrated fire since Trump launched a crusade led by Musk -- the world's
richest person -- to downsize or dismantle swaths of the US government. On
Friday, Musk -- who along with Trump has spread blatantly false information
about USAID's finances -- reposted photos of the agency's signage being removed
from its Washington headquarters. The Trump administration has frozen foreign
aid, ordered thousands of internationally-based staff to return to the United
States, and begun slashing the USAID headcount of 10,000 employees to around
only 300. Labor unions are challenging the legality of the onslaught. A federal
judge on Friday ordered a pause to the administration's plan to put 2,200 USAID
workers on paid leave by the weekend. Democrats say it would be unconstitutional
for Trump to shut down government agencies without the legislature's green
light.The United States' current budget allocates about $70 billion for
international assistance, a tiny fraction of overall spending.But it gets a big
bang for its buck. USAID alone runs health and emergency programs in around 120
countries, including in the world's poorest regions, boosting Washington's
battle for influence against rivals such as China."We are witnessing one of the
worst and most costly foreign policy blunders in US history," Samantha Power,
the USAID chief under former president Joe Biden, wrote in a scathing New York
Times opinion piece. Hard-right Republicans and libertarians have long
questioned the need for USAID and criticized what they say is wasteful spending
abroad. Also Friday, Trump named himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center,
suggesting that the stately white marble entertainment complex overlooking the
Potomac River did not reflect his own values. "Just last year, the Kennedy
Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth -- THIS WILL STOP,"
he wrote on Truth Social, without explaining what show he was referring to.
Trump has repeatedly attacked gender-nonconforming people. He also followed up
Friday on a promise to freeze US aid to South Africa, citing a law in the
country that he alleges allows farmland to be seized from white farmers, despite
Johannesburg's denials.Musk has frequently criticized the South African
government.
Trump to "Probably" Meet Zelensky Next Week
This is Beirut/Daria Andriievska, with AFP
US President Donald Trump said Friday he would "probably" meet Ukrainian leader
Volodymyr Zelensky next week, as Russia said its forces had seized the key
mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine. Zelensky said the US and Ukraine were
planning "talks" but did not confirm a meeting between the two leaders. "We're
also planning meetings and talks at the teams' level. Right now Ukrainian and
American teams are working out the details," he wrote on X. Toretsk is the
biggest settlement Russia claims to have captured since Avdiivka in February
2024. Kyiv denied Russia had full control of the industrial hub. European
foreign ministers are to meet in Paris next Wednesday to discuss the conflict
between Ukraine and Russia, and the Politico website said US Secretary of State
Marco Rubio could attend the meeting. Trump has put pressure on both sides to
end the conflict, which will mark its three-year anniversary this month.
Russia says Baltic Sea cable damaged by ‘external impact’
AFP/February 08, 2025
MOSCOW: Russia’s state-controlled telecoms giant said Saturday that its
underwater cable in the Baltic Sea had been damaged by an “external
impact.”Several undersea telecom and power cables have been severed in the
Baltic Sea in recent months, with experts and politicians accusing Russia of
orchestrating a hybrid war against Western countries supporting Ukraine. “Some
time ago in the Baltic Sea a Rostelecom underwater cable was damaged as the
result of external impact,” Rostelecom’s operator told RIA Novosti news agency.
“Repair work is being carried out,” it added. The company said consumers were
not affected. Earlier Saturday, the Finnish coast guard said they were
monitoring repairs of a Russian underwater cable carried out by a Russian vessel
in the Gulf of Finland. According to local authorities the undated incident took
place inside Finland’s exclusive economic zone. The spate of incidents led NATO
countries to launch a patrol mission to protect critical underwater
infrastructure in January. Aircraft, frigates, submarines and drones have been
deployed as part of the new operation, titled “Baltic Sentry.”Finnish
authorities said in November 2023 that a Rostelecom cable in the Baltic Sea was
discovered damaged in October, roughly coinciding with damage to subsea
infrastructure in Sweden and Finland.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 08-09/2025
Iranian Regime's Survival Strategy: Delay, Deceive,
Outlast Trump
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/February 08/2025
Possessing nuclear weapons provides any regime with a protective shield against
foreign intervention, removing the fear of retaliation. Given this reality, no
diplomatic effort -- regardless of its structure -- will convince Iran to
relinquish its nuclear ambitions voluntarily.
For the Iranian regime, the tactic of negotiating to buy time has paid off
really well. Iran successfully reached a deal with the Obama administration
which provided it with financial relief, and diplomatic legitimacy, and the
promise of nuclear weapons in just a few years, which just so happens to be this
coming October.
Unfortunately, Iran appears to be dangerously close to achieving nuclear
breakout The only viable solution is to neutralize Iran's nuclear facilities
now.
The correct course of action from the Trump administration is clear: reimpose
maximum pressure, support Israel in targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and
ensure that the regime's delaying tactics do not succeed once again.
Possessing nuclear weapons provides any regime with a protective shield against
foreign intervention, removing the fear of retaliation. Given this reality, no
diplomatic effort -- regardless of its structure -- will convince Iran to
relinquish its nuclear ambitions voluntarily.
The Iranian regime, currently at one of the weakest points in its recent
history, presents a crucial opportunity for the United States and its allies.
The collapse of its strongest regional ally, Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria,
has left Tehran without a key pillar of support in the Middle East. Iran's most
powerful proxy groups, Hamas and Hezbollah, have suffered significant setbacks
thanks to Israeli military operations. With Iran's economy in shambles and its
isolation increasing, the regime is more vulnerable than ever before. This
moment should not be squandered. It presents an unparalleled opportunity to curb
Iran's ambitions -- permanently.
Since Donald Trump's return to the presidency, the Iranian regime is now
extending an olive branch, supposedly willing to negotiate on its nuclear
program.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's vice president for strategic affairs and a senior
political figure, publicly urged Trump to restart diplomatic talks. "I hope that
this time around, [Trump] will be more serious, more focused, more realistic,"
he stated. This overture for diplomacy is basically a strategic maneuver to buy
time. Iran undoubtedly fears that Trump will not only reinstate crushing
economic sanctions but, if those fail to satisfy him, he might possibly support
Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The mullahs' sudden enthusiasm for negotiations means they are not planning to
abandon their nuclear ambitions, but rather use them as a ploy to outlast
Trump's presidency. Negotiations, for the regime, are nothing but a desperate
attempt to prevent Trump from crippling its nuclear program beyond recovery.
The United States must not fall into Iran's trap. The Iranian regime's
fundamental ideology remains unchanged. The regime is built on an unyielding
foundation of anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism: "the Little Satan" that stands
in Iran's way of one day defeating "the Great Satan." These core beliefs will
not be altered by any diplomatic agreement. Iran's strategic goal remains
"exporting the Islamic Revolution." No negotiations — past, present, or future —
will alter that mission.
For the Iranian regime, the tactic of negotiating to buy time has paid off
really well. Iran successfully reached a deal with the Obama administration
which provided it with financial relief, and diplomatic legitimacy, and the
promise of nuclear weapons in just a few years, which just so happens to be this
coming October.
When President Barack Obama assumed office, Iran was on its knees, due to the
Bush administration's tough sanctions. Obama, however, instead of maintaining
pressure, pursued a "nuclear deal," agreeing to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPOA), which lifted sanctions and injected billions of dollars into
Iran's economy. It was this financial windfall that enabled Tehran to resupply
its proxy groups.
The consequences of this decision became clear on October 7, 2023, when Hamas,
bolstered by Iranian support, launched a brutal invasion of Israel, followed the
next day, unrelentingly, by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Iran, also emboldened, for
the first time began launching ballistic missiles -- almost 200 of them --
directly from its territory at Israel, a country the size of New Jersey.
Iran's regime is now attempting to replicate its successes of lengthy
negotiations with Obama and Biden with Trump. The payoff would provide Iran with
time, money, legitimacy, and its nuclear program intact.
Iran wants to drag Trump into a four-year negotiation process and waste time
until he is out of office.
Iran's ultimate ambition remains unchanged: acquiring nuclear weapons -- not
just as a deterrent but as a crucial instrument for achieving its revolutionary
Islamist objectives: annihilating Israel, exporting its revolution, and
ultimately reshaping the global order in accordance with its extremist views.
Possessing nuclear weapons provides any regime with a protective shield against
foreign intervention, removing the fear of retaliation. Given this reality, no
diplomatic effort -- regardless of its structure -- will convince Iran to
relinquish its nuclear ambitions voluntarily.
Unfortunately, Iran appears to be dangerously close to achieving nuclear
breakout The only viable solution is to neutralize Iran's nuclear facilities
now.
The correct course of action from the Trump administration is clear: reimpose
maximum pressure, support Israel in targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and
ensure that the regime's delaying tactics do not succeed once again.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 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.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21376/iran-nuclear-survival-strategy
How Gaza displacement could deepen Egypt’s already
unbearable refugee burden
ANAN TELLO/ArabNews/February 08, 2025
LONDON: Already host to almost 10 million migrants and refugees, Egypt now faces
pressure to shelter hundreds of thousands of Gazans — a move Cairo deems unfair
to the Palestinians and a potential threat to its economy and security.
US President Donald Trump has suggested that some 1.5 million people from the
Palestinian enclave could be relocated to Egypt and Jordan — a plan that has met
with opposition from both countries’ leaderships. “Egypt views this proposal as
an unacceptable liquidation of the Palestinian cause — something that neither
Egyptians, Palestinians, nor other influential regional states would accept,”
Hani Nasira, an Egyptian author and academic, told Arab News. “It undermines the
two-state solution and the peace agreements with Israel, which many regional
countries have tied their engagement to.” Beyond what this might mean for the
Palestinians, Nasira also cited economic concerns for Egypt, especially if
Gazans are not permitted to return. “Egypt hosts more than 9 million refugees
and migrants who pose an economic burden and do not live in camps,” he said.
“Rather than treating displaced people as refugees or housing them in camps,
Egypt has integrated them into society and considers them ‘guests,’ as President
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has repeatedly stated.”
Indeed, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has praised Egypt for its policy of
placing displaced foreign nationals in host communities, “reflecting the
government’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees’ principle of finding
alternatives to camps.” Egypt is a signatory to key international treaties
defining refugee rights and state obligations, including the 1951 Refugee
Convention, its 1967 Protocol, and the 1969 Organization of African Unity
Convention. While official statistics show that Egypt hosts more than 9 million
refugees and asylum-seekers, only 822,701 of them were registered with the UNHCR
as of October. Access to many services typically requires being registered with
the UNHCR or one of its partners.
REFUGEES & MIGRANTS IN EGYPT
• 4 million+ Sudanese
• 1.5 million+ Syrians
• 1million+ Yemenis
• 1 million+ Libyans
(Source: IOM)
According to UN figures, Egypt’s registered refugees originate from 59 nations,
including Sudan, Syria, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia, and
Iraq. As of October 2023, the Sudanese nationality was the largest group,
followed by Syrians.
Sudan, which borders Egypt to the south, has been trapped in a state of conflict
between rival military factions since April 2023, leading to one of the world’s
worst humanitarian catastrophes, displacing some 12 million people, both
internally and externally.
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support
Forces has devastated the capital Khartoum and other cities, shattering the
nation’s health system and compounding outbreaks of once preventable diseases.
Domestic agriculture and supply chains have collapsed, leading to outbreaks of
famine across the country. In Darfur and other areas, accounts of sexual
violence and even genocide have emerged. Access issues and underfunding have
hampered the humanitarian response.
Syria, meanwhile, has only recently emerged from more than a decade of civil
war, which has displaced millions of refugees throughout the region and across
the globe. Instability persists even after the toppling of the Bashar Assad
regime, and swathes of the country remain in ruins. South Sudan and nations on
the Horn of Africa have experienced some of the most extreme and least reported
conflicts of recent years, including the Tigray war in Ethiopia, not to mention
climate disasters including devastating floods and crippling drought. Recent and
ongoing conflicts in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq have likewise sent millions in
search of safety and a route out of poverty in Egypt — already the Arab world’s
most populous country — which has itself experienced instability and hardship.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last year that Egypt hosted 40
percent of those fleeing Sudan, 1.5 million Syrian refugees since 2012, and
expected to receive more Palestinians displaced from Gaza.
Since Israel mounted its military campaign in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, in
retaliation for the deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, nearly all of
the enclave’s 2.2 million residents have been displaced from their homes at
least once.
As many as 100,000 Gazans managed to cross into Egypt before Israel captured the
Rafah border crossing in May, according to Palestine’s Ambassador in Cairo Diab
Al-Louh. Many lacked the documents needed to enroll children in school, open
businesses, travel, or access health services. Trump first floated the idea of
relocating Gazans en masse on Jan. 25 and reiterated it the next day aboard Air
Force One, saying he wanted the Palestinian enclave “just cleaned out” to start
afresh after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced in
mid-January.
On Feb. 4, he went even further, announcing plans for a US “takeover” of the
Gaza Strip during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in
Washington D.C. Trump said he wanted the US to take a “long-term ownership
position” and turn the Eastern Mediterranean territory into the “Riviera of the
Middle East.” Palestinians could be resettled away from Gaza, “in areas where
the leaders currently say no,” he said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty
had already expressed concerns about the strain Egypt’s refugee burden is
placing on the national budget and host communities, citing insufficient
international support amid the growing number of displaced people.
During a Jan. 27 meeting with heads of three UN agencies in Geneva, Abdelatty
reiterated Egypt’s call for a fairer and more sustainable distribution of
responsibility, urging the UN International Organization for Migration to help
manage migrant flows and strengthen Egypt’s capacity to host those it already
had. On Jan. 28, Abdelatty told the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in
Geneva that his country has shouldered a significant responsibility on behalf of
the international community by hosting 10.7 million foreign nationals, including
refugees and irregular migrants.
However, he said Egypt’s “capacity to accommodate and continue our efforts is at
risk, especially given the insufficient international support relative to the
pressures we are facing.”In April last year, Egypt’s Prime Minister Madbouly
said hosting some 9 million refugees was costing his country approximately $10
billion per year, at a time when Egypt is grappling with its own economic
crisis, despite receiving financial assistance from the EU, the International
Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and others to help stave off collapse. Egypt’s
revenues from the Suez Canal dropped by more than 60 percent in 2024, amounting
to a $7 billion loss compared to the previous year, President El-Sisi said in a
December statement. The loss was primarily driven by regional tensions,
including attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in
Yemen. Egypt’s economy is also struggling with a high inflation rate, which
stood at 24.1 percent in December, according to Trading Economics.
Economic repercussions are not the sole concern surrounding plans to relocate
Gazans to Egypt. Officials believe the move may also threaten the security of
the country and the wider region. El-Sisi told a press conference on Jan. 29
that the transfer of Palestinians “can never be tolerated or allowed because of
its impact on Egyptian national security.” Egyptian academic Nasira said that
implementing Trump’s proposal “could shift the conflict onto Egyptian soil and
across the Middle East.”
Two days before El-Sisi’s statement, Parliament Speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly warned
that relocating Gaza’s residents “may impede efforts to maintain the current
truce and reach a permanent ceasefire” and risk “transferring the conflict to
other territories, with disastrous repercussions for the entire region.” Nasira
said Cairo considers the relocation a threat to its national security, “as it
could destabilize the Suez Canal the Sinai Peninsula, which was contested in
multiple wars, the most recent in October 1973,” and “fuel further extremism in
Egypt and the broader region.”
Echoing Cairo’s concerns, several influential Arab nations, including Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, also warned that such plans “threaten the region’s
stability, risk expanding the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and
coexistence among its peoples.”Cairo fears that relocating Palestinians from
Gaza — along with Hamas and other militant groups — could unravel the Camp David
Accords, brokered in 1978 by US President Jimmy Carter between Egyptian
President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Palestinian
militant groups could ignite future wars on Egyptian territory — much like in
1970s Lebanon, when Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization turned the
southern part of the country into a launchpad for attacks on Israel. Shortly
after the Gaza war began, El-Sisi warned a mass exodus of Palestinians into
Egypt’s Sinai could wreck the 1978 peace deal, turning the region into “a base
for attacks on Israel,” prompting Israel to “strike Egyptian territory.”
He said: “The peace which we have achieved would vanish from our hands. All for
the sake of the idea of eliminating the Palestinian cause.”
Call it what it is — forced displacement, not relocation
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/February 08, 2025
There is a popular reality show on UK television called “A New Life in the Sun,”
in which professionals help people who long to escape the gray British weather
to find a home and a job, or even start a business, in sunnier climes.
Many of the participants find happiness when they move. But this is not the kind
of relocation US President Donald Trump is offering the Palestinians of Gaza. We
should call his suggested plan to permanently “relocate” more than 2 million
Gazans what it really is — forced displacement.
It is ethnic cleansing. It would only add yet another tier of suffering to a
people who, even before Oct. 7, faced extreme hardship and since then have
experienced a living hell, including repeated displacements within the Gaza
Strip. Furthermore, such a move would be bound to have a destabilizing effect on
the entire region. Even by Trump’s standards, his joint press conference this
week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was extraordinary. He
delivered one bombshell after another as he “clarified” his comments from a few
days earlier about relocating the people of Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
His suggestion that the US would take over the territory and transform it into a
“Riviera of the Middle East,” after permanently pushing its Palestinian
residents into neighboring countries, left many people in the region, and far
beyond, speechless or enraged.
The word “relocation” suggests that the people who undertake such a change
either initiated the move to a new place or at least gave their consent; it does
not accurately describe a move forced upon them and also upon their designated
host countries.
Regarding the prospect of compliance by these host countries, Trump told
reporters: “They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them and they’re going to do
it.”
The immediate reactions of these countries to his plan, from indignation to
outright rejection, was only to be expected.
Trump’s suggestion that his plan is intended to be a permanent arrangement is
effectively a version of the most extreme ideas of the ultra-right-wing settler
movement in Israel. It would serve only to motivate the most militant forces
within Palestinian society, who would need no further proof that the US and
Israel were conspiring to quash their political aspirations and human rights,
including the right to self-determination.
This proposed forced displacement is immoral, politically damaging and,
furthermore, forbidden under international law. Article 49 of the Geneva
Convention clearly states: “Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as
deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of
the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are
prohibited, regardless of their motive.”
When those who support this plan continue to use the words “voluntary
departure,” they know full well that throughout history, transfers of
populations have been moves forced upon millions of people and are never carried
out to protect those pushed out of their homes and communities. The transfers
simply serve the political interests of stronger powers. The cheering from the
sidelines by far-right Israeli proponents of this proposed ethnic cleansing of
the Palestinian people is unsurprising, and sad evidence of their moral
degradation as they proclaim their wish to do precisely the same thing in the
West Bank, establishing Jewish supremacy over all land between the Jordan river
and the Mediterranean Sea.
What the inhabitants of Gaza need is an urgent plan for reconstruction, not
their marching orders. Worse still, it also reflects the outcome most Israelis
would like to see, according to a survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute,
which found that about 80 percent of the Jewish population in Israel supports
the idea that “Arabs from Gaza should relocate to another country,” with 30
percent of them saying it was “not practical but desirable.”In other words, if
Trump could make it happen, they would not see any immorality in uprooting
people from their own land. It also means that deep down, they do not believe
that a peace based on a two-state solution, not to mention coexistence and
reconciliation, is possible or even desirable. Disturbingly, even centrist
parties that previously declared their support for a two state-solution also
welcomed Trump’s half-baked ideas. The response from the region was
diametrically opposed to Trump’s proposal. Arab foreign ministers from Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab
League, who met in Cairo last Saturday following Trump’s initial comments about
his plans for Gaza, made it clear that they object to any talk about the
transfer of Palestinians from their land, under any circumstances. In a joint
statement, the ministers and officials rightly warned that such a move would
threaten regional stability, spread conflict, and undermine prospects for peace.
Jordan, which has been extremely generous in accepting refugees, firstly
Palestinians displaced by the 1948 and 1967 wars, and then Iraqis and Syrians
when their countries experienced wars and political turmoil, cannot afford to
receive any additional refugees without putting intolerable pressure on its
resources, which would have adverse political implications both at home and
further afield. The same is true of Egypt.
And then there is the fact that if either of these countries did agree to accept
forcibly displaced Palestinians, it would implicate them in a process that
crushed the prospects of Palestinian statehood.
There is something else that those who suggest Palestinians should be forced out
of Gaza fail to grasp, most probably on purpose: this conflict is a political
one. It is a political struggle by the Palestinians to be free in their own
independent country, consisting of part of the former Mandatory Palestine.
One of the key concepts of the Palestinian resistance to occupation is that of
“steadfastness” or “perseverance” in their struggle to remain in their homeland
despite extreme adversity.
They have practiced and lived by this principle since the 1948 Nakba, or
catastrophe. What Trump has put on the table is a new Nakba. Moreover, in all
the discussion about it there has no mention of including the Palestinian
leadership, let alone the Palestinian people. This is because there is not a
single Palestinian leader who would even engage in such a conversation, much
less accept it.
It is not far from the truth to say that Gaza in its present state is hardly
habitable or governable. But what its inhabitants need is an urgent plan for
reconstruction, not their marching orders.
• Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.
X: @YMekelberg
Reform UK’s rise a symptom of populism’s growing strength
Dr. Diana Galeeva/Arab News/February 08, 2025
Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party this week topped a YouGov voting
intention poll for the first time, overtaking the ruling Labour Party. But what
is Reform UK? Who is Farage? And what role will Reform play in the future of UK
politics?
Farage is not a newcomer to British politics or unknown to international
observers. He was one of the leading Brexit campaigners in 2016 and supports
reduced immigration and lower taxes. In 2019, the Brexit Party — Reform’s
predecessor — was the big winner in the European Parliament elections, receiving
31.6 percent of the vote. This compares with the Liberal Democrats on 20.3
percent, Labour on 14.1 percent and the Conservatives on 9.1 percent.
Reform summarizes the key propositions and ideas it stands for on its website.
It states: “Only Reform will stand up for British identity and values. We will
freeze immigration and stop the boats. Restore law and order. Repair our broken
public services. Cut taxes to make work pay. End government waste. Slash energy
bills. Unlock real economic growth.” Similar to the famous Brexit slogan “Take
back control,” the manifesto also claims that “Only Reform will take back
control over our borders, our money and our laws.”
The roots of the party and its main propositions lie in the Brexit campaign and,
in general, remain relevant to British society, since the same perceived
problems still exist.
However, while once Farage was a key driver in Britain’s divorce from the EU,
today he seeks to challenge the existing tradition of how British politics
operates. Sky News suggested that this week’s poll suggests a “new era” of
three-party politics in the country.
According to the poll, if a general election were held tomorrow, 25 percent of
Britons would vote for Reform. Meanwhile, only 21 percent would give their vote
to the Conservative Party, which governed the UK for 14 years until Labour came
to power last July. Labour was supported by 24 percent in the recent poll. The
result has been interpreted as an expression of public discontent in Prime
Minister Keir Starmer, who is less than seven months into his term. There has
been fallout from a tax-raising budget, in addition to a slow economy. Farage
responded to this result, stating on X that: “Britain wants Reform.”
What Farage means is the following: the introduction of tougher immigration
controls and for the country’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target of 2050
to be scrapped. According to The Independent: “Strong anti-immigration views
were dominant among those who voted Reform in the 2024 general election, but
those who have begun to support the party since then have far more diverse
views.”This indicates that a growing group of people who would normally consider
themselves positively disposed toward immigration and multiculturalism are,
despite Reform’s headline stance against them, turning toward the party in
response to the perceived failure and disconnection of the traditional main
parties (and do not see the more centrist Liberal Democrats as a viable
alternative). They see that it is time for a change.
This should not be read as a done deal, however. As most media experts warn,
polls less than 12 months into a five-year parliament are rarely a precise
predictor of how people will vote at the next general election. It is
nonetheless an alarming sign for both the governing Labour Party and the
Conservatives ahead of the local elections in May.
A growing group of people are turning toward Reform in response to the perceived
failure of the traditional main parties. The poll might suggest that people
really expect some changes in the direction of British policy. Ultimately,
Farage is a skilled disruptor who is able to adapt. Just as he ignited the
Brexit campaign that was widely expected to fail, he has found ways and means to
challenge the status quo in domestic politics and leverage media coverage and
other networks to engage voters who might otherwise pay little attention to
politics. The possibility of a three-way political system in the UK seems
closely bound with him personally. On a broader scale, the rise of Farage and
Reform also has implications for Western society. A year after the Brexit vote,
while observing a clear rise of populists across Europe, I wrote an article
titled “How to overcome populism?” I explained the popularity of Farage and
Marine Le Pen, who had just led a close and credible campaign for the French
presidency, arguing that the rise of populism was connected to their key ideas,
in addition to charismatic leadership.
I also explained that the nature of populism is not a new phenomenon, but rather
it has long roots — to name just a few examples, agrarian radicalism,
Narodnichestvo, Peronism and the ideas of social credit. The ideas and images of
populists are still alive and supported by many people. Since the rise of
populists such as Donald Trump, Le Pen and Nigel Farage, scholars have suggested
differentiations between “populism” and “new populism.” We may be witnessing the
transformation to a new era, not simply in UK politics, but in the whole of
Western politics.
Farage’s friend, the reelected US President Trump, similarly confirms this rise
of the populist phenomenon. His win was not simply luck, but rather people
genuinely supporting his policies (at least in their general form). Similar
narratives present a real possibility for the future of Western politics
elsewhere.
Furthermore, Reform has been praised by Elon Musk, a powerful confidant of Trump
who has repeatedly criticized Starmer. Farage had stated that Musk was
considering donating to Reform, but they clashed over Musk’s support for
far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Musk has since criticized Farage, though less
so his party. That Reform has supporters from outside the traditional base of
populists, such as wealthy backers like Musk, shows its reach has extended and a
real impact — backed by donations — is possible. For example, oligarchy (or, in
the context of Western society, billionaires) is another famous governance
structure that can be somewhat combined with the populist style of leadership.
There is every chance that a populist reality for the future of Western society
could take this form.
To sum up, the question here is not about the rise of Reform UK, but the broader
transformation of the nature of populism — and the emergence of a Western
oligarchic style — into a real force. It has become a genuine challenger to the
traditional ruling parties in the UK, Europe, the US and elsewhere.
• Dr. Diana Galeeva is an academic visitor to Oxford University.
X: @Dr_GaleevaDiana
Renewed Ukrainian offensive in Kursk
Luke Coffey/Arab News/February 08, 2025
While most of the fighting between Ukraine and Russia has occurred on the
former’s land, significant military operations have also taken place in Russian
territory.
In August last year, Ukraine surprised the world by launching a military
offensive targeting Russia’s Kursk Oblast, a region located across the border
from the sizable city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainian
troops crossed into Kursk and caught Russian forces off guard. At the peak of
their control, the Ukrainian forces held about 1,000 sq. km of Russian
territory.
This week marks the six-month anniversary of the operation in Kursk. It is
reported that Ukraine has launched another military operation there this week
and has already made minor gains. The importance of the timing of such an
operation cannot be overstated. As President Donald Trump settles into the White
House and begins strategizing how he might bring Russia and Ukraine to the
negotiating table, officials in Kyiv will undoubtedly want to approach any talks
from a position of strength.
Many Western commentators were skeptical of Ukraine’s bold move into Kursk last
year. The prevailing wisdom at the time suggested the troops and armored
vehicles could have been better utilized along critical front lines inside
Ukraine, where Russian forces continued to occupy Ukrainian territory.
However, the foray into Kursk proved to be a brilliant maneuver for several
reasons. It came at a time when many of Ukraine’s Western supporters were
questioning its ability to achieve success on the battlefield. Entering Russia
and seizing control of territory there demonstrated to Kyiv’s partners that when
properly equipped and trained, its forces could achieve significant military
gains. This was a crucial morale booster at a time when doubts about Ukrainian
military capabilities were growing.
The move into Kursk also forced Russia to divert soldiers, equipment, and
resources that could have been deployed elsewhere along the front lines. This
alleviated pressure on some of Ukraine’s most challenging defensive positions
and gave its forces some much-needed breathing room.
Ukraine’s decision to enter Kursk also served as a strategic communications
effort aimed at highlighting Russia’s hypocrisy regarding minority and language
rights. Historically, the area that is now Kursk Oblast was heavily populated by
ethnic Ukrainians, and Ukrainian was the dominant language. Although the
demographic composition has shifted over the centuries, social media footage
from the battlefield showed Ukrainian soldiers casually chatting in Ukrainian
with Russian inhabitants of the region. Given that Russia often justifies its
military interventions by claiming to be protecting ethnic Russians outside its
borders, the Ukrainian occupation of Kursk was a powerful way to expose the
flaws in Moscow’s argument.
However, the most important reason for Ukraine’s decision to launch an operation
inside Russia was strategic geopolitical diplomacy. In August, it was still
unclear who would win the US presidential election in November but the political
trends suggested Trump had a strong chance of victory. Given his insistence on
the campaign trail that he would secure a negotiated settlement to end the war,
Ukrainian leaders and military planners were probably concerned that Moscow
would push for a ceasefire that froze the front lines in place as new borders.
If Ukraine can expand its control inside Russian territory, it will
fundamentally reshape the dynamics of any negotiations.
By holding territory inside of Russia, Kyiv ensured that these front lines could
not simply be frozen in place. This would be unacceptable to Moscow because it
could not allow Ukrainian forces to remain inside its borders.
In retrospect, the move into Kursk was a stroke of strategic genius by the
Ukrainian leadership. The country’s control of Russian territory during any
negotiations that take place will not only be critical but also historic. Since
the days of Ivan the Terrible in the 1500s, Russia has been forced to negotiate
peace while part of its own land was under foreign control on only four
occasions, the most recent of which was more than a century ago. Had Ukraine
failed to advance on Kursk and establish control over Russian land, it would
have been in a much weaker position in any future negotiations.
That is not to say everything has gone smoothly for Ukraine. A major military
operation in Kursk required trade-offs, including the diversion of resources
from other critical front line areas. While Moscow was, as noted, forced to
redeploy troops to defend Kursk it has also made minor, but tactically
significant, advances elsewhere, particularly in Donetsk.
Additionally, Russia has managed to bring North Korea into the conflict. Reports
indicate that about 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support
Russian forces in Kursk. Although casualty rates among both the Russian and
North Korean troops have been high, they have managed to retake about 40 percent
of the land Ukraine initially seized. To a figure such as President Vladimir
Putin, however, even a single square meter of Russian territory under foreign
control is unacceptable. He gave his forces two deadlines to take back Kursk:
initially he wanted it done by Oct. 1 and then he extended it to Feb. 1. Both
dates have come and gone and the Ukrainians are still in control of territory
there.
The timing of this week’s renewed Ukrainian offensive in Kursk is therefore
critical. By putting additional pressure on Russian forces and attempting to
capture even more territory, Ukraine is ensuring that it will begin any peace
negotiations in the strongest possible position.
Trump has tasked his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, with securing a peace deal
within 100 days. It has been reported that the Trump administration will outline
more details of its peace plan during the Munich Security Conference next week.
Therefore, the renewed military operations in Kursk could not have come at a
better time for Kyiv. The coming weeks will be pivotal. If Ukraine can expand
its control inside Russian territory, it will fundamentally reshape the dynamics
of any negotiations. If Russia successfully repels the Ukrainian forces, Moscow
will have a stronger hand in any settlement. What is certain, however, is that
Ukraine’s ability to maintain a presence inside Russian borders will remain a
crucial factor in the high-stakes diplomatic process expected to unfold in the
months ahead.
• Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
X: @LukeDCoffey
What do shifting African migration patterns mean?
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/February 08, 2025
Migration has long served as a barometer of evolving realities in Africa,
reflecting both the challenges it faces and its adaptive strategies.
This year, it is projected that nearly 75 percent of African migrants will
remain within the continent, a figure that defies simplistic narratives of a
mass exodus to Europe or North America. This intra-African movement, driven by
disparities in economic opportunities, localized conflicts and climate
pressures, reveals a dynamic recalibration. Countries such as Nigeria, South
Africa, and Kenya now attract regional migrants seeking employment in burgeoning
tech hubs and informal sectors alike, even as droughts in the Horn of Africa and
instability in the Sahel displace millions.
Meanwhile, traditional routes to Europe have narrowed; border externalization
policies reduced Mediterranean crossings by 34 percent between 2022 and 2024,
redirecting the flows rather than halting them.
These shifts underscore a paradox. As economies in Africa grow at an average of
4 percent annually, internal inequities and external barriers are reshaping who
moves, why they move, and where they move to.
The implications of this reorientation extend far beyond the continent. This
year, sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population is expected to surpass 600 million,
with cities such as Lagos and Addis Ababa becoming magnets for young labor. Yet
40 percent of these migrants will lack formal access to jobs, testing social
systems and political stability.In Europe and North Africa, the tightening of
visa restrictions risks inflaming irregular migration through Libya or Tunisia,
while the US grapples with rising asylum claims from conflict-affected regions
such as Sudan.
Remittances, which surged to a value of $100 billion in 2024, now rival foreign
aid in helping to sustain fragile economies, binding diaspora success to
homeland survival.
As climate events and demographic surges — the median age in Africa is 19 —
intersect with geopolitical interests, the governance of migration will demand
more than simply deterrence. How nations respond could determine whether
mobility becomes a catalyst for equitable growth or a fault line in global
cooperation.
Contrary to pervasive stereotypes, Africa’s migration story is not one of
unchecked flight, but of strategic movement rooted in regional interdependence.
More than 85 percent of migrants from Middle Africa — encompassing Cameroon,
Chad and Gabon — relocate within the continent, often to neighboring states with
stronger labor markets. Ghana, for instance, now hosts 450,000 migrants,
primarily from Niger and Burkina Faso, drawn by its stable agricultural and
construction sectors.
This intracontinental flow is not merely survival-driven; it fuels economies.
Migrant remittances within Africa reached $53 billion in 2024, a 22 percent
increase since 2020, directly supporting small businesses and stabilizing rural
households.
These figures challenge the myth of a continent that is “emptying out.” Less
than 15 percent of African migrants venture beyond its borders; those who do
increasingly move through legal channels, such as temporary work visas from Gulf
states, which issued 320,000 permits to East Africans last year alone.
The decline in irregular migration to Europe, down 52 percent between 2023 and
2024, reveals both policy successes and unresolved risks.
Intracontinental migration offers a blueprint for harnessing the continent’s
demographic surge into sustainable economic momentum.
Morocco’s collaboration with the EU to fortify its borders helped reduce the
number of Mediterranean crossings from its coast by 75 percent, while Niger’s
crackdown on smuggling networks disrupted key Sahara routes.
Yet this enforcement-first approach has unintended consequences. Migrants now
take longer, deadlier paths: the figure for fatalities per attempted
Mediterranean crossing rose to 1 in 38 in 2024, up from 1 in 55 the previous
year.
Meanwhile, intra-African migration faces its own hurdles. The recent expulsion
of 12,000 Cameroonian refugees from Nigeria highlights tensions over scarce
resources, even as regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African
States push for visa-free labor mobility.
Such contradictions expose a central truth: migration cannot be “solved” by
walls alone.
Harnessing migration as a tool for development requires rethinking its drivers.
The working age population in Africa will grow by 70 million by 2030, yet formal
job creation lags, pushing 28 million young people into informal cross-border
trade annually. Programs such as Kenya’s digital jobs hubs, which train and
connect migrants with tech-sector gigs, show promise. Similar initiatives could
absorb 14 percent of the continent’s youth labor surplus by 2030.
In Europe and the US, investment in such models might prove more effective than
funding border drones. The multibillion-dollar African diaspora remittance
market, for instance, which already dwarfs foreign aid, should be harnessed by
coupling these flows with vocational partnerships to transform migration from a
crisis talking point into a cornerstone of equitable growth. The alternative —
ignoring the potential of structured mobility — risks amplifying the very
pressures that force desperate journeys.
A troubling and seemingly enduring trend lately has been Europe’s fixation on
sealing its borders, which has inadvertently reshaped migration governance even
within Africa, often with destabilizing consequences.
The $4.6 billion investment by the EU since 2021 to bolster surveillance and the
detention infrastructure in North Africa has turned countries such as Tunisia
and Mauritania into de facto border enforcers, providing them with incentives to
adopt hard-line stances. Tunisia, for example, expelled more than 1,200
Sub-Saharan migrants in 2023 alone, citing EU pressure to curb transit flows.
Such “outsourced deterrence” has rippled southward. Cameroon and Kenya recently
imposed restrictive visa policies targeting neighboring nationals, undermining
the African Union’s 2018 free movement protocol.
Such measures fracture regional labor markets, already strained by climate
shocks and unemployment, while fueling xenophobic rhetoric and driving local
tensions.
In South Africa, for instance, anti-immigrant violence surged by 30 percent
during 2024, as politicians framed migrants as competitors for scarce resources,
while ignoring their contributions to sectors such as retail, education,
craftsmanship, domestic work, and healthcare.
These dynamics expose a paradox: Efforts to reduce migration to Europe weaken
the very systems that could make intra-African movement a catalyst for
stability. The African Union’s vision for mobility as a tool for economic
integration, projected to boost gross domestic product by 2.5 percent in
participating states, is being dimmed by security-driven mimicry of Western
policies.
Meanwhile, aid from the EU and US earmarked for migration “management” in Africa
prioritizes drones over vocational training, despite evidence that every dollar
invested in education has an eightfold benefit in reducing emigration pressures.
The result is a lose-lose scenario; border crackdowns displace migration routes
into riskier corridors controlled by traffickers, while intra-African tensions
rise.
Efforts to address the root causes of migration require cooperation, not
containment. Without this, the Mediterranean moat will remain a symbol of
fractured priorities, not shared solutions.
Intracontinental migration, which accounts for more than three quarters of
African mobility, offers a blueprint for harnessing the continent’s demographic
surge into sustainable economic momentum. Yet realizing this requires the
transcending of fragmented policies. The African Union’s free movement protocol
remains hamstrung by border restrictions and politicized xenophobia.
Scalable solutions, such as digital jobs platforms that align labor demand with
youth migration, or regional visa waivers tied to skills-sharing, could convert
mobility from a perceived liability into an engine for economic rebirth and
collective growth.
**Hafed Al-Ghwell is a senior fellow and executive director of the North Africa
Initiative at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. X: @HafedAlGhwell