English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For March 20/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ
Letter to the Galatians 01/01-10/:”Paul an apostle sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead and all the members of God’s family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 19-20/2025
St. Joseph’s Day Annual/Elias Bejjani//March 19/2025
Text and Video: The Salam Government’s Contradictions and Hezbollah’s Collapse—Between the Illusion of Stupidity and the Unmasking on the Lebanese-Syrian Border/Elias Bejjani/March 18/2025
Etienne Sakr - Abu Arz/The Loose Lebanese-Syrian Border
UN Peacekeeper Wounded in a Mine Explosion in Southern Lebanon
Lebanese army begins securing border with Syria, closes illegal crossings
Lebanese Army Enters Border Town After Syrian Groups Withdraw
Syrian Army: We Will Respond Firmly to Any Hezbollah Violation of Our Understanding with Lebanon
Yakouf: Lebanon is an independent country that makes its decisions itself and we trust in the leadership of Aoun and Salam
SANA: A Lebanese -Syrian Agreement on the town of Hosh Al -Sayed Ali
In the video- Hezbollah supporters "convincing" receive the army with treachery and are exposed to the media!
The party is starting to accept the new reality ... the next stage is the delivery of weapons?
Moving Past “Wait and See” in South Lebanon: The U.S.-French Role/Souhire Medini/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 19-20/2025
Video Link to a Panel On Iran's Nuclear Issue from, "The Washington Institute Site/Bombing Iran’s Nuclear Program, Implications of Preventive Action
Trump Warns Yemen's Houthis 'Will Be Completely Annihilated' as US Launches More Strikes
Syrian Government, Kurdish Officials Discuss Merging Their Armed Forces
Ukraine ceasefire in ‘couple of weeks’
Trump and Zelenskyy Wrap up Call a Day after Talks with Russia about Possible Ceasefire
Jordan's King: Israel's Resumption of Gaza Attacks a 'Dangerous Step'
Israel launches a ground operation to retake part of a key corridor in northern Gaza
Israel launches fresh Gaza strikes as it vows to fight 'in full force'
US says 'bridge proposal' on table for Gaza ceasefire but window 'closing fast'
Gaza trauma surgeon says half of patients injured in Israeli strikes were children
EU signals a new drive to buy European weapons and break its security dependency on the US
Poilievre says he's a 'tough guy to deal with' and can take on Trump and his taunts
Canada condemns China after it executes Canadians over 'drug-related crime'
Pope Francis No Longer Using Ventilation, Confirmed as Improving, Vatican Says

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 19-20/2025
Germany: Toward a New Domination of Europe?/Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/March 19, 2025
Weapons, war and wealth: The business of arms in the Middle East/Nabih Bulos/Los Angeles Times/March 19, 2025
Iran’s ties to Western organized crime networks/Janatan Sayeh/FDD's Long War Journal/March 19/2025
Are Tunisia and Iran Really Growing Closer?/Sabina Henneberg/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
Iraq’s PMF Law Is No Substitute for Real Security Reform/Hamdi Malik, Michael Knights/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
The Dual Face of Qais al-Khazali: Extremist at Heart, Politician by Necessity/Hamdi Malik/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
Egypt’s plan for the reconstruction of Gaza/Badr Abdelatty, opinion contributor/The Hill/March 19, 2025
Netanyahu’s War On The World/Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al Awsat/March 19, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 19-20/2025
St. Joseph’s Day Annual عيد ما يوسف البتول
Elias Bejjani//March 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/73094/
The Feast of Saint Joseph the Virgin, celebrated annually on March 19, holds deep spiritual and familial significance, particularly for our Bejjani family, Youssef, a name we have proudly carried for generations. On this blessed anniversary, we implore God and His angels to protect our beloved son Youssef and our grandson Joseph, both of whom bear this holy name.
This sacred feast is an important occasion in the Maronite-Roman Catholic tradition, honoring the life of Saint Joseph, the esteemed stepfather of Jesus and the chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary. Among devout believers, particularly the Lebanese Maronites, March 19 is not only a day of commemoration but is also regarded as the birthday of Saint Joseph. His life, characterized by devotion, obedience, humility, and unwavering faith, serves as a guiding light for countless families who hold him in deep reverence.
In Lebanon, Saint Joseph is venerated as the patron saint of families, admired for his exemplary role as a devoted husband and father. His life embodies faith, honesty, generosity, and tireless dedication—virtues long cherished and practiced by Lebanese families and deeply rooted within our own family values.
Saint Joseph's divine mission was of the utmost importance; entrusted by God with the care of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, he fulfilled his responsibilities with deep love, dedication, and selflessness. As the earthly guardian of the Holy Family, he exemplified loyalty and an unshakable commitment to his divine calling, making him a timeless symbol of fatherhood, protection, and faith.
As we honor Saint Joseph today, we reflect on the virtues he embodied—his humility, strength, and steadfast devotion to carrying out God's will. May his legacy continue to inspire us to fulfill our paternal and pastoral roles within our families and communities, striving to emulate his unwavering faith, love, and selflessness. On this holy and blessed day, we offer prayers of gratitude and supplication to the Lord for all His gifts and blessings. We extend our heartfelt blessings to all who bear the name Joseph, praying that they follow in the footsteps of our beloved saint and uphold his virtuous example in their lives.

Text and Video: The Salam Government’s Contradictions and Hezbollah’s Collapse—Between the Illusion of Stupidity and the Unmasking on the Lebanese-Syrian Border
Elias Bejjani/March 18/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141336/
There is no doubt that the statement made by Hezbollah-affiliated Minister Tamara Zain in Nawaf Salam's government—"I am not in favor of a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament because politics change according to circumstances. The presence of occupation automatically grants the right to resistance." is a blatant and public violation of the government's commitments to the constitution and international resolutions. It places Aoun, Salam, and the entire government in a ministerial solidarity crisis from the outset.
The Lebanese sovereignists urgently raise this question, Is the minister speaking on behalf of the government or the entity that appointed her? How can a government launch its work, oversee the implementation of the ceasefire, enforce all international resolutions, dismantle Hezbollah’s mini-state, and eliminate all its military, educational, financial, terrorist, and intelligence structures while harboring such contradictions within itself? A clear and public stance is required today, not tomorrow, from Nawaf Salam and Joseph Aoun.
For decades, Hezbollah has used deceptive tactics to manipulate the Lebanese people, believing it could fool them into thinking it is defending Lebanon. However, the truth has never been clearer: the ongoing clashes on the Lebanese-Syrian border are not about national resistance or protection. Instead, they are a fight between Hezbollah’s smuggling gangs and militia criminals on one side and the forces of the new Syrian regime under Ahmad Al-Sharaa on the other. This conflict exposes Hezbollah for what it truly is—a mercenary organization serving Iran’s interests at the expense of Lebanon.
In the past, Hezbollah hid behind so-called "civilians" in southern Lebanon to justify attacks on UNIFIL forces and blackmail the international community. Now, after suffering humiliating defeats and exposing the falsehood of its so-called military strength, it is attempting the same tactic in the Bekaa Valley, this time under the banner of "tribes." However, the difference between the two scenarios is striking: while the first lasted for years due to the absence of a decisive international response, the second has already failed. The political landscape has changed, and the international and regional cover that once shielded Hezbollah is now disappearing. Moreover, the true tribal communities in Bekaa refuse to be used as pawns in Hezbollah’s dirty militia war, which serves only Iran’s destructive agenda.
All facts indicate that those Hezbollah labels as "tribes" are, in reality, groups of smugglers and mercenaries under its direct command. The real tribal leaders in Bekaa have no connection to this conflict and reject Hezbollah’s attempt to drag them into a war that does not serve Lebanon. This is not a battle for national defense but rather a brutal power struggle between Hezbollah’s armed gangs and the Syrian regime’s forces, creating chaos and destruction that harm both the Lebanese and Syrian people.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah is trying to drag the Lebanese Army into this conflict, but this is not its war. The Lebanese Army has no role in this militia battle, as it is a confrontation between unlawful groups that do not represent the Lebanese state or respect its sovereignty. Any attempt to involve the army is simply an effort to grant Hezbollah’s reckless war a false sense of legitimacy—something neither the Lebanese people nor the international community will accept.
The reality is clear: Hezbollah is in its final stage of collapse. After repeated failures, the downfall of its Syrian project, and the exposure of its lies about "resistance," it can no longer deceive the Lebanese people. The era of empty slogans is over, and the time for accountability has arrived. Today, more than ever, there is a firm international and Arab determination to end Hezbollah’s political, military, and terrorist presence in Lebanon. What is happening now on the Lebanese-Syrian border is only the beginning of the end for Iran’s reign of terror in Lebanon. The final liberation is near—very near.
The author is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Etienne Sakr - Abu Arz/The Loose Lebanese-Syrian Border
March 19, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141378/
When a state surrenders its absolute sovereignty and free will, it exposes its very existence and its people to the gravest dangers. This is an undeniable reality—one that allows no interpretation or compromise.
For over two decades, the Lebanese state has relinquished its sovereignty to Hezbollah, allowing this Iranian proxy to drag Lebanon into a devastating war with Israel. The consequences have been catastrophic—widespread destruction of lives, homes, and nature—while material losses have exceeded $14 billion in a country already crippled by financial collapse. Today, after failing to disarm Hezbollah and other armed militias as mandated by Resolution 1559 and the latest ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the Lebanese government now faces a new and even graver threat.
Hezbollah has once again resumed its military activity—this time along the Syrian-Lebanese axis, targeting the new Syrian regime. If this conflict escalates, Lebanon could find itself embroiled in yet another devastating war, potentially even more ferocious and bloody than its war with Israel.
The government of Nawaf Salam has reached—or rather, has driven itself into—a dead end. It now faces only two options:
Take decisive action immediately—begin the disarmament of all militias, led by Hezbollah; confiscate their arsenals; dismantle their infrastructure; and prevent their reorganization.
Step down, apologize to the Lebanese people, and leave.
The era of coexistence between the legitimate state and the illegitimate mini-state must end—immediately.
The era of political chaos and instability must be eradicated—definitively.
The era of playing with Lebanon’s security must cease—permanently.
Otherwise, the future will be far worse.
Let those who have ears to hear, listen.
At your service, Lebanon.
(Free translation from Aabic by: Elias Bejjani)

UN Peacekeeper Wounded in a Mine Explosion in Southern Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/March 19/2025
Lebanon’s state news agency said a UN peacekeeper was wounded when a mine exploded in the country's south. National News Agency did not give further details about the blast between the villages of Zibqine and Yater, near the border with Israel. Andrea Tenenti, a spokesman for UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), confirmed that a peacekeeper was wounded during an operational activity and was taken to a Beirut hospital for surgery.

Lebanese army begins securing border with Syria, closes illegal crossings
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/March 19, 2025
BEIRUT: The Lebanese army on Wednesday entered the town of Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali, on Lebanon’s eastern border with the Syrian Arab Republic. Its vehicles reached the town’s administrative border as established in official Lebanese state maps. According to these maps, the town is divided into two: one part in Syrian territory, inhabited by Lebanese citizens; and the other in Lebanese territory. The development follows communications between the Syrian and Lebanese sides to halt armed clashes that began last Sunday as a result of disputes among smugglers in an area teeming with illegal crossings. The conflict escalated on Monday after the killing of three Syrian gunmen, and evolved into a broader confrontation between Lebanese tribes and armed members of the new Syrian authorities. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the clashes and killings resulted in “the death of seven Lebanese citizens and the injury of 52 others.” Additionally, property and buildings suffered heavy damage in the exchange of shelling between Syrian forces and Lebanese tribes. Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense entered the Syrian part of the Lebanese town on Monday night. Negotiations between the Lebanese and Syrian sides over deployment zones, based on border maps between the two countries, delayed the Lebanese army’s deployment for several hours, when a Lebanese army convoy of 60 vehicles arrived on the outskirts of Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali. An official source in the area said the Lebanese army’s deployment “was not smooth, as it faced protests related to the confiscation of weapons belonging to local clans. However, the situation soon returned to normal, allowing the army to continue its mission. The Lebanese army command announced that its units “commenced implementing security measures in the Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali area of Hermel, including the deployment of patrols, to maintain security and ensure stability in the border region.” It said the army has taken measures “to close illegal crossings between Lebanon and Syria,” adding: “As part of the efforts to monitor and secure the borders in light of the current situation, and to prevent infiltration and smuggling activities, a unit of the army has closed the illegal crossings, which include Al-Matlaba in the Qasr-Hermel area, as well as Al-Fatha, Al-Maarawiya, and Shahit Al-Hujairi in the Mashari’ Al-Qaa-Baalbek region.”President Joseph Aoun monitored the security developments along the northeastern border through a series of communications with army chief Gen. Rodolphe Haikal.
According to the presidency, Haikal briefed the president on “the measures being implemented by the army to restore calm and stability to the area.”Aoun underlined “the importance of consolidating the ceasefire, halting aggression, and controlling the borders adjacent to the villages.”On Monday he said that the situation on the eastern and northeastern borders cannot persist and that “the army will not allow the chaos to continue.” He then ordered the Lebanese army to respond to the sources of fire. Subsequently, communications between Lebanon and Syria intensified, including talks between the two countries’ foreign ministers to find solutions to the escalation in border incidents. These efforts led to a ceasefire agreement between the intelligence services of the two countries after a call between Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra.Syrian media outlets on Tuesday night reported that “Syrian forces seized a Hezbollah operations room in Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali, which contained large quantities of weapons, ammunition, drugs and equipment used to manufacture counterfeit tobacco.”After the army’s deployment, displaced families from Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali on Wednesday started preparing to return to their homes. Hezbollah has firmly denied any involvement in the border clashes with Syria.

Lebanese Army Enters Border Town After Syrian Groups Withdraw
Beirut/Asharq Al-Awsat/March 19, 2025
The Lebanese National News Agency reported on Wednesday that the army entered the border town of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali in the Hermel district of eastern Lebanon after Syrian groups withdrew. This came after the Syrian and Lebanese defense ministries announced last Monday that they had reached an agreement stipulating a ceasefire along the border, following two days of clashes that left dozens dead and wounded. Lebanese media reported that forces of the new Syrian administration had penetrated Lebanese territory, while the Syrian News Agency reported that Defense Ministry forces had taken control of the village of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali. The Syrian Information Ministry stated that Defense Ministry forces were working to reclaim territory controlled by Hezbollah during the era of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, adding that the forces had not crossed into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah, in a statement, denied responsibility for the events that took place on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Syrian Army: We Will Respond Firmly to Any Hezbollah Violation of Our Understanding with Lebanon
Al Arabiya.net/March 19, 2025
The Syrian Army announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement and coordinated with its Lebanese Army counterpart, stressing that any breach by Hezbollah of the agreement would be responded to firmly. In a statement published by the SANA news agency, the Army said that the agreement stipulated the withdrawal of Syrian and Lebanese army units from the lands of the village of "Hosh al-Sayyid Ali" and the guarantee of the return of civilians to the area without any military presence, as both sides are stationed on the outskirts of the town. The Syrian Army also affirmed its commitment to implementing the agreement, adding, "We emphasize that any breach of this understanding by Hezbollah will be met with a firm and direct response without prior warning."
Three Syrian Soldiers and Seven Lebanese Killed
This came after understandings reached between the Syrian and Lebanese armies following escalating clashes between armed men on both sides, and to prevent further violations. Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Manassa and his Syrian counterpart, Marhaf Abu Qasra, announced last Monday that they had agreed to a ceasefire, following the killing of three Syrian soldiers and seven Lebanese. This also followed the deployment of Syrian forces on the Syrian side of the same town on Tuesday. The Syrian Defense Ministry accused Hezbollah members on Sunday evening of entering Syrian territory, kidnapping and killing three members of the new army. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that the three Syrian soldiers were the first to cross into Lebanese territory and were killed by gunmen from a tribe in northeastern Lebanon who feared an attack on their town.
Not the First
It's worth noting that these confrontations were not the first. The past few months have witnessed several clashes along the border, which stretches approximately 375 kilometers and includes numerous illegal crossings where smuggling operations of all kinds are active. Hezbollah has long used these areas as routes for smuggling weapons to and from Syria, and they have also served as a corridor for drug trafficking.

Yakouf: Lebanon is an independent country that makes its decisions itself and we trust in the leadership of Aoun and Salam
Nida El Watan/March 19/2025
Steve Wittakov and his deputy, Morgan Ortigos, confirmed that the report published by a newspaper, which claims that the Special Envoy, Witkev met a Lebanese official whose name in Doha is a false and misleading report. He said that the promotion of rumors and false news only leads to the spread of confusion and undermining the credibility of the media. He added: "Lebanon is an independent country that takes its sovereign decisions itself, and we trust the ability of this government to do so. The Trump administration, publicly and in particular, confirmed that the United States supports the Lebanese government, led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in its efforts to extend the state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, implement reforms to strengthen state institutions, and meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people."

SANA: A Lebanese -Syrian Agreement on the town of Hosh Al -Sayed Ali
Nida El Watan/March 19/2025
The Commander of the First Brigade of the 52nd Division of the Syrian Arab Army, Colonel Abdel Moneim Daher, announced that an agreement has been reached between the Syrian and Lebanese armies, to the withdrawal of their units from the village of "Hosh al -Sayyid Ali" to ensure that civilians return to it without any military presence inside it, with the two sides stationed on the outskirts of the town. Colonel Daher confirmed, in a statement to "SANA", that the Syrian army is committed to implementing the agreement, warning that any violation of this understanding by Hezbollah will face a firm and direct response without prior warning.

In the video- Hezbollah supporters "convincing" receive the army with treachery and are exposed to the media!
Markazia/March 19/2025
On social media, a video was filmed in the town of Hosh al -Sayyid Ali, during the entry of the army units to be stationed in the area, in which there is a lack of respect and patriotism, which is the forehead. This is because the supporters of Hezbollah appeared to the military, very abusive expressions against the army of the homeland, saying, "To you, Nasrallah, Khayen, Khayen, agents ..." After crossing the army mechanisms, the party's convictions spread in the street carrying weapons. In addition, Lina Ismail, the correspondent of "Al -Nahar" in Baalbek, was attacked by a group of people when it was covering the entry of the Lebanese army into the town of Hosh al -Sayyid Ali, the border. A young man was exposed to Ismail with profanity and insisted on taking her phone, to join a woman who was physically assaulted and removed her phone. Attempts are being made to return the phone to it, and "Al -Nahar" has contacted the concerned authorities to put it in front of its responsibilities to end this escape facing journalists and militia behavior with the demand to hold the aggressors accountable without procrastination

The party is starting to accept the new reality ... the next stage is the delivery of weapons?
Lara Yazbek/Markazia/March 19/2025
Central- A member of the Al-Wafa Resistance Bloc, MP Ali Fayyad, saw that the country "is going through a critical stage, and we were hoping that they would enter a path of recovery, but this seems impossible in light of the continued Israeli attacks and the enemy's occupation of Lebanese lands, and the coup against the executive procedures paper of Resolution 1701, and in light of the American performance, policies and pressure, which seem to be consistent with Israeli practices and seeks to employ and invest them Politically, the Lebanese interior, "adding," There is an American-Israeli collusion seeking to devote a political path that is an extension of the war that was launched on Lebanon and the resistance. " "These are the indications of linking the Americans the reconstruction process with political conditions, and these are the indications of seeking to launch three diplomatic and not military committees, to discuss files stuck with the Israeli enemy, and that all of this, is now crowned with Israeli and American words, both, about aspirations that seek to enter Lebanon into the path of normalization with the Israeli enemy, and put it in what is called the system of peace agreements Ibrahimi. And he stressed, "We simply will not bend our heads, and we will not abandon our constants, and we will not hide outside the square of confrontation." Hezbollah's speech changes gradually. And day after day, and despite the high ceiling and sometimes escalation, which this occasion may be imposed by this or that of the nerve and keeping the environment ready, the party accepts the new reality and is convinced of it. Sovereign political sources say to "Al -central", it is true that it is a reality that he does not like, as it is as a result of his political loss, but he began to acknowledge that the rules of the game changed and that there are new balances at home and the region. From here, he talks about new tools for confrontation, as if by saying that "weapons are in a phased break." In the same absorptive context, the party talks about a coup against the ceasefire agreement, and attempts to drag Lebanon to normalization with Israel, but it knows that the two things are inaccurate. The agreement of the ceasefire that the party dragged Lebanon to, gives Tel Aviv with American approval, a green light to strike all the party's movements wherever it is. As for the issue of a peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, it is not currently on the current, and by referring to it, the party is totally affected by the fact that Lebanon is subject to American pressure, either normalization or no ages. However, according to the sources, it is necessary for the stage of conviction of the new reality to be attached to practical steps towards handing over the weapon in implementation of the ceasefire and 1701. These procedures are required first to facilitate the process of reconstruction and the release of its money and secondly to remove Israel from Lebanon and stop its almost daily military and security operations over Lebanese territory, concluding the sources.

Moving Past “Wait and See” in South Lebanon: The U.S.-French Role
Souhire Medini/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141357/
The announcement of "working groups" between Israel and Lebanon comes at a key juncture in the ceasefire, and complementary action by the United States and France can facilitate full implementation.
On March 11, U.S. deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus announced that the United States will be “bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues,” with various “working groups” focused on addressing “the release of Lebanese prisoners, the remaining disputed points along the Blue Line and the remaining 5 points where Israeli forces are still deployed.” This statement followed the sixth military-to-military meeting at the UN peacekeeping headquarters in Naqoura, which brought together Israel, Lebanon, the United States, and France.
The new talks could end the atmosphere of wait-and-see that has prevailed since the deadline for Israel’s full withdrawal passed on February 18. While the ceasefire agreement highlighted Israel and Lebanon’s commitment to take steps toward full implementation, the two countries have a different understanding of what the first phase should be—disarmament, full withdrawal, or full deployment—and who should step in first. The U.S. initiative could enable full implementation of the agreement by finalizing the Israeli army’s withdrawal from Lebanon and demarcating the land border. As an initial goodwill gesture, Israel returned five Lebanese prisoners at the request of the United States.
From Ceasefire to Impasse
On November 26, Israel and Lebanon, with U.S. and French mediation, agreed to a sixty-day ceasefire to end more than a year of hostilities. As the deadline approached, Israel implied it would delay its withdrawal, and on January 26, the White House announced an extension until February 18.
On the eve of the new deadline, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani announced that a small number of troops would temporarily remain in five strategic points along the border to protect Israelis returning to their homes in the north. Spanning from west to east, these points are located several hundred meters inside Lebanese territory: near Hamames Hill (Metula on the Israeli side); Wadi Saluki (Margaliot on the Israeli side); Blida, Bint Jbail, and Maroun al-Ras (Avivim and Malkia on the Israeli side); Jabal Blat (Shtula on the Israeli side); and Labbouneh (Shlomi on the Israeli side). The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), in coordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), redeployed to the positions the IDF ceded.
Israel also designated “buffer zones” close to al-Duhayra and Kfar Kila, saying they were needed because the LAF has not deployed quickly enough in the south. The LAF denied this, stating that it is fully prepared to deploy as it did in the rest of the south, while President Joseph Aoun declared, “The argument that the Israelis want to stay on certain strategic hills doesn’t hold water, because new war criteria and technical progress have replaced the old methods.”
It is true, nonetheless, that the LAF failed to deploy 10,000 soldiers to the south, a key goal of the ceasefire agreement. Although Israel continues to bomb positions and sites attributed to Hezbollah, the Lebanese government response has been fairly restrained. It seems clear, however, that Israel wants strong security assurances before leaving its five remaining outposts, so that northern residents can return home. It has not given a timetable for a final troop withdrawal; Lebanon, for its part, has not defined a timetable for dismantling unauthorized Hezbollah facilities.
U.S. Position on Outposts Unclear, French Offer Deemed Insufficient
While Katz stated on February 27 that Israel “will remain in the buffer zone in Lebanon indefinitely” and “received a green light from the United States,” no American official has confirmed—or denied—this point. As the Trump administration continues its ninety-day freeze on foreign aid, the State Department approved a Lebanese exception, unfreezing $95 million in funding for the LAF. This was proof of Washington’s confidence in President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as its concrete support for ceasefire implementation.
France, for its part, suggested a way to provide strong security assurances to Israel while respecting Lebanese sovereignty. Paris proposed deploying the French UNIFIL contingent alongside the LAF at the five outposts now held by Israel, an option accepted by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. Yet while no Israeli official has publicly responded to the proposal, the government clearly believes it is insufficient to ensure that UNIFIL will prevent Hezbollah from returning to those commanding heights.
Although the acceleration of events in Syria since December has disrupted Lebanon’s redeployment in the south, the LAF nevertheless intends to continue dismantling all Hezbollah facilities, infrastructure, and military positions in keeping with its commitments. Israeli outposts in Lebanon should in no way prevent Beirut from moving forward. The LAF commitment should also include giving UNIFIL access to all locations of interest and all parts of the Blue Line.
Avoiding “Occupation” and “Resistance” Narratives
From a political perspective, much has been achieved. For the first time since Israel’s withdrawal in 2000, the inaugural ministerial statement formulating the new government’s intended policies does not mention “the people, the army, and the resistance,” a slogan that had long been perceived as legitimizing Hezbollah’s military force and operational autonomy. Yet while this move sends the right signal, it will not be enough. Two recent developments—the government barring Iranian flights from landing in Beirut, and the LAF preventing pro-Hezbollah protesters from entering the airport—may indicate that the army is up to the task, provided it is given a strong, clear political directive.
In the absence of Israeli guarantees, however, there is a great risk that what the Lebanese leadership is calling a new “occupation” will fuel the narrative of “resistance.” Hezbollah lost much of its legitimacy as a result of the immense destruction rained on Lebanon during the war. The funeral for the group’s late leader, Hassan Nasrallah, showed that the group is alive but its domestic standing has been greatly undermined, as very few Lebanese political leaders attended. And yet, if Israel maintains an open-ended presence in Lebanon, it could help Hezbollah regain its lost legitimacy. Even though this presence is mostly outside population centers, it has led to tensions with the Lebanese public. Videos showing hundreds of Israelis entering southern Lebanon on March 7, reportedly escorted by Israeli security forces, rekindled criticism of Beirut’s inability to protect its sovereignty.
Policy Recommendations
Complementary action by the United States and France, the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement, is essential for pushing toward full implementation. The following ideas may be useful:
Continue to work toward Lebanese reconstruction, which is intrinsically linked to economic reforms. France has indicated its willingness to organize a conference with Saudi Arabia when the time is ripe. After several years in which the kingdom distanced itself from Lebanon, recent high-level visits have illustrated its determination to step in. However, no major announcement has been made. This suggests that Riyadh, more than in the past, is waiting for strong moves in the economic field before providing substantial support. The signing of an agreement with the IMF could be one such move.
Outcome-oriented working groups. The working groups described by Deputy Special Envoy Ortagus address different subjects with differing urgency. Some, such as full LAF deployment and complete IDF withdrawal, are more urgent, while others require discussions that may take time, such as an agreement to delineate the border. To avoid undermining the entire dynamic, these tasks should not be linked.
Test UNIFIL by implementing the French proposal at one of the outposts, with the next renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate in mind. In August, the United States will have to adopt a position on renewal at the UN Security Council, in close cooperation with France, the penholder. In this context, the French proposal to facilitate full LAF deployment and complete IDF withdrawal could be put back on the table to test UNIFIL and assess the credibility of its strengthened posture in South Lebanon.
Souhire Medini is a visiting fellow at The Washington Institute, in residence from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/moving-past-wait-and-see-south-lebanon-us-french-role

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 19-20/2025
Video Link to a Panel On Iran's Nuclear Issue from, "The Washington Institute Site/Bombing Iran’s Nuclear Program, Implications of Preventive Action
Washington Institute Site/March 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141383/
Iran poses one of the Trump administration’s most pressing foreign policy challenges. While the president has expressed his preference for a diplomatic solution on the nuclear file and other issues, military action—Israeli and/or American—is on the table should a deal prove elusive. What challenges need to be addressed in negotiating a new agreement with Iran or, failing that, planning a military campaign to degrade or destroy its nuclear weapons program? How might Tehran respond to such an attack? And how might either scenario affect the Islamic Republic’s domestic politics and foreign policy?
To address these questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to host a virtual Policy Forum with Richard Nephew, Holly Dagres, and Michael Eisenstadt, author of the just-published paper “Attacking Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Complex Calculus of Preventive Action.” The event will be moderated by Director of Research Dana Stroul.
Richard Nephew is an adjunct fellow with The Washington Institute. Previously, he served in multiple senior posts with the U.S. government, including deputy special envoy for Iran (2021), principal deputy coordinator for sanctions policy at the State Department (2013-15), and director for Iran at the National Security Council (2011-13).
Holly Dagres is the Libitzky Family Senior Fellow in the Institute’s Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy, and curator of the weekly newsletter The Iranist. During her previous tenure with the Atlantic Council, she led a working group for the bipartisan report The Future of U.S. Strategy Toward Iran: A Roadmap for the Next Administration.
Michael Eisenstadt is the Institute’s Kahn Senior Fellow and director of its Military and Security Studies Program. His previous publications include the recent study If Iran Gets the Bomb: Weapons, Force Posture, Strategy.
Israel launches first ground offensive since Gaza ceasefire collapse, partially recapturing key area
Mick Krever, Lauren Izso and Christian Edwards, CNN/March 19, 2025
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had launched “targeted ground activities” in Gaza, partially recapturing a key area in the territory, a day after launching an aerial bombardment of the Strip that shattered the two-month-old ceasefire with Hamas. The operation followed Israel’s renewed bombardment of Gaza the day before, shattering the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. Israel accused Hamas of “repeatedly” refusing to release hostages and rejecting offers from mediators. Hamas, in turn, blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of unilaterally upending the truce and putting hostages “at risk of an unknown fate.”The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday that its troops “began targeted ground activities in the central and southern Gaza Strip in order to expand the security zone and to create a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza.”“As part of the ground activities, the troops expanded their control further to the center of the Netzarim Corridor,” the military said. Under January’s ceasefire deal, Israel had withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor, a key strip of land that splits Gaza in half, dividing the central Gaza City and northern Gaza from the southern parts of the Strip that borders Egypt. Although Israel withdrew from the corridor, foreign military contractors have continued to man checkpoints between northern and southern Gaza. After the truce became effective, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians filed through the corridor by foot, car and in some cases by donkeys, with many of them returning to homes that had been destroyed after 15 months of Israeli bombardment. The renewed ground offensive came after Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes overnight into Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, in one of the war’s deadliest days. On Wednesday, the United Nations said one of their aid workers was killed by an “explosive ordnance” at the UN guesthouse in central Gaza, and five others were injured. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza blamed the attack on the Israeli military, which the IDF denied, saying it had not conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of the guesthouse. Meanwhile, the renewed war drew thousands of protesters to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem. Critics of Netanyahu’s government accuse the prime minister of using the war to shore up his shaky coalition. The Israeli military statement came after Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday that the residents of Gaza will “pay the full price” if Israeli hostages are not returned and Hamas remains able to govern in the Strip. An Israeli official said Tuesday that the airstrikes in Gaza were the first phase in a series of escalatory military actions aimed at pressuring Hamas into releasing more hostages, marking a return to Netanyahu’s view that military pressure is the most effective way to secure the release of hostages. So far, the Israeli military has brought just eight living hostages back to Israel, out of 251 taken by Hamas and its allies on October 7, 2023. The vast majority have been released as part of ceasefire deals in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Trump Warns Yemen's Houthis 'Will Be Completely Annihilated' as US Launches More Strikes
Sanaa, Yemen/Asharq Al Awsat/March 19/2025
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday stepped up his rhetoric regarding Yemen's Houthi militias as the American military launched more airstrikes against them, warning they “will be completely be annihilated.”Trump made the comment on his website Truth Social. He claimed, without offering evidence, Iranian military support to the Houthis “has lessened” but said it needed to entirely stop. “Let the Houthis fight it out themselves,” he wrote. “Tremendous damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians, and watch how it will get progressively worse — It's not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated!” The Houthis said strikes against them continued overnight. The US military has not offered a breakdown of the strikes. The United States struck targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Wednesday, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported, the latest in a wave of strikes carried out in retaliation for attacks by the Iran-aligned militias on shipping in the Red Sea. Three residents told Reuters that the strikes had hit the Al-Jarraf district of Sanaa, close to the city's airport.The US began the current wave of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen last Saturday, killing at least 31 people in the biggest such operation since Trump returned to the White House in January. Unfazed by the US strikes and threats, the Houthis have said they will escalate their attacks, including on Israel, in response to the US campaign. On Tuesday the Houthis said they had fired a ballistic missile towards Israel and that they would expand their range of targets in that country in the coming days in retaliation for renewed Israeli airstrikes in Gaza after weeks of relative calm. The Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on shipping since Israel's war with Hamas began in late 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians. The attacks have disrupted global commerce and set the US military off on a costly campaign to intercept missiles.

Syrian Government, Kurdish Officials Discuss Merging Their Armed Forces
Asharq Al Awsat/March 19/2025
Government officials met Wednesday in the northeastern province of Hasakeh with the commander of the main Kurdish-led group in the country, the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is backed by the US. The new Syrian government wants to bring Syria’s breakaway Kurdish militias back under government control, but the details of their recent breakthrough agreement are still being worked out and negotiators will have overcome a decade of civil war. Wednesday’s meeting comes a week after Syria’s interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the SDF into the Syrian army. The deal should be implemented by the end of the year. It would bring northeast Syria’s borders and lucrative oil fields under the central government’s control.

Ukraine ceasefire in ‘couple of weeks’
AFP/March 19, 2025
WASHINGTON: US envoy Steve Witkoff said technical discussions on a possible deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war will begin Monday in Saudi Arabia, predicting a ceasefire agreement could come as soon as “a couple of weeks.” “I believe on Monday we actually have the technical teams going” to the Kingdom, Witkoff told Bloomberg Television early Wednesday as he expressed confidence in ongoing negotiations following a telephone call the previous day between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. “They agreed on a pathway to some ceasefire conditions... and to a full-on ceasefire that will be negotiated over the coming days. I actually think in a couple of weeks we’re going to get to it,” he said. Witkoff, who is also Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, did not provide details on the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia. But he said it was time “for the technical teams to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, and everybody is committed to that process.” Asked by Bloomberg about the prospect of a possible meeting in the Kingdom between Trump and Putin, Witkoff said “my best bet would be it’s likely to happen.” He offered no timeline. Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Wednesday also expressed confidence about enacting steps to bring the fighting to an end. “I spoke today with my Russian counterpart Yuri Ushakov about President Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine,” Waltz posted on X.“We agreed our technical teams would meet in Riyadh in the coming days to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire President Trump secured from Russia.”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after his call with Trump on Wednesday, said that officials from Ukraine and the US could meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days for a second round of peace talks. “Ukrainian and American teams are ready to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to continue coordinating steps toward peace,” Zelensky wrote on X.

Trump and Zelenskyy Wrap up Call a Day after Talks with Russia about Possible Ceasefire
Asharq Al Awsat/March 19/2025
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the path to a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow on Wednesday, a day after the US leader held similar talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Trump's call with Zelenskyy was about half the length of his call Tuesday, during which Putin agreed not to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but refused to back a full 30-day ceasefire. In a social media post, Trump said his call with Zelenskyy was to “align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs” as he seeks to bring a halt to fighting. “We are very much on track,” Trump added, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz would provide further details of the conversation. Prior to his call with Trump, Zelenskyy said Putin’s limited ceasefire pledge was “very much at odds with reality” following an overnight barrage of drone strikes across the country. “Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with ... Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly giving orders to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” Zelenskyy said at a news conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The Kremlin says Kyiv isn't upholding its end of the bargain Russia responded by saying it had halted its targeting of Ukraine's energy facilities and accused Kyiv of attacking equipment near one of its pipelines. “Unfortunately, we see that for now there is no reciprocity on the part of the Kyiv regime," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The White House described the call between Trump and Putin as the first step in a “movement to peace” that Washington hopes will include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and eventually a full and lasting end to the fighting. But there was no indication that Putin backed away from his conditions for a prospective peace deal, which are fiercely opposed by Kyiv. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on social media that he and his Russian counterpart, Yuri Ushakov, agreed Wednesday that their teams would meet soon in Saudi Arabia, “to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire President Trump secured from Russia.”It was not immediately clear who would be part of the delegations or if Ukrainian officials were also invited to take part in the Saudi Arabia talks.
Ukraine and Russia trade accusations
Shortly after the lengthy phone call between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions as residents took shelter. Despite efforts to repel the attack, several strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including two hospitals, a railway and more than 20 houses, Zelenskyy said. Russian drones were reported over Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions. The Russian Defense Ministry said its military had launched seven drones at power facilities related to the military-industrial complex in Ukraine’s southern Mykolaiv region, but that it shot them down after receiving Putin’s order to not hit energy infrastructure. Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting its energy facility in the Krasnodar region bordering the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, several hours after the Putin and Trump talks. The ministry said that three drones targeted oil transfer equipment that feeds the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, causing a fire and leading one oil tank to lose pressure. “It is absolutely clear that we are talking about yet another provocation deliberately concocted by the Kyiv regime, aimed at derailing the peace initiatives of the US president,” the ministry said. Russia said that its air defenses intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones over the Azov Sea and several Russian regions — the border provinces of Kursk and Bryansk and the nearby regions of Oryol and Tula. Zelenskyy said that “words of a ceasefire” weren't enough. “If the Russians don’t hit our facilities, we definitely won’t hit theirs,” Zelenskyy said. Meanwhile, the two combatants said Wednesday that they had each swapped 175 prisoners in one of the largest exchanges of the war. Ukraine's red line Zelenskyy rejected Putin’s key condition that Western allies stop providing military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. He said that doing so would endanger lives if citizens were blind to incoming air raids, and lead to the continuation of the war. “I don’t think anybody should make any concessions in terms of helping Ukraine, but rather, assistance to Ukraine should be increased,” Zelenskyy said. “This will be a signal that Ukraine is ready for any surprises from the Russians.” Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that it was “completely unsurprising” that Putin rejected the ceasefire, adding that it’s “imprudent for him to tell President Trump that directly, since Trump has made ending the war a very, very high priority.” “What we have now, in effect, is a competition or rivalry between Kyiv and Moscow to persuade Trump that it’s the other side that is responsible for preventing Trump from achieving his goal of ending the war,” Gould-Davies said. Zelenskyy said that one of the most difficult issues in future negotiations would be the issue of territorial concessions. “For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian,” he said. “We will not go for it.”

Jordan's King: Israel's Resumption of Gaza Attacks a 'Dangerous Step'
Asharq Al Awsat/March 19, 2025
Jordan's King Abdullah called on Wednesday for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza to be restored and for aid flows to resume. "Israel's resumption of attacks on Gaza is an extremely dangerous step that adds further devastation to an already dire humanitarian situation," he said, standing next to French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Macron also said that negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the crisis in Gaza had to resume. "There is no military solution in Gaza," said Macron during the joint press conference with King Abdullah.

Israel launches a ground operation to retake part of a key corridor in northern Gaza
Wafaa Shurafa, Julia Frankel And Samy Magdy/DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)/March 19, 2025
Israel said Wednesday it launched a “limited ground operation” in northern Gaza to retake part of a corridor that bisects the territory, and the country's defense minister warned that the army plans to step up the attacks that shattered a two-month ceasefire "with an intensity that you have not seen.”The military said it had retaken part of the Netzarim corridor, which bisects northern Gaza from the south and from where it had withdrawn as part of the ceasefire with Hamas that began in January. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Palestinians in Gaza that the army would again order evacuations from combat zones soon, and that its attacks against Hamas would become more fierce if dozens of hostages held for more than 17 months weren’t freed. As Israel continued its airstrikes on Gaza Wednesday, the United Nations said an international United Nations staffer was killed and five others were wounded in a strike Wednesday on a U.N. guesthouse in Gaza. Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the U.N. Office for Project Services, declined to say who carried out the strike in the central city of Deir al-Balah but said the explosive ordnance was “dropped or fired” and the blast was not accidental or related to demining activity. He did not provide the nationalities of those killed and wounded. The U.N. body, known as UNOPS, carries out infrastructure and development projects around the world. The Israeli military, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes throughout Gaza since early Tuesday, denied earlier reports that it had targeted the U.N. compound. But Moreira da Silva said strikes had hit near the compound on Monday and struck it directly on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, when the staffer was killed. He said the agency had contacted the Israeli military after the first strike and confirmed that it was aware of the facility's location.
“Israel knew this was a U.N. premise, that people were living, staying and working there," he said. After the strike Wednesday, the wounded were rushed to Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in central city of Deir al-Balah. One man was carried inside on a blanket held up by medical workers. Another lay on a hospital bed, his knee bandaged. A blue protective vest emblazoned with “UN” rested on a nearby bed. There have been no reports of rocket fire or other Palestinian militant attacks since Israel unleashed the airstrikes overnight and into Tuesday, ending a ceasefire with Hamas that took hold in January. The Israeli bombardment continued into Wednesday, though at a lower intensity. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, have been killed since Israel launched the strikes early Tuesday. It said another 678 people have been wounded. The military says it only strikes militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas. Gaza's Health Ministry records do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The military said in a statement that as part of the new offensive, it struck dozens of militants and militant sites on Wednesday, including the command center of a Hamas battalion. The war in Gaza, which was paused in January by an internationally-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, has been among the deadliest conflicts ever for humanitarian workers, according to the U.N. The resumption of fighting launched by Israel early Tuesday risks plunging the region back into all-out war. It came weeks after the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, during which Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages for prisoners and were set to negotiate an extension to the truce that was meant to bring about an eventual end to the war. But those negotiations never got off the ground. Hamas has demanded that Israel stick to the terms of the initial ceasefire deal, including a full withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel, which has vowed to defeat Hamas, has put forward a new proposal that would extend the truce and free more hostages held by Hamas, without a commitment to end the war.

Israel launches fresh Gaza strikes as it vows to fight 'in full force'
Aleks Phillips - BBC News and Hafsa Khalil - BBC News/March 19, 2025
At least 13 people have reportedly been killed in air strikes across Gaza overnight, after Israel said it was resuming fighting "in full force" in the Palestinian territory.
Two civilians were killed and five others injured when an Israeli drone hit a tent near the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reports, citing Red Crescent medics. Israel's army said it had targeted what it called a Hamas military site, from where the group was preparing to fire into Israel. Vessels controlled by Hamas were also hit, the army said. It comes after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it had "resumed combat in full force", adding: "This is just the beginning."
The bombing is not of the same scale as it was on Tuesday, when the Hamas-run health ministry says more than 400 people were killed - but it shows no let-up in Israel's fresh assault. Tom Fletcher, the UN's under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said of Tuesday's strikes that "the intensity of the killings is now off the scale".Wafa says a woman and child were killed in an air strike north of Khan Younis overnight into Wednesday, while four others were killed in a strike in Gaza City. Gaza's health ministry has yet to give a death toll for the latest strikes.
Tuesday's strikers constituted the heaviest bombardment since a fragile ceasefire and hostage exchange deal came into effect on 19 January, and came after Israel and Hamas failed to agree how to take it beyond an initial phase.
Why has Israel bombed Gaza and what next for ceasefire deal?
'Once again, fear has gripped the people'The deal involves three stages, and negotiations on the second stage were meant to have started six weeks ago - but this did not happen. Under the proposed second phase, Israel would withdraw troops from Gaza - but Israel and the US instead pushed for an extension of the first phase, with more hostages being released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu cast the resumption of fighting as a return to Israel's primary aims - to return the hostages and "get rid" of Hamas - but families of hostages have criticised the decision, saying it showed the government had given up on their loved ones.
Israel says Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Egypt, a mediator in talks, said the fresh strikes were a "blatant" violation of the ceasefire. Israel previously imposed a total halt on all humanitarian aid entering Gaza, causing widespread international alarm. "For two weeks now, our food supplies are rotting at the borders, the medicines are expiring, the water's been cut off, the power's been cut off - and all that to punish civilians further," Mr Fletcher told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He said he had spoken to the UN security council on Tuesday in a bid to lift the blockade and get the ceasefire deal back on track, including the release of hostages. "I'm not asking for the moon here," the UN chief added.
He said his team was going "carry on going" in Gaza because they are "determined to do everything they can to save as many survivors as possible.
"They're saying to us: What does it say about our values that we can't stop a 21st Century atrocity happening before our eyes - and not just happening, but being cheered on before our eyes?"Hamas has confirmed that several of its leaders were killed in Tuesday's strikes, including its de facto head of government, Essam a-Da'lees.
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad - whose fighters participated in the 7 October 2023 attack which triggered the current conflict - said the prominent spokesman of its armed wing, known as Abu Hamza, was killed. However, there were also many civilians, including dozens of children, thought to be among the dead. Regional mediators are now said to be pushing Hamas to release some of the Israeli hostages it still holds in exchange for a de-escalation. But Netanyahu has said that going forward, all ceasefire talks will take place "under fire". The 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel saw about 1,200 people killed and the capturing of 251 hostages - 25 of whom were released alive during the first phase of the ceasefire. Israel responded with a massive military offensive, which has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says, as well as causing large-scale destruction to homes and infrastructure.
Netanyahu calls strikes on Gaza 'only the beginning' as hundreds reported killed
BBC Verify: Mapping Israel's wave of strikes

US says 'bridge proposal' on table for Gaza ceasefire but window 'closing fast'
Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh/Reuters/March 19, 2025
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday there was still a bridge proposal that would extend the ceasefire" in Gaza but the opportunity for it was "closing fast." A State Department spokesperson said the proposal would also "see the release of five live hostages, including American Edan Alexander. It would also see the release of a substantial number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails." "The opportunity is still there, but it's closing fast." The Israeli military said on Wednesday its forces have resumed ground operations in Gaza as a second day of airstrikes killed at least 48 Palestinians, according to local health workers. A day earlier, more than 400 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in one of the deadliest episodes since the beginning of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. This shattered nearly two months of relative calm since a ceasefire went into effect between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza. The State Department spokesperson said the proposal was "compelling" and that Washington stood with Israel. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli allies. Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has killed over 49,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also triggering accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The assault has internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire 2.3 million population and caused a hunger crisis.

Gaza trauma surgeon says half of patients injured in Israeli strikes were children
DOC LOUALLEN/ABC News/March 19, 2025
Gaza is ‘just carnage’ with new strikes: Trauma surgeonScroll back up to restore default view. Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by conducting deadly airstrikes overnight Tuesday, killing hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
More than 400 people were killed and many more were injured, according to health officials in the Hamas-controlled region, making it one of the deadliest days since the beginning of the war. Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, who is volunteering with MedGlobal at Nasser Hospital in West Gaza, told ABC News on Wednesday that it was impossible to handle an influx of hundreds of patients -- half of whom were severely injured children -- within 30 minutes. One of Sidhwa's first patients was a 3-year-old girl with multiple shrapnel wounds on her head who couldn't breathe properly, he said. "So I had to just told her dad it was nothing we could do, she was going to die. Over the course of the next 10 or 12 hours, I think I performed 10 operations on people," Sidhwa said. "It's just carnage. When you drop bombs on tents, this is what's going to happen -- especially when the population is half children."Thousands marched in Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies and his decision to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar as fighting in Gaza resumes. After Netanyahu announced the dismissal of Bar, threatening to trigger a political crisis, Israel launched a wave of overnight strikes on Gaza, marking the deadliest escalation since the fragile ceasefire began in January. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned residents of Gaza that evacuation orders for combat zones will be issued soon as Israeli forces resume their fighting against Hamas. "Residents of Gaza, this is a final warning," Katz said. "The Air Force strikes against Hamas terrorists were just the first step. It will become much more difficult, and you will pay the full price. Take the U.S. president's advice. Return the hostages and remove Hamas. The alternative is absolute destruction." Gaza trauma surgeon says half of patients injured in Israeli strikes were children originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

EU signals a new drive to buy European weapons and break its security dependency on the US
Lorne Cook/The Associated Press/March 19, 2025
The European Union on Wednesday announced a new drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment in Europe rather than from suppliers across the Atlantic. The EU's executive branch unveiled its “Readiness 2030” security strategy with the threat of Russian aggression at the forefront of concerns. NATO intelligence estimates suggest that Russia could be capable of launching an attack in Europe again in three to five years. Under the new strategy, member countries will be urged to buy much of its military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers – in some cases with EU help to cut prices and speed up orders. They should only purchase equipment from abroad when costs, performance or supply delays make it preferable. In recent years, the 27 EU nations have placed about two-thirds of their orders with U.S. defense companies. To qualify for new loans, they would have to buy at least 65% of equipment from suppliers in the EU, Norway or Ukraine. “The era of the peace dividend is long gone. The security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “We must invest in defense, strengthen our capabilities, and take a proactive approach to security.” “We must buy more European. Because that means strengthening the European defense technological and industrial base. That means stimulating innovation. And that means creating an EU-wide market for defense equipment,” she added. Last month, the Trump administration signaled that U.S. security priorities lay elsewhere – on its own borders and in Asia – and that Europeans would have to fend for themselves and Ukraine in the future, as Europe’s biggest land war in decades entered its fourth year.
The strategy resembles the RepowerEU scheme that the commission proposed in 2022 to wean the bloc off Russian natural gas in the months after President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine and used energy as a weapon to undermine EU support for Kyiv.It saw the EU’s dependence on Russian gas imports fall 45% in 2021, to only 15% in 2023. The new blueprint was unveiled on the eve of a summit of EU government leaders for them to assess. At emergency talks on March 6, the leaders signed off on proposals to ease budget restrictions and create a 150-billion-euro ($164 billion) loan plan for defense projects. Defense firms in the U.S., U.K., and Turkey would be excluded from the loan plan unless those governments sign security agreements with the EU. France has pushed the “buy European” approach, but countries like Poland and the Netherlands want to buy U.S. equipment. EU nations are encouraged to boost security ties with NATO allies that are not members of the EU, including Britain, Canada, Norway, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. The strategy notes that while the United States remains a key Western ally, it has been clear “that it believes it is over-committed in Europe and needs to rebalance, reducing its historical role as a primary security guarantor.”Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s recently appointed and first-ever defense commissioner, warned that “450 million European Union citizens should not have to depend on 340 million Americans to defend ourselves." “We really can do better,” he said. Spending priorities for joint purchase would be air and missile defense systems, artillery, ammunition, drones, equipment for use in cyber and electronic warfare, and “strategic enablers” like air-to-air refueling and land border security installations. To help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion, the aim would be to provide at least two million artillery rounds each year, supply more air defense systems, missiles and drones, and to continue to train tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops annually. More money would also be funneled into Ukraine’s defense industry, which is cheaper and much closer to the battlefield.

Poilievre says he's a 'tough guy to deal with' and can take on Trump and his taunts
CBC/March 19, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday he's a "tough guy" well suited to take on U.S. President Donald Trump and that's why the American leader said he thinks it's easier to "deal with a liberal" in Canada than a conservative. The comment comes as Poilievre and his main opponent, Prime Minister Mark Carney, both jockey to present themselves as the anti-Trump candidate in the upcoming federal election, which is expected to be dominated by talk of the president's punishing tariffs and annexationist taunts. Speaking to reporters in Sudbury, Ont., Poilievre spun Trump's comments as an endorsement of Carney and a sign the president "wants the Liberals in power."He said the president wants "weak, compromised and conflicted leadership.… That's why he endorsed Mark Carney yesterday."Trump did not mention either Poilievre or Carney by name in his remarks or formally endorse anyone. In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump was pressed on why he's been harder on Canada with his tariffs and threats than some of America's "adversaries." The president said, without explaining how, that Canada "cheats" and "charges" the U.S. and repeated his false claims about Americans "subsidizing" this country to the tune of $200 billion a year. The U.S. trade deficit with Canada — which is largely driven by cheap oil imports — is much smaller than that.
Laura Ingraham, the Fox host, said Trump's tough talk on Canada has buoyed the governing Liberal Party and threatened the Conservatives' election chances, which could be seen as a loss for the U.S. Trump said he doesn't care about Conservative electoral fortunes because Poilievre is "stupidly no friend of mine," an apparent reference to Poilievre saying in the past he's not a "MAGA guy.""I don't know him but he's said negative things," Trump said of Poilievre."So, when he says negative things, I don't care. I actually think it's easier to deal with a liberal and maybe they're going to win, but I don't really care. It doesn't matter to me at all."Trump denounced former prime minister Justin Trudeau's team, however, saying "his people were nasty." Trump has previously criticized Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, who helped broker the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in his first term. Poilievre said he's the leader to stand up to Trump because the Liberals will just leave Canada in a weakened position and susceptible to possible annexation.
"What Canadians need is a leader who's tough, firm and stands by his convictions, a leader who will make us strong, self-reliant and able to stand on its own two feet, a leader who will put Canada first," Poilievre said.
"I'm a strong leader, I'm a tough guy to deal with," Poilievre said, while noting Carney was chairman of the board of Brookfield Asset Management when it moved its head office to New York. wn at Pioneer Construction in Sudbury, Ont. on Wednesday March 19, 2025. While Poilievre's policy priorities differ from Trump's, the two have used similar language when speaking to the public and the media. (Gino Donato/The Canadian Press) While Trump said he doesn't care about how well Poilievre fares in an election that could come as soon as this weekend, the president's friend and political ally, Elon Musk, has praised Poilievre, reposted his tweets, applauded his speeches and media interactions. The Liberals have tried to paint Poilievre as a mini-Trump who will kowtow to a fellow populist leader, if elected. In his victory speech after winning the party's leadership, Carney said Poilievre will leave Canada "divided and ready to be conquered." "A person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him." Carney's party posted an ad on its social media channels called "Made in America," which shows how Poilievre has said similar things to Trump over the years and asks, "how can you speak for Canada when you sound like Donald Trump?"
Both Trump and Poilievre have called some of the news media "fake news," lamented that "everything is broken," denounced supposed left-wing "censorship," lampooned the "woke" and "radical" left and supported the trucker convoy movement that took over Parliament Hill back in the COVID era.
Trump has an "America first" agenda and Poilievre has said he will put "Canada first." While there are sometimes rhetorical similarities between the two, Poilievre has vowed to take a stand against Trump and his trade action, calling for retaliatory tariffs on American goods to try and get the president to back off.
The Conservative leader has also not made immigration the central message of his platform, unlike the president. The Liberal government has already imposed tariffs on about $60 billion worth of American goods with $100 billion more to come if Trump moves ahead with more tariffs on April 2. In the early days of his premiership, Carney is taking steps to distance Canada from the U.S. and has said a call with Trump will only come when the time is right.

Canada condemns China after it executes Canadians over 'drug-related crime'
CBC/March 19, 2025
Global Affairs Canada is condemning China after the country executed an unspecified number of Canadian citizens earlier this year in an act that violates "basic human dignity." Spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod told CBC News in an email that Canada had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels."She said Canada "remains steadfast in its opposition to the use of the death penalty in all cases, everywhere."MacLeod said the federal department is continuing to provide consular assistance to the families of those who were executed, but would not provide the identities of the victims, or how many of them there were. China's embassy in Ottawa defended the executions on Wednesday, telling CBC News in an email that "whoever violates the law of China must be held accountable in accordance with the law."The embassy would not provide the names of the executed Canadians or the specific crimes they were alleged to have committed, beyond that they were "drug related."It also declined to say how many Canadians were killed. "China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a 'zero-tolerance' attitude toward the drug problem," the embassy said. "The facts of the crimes committed by the Canadian nationals involved in the cases are clear, and the evidence is solid and sufficient."The embassy said the cases were handled "in strict accordance with the law" and that the rights and interests of the Canadians were "fully guaranteed."
Canada-China relations remain sour
China's embassy pushed back against Global Affairs Canada's condemnation of the executions and said Canada should accept the decisions made by China's judicial system if it wants to improve ties between the two countries. "We urge the Canadian side to respect the rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty, stop making irresponsible remarks, work in the same direction with China and jointly promote the improvement and development of China-Canada relations with concrete actions," the embassy said. Relations between Canada and China have been strained since the December 2018 detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by Beijing, on vague national security allegations.
Their arrests were widely seen as retaliation for the Vancouver arrest of Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, just days before, at the behest of the U.S. to face fraud charges related to American sanctions against Iran. Although all three were released in 2021, the two countries have continued to butt heads.Kovrig told CBC News that China's statement should be viewed as "empty propaganda" because China itself "doesn't respect the rule of law."Now a private citizen, Kovrig said Wednesday that China's executions show "both a callous disregard for human life and human rights, and also indifference to the views of other countries."He said there are about 100 Canadians currently being held in China (a number that GAC confirms as accurate) and that Canada has to act strategically if it wants to get them back unharmed. "China's government is not sincerely interested in improving bilateral relations," he said. "We have to be relentless in insisting on consular access and calling for clemency. Advocate for them in every discussion."
Using trade as leverage
"Make clear there will be no progress on any trade and investment opportunities until there is progress on human rights problems," Kovrig added. "Condition any progress on things China wants on [them] refraining from arbitrary detention and imposing the death penalty."On Thursday, China is expected to institute 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola, along with 25 per cent tariffs on other goods like seafood and pork. The Chinese tariffs come in response to Canada's 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 per cent levy on Chinese aluminum and steel products imposed on Oct. 1. Kovrig suggests Canada co-ordinate its pressure on China with like-minded states. "If enough other countries call on China to refrain from doing things, and impose costs, the chances of changing behaviour are higher," he said. Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced in November 2018 to a 15-year prison term in China over allegations of drug smuggling. Schellenberg has been accused of conspiring with others to smuggle 222 kilograms of methamphetamine from China to Australia in 2014. Although he has proclaimed his innocence, the B.C. native has a history of drug-related offences in Canada, including a two-year sentence in 2012 for drug trafficking. In January 2019, Canada reached out to China's ambassador to Canada to ask for clemency for Schellenberg. But early that year, about a month after Meng was detained, Schellenberg was retried and sentenced to death. He does not appear to be one of the Canadians that were executed. "Canada continues to advocate for clemency for Robert Schellenberg and provides him and his family consular assistance," MacLeod said. In the meantime, Kovrig says Canadians need to understand there are serious risks involved in travelling to China and while the "likelihood of anything happening is low ... the results could be personally catastrophic."
'A clear, disturbing development'
Vina Nadjibulla, the vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the executions are a "deeply troubling development. "The execution of foreigners is extremely rare even in the Chinese criminal justice system which has a 99 per cent conviction rate and carries out more executions than any other country in the world," she said. Nadjibulla said the last time China executed a foreign citizen was more than 10 years ago, and this decision by China, despite Canada's efforts to secure clemency through diplomatic means, suggests the two countries are still very far apart. "For those people who were hoping that in the current climate China may wish to strengthen relations with Canada, may wish to deepen partnerships, this shows that that is really not the case," she said. "This is a clear, disturbing development in the bilateral relationship."

Pope Francis No Longer Using Ventilation, Confirmed as Improving, Vatican Says
Asharq Al Awsat/March 19/2025
Pope Francis is no longer using mechanical ventilation for help breathing at night and his doctors believe he will continue to improve, the Vatican said on Wednesday, in the latest positive update as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia. Francis has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for nearly five weeks for a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment. "The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are confirmed to be improving," said the latest detailed medical update on his condition. The pope had been using non-invasive mechanical ventilation overnight during his hospital stay, which involves placing a mask over the face to help push air into the lungs.Such ventilation had been "suspended", the statement said. But it said the pope is still receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose. The pope's doctors believe his infection is under control, the Vatican press office said shortly after the release of the latest statement. The pope does not have a fever and his blood tests are normal, it said. The pope has been described as being in a stable or improving condition for two weeks, but the Vatican has not yet given a timeframe for his discharge, saying his recovery is going slowly. Francis is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. He has been receiving both respiratory physiotherapy to help with his breathing and physical therapy to help with his mobility. He has used a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain. Doctors not involved in Francis' care said the pope is likely to face a long, fraught road to recovery, given his age and other medical conditions.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 19-20/2025
Germany: Toward a New Domination of Europe?
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/March 19, 2025
By giving himself the right to spend an extra €500 billion over 12 years on infrastructure and climate change, and additional to that, spend "whatever it takes" for the German military -- €40 billion more per year being the best available estimate -- [Friedrich] Merz [the likely next chancellor] is assuming considerable power, the likes of which no German chancellor has had since 1945.
As the allocation of these resources is formulated in broad and vague terms, the chancellor will have immense power in the allocation of funds. In addition, the German military will be financed to the tune of €120 billion per year, giving it the potential to become the strongest force in Europe -- France spends roughly €55 billion a year. Here again, the power of Germany and its chancellor is growing considerably.
It certainly seems as if Das Rheingold is emerging from the deep.
In the opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner, the Rhine Gold is a magical treasure guarded by the Rhine Maidens (Rheinmädchen). This gold can be forged into a ring that gives its holder unlimited power. By arrogating to himself the power to put Germany into debt in a way that no chancellor has done since 1945, Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor, will be taking on an unrivalled power: that of dominating Europe.
Germany has just announced the creation of a special "infrastructure fund" (Sondervermögen) of €500 billion ($545 billion) to be spent over a maximum of 12 years, and €40 billion in additional military spending per year, bringing the annual German defense budget up to 3%. The infrastructure fund, which will not be subject to the strict constitutional rules limiting government budget deficits and debt, is intended to meet urgent needs, overriding the budgetary constraints imposed by the "debt brake" (Schuldenbremse) enshrined in 2009 by then Chancellor Angela Merkel in the constitution.
The main reason given is the need to rearm Germany in the face of Russia's war economy and its 1.2 million mobilized soldiers. In concrete terms, German public debt will rise from 60% of GDP to at least 80%.
Military
Faced with a potential US disengagement from Europe -- which remains to be seen -- and growing geopolitical tensions (notably with Russia and the war in Ukraine), Merz is insisting on the need for Germany and Europe to strengthen their defense capabilities. He has declared that a "whatever it takes" approach must be applied to defense, and underlined the urgent need to act before the new Bundestag (lower house of parliament) is constituted on March 25, 2025.
Amending the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. However, when the new Bundestag resulting from the February elections is convened, the CDU/SPD/Green coalition will no longer have a two-thirds majority. For this reason, a constitutional amendment was passed by the Bundestag on March 18 in a move that was legal but hardly democratic, by using a lame-duck parliamentary majority to rush the decision before the newly elected majority is assembled. The amendment now awaits passage by the Bundesrat (upper house of parliament)
Merz's CDU/SPD/Green coalition agreement provides for defense spending in excess of 1% of GDP to be exempt from the debt brake, thereby freeing up around €40 billion a year. Germany could thus reach 3% of GDP in military spending every year, in line with NATO's ambitions -- and the (completely justified) reminders from the US President Donald Trump.
This spending will finance the modernization of the German military -- and related areas such as civil protection, the intelligence services and aid to Ukraine. German's Bundeswehr could once again become Europe's leading army.
Infrastructure
The constitutional amendment passed on March 18 by the Bundestag includes the following article:
"The Federal Government may establish a special fund with its own borrowing authority for additional investments in infrastructure and for additional investments to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, with a volume of up to €500 billion. Additionality is deemed to exist if an appropriate investment quota is achieved in the federal budget in the respective fiscal year. Article 109, paragraph 3, and Article 115, paragraph 2, do not apply to the borrowing authority. Investments from the special fund can be approved within a term of twelve years. Transfers from the special fund to the Climate and Transformation Fund will be made in the amount of €100 billion. Further details are regulated by federal law."
The most important word in this amendment is the fourth, "may": the government gives itself the option of spending €500 billion, but it is not an obligation. The scope of this amendment is therefore to derogate from the rule on indebtedness, not to oblige the government to make any expenditure (which is important for the "Climate and Transformation Fund" part of these expenditures, more on that below).
Germany has unfortunately been suffering from chronic under-investment in its infrastructure (roads, bridges, railways, schools, communications networks), exacerbated by years of other budgetary preferences under Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz. Merz apparently sees these investments as a lever for reviving an economy that has been in recession for two years -- and he is probably right.
The special fund for infrastructure is endowed with €500 billion over 12 years (initially planned for 10 years, extended to satisfy the Greens). These funds will finance specific projects such as the upgrading and modernization of rail networks, school buildings and communications networks.
This expenditure will be strictly "additional" and will not be able to finance current expenditures.
The Green Amendment
To obtain the support of the environmentalist Green Party -- essential for a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag -- Merz had to include an environmental dimension in the fund. €100 billion -- 20% of the fund -- is dedicated to climate measures: the "energy transition," environmental protection and decarbonization projects. Initially set at €50 billion, this sum was doubled after negotiations with the Greens. That concession made it possible to win them over.
Voices were immediately raised denouncing the inclusion of climate change in the constitution. These are legitimate concerns.
Germans generally take the law seriously, and the amendment to the constitution states that €100 billion will be devoted to climate objectives. This is certainly not a state objective or obligation. In fact, the German constitution defines state objectives: human dignity, democracy, the welfare state (Sozialstaat), rule of law (Rechtsstaat), as well as environmental protection. From this point of view, the amendment changes nothing, and focuses exclusively on that €100 billion to be spent on "climate and transformation."
What is certain, however, is that the Merz program in no way calls into question the environmentalist ideology that has dominated German politics for the past 15 years. Yet this transition is precisely what has led to the ongoing destruction of German industry, with no measurable effect on the climate. Despite the hundreds of billions already spent by Germany on its energy transition, Germany still emits ten times more CO2 per unit of energy produced than nuclear-powered France.
Above all, the imperatives of the arms industry -- think of Rheinmetall, whose share price has risen by 180% in the last six months -- are radically irreconcilable with going "carbon-neutral." Germany cannot destroy its industry and rebuild it at the same time.
By giving himself the right to spend an extra €500 billion over 12 years on infrastructure and climate change, and additional to that, spend "whatever it takes" for the German military -- €40 billion more per year being the best available estimate -- Merz is assuming considerable power, the likes of which no German chancellor has had since 1945.
As the allocation of these resources is formulated in broad and vague terms, the chancellor will have immense power in the allocation of funds. In addition, the German military will be financed to the tune of €120 billion per year, giving it the potential to become the strongest force in Europe -- France spends roughly €55 billion a year. Here again, the power of Germany and its chancellor is growing considerably.
It certainly seems as if Das Rheingold is emerging from the deep.
Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain), philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green Reich (2020).
© 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.

Weapons, war and wealth: The business of arms in the Middle East
Nabih Bulos/Los Angeles Times/March 19, 2025
Arms are a global business, so it’s little surprise that at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference, discerning quartermasters had a world buffet of weaponry before them, be it Brazilian ballistic munitions, Indian patrol boats or the latest in AI-enabled drones from the U.S.
Also present was Israel, which brought 34 companies to the arms bazaar last month — a measure of the surprising resilience of Israel’s trade with Arab nations amid the continuing regional turmoil triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Israel has pummeled Gaza, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and destroying much of the enclave; it has also invaded Lebanon and attacked Yemen. All that has kicked up global condemnation, with regional governments — including the United Arab Emirates — repeatedly denouncing Israel’s actions.
But little of that opprobrium seemed evident at IDEX, as the biennial arms fair in the UAE is known. The mood at the Israeli pavilion seemed relaxed, with snatches of Hebrew heard amid the raft of languages in conversation.
Stands from companies selling drones, smart surveillance devices and communication equipment all saw heavy traffic. A big hit with attendees was a virtual-reality demo from the state-owned aerospace and aviation manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries, or IAI. As the demo played, spokespeople and Israeli officials nearby spoke glowingly of the “combat-proven” systems — read: used in Gaza and Lebanon — on display.
Though company representatives demurred when asked about current conflicts, many said business was very much as usual.
Israel Aerospace Industries was one of 34 companies from Israel participating in the February 2025 weapons bazaar, known as IDEX. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)
“We don’t see any difference at all,” said Ron Pollak, vice president of sales and marketing at Israeli arms manufacturer Emtan. This was the third time Emtan had participated in IDEX, he added, and the reception was as good as ever.
“We evaluate market potential … and then we go. As long as it's a safe environment — and the UAE is very, very safe — there's no reason not to come.”
Such a presence would have been unthinkable almost five years ago, when Israel and the UAE signed the U.S.-brokered the Abraham Accords, in which the Emirates recognized Israeli sovereignty. Since then, Israeli firms in defense, agriculture and energy have all made inroads into what one Israeli entrepreneur recently described as the “Sand Curtain,” with companies such as IAI and Elbit Systems, another arms manufacturer, creating Emirati subsidiaries.
Other signatories to the accords include Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, but ties with the Emirates have proved to be the most enduring during the war with Hamas, which saw Israel accused of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza began after Hamas assaulted southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, Israeli authorities say. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza say Israeli attacks have killed more than 48,500 people.
A January cease-fire between Hamas and Israel has since broken down, with Israel restarting intense bombardment of the enclave that has already killed more than 400 people, Palestinian authorities say. Israel cut off aid to Gaza during the cease-fire and has vociferously pushed for a Trump-supported plan to forcibly relocate Gaza residents to other countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Somalia.
The UAE never stopped flights to Israel during the war and became its top Arab business partner last year. Trade between the two countries totaled $3.2 billion in 2024, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, an 11% increase from 2023. Other Arab nations, including those with populations holding strong pro-Palestinian sentiment, also saw a strengthening of business ties.
Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Mining said the country’s natural gas exports to Egypt and Jordan increased by 13.4% in 2024, reaching 17.15 billion cubic yards — despite widespread calls for boycotts from citizens in both countries.
Some of that commerce is a matter of economically minded realpolitik. Jordan, a major recipient of U.S. aid, has a restive population with millions of Palestinian refugees, but it needs to maintain good ties with Israel for security coordination — and to stay in Washington’s good books.
Similar pressures apply to Egypt, said Timothy Kaldas, an Egyptian analyst at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy think tank: Egypt suffers from power outages and needs energy supplies — especially when they’re conveniently located next door in Israel. At the same time, its moribund economic prospects mean that it can’t ignore any opportunity to earn hard currency.
“This trade relationship is strategic for both parties,” Kaldas said.
“The rhetoric and the practice of the Egyptian government when it comes to the war — the ethnic cleansing, the genocide — are of course very distant from their practices.”
Attendees at IDEX check out SMASH, a product created by Smartshooter, an international company headquartered in Israel. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)
For Israel, the most tantalizing diplomatic prize remains normalization with Saudi Arabia. An agreement with the kingdom, home to some of Islam’s holiest sites, would grant religious legitimacy absent from other normalization deals.
Saudi leaders insist they won’t normalize ties without the creation of a Palestinian state — a nonstarter for the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and much of the Israeli public. But the two countries share enmity toward Iran and have indirectly cooperated to stop its attacks in the region.
As for the merchants at IDEX, there is no reluctance to working with like-minded nations, said Abraham Mazor, vice president of business development and marketing at Smartshooter, an international company headquartered in Israel. The company says it uses artificial intelligence and other tech to "significantly increase" the accuracy and lethality of small arms.
“We go wherever we feel the customer is looking for innovation and new technologies. And I believe the countries in this area are looking to us,” he said.
At Smartshooter’s stand, an affable representative showed off the company’s wares to a rotating crowd, holding up a mock rifle for customers to try. Among the eager takers were Emirati students and engineers — the men in the long white robe known as a thobe, the women in abayas.
“We are more than happy to share with the Emirates because we have the same intentions for this technology — to save lives by protecting your people,” Mazor said.
“It’s more than just selling. It’s a partnership.”

Iran’s ties to Western organized crime networks
Janatan Sayeh/FDD's Long War Journal/March 19/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141361/
The US has long labeled Iran as “the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism,” yet Tehran’s ambitions extend beyond backing Shia and Sunni Islamist groups in the Middle East. The US Treasury Department sanctioned Sweden’s Foxtrot gang on March 13 for its ties to the regime, underscoring Tehran’s longstanding practice of cultivating criminal networks across Europe and the Americas to assassinate dissidents and target American, European, and Israeli interests.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Foxtrot Network as a transnational criminal organization (TCO) for its involvement in drug trafficking and attacks against Israelis and Jews in Europe. The gang’s leader, Rawa Majid—known as “the Kurdish Fox”—was specifically recruited by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOI) after fleeing Turkey for Iran in September 2023. Majid, who faces numerous Swedish charges for narcotics and firearms trafficking, worked with Iranian agents to orchestrate an attempted attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm in January 2024.
Foxtrot, one of Sweden’s most notorious criminal gangs, is responsible for shootings, contract killings, and arms and drug trafficking that contribute significantly to the country’s escalating violence. Its rival, the Rumba crime group—led by Kurdish-Swedish criminal Ismail Abdo, known as “the Strawberry”—carried out a shooting targeting the Israeli embassy in Stockholm at Tehran’s direction in May 2024. While Iran supports both factions, Israeli intelligence uncovered that Tehran exploits the groups’ rivalry to advance its own agenda and shared these findings with Swedish authorities.
In January 2024, OFAC and the UK jointly sanctioned a network of individuals tasked with assassinating Iranian dissidents and opposition activists abroad at Tehran’s behest. The network, led by Iran-based narcotics trafficker Naji Sharif Zindashti, played a central role in Iran’s transnational repression operations by carrying out assassinations and kidnappings across multiple continents under the direction of the MOI.
Operating under Zindashti’s orders, Canadian Hells Angels member Damion Patrick John Ryan was recruited to assassinate Iranian exiles in the US. Ryan, who has an extensive criminal record involving firearms and drug trafficking, enlisted fellow Canadian and Hells Angels affiliate Adam Richard Pearson to carry out the killings.
The MOI is not the only Iranian intelligence branch leveraging the Hells Angels. In Germany, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) enlisted fugitive gang boss and dual German-Iranian national Ramin Yektaparast to orchestrate attacks on Jewish sites, including the attempted arson of a Düsseldorf synagogue in March 2022. After the foiled attack, Yektaparast fled to Iran, where reports suggest he was assassinated by the Mossad a month later.
According to Iran International, the IRGC’s Quds Force operates three assassination squads under the so-called “German Network,” tasked with targeting Iranian dissidents and Jewish individuals across Europe. Citing an anonymous source, the report claimed Unit 840 of the Quds Force, which specializes in operations against Western and opposition targets, is overseeing new missions on European soil.
Beyond direct attacks, Iran uses criminal networks for intelligence gathering. UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat warned in 2023 that Tehran had enlisted British organized crime groups to surveil Jewish communities, likely as a prelude to targeted assassinations. He stressed that Iran was leveraging “non-traditional sources” to orchestrate threats against prominent Jewish figures.
Iran’s reach into organized crime spans continents, as the IRGC collaborated with an Eastern European crime syndicate to orchestrate the assassination of a US citizen of Iranian origin in New York. The operation was directed by Iran-based operative Rafat Amirov, who oversaw surveillance and an attempted hit on Iranian journalist and dissident Masih Alinejad. The US Department of Justice charged Amirov and two gang associates with murder-for-hire and money laundering in January 2023.
The Iranian intelligence apparatus has a history of attempting similar operations on US soil. The Department of Justice uncovered a Quds Force-directed plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US using explosives in 2011. The plan involved Manssor Arbabsiar, a naturalized US citizen of Iranian origin, and senior Quds Force operative Gholam Shakuri. Arbabsiar attempted to hire a Mexico-based cartel for $1.5 million to conduct the hit, wiring $100,000 as a down payment before his arrest at JFK Airport on September 29, 2011.
**Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republic’s regional malign influence.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/03/irans-ties-to-western-organized-crime-networks.php

Are Tunisia and Iran Really Growing Closer?
Sabina Henneberg/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
Although their diplomatic and economic overtures are on the rise, bilateral ties remain largely superficial for now, indicating a shared anti-Western posture rather than risky strategic cooperation.
Last month, Iran’s ambassador to Tunisia announced the formation of a joint mixed economic commission following a phone call between the two countries’ foreign ministers. Days later, U.S. legislator Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) called for cutting assistance to Tunisia in response to concerns that it is “working with...the Iranian regime.” Indeed, some might interpret various developments over the past year as signs of a deepening relationship—most prominently President Kais Saied’s May 2024 visit to Tehran, where he was one of only three heads of state to attend Ebrahim Raisi’s funeral and met directly with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. By most metrics, however, their relations remain largely superficial, reflecting Tunisia’s current foreign policy posture more than any deep threat to Western interests.
Iran-Tunisia Relations by the (Small) Numbers
The two countries have maintained diplomatic ties since Tunisia achieved independence in 1956. Although relations dipped in the 1980s due to President Habib Bourguiba’s concerns about political Islam, they were largely restored under his successors Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Beji Caid Essebsi.
Economic ties remain negligible: according to the most recent IMF statistics, Tunisian imports from Iran were $1.4 million in 2022, down from $4.8 million in 2015. Tunisian exports to Iran have dropped as well (from $12.58 million in 2014 to just $80,000 in 2023), though they were miniscule to begin with. In March 2024, Saied met with Raisi at a summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Algiers, and both presidents expressed interest in deepening economic ties.
Meanwhile, security ties have been described as “non-existent,” and the cultural links are likewise quite modest. Tunisia is home to a few thousand Shia Muslims—less than 1 percent of the total population, mostly clustered in the southern regions. Iran opened a cultural center in Tunis in 2007, one of approximately seventy such centers worldwide, including eight in the Middle East and North Africa. Far from signaling deep cultural ties, however, the Islamic Republic generally uses these institutions for activities such as proselytizing, covert recruitment, intelligence gathering, and planning/conducting terrorist operations. Europe has closed several such centers in response to suspected espionage activity; in North Africa, Sudan closed three in 2014, reportedly on charges of “proselytizing Shia Islam.”
Notably, Tunis lifted visa requirements for Iranians last June as part of a general easing of restrictions on visitors from more than thirty countries. Whatever the potential cultural and economic benefits, this move increases the possibility of Iranian intelligence operatives entering the country.
The Tunisian Foreign Policy Context
Under Saied, Tunisia has broken with its traditional foreign policy stance of friendly and balanced international relations, instead taking an explicitly anti-Western stance. In that sense, its new diplomatic warmth toward Tehran may simply reflect Saied’s determination to demonstrate that he will not be beholden to the West, as seen most recently when he announced the severing of communications with the IMF.
This approach has been a mixed bag for Tunis so far. On one hand, Saied has maintained his firm rhetoric about issues affecting national sovereignty without totally disrupting relations with the West—most notably nearby Italy, one of Tunisia’s top trade partners. On the other hand, he has not been able to convince alternative partners like China of Tunisia’s value. Observers note that his foreign policy generally lacks coherence, though his anti-Western stance has seemingly been clarified and intensified by the Gaza war.
Tunisia has also become more dependent on Algeria. Wary of regional instability and extremism, Algiers has supported Tunis with loans and central bank deposits as well as favorable electricity and gas deals. Algerian foreign policy rests on similar principles of non-alignment and strong solidarity with the Palestinian cause, though President Abdelmadjid Tebboune tends to display more nuance than Saied. For example, while Saied has distanced himself from Tunisia’s traditional commitment to a two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution and taken fiery public stances on the Gaza war, Tebboune recently suggested that Algeria would consider normalization with Israel conditioned on Palestinian statehood. If Algiers were to reduce its support, Saied would find himself isolated given his reputation for controversial positions, both in other Arab capitals (e.g., his support for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad) and among Western governments (e.g., Germany was a strong supporter of Tunisia’s post-2011 liberalization but has been reluctant to support Saied’s creeping authoritarianism).
Tunisia’s opening to Iran is perhaps more driven by Tehran, which seeks to expand its influence in Africa and improve ties with Arab countries as part of the “neighborly policy” started under Raisi. Yet discussions with experts indicate that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force—whose mission is to expand the regime’s influence abroad by operating through nonstate proxies, typically in ungoverned or weakly governed spaces—has not yet shown much appetite for engagement in Tunisia, instead focusing its North African activities on Libya and potentially Algeria (as the chief sponsor of the armed Polisario Front secessionist movement).
Limits to the Partnership
Although the growth in ties between Tunisia and Iran is real, it has limits. Tunisia’s strong tradition of separating mosque and state has left many citizens highly suspicious of all forms of political Islam, from the regime in Tehran to local movements like the once-prominent, Muslim Brotherhood-aligned party Ennahda. The hostility between secularists and Islamists has helped keep Tunisian parties divided despite their shared opposition to Saied. For example, the president’s warming relations with Iran reportedly caused fierce anti-Islamist figure Abir Moussi to accuse Ennahda of essentially abetting the country’s evolution “from Brotherhood political Islam to Iranian political Islam.” In other words, although Saied’s anti-Western rhetoric resonates with many Tunisians, his apparent interest in growing closer to Iran does not.
In addition to its general insistence on political secularism, Tunisia’s national traditions and values differ substantially from Iran’s in key respects. For instance, despite some similarities between Shia Islam and the variants of Sufism practiced occasionally in Tunisia, much of the population views the Islamic Republic’s Shia tenets with suspicion. This mistrust was on display in February following a Tunisian-Iranian cultural festival in a suburb of the capital, in response to which residents circulated a petition rejecting “the influence of theocratic regimes.” And in a 2022 survey on the policies of regional heads of state, Tunisians reportedly ranked Supreme Leader Khamenei dead last.
Notably, Saied’s closeness with his brother Naoufel—known for his fondness toward certain strands of Iranian intellectual thought tied to the Islamic Revolution—could explain some of the president’s recent overtures toward Tehran. Yet Saied is also notoriously fickle with his advisors, suggesting that his brother’s influence could be limited.
U.S. Policy Implications
Ties between Tunisia and Iran appear to be strengthening, but the two governments do not appear equipped to offer each other additional tools for challenging the West. This is especially true on the economic front, where Saied’s populist attitudes seem unsustainable. Now four months into his second term, he will need to start reversing the deterioration in living conditions for Tunisians—something Iran can do little to help with given its own economic constraints.
Intelligence sharing between the two governments may represent the greatest threat to Western interests, though even this will likely be constrained by Tunisian popular suspicions of Iranian influence. Saied’s dismantling of judicial independence, enhanced media repression, and other brazen policies are ultimately weakening the state, compounding Tunisian concerns about creeping Iranian influence and likely making the government a less effective potential partner to Tehran.
In short, while some of the concerns expressed by U.S. legislators may be warranted, the ties between Tunis and Tehran are nascent and not particularly problematic. Washington should therefore focus not on punishing Tunis, but on preventing its relations with Tehran from expanding into sectors that might actually affect U.S. interests. Tunisia’s security forces—particularly its military but also the internal security forces—benefit from significant Western (especially American) assistance, so continuing this longstanding partnership is perhaps the most effective way of preventing future Tunisian security collaboration with Iran. Additionally, maintaining rather than cutting U.S. support for education and other means of rebuilding Tunisia’s crumbling social and economic infrastructure will be crucial to curbing Iran’s malign influence.
*Sabina Henneberg is a Soref Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Iraq’s PMF Law Is No Substitute for Real Security Reform
Hamdi Malik, Michael Knights/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
The Trump administration should not be duped by the supposed “reforms” that militia leaders are considering in parliament, which threaten to turn the PMF into another Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” and keep U.S.-designated terrorists in key posts.
On March 11, the Iraqi parliament withdrew a draft “PMF Service and Retirement Law” from consideration, in the latest—but surely not the last—chapter for a hotly debated bill regarding the structure and funding of the Popular Mobilization Forces. Avowedly focused on reforming the PMF, the law is really about rival militia commanders trying to outmaneuver each other while grabbing a bigger slice of the national budget for the pro-Iran paramilitary organization.
Since its formation in 2014, the PMF has posed a conundrum for U.S. policymakers. On one hand, the all-volunteer force was originally raised with the blessing of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to serve the vital mission of wresting Iraqi territory back from the Islamic State, and was later put on the government payroll and recognized as a formal branch of the security forces. On the other hand, PMF bases, equipment, and personnel have repeatedly been involved in killing Americans and Iraqis alike, with little accountability, and the force is predominantly led by commanders from Iran-backed, U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The current PMF chairman is Faleh al-Fayyad, designated by Washington for serious human rights abuses; the force’s operational commander, Abdul-Aziz al-Mohammadawi (aka Abu Fadak), is a senior member of the U.S.-designated organization Kataib Hezbollah (KH), one of whose many attacks killed three Americans and injured many more in January 2024.
Following regional setbacks to Iran’s “axis of resistance” during the latest wars in Gaza and Lebanon, the PMF has become more worried about the risk of U.S. or Israeli attacks on its senior officials. Accordingly, it has sought to give the impression of “reforming” its structure, retiring certain commanders, and appointing less objectionable leadership. In pushing Baghdad on security reform, however, Washington must be careful to differentiate between cosmetic changes and real measures that reduce the threat posed by malign actors within the PMF.
A Fight for Control of the PMF
Iraqi militias are regulated by PMF Commission Law No. 40 of 2016, a brief piece of legislation consisting of just three articles with minimal details on the force’s employment terms and administrative structure. To address this gap, the PMF Commission, led by Fayyad, initiated efforts to draft a new Service and Retirement Law in 2019. Yet passing the legislation has proven challenging, as various Shia militia and political groups seek to shape it in a way that enhances their influence. An initial 39-article draft was announced in 2020, then ballooned to 113 articles in 2023 before being presented in parliament last year.
It speaks volumes that the PMF—avowedly part of the Iraqi security forces—has spent years crafting its own dedicated law on these matters when Iraq already has a general Military Service and Retirement Law on the books (Law No. 3 of 2010). PMF leaders refuse to accept that this extant law applies to them, in keeping with the force’s unofficial mission of serving as a parallel military for Iraqi groups supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s parallel military.
The draft PMF law is currently deadlocked, but not because militias balked at real reform; rather, they have been sparring over potential leadership change. Some Shia blocs in parliament, including those belonging to militias, have pushed to institute a retirement age of sixty for PMF members (currently there is no mandatory retirement age). This effort is being spearheaded by al-Sadiqoun (formed by the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or AAH) and the State of Law Alliance (led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki), with support from Harakat Hoquq (formed by KH). The primary goal of this provision is plain—to force the retirement of Fayyad, who is sixty-eight. If the law passes in its current form, it would also result in the retirement of approximately 180 high-ranking PMF personnel, including the heads of various brigades and regional operations commands.
For now, Fayyad has successfully blocked versions of the law containing these provisions, with support from Hadi al-Ameri (head of the Iran-backed Badr Organization), Abu Ala al-Walai (head of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada), and Ammar al-Hakim (head of the Hikma Movement). Fayyad’s most senior political ally, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is also “fighting tooth and nail to prevent the law from passing,” according to influential Sadiqoun member Ali Turki. On February 18, Fayyad traveled to Iran in a presumed bid to garner Tehran’s support for blocking the legislation; three weeks later, the draft law was withdrawn from consideration, at least in its current form.
U.S. Policy Implications
The United States has a clear national interest in preventing the consolidation of another Iran-backed “Revolutionary Guard” in the Middle East. Allowing the PMF’s unchecked growth and corruption to continue under the leadership of designated terrorists is the easiest way to lose Iraq to Tehran.
Indeed, state allocations for the PMF’s budget and personnel have increased dramatically in recent years. According to the parliamentary finance committee, its official force size surged by 95 percent in the 2023 budget, from 122,000 personnel to 238,000. Some of these slots are almost certainly fictitious, enabled by years of deliberate opacity in the PMF’s registered manpower that enable militias to systematically exploit state funds. Meanwhile, the force’s budget surpassed $3.4 billion in 2024, up from $2.8 billion in 2023, and $2.16 billion in 2022. Enacting the PMF Service and Retirement Law would likely increase this budget even further, as it would require the government to allocate funds for new expenditures.
More important for U.S. interests, using the new law to remove Fayyad without mandating other deep reforms would merely open the door for a younger set of Iranian-controlled, U.S.-sanctioned commanders drawn from rival terrorist factions. Like previous PMF “professionalization” initiatives, the current law has nothing to do with bringing the force under state control—it is just another power play by terrorist groups like AAH and KH. For example, AAH leader Qais al-Khazali recently stated that the PMF chairman should be selected from within and embody the force’s “values” and “culture.” His colleague Ali Turki allowed for the option of appointing “experienced officers from outside the PMF,” but only if they “share an ideological affinity with the PMF.” This suggests that AAH is laying the groundwork to replace Fayyad with an Iraqi military commander who has a history of supporting the “axis of resistance”—and close ties to AAH, of course. This is why sacking Fayyad is not enough to spur real change. Yes, he should go, but so should all of the other U.S.-designated terrorists and human rights abusers in the PMF leadership.
As Baghdad continues to discuss cleaning up its security sector, the Trump administration should ignore fake “reform” initiatives like the PMF Service and Retirement Law, instead focusing on the following lines of effort:
Sustain “maximum pressure.” The fact that Iraqi politicians can even openly debate PMF reform today is a testament to Israel’s weakening of Iran’s “axis” over the past year and the heightened threat of U.S. sanctions under the Trump administration. To sustain this momentum, Washington should energetically implement the newly issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which includes provisions for reimposing “maximum pressure” on Iran and its proxies.
Sanction the PMF’s economic arm. The Muhandis General Company is the PMF’s equivalent of the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbia construction arm, serving as a front for Tehran and its local terrorist proxies to filch billions of dollars in contracts out of Iraq’s oil-rich government. Sources have indicated to the authors that the U.S. Treasury Department has extensive evidence of these activities; it should use this information to sanction the firm and its shell companies. This could help prevent malign actors from partnering with international investors on major contracts related to oil field services and renewables, which is already starting to occur. New sanctions could also limit the number of non-compete contracts that the company receives from the Iraqi government, leveraging Baghdad’s keen desire to avoid negative attention from Washington.
Demand leadership changes. Regardless of what the retirement law says, both Fayyad and Abu Fadak should be removed, and whoever replaces them as PMF chairman and commander should be expected to adhere to the principle of bringing all military weapons under true state control, as repeatedly espoused by Sistani and other key figures. Toward that end, the United States should condition future security assistance and cooperation on concrete Iraqi measures to uphold the state’s monopoly on the use of force. This includes pushing for new PMF commanders who are willing and able to gradually reduce the influence of groups beholden to Iran and subject to U.S. terrorist designations.
Define the PMF’s role and missions. The PMF essentially duplicates (or “triplicates”) the roles already played by Iraq’s army and Federal Police. Formulating a national definition of each service branch’s missions is a vital first step in eliminating wasteful replication of effort. It would also help prevent the PMF from encroaching further into the operational spaces of the primary service branches and increasingly overshadowing them.
**Michael Knights is the Bernstein Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute
**Hamdi Malik is an associate fellow. Their joint projects include the Institute’s Militia Spotlight platform.

The Dual Face of Qais al-Khazali: Extremist at Heart, Politician by Necessity
Hamdi Malik/The Washington Institute/March 19/2025
Khazali presents himself as a mainstream political figure, but his internal narrative reveals unwavering loyalty to Iran's "axis of resistance" and a deeply entrenched extremist ideology opposed to the West.
Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), used the month of Ramadan to maintain his connection with his support base and reaffirm the ideological framework guiding his group. In his first Ramadan sermon—titled "The Struggle Between Truth and Falsehood," posted on March 6 across AAH’s social media platforms—he provided a "religious historical" overview of this "struggle," tracing it back to the creation of the first human, the Prophet Adam, according to Islamic belief (Figure 1).
Open imageiconKhazali's Ramadam sermon
Figure 1: Photo of Khazali during his Ramadan sermon, posted March 6, 2025.
He then linked Iran's "axis of resistance" and its hostility toward the West to Shia millenarian beliefs and the anticipated advent of Imam Mahdi: “We have reached...the final round...in the struggle between truth and falsehood, which unfolds in the era of Imam al-Mahdi...His sacred occultation [hidden existence]...has been marked by continuous struggles and accumulated outcomes leading to this moment. The stage we have now reached in this struggle—where Ahl al-Haq (People of Truth), represented by the Axis of Resistance, have attained this level of strength—is the result of immense effort, perseverance, and great sacrifices stretching back to the time of Prophet Adam...and especially throughout the period of occultation. Now we have entered an advanced stage...a direct confrontation with Rome—which, based on [interpretations of] the Islamic narrations, refers to the modern-day America and Europe.”
Building on this narrative, Khazali drew historical parallels to past confrontations between Islamic and Western forces: “We have entered the most difficult stage in the struggle between truth and falsehood—the confrontation with Rome. The Messenger of God [Prophet Muhammad]...in all his greatness...engaged in a military confrontation with Rome but did not achieve victory. According to [Shia Muslim] narrations, the ultimate victory over Rome will be achieved at the hands of the Master of the Age [Imam al-Mahdi].” Khazali was referring to the Battle of Mutah, fought in 629 AD—the first major confrontation between Islamic forces and the Byzantine Empire and their Ghassanid vassals. In this battle, Islamic forces suffered a severe defeat. It was the only significant clash between a Muslim and Christian army during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, as he passed away a few years later.
Notably, in a March 2 interview on al-Iraqiya TV that took place before his Ramadan sermon, Khazali had struck a noticeably softer tone. Rather than emphasizing conflict, he appeared cautious, seemingly aiming to avoid provoking the Trump administration: “If there is something Trump wants that does not conflict with our interests, then there is no problem. [The United States] is an important country...However, if there is something that conflicts with our interests, we prioritize our interests and the interests of our people over what Trump wants” (Figure 2). He added, “We do not harbor enmity toward [the United States]...We are sitting in our country keeping quiet and have become nice.”
Open imageiconKhazali on al-Iraqia
Figure 2: Khazali during an interview on al-Iraqiya TV, March 2, 2025.
In al-Iraqiya TV interview Khazali was unequivocal about his allegiance to the Iranian regime. He reaffirmed his belief in velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) and his adherence to the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader. In an apparent effort to counter criticism over his loyalty to a foreign leader, Khazali also stated that he follows any instructions issued by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on public matters.
Khazali's contrasting rhetoric suggests he is employing taqiyya—the practice of strategic dissimulation—to navigate political realities, a well-defined concept in Shia jurisprudence. While he passionately frames the struggle between the “axis of resistance” and the West as an eschatological battle culminating in Imam Mahdi’s victory, he simultaneously adopts a pragmatic tone in public discourse, downplaying hostility toward the United States to avoid provocation. This demonstrates that despite Khazali’s attempts in recent years to present himself as a mainstream political actor in Iraq, he remains ideologically committed to an Iranian school of thought that is deeply hostile not only toward the West, but toward anyone who does not share this framework.

Egypt’s plan for the reconstruction of Gaza
Badr Abdelatty, opinion contributor/The Hill/March 19, 2025
For over 16 months, Palestinians in Gaza have endured unspeakable humanitarian circumstances unseen since the Second World War. Almost 2 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced, with more than 150,000 people killed or injured according to the UN, 50 percent of hospitals and medical facilities destroyed, 88 percent of schools partially or fully shattered, 68 percent of agricultural areas damaged and 68 percent of roads have become dysfunctional. As the statistics reflect, Israel’s war didn’t turn out to be just a war against Hamas, but expanded to the entire civilian population and its critical infrastructure. To address this crisis of colossal magnitude, two critical steps need to be taken. First, we must immediately provide a comprehensive and thorough humanitarian plan that alleviates the suffering of Palestinians and restore life back to Gaza through early recovery programs and reconstruction.
Second, it is imperative that we offer a political roadmap that brings decisive closure to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict once and for all culminating in an independent Palestinian state and ensure that this latest horrific round of violence becomes the final one. Let me address both steps. Egypt has put together a multi-phase and time-bound plan for the reconstruction of Gaza that will include three main phases with a time frame extending from 2025 to 2030. The plan received full endorsement by 22 Arab states. It will include in its first phase an initial early recovery program extending for six months offering urgent relief to Palestinians in Gaza by providing thousands of temporary housing units in the form of caravans, prefabricated homes and tents that would temporarily shelter 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza. It will also include extensive programs for removal and recycling of approximately 50 million tons of rubble, clearance of unexploded ordnances and munitions. The remaining two phases will center entirely on reconstruction. They will include construction of a total of 400,000 permanent housing units accommodating 2.7 million Palestinians, rehabilitation of road networks and agricultural reclamation of 20,000 acres. The reconstruction phases will also include the construction of two ports, an airport, solar power plants, a governmental service center, educational and medical facilities. Once the fundamental infrastructure and essential facilities are set, Gaza will be ready for global investments in different sectors including tourism, energy and logistics. The plan was designed in full conformity with the core principles of urban planning set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Egypt has extensive and valuable experience from previous reconstruction cycles in Gaza that followed repeated rounds of violence between Israel and Hamas. The fact that Gaza borders Egypt, places Egypt at the forefront when it comes to logistical planning and operational execution for reconstruction and rehabilitation. The plan was devised to ensure Palestinians in Gaza remain in their homeland. Palestinians are opposed to ideas that suggest their removal from their territory. Their collective memory is fraught with grief, given the tragic historic injustice inflicted on their people who were forcibly driven out by Israel from their homeland in the mid-20th century. They have been unable to return ever since. As such, Palestinians are exceptionally sensitive to attempts to detach them from their homeland.
But the massive challenge of reconstruction in Gaza is undeniably too big for one country to handle. This needs to be a collective international effort with the involvement of a significant number of companies involved in all reconstruction phases, including multiple U.S. firms. That is why Egypt will host an international conference on the reconstruction of Gaza in cooperation with the United Nations and the Palestinian government. This global assembly will solicit funding from donor countries and financial institutions to execute the five-year plan which will require an approximate $53 billion.
Simultaneously, a new Palestinian committee will be established to administer Gaza. This committee will be run exclusively by Palestinian technocrats not affiliated with any faction whatsoever. Its main functions will be to govern Gaza, manage humanitarian assistance and serve for a transitional period paving the way for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. There will be no room for any faction to govern Gaza during this transitional period. In the meantime, we must swiftly work to restore law and order in Gaza. That is why Egypt will immediately start training thousands of Palestinian police officers to bolster security, counter lawlessness and restore confidence in the public.
While we work to address humanitarian, security and governance issues in Gaza, we also have a profound duty to offer a political horizon that generates hope and brings peace between Palestinians and Israelis. This roadmap should culminate in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the lines of Jun. 4, 1967, in which Palestinians can finally live free from Israeli occupation. We must offer a future for the Palestinians anchored in hope not despair, liberty not captivity and independence not subjugation. Only when Palestinians are free, will we succeed in luring them away from the pitfall of extremism and radicalism. That is why President Trump’s leadership is crucial in this historic juncture. His inaugural address reflected his deep-rooted desire to achieve global peace and cease endless wars that have ravaged multiple regions and brought nothing but anguish and grief to their people. We welcome Trump’s recent remarks regarding the non-displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. We look forward to working with Trump to realize a historic deal that can finally bring closure to this conflict and deliver peace, security, and prosperity to both Palestinians and Israelis.
Badr Abdelatty is minister of foreign affairs of Egypt.

Netanyahu’s War On The World
Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al Awsat/March 19, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer just a prime minister waging war against Gaza. His war is against the world. He has resumed this war of relentless brutality without even pretending to target Hamas. Children, women, and innocent civilians are his victims today. He has starved them throughout the suspension of hostilities as he wages a personal comprehensive battle against anyone who threatens his power, especially within Israel itself, which he has targeted everyone from his political opposition to the state institutions.
While the world strives for an end to the war, as well as the massacres of civilians and children, Netanyahu insists on escalation. He has refused to respect the ceasefire or resume negotiations, brushing off all the international pressure. It seems that his battle is not only against the people of Gaza but against anyone seeking an end to the violence.
Netanyahu's brutality and hysteria were laid bare in his courtroom outburst. “They have taken my life! They have taken my family’s life! They have pushed us to the gates of hell!” But the real question is who. Who are “they”? Hamas? His political rivals? Or the world that rejects his draconian methods?
Indeed, it has now become clear that Netanyahu’s behavior has nothing to do with Israel’s security and has everything to do with maintaining power. Nothing speaks to this more clearly than his dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. This decision is part of a series of panicked political moves masked by military superiority. The political turmoil Netanyahu has created manifests in his relentless campaign to liquidate anyone who threatens his rule. Bar was dismissed because Shin Bet exposed the failures of October 7 and Netanyahu’s role in funds being funneled to Hamas.
Let us remember that it is not the first dismissal nor will it be the last. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was pushed out a few months ago, paving the way for the removal of Israel’s Chief of Staff and the appointment of a loyalist, Eyal Zamir. Taking a bird's eye view of the broader Israeli context and the discourse around this hysteria disguised as politics, it becomes apparent that Netanyahu intends to reshape the security apparatus in line with his political interests, even if that means dismantling state institutions. Israeli researchers and thinking, including those opposed to Hamas remaining in place, are growing increasingly apprehensive about his behavior.
Netanyahu has distilled this strategy, which I call political hysteria, into a simple formula for maintaining power that boils down to maintaining a state of perpetual war. Every escalation in Gaza, regardless of the toll it takes on innocent civilians, ensures the support of the far-right and diverts attention away from Israel’s domestic crises.
Netanyahu sees war not as a means of protecting Israelis; he now conceives of it as a tool for consolidating his authority. While Israeli hostages remain in captivity, he remains focused on filing lawsuits against his opponents, accusing them of defamation in a desperate effort to silence dissent. Even Trump established a backchannel with Hamas, and this move may have been motivated by frustration over the political deadlock of Netnayahu’s making, amid increasing international pressure likely spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s most recent statement was firm and unequivocal, strongly denouncing Israel’s resumption of hostilities against Gaza and its bombardment of densely populated civilian areas, which reflects a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.
As the death toll rises and the war drags on, with the ceasefire having collapsed, Israel’s global isolation will probably deepen. Domestic unrest, particularly over the fate of the hostages, is likely to aggravate. Yet, Netanyahu’s downfall does not seem imminent, and the reason is simple: he is willing to burn everything down to avoid relinquishing power, even if the price is Israel’s own future.
At this point, any discussion of peace initiatives or a truce is meaningless without a comprehensive settlement that puts an end to the bloodshed. In the eyes of the world’s sensible actors, there is a pressing need for a solution that addresses the roots of the conflicts. However, this prospect seems far-fetched. Netanyahu is not just waging war against the people of Gaza today; he is waging war against the world.