English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For February 13/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
When you have done all that you were ordered
to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have
done
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17/05-10/:’The
apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’The Lord replied, ‘If you had
faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be
uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you. ‘Who among you would
say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the
field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not
rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while
I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”?Do you thank the slave for doing
what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to
do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have
done!” ’
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 12-13/2025
Gobran Bassil & Micheal Aoun Are Actually The Enemies Of The Lebanese
Christians/Elias Bejjani/February 12/2025
Theoretically, Nawaf Salam’s Interview Was Encouraging… But Doubt and Fear
Remain Regarding Implementation/Elias Bejjani/February 11/ 2025
It Is Astonishing to See a Rational Lebanese Praises Michel Aoun & Fails To See
Him For What He Truly Is/Elias Bejjani/February 11, 2025
Lebanon rejects further Israeli delay in withdrawing forces from southern areas
Southern Lebanon: Will Israel Extend Its Military Presence?
Joseph Aoun says Israel must withdraw from Lebanon by next week's deadline
Hariri Returns to Lebanon, Holds Key Meetings: “Hear Me on Friday”
Roads Leading to Parliament Open After 5 Years of Closure
Former Prime Ministers Express Support for New Government
US Congressman Darin LaHood to This Is Beirut: Lebanon's New Political Path Is a
Turning Point for Change in a Divided Nation
US official says Israel asked for Lebanon pullout extension but won't get it
Lebanon rejects Israel request to keep troops in south till Feb. 28
Ortagus due in Lebanon this week to discuss Israel's withdrawal
Salam says 'state must extend authority' to all areas
Avichay Adraee claims Iran’s Quds Force, Hezbollah smuggle arms funds through
Beirut Airport
Israeli army establishes five military sites in Lebanon: Israel's Kan 11 channel
PM Nawaf Salam's vision: A government to enforce the full Taif Agreement
Jaber to Arabs: Lebanon to become state of law
Bassil declares 'positive opposition', accuses Salam of misrepresenting
Christians
FPM hits back at Salam over representation standards
New Lebanese Govt to Steer Clear of Hezbollah’s ‘Army, People, Resistance’
Equation
AMCD Applauds Special Envoy Ortagus’ Statement Regarding Hezbollah
Syria’s crackdown on smuggling sparks tensions with Hezbollah and Lebanon/Ahmad
Sharawi/ FDD's Long War Journal/February 12/2025
Hezbollah’s Legacy in Syria: Drug Labs and Counterfeit Dollar Factories/Asharq
Al-Awsat Accompanies a Security Team on a Border Sweep with Lebanon/Al-Qusayr,
Homs/Kamal Sheikho/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 12/ 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 12-13/2025
Iran's Khamenei cites need to further develop Iran's military after Trump
threats
Iran extends amnesty to journalists who covered Amini’s death
Egypt president, Jordan king stress ‘unity’ of positions on Gaza
Trump insists US to own Gaza, Jordan king pushes back
Trump pressure on Gazans and regional powers might lead to grave conflicts, says
Arab League chief
Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages aren’t released
Saturday
Hamas says group’s delegation in Cairo for talks on Gaza ceasefire
124 journalists killed, most by Israel, in deadliest year for reporters
Too few tents entering Gaza threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening
Egypt Plans to Offer ‘Comprehensive Proposal’ to Rebuild Gaza While Palestinians
Remain in Strip
Senior Arab Officials Warn That Trump Gaza Plan Would Inflame Middle East
Sisi, King Abdullah Agree that Gaza Should Be Rebuilt Without Displacing
Palestinians
Hamas Delegation Arrives in Cairo, Islamic Jihad Ties Hostages' Fate to
Netanyahu's Actions
Israeli Military Calls up Reservists as Uncertainty Over Gaza Ceasefire Builds
GCC Emphasizes Steadfast Support for Palestinian Rights at World Governments
Summit
Trump Says he and Putin Have Agreed to Begin Negotiations on Ending War
Trump Believes Nuclear Deal Possible with ‘Scared’ and ‘Weakened’ Iran
Syria’s Interim FM Says Russia-Iran Ties to Assad Are an Open Wound After War
Putin Has 'Constructive' Conversation in First Call with Syria's New Leader,
Kremlin Says
Syrian FM says Russia, Iran have sent new govt ‘positive indications’
Syria's interim foreign minister says Russia-Iran ties to Assad are an open
wound after war/
Trump says he discussed ending Ukraine war with Russia’s Putin
White House correspondents protest access denial over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ naming
issue
UK Muslim, Jewish leaders present reconciliation accord to King Charles after
summit
Indonesia, Turkiye agree to set up drone factory during Erdogan’s visit
OPEC Sticks to 2025, 2026 Global Oil Demand Growth Forecasts
Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair says Trump's annexation talk is not a "real
threat"
Saudi Navy Participates in 'Naseem Al Bahr 15' Exercise with Pakistan
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 11-12/2025
Hamas Must Relinquish Power/Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/February
12/2025
Gaza: Between the Departure of Hamas or the Displacement of Its Residents/
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
We need to do a better job choosing national leaders/David Goldie/Special to
Financial Post/ February 12, 2025
Death Match: China's CCP vs. America's Democracy/Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone
Institute/February 12, 2025
Vienna Spits in the Eyes of Poland, Insults Its Historic Saviors to Appease Its
Historic Persecutors/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/February 12, 2025
The Paris Conference on Syria: Coordination and a Roadmap Are Needed/Devorah
Margolin, Souhire Medini/The Washington Institute./February 12/2025
Ukraine Can Help Dismantle Russia’s Influence in the Middle East/Anna
Borshchevskaya//The Washington Institute./February 12/2025
A Palestinian national unity government is urgently needed/Daoud Kuttab/Arab
News/February 12, 2025
EU resets relations with AI industry, but at what price?/Mohamed Chebaro/Arab
News/February 12, 2025
Syria’s reintegration into the Middle East is underway/Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab
News/February 12, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 12-13/2025
Gobran Bassil & Micheal Aoun Are Actually The
Enemies Of The Lebanese Christians
Elias Bejjani/February 12/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/140118/
Gebran Bassil, Michel Aoun, and the swarm of opportunists surrounding them, are
the last people on Earth who have any right or legitimacy to claim the
representation of Lebanese Christians or their rights. Someone should do Bassil
a favor and tell him that Lucifer, the king of the devils himself might
represent Lebanon’s Christians rights and governing positions a million times
more than he, his father-in-law Micheal Aoun, and their masters the Iranian
Mullahs and the toppled Syrian Assad, the butcher.
Bassil needs to drop the charade and stop masquerading as a defender of
Christian rights. His relentless media propaganda, filled with lies and
heresies, must come to an end. Lebanese Christians deserve a break from his
childish stupidity and shameless deception.
A free piece of advice: Gebran Bassil should back off and not forget—or pretend
to forget—that he is the only Lebanese Christian and Maronite in history to be
officially sanctioned for corruption by the United States. With that in mind, he
should drop the so-called "Christian rights" issue from his agenda, step aside,
and spare the people from his endless chatter and nonsense.
Theoretically, Nawaf Salam’s Interview Was Encouraging… But Doubt and Fear
Remain Regarding Implementation
Elias Bejjani/February 11/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/140093/
For years, I have never trusted the Nasserist Arab nationalist Nawaf Salam.
Today, despite his verbal constitutional and legal approaches in his interview
with TL , he has neither reassured me nor dispelled my doubts and fears. The
real judgment on his mission as as the PM will be based on actions, not words.
It Is Astonishing to See a Rational Lebanese Praises Michel Aoun & Fails To See
Him For What He Truly Is
Elias Bejjani/February 11, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/140059/
Michel Aoun, by undeniable facts and evidence, is corrupt, a Judas, and an enemy
to his homeland. He abandoned his slogans, betrayed his people, and traded
Lebanon’s sovereignty for a presidential chair on which he was nothing more than
a ghost for six years. He built his popularity on opposing the Syrian occupation
and attacking it, only to later whitewash it as an “experience marred by some
mistakes.” Then, he signed a pact with Hezbollah—the party of Satan—dedicated to
erasing Lebanon, its identity, and its history.
We, as Maronites, have never known a leader or politician who has harmed us,
humiliated our history, and distorted our national conscience more than he has.
It is truly baffling that any sovereign-minded Lebanese, or any rational
person—could see Aoun, his son-in-law, or anyone of the opportunists who
remained with him after his disgraceful pact with Nasrallah, as anything other
than a Lasiffors of destruction, perhaps even more catastrophic than him by
light-years.
Lebanon rejects further
Israeli delay in withdrawing forces from southern areas
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/February 12, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday called on Portuguese Foreign
Minister Paulo Rangel to “ensure the EU countries pressure Israel to complete
its withdrawal from the southern border area within the set deadline of the 18th
of this month.”Aoun said that “Lebanon supports the Arab Peace Initiative and
rejects any proposals that would lead to any form of Palestinian displacement
from their land or undermine their legitimate rights as enshrined in United
Nations resolutions.”Six days before the full withdrawal of Israeli forces that
had advanced into southern Lebanon — following a 24-day extension of the
withdrawal deadline, with US approval — the committee overseeing the monitoring
of the ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701 was informed that the
Israeli army is asking to remain in some border areas until Feb. 28. Lebanon
however, has informed the committee of its firm rejection of this request.
Morgan Ortagus, US deputy ambassador for the Middle East, is expected to return
to Beirut on a second visit as part of her current mission to follow up on the
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon on Feb. 18. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu during a recent meeting at the White House asked US President Donald
Trump to delay the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon for a few weeks.
Additionally, he sought to maintain Israeli control over five key hills: Jabal
Blat, Labouneh, Aziziyah, Awida, and Hamames. Lebanon’s efforts to ensure
Israel’s complete withdrawal from its territory by the specified deadline are
accompanied by a proposal for UNIFIL forces to be stationed in coordination with
the Lebanese army to take control of the said hills.
Maj. Gen. Hassan Ouda, acting chief of Lebanon's army, met Lt. Gen. Aroldo
Lazaro, commander of UNIFIL, and their “discussions focused on the efforts being
made to implement Resolution 1701,” according to an army statement. The
authorities in Lebanon are awaiting the Trump administration to fulfill its
commitment regarding the scheduled withdrawal of Israeli forces. Last week,
Ortagus said in a statement from Beirut that her country “is dedicated to
ensuring that Israel completes its withdrawal on the specified
timeline.”Meanwhile, Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli military,
issued an urgent warning on social media to the residents of southern Lebanon.
“The Israeli army remains deployed in the field following the extension of the
agreement’s implementation period. Therefore, you are prohibited from moving
south or returning to your homes in the areas in question until further notice.
Anyone attempting to move south is at risk,” he posted. On Wednesday, Israeli
forces continued bombing border villages in the eastern and central Gaza Strip
and set houses ablaze. Additionally, Israeli forces carried out bulldozing
operations on the outskirts of the town of Al-Dahira and used cranes to install
concrete slabs at the technical fence of the Blue Line. Also on Wednesday, a
young man, identified as Khalil Fayyad, succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted by
Israeli forces on Jan. 26 in his hometown of Aitaroun during residents’ attempts
to return to the town.
Southern Lebanon: Will
Israel Extend Its Military Presence?
This Is Beirut/February 12/2025
As the deadline approaches for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, a
fragile calm persists in the region. The Ceasefire Monitoring Committee has been
informed that the Israeli army has requested to remain in certain positions in
southern Lebanon until February 28. The Lebanese side has firmly rejected this
request. Additionally, according to information reported by the local channel
LBCI, the ceasefire monitoring committee's meeting, initially scheduled for
Thursday, has been postponed to Friday.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Israeli army has conducted operations
involving the explosion and burning of houses in the town of Odaisseh, South
Lebanon.
Israeli media outlets have reported on Wednesday that Israel has requested
authorization from the United States to maintain a military presence at five
points along the border between southern Lebanon and northern Israel, a request
that Washington has reportedly denied. According to Israeli Channel 12, Israel
has provided "evidence" to US authorities regarding the Lebanese Army's
inefficiency in controlling Hezbollah's activities, which would facilitate the
rapid redeployment and military strengthening of the Iran-backed group.
Furthermore, Israeli media have reported that the Israeli Army does not plan to
withdraw from several strategic sites in southern Lebanon, arguing that this
decision aims to ensure the security of northern Israel amid ongoing tensions at
the border. This development follows a request by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the
White House last Tuesday. Netanyahu had suggested extending the Israeli Army's
withdrawal from southern Lebanon by several weeks. In this context, and as
suggested by Israeli sources, Washington might agree to extend the deadline for
the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, in light of concerns about the collapse of
the ceasefire agreement.
Despite these concerns, a report from other Israeli sources indicates that the
US administration insists on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern
Lebanon before February 18, a deadline that has already been extended
previously, as the ceasefire agreement initially expired on January 26.
Washington seems to believe that the Lebanese Army has been sufficiently
deployed and that its complete repositioning at the border should occur before
the deadline. A spokesperson for the US National Security Council stated that
the Israeli withdrawal will proceed on schedule and that no extension request
has been made by Netanyahu's government. In the meantime, Israeli forces are
expected to continue their withdrawal in the coming days.
In this transition, the Lebanese Army has undertaken deployments in several
southern Lebanese localities following the departure of the Israeli Army. The
sectors of Rab al-Thalathine, Tallouseh and Bani Hayyan have been secured, as
reported by the National News Agency. The Lebanese armed forces are also
conducting patrols to facilitate the return of residents and to detonate
unexploded ordnance in the area.
For his part, the Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Hassan Audeh,
inspected the Army's deployment centers in the eastern sector on Wednesday.
Local authorities have advised the population to adhere to safety instructions
and avoid venturing into these areas until they are deemed safe. In effect since
November 27, 2024, the ceasefire ended the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah
that began with Hamas' offensive in October 2023. These events culminated in a
large-scale war in Lebanon starting September 23, 2023. While the situation
appears relatively calm today, uncertainty remains regarding the region's future
and the fragility of the ceasefire agreement.
Joseph Aoun says Israel must withdraw from Lebanon by next
week's deadline
Associated Press/February 12/2025
President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that Israel must withdraw all its forces
from Lebanon by next week’s deadline. In a statement, Aoun denied media reports
of another extension to the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. The U.S.-
and French-brokered truce, reached in late November, gave Israel 60 days to
withdraw while Hezbollah repositioned north of the Litani River. The deadline
was later extended to Feb 18. Israeli and Lebanese media, citing anonymous local
and Western sources, reported Wednesday that the withdrawal deadline had been
pushed to Feb. 28.
Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier at low altitude over Beirut and other
areas on Wednesday — the first such incident since the ceasefire.
Hariri Returns to Lebanon, Holds Key Meetings: “Hear Me on
Friday”
This Is Beirut/February 12/2025
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of his father’s assassination on February 14,
former Prime Minister and Future Movement leader Saad Hariri held a series of
high-profile political meetings on Wednesday. Hariri, who arrived in Beirut on
Tuesday evening, met with President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, where he
congratulated him on his election and discussed the latest political
developments. Upon leaving, Hariri declined to make any official statements,
telling reporters, “I will meet you on Friday.”Hariri also visited Grand Mufti
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian at Dar al-Fatwa. As he was leaving, he told the
gathered journalists who were bombarding him with questions: “I miss you, and I
am waiting for you in the (Martyre) Square, so listen to me on Friday.”At Ain
al-Tineh, he held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Later, he met, at
the Grand Serail, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, congratulating him on forming the
new government and wishing him success in his tenure. He received an official
welcome, with guards saluting him upon his arrival. Hariri continued his tour by
visiting outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, then former Prime Minister Tammam
Salam at his residence.Earlier he met with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa
Johnson, in his residence in downtown Beirut, in the presence of Hariri
Foundation President Bahia Hariri.
Roads Leading to Parliament Open After 5 Years of Closure
Lyne Sammouri/This Is Beirut/February 12/2025
The roads leading to the Lebanese parliament in Downtown Beirut are open again.
Former Prime Ministers Express Support for New Government
This Is Beirut/February 12/2025
Former Prime Ministers Najib Mikati, Tammam Salam and Fouad Siniora visited
Baabda Palace on Wednesday, a day after the formation of a new government headed
by their successor Nawaf Salam. Expressing his full support for the new Cabinet,
Mikati said after the meeting that discussions with President Joseph Aoun
centered on the security situation at the border and Israel’s withdrawal from
southern Lebanon by February 18, as stipulated under the prolonged ceasefire
agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. For his part, Siniora expressed optimism
about the country's future, welcoming Nawaf Salam's success in forming the
government. “A return to political life is now possible after major violations
of the Constitution and the Taif Agreement have been committed,” he said.
Commenting on the economic situation, the former prime minister stressed, “There
is no bankrupt state, but rather a bankrupt administration, and there are many
possibilities for resolving the multiple crises affecting the country.” “We are
going through a difficult period, and we must manage the expectations of the
Lebanese as best we can and set our priorities,” he insisted, emphasizing the
need for a complete withdrawal of the Israeli Army from southern
Lebanon.President
Aoun Requests Help from the European Union
In a related development, President Aoun has called on the countries of the
European Union to press for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
before the February 18 deadline. In a meeting at Baabda Palace on Wednesday
morning with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Aoun declared that
Lebanon “supports the Arab peace initiative and rejects any move to provoke the
forced displacement of Palestinians or to violate their inherent rights,
enshrined in UN resolutions.”
US Congressman Darin LaHood to This Is Beirut: Lebanon's New Political Path Is a
Turning Point for Change in a Divided Nation
Amal Chmouny/This Is Beirut/February 12/2025
US Congressman Darin LaHood expressed a hopeful perspective on Lebanon,
recognizing the complicated realities the country faces. He stressed the
importance of future transformation and strategic planning, advocating for a
proactive stance in addressing Lebanon's challenges.
LaHood emerges as a voice of optimism. His recent remarks to This is Beirut
emphasized the critical juncture at which Lebanon finds itself, offering
insights into the potential for change within the nation. In his interview,
LaHood highlighted a potential roadmap that could lead Lebanon toward a more
stable future through a blend of advocacy for strong international support and a
call for responsible governance. He sheds light on the interplay of regional
dynamics, Hezbollah's influence and the urgent need for rebuilding efforts.
LaHood's perspective provides a glimpse into the possibilities for this
resilient nation.
LaHood shared his insights on the current political landscape in Lebanon,
marking this moment as a pivotal chapter in the nation's history. “Events like
this happen once in 50 years,” LaHood emphasized, underscoring the importance of
seizing the opportunity to turn Lebanon's fortunes around. “I truly believe
Lebanon is headed in the right direction.”The Congressman expressed optimism
following the recent election of a US-backed president in Lebanon, the
nomination of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the formation of a new Lebanese
government, which he viewed as a significant development amidst a complex
regional tapestry. Electing President Joseph Aoun “is a tremendous opportunity
for Lebanon, a country that has faced numerous challenges over the last 25
years. Existential events have a way of shifting the trajectory of nations,”
LaHood remarked.
Highlighting key turning points, he referenced the recent developments involving
Hezbollah, notably “the taking out of Nasrallah and the decapitation of the
entire Hezbollah leadership,” which he deemed monumental. Moreover, he pointed
out that the swift fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has a direct impact
on Lebanon's situation. “These events create a window for Lebanon to move
positively,” he said, stressing the critical role of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
in maintaining national unity amidst turmoil.
As Co-Chair of the US-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, a bipartisan group in the US
Congress that advocates for strong US-Lebanon relations, LaHood noted the
importance of educating his congressional peers about Lebanon's strategic
significance. “Lebanon is complicated; many outsiders struggle to understand its
diverse political parties and religious factions,” he explained. He expressed
confidence in the “Commander” Joseph Aoun, describing him as “non-corrupt, a
sovereigntist and independent.” LaHood praised Aoun's experience leading the LAF,
which he believes is foundational to keeping the country cohesive.
LaHood discussed US involvement and outlined a multi-faceted approach to support
Lebanon's new administration. “We have the opportunity to enhance the assistance
that Lebanon desperately needs,” he said. Among his main recommendations was the
continued support for the LAF. “Particularly in the South, which has been
devastated by the conflict with Israel, we need to provide more equipment for
LAF,” he stated. During his recent visit to Lebanon, LaHood heard directly from
“Commander” Aoun and the military officials about the urgent need for more
Humvees and other vehicles to enable the LAF to operate efficiently across the
country. LaHood also emphasized the necessity of a rebuilding effort in southern
Lebanon, suggesting collaboration with Gulf partners such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar
and the UAE to expedite this process. “It's vital to fill the void left by
Hezbollah in terms of social services,” LaHood pointed out, referring to
essential areas like healthcare, education, food and housing. “We must ensure
that the funds directed towards rebuilding do not fall into corrupt hands,” he
added.As President Aoun's administration takes shape, LaHood underscored the
importance of appointing ministers who genuinely prioritize Lebanon's best
interests. “Moving forward, we need a government committed to economic
stability, judicial integrity and governance free from corruption,” he
concluded.
US official says Israel
asked for Lebanon pullout extension but won't get it
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
Israel asked the Trump administration on Monday for another extension to the
deadline for the Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but won’t get
it, a U.S. official told The Times of Israel. The response from Washington is
that for now, it plans to stick to the February 18 deadline, said the U.S.
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday to discuss the matter.
U.S. deputy Mideast envoy Morgan Ortagus traveled to Lebanon, and then Israel,
over the weekend to survey the progress of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire between
Israel and Hezbollah that ended a two-month all-out war. Ortagus told reporters
that the Trump administration views February 18 as a “firm date” for the
completion of Israel’s withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had
asked U.S. President Donald Trump to support a further extension of the Israeli
army’s deployment in Lebanon, Channel 12 reported Monday. According to the
report, Israel is seeking to keep an army presence at five key border points to
enable the maintenance of a buffer zone.
The report said that Israel has reiterated to the U.S. its claim that the
Lebanese Army is not effectively deployed in south Lebanon, as the terms of the
ceasefire said it would, and is not preventing Hezbollah from reorganizing.
Israel has warned that Hezbollah aims to return to the border area as soon as
Israeli troops depart. The ceasefire brokered by the Biden administration in
late November was originally supposed to see an Israeli withdrawal from southern
Lebanon by late January. Two days before that deadline, Netanyahu said that
Israel would not be withdrawing by that date, accusing Lebanon of not meeting
its obligations under the agreement. Hours before the deadline was set to
expire, the U.S. announced an extension until February 18, maintaining that the
Lebanese Army had yet to sufficiently deploy in lieu of the Israeli army to
ensure that Hezbollah could not regain a foothold along Israel’s northern
border. Both Israel and Lebanon agreed to the new date. Under the terms of the
original deal, Lebanon’s military was to deploy in the south alongside U.N.
peacekeepers as Israel withdrew over 60 days. Hezbollah was also to pull back
north of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border — and
dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel’s military
says its forces have continued to uncover and seize Hezbollah weapons in
prohibited areas and that the Lebanese Army is not keeping its part of the deal.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is theoretically entitled to act against
immediate threats posed by Hezbollah but must forward complaints about
longer-term threats to an oversight committee composed of representatives from
the U.S., France, Lebanon, Israel and the international observer force UNIFIL.
Lebanon rejects Israel request to keep troops in south till Feb. 28
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
The ceasefire monitoring committee has been informed that the Israeli army is
asking to stay in some points in south Lebanon until February 28, LBCI TV
reported on Wednesday. “The Lebanese side has categorically rejected this
request,” LBCI added.
Al-Jadeed television also said that Lebanon has rejected the request, adding
that Lebanon has suggested that UNIFIL forces or Lebanese Army and committee
monitors deploy in the five points mentioned by Israel. “The discussions are
still ongoing,” Al-Jadeed added.
Ortagus due in Lebanon this week to discuss Israel's
withdrawal
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
U.S. deputy special envoy for Middle East peace Morgan Ortagus is due to visit
Beirut this week, local media reports said, in her second visit to Lebanon since
her appointment. The visit will focus on Israel’s withdrawal from southern
Lebanon on Feb. 18, al-Joumhouria newspaper said Wednesday.
The troops withdrawal, initially set for Jan. 26, was extended to Feb. 18, with
Israel reportedly asking for another extension to the deadline. In her previous
visit last week, Ortagus hoped Lebanese authorities were committed to making
sure that Hezbollah isn't a part of the new government in any form, adding that
she is "grateful" to "ally Israel" for defeating Hezbollah. Her remarks drew
backlash from many in Lebanon who saw them as meddling in internal Lebanese
affairs, while Lebanon’s presidency said that Ortagus expressed her point of
view, and that the Presidency is not concerned with it. Despite her remarks,
Hezbollah did engage in negotiations with the new prime minister over the Shiite
Muslim seats in government, as per Lebanon’s power-sharing system. Ortagus, a
former U.S. State Department spokesperson and U.S. Navy Reserve officer,
recently assumed the role of deputy special envoy for Middle East peace in
President Donald Trump’s administration, replacing Amos Hochstein, who played a
key role in brokering the November 27 ceasefire that ended more than a year of
hostilities, including two months of all-out war. Under the deal, Lebanon's
military was to deploy in the south alongside U.N. peacekeepers as Israel
withdrew over 60 days. Hezbollah was also to pull back north of the Litani River
and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Ortagus said
last week that Washington was "very committed" to the new withdrawal date.
Israel is meanwhile reportedly seeking to further extend the withdrawal deadline
date and to keep an army presence at five key border points to enable the
maintenance of a buffer zone. Lebanon has rejected the request, suggesting that
UNIFIL forces or the Lebanese Army and committee monitors deploy in the five
points mentioned by Israel, local media reports said.
Salam says 'state must extend authority' to all areas
Agence France Presse/February 12, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said overnight that the state must be in control of
all Lebanese territory, in a televised interview days before a deadline to
implement the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement. Salam's government, which
was officially formed on Saturday after more than two years of caretaker
leadership, faces the daunting task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire and
rebuilding a war-scarred country. The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire has been in
place since November 27, after more than a year of hostilities including two
months of all-out war. "When it comes to the areas south of the Litani and north
of the Litani, across the entire area of Lebanon... what should be implemented
is... the Lebanese state must extend its authority through its own forces across
the (Lebanese) territory," Salam told journalists in the interview aired on Tele
Liban. "We want the Israeli withdrawal to happen... and we will continue to
mobilize all diplomatic and political efforts until this withdrawal is
achieved," he added. Under the deal, Lebanon's military was to deploy in the
south alongside U.N. peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day
period, which has been extended until February 18. Hezbollah was also meant to
leave its positions in the south, near the Israeli border, over that period.
Salam said that World Bank estimates had put the cost of reconstruction of
war-hit areas of Lebanon "at between $8 and $9 billion, but today it has risen
to between $10 and $11 billion."
Avichay Adraee claims
Iran’s Quds Force, Hezbollah smuggle arms funds through Beirut Airport
LBCI/February 12, 2025
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed in a post on his X account that
Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah have been using Beirut–Rafic Hariri
International Airport in recent weeks to smuggle funds for Hezbollah’s armament.
He stated, "Over the past weeks, Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah have been using
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport through civilian flights in an attempt
to smuggle money allocated for Hezbollah’s armament, with the aim of carrying
out attacks against Israel.""The Israeli army remains in contact with the
ceasefire monitoring mechanism and continuously conveys certain information to
disrupt these transfers. Despite the efforts made, our assessments indicate that
some of these money-smuggling attempts have succeeded," he added. Adraee
concluded, "The Israeli army will not allow Hezbollah to arm itself and will act
through all available means to enforce the ceasefire understandings in order to
ensure the security of Israel’s citizens."
Israeli army establishes five military sites in Lebanon:
Israel's Kan 11 channel
LBCI/February 12, 2025
The Israeli army has begun constructing five military sites inside Lebanese
territory, according to a report by Israel's Kan 11 channel. The move comes
after Israel secured U.S. approval to maintain its forces at these locations
even after the test period for the ceasefire agreement expires next Tuesday. In
recent days, Israel had requested an additional 10-day extension of the
ceasefire test period from the United States, but the request was denied.
Instead, Israel proposed an alternative plan—keeping troops stationed at five
observation sites—which Washington approved. As these sites are being
established, Israeli forces are set to withdraw from Shiite villages in the
area, including those in the eastern sector and Mount Hermon. According to
Israeli military sources, operations inside the villages have been completed,
but a "transitional phase" is needed before a complete withdrawal. Meanwhile,
Israeli security agencies have observed Hezbollah rebuilding its
intelligence-gathering network and reactivating its bases and mobilization
areas, even in regions south of the Litani River, which would be a violation of
the ceasefire agreement. The newly established military sites are intended to
allow Israel to monitor the implementation of the agreement and ensure that the
Lebanese army prevents Hezbollah from operating in the border region.
Israeli army builds new military sites in Lebanon, no plans
to withdraw: Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
LBCI/February 12, 2025
Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Israeli army is
constructing five new military sites in southern Lebanon and has no plans to
withdraw.
PM Nawaf Salam's vision: A government to enforce the full
Taif Agreement
LBCI/February 12, 2025
Lebanon's next parliamentary elections are expected to take place in May 2026.
What Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meant by calling his government a "foundational
government" is that it will be responsible for fully implementing the Taif
Agreement, which was signed in Saudi Arabia in 1989. This time, the agreement
would be enforced entirely after successive local authorities manipulated its
terms under international watch. The failure to implement the Taif Agreement is
tied to several factors, chief among them Syria's complete control over Lebanon
from 1989 until its withdrawal in 2005. This control allowed Damascus to
manipulate the structure of Lebanon's parliament, as Salam pointed out. The
number of parliamentary seats was increased from 108 to 128, securing additional
seats that cemented Syria's influence in the country. However, Syria's grip on
the agreement did not emerge in a vacuum. A significant international
development occurred after the accord was signed in 1989, marking the beginning
of Lebanon's post-war state-building phase. On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded
Kuwait. The United States responded by forming an international military
coalition to liberate Kuwait, asking several Arab nations, including Syria, to
participate. Syrian President Hafez al-Assad joined the coalition, and in
return, Washington allowed him to exert control over Lebanon. This marked the
turning point when the Taif Agreement was effectively overturned, and Syria
became Lebanon's de facto ruler. This status remained until the assassination of
Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Syria's military subsequently withdrew from
Lebanon, ushering in a new phase for the country. However, successive Lebanese
governments disregarded the Taif Agreement and prioritized their own interests
over both the nation's stability and the agreement itself. This pattern
continued until the Doha Agreement of 2008, which dealt another blow to the Taif
Accord by introducing the obstructing third in the cabinet and reinforcing the
1960 electoral law for parliamentary elections. Today, significant developments
within Lebanon and across the Middle East present an opportunity to create real
change by returning to the Taif Agreement and restoring the state's authority.
Prime Minister Salam emphasized this—adhering to the constitution and fully
implementing the Taif Accord. Moreover, unlike in the past, Salam and his
government now have international backing.
Jaber to Arabs: Lebanon to become state of law
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Wednesday thanked Speaker Nabih Berri for
backing his nomination to the post and President Joseph Aoun and PM Nawaf Salam
for their “confidence.”“The country is in a very difficult situation and
numerous missions are ahead of us,” Jaber said during a handover ceremony at the
ministry. Calling for “cooperation to fulfill the missions,” Jaber said the new
government will follow “the path of reform.”Addressing Arab countries, the
minister added: “Lebanon has begun the comeback journey to become a state of law
and we ask for the support of Arab countries in this difficult period.”He also
addressed the international community by saying that the government “will be
committed to carrying out the necessary economic and financial reforms so that
Lebanon can regain local and international confidence.”
Bassil declares 'positive opposition', accuses Salam of
misrepresenting Christians
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has announced that the FPM will
practice “positive opposition” in the face of the new government, noting that it
will follow up on a number of files it had “struggled” for. Wishing success for
the new ministers, Bassil lamented that the FPM “faced an internal and external
siege” that “prevented it from implementing” its plans during Michel Aoun’s
presidential term. “It paid the price for preserving national unity and
refraining from plunging the country into civil war,” Bassil said. Bassil also
accused Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of “selectivity” in picking the ministers of
the new government and of misrepresenting Christians in the cabinet line-up.
“The Shiite Duo named the Shiite ministers, the Progressive Socialist Party
named the Druze ministers and the PM named the Sunni ministers, although the
representative Christian forces were excluded … As for Christians, the Lebanese
Forces named one or at most two ministers, the Tashnag Party named one partisan
minister, the Kataeb Party named one minister after an agreement, while four out
of the eight remaining Christians ministers were named by the premier,” Bassil
decried. The FPM chief also objected against the nature of the ministerial
portfolios that were allocated to Christians. “There was a bad distribution of
portfolios in a manner that reflected great injustice against Christians,”
Bassil said, adding that “Muslims obtained five medium-caliber portfolios
compared to one given to Christians, whereas Christians got five light-caliber
portfolios compared to one alloted to Muslims.” “Shiites named politicians or
politicized ministers, Druze named their people and the premier named
politicians and politicized figures, whereas Christians were prohibited from
naming a single minister suspected of having a political belonging, except for
one that went to Tashnag with the aim of political harm,” the FPM chief added.
FPM hits back at Salam over representation standards
Naharnet/February 12, 2025
The Free Patriotic Movement responded Wednesday to remarks voiced overnight by
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam regarding the negotiations that resulted in the
exclusion of the FPM from the new government. “Mr. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam
said that the only standard that the FPM insisted on was the process of counting
the members of the parliamentary blocs, but the truth is that the FPM’s only
standard was fairness and treating everyone equally,” the FPM said. “The
premier’s standard was selectivity and double standards as to partisans,
politicized figures, experts, the sizes of representation, the right to making
nominations, and the distribution of portfolios, especially as to
misrepresenting sects, components and blocs,” the FPM added. Salam had said in a
TV interview overnight that some blocs tried to “impose their standards” on him,
such as “the size of representation and number of ministers.”“The FPM had a
problem regarding the size of its representation, due to the difference between
the number of its current MPs and the number of its (expelled) MPs, in addition
to the number of the votes it received in the elections, but I did not manage to
understand these calculations,” Salam added.
New Lebanese Govt to Steer
Clear of Hezbollah’s ‘Army, People, Resistance’ Equation
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
The new Lebanese government held its first meeting on Tuesday, forming a
committee tasked with drafting its ministerial statement that is expected to
drop the “army, people and resistance” term that justifies Hezbollah’s weapons
possession in Lebanon. Ministerial statements in recent years have all endorsed
this equation, but with the Iran-backed party severely weakened after the
Israeli war on Lebanon and its grip over political life slipping, the term is
expected to be dropped. There is optimism that the statement could be completed
within days and that it would focus on President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech
and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s remarks after he was named to his post. Aoun
had stressed during his speech the need to limit the possession of weapons in
Lebanon to the state. The committee is comprised of Salam, his deputy Tarek
Mitri, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh,
Industry Minister Issa al-Khoury and Transportation and Public Works Minister
Fayez Rasamny. It held its first meeting on Tuesday. The statement is expected
to be “brief and to the point.” Chairing the first cabinet meeting at the Baabda
presidential palace, Aoun underscored the importance of reforms in Lebanon. “It
is important to restore trust, starting with fighting corruption and carrying
out administrative, judicial and security appointments,” he told the ministers.
On Tuesday evening, Salam said during a televised interview, which included
Asharq Al-Awsat, that the ministerial statement must address all challenges,
starting with the continued Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories, as well
as reconstruction of areas devastated by the war. Responding to a question by
Asharq Al-Awsat, he declared that the statement must “emphasize the full
implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 and ceasefire
understandings.”It must also commit to the reconstruction process, he added.
Other challenges include financial, economic and political reforms, he went on
to say, stressing that his government will be focused on “reform and salvation”.
Lebanon wants Israel to fully withdraw from Lebanese territories and “we will
continue to resort to diplomacy and politics to make sure that happens” before
the February 18 deadline for the pullout, Salam stressed. He underlined the
importance of diplomatic pressure on Israel, stressing that Lebanon is
“performing its role in full by deploying the army and seriously approaching the
implementation of resolution 1701. We have not shirked away from our
responsibilities.”
AMCD Applauds Special Envoy Ortagus’ Statement Regarding
Hezbollah
Feb. 10, 2025
The Deputy Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, began
her role with a visit to Lebanon where she delivered a strong statement on
behalf of the new administration: We “are committed to making sure that
Hizballah is not a part of this government in any form, and that Hizballah
remains disarmed and militarily defeated.” Ortagus praised Israel for its role
in defeating the Iranian proxy in Lebanon and President Trump for reviving the
“maximum pressure” campaign to reduce Iranian revenue to the point it can no
longer fund terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Said Ortagus: “[W]e have set clear red lines from the United States that they
won’t be able to terrorize the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a
part of the government. So, the end of Hizballah’s reign of terror in Lebanon
and around the world has started, and it’s over.”
Ortagus also indicated that agreement has been reached for the Israeli Defense
Force to redeploy to South Lebanon on February 18 in cooperation with the
Lebanese Armed Forces. This will ensure that Hezbollah does not regroup in those
areas.
Mohammad Raad, head of the “Loyalty to the Resistance” bloc, the political wing
of Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament, said the US envoy’s statement was “full
of hate and irresponsibility. It targeted a Lebanese component that is an
integral part of the national agreement and Lebanese political life that stood
up to Israeli aggression and emerged victorious,” “{Ortagus’] statements were
met with a wave of Lebanese popular support on social media,” wrote AMCD Senior
Advisor, Dr. Walid Phares on X. “Immediately after a statement by the Lebanese
Presidency claimed Ortagus statements against Hezbollah ‘represent only her
opinion.’ Ms. Ortagus is appointed directly by the President and represents the
will and position of President Trump which IS United States policy. Lebanese
officials are being exposed for the first time to the Trump change of policies.
They need to get an update about US policy regarding Hezbollah and position
themselves accordingly.”Phares continued, “The mistakes made by ‘March 14’
coalition politicians by including the Khomeinist militia in the Cedars
Revolution government in 2005 should not be repeated, and the reckless inclusion
of Hezbollah in electoral coalitions should never happen again.”
“Finally, we have an administration committed to moral clarity,” added AMCD
co-chair John Hajjar. “Our foreign policy in the Middle East has been adrift for
years with no one willing to push back as Hezbollah gradually infiltrated and
encroached upon the Lebanese government and civic life. Only with the demise of
Hezbollah, can the Lebanese government once again represent the will of the
Lebanese people – not the will of Iran.”“Bravo, Ms. Ortagus!” added AMCD
co-chair Tom Harb. “You have finally said what the Lebanese people have been
longing to hear for decades. The US government is now fully committed to helping
the Lebanese people throw off the yoke of this terrorist organization. The
Lebanese people have hope once again!”
Syria’s crackdown on smuggling sparks tensions with
Hezbollah and Lebanon
Ahmad Sharawi/ FDD's Long War Journal/February 12/2025
The border between Lebanon and Syria has witnessed intense clashes in recent
days as the newly formed Syrian army deployed reinforcements to Al Qusayr in the
western Homs Governorate. This escalation follows confrontations between Syrian
forces and groups allegedly linked to Hezbollah and regional smuggling networks.
The clashes began when Syrian forces advanced into Haweek, a border town in
Syria, as part of a security campaign aimed at shutting down smuggling routes
for weapons and narcotics. According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the
operation specifically targeted illicit cross-border activities. The armed
groups involved are affiliated with local Lebanese tribes, which straddle both
sides of the border and cooperate with Hezbollah in smuggling operations. These
groups managed to capture two Syrian soldiers, releasing videos of them being
beaten before transferring them to Hermel, Lebanon, and later being released. In
response, the Syrian army sent additional reinforcements, engaging fighters from
the Zaaiter and Jaafar clans and arresting 15 armed men. These clashes are
unsurprising, given that the Lebanese-Syrian border has become a major corridor
for weapons and drug trafficking—particularly, the illegal stimulant Captagon—under
Hezbollah’s supervision. The Iran-backed group has leveraged unofficial border
crossings and allied Lebanese Shiite clans to facilitate its operations and
sustain a parallel economy.
Despite the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad’s regime and Iran’s
diminishing influence in Syria, Hezbollah remains entrenched in the border
region. The group continues to exert control, maintaining its operational
dominance through deep ties with local clans. This stronghold dates back to the
2013 battle of Al Qusayr when Hezbollah fought alongside Syrian government
forces against rebels. Since then, the border area has served as a strategic
base for Hezbollah’s logistical and security operations, including the
transportation of weapons and narcotics. The recent developments have prompted
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to reinforce a border presence amid reports that
Lebanese villages—Jermash, Qasr, and Sahlat al Maa—were struck by rockets and
drones. The LAF released a statement on the operation:
Based on the directives of the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun,
the Army command has issued orders to the military units deployed along the
northern and eastern borders to respond to the sources of fire originating from
Syrian territory and targeting Lebanese territory. These units have begun
responding with appropriate weapons in light of the recent clashes, during which
several Lebanese areas were subjected to shelling and gunfire.
Syrian forces claimed success in capturing several wanted individuals and
seizing large quantities of weapons and narcotics. Additionally, the new Syrian
army announced control over multiple villages, including Akoum, Blouzeh, Zeita,
Heet, and Bweet.
Securing the Syria-Lebanon border remains a challenge due to the interwoven
tribal networks, numerous illegal crossings, and difficult terrain that hinders
monitoring efforts. While Lebanon has deployed border patrols, smugglers
consistently adapt by finding alternative routes, making it nearly impossible to
eliminate illicit activities entirely.
Hezbollah’s influence in Syria was once extensive, particularly in the border
areas. With the fall of the Assad regime, Iran will likely continue supporting
Hezbollah to secure its interests and maintain vital transportation routes.
Iran’s most likely area to target would be the Syrian coast, where many of
Assad’s officials fled and a stronghold of the Assad family and their Alawite
community. The area saw the emergence of militias affiliated with former regime
officials who have vowed to target members of the new Syrian administration. The
Syrian coast also borders Lebanon, and its instability could lead to Iran
leveraging the chaos for its benefit and rearming Hezbollah from that area. Two
major security challenges remain. First, the Syrian state is still in a fragile
rebuilding phase. While it has launched operations along the Lebanese border,
its forces are also stretched thin. Second, Lebanese political dynamics could
further complicate the situation. President Joseph Aoun’s calls for Lebanese
forces to strike Syrian units operating near the border adds another layer of
tension. While Lebanon has historically protected Hezbollah despite the
instability the group causes, the key question is whether internal political
shifts will increase pressure on the group, or the Lebanese state will continue
tolerating its presence—potentially straining relations with the new Syrian
administration.
**Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant.
Hezbollah’s Legacy in Syria: Drug Labs and Counterfeit Dollar Factories/Asharq
Al-Awsat Accompanies a Security Team on a Border Sweep with Lebanon
Al-Qusayr, Homs/Kamal Sheikho/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 12/ 2025
(Free Translation from Arabic by Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/140133/
On a hilltop in Wadi Al-Hourani, near the village of Hawik—an area affiliated
with the city of Al-Qusayr in western Homs, along the Syrian-Lebanese
border—Syrian border security forces uncovered a vast network of abandoned
warehouses. Inside, they found dozens of drug manufacturing labs producing
Captagon pills, hashish, and counterfeit U.S. dollars, all intended for
smuggling to neighboring countries and beyond.
This border area, which directly faces the Lebanese governorate of Baalbek, was
until recently under the control of Hezbollah. However, following Hezbollah’s
expulsion, the Syrian Military Operations Department dismantled its operations,
allowing the Lebanese Army to regain control and tighten security along the
border.
Drug Smuggling Routes Exposed
Inside one of the discovered drug manufacturing labs—located on a remote hill
just a few hundred meters from the Lebanese border—security forces found
warehouses stocked with advanced machinery, processing equipment, and massive
blue tanks filled with raw materials for Captagon production. Wooden barrels and
sealed plastic containers stored large quantities of hashish. Speaking to Asharq
Al-Awsat, Major Nadim Madkhana, Director of Border Security in Homs Governorate,
revealed that both the former Syrian regime and Hezbollah had transformed the
border into a hub for drug production and trafficking. "Before we expelled them
at the start of this month, Hezbollah and its allies turned this area into a
corridor for smuggling narcotics, weapons, and counterfeit currency," he stated.
During last week’s sweep, Syrian security forces seized three major drug labs
previously controlled by Hezbollah in the village of Hawik. As part of the
ongoing campaign, the Military Operations Department launched a large-scale
security operation covering Hawik, Jarmash, Wadi Al-Hourani, Akum (bordering
Lebanon), and Wadi Hanna. The forces engaged Hezbollah militants, remnants of
the ousted regime, and armed drug traffickers in clashes before successfully
securing the entire border strip. Checkpoints were established to prevent
further smuggling operations. The crackdown also led to raids in multiple
villages across Syrian territory—particularly in Hawik, Jarmash, and Heet—long
considered strongholds for drug smuggling. "We uncovered approximately 15 drug
labs and a printing press dedicated to counterfeiting currency," Major Madkhana
added.
Counterfeit Currency Operations
In one of the warehouses, Hezbollah had set up a sophisticated counterfeiting
operation, forging U.S. $100 bills using advanced printers, high-resolution
imaging technology, ultraviolet devices, an offset printing machine, and
specialized ink tanks. Over the years of war, Syria—under the Assad
regime—became the largest producer and exporter of Captagon, earning its
reputation as the "drug state" of the Middle East. British government reports
indicate that by the end of 2024, Syria was responsible for nearly 80% of global
Captagon production. Inside another warehouse, hidden among dense trees and
agricultural fields in a mountainous region, security forces found sealed bags
of Captagon pills marked with the distinctive double-crescent logo and “Lexus”
branding. Hashish was stored in wooden crates and plastic containers, with newly
produced batches wrapped in red gloves for identification. According to local
residents, civilians were strictly prohibited from approaching these heavily
guarded facilities. Ahmad Al-Saab, a 55-year-old resident of Hawik, recalled,
"Syrian intelligence and Hezbollah operatives were everywhere, preventing anyone
from getting close. We could smell strong, unnatural odors, but we never knew
what was happening inside. It was completely off-limits."Security forces also
discovered surveillance cameras and underground network lines connecting the
illegal facilities to Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah’s Grip Weakens Amid Security Coordination
Major Madkhana emphasized that the ongoing operations are focused on securing
the Syrian side of the border, with coordination between Syrian and Lebanese
authorities increasing. "For the first time in 14 years, the Lebanese Army has
begun deploying in this area," he noted. "The clashes we encountered were mainly
with Hezbollah operatives and their associates, including known traffickers."
During the raids, authorities found documents implicating members of Lebanese
tribal families in the smuggling networks.
Smuggling Routes for Regime Loyalists
The security chief further revealed that these border routes were also used to
smuggle operatives of the former Syrian regime—including members of Maher
Al-Assad’s Fourth Division—into Lebanon following the regime’s collapse. "We
have evidence that remnants of the old regime, in partnership with Hezbollah,
have continued their operations from Lebanese territory, even engaging in
military activities against our forces," he explained. UN estimates place the
value of Syria’s Captagon trade at approximately $6 billion by the end of 2024.
Most of these narcotics were trafficked through Iraq and Jordan before reaching
Gulf states.
A Region Reclaims Stability
Fatima Al-Khaled, a resident of Wadi Al-Hourani, expressed relief at Hezbollah’s
expulsion. "For over a decade, we lived without security, without rest. They
took over everything," she said. "But now, things have improved. After the
liberation of Syria, the whole world has been freed."
The ongoing military campaign—spanning more than 30 kilometers in the Al-Qusayr
countryside—aims to completely dismantle Hezbollah’s smuggling networks,
eliminate the remnants of the former regime, and restore stability to the
region.
Concluding his statement, Major Nadim Madkhana stressed, "We have implemented a
comprehensive security plan to fully secure the borders and protect our people
from all threats."
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 12-13/2025
Iran's Khamenei cites need
to further develop Iran's military after Trump threats
Reuters/February 12, 2025
DUBAI (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Iran
should further develop its military, including its missiles, after U.S.
President Donald Trump made threats of force against Tehran if it refused to
negotiate over its nuclear programme. Khamenei spoke a day after Iran's U.N.
ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned what he called "reckless and
inflammatory statements" by Trump in interviews with the New York Post and Fox
News in which he said he preferred doing a deal to prevent Tehran developing a
nuclear weapon to bombing the country. "Progress should not be stopped, we
cannot be satisfied (with our current level). Say that we previously set a limit
for the accuracy of our missiles, but we now feel this limit is no longer
enough. We have to go forward," Khamenei said, citing a need to focus on
innovation in the Iranian military. "Today, our defensive power is well-known,
our enemies are afraid of this. This is very important for our country," he
added after visiting a Tehran exhibition showcasing the latest developments in
Iran's defence sector. Tehran insists its ballistic missile programme is purely
defensive but it is seen in the West as a destabilising factor in a volatile,
conflict-ridden region. Khamenei, who said on Friday that talks with the United
States were "not smart, wise or honourable", made no mention of Trump in his
remarks on Wednesday. Trump last week restored his "maximum pressure" policy
towards Iran that includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero to push
the Islamic Republic into a deal that would severely constrain its disputed
nuclear programme. Western powers have long suspected that Iran's uranium
enrichment programme is a disguised project to develop nuclear bomb material.
Iran denies this, saying it seeks nuclear energy only for peaceful purposes.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday questioned U.S. sincerity in
seeking talks with Tehran while imposing tougher sanctions echoing those Trump
implemented during his first, 2017-21 term in office. Iravani, Tehran's United
Nations ambassador, wrote in a letter to the U.N. Security Council that the
Trump administration's policy "reinforces unlawful, unilateral coercive measures
and escalates hostility against Iran." Though Iran has long denied nuclear
weapon ambitions, it is "dramatically" accelerating its enrichment of uranium to
60% fissile purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the U.N.
nuclear watchdog chief told Reuters in December. Tehran has in recent months
announced new additions to its conventional weaponry, such as its first drone
carrier and an underground naval base amid rising tensions with the U.S. and its
regional arch-enemy Israel.
Iran extends amnesty to
journalists who covered Amini’s death
AFP/February 12, 2025
TEHRAN: Iranian authorities on Tuesday granted pardons to two journalists jailed
after covering the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which sparked
nationwide protests, official media said. Elaheh Mohammadi, 37, and Niloufar
Hamedi, 32, were jailed in September 2022, days after producing media coverage
of Amini’s death. The two journalists, both women, had spent more than a year
behind bars before their release on bail. “The cases of Ms Mohammadi and Ms
Hamedi have been included in the list of pardons presented on Tuesday and have
been awarded amnesty,” said the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website. Mohammadi,
a reporter for the reformist Ham Mihan daily, was arrested after going to
Amini’s hometown of Saqez, in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, to
cover her funeral which turned into a demonstration. Hamedi, a photographer for
Shargh daily, was arrested less than a week after Amini’s death after posting a
picture of the young woman’s grieving family on social media. They had both
received jail terms for collaboration with the United States, conspiring against
state security and propaganda against the Islamic republic. In August, the
lawyers of the two journalists said they had been acquitted of the charge of
collaboration with the United States. Shargh reported on Tuesday that the cases
of both journalists were now “closed.”Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, had
been arrested for an alleged breach of strict dress rules for women, in place
since shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. Following her death,
months-long protests shook Iran, with hundreds of people, including dozens of
security personnel, killed in the unrest, and thousands of demonstrators
arrested.
Egypt president, Jordan king stress ‘unity’ of positions on
Gaza
AFP/February 12, 2025
CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II
stressed Wednesday the “unity” of their countries’ positions on Gaza, a day
after US President Donald Trump held talks with the Jordanian monarch in
Washington.
“The two leaders affirmed the unity of the Egyptian and Jordanian positions,
including the necessity of the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in
the Gaza Strip, the continued release of hostages and prisoners and facilitating
the entry of humanitarian aid,” a statement from the Egyptian presidency said,
stressing the need for the “immediate start of the reconstruction process in the
Gaza Strip, without displacing the Palestinian people from their land.”
Trump insists US to own
Gaza, Jordan king pushes back
Agence France Presse/February 12, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his idea of exiling Palestinians
and placing a rebuilt Gaza under "U.S. authority," but faced pushback from
visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II. "I reiterated Jordan's steadfast position
against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the
unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and
addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,"
Abdullah said on social media after the talks. However, he told Trump that Egypt
was working on a plan for how countries in the region could "work" with Trump on
his shock proposal. The Jordanian monarch also appeared to offer a sweetener to
Trump, who the day before the visit floated the possibility of halting U.S. aid
to Jordan if it did not take in refugees. "One of the things that we can do
right away is take 2,000 children, cancer children who are in a very ill state.
That is possible," Abdullah said as Trump welcomed him and Crown Prince Hussein
in the Oval Office. Trump replied that it was "really a beautiful gesture" and
said he didn't know about it before the Jordanian monarch's arrival at the White
House. The U.S. leader stunned the world when he announced a proposal last week
for the United States to "take over" Gaza, envisioning rebuilding the devastated
territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East" -- but only after resettling
Palestinians elsewhere, with no plan for them ever to return. Abdullah urged
patience and said that Egypt was coming up with a response and that Arab nations
would then discuss it at talks in Riyadh. "Let's wait until the Egyptians can
come and present it to the president and not get ahead of ourselves," Abdullah
said. Trump retreated from his previous talk of an aid halt to Jordan and Egypt,
saying: "I don't have to threaten that. I do believe we're above that."The
Egyptian foreign ministry later said it plans to "present a comprehensive vision
for the reconstruction" of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on
their land. It said Egypt "hopes to cooperate" with Trump's administration on
the matter, with the goal of "reaching a fair settlement of the Palestinian
cause."
'Tough guy'
Trump, however, kept pushing his plan to "own" Gaza and place it under "U.S.
authority," despite the fact that it is home to more than two million
Palestinians who want their own sovereign state. "We don't have to buy. We're
going to have Gaza," Trump said. "We're going to take it, we're going to hold
it, we're going to cherish it."But Trump, who made his fortune as a real estate
tycoon did however deny that he would seek to personally develop property in
Gaza. "No. I've had a great career in real estate," he said. The meeting came as
the Gaza ceasefire appears increasingly fragile, after Trump warned on Monday
that "all hell" would break out if Hamas fails to release all hostages by
Saturday. Trump said he doubted that the Palestinian militant group would abide
by the ultimatum -- but played down the risk of a longer threat to efforts to
create a lasting peace between Israel and Hamas. "It's not going to take a long
time," Trump said. "A bully is the weakest person, and they're bullies. Hamas is
bullies."King Abdullah is a key US ally but last week rejected "any attempts" to
take control of the Palestinian territories and displace its people. Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is expected to visit the White House later
this week, urged on Tuesday the reconstruction of Gaza "without displacing
Palestinians."Analysts say the issue is an existential one for Jordan in
particular. Half of Jordan's population of 11 million is of Palestinian origin,
and since the establishment of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians have sought
refuge there. But Jordan is also keenly aware of the economic pressure Trump
could exercise. Every year, Jordan receives around $750 million in economic
assistance from Washington and another $350 million in military aid. On social
media after the Trump talks, Abdullah stressed that his "foremost commitment is
to Jordan, to its stability and to the well-being of Jordanians."
Trump pressure on Gazans and regional powers might lead to
grave conflicts, says Arab League chief
Bassam Zaazaa/Arab News/February 12, 2025
DUBAI: The Arab League’s secretary-general on Wednesday warned that if US
President Donald Trump continued to pressure Gazans and regionally influential
powers, this “might lead the region to a new round of grave conflicts.”“In my
opinion, I see that (happening) if President Trump continues in this manner to
pressure Gazans, the Arab world, Egyptians, Jordanians, and the region’s
influential powers,” said Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. “I
imagine that instead of settling the Palestinian cause, justly and based on the
two-state solution, this might lead the region (the Middle East) to a new round
of grave conflicts between Arabs and Israel,” Aboul Gheit told the World
Government Summit on Wednesday. Addressing a packed auditorium during a session
titled “The State of the Arab World,” the secretary-general said that “any plans
to evacuate the Palestinian territories of their residents” must be rejected,
and pointed out that “an acceptable settlement” must be achieved between the two
parties. Alongside Aboul Gheit was Jasem Al-Budaiwi, who is secretary-general of
the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in a session moderated
by the Egyptian journalist and businessman Imad Eddine Adib.
Aboul Gheit emphasized that the Palestinian state must be recognized and the
“Palestinians must be given their rights.”He said the US suggestions were
unacceptable to Arabs, and in particular Palestinians, warning against the
repercussions of US policy on the paths of “peace and understanding” in the
region.
After a question by Adib on Trump’s statement on Tuesday, the Arab League head
replied: “Right at the moment, the problem as I see it, is that the American
vision is an ambiguous one … in the sense that it envisions settling the Middle
East conflict through finishing the Palestinian existence, Palestinian character
and Palestinian identity in Gaza.
“This is not a settlement (of the conflict) but is rather transferring the
conflict to a phase that exceeds Gaza and Israel, making it reach the global
level.”
Aboul Gheit added: “If you wish to send the Palestinians to Canada or Argentina,
they will fight (for their cause) from there … they will fight from Canada and
Argentina. We must understand this … it (Palestine) is their land.”The senior
Egyptian diplomat hopes that a cycle of new conflicts does not occur because it
will have negative effects on stability and on everything that “we have built in
the region over the period from 1978 (Camp David) and the Egyptian-Israeli
understanding until this moment.”Aboul Gheit said that there had been no Arab
defeat, but rather that there had been progress and readiness for any
cooperation to coexist between the Palestinians and Israelis within one space.
“On the Palestinian issue, it is not necessary to implement President Trump’s
words on the ground. The words are ‘give and take’ and we must complete our
efforts with the two-state solution initiative,” Al-Budaiwi said. During the
session, the Arab League’s secretary-general hinted at the differences between
the Fatah Movement and Hamas, saying the Palestinian people were in dire need,
and the people who are most in need of an Arabic-Arabic and
Palestinian-Palestinian agreement and accord. Meanwhile, the GCC’s
secretary-general said that there were clear constants regarding the Palestinian
cause, at the forefront of which is the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination and the return of refugees. “We in the Cooperation Council
work within this framework,” he said.
Al-Budaiwi said the US realized the importance of security and stability in the
region, and “we have strategic alliances with the US,” noting that the stance of
the GCC countries does not change, and always stem from the importance of
implementing international legitimacy. “We are optimistic and deal with matters
with deliberation and wisdom, and we seek a unified Arab position that aims to
obtain the rights of the Palestinian people,” he concluded.
Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages
aren’t released Saturday
AP/February 11, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to
withdraw from the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and resume its fight against Hamas
if the militant group does not go ahead with the next scheduled release of
hostages on Saturday. Hamas said Monday — and reiterated Tuesday — that it
planned to delay the release of three more hostages after accusing Israel of
failing to meet the terms of the ceasefire, including by not allowing enough
tents and other aid into Gaza. US President Donald Trump has emboldened Israel
to call for the release of even more remaining hostages on Saturday, but it
wasn’t immediately clear whether Netanyahu’s threat referred to the release of
all remaining hostages in Gaza, or just the three scheduled for release on
Saturday. Earlier Tuesday, an Israeli official said Netanyahu ordered the army
to add more troops in and around the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu also ordered
officials “to prepare for every scenario if Hamas doesn’t release our hostages
this Saturday,” according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity
to discuss a private meeting. Israel had signaled Monday it planned to reinforce
defenses along the Gaza border. The all-scenario plan was announced during a
four-hour meeting between Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet that focused on
Hamas’ threat, which risks jeopardizing the three-week-old ceasefire.
So far, Hamas has released 21 hostages in a series of exchanges for hundreds of
Palestinian prisoners. President Donald Trump has said Israel should cancel the
entire ceasefire if all of the roughly 70 hostages aren’t freed by Saturday.
Hamas brushed off his threat on Tuesday, doubling down on its claim that Israel
has violated the ceasefire and warned that it would only continue releasing
hostages if all parties adhered to the ceasefire. Trump is hosting Jordan’s King
Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday as he escalates pressure on the Arab
nation to take in refugees from Gaza — perhaps permanently — as part of his
audacious plan to remake the Middle East.
Palestinians and the international community have seethed over Trump’s recent
comments that any Palestinians potentially expelled from Gaza would not have a
right to return. During the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas
committed to freeing 33 hostages captured in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel,
while Israel said it would release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The sides
have carried out five swaps since Jan. 19. The war could resume in early March
if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase of the
ceasefire, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an
indefinite extension of the truce. But if Israel resumes the war, it will face a
drastically different battlefield. After forcing hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians to evacuate to southern Gaza in the early stages of the war, Israel
allowed many of those displaced people to return to what is left of their homes,
posing a new challenge to its ability to move ground troops through the
territory.
Hamas says group’s delegation in Cairo for talks on Gaza ceasefire
AFP/February 12, 2025
GAZA: A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Wednesday for Gaza truce talks, the
group said, rejecting “American and Israeli threats” and demanding that Israel
comply with the ceasefire deal. The truce which came into effect last month
largely halted more than 15 months of war, but has come under increasing strain
in recent days, prompting a new push by mediators Qatar and Egypt to salvage it.
“A delegation headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza
Strip, arrived in Cairo and began meetings with Egyptian officials,” the
Palestinian group said in a statement. It added that the delegation, led by
Hamas’s chief negotiator, was monitoring “the implementation of the ceasefire
agreement.”A senior Hamas official told AFP the delegation “will discuss ways to
end the current crisis and ensure the (Israeli) occupation’s commitment to
implementing the agreement.”On Tuesday Israel warned that it could resume
fighting if hostages are not released by Saturday, echoing a threat by US
President Donald Trump who said “hell” would break out if Hamas failed to
release “all” Israeli hostages by that day. A sixth hostage-prisoner exchange
under the truce deal was scheduled for Saturday, but earlier this week Hamas had
announced it was postponing the upcoming release, citing Israel’s failure to
allow the entry of key humanitarian aid into Gaza.A diplomat familiar with the
talks said that mediators were engaged with both Israel and Hamas to resolve the
dispute and ensure the implementation of the long elusive agreement. “Mediators
are engaging with both Israel and Hamas to try to solve the current issues and
ensure both parties of the conflict adhere to the ceasefire and hostage release
agreement in place,” the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. Hamas
spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group demanded that Israel “adhere to the agreed
humanitarian protocol.”“The Israeli occupation is evading the implementation of
several provisions of the ceasefire agreement,” Qassem said in a separate
statement. “Our position is clear, and we will not accept the language of
American and Israeli threats. Israel must commit to implementing the terms of
the ceasefire agreement” to secure the release of its hostages, he said. The
spokesman added that talks with mediators were ongoing to ensure the agreement’s
implementation. “We have received assurances from mediators that efforts are
being made to compel the occupation to uphold the ceasefire terms in Gaza,” said
Qassem. A Palestinian source familiar with the issue earlier told AFP that
mediators Egypt and Qatar were “working intensively” to resolve the crisis
surround the ceasefire deal.
124 journalists killed, most by Israel, in deadliest year
for reporters
AFP/February 12, 2025
NEW YORK: Last year was the deadliest for journalists in recent history, with at
least 124 reporters killed — and Israel responsible for nearly 70 percent of
that total, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported Wednesday. The uptick
in killings, which marks a 22 percent increase over 2023, reflects “surging
levels of international conflict, political unrest and criminality worldwide,”
the CPJ said. It was the deadliest year for reporters and media workers since
CPJ began keeping records more than three decades ago, with journalists murdered
across 18 different countries, it said.
A total of 85 journalists died in the Israeli-Hamas war, “all at the hands of
the Israeli military,” the CPJ said, adding that 82 of them were Palestinians.
Sudan and Pakistan recorded the second highest number of journalists and media
workers killed, with six each. In Mexico, which has a reputation as one of the
most dangerous countries for reporters, five were killed, with CPJ reporting it
had found “persistent flaws” in Mexico’s mechanisms for protecting journalists.
And in Haiti, where two reporters were murdered, widespread violence and
political instability have sown so much chaos that “gangs now openly claim
responsibility for journalist killings,” the report said. Other deaths took
place in countries such as Myanmar, Mozambique, India and Iraq. “Today is the
most dangerous time to be a journalist in CPJ’s history,” said the group’s CEO
Jodie Ginsberg. “The war in Gaza is unprecedented in its impact on journalists
and demonstrates a major deterioration in global norms on protecting
journalists,” she said. CPJ, which has kept records on journalist killings since
1992, said that 24 of the reporters were deliberately killed because of their
work in 2024.Freelancers, the report said, were among the most vulnerable
because of their lack of resources, and accounted for 43 of the killings in
2024. The year 2025 is not looking more promising, with six journalists already
killed in the first weeks of the year, CPJ said.
Too few tents entering Gaza
threatens the truce. Here’s what’s happening
Julia Frankel And Samy Magdy/February 12, 2025
Three weeks into the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the number of tents and
temporary homes entering Gaza risks falling short of the goals set for the
deal's first phase. The looming deficit sits at the heart of a dispute between
Israel and Hamas that could topple the tenuous truce. Hamas said it would delay
the scheduled release of three hostages on Saturday if Israel did not ramp up
delivery of tents, pre-fabricated homes and heavy machinery into the devastated
territory, where the majority of people are displaced and many live beside the
rubble of blasted-out buildings. Israel rejects the accusation, and Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in
Gaza and resume the war if Hamas does not release more hostages on schedule.
Getting enough shelter into Gaza has been difficult because aid workers
prioritized deliveries of food at the start of the ceasefire. Israeli
inspections and restrictions on what can enter Gaza also complicate the process.
The delivery of temporary shelters could soon ramp up, according to officials
from Egypt and Hamas who signaled Wednesday that resolution of the dispute was
within sight, paving the way for the hostages to be released as planned. Here’s
a look at where things stand with aid into Gaza: What does the ceasefire
agreement say about aid to Gaza? The ceasefire agreement between Israel and
Hamas says that during the first 42-day phase, Israel must allow at least 60,000
temporary homes and 200,000 tents into Gaza. It also must allow entry of an
agreed-upon amount of equipment for rubble removal. Repairs to Gaza’s badly
damaged electricity, water, sewage and communications systems — as well as its
torn up roads — are to begin during phase one. So is the planning process for
rebuilding homes decimated by the war. All of the repairs and planning are being
overseen by the U.N. and ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar. Simply removing
the rubble — let alone beginning reconstruction — could take decades, according
to the U.N. It may also be premature, especially if the ceasefire falls apart
and Israel resumes its bombing campaign there. U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s
stated intention to rebuild Gaza as the “Riviera of the Middle East” adds
uncertainty. In the deal's first phase, Hamas is to release 33 Israeli hostages
in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas so far has released 16
of the hostages, in addition to five Thai hostages who were not part of the
deal. Whether the exchanges continue, the agreement says, depends on how the
parties adhere to its regulations on humanitarian aid, among other stipulations.
How many tents and temporary homes are getting into Gaza?
Egypt Plans to Offer
‘Comprehensive Proposal’ to Rebuild Gaza While Palestinians Remain in Strip
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Egypt said on Tuesday it plans to offer a "comprehensive proposal" to rebuild
Gaza while ensuring Palestinians remain on their land, according to a foreign
ministry statement. It said it is looking forward to cooperating with US
President Donald Trump to reach comprehensive and just peace in the region.
The statement comes as Trump continues to press for his plan to take over the
Gaza Strip and resettle its population to neighboring Egypt and Jordan despite
vehement rejection from Arab states. Egypt rejected any proposal to allocate
land to Gaza residents, the state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported on
Tuesday, citing Egyptian sources. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told
state-owned al-Mamlaka TV on Tuesday that there is an Egyptian-led Arab plan to
rebuild Gaza without displacing its people. Trump said earlier on the same day
that he believed there would be a parcel of land in Jordan, Egypt and someplace
else where Palestinians can be resettled. Trump has infuriated the Arab world by
saying that Palestinians would not be able to return to their homes under his
proposal to redevelop the enclave, which has been devastated by an Israeli
offensive. "We're going to take it. We're going to hold it, we're going to
cherish it. We're going to get it going eventually, where a lot of jobs are
going to be created for the people in the Middle East," Trump said in the Oval
Office during a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, saying his plan would
"bring peace" to the region. King Abdullah said later that he reiterated to
Trump Jordan’s "steadfast position" against the displacement of Palestinians in
Gaza, as well as in the occupied West Bank that borders his country.
Senior Arab Officials Warn That Trump Gaza Plan Would
Inflame Middle East
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and resettle Palestinians,
which has drawn global condemnation, will threaten a fragile ceasefire in the
enclave and fuel regional instability, senior Arab officials said on Wednesday.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned the World Government
Summit in Dubai that if Trump pressed ahead with his plan, he would lead the
Middle East into a new cycle of crises with a "damaging effect on peace and
stability." Trump enraged the Arab world by declaring unexpectedly that the
United States would take over Gaza, resettle its over 2-million Palestinian
population and develop it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." After 16 months
of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza war following Hamas' attacks on Israel in
October 2023, Palestinians fear a repeat of the "Nakba," or catastrophe, when
nearly 800,000 people fled or were driven out during the 1948 war that led to
the creation of Israel. Trump has said they would have no right to return.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday the ceasefire in
Gaza would end and the military would resume fighting Hamas until it was
defeated if the Palestinian group did not release hostages by midday on
Saturday. Hamas later issued a statement renewing its commitment to the
ceasefire and accusing Israel of jeopardizing it. Hamas has gradually been
releasing hostages since the first phase of a ceasefire began on January 19, but
on Monday said it would not free any more over accusations Israel was violating
the deal. "If the situation explodes militarily once more, all this (ceasefire)
effort will be wasted," Aboul Gheit said. Jasem al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of
the Gulf Cooperation Council, called on Trump to remember the strong ties
between the region and Washington. "But there has to be give and take, he says
his opinion and Arab world should say theirs; what he is saying won’t be
accepted by the Arab world." Trump has said the Palestinians in Gaza, an
impoverished tiny strip of land, could settle in countries like Jordan, which
already has a huge Palestinian population, and Egypt, the Arab world's most
populous state. Both have rejected the proposal.
Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss "serious"
developments for Palestinians. Aboul Gheit said the idea of the Arab Peace
Initiative floated in 2002, in which Arab nations offered Israel normalized ties
in return for a statehood deal with the Palestinians and full Israeli withdrawal
from territory captured in 1967, would be reintroduced. Trump's plan has upended
decades of US policy that endorsed a two-state solution in which Israel and a
Palestinian state would coexist. So far, 16 of 33 hostages taken by Hamas from
Israel have been freed as part of the ceasefire deal's first phase due to last
42 days. Five Thai hostages were also let go in an unscheduled release. In
exchange, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees,
including some serving life sentences for deadly attacks and others detained
during the war and held without charge.
Sisi, King Abdullah Agree that Gaza Should Be Rebuilt
Without Displacing Palestinians
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II said that
Gaza should be rebuilt without displacing Palestinians, Egypt's presidency said
in a statement reporting a phone call between the two on Wednesday. US President
Donald Trump has continued to push for a plan to resettle the Palestinian
population to both Egypt and Jordan, a proposal both countries have rejected
repeatedly. King Abdullah rejected any mass displacement of Palestinians after
meeting with Trump on Tuesday. During the meeting at the White House, Abdullah
volunteered to accept up to 2,000 children from Gaza who have cancer or
otherwise require medical treatment. But in a post on X after the meeting, he
“reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians
in Gaza and the West Bank," adding that it was a "unified Arab position.” The
Palestinians also reject Trump's plan, which they view as an attempt to forcibly
displace them from part of their homeland.
Hamas Delegation Arrives in Cairo, Islamic Jihad Ties
Hostages' Fate to Netanyahu's Actions
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to continue Gaza ceasefire
talks with the second phase supposed to get underway, a statement by the
Palestinian militant group said. Hamas said earlier this week it would stop the
release of hostages scheduled for Saturday until further notice. For its part,
the armed wing of Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which has been
holding Israeli hostages since October 7, 2023, said on Wednesday that the fate
of those hostages was tied to the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
"The only way to retrieve hostages and for stability to come back is through a
swap deal," the group's spokesperson said on Telegram.
Israeli Military Calls up Reservists as Uncertainty Over
Gaza Ceasefire Builds
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Israel's military has called up reservists in preparation for a possible
resumption of fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to
release more Israeli hostages and a nearly month-old ceasefire breaks down.
Under the ceasefire deal in force since January 19, the Palestinian group agreed
to free three more hostages on Saturday. But it said this week it was suspending
the handover because of what it said were Israeli violations of the terms. US
President Donald Trump responded by saying all hostages must be freed by noon on
Saturday or he would "let hell break out". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
warned on Tuesday that Israel would resume "intense fighting" if Hamas did not
meet the deadline, but did not say how many hostages should be freed. The
standoff threatens to reignite a conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip,
internally displaced most of its people and caused shortages of food, running
water and shelter, and pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider regional
war. Israeli officials said government ministers had endorsed Trump's threat to
"cancel" the ceasefire unless all the remaining Israeli hostages are released on
Saturday. Hamas has said it remains committed to the agreement but has not
agreed to release the hostages on Saturday. A Palestinian official close to the
talks said mediators had stepped up their intervention "to prevent things
sliding into a real crisis." "Things are not yet clear, but there is a big
intervention from the side of the mediators with both sides in an attempt to
resolve the impasse and ensure no pauses in the ceasefire agreement," said the
official, who asked not to be identified. Asked for comment on where things
stand, another Hamas official told Reuters, without giving details: "Contacts
are under way." The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern
Israel on October 7, 2023, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and more
than 250 were taken as hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. In
response, Israel began a military offensive against Hamas that has laid waste
the coastal enclave and killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza
health officials.
FEARS OF REGIONAL INSTABILITY
So far, Hamas has released 16 Israeli hostages from an initial group of 33
children, women and older men to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners and detainees in the first stage of a multi-phase ceasefire deal. In
addition, it has also returned five Thai hostages in an unscheduled release.
Negotiations on a second phase of the agreement, which mediators had hoped would
include agreement on the release of the remaining hostages as well as the full
withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, were supposed to be under way in Doha
but an Israeli team returned home on Monday, two days after arriving. The threat
to cancel a 42-day ceasefire that formed the basis on the agreement has drawn
thousands of Israeli protesters to the streets this week, calling on the
government to continue with the deal to bring the remaining hostages back. A
plan announced by Trump to take over Gaza, move out its more than 2 million
Palestinian inhabitants and redevelop it into an international beach resort
could also fuel regional instability, senior Arab officials said on Wednesday.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told the World Government Summit
in Dubai that if Trump pressed ahead with his vision for Gaza, he would lead the
Middle East into a new cycle of crises with a "damaging effect on peace and
stability."Palestinians fear a repeat of the "Nakba", or catastrophe, when
nearly 800,000 people fled or were driven out during the 1948 war that led to
the creation of Israel. Trump has said they would have no right to return. Jasem
al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council, called on Trump to
remember the strong ties between the region and Washington. "But there has to be
give and take, he says his opinion and Arab world should say theirs; what he is
saying won’t be accepted by the Arab world," he said. Trump has said the
Palestinians in Gaza could settle in countries such as Jordan, which already has
a huge Palestinian population, and Egypt, the Arab world's most populous state.
Both have rejected the proposal. Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on
February 27 to discuss "serious" developments for Palestinians. Aboul Gheit said
the idea of the Arab Peace Initiative floated in 2002, in which Arab nations
offered Israel normalized ties in return for a statehood deal with the
Palestinians and full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in 1967, would
be reintroduced.
Trump's plan has upended decades of US policy that endorsed a two-state solution
in which Israel and a Palestinian state would coexist.
GCC Emphasizes Steadfast Support for Palestinian Rights at
World Governments Summit
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has affirmed its ongoing support for the
Palestinian cause, underscoring the need for Palestinians to gain their
legitimate rights, including all occupied territories. GCC Secretary-General
Jasem Albudaiwi reiterated this firm position while speaking at "The State of
the Arab World" dialogue session during the World Governments Summit 2025 in
Dubai. The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit also
participated in the session, SPA reported. Albudaiwi stated that the Palestinian
issue should be resolved in line with international and United Nations
resolutions. He urged the international community to uphold its responsibility
in supporting Palestinians and opposing any obstacles to their rights. He also
stressed the significance of diplomatic and peaceful efforts in reaching a
comprehensive solution, advocating for an independent Palestinian state along
the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and addressing refugee
rights as per the Arab Peace Initiative and related international resolutions.
Trump Says he and Putin Have Agreed to Begin Negotiations
on Ending War
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
President Donald Trump upended three years of US policy toward Ukraine on
Wednesday, saying that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to
begin negotiations on ending the war following a dramatic prisoner swap.
Trump said in a social media post that he and Putin held a lengthy phone call
during which they committed to “work together, very closely” to bring the
conflict to an end and would meet in person, including perhaps in each other's
countries.
It was unclear how closely Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be
involved. Although Trump held a phone call with him Wednesday, Ukrainian
presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said, characterizing it as a "good
conversation," The Associated Press reported. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary
of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special Russia-Ukraine envoy, retired Gen.
Keith Kellogg, will all be in Germany later this week for the annual Munich
Security Conference, which Zelenskyy will also attend. However, in a blow to
Ukraine's aspirations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier Wednesday at
NATO headquarters in Brussels that NATO membership was not realistic for Ukraine
and said that any security guarantees for the country would have to be born by
European countries.
The Biden administration had joined other NATO members since Russia invaded
Ukraine in February 2022 in vowing that membership in the alliance was
“inevitable.”
And Trump's announcement appeared to dismantle the Biden-era mantra that Kyiv
would be a full participant in any decisions made. “Nothing about Ukraine
without Ukraine,” Biden and his top national security aides said repeatedly.
Wednesday's Trump-Putin call and resulting policy sea change, followed a
prisoner swap that resulted in Russia releasing American schoolteacher Marc
Fogel, of Pennsylvania, after more than three years of detention in return for
convicted Russian criminal Alexander Vinnik.
“We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great
benefit that we will someday have in working together,” Trump said in a social
media post disclosing details about the call. "But first, as we both agreed, we
want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.
Trump said they also “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations
immediately” and would be alerting Zelenskyy to their conversation. He appointed
Rubio, CIA director John Ratcliffe, national security advisor Michael Waltz, and
his special Mideast envoy Steven Witkoff to lead those talks.
White House officials later declined to clarify whether Ukraine would be a party
to the U.S. negotiations with Russia.
But, they described the prisoner swap as evidence of a diplomatic thaw that
could advance negotiations to end the fighting in Ukraine.
Fogel, an American history teacher who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia,
was arrested in August 2021 for possession of marijuana and was serving a
14-year prison sentence. He had been left out of previous prisoner swaps with
Russia that were negotiated by the Biden administration.
Vinnik — the other person involved, according to two US officials — was arrested
in 2017 in Greece at the request of the US on cryptocurrency fraud charges and
was later extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty last year to
conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He is currently in custody in California awaiting transport to return to Russia,
the officials said. The Kremlin confirmed that a Russian citizen was freed in
the United States in exchange for Fogel but refused to identify him until he
arrives in Russia.
Trump had welcomed Fogel at the White House on Tuesday evening after his return
to US soil on Witkoff's personal plane. On Wednesday, Trump declined to say if
he spoke with Putin about Fogel and didn't say what the United States had
provided in exchange for Fogel’s release.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump suggested that
Fogel's release could help anchor a peace deal on Ukraine, saying: “We were
treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that’s the beginning of a
relationship where we can end that war.”
The Kremlin was more cautious, but it also noted that the deal could help
strengthen mutual trust.
Trump Believes Nuclear Deal Possible with ‘Scared’ and
‘Weakened’ Iran
London: Asharq Al Awsat Tehran: Asharq Al Awsat
US President Donald Trump predicted on Monday that Washington would make a deal
with Iran to prevent it from developing its nuclear program, but added that
Tehran is very frightened because its defenses have been allegedly destroyed in
an Israeli strike last year. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran's
military vulnerabilities appeared to have left it in a weakened position, making
negotiations more appealing than confrontation. He said he prefers diplomacy
over military escalation. “I'd much rather see a deal with Iran where we can do
a deal, supervise, check it, inspect it,” he stated, adding that Israel will not
attack Iran if an agreement is reached between Washington and Tehran. “Iran is
very concerned. Iran is very frightened, to be honest with you, because their
defense is pretty much gone,” Trump said. “Everybody thinks Israel - with our
help or our approval - will go in and bomb the hell out of them,” Trump said,
stressing that Israel would need US support for such a strike. In Tehran,
President Masoud Pezeshkian continued to sharply criticize the US, while
hardline newspapers applauded his speech marking the anniversary of the 1979
revolution on Monday. In reference to the order that Trump signed last week to
design new sanctions on Iran, Pezeshkian said, “Those who engage in bullying,
massacres, and provision of weapons of mass destruction to those who kill
innocent people are the ones initiating war and bloodshed.”“Only in peace and
harmony can we truly host and welcome each other,” he said. “Iran is doing
outreach in the region and also globally, seeking more peaceful relations,” he
remarked. “If the US were sincere about negotiations, why did they sanction
us?”He said Tehran “does not seek war...but will not yield to foreign
pressure.”On Friday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said talks with the US
were “not smart, wise, or honorable,” but he stopped short of renewing a ban on
direct talks with Washington decreed during the first Trump administration in
2018.
Echoing Khamenei’s statement, the parliamentary National Security and Foreign
Policy Committee said on Monday: “Negotiation with the US is not prohibited but
has proven irrational and damaging.”The Ham-Mihan newspaper said: “Pezeshkian’s
speech supports the Supreme Leader’s position on Trump.” In its editorial, the
Arman Amroz newspaper described Trump as a “crazy delusional.
Syria’s Interim FM Says
Russia-Iran Ties to Assad Are an Open Wound After War
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Syria's relations with Iran and Russia remain an open wound for its people after
those nations backed autocratic President Bashar Assad during the long civil
war, the country's new, interim foreign minister said Wednesday.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Asaad
al-Shibani acknowledged some “positive” signs from both Moscow and Tehran but
did not elaborate. However, he underlined the new government in Damascus' desire
to improve relations with the West and get sanctions on Syria lifted so the
country could start rebuilding after the ruinous, 14-year war. “Syria has
recovered its freedom and dignity” after decades of despotism, al-Shibani said.
“It's a new period of peace and peace building.”Among key concerns for al-Shibani
are the US and European Union sanctions. Estimates suggest it will cost at least
$250 billion rebuild Syria, which has a poverty rate of 90% and a gross domestic
product of less than half it was before the war, according to the European
Union. The sanctions were imposed on “the Syrian regime as result of its
oppressions,” al-Shibani said. “It’s only natural to lift” them now. Al-Shibani
also claimed Wednesday that the interim government had “ended all security and
Captagon-related challenges” that strained ties with neighboring Jordan.
Captagon, an amphetamine-like stimulant, had been a main source of revenue for
Assad.
But tensions remain with Russia and Iran. Moscow hopes to maintain its air and
sea base in Syria on the Mediterranean Sea. Iran also has used Syria as a
transit point to arm Lebanon's Hezbollah party and others in its self-described
“Axis of Resistance” against Israel and the United States.
“Syrian people have wounds and pain that they suffered at the hands of these two
countries,” al-Shibani said of Russia and Iran. “In order to restore the
relationship, the Syrian people must feel comfortable with this relationship,”
he added.
Putin Has 'Constructive' Conversation in First Call with
Syria's New Leader, Kremlin Says
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday spoke to Syria's new leader Ahmad
al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian
President Bashar Assad. The Kremlin said the “constructive and business-like”
conversation touched upon “acute issues of practical cooperation in trade and
economic, education and other spheres,” adding that the leaders agreed to
continue contacts to develop a “broad agenda for the development of bilateral
cooperation.”The call followed last month's visit to Damascus by a delegation of
Russian officials, which marked the first such trip since Assad was ousted in
December and granted an asylum in Russia, The AP reported. Moscow had staunchly
backed Assad throughout Syria's civil war and since 2015 waged a military that
helped his government reclaim control over most of the country. Following
Assad’s fall, Russia relocated its troops and assets from all over Syria to its
main hub at the Hmeimim air base near Latakia. The Kremlin and the interim
government in Damascus have said that the fate of the Russian air base and the
nearby naval facility in Tartus will be discussed in future negotiations. At his
annual news conference in December, Putin said Russia offered Syria’s new
leaders to use the Russian bases for humanitarian aid deliveries and suggested
Moscow could offer other incentives. The new Syrian authorities have terminated
a contract for a Russian company to modernize the Tartus commercial port, but
that move did not directly impact the Russian naval facility, which was leased
under a separate deal.
Syrian FM says Russia, Iran
have sent new govt ‘positive indications’
Jonathan Lessware/Arab News/February 12, 2025
Syria will no longer interfere in Lebanon, is building partnerships with Jordan
LONDON: Iran and Russia have sent “positive indications” to the new government
in Damascus but there remains an “open wound” over their support for the
previous regime, Syria’s foreign minister said on Wednesday. Moscow and Tehran
provided key military and political support to Bashar Assad after an uprising
against the former president descended into a 13-year-long civil war. Assad fled
to Russia in December after a lightning offensive led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham
seized much of the country including the capital. Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani was
appointed foreign minister by the HTS commander and now president of the Syrian
Arab Republic, Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in
Dubai, Al-Shaibani said there had been clear messages of intent from Russia and
Iran to respect his new government, and the Syrian people. But he added: “There
is an open wound for the Syrian people and there are a lot of people who have
suffered as a result of the relationship between the previous regime and these
two states, and as a result, we need to give it some time for the Syrian people
to be satisfied.”Al-Shaibani said the Assad regime had exploited the
relationships with Iran and Russia against the Syrian people and that the
country needed to “shake off” this previous period. “Any kind of respect to our
freedom and sovereignty will be met with mutual respect and any kind of
interference will be rejected.”
The positive indications Syria had received needed to be translated into “real
policies based on mutual respect and the need to satisfy the Syrian
people.”Al-Shaibani also addressed Syria’s relations with its neighbor Lebanon —
another country with which it has a complicated relationship.
Under the Assad dynasty, Syria imposed its will on Lebanon for decades and the
Lebanese Hezbollah militia was another supporter of the former regime during the
Syrian war. “We’re not to be held responsible for the bad relations that existed
with Lebanon under the previous regime,” Al-Shaibani said.
Lebanon’s prime minister established a new government on Saturday after two
years of political deadlock was broken by the election of President Joseph Aoun
last month. Al-Shaibani said the new Syrian government would respect Lebanon as
a sovereign state and avoid interfering in its internal affairs.
“The best proof of that is Lebanon being able to elect its president so swiftly
without any interference by Syria,” he said. Al-Sharaa visited Lebanon last
month saying he hoped to build long-term strategic relations between the
neighbors. On another of Syria’s neighbors, Jordan, Al-Shaibani said his
government had already removed challenges related to security and drug
smuggling. Jordan supported components of the Syrian opposition during the war
and became increasingly concerned about the Assad regime’s mass production and
export of the narcotic known as captagon. Syria, he said, is building new
economic partnerships with Jordan along with security cooperation to better
control the border. A new government will take office in Syria on March 1, Al-Shaibani
said. The country’s new rulers said last month that they would form an interim
legislative council to help govern until a new constitution was approved. The
administration will be “as representative as possible of the Syrian people, and
should have the trust of the Syrian people,” the foreign minister said. During
the war, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham was considered an Islamist militant group and
designated a terrorist organization by the EU and US. But since taking power,
its former commanders have claimed that they will offer a tolerant form of
governance inclusive to all of Syria’s religions. “Contrary to the previous
Syrian regime, we have honored that diversity since day one because we see that
as a source of strength,” Al-Shaibani said.
Syria's interim foreign minister says Russia-Iran ties to
Assad are an open wound after war
Jon Gambrell/DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)/February 12, 2025
Syria's relations with Iran and Russia remain an open wound for its people after
those nations backed autocratic President Bashar Assad during the long civil
war, the country's new, interim foreign minister said Wednesday. Speaking at the
World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Asaad al-Shibani
acknowledged some “positive” signs from both Moscow and Tehran but did not
elaborate. However, he underlined the new government in Damascus' desire to
improve relations with the West and get sanctions on Syria lifted so the country
could start rebuilding after the ruinous, 14-year war.
“Syria has recovered its freedom and dignity" after decades of despotism, al-Shibani
said. “It's a new period of peace and peace building.” Al-Shibani's very
attendance and address at the Dubai summit was remarkable, reflecting the
efforts by the former rebels who ousted Assad in December to gain new friends on
the international stage. Qatar and Turkey, one-time rivals of the UAE over their
support of Islamists in the region, had far-closer ties to the rebels who
ultimately took over Damascus. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, had
reopened its embassy in Syria in late 2018 as part of a thaw in relations. Assad
then visited the UAE in 2022 as Abu Dhabi argued he should be brought back in
from the cold among Arab nations, despite the bloodshed by his forces and allies
in Syria. In the immediate hours following Assad's ouster in December, a top UAE
diplomat pointedly refused to discuss whether he was in the federation. Assad
was later confirmed to have fled and been given sanctuary in Russia, where
Vladimir Putin has long been one of Assad's closes allies. Among key concerns
for al-Shibani are the U.S. and European Union sanctions. Estimates suggest it
will cost at least $250 billion rebuild Syria, which has a poverty rate of 90%
and a gross domestic product of less than half it was before the war, according
to the European Union. The sanctions were imposed on “the Syrian regime as
result of its oppressions,” al-Shibani said. “It’s only natural to lift” them
now. Al-Shibani, from the northeastern al-Hasakah governorate, is relatively new
to the international scene though he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos
in January. He had taken part in the 2011 protests against Assad that were part
of the Arab Spring uprising, according to a biography published by the Foreign
Ministry. During the war, he used several different noms de guerre and as a
member of the former militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once allied with
al-Qaida, he was active in Idlib province. He was named Syria' s interim foreign
minister in December after the rebels' lightning offensive ended the Assad
family's 54-year rule. A new government is set to take over March 1. The interim
government's former ties to al-Qaida are among the West's concerns with the
former rebels and interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Shibani also claimed
Wednesday that the interim government had “ended all security and Captagon-related
challenges ” that strained ties with neighboring Jordan. Captagon, an
amphetamine-like stimulant, had been a main source of revenue for Assad. But
tensions remain with Russia and Iran. Moscow hopes to maintain its air and sea
base in Syria on the Mediterranean Sea. Iran also has used Syria as a transit
point to arm Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and others in its self-described “Axis
of Resistance” against Israel and the United States.“Syrian people have wounds
and pain that they suffered at the hands of these two countries," al-Shibani
said of Russia and Iran.
“In order to restore the relationship, the Syrian people must feel comfortable
with this relationship,” he added.
*Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
Trump says he discussed ending Ukraine war with Russia’s
Putin
Reuters/February 12, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President
Vladimir Putin on Wednesday about starting negotiations immediately to end the
war in Ukraine. “We have also agreed to have our respective teams start
negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky, of
Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing
right now,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform.
White House correspondents protest access denial over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ naming
issue
Reuters/February 12, 2025
WASHINGTON: The White House Correspondents’ Association protested a decision by
the White House on Tuesday to bar an Associated Press reporter from an event
with President Donald Trump over the news agency’s decision to continue
referring to the Gulf of Mexico. Trump signed an executive order in January
directing the Interior Secretary to change the name to the Gulf of America. “The
White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it
penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’
decisions,” Eugene Daniels, president of the association, said on Tuesday in a
statement posted on X. “The move by the administration to bar a reporter from
the Associated Press from an official event open to news coverage today is
unacceptable,” Daniels said. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said in a statement
earlier that its reporter had been blocked from attending an Oval Office event
after being informed by the White House it would be barred unless it aligned its
editorial standards with Trump’s order. “It is alarming that the Trump
administration would punish AP for its independent journalism,” Pace said,
adding that limiting access violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution
guaranteeing freedom of the press. The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of
Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years and, as a global news
agency, the AP will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new
name Trump has chosen. The White House did not immediately respond to requests
for comment on the statements by the WHCA and the AP. Mexico’s foreign ministry
also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Like the
US, Mexico has a long coastline circling the body of water. Mexican President
Claudia Sheinbaum in January jokingly suggested North America, including the
United States, be renamed “Mexican America” — a historic name used on an early
map of the region. Most news organizations, including Reuters, call it the Gulf
of Mexico although, where relevant, Reuters style is to include the context
about Trump’s executive order.
UK Muslim, Jewish leaders present reconciliation accord to King Charles after
summit
Arab News/February 12, 2025
LONDON: Senior Muslim and Jewish leaders from Britain held a secret summit that
resulted in the signing of a historic reconciliation accord that was presented
to King Charles III, The Times reported. The summit was hosted last month at the
17th-century Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland and involved 11 religious leaders.
The resulting agreement, dubbed the Drumlanrig Accord, was presented to the king
on Tuesday. He hailed the “marvellous exercise” and said the “least he could do”
was host the religious leaders. The summit, held at the invitation of the duke
of Buccleuch, aimed to repair ties between the UK’s Muslim and Jewish
communities in the wake of the Gaza war. “The leaders were honoured to be able
to present a copy of the accord to his majesty the king at Buckingham Palace,
underscoring its profound national and societal significance,” the group of
faith leaders said.
“A new framework for engagement … built on mutual respect, dialogue and
practical collaboration” between British Muslims and Jews was laid out in the
accord. It highlights the shared spiritual heritage of the two faiths.
Both communities committed to working together on “practical initiatives that
support the most vulnerable.”Observers hope that the accord will lead to the
establishment of a joint body that could monitor Islamophobic and antisemitic
incidents in Britain.
The idea for the summit was put forward by the chief imam of the Scottish Ahlul
Bayt Society, Sayed Razawi, who had been working for a year to bring Muslim and
Jewish figures together for dinners and meetings. Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of
the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, also played a key role.
Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam were represented. Civil servants and community
groups also attended. Razawi said: “Initially people were slightly nervous as
they were coming in and saw this huge castle that takes your breath away, but
within an hour and a half people were best of friends, joking, talking about
each other’s families, discussing issues and problems.” After eight hours of
discussion, the faith leaders agreed upon the accord. They met again on Tuesday
at Spencer House in London to sign the document, before walking together to
Buckingham Palace to present it to the king.
Mirvis said the accord represents “a bold first step towards rebuilding a
meaningful trust between Muslim and Jewish communities over the long term. “They
do not gloss over our differences; they acknowledge them. But they also send out
a powerful message that in times of division, when it is far easier to retreat
into fear and suspicion, we are prepared to take the more challenging path to
reconciliation.”
Indonesia, Turkiye agree to set up drone factory during Erdogan’s visit
Sheany Yasuko Lai/February 12, 2025
JAKARTA: Indonesian and Turkish defense companies agreed on Wednesday to set up
a jointly operated drone factory, as the two countries signed a series of deals
during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the Southeast Asian
nation. Erdogan arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday to co-chair with his Indonesian
counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic
Cooperation Council — a bilateral mechanism for state-level negotiations. After
the council meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a joint venture
deal between Turkish drone maker Baykar and Indonesian defense firm Republikorp
at the Bogor Palace, West Java. “Indonesia and Turkiye will also strengthen our
defense and security cooperation, including education and training for our armed
forces, intelligence partnership and counter-terrorism efforts. We also agreed
to increase our cooperation and joint production in the defense industry,”
Prabowo said during a joint press conference. “Our meeting was active and
productive, we have the same commitment to strengthen our partnership.”The
agreement to set up a drone factory in Indonesia was signed by Baykar CEO Haluk
Bayraktar and Republikorp Chairman Norman Joesoef. Details of the deal were not
immediately available. Baykar drones, particularly unmanned aerial combat
vehicle Bayraktar TB2, gained global prominence after they were used by
Ukraine’s military against Russian forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
in 2022. Indonesia and Turkiye — both members of the Group of 20 biggest
economies — also agreed to speed up negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, to boost bilateral trade, worth about $2.4
billion in 2024. They signed nine agreements, which besides defense, covered
trade, higher education, health care and agriculture. “We considered it
important to enhance our cooperation across various fields,” Erdogan said. “We
will work toward increasing our annual bilateral trade to $10 billion with
balanced values. We are committed to do all things necessary to realize this
commitment.”
OPEC Sticks to 2025, 2026
Global Oil Demand Growth Forecasts
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
OPEC on Wednesday stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in global
oil demand in 2025, saying air and road travel would support consumption and
potential trade tariffs were not expected to impact economic growth. The
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in a monthly report, said
world oil demand will rise by 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 and by
1.43 million bpd in 2026, Reuters reported. Both forecasts were unchanged from
last month. "It remains to be seen how and to what extent potential tariffs and
other policy measures will play out," OPEC said in the report. "So far, they are
not anticipated to materially impact the current underlying growth assumptions."
Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair says
Trump's annexation talk is not a "real threat"
The Canadian Press/February 12, 2025
BRUSSELS — Defence Minister Bill Blair says U.S. President Donald Trump's talk
of turning Canada into the 51st state is not a "real threat." The minister is in
Brussels to meet with NATO allies and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Blair
and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a breakfast meeting with NATO Secretary
General Mark Rutte Wednesday morning. Speaking to reporters after the meeting,
Blair said that while Trump's comments are "disrespectful and concerning," he
doesn't see them as a serious threat. "Certainly we're concerned about those
remarks, and I think overwhelmingly for all Canadians those remarks are
offensive. We're proud of our country," he said. "We've assured all of our
allies we're prepared to stand up for our country. I do not believe that
represents a real threat to us."Last week, Trudeau told Canadian business
leaders behind closed doors Trump's threat was "a real thing," citing Trump's
desire to access Canada's critical minerals. The Toronto Star was the first to
report on Trudeau's remarks, which were played on a loudspeaker after
journalists were asked to leave the room. Critical minerals are materials vital
to a country's economic or national security. Canada is a key supplier of 13 of
the 35 minerals on the United States' critical list, including tellurium,
niobium and uranium. Canada exported $29.8 billion worth of critical minerals to
the United States in 2023 — more than any other country, according to government
figures. Exports to the U.S. accounted for 59 per cent of all of Canada's
critical mineral exports. Blair also said he's set to meet with U.S. Defence
Secretary Pete Hegseth for the first time Wednesday while the two are in
Brussels. Trump recently called on NATO members to spend five per cent of their
GDP on defence — something no NATO country has accomplished. A third of NATO
allies — Canada included — are struggling to meet the alliance's two per cent
target. While the U.S. spends about 3.3 per cent of its GDP on defence, Hegseth
was noncommittal when asked by reporters Tuesday whether the U.S. would increase
its own spending to five per cent of GDP. "I think there's a discussion that
will take place at NATO with respect to the appropriate level of defence
spending," Blair said when asked how he would respond to calls for five per cent
defence spending. "Right now, I'm focused on meeting the commitment we've
already made. We're working really hard to accelerate our spending to get to the
two per cent threshold Canada has committed to. I believe that is
achievable."Pressed on whether Canada would ever considering increasing to five
per cent, Blair was noncommittal. "Even the United States does not spend five
per cent of its GDP on defence. The United States is a superpower and they're
able to project their power and authority around the world for many of the NATO
allies, including Canada," he said. "Our responsibility is, first of all, the
defence of our own country and our own continent, but also living up to our
obligations to NATO, to Norad and our alliance in the Indo-Pacific."
Saudi Navy Participates in
'Naseem Al Bahr 15' Exercise with Pakistan
Asharq Al Awsat/February 12/2025
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received
a telephone call on Wednesday from Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan
Fidan. During the call, the foreign ministers discussed regional developments
and efforts to address them.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 12-13/2025
Hamas Must Relinquish Power
Tariq Al-Homayed/Asharq Al Awsat/February
12/2025
The above title is not my opinion, but that of the Secretary-General of the Arab
League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who stated: "Hamas should relinquish power if serving
Palestinian interests demands it." This is the correct stance to take given the
escalating crisis in the region. It is a dangerous crisis. Yes, serving
Palestinian interests does demand that it do so. Aboul Gheit’s assertion on Al
Arabiya is extremely consequential, clear, and indeed sensible. His position
should be reiterated by Arab statesmen and institutions, and above all, by the
Palestinian Authority itself. This is not a sentimental question. Gaza and the
entire Palestinian cause are facing a very real threat that undermines
Jordanian, Egyptian, and Arab national security as a whole. What is happening
now, and the repercussions it would have, could fuel extremism and terrorism in
the region.
US President Donald Trump speaks of Gaza as "real estate" that he wants to own,
explicitly stressing his intention to displace its residents and prevent them
from ever returning. This is a dangerous statement - not a joke. Even if such a
plan is impractical, its real danger lies in its consequences, not just in
whether it can be carried out. And when President Trump hints that he is willing
to cut aid to Jordan and Egypt, this is not merely a threat. He is threatening
to blow up the most significant peace agreement the region has ever seen: the
Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. When President Trump, setting a
precedent, says that if the Israeli hostages in Gaza are not released by next
Saturday at precisely 12 noon, then "let hell break loose," he is not joking
either. If it were to break out, it would be the first Israeli war in the region
launched with the explicit blessing of a US president.
None of this is a joke, nor can any of this be downplayed or dismissed. Acting
on popular sentiment, which has never proven effective at any point during the
Israeli-Palestinian or Israeli-Arab conflict, is not a real option either. Here,
we must remember something crucial. Despite Trump’s escalating rhetoric, his
Secretary of State and several administration officials have stressed that
anyone who rejects displacement or any of Trump’s proposals must present an
alternative or better plan. I believe the first step of this alternative was
voiced by Aboul Gheit: Hamas must step aside. Hamas giving up on power serves
Palestinian and Arab interests. Hamas stepping aside would be less damaging than
jeopardizing Egypt and Jordan’s security or the destruction of Gaza itself.
There was a war. Its outcome is undeniable - regardless of Hamas or Iran’s
claims of a false victory. Iran, after all, has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon
because it recognizes that Hezbollah has been defeated, and it is now trying to
preserve what remains of Hezbollah. Gaza and its people also deserve such
pragmatism and acknowledgment of facts. Another undeniable fact (and everyone
understands this, whatever they say in public) is that there will be no
reconstruction or funding as long as Hamas remains in power. Who would even be
willing to rebuild a territory that might soon face its sixth war before
clearing the rubble? Accordingly, conducting the same failed experiments again
is not an option. The reality is clear, the dangers are imminent, and they must
be confronted with rationality, not slogans or emotions. Hamas must come to
terms with this.
Gaza: Between the Departure of Hamas or the Displacement of Its Residents
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al
Awsat/February 12/2025
How have the challenges surrounding Gaza shifted so quickly from the removal of
Hamas to the forced displacement of its entire population? Hamas has once again
miscalculated future developments, particularly regarding Donald Trump’s return
to the US presidency. The group stalled or delayed negotiations that lasted
nearly nine months to reach a resolution. However, with the change in leadership
in Washington, Hamas’s chances have diminished, while the suffering of Gaza’s
residents continues. President Trump is unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden. He
has decided to undo everything his predecessor sought to achieve. A clear
example of this is that instead of focusing on removing Hamas, he has introduced
the idea of displacing the people of Gaza. Certainly, Trump’s plan to expel two
million people is unrealistic, violates international law, and lacks support –
even within his own administration and Congress. However, this does not
necessarily mean he will be deterred from attempting to implement it unless Arab
leaders, in their upcoming meetings with him, succeed in persuading him to
abandon the idea. Initially, the issue at hand was halting the destruction of
Gaza and liberating it from both Israel and Hamas. But now, it has escalated
into a different crisis that threatens Gaza, the West Bank, Egypt, and Jordan.
Even if Trump ultimately backs down from his proposal, any conflict with Egypt
and Jordan will have serious repercussions for both countries and the broader
region. With the presidential transition in the US and Netanyahu’s successful
efforts to mend his relationship with Trump, I fear that Gaza is at risk of
facing a second round of war. Hamas refuses to leave, while Israel still has the
desire and military capability to continue fighting for another year.
Ultimately, Israel will succeed in eliminating what remains of Hamas after
having already destroyed and killed much of what was left standing.
This presents Hamas with another opportunity to correct past mistakes and make a
responsible decision in the interest of the two million people who have endured
immense suffering as a consequence of its October 7, 2023, attack. Despite
claims of victory, the people of Gaza know the truth better than anyone else.
The Palestinian Authority regained control of Gaza in 2005, and under an
agreement, settlements were dismantled, and all settlers were removed.
Following the destruction Gaza has suffered, Hamas has the ability to thwart
efforts for the mass displacement of its people. It can negotiate its own
departure in exchange for halting Trump’s plan. The choice, therefore, is either
Hamas or two million Palestinians.
The Israelis see the armed movement as a vulnerability they can exploit to
advance their agenda. At the same time, they seek to prevent any strengthening
of the Palestinian Authority or the establishment of any non-Israeli governance
in Gaza, as well as any progress toward a two-state solution. Hamas, or its
Achilles' heel—its stubbornness—will ultimately assist Netanyahu in securing the
support he needs from Trump for his military projects and political changes,
which he may still wish to pursue. Will Hamas prioritize responsibility over
populism and take the necessary steps to shift Trump’s plan from displacement to
reconstruction? Additionally, there will be no funding for Gaza’s
reconstruction, regardless of any promises made, as long as international and
Arab donors believe that the possibility of another war remains open. In the
past, hundreds of millions of dollars were spent rebuilding Gaza, only for
conflicts with Israel to destroy everything that had been constructed.
We need to do a better job choosing national
leaders
David Goldie/Special to Financial Post/ February 12, 2025
Having been an executive and board chair and participated in my share of
executive hiring in large organizations in both industry and government, I’ve
learned how a bad choice for leader can harm an organization and everyone
involved with it.
What can we learn from Justin Trudeau’s time in office in hopes of selecting
better national leaders in future?
Before he became Liberal party leader in 2013 at the age of 41, Trudeau’s
leadership was untested, and his record of personal accomplishment was very thin
for someone who aspired to the most important and challenging position in the
country. People do rise to challenges but the Liberal party and Canadians took a
huge risk in assuming Trudeau would do so, a risk that most people now feel has
blown up in our faces.
The one leadership quality Trudeau clearly does have is communication skill
driven by charisma. Good communication is obviously crucial but leadership
requires much more than that. Interpersonal skills such as emotional
intelligence and team-building, as well as vision and the ability to think
strategically are also key to effective decision-making and problem-solving.
Then there’s integrity and accountability. We often describe people with these
traits as having strength of character.
In hindsight, it’s clear Trudeau’s integrity was not what it should have been.
In several scandals he demonstrated poor ethical judgment and failed to be
accountable and assume responsibility, which set a bad example for his
subordinates in Cabinet. His failure seems partly driven by lack of emotional
intelligence in dealing with his ministers. He apparently didn’t build strong
personal connections so he could rely on their input, give them appropriate
responsibility and anticipate how they might react to his actions. The very
public and damaging blow-ups with Jody Wilson-Raybould and Chrystia Freeland
highlight this problem.
Part of the difficulty may be the size of his cabinet, almost 40, although he’s
not unique in that regard. In my experience, 40 is too big a group for effective
teamwork. It’s hard to build trust among so many people and receive meaningful
input from individuals, particularly during a meeting. When there’s no real
desire to let ministers make decisions on their own, the problem of too many
team members is exacerbated. An organization as large and complex as the federal
government simply cannot be effective if most of the power and decision-making
is concentrated in the Prime Minister’s Office. The leader needs to delegate a
reasonable amount of authority and set limits for what can be decided by
ministers and what requires the leader’s sign off. Micromanagement leads to
paralysis.
The number of cabinet ministers who report directly to the PM needs to be
reduced and their individual responsibility increased. A second layer of elected
parliamentary secretaries who report to cabinet ministers as part of their teams
would be a better leadership model than we currently have.
Our political parties need to do a better job selecting leaders. They could
consider requiring some level of leadership experience for candidates: time as a
minister or shadow minister or heading a major government agency. Leaders
develop a reputation quickly. Candidates for executive jobs are often vetted by
speaking with colleagues or subordinates in a position to judge their leadership
abilities. As for political candidates, the media could focus more on uncovering
their virtues and faults. A little digging would have disclosed Julie Payette’s
difficult leadership history before she was appointed governor general.
The likely party leaders in this year’s federal election all have very public
track records as cabinet ministers (Freeland and the Conservatives’ Pierre
Poilievre) or running not one but two central banks (the Liberals’ Mark Carney).
Party leadership races could be reoriented to place more emphasis on leadership
by including an event focused on exploring the candidates’ leadership records
and experiences.
Washington going policy-crazy doesn’t mean we should
Please, no ministries of trade diversification
Two weeks shouldn't overturn a century of links
Increasingly, we can all get a better read of our political leaders’ characters
directly. The shift in the news media landscape that has major political figures
submitting to long conversations on podcasts or videocasts makes it very
difficult for aspiring leaders to dodge questions or hide behind prepared
answers. This new format should give us a better read of candidates’ motivations
and character traits than TV news soundbites do. That’s reason for hoping we can
move on from an era that has been dominated by too many high-style,
low-substance leaders.
*David Goldie, a former oil and gas industry executive, recently completed a
term as board chair of the Alberta Energy Regulator.
Death Match: China's CCP vs. America's Democracy
Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/February 12, 2025
President Trump, according to reports, wants to go to Beijing in his first
hundred days and reach a bargain with China. Unfortunately, an enduring
accommodation with the Chinese regime is not possible.
China is not done killing with disease.
Driven by these beliefs [replacing the Westphalian order of sovereign states
with the Chinese imperial-era system], the Chinese regime has always thought it
had the right to do whatever it wanted to others.
Try as Americans might, they will never have amicable relations with China as
long as it is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party. There can be only one
survivor, either the People's Republic of China or the United States of America.
China is not done killing with disease. Researchers at the infamous Wuhan
Institute of Virology are now studying Ebola, undoubtedly to weaponize it. Try
as Americans might, they will never have amicable relations with China as long
as it is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party. There can be only one survivor,
either the People's Republic of China or the United States of America. Pictured:
A laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in Wuhan, China. (Photo by
Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump, according to reports, wants to go to Beijing in his first
hundred days and reach a bargain with China. Unfortunately, an enduring
accommodation with the Chinese regime is not possible.
Why not?
For one thing, the Communist Party of China (CCP) appears determined to kill
every person in the United States. A quarter-century ago, General Chi Haotian,
China's defense minister and vice chairman of the CCP's Central Military
Commission, reportedly gave a secret speech advocating the extermination of
Americans.
"It is indeed brutal to kill one or two hundred million Americans," he said.
"But that is the only path that will secure a Chinese century, a century in
which the Communist Party leads the world."
Chi's plan was to use disease to clear out the vast spaces of North America so
that the Chinese people could settle in the areas left uninhabited.
"The problem with the report of the Chi Haotian speech is that it cannot be
verified," Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center
told me. "When it was revealed in 2005, it seemed fantastical that China would
unleash biological warfare against the United States to massacre its population
and pave the way for a Communist Party invasion, occupation, and exploitation."
So did the general in fact give that speech? Events since then show that the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) today exhibits the ruthlessness reportedly shown
by General Chi then.
For instance, although there remains disagreement over the origins of
SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing COVID-19, there can be no argument over the
Chinese regime's actions following the outbreak of the disease in Wuhan.
For at least five weeks in December 2019 and January 2020, China tried to
deceive the world about the transmissibility of the disease, contending that
COVID-19 was not readily transmissible human-to-human, when it knew that the
coronavirus was highly contagious. At the same time, the regime pressured other
countries to accept arrivals from China without restriction while it was locking
down Wuhan and surrounding areas. Moreover, Chinese authorities tried to
suppress the release of the coronavirus genome sequence, apparently to prevent
others from understanding the disease and developing vaccines and other
preventative measures.
That means the Chinese regime was directly responsible for the killing — murder
— of approximately seven million people outside China, including 1.2 million
Americans. This act, an attack on non-Chinese, constituted a genocide, the
largest in history.
This was the first time in history that one nation attacked every other one.
China is not done killing with disease. Its National Defense University, in the
2017 edition of the authoritative Science of Military Strategy, mentioned a new
kind of biological warfare of "specific ethnic genetic attacks." American
officials are concerned that China has been experimenting with, in the words of
Bill Gertz of the Washington Times, "germ weapons capable of attacking ethnic
groups."
China is now moving beyond the research stage. In March 2023, federal and state
agencies raided an "unlicensed laboratory" in the city of Reedley, California
and found evidence suggesting a biological warfare facility.
The facility, run by Chinese fronting for parties in China, contained lab mice —
773 live and more than 175 dead — that were genetically engineered to carry
disease. Authorities also found medical waste, and chemical, viral and
biological agents. There were on-site at least 20 potentially infectious
pathogens including those causing coronavirus, HIV, hepatitis, herpes, and
Ebola.
Researchers at the infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology are now studying Ebola,
undoubtedly to weaponize it.
"This kamikaze lab — unsecured, poorly contained, makeshift, containing a couple
dozen pathogens near a population center — cannot be a one-off," Brandon
Weichert, author of Biohacked: China's Race to Control Life, said to me. "It is,
I believe, a part of a large Chinese military operation to spread disease
throughout the American population."
In addition, China is every year killing tens of thousands of Americans with
fentanyl, a chemical warfare project run by the Communist Party itself
The United States is the CCP's main target. In May 2019, People's Daily, the
most authoritative publication in China, carried a landmark editorial that
declared a "people's war" on America.
In 2023, PLA Daily, the official website of the Chinese military, defined that
term as "total war."
Why America? The Communist Party of China, with its strident anti-Americanism,
is establishing a justification to strike America. As James Lilley, America's
ambassador to Beijing during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, said, "The Chinese
always telegraph their punches."
The CCP views the United States as an existential threat. An insecure ruling
organization in Beijing is afraid of the inspirational impact on the Chinese
people of America's ideals and form of governance. "The Chinese regime reviles
the United States because it is a beacon to the world affirming the universal
entitlement to individual human rights of citizens everywhere and the power of
the noble principle of government of the people, by the people, and for the
people," Charles Burton, of the Sinopsis think tank, told Gatestone.
America is not the only target. "The Chinese regime has a strong innate
hostility to all," says Burton, who served as a Canadian diplomat in Beijing.
"The Chinese regime indoctrinates its people from childhood with a powerfully
emotive nationalism based on a comprehensive discourse of historical
humiliations. It seeks vengeance on all those who have, in its view, wronged
China."
These narratives feed into the Chinese regime's efforts to replace the
Westphalian international order of sovereign states with the Chinese
imperial-era system in which emperors believed they not only had the Mandate of
Heaven to rule tianxia — "all under Heaven" — but they also were compelled by
Heaven to do so. Driven by these beliefs, the Chinese regime has always thought
it had the right to do whatever it wanted to others. Chi Haotian's comments are
in line with a self-righteousness and malice inherent in Communist Party rule.
Try as Americans might, they will never have amicable relations with China as
long as it is ruled by the CCP. There can be only one survivor, either the
People's Republic of China or the United States of America.
Not both.
**Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China, a Gatestone
Institute distinguished senior fellow, and a member of its Advisory Board.
**Follow Gordon G. Chang 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.
Vienna Spits in the Eyes of Poland, Insults Its Historic
Saviors to Appease Its Historic Persecutors
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/February 12, 2025
Any Christian who dares stand against Islam — including by merely standing
against Islamic aggression and terror — is a monster who must be shunned.
Sounds crazy, you say? Well, consider the following bit of news: The city
council of Vienna refuses to honor John III Sobieski, the Polish king who saved
the Austrian capital from the Turks in 1683, with a statue due to — in the words
of one report — “concerns to do with Islamophobia.”
Here’s a brief summary of the Muslim siege of Vienna in 1683, by far one of the
most important confrontations between Islam and the West (so much so that I
allotted an entire chapter to it in my 2018 book, Sword and Scimitar): In the
summer of 1683, some 200,000 Muslims from Turkey invaded Austria — slaughtering
over 30,000 Christian captives — and laid siege to Vienna. For over two months,
the holed-up and vastly outnumbered Viennese suffered plague, dysentery,
starvation, and many casualties, especially of women and children.
Then, on September 12, when the city had reached its final extremity and the
Muslims were about to burst through, an anonymous English eyewitness wrote the
following:
After a siege of sixty days, accompanied with a thousand difficulties,
sicknesses, want of provisions, and great effusion of blood, after a million of
cannon and musquet shot, bombs, and all sorts of fireworks, which has changed
the face of the fairest and most flourishing city in the world, disfigured and
ruined [it] . . . heaven favorably heard the prayers and tears of a cast down
and mournful people.
The formidable king of Poland, John Sobieski, had led 65,000 horsemen to avenge
beleaguered Vienna. “It is not a city alone that we have to save, but the whole
of Christianity, of which the city of Vienna is the bulwark,” Sobieski had told
his men from atop a hill overlooking the city before leading a thunderous,
downhill cavalry charge — history’s largest — against the Muslims and
annihilating them.
Many Poles and Austrians, then and now, appreciated Sobieski’s heroic relief of
Vienna—to the point that, since at least 2013, they have been clamoring for a
monument to Sobieski on the hill where his army gathered. Although Vienna
initially agreed to it12 years ago, plans for any monument to Sobieski were
recently cancelled altogether.
Islamic Stronghold
Why? Because, and to quote city councilwoman Veronica Kaup-Hasler, “Vienna will
not erect a stage which can be abused for xenophobic agitation and for fomenting
Islamophobia and anti-Turkic sentiment.”
Interestingly, and despite her name, this Veronica looks much more Turkic than
Austrian. This would make sense because, after the Poles saved the Viennese from
Islam in 1683, the Viennese went on to welcome Islam in the name of tolerance,
multiculturalism, diversity, and all that. As a result, Vienna is now a bastion
of Islam inside Europe.
Yes, that’s right: although once a Catholic city and seat of the Holy Roman
Empire (hence why the Turks were so eager to conquer it), today there are more
Muslim than Catholic students in Vienna. Let that sink in for a while. And the
mosques they and their parents attend tend towards “radicalization.” When two
young Muslim boys were arrested before launching a terror attack on their school
in 2023, they confessed that “We wanted to shoot all the Christians in the
class!” Why? Because “Killing Christians takes us to paradise.”
Crime, as might be expected, is also rampant in Vienna, thanks precisely to this
influx of Islam. According to a report titled “Austrians living in fear as
violent migrant gangs carry out DAILY attacks in Vienna”:
Muggings and beatings are becoming commonplace in the historic capital city,
with passersby being attacked on almost a daily basis….The Praterstern area,
just outside central Vienna, is now controlled by North Africans and is
considered the worst area in the city for crime. Despite police increasing their
presence in the area it has become riddled with crime. On the other side of the
city, the area surrounding the West Railway Station has been taken over by
Afghans who have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons…. Crimes
carried out by migrants in Austria have risen rapidly over the past year as more
arrive in the country. .. Sex attacks carried out by asylum seekers has become a
serious problem in Austria, with a 133 per cent increase in migrant sex attacks
in just the past year since the migrant crisis erupted.
Indeed, as in other European nations, sex crimes — including against young boys
— have skyrocketed in Austria. According to one report, “Hardly a day goes by
without reports of sex attacks” at the hands of migrants. After Afghan migrants
tried to rape and assaulted a blonde woman, police responded by advising her to
dye her hair black.
Incidentally, all these reports and figures I’m relaying are from 2016 and 2017.
Since then, the Muslim population of the city has continued to grow — as has the
criminality.
‘Cancel Thyself’
Meanwhile, all that the Austrian government has done in the face of this
demographic change and Muslim aggression is pretend that it’s not happening.
School textbooks whitewash Islamic history — including the aforementioned siege
of Vienna — while demonizing Austria’s own “intolerant” Christian heritage.
Austrians are expected to cancel themselves as a way to appease Muslims.
Christmas festivities are “curtailed” in Vienna and other Muslim-heavy regions,
even as Catholic children are forced to learn and recite Islamic verse come
Ramadan. In one instance, after picking up her young son from school, one
Catholic mother was shocked to hear him loudly and repeatedly chanting, “Allah,
Allah!” until she learned that for two months the entire class had been
compelled, on pain of punishment, to memorize and chant Islamic incantations.
“It felt like a slap in my face!” said the mother in an interview.
Little wonder that a monument to Sobieski — the archenemy of they who now run
Vienna — is not allowed in the Austrian capital he so famously saved.
On the one hand, the masochistic Viennese—at least their elected officials—do
not want to offend the descendants of those Turks and Muslims who once
terrorized, slaughtered, and enslaved the people of Vienna—and who are
themselves currently criminalizing them; on the other hand, they have no problem
spitting in the eyes of the descendants of those Poles who gave their lives to
save Vienna from Islam.
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the
Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith
Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
The Paris Conference on Syria: Coordination and a Roadmap
Are Needed
Devorah Margolin, Souhire Medini/The Washington Institute./February 12/2025
To set up a future where U.S. forces and constant U.S. attention are no longer
needed in Syria, Washington must be involved now, and smart transatlantic
engagement could facilitate this goal.
The international conference on Syria, to be held in Paris on February 13, will
be the first gathering of international actors since the Trump administration
took office, and the third conference of its kind since the fall of the Assad
regime, following Aqaba and Riyadh. The agenda of the conference, which will be
attended by numerous regional and international foreign ministers, including
Syria’s, will focus on political transition, humanitarian aid, and rebuilding.
Yet all eyes are on the Trump administration, since the conference comes as
Washington has signaled skepticism toward ongoing engagement in Syria. The
country’s transition—and the gathering in Paris—present the United States and
its allies with an opportunity to create a roadmap with benchmarks for
stabilizing Syria, and by extension the Middle East. In so doing, Washington can
help set up a future without the need for U.S. forces in Syria or constant U.S.
attention.
Different Actors, Different Agendas
After five decades of authoritarianism and more than a decade of civil war, the
fall of the Assad regime has created both optimism and uncertainty. Since
December, countries inside and outside the region have exercised their interests
in Syria, often centered on stemming the flow of Captagon, terrorism, Iranian
influence, and instability that have long spread from the country’s borders.
Turkey’s agenda of defeating its nemesis, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), led
it to support the uprising by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and encourage Ankara’s
local partners—the militias that make up the Syrian National Army—to change the
realities on the ground, moving deeper into the country to push back the
U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes
targeted Bashar al-Assad’s military, while the Biden administration expanded its
operations against the Islamic State (IS) to areas formerly held by the regime.
Others, including the Gulf countries, sought to engage with Syria’s new
authorities, presumably to counter the Iranian influence that flourished under
Assad. Indeed, the transitional government appears particularly open to Gulf
engagement, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa making Saudi Arabia his first
international visit. For the European Union and United Kingdom, Syria’s long
civil war brought major consequences that included mass-casualty terrorist
attacks and over a million refugees, so they tend to see the emergence of new
rulers as a chance to rebuild the country and counter the IS threat.
While these and other actors have diverse interests in Syria’s future, the Paris
conference offers an opportunity to move past the post-Assad honeymoon period to
create concrete benchmarks for success and a roadmap for a stable Syria. The
task will not be easy, since perception gaps are wide. Among regional actors,
the most optimistic countries (Qatar and Turkey) are urging the international
community to support the transitional government before asking for proof of its
good faith; in contrast, the suspicious camp (Egypt and Jordan) remains prudent,
and the pragmatic camp (the United Arab Emirates) is apparently taking a “wait
and see” approach. In Europe, the discussion is still ongoing between the most
risk-tolerant countries—who have welcomed large numbers of refugees and would
like to see a general lifting of sanctions to hasten their return to Syria
(e.g., Austria)—and the most watchful countries, who insist that the EU should
be cautious and propose only reversible measures (e.g., Cyprus).
Syria’s Request for Assistance
The interests of Syrians themselves are likewise diverse. The transitional
government has called for national unity and has first and foremost asked for
the lifting of sanctions, with caretaker foreign minister Assad al-Shaibani even
linking sanctions relief to handling of the transition. The new leadership has
said the right things (e.g., emphasizing inclusion, calling for unity and
diaspora participation), but much uncertainty remains about their intentions on
the ground, including in the northeast. Civil society organizations have made it
clear that the heavy-handed HTS method of governance in Idlib cannot be applied
to all of Syria. Moreover, many Syrians argue that transitional justice must be
a central part of the entire conversation, and that the Paris conference should
build on the “justice dialogue” held last month in Damascus by Syrian civil
society organizations.
Complications Loom on Coordination
Bringing such a diverse group of actors together to set out a clear roadmap will
not be an easy task, especially as NATO ally Turkey appears willing to sideline
Europe in order to reach its main goal—defeating the PKK at home and
abroad—while simultaneously increasing its influence in Syria. Ankara is less
vocal today than in the past about its ability to take over the fight against IS
in the northeast on its own. Yet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may still try to
convince President Trump that a grand bargain is possible—one in which all U.S.
troops would simply have to leave so that a regional platform made up of Turkey,
Syria, Iraq, and Jordan could step in and take the reins of the counter-IS fight
and control of prisons in the northeast.
Ankara’s offer might sound tempting to the Trump administration, which has
initiated the most far-reaching overhaul of U.S. foreign assistance in decades,
is dismantling the principal U.S. agency responsible for extending this
assistance, and has once again floated the idea of removing U.S. troops from
Syria. Although the Defense Department has made plans for a possible withdrawal,
the future of the U.S. presence remains unclear, as Secretary of State Marco
Rubio also recently said, “If there is an opportunity in Syria to create a more
stable place than what we’ve had historically...we need to pursue that
opportunity and see where that leads.” U.S. ambiguity has created uncertainty
for many in the international community, who want Washington to help guarantee
that the IS threat in Syria does not spread.
The decision by many European and Middle Eastern countries not to complete the
process of repatriating foreign fighters and families in Syrian territory
further complicates the talks. Trump will likely reiterate previous calls to
repatriate all foreign nationals held in the northeast. In France, as in other
European countries previously targeted by IS-inspired terrorist attacks, it will
be difficult to overcome domestic political opposition to bringing these
individuals back home. Moreover, these transatlantic discussions are set against
the backdrop of other contentious issues, including Trump’s statements about
purchasing Greenland and the threat of tariffs on the EU.
Recommendations
France has stepped forward on Syrian coordination efforts. For the Paris
conference to succeed, it should seek to be more than an international photo
opportunity. Smart transatlantic engagement now will ensure a future in which
Syria is stable and U.S. forces are no longer required. The following steps
could facilitate this goal:
Transatlantic coordination. Despite the difficulties noted above, this is a
pragmatic opportunity for Washington and its European allies to facilitate a
transition that helps stabilize Syria and, by extension, the Middle East. For
the Trump administration, the Paris conference offers a chance to proactively
coordinate with partners to reach the administration’s strategic goals. A clear
U.S. policy on Syria is the only way to ensure that actors such as Russia will
not fill the gap left behind by Washington and its allies.
Sanctions. Lifting U.S. and EU sanctions without coordination—and without
concrete benchmarks—would be a mistake. The process of easing sanctions has
begun on both sides of the Atlantic. On January 6, the U.S. Treasury Department
issued General License 24, which eased sanctions on Syrian transactions related
to energy and personal remittances. On January 27, the EU announced a partial,
gradual lifting of sectoral sanctions. The Paris meeting gives them an
opportunity to coordinate these concrete benchmarks with other allies before the
scheduled meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on February 24. While the
legal response will take time and the lifting of sanctions is a lengthy process,
it is important for U.S. and EU decisions to produce clear and reasonable
consequences within a feasible timeframe. U.S. and European officials should
also help with rebuilding trust between Syria’s transitional government and the
UN, as well as ending restrictions on aid from international financial
institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Agreement with partners in northeast Syria. Like the United States and EU,
Turkey seeks to stitch Syria back together into a more or less coherent whole
that can serve as a stable neighbor. It should therefore remain a Western ally
in Syria. However, the United States and EU countries also need to advance their
own interests, which do not necessarily align with Ankara’s and include
preventing Russia from regaining influence there. Accordingly, Washington and
its European partners should double down on pushing for a Damascus-SDF
reconciliation before leaving, since many allies worry that a U.S. withdrawal
without proper planning and caution could have Afghanistan-like consequences.
This reconciliation will be tricky to secure; negotiations currently seem to be
stuck on the SDF’s continued bid for administrative autonomy. Yet it is not out
of reach, and the talks should continue.
A roadmap and benchmarks. For the first time since the end of the Assad regime,
neighbors, regional actors, Western countries, and the new Syrian authorities
will be able to agree on a joint statement. A vague, noncommittal statement
would certainly miss the point. Some actors are deservedly suspicious of the
transitional government, and Damascus will need time to earn the full trust of
the Syrian population and the international community. The Paris conference
should be the moment when foreign actors move past the excitement surrounding
Assad’s ouster and begin laying out their expectations. As Sharaa recently told
the Economist, Syria under Assad was a source of concern for its neighbors and
did not fulfill its basic duties toward the Syrian people. Many in Paris will be
looking to the transitional government to lay out clear benchmarks for an
inclusive government that adheres to the spirit of UN Security Council
Resolution 2254 with a realistic timeline. These benchmarks should include:
a call for an inclusive political process that encompasses Syrian civil society
and the different components of the population, including the drafting of a new
constitution
a strategic plan to take appropriate counterterrorism actions against IS,
al-Qaeda and its affiliates, and Iranian-associated armed groups
a strong commitment to the destruction of the previous regime’s chemical weapons
program, in close cooperation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons
a strong commitment by the transitional government to dismantle the Captagon
trade and prevent its resurgence
a strong commitment to continue holding those responsible for regime crimes
accountable, particularly crimes committed during the civil war
Transitional justice is a vital part of the reconstruction process, and one of
the best ways to help build a stable new Syria that will no longer pose a threat
to the region.
Devorah Margolin is the Blumenstein-Rosenbloom Senior Fellow at The Washington
Institute. Souhire Medini is a visiting fellow at the Institute, in residence
from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Ukraine Can Help Dismantle Russia’s Influence in the Middle
East
Anna Borshchevskaya//The Washington Institute./February 12/2025
With strategic Western support on grain deliveries, embassy staffing,
counter-messaging, and other initiatives, Ukraine can contribute much to rolling
back Moscow’s malign influence in the region.
The fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has dealt a significant blow to
Russia’s ambitions in the Middle East. Yet Russia still retains influence across
the region through trade, diplomacy, and military ties. Even now, Moscow
maintains a presence in Syria, making it imperative for the West to capitalize
on Russia’s setback there and work to reduce its influence across the region.
One way to achieve this is by supporting Ukraine’s efforts to build stronger
ties in the Middle East.
First, Ukraine can assist in rebuilding Syria, an effort Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed willingness to undertake. While much attention
is given to the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria, its commercial
ties to the country are equally important.
The U.S. can support Ukrainian trade with Syria, starting with food. Until
recently, Russia was the largest supplier of wheat to Syria—grain largely stolen
from Ukraine. However, with the fall of Assad’s regime, these shipments have
been suspended, creating an ideal opening for Kyiv. Wheat could serve as a
starting point for expanded trade, alongside the development of diplomatic,
cultural, and potentially military ties between the two nations. Ukrainians have
already taken initial steps to build diplomatic relations with Syria, and a
strengthened Ukrainian presence there could limit Russia’s options beyond its
military bases, should it manage to retain them. Second, Ukraine can assist the
West in countering Russian narratives across the Middle East and Africa.
Moscow’s influence in these regions has been significant, helping explain why
some Middle Eastern partners have not supported Western efforts to isolate
Russia.
Ukrainians themselves acknowledge their failure to invest in the region,
allowing Russian propaganda to take root. In private conversations, Ukrainian
officials have admitted to this misstep, but they are now taking steps to change
it, including opening more embassies across the Middle East and Africa. The West
can support Ukraine in these efforts, helping the region understand Ukraine’s
position.
Building meaningful relationships in the Middle East has proven challenging for
Ukraine, and here the West can play a crucial role. Kyiv lacks sufficient
diplomats to staff its embassies, and the West can help build Ukraine’s
diplomatic capacity. Moreover, Ukrainians would benefit from Western guidance in
navigating the region’s complex cultural landscape to craft more effective
messaging. Kyiv urgently needs personnel capable of engaging with the region. In
addition to diplomatic and cultural training, Ukrainians could collaborate with
Western governments to establish a more prominent media presence as a
counterbalance to outlets like RT Arabic and Sputnik. Lastly, Ukraine can share
its experience with Iran as part of its increased engagement with the Middle
East, assisting Arab partners (and Israel) in countering Iranian influence.
After Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine and Iran’s supply of short-range
ballistic missiles to Russia, Ukraine has gained valuable insights into dealing
with Iran. These lessons could benefit audiences in the region, and the West can
help shape this engagement, highlighting the similarities between Ukraine’s
fight against Russia and Middle Eastern efforts to push back against Iran’s
malign activities.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has underscored the
interconnectedness of the Middle East and European theaters. Western support for
Ukraine can help Kyiv secure new revenue to fund its fight against Russia, as
well as bolster its credibility in the Muslim world.
A greater Ukrainian presence in the Middle East will offer multiple benefits for
the West, contributing to a shift in the regional power balance in its favor and
countering Russia’s influence. Ukrainians understand that victory over Russia
requires expanding their influence beyond Europe. The West has every reason to
empower them in this effort in the Middle East.
*Anna Borshchevskaya is the Harold Grinspoon Senior Fellow in The Washington
Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power
Competition and the Middle East. This article was originally published on the
Kyiv Independent website.
A Palestinian national unity government is urgently needed
Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/February 12, 2025
One of the many reasons US President Donald Trump made his outlandish remarks
about taking over Gaza and removing its people was based on false information.
Trump, — who seems to have only been briefed by his right-wing Cabinet and
ambassadorial team, as well as Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes
— argued that there is no one that can govern Gaza. That falsehood has been
created because the current settler-influenced Israeli government not only
refuses to allow Hamas to govern the Gaza Strip but also rejects any role for
the Ramallah-based Palestinian government.
Naturally, much can be said about the performance of the Palestine Liberation
Organization’s leadership in Ramallah, but no one questions its legitimacy. In
fact, the Israelis themselves recognize, deal with and sometimes honor the
agreements signed with the PLO.
The second and third phases of the current ceasefire agreement include the need
to finalize the prisoner exchange and end the Israeli army’s presence in the
Gaza Strip and along the Egyptian border with Palestine. This will require an
answer as to who will govern Gaza and thereby ensure that the Oct. 7, 2023,
cross-border attack by Hamas’ military wing will not be repeated.
Various offers have been made in this regard but they have all failed to
materialize. Israel has made it clear that it refuses any Hamas role, as well as
any role for the legitimate Palestinian government based in Ramallah.
For its part, Israel has attempted to recreate what was known in the 1980s as
the Village Leagues, which basically means appointing local tribal and large
family leaders to run Gaza. No one from Gaza was interested.
Then Egypt offered a technocratic committee made up of people who are neither
Hamas nor Fatah. The Palestinian leadership rejected this idea, fearing it would
create a dual legal system, one in Gaza and one in the West Bank, thereby
legitimizing rather than ending the split.
The PLO-Hamas split was caused when Hamas militants threw out the national guard
security that was loyal to the Palestinian presidency and replaced it with what
was then called the Executive Force, made up of armed Hamas personnel.
The fact is that Hamas cannot and is unlikely to rule Gaza not only because
Israel will not agree to it, but also because the Strip will receive no
reconstruction funds if the group continues to govern it. But while Hamas will
not solely govern Gaza, there is no doubt that anyone doing so will need to have
the acquiescence of the armed men of Hamas that have withstood and caused pain
and damage to the Israeli army, and therefore could do the same to any invader
that enters without their approval.
The above failures all make it clear that the best and most sustainable solution
that will receive acceptance by the world community is some form of the current
Ramallah-based Palestinian government. But for the Ramallah security forces to
be able to govern the Gaza Strip, a political solution needs to be found to
which Hamas will agree. The general framework that many believe can work is for
a national unity government to be formed in consultation with the political
leadership of Hamas. Such a government need not have any Hamas members in it,
but it would make sense if Hamas could be involved in the choice of the
governing team and could reach an agreement with the PLO on the way a national
unity government running the West Bank and Gaza would operate.
For the Ramallah security forces to be able to govern the Gaza Strip, a
political solution needs to be found to which Hamas will agree.
Such a unity government would require an agreement on the future efforts aimed
at ending the Israeli occupation and ensuring the creation of an independent
Palestinian state. Politically, Hamas agrees to a Palestinian state on the 1967
borders, but the big question is how to get to that goal. Here, a major
disagreement might arise, as Hamas will insist on the need for retaining some
form of armed resistance to the occupation, while the moderate PLO leadership
under Mahmoud Abbas has long opposed any form of militarization of the
resistance, considering that the group has signed an agreement with Israel.
The Oslo Accords were supposed to be a five-year transitional period, but that
has turned into more than 30 years. It is also true that the illegal Jewish
settler population has quadrupled in size since the signing of the Declaration
of Principles at the White House in 1993. On the other hand, the armed
resistance that Hamas espouses has also proven disastrous to the Palestinian
people, even though it has helped gain (due largely to the Israelis’ genocidal
war) huge sympathy and solidarity around the world.
Palestinians need to remove any excuse or justification for delaying Israel’s
withdrawal from Gaza in the next two phases by quickly reaching some sort of
power-sharing plan that can include a national unity government to govern Gaza
and help usher in funding for its reconstruction. This government also needs to
be empowered to engage politically with Israel and the US to reach a permanent
solution that can allow for the creation of an independent Palestinian state
alongside Israel.
*Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris
Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of “State of
Palestine NOW: Practical and logical arguments for the best way to bring peace
to the Middle East.” X: @daoudkuttab
EU resets relations with AI industry, but at what price?
Mohamed Chebaro/Arab News/February 12, 2025
Of all the big summits I have reported on over the years, the ones that yield
the least are those that carry the most pompous and wide-ranging agendas. The
Paris Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, held this week, risks being one
such event. It saw heads of state, top government officials, CEOs and tech
company executives and scientists, in addition to other market and industry
stakeholders and civil society from more than 100 countries, rub shoulders while
grappling with the real-world impacts of AI. Two years on from the emergence of
OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, AI has been fueling both immense hope and, at times,
exaggerated fear, depending on which side of the equation you stand. The Paris
summit was the third such gathering. The first was held in 2023 in the UK and
resulted in a nonbinding pledge by 28 nations to tackle AI risks. A follow-up
meeting hosted by South Korea last year secured another pledge to set up a
network of public AI safety institutes to advance research and testing.
Participants in Paris reaffirmed the fact that the world is experiencing a tech
and scientific revolution the likes of which has rarely been seen before. But
they did not offer much in terms of enabling people to live better, learn
better, work better or care better. They again failed to bridge the gap between
the stakeholders and developers of AI and the market, the consumer and
regulators, particularly when geopolitics and state interests enter the fray. Is
technological prowess not always synonymous with military and political power?
And, as expected, the world stood divided once more, with the US and UK on one
side and the EU, China and India on the other. The Paris meeting’s closing
declaration agreed to prioritize regulation to make AI’s development “open” and
“ethical,” but neither the UK nor the US, which is home to the world’s largest
AI companies, signed the agreement. The Americans claimed that regulation kills
AI and the British insisted that the declaration did not sufficiently address
“harder questions around national security.”
The organizers tried to get countries to commit to a more ethical, democratic
and environmentally sustainable AI. But in the fragmented world in which we
live, the time has not yet come to put competition aside in favor of the common
good. The recent spat, when a cheaper AI model emerged in the form of China’s
DeepSeek, is very telling about how the world is still too far apart to come
together and agree on governance, regulations and due diligence to limit the
harms caused by AI.
The French, like many in the EU, wanted to use this summit to play catch-up and
claim a share of the development and ownership of AI, as it has been concluded
that the technology is not mere hype but a game-changer on all levels. And those
who fail to tap into it could be left behind politically, economically, socially
and even militarily. So, France and Europe in general are looking increasingly
like they are in the process of abandoning their guardrails in the race to
develop better-than-human AI through sheer computing power and Paris’ initial
calls to direct AI toward solving society’s problems, particularly the ills of
industry and the health sector, have become muted.
It seems that alignment with the age of Trump 2.0 is high on the agenda of the
old continent’s leaders, regardless of what they say. They are increasingly
certain that the world has changed and the old norms of nominally respecting the
rule of law and multilateral institutions and governance are increasingly
irrelevant. The US does not shy away from asserting its desire to become the
world capital of AI development through tapping its oil and gas reserves to feed
this energy-hungry technology. Also, Donald Trump’s narrative points to a
lukewarm approach to even light regulation, as he seeks to maintain America’s
global supremacy and leadership through reducing regulatory barriers and
building AI systems free of any ideological biases. The EU, despite being a
third entrant in a two-horse race led by Washington and Beijing, could have a
shot at making an impact, but only if it reverses years of red tape and
regulation aimed at protecting society from the excesses of AI technology and
its potential harms. DeepSeek’s release of its latest model last month stunned
the world because of its ability to rival Western players like ChatGPT. It also
escalated the wider geopolitical showdown between Beijing and Washington over
tech supremacy. But it also showed the EU that there are possibilities for a new
breakthrough that could tilt the balance toward Europe, effectively making AI a
three-horse race.
DeepSeek showed the EU that there are possibilities for a new breakthrough that
could tilt the balance toward Europe.
The EU’s messaging around the summit has reflected a clear divergence from its
former rhetoric in a bid to soften its narrative, as well as its rulebook. Henna
Virkkunen, the European Commissioner for tech sovereignty, security and
democracy, agreeing with the tech industry about the need to review the EU’s
regulatory regime is unprecedented. Her calls to review overlapping regulations
and remove the administrative burden from the EU’s tech industry have been
applauded, but the question is how far will this go? Will the EU even do away
with its AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive set of rules governing the
technology?
If anything, the Paris summit sadly showed that making AI more sustainable for
people and planet is out, as more of Europe’s productivity is dependent on being
a leader in this emerging technology and using it to serve its member states,
businesses and societies, while securing its independence in the tech realm in a
way that serves national interests. For now, it seems that the way forward for
the EU is to attempt a lighter-touch approach to AI regulation. The worry is
that weakening existing regulations might not be enough, as the world — led by
Trump and his tech partners — is driving the agenda and both directly and
indirectly pushing us toward more uncertainty, fewer human rights and AI that
will ultimately challenge existing norms and human skills, rendering some jobs
redundant and all workers less protected.
**Mohamed Chebaro is a British-Lebanese journalist with more than 25 years’
experience covering war, terrorism, defense, current affairs and diplomacy.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not
necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view
Syria’s reintegration into the Middle East is underway
Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab News/February 12, 2025
For more than a decade, Syria was isolated from the Arab world and the regional
political landscape. Following former President Bashar Assad’s brutal response
to the 2011 Arab uprisings, the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership. Over
the years, Western and Arab sanctions on the country tightened, putting it in an
economic quagmire. Yet, Assad’s regime survived — largely due to support from
Russia and Iran — and various political and military attempts to overthrow him
failed. Assad also led Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League in 2023.
Given the extent of the resilience of Assad’s regime, his ouster in an abrupt
offensive led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham late last year perplexed the international
community. In early December, his regime collapsed and set into motion a
political trajectory whose implications for Syria and the wider region remain to
be seen. Ahmad Al-Sharaa took over as the Syrian Arab Republic’s interim
president. Since his assent to power, he has embarked on a series of diplomatic
visits to Gulf leaders, underscoring his effort to strategically reposition
Syria within the Arab world. Notably, Al-Sharaa’s first visit was to Riyadh,
where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This move was no
coincidence — Al-Sharaa recognizes Saudi Arabia’s influence over and centrality
to regional politics, as well as its role in financing Syria’s reconstruction.
In parallel, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani last month became the
first head of state to visit Damascus since Assad’s fall. Doha also hosted
Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, who emphasized that the new
Damascus administration would pursue foreign policies distinct from those of the
previous regime. The UAE seems to be taking a more cautious stance. Anwar
Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, raised concerns regarding
HTS given its perceived links to Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. Despite
the UAE’s caution, the country has shown its support for Syria’s reintegration
into the Arab world. President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan recently
spoke with Al-Sharaa, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties and reaffirming
Emirati support for Syria’s independence and territorial sovereignty.
After his visit to Saudi Arabia, Al-Sharaa headed to Turkiye to meet President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders discussed security cooperation, with a
particular focus on Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria, and regional
instability. Turkiye’s primary concern remains the disbandment of the Syrian
Democratic Forces, which Ankara views as an extension of the PKK. Al-Sharaa’s
leadership of and alignment with anti-Assad forces position him as a strong ally
for Turkiye, which supported opposition groups aiming to overthrow Assad’s
regime.
Al-Sharaa has embarked on a series of visits, underscoring his effort to
strategically reposition Syria within the Arab world
Syria’s relationship with Lebanon was, until recently, characterized by
hostility and distrust. Years of tensions, largely fueled by Hezbollah’s close
ties to Iran and its role in propping up the Assad regime during the Syrian
civil war, further deepened the divide. The Lebanese-Syrian border became a hub
for illicit trade, notably the smuggling of captagon, and the Syrian refugee
crisis exacerbated political instability in Lebanon. However, under Al-Sharaa’s
leadership, a shift is underway.
In a historic meeting, then-interim Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati last
month visited Damascus — the first such visit since the outbreak of the civil
war in 2011. Al-Sharaa stated: “There will be long-term strategic relations
between us and Lebanon. We and Lebanon have great shared interests.” The two
leaders agreed on the formation of a joint committee tasked with delineating
both land and maritime borders.
Similarly, under Assad’s leadership, Damascus played a destabilizing role in
Iraq, particularly in the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion. The Syrian
government was accused of allowing extremist fighters and insurgents to cross
into Iraq. The situation became even more complicated with the emergence of
Daesh, whose cross-border attacks heightened security concerns on both sides.
Al-Sharaa’s rise to power initially did little to ease tensions. Iraqi officials
— especially those linked to Iran-backed factions — were wary of the new Syrian
leadership’s links with extremist groups. Iraq responded by tightening border
controls and maintaining a military presence. However, it gradually adjusted its
stance, moving from outright hostility to a more pragmatic approach. Iraqi
leaders have since emphasized respect for Syria’s sovereignty and stability,
while recognizing the right of Syrians to determine their political future.
Syria stands at a defining moment in its history. After years of conflict and
isolation, it is cautiously reemerging on the regional stage through diplomatic
communication efforts. But the path forward remains uncertain. Al-Sharaa has
made it clear that Syria’s transition will not be immediate, stating that
presidential elections could take four to five years to materialize. These years
will be challenging, not only for Syria but for the region as a whole. With Al-Sharaa
at the helm, Syria will reassess old foes and allies alike to build
relationships that align with the current geopolitical realities in the Middle
East. This revised calculation is also necessary at a time when Syria requires
all the international support it can get for its reconstruction. The flurry of
diplomatic meetings within the first month of the new government indicates the
willingness of regional partners to stabilize Syria, given its outsized impact
on security and refugee movement in the region at a time when it is embroiled in
conflict. Syria’s geopolitical weight is undeniable, as it shares borders with
Turkiye, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan — states that suffered the consequences of
Assad’s policies and Syria’s prolonged instability.
Rebuilding Syria and fostering stability will require more than diplomatic
statements and visits. The coming days and weeks will be defined by complex
negotiations over territorial disputes, the establishment of political
structures, the rebuilding of the Syrian economy, the fight against smuggling
and the reintegration of Syrian refugees. Bilateral agreements, regional
cooperation and economic assistance will be key to ensuring that Syria is not
just reintegrated in the region but also transformed into a beacon of stability
and growth.
• Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients
between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid.