English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 14/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will
also do the works that I do
John 14/08-14: “Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we
will be satisfied. ’Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been
with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen
me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to
you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not,
then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one
who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do
greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.I will do whatever
you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 13-14/2025
Remembrance Day in Canada: Honoring the Heroes Who Defended Freedom/Elias
Bejjani/November 11/2025
The Political Council of the Identity and Sovereignty Gathering: Hiding behind
weapons is no longer useful, and the responsibility of the ruling authority and
government for the consequences of the future has become clear and undeniable.
Link to a video interview with the Shiites journalists opposing Hezbollah,
Mohammad Barakat and Imad Qumaiha
New US ambassador to arrive in Beirut on Friday
Syria will help US fight Hezbollah, Barrack says
Macron advisor meets Aoun, Berri in Lebanon visit
France pushes for Lebanon ceasefire implementation amid rising Israeli attacks
What happened in the 'Mechanism' meeting?
Israel takes precautionary measures fearing possible Hezbollah attack
One wounded in Israeli strike on south Lebanon
Israeli Escalation at Dawn in the South: Consecutive Raids on Aitaroun and
Turflessieh, and Intensive Drone Activity
Israel Fears "Hezbollah" Attack... New Measures at the Border
Ben Farhan's Visit Postponed
Israeli Army: No Raid in Toul… Explosion Caused by Arms Smuggling Attempt
Hezbollah Uses Shell Companies to Smuggle Money in Merchandise Parcels
US Congress Members Darrell Issa and Darin LaHood Sent an Official Letter to US
President Donald Trump Regarding Lebanon
Saudi-Lebanese Positive Development... Lebanese Exports to The Solution?
Berri in American Warning's Crosshairs
Video Link and transcript to an Interview from "Independent Arabia" Website with
Lebanese Researcher at the Washington Institute, Ms. Hanin Ghaddar:
Geagea accuses government of showing no determination to disarm Hezbollah
British Council, Ministry of Education renew strategic reform partnership
Bassil says Hezbollah would disarm 'at will' when army is equipped to defend
country
Disarm Hezbollah or face war: Lebanon’s impossible choice/Osama Al-Sharif/Arab
News/November 13/2025
In Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo Will Find Ruins and Roots of Catholic
Faith/Alberto M. Fernandez//National Catholic Register/November 13/2025
Israel’s War of Attrition: Zero Losses, Total Victory/Charbel A. Antoun/November
13/2025
Roger Edde: A Mafia State’s Crisis of Nerves/ Ahmad Hussein ALHUSSEINI/November
13/2025
Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 3–9, 2025/David Daoud/FDD's
Long War Journal/November 13/ 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
November 13-14/2025
Gazans begin to restore historic fort damaged in war
Israeli forces to uproot olive trees and seize Palestinian land in Qalqilya
Israeli troops kill two West Bank Palestinians, settlers set mosque ablaze
Israel says received body of one of final four Gaza hostages
Israel quizzed at UN over torture of Palestinian detainees
UN agency for Palestinian refugees asks for more funding
Syrian authorities arrest Sednaya Prison guard linked to torture
Syria to help US fight Iran-backed armed groups, envoy says
Syrian Embassy raises new flag in London to mark reopening after 12 years
Saudi deputy minister of industry meets with top Egyptian officials to enhance
cooperation
What lies ahead in Iraq: the hard task of forming a government
Erdogan says Cyprus should remain divided
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources on
November 13-14/2025
How Hamas Is Planning to Deceive the Trump Administration/Khaled Abu
Toameh/ Gatestone Institute./November 13/2025
The war against Christian ...President Trump is giving attention to this
matter/Clifford D. Mays/The Washington Times/November 13/2025
The (Calculable) Costs of Israel’s Wars ...Can Israel afford its
fights?/Jonathan Schanzer/SAPIR Journal/November 13/2025
How Gaza’s survivors are rebuilding lives and memories among the rubble/ANAN
TELLO/Arab News/November 13, 2025
Selected Face Book & X tweets for November 12/2025
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 13-14/2025
Remembrance Day in Canada: Honoring the Heroes Who Defended Freedom
Elias Bejjani/November 11/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149053/
Each year on November 11, Canadians pause in solemn reflection to honor the
brave men and women who served—and continue to serve—the nation in times of war,
conflict, and peacekeeping. Remembrance Day is far more than a date on the
calendar; it is a profound and living tribute to courage, selfless sacrifice,
and the unyielding pursuit of peace. It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy
today were secured at a heavy price—the lives, dreams, and futures of countless
Canadians who answered the call of duty.
The red poppy, inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders
Fields,” remains the nation’s enduring symbol of remembrance, resilience, and
gratitude.
Historical Significance and Adoption
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919, one year after the end of the First
World War. It was originally known as Armistice Day, commemorating the precise
moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front: the eleventh hour of the
eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
In 1931, the Canadian Parliament officially renamed Armistice Day to Remembrance
Day and fixed its observance on November 11 each year. This change acknowledged
the sacrifices made in all subsequent conflicts, not just the First World War.
Since then, it has become a sacred occasion integral to Canada’s national
identity, reflecting the country’s profound role in defending human rights,
justice, and international peace.
Impact of Sacrifice
Over 1.5 million Canadians have served the nation in uniform throughout its
history. Tragically, more than 118,000 have made the ultimate sacrifice in
service to Canada.
Canada’s Foundation
Canada was declared an independent country on July 1, 1867, through the British
North America Act (now the Constitution Act, 1867). This historic moment marked
the unification of three British colonies—Ontario, Quebec, and New
Brunswick—into the Dominion of Canada.
Today, Canada is a diverse federation composed of ten provinces and three
territories, united under a federal system that balances national unity with
regional diversity. This foundation allowed Canada to emerge as a significant
global contributor to freedom and democracy.
How Canadians Observe Remembrance Day
Across Canada, Remembrance Day is observed with solemn ceremonies held in
cities, towns, schools, and military bases. The most notable event takes place
at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, where the Governor General, the Prime
Minister, and military leaders lay wreaths in honor of the fallen.
At 11:00 a.m. local time, the entire nation observes two minutes of silence—a
collective moment of profound gratitude and reflection. The haunting sound of
the bugle’s Last Post fills the air, followed by prayers, readings, and the
powerful recitation of McCrae’s immortal words.
Many Canadians wear the red poppy over their hearts, attend local parades, visit
veterans’ memorials, and participate in educational activities to ensure that
younger generations never forget the true cost and meaning of sacrifice.
A Prayer for Canada
Almighty God, We thank You for this blessed land of freedom, justice, and peace.
We pause today to remember before You the brave souls who gave their lives So
that Canada might continue to live in dignity and safety. Bless our veterans,
our soldiers, and all who serve our nation with unwavering courage and honor.
Guide our leaders with wisdom, and unite our people in compassion and gratitude.
Protect our beloved Canada— From coast to coast to coast— And keep her a beacon
of hope, faith, and enduring peace for all generations. Amen.
Final Reflection: A Call to Action
Remembrance Day is not only a day to look back and honor the past but also a
call to look forward. It challenges every Canadian to actively carry the torch
of peace, to defend liberty wherever it is threatened, and to live in a way that
truly honors the memory of those who sacrificed everything.
As the poppies bloom anew each November, Canada remembers—and solemnly promises
never to forget.
The Political Council of the Identity and Sovereignty
Gathering: Hiding behind weapons is no longer useful, and the responsibility of
the ruling authority and government for the consequences of the future has
become clear and undeniable.
NNA/November 13/2025
(Free translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149116/
The Political Council of the Identity and Sovereignty Gathering held its regular
meeting, chaired by former Minister Youssef Salameh, and issued the following
statement:
After ten months have passed since the beginning of the new presidential term,
the Political Council of the Identity and Sovereignty Gathering noted the
blatant failure to uphold the commitments made in the inaugural address or the
ministerial statement—whether regarding the pledge to ensure the exclusivity of
arms, to spare Lebanon bitter external entanglements and rigid foreign
priorities, or in the fight against corruption, nepotism, and political
favoritism in the management of state affairs.
The statement continued: If we hypothetically concede that the armed groups are
too strong for even the highest Lebanese authorities to disarm them, and that
direct negotiations with Israel require exceptional courage, wisdom, and vision
(a justification that might be acceptable if it were at least acknowledged),
what the Lebanese people cannot understand is the ongoing policy of sectarian
and partisan quota-sharing that has turned state institutions and their
administrators into hostages of a system that has, for decades, divided and
continues to divide the nation’s resources while undermining its security and
social stability. Nor can they understand the glaring failure and reluctance to
combat corruption and prosecute its symbols, so that citizens might witness at
least one serious step toward rebuilding the state.
Your Excellency, Mr. President,
Your Excellencies, Members of Government,
The issues of illegal weapons and domestic corruption are no longer merely
internal Lebanese matters; they have become concerns for the entire region and
the international community. Therefore, we believe that the failure of the
ruling authority and government to approach the questions of illegal arms,
corruption, and money laundering with seriousness and precision explains the
diplomatic failure at the meetings in New York and the economic and financial
setbacks in Washington. Neglecting to address these two issues not only exposes
the structural dysfunction of our political and economic system but also allowed
U.S. Presidential Envoy Ambassador Tom Barrack to declare Lebanon a failed
state. It has also left the Land of the Cedars isolated, besieged by deadly
regional crises and international ambitions.
In conclusion, the Identity and Sovereignty Gathering affirms that after all
that has happened, weapons are no longer powerful enough to protect corruption
and the corrupt, nor to thwart reformist decisions. Hence, hiding behind them is
no longer effective, and the responsibility of the ruling authority and
government for the consequences of the future is now clear and undeniable.
Link to a video interview with the Shiites journalists
opposing Hezbollah, Mohammad Barakat and Imad Qumaiha
A national and sectarian exposure of Hezbollah’s Iranian allegiance, terrorism,
criminality, and non-Lebanese identity, which brings wars, destruction, and
displacement
Video Link: Interview with the Shiite Journalists Opposing Hezbollah: Muhammad
Barakat and Imad Qumayha
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149128/
In this interview, journalists Muhammad Barakat and Imad Qumayha provide a
detailed and practical explanation of:
Hezbollah’s terrorism and crimes
Its hypocrisy and deceit
The populism it practices
The influence of Iranian power on its policies
The journalists also discuss how Hezbollah provokes destructive wars against the
Shiite community, serving Iran’s expansionist project in the region.
New US ambassador to arrive in Beirut on Friday
Naharnet/November 13/2025
The United States’ new ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa will arrive in Beirut
on Friday, LBCI television reported. “He will meet with President Joseph Aoun,
Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Monday,” the TV network
said.
“He will not be carrying any Israeli response regarding the file of negotiations
with Lebanon,” LBCI added.
Syria will help US fight Hezbollah, Barrack says
Agence France Presse/November 13/2025
U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack hailed Thursday Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s
historic visit to Washington, saying that Syria will play an active role in
assisting the United States in fighting armed groups including Iran's
Revolutionary Guards, Hamas and Hezbollah. On Thursday, Barrack wrote on X that
"Damascus will now actively assist us in confronting and dismantling the
remnants of ISIS, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Hamas, Hizballah,
and other terrorist networks". Iran's powerful IRGC and Lebanon's Hezbollah were
key backers of president Bashar al-Assad before he was ousted last December by a
rebel coalition led by Sharaa. Hamas does not have an armed presence in Syria.
Al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday and announced his
country’s "desire, intentions and readiness" to join the 89 other countries
making up the global coalition against the Islamic State group, which have
committed to combat IS. While the Islamic State group lost hold of all of the
territory it once held in Syria and Iraq years ago, cells of the extremist group
have continued to carry out attacks in both countries and abroad. Al-Sharaa’s
visit was the first to the White House by a Syrian head of state since the
Middle Eastern country gained independence from France in 1946.
Macron advisor meets Aoun, Berri in Lebanon visit
Naharnet/November 13/2025
MENA adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron met Thursday in Lebanon with
President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri amid increased pressure
on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah. Anne-Claire Legendre discussed with the two
leaders economic reforms that the international community is demanding
crisis-hit Lebanon to implement in order to unlock financial aid. She also
discussed a ceasefire reached last year with Israel, Hezbollah's disarmament,
and decreasing Israel's military pressure on Lebanon, local media reports said.
Legendre told Aoun that France will work to consolidate stability in the south
and activate the work of the ceasefire monitoring committee "in line with
Lebanon's wishes", while Aoun said that Israel's attacks are preventing the
Lebanese Army from completing its deployment in south Lebanon, accusing Israel
of fabricating false news about the army's failure to prevent Hezbollah from
rearming. "The Lebanese Army is carrying out its work with precision, contrary
to what Israel promotes, and it enjoys the support of all Lebanese and the
confidence of the southerners, but it needs support in military equipment and
machinery," Aoun said, adding that the Israeli attacks are preventing the
reconstruction of war-hit regions, especially in south Lebanon. Aoun re-iterated
his call for negotiations with Israel as a solution to halt the Israeli attacks
and end the occupation of five hills in south Lebanon. "We welcome any European
participation in maintaining stability after the withdrawal of UNIFIL, in
coordination with the Army," Aoun said. The U.N. security council had voted to
finish the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at the end of 2026 under Israeli and
U.S. pressure. Legendre will meet later on Thursday with Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam and Army chief Rodolphe Haykal. Despite the November ceasefire, Israel has
kept up near-daily attacks on Lebanon and is occupying five "strategic" hills in
the south. In August, the government ordered the army to devise a plan for
Hezbollah's disarmament. Since then, the army has briefed the government twice
on the plan but the discussions were kept secret. France is part of a
five-nation ceasefire monitoring committee chaired by the U.S. and including
Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL. PSP's al-Anbaa news portal reported Thursday that
President Macron will visit Lebanon in December.
France pushes for Lebanon ceasefire implementation amid
rising Israeli attacks
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/November 13, 2025
BEIRUT: France on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to Lebanon’s stability and
pledged increased support for its armed forces and reconstruction efforts, as
Israeli attacks in the country’s south continue to escalate. During an official
visit to Beirut, Anne-Claire Legendre, adviser to the French president on Middle
East and North Africa affairs, said Paris would continue to support Lebanon and
“work to stabilize the southern area.”Her visit comes as Israel steps up air
raids on Hezbollah-linked sites, raising fears of a broader conflict. During a
meeting with senior Lebanese officials, Legendre reaffirmed France’s intention
to organize two international conferences to support Lebanon’s aid and
reconstruction efforts and strengthen the Lebanese army.
She also pledged to activate the Cessation of Hostilities Oversight Committee
(Mechanism), in response to Lebanon’s request to implement the ceasefire
framework.
The French envoy’s visit was seen as part of urgent diplomatic efforts to ease
mounting Israeli security pressure on Lebanon and revive momentum behind the
stalled Nov. 2025 ceasefire agreement to implement UN Resolution 1701,
originally drafted to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel’s
continued breaches of the cessation-of-hostilities pact included strikes on what
it claimed to be Hezbollah targets in the south, fueling concerns in Lebanon
that Israel may be laying the groundwork for a new war under the pretext of
halting the group’s alleged re-armament.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Legendre that Israel’s ongoing hostilities
and its occupation of five strategic positions are preventing the Lebanese army
from fully deploying south of the Litani River, as outlined in the ceasefire
agreement.
Daily Israel hostilities, he said, are also impeding Lebanon’s post-war
reconstruction efforts. According to his media office, Aoun affirmed that the
Lebanese army is continuing its operations in the areas where it has deployed
south of the Litani River, seizing weapons and ammunition and inspecting tunnels
and warehouses.He added: “The army is fulfilling its duties with precision,
despite the propaganda Israel is spreading to undermine its capabilities and
role — a role that continues to have the support of all Lebanese.”He said about
12 soldiers have been killed so far while on duty.
Aoun reiterated to the French envoy that the option of diplomatically
negotiating with Israel, which he proposed weeks ago, offers the most viable
path to restoring stability in the south and across Lebanon. But he confirmed
that his country “has not yet received a response to its proposal for
negotiations.” In a statement from his media office Aoun said: “Continued
aggression will yield no results. Past experiences in many countries have shown
that negotiation is the only sustainable alternative to futile wars.”
He underlined that international support, particularly from France and the US,
can help advance negotiations with Israel. The Mechanism Committee is among the
bodies capable of sponsoring such talks, he said. Aoun emphasized to the French
envoy that the international conferences France aims to organize, alongside the
US and Saudi Arabia, could help the Lebanese army to secure much-needed military
equipment for its deployment and facilitate the return of southern residents to
their destroyed homes and villages. He welcomed “any European contribution to
maintaining stability following UNIFIL’s withdrawal from the south, in
coordination with the Lebanese army units, which will increase to 10,000
soldiers by the end of this year.”Israel raids on southern Lebanon continued on
Thursday. An Israeli drone struck a car in Toul, near Nabatieh, killing its
driver. Several air raids also struck facilities in Aitaroun and Tayr Felsay.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that “the Israeli army raided a
weapons depot and Hezbollah infrastructure located near civilian residences,
based on intelligence directives.”Meanwhile, the 13th meeting of the Mechanism
Committee, presided over by US Gen. Joseph Clearfield, was held on Wednesday in
Ras Naqoura. The meeting included a Lebanese presentation that outlined recent
Israeli violations, including the renewed use of evacuation warnings issued
before targeting several buildings — actions described as a blatant breach of
the ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassim said that the group intends to
retain its weapons north of the Litani River, a position that breaches the terms
of the ceasefire agreement. After Qassim’s statement that “there is no threat or
danger to northern settlements,” many have questioned the rationale behind
Hezbollah maintaining its weapons north of the Litani River. In response, the
Phalangist Party said reassuring Israel its northern settlements face no threat,
while expressing a willingness to clear the south of weapons, raises serious
questions about the purpose of retaining those arms.
The party asked: “Where is the so-called ‘resistance against Israel’ if its
priority today is to reassure Israel rather than confront it?”
What happened in the 'Mechanism' meeting?
Naharnet/November 13/2025
The U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring committee, known as the Mechanism, held its
13th periodic meeting Wednesday in Naqoura under the chairmanship of U.S.
general Joseph Clearfield and in the absence of U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus. The
meeting witnessed a Lebanese explanation of the continued Israeli violations,
especially the breaches of the past few days and the Israeli evacuation warnings
for a number of buildings in several southern towns that were followed by
airstrikes, al-Binaa newspaper reported on Thursday. The Lebanese Army’s
representative presented a tally of the number of territorial and aerial
violations and highlighted the continued Israeli occupation of five points and
the introduction of additional points in several border areas, stressing the
need to press Israel to withdraw and halt its attacks, the daily said. The
Lebanese representative also explained the Lebanese Army’s achievements in the
South Litani area, noting that Israel has not implemented any of the terms of
the 2024 ceasefire agreement. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is yet to issue a
statement about the meeting. Al-Binaa said the Lebanese Army representative
refuted the Israeli claims about covering up for Hezbollah’s activities and
overlooking tunnels and heavy arms depots. He also rejected the Israeli
representative’s demand that the Lebanese Army raid homes suspected of
containing Hezbollah weapons.
Israel takes precautionary measures fearing possible
Hezbollah attack
Naharnet/November 13/2025
The Israeli Air Force is working on reducing the response time of helicopter
gunships deployed in north Israel over fears of a potential Hezbollah attack,
Israel’s Maariv newspaper has reported. “The army’s measures are aimed at
providing an instant response to any infiltration of attempted attack against
the border settlements, and at preventing a scenario similar to what happened in
Gaza’s envelope,” Maariv added.
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Tuesday reassured Israel over the
“security” of its northern settlements, as he warned it against continuing its
attacks in Lebanon.
“The aggression's continuation in this manner of killing and destruction cannot
persist and everything has a limit. I will not say more and the relevant
officials must pay attention,” he added.
One wounded in Israeli strike on south Lebanon
Naharnet/November 13/2025
Israeli warplanes bombed Thursday the outskirts of Aitaroun and Tayrfelsay in
south Lebanon, with Israel claiming they targeted "a Hezbollah arms depot and
underground infrastructure."Later in the day, an Israeli drone targeted a
Renault Rapid vehicle in the Nabatiyeh district town of Toul, wounding one
person. Israeli artillery also shelled on Wednesday night the southern border
town of Mays al-Jabal. Despite a ceasefire reached in November last year, Israel
has kept up its near-daily attacks on south and east Lebanon and is occupying
five hills it deems "strategic" in the south.
Israeli Escalation at Dawn in the South: Consecutive Raids
on Aitaroun and Turflessieh, and Intensive Drone Activity
Janoubia/November 13/2025 (translated from Arabic)
The Israeli warplanes launched a raid at dawn today on the Al-Khanouq area in
the town of Aitaroun, firing two air-to-surface missiles near the site of the
explosion that occurred two days ago. Less than half an hour passed before the
hostile aircraft returned to target the western outskirts of the town of
Turflessieh, before renewing its raids in two stages in the same area, amidst
intensive overflights by Israeli surveillance drones throughout last night over
the skies of Nabatieh and its towns at a low altitude.
In a related context, the Israeli enemy's artillery targeted the Wadi Al-Jamal
area between the towns of Hula and Mays Al-Jabal on Wednesday evening. A number
of shells also fell near the Al-Tiri Pond on the western outskirts of Hula. The
Israeli army also dropped flare bombs over Wadi Hunin, coinciding with the
movements of its vehicles in the area opposite the town of Hula, which raised
the level of security tension in the southern border villages.
Israel Fears "Hezbollah" Attack... New Measures at the Border
Huna Lebanon/November 13/2025 (translated from Arabic)
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the "Israeli Air Force is working to
reduce the response time of combat helicopters deployed in the north following
fears of a potential Hezbollah attack." It added: "The army's measures aim to
ensure an immediate response to any infiltration or attempted assault on border
settlements and prevent a repeat of a scenario similar to what happened in the
Gaza vicinity."
Ben Farhan's Visit Postponed
Nidaa Al-Watan/November 13, 2025 (translated from Arabic)
In the context of the movement of international envoys to Beirut, Nidaa Al-Watan
learned that there are no meetings scheduled on the official headquarters'
agenda with the Saudi envoy, Prince Yazid bin Farhan, today or this week. This
means that the visit is considered postponed or, at the very least, will not
take place this week.
Israeli Army: No Raid in Toul… Explosion Caused by Arms
Smuggling Attempt
Nidaa Al-Watan/November 14/2025 (translated from Arabic)
The spokesperson for the Israeli Army, Avichay Adraee, stated in a post on his
"X" account that "earlier today, false Lebanese reports were received about an
Israeli raid in the area of the village of Toul in South Lebanon. After
examining the reports, it became clear that the car explosion was the result of
a failed attempt by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons." He asserted, "Hezbollah
continues to violate the understandings as its elements move under civilian
cover and endanger the residents of Lebanon."
Hezbollah Uses Shell Companies to Smuggle Money in
Merchandise Parcels
Nidaa Al-Watan/November 14/2025 (translated from Arabic)
Sources told "Al Hadath" channel today, Thursday, that "Hezbollah smuggles money
via 'parcels' sent through 'temporary or shell' import companies," adding, "The
'Party' smuggles money through 'parcels,' some of which arrive in Lebanon from
Turkey." The sources pointed out that "Hezbollah smuggles money via 'parcels' of
clothing, cosmetics, shoes, and foodstuffs," and clarified that the "Party
relies on multiple and complex methods to smuggle money."
US Congress Members Darrell Issa and Darin LaHood Sent
an Official Letter to US President Donald Trump Regarding Lebanon
Nidaa Al-Watan/November 14, 2025 (translated from Arabic)
US Congress members Darrell Issa and Darin LaHood sent an official letter to US
President Donald Trump, in which they praised his success in achieving historic
peace agreements in the Middle East, while emphasizing the importance of the
American relationship with Lebanon and its vital role in supporting Lebanese
stability and sovereignty. The two members pointed out that Lebanon witnessed
positive changes after the election of President Joseph Aoun and the appointment
of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, expressing hope that reforms will be completed
and the influence of Hezbollah will be curtailed. The American congressmen
called for continued US support for the process of fully confining Hezbollah's
weapons south and north of the Litani River, implementing banking reforms
according to international standards, pushing towards negotiations with Israel,
and allowing the Lebanese diaspora to vote for all parliamentary seats in the
May 2026 elections. The congressmen stressed that any obstruction of the
democratic process by Nabih Berri or others is considered a complete bias toward
Hezbollah and its allies, affirming the importance of the United States using
all available tools to hold accountable those who impede reforms and democratic
processes in Lebanon.
The text of the letter stated:
"Dear President Trump,
As Members of Congress, we commend your success in achieving historic peace
agreements in the Middle East. In order to continue this vital work, the United
States’ position toward Lebanon remains of critical importance. While Lebanon
has endured many challenges, there is much to be done to ensure Lebanon remains
sovereign, independent, and prosperous as a strong partner and ally. Following
the election of President Joseph Aoun and the appointment of Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam to lead an effective, responsible, and non-corrupt government,
Lebanon has witnessed significant changes that give hope for a future free of
the malign influence of Hezbollah. However, we cannot allow outside forces,
malicious actors, or bureaucratic inertia to spoil this historic opportunity for
the people of Lebanon. Continued, vital, and creative American leadership is
needed. Efforts to have Hezbollah’s weaponry fully contained south and north of
the Litani River by the Lebanese Armed Forces must continue, and we lend our
full support to those efforts. Substantial reforms to the banking system that
align with international standards must be implemented, further discussion on
negotiations between Israel and Lebanon must be explored, and the Lebanese
diaspora must be allowed to vote for all seats in Parliament in the upcoming May
2026 elections. We are closely monitoring the implementation of every step, and
the upcoming elections will be pivotal to ensure Hezbollah and its political
allies do not make further advances. Under the 2017 Election Law, the Lebanese
diaspora vote was restricted to only six out of 128 seats in Parliament.
However, in 2018 and 2022, this law was suspended, and the Lebanese diaspora was
granted full voting rights for all seats, and they overwhelmingly supported
independent, reform-minded candidates. Currently, there are ongoing efforts by
many members of the Lebanese Parliament, and as of this week formally by the
Lebanese Government, to ensure the full voting rights of the Lebanese diaspora
permanently. Unfortunately, the corrupt political elites and their allied
parties remain intent on preventing democratic rights and progress. This truly
is a moment for action. Iran’s influence in Lebanon has weakened. Hezbollah
continues to lose its leaders, operatives, infrastructure, funding, and
influence. The United States must be prepared to utilize all available tools to
review, sanction, or freeze assets—including dollar-denominated and other assets
within the United States—for those who continue to impede the democratic
processes and reforms in Lebanon. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri is once
again standing in the way of progress. Any continued delay by him or others to
obstruct the democratic process and prevent an open parliamentary session to
fairly debate the electoral law reform is unacceptable and represents a full
alignment with Hezbollah and its political allies. The Lebanese diaspora has
long supported the Lebanese people, who deserve a full and fair voice in the
parliamentary elections. The corrupt political elites cannot continue to serve
self-interests at a time when the Lebanese people need decisive leaders. Given
the economic, humanitarian, and national security interests at stake, we request
your urgent attention to this matter."
Saudi-Lebanese Positive Development... Lebanese Exports to The Solution?
Berri in American Warning's Crosshairs
An-Nahar/November 14, 2025 (translated from Arabic)
Lebanon today is in the throes of fateful moments that can no longer tolerate
further extensions or cohabitation with indecision, under the pretext of being
keen on civil peace and making it a vehicle for diverting attention from
imposing sovereignty, especially after warnings crossed the boundaries of
diplomatic advice into explicit messages carried by international delegations
from Washington, Paris, and Cairo. These messages cautioned that the
sluggishness in resolving the illegal arms file will not be without
consequences, and that war is no longer a possibility, especially after
monitoring Israeli military movements and maneuvers of Israeli forces on the
border with Lebanon. What happened yesterday during the Cabinet session held at
the Serail reflects this structural deficiency. When the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Rigi, proposed extending the registration
deadline for non-residents until the end of December and the Council refused, it
seemed like an implicit message: expatriate participation is still a subject of
contention, and there are those who fear the voice of the outside, just as they
fear the inside, given that the expatriates' vote expresses a "different
Lebanon" that is more liberated from fear and the calculations of arms. In
detail, Minister of Information Paul Marqas responded to a question about the
reason for not extending the expatriate registration deadline by saying: "The
considerations are legal, and the deadline is about to end... We have sent, or
will send very soon, because it is currently awaiting the completion of
signatures, a draft law by decree to the Parliament that amends the election
law, and the decision rests with it. If the law is issued by the Parliament late
beyond this deadline, we face a question about the right or possibility of these
non-residents, whom we are keen for them to exercise their electoral rights,
whether they can register and how they can register. Therefore, there was a
discussion within the government, and an agreement was reached on a formula that
does not lead to entrenching our concern towards enabling these non-residents to
exercise their electoral rights."
Nidaa Al-Watan learned that Minister Rigi's proposal did not reach a vote due to
the rejection of most ministers—with the exception of the "Lebanese Forces"
ministers—and the absence of Minister of Justice Adel Nassar, under the pretext
that it is not permissible to discuss extending the deadline for expatriate
registration after sending a draft law to the Parliament to amend the election
law.
Constitutional sources indicated to Nidaa Al-Watan that the accelerated draft
law sent by the government to the Parliament has not yet reached the General
Secretariat of the Council, and it is expected to arrive early next week.
Speaker Berri is supposed to call for a General Authority meeting and present
the mentioned draft law at the beginning of the session's agenda for discussion
and approval because the elections are now in imminent danger. The sources added
that necessity dictates that Speaker Berri must present this project to the
General Authority and not refer it to any committee whatsoever. Because
referring this project to the committees and waiting for them to submit their
report, and linking this project to pending law proposals—as spoken by circles
close to Speaker Nabih Berri—means that the elections are considered lapsed and
cannot be held. The sources continued, in accordance with the principle that one
authority should not obstruct another constitutional authority, the Parliament
does not have the right to obstruct or paralyze the Council of Ministers in
completing this entitlement, which is one of its duties. Consequently, when a
demand is raised to amend or suspend some articles, it is to enable the
elections to be held. If the Parliament insists on not including this project on
the agenda, it means there is a fixed and certain intention to work towards not
holding this entitlement on time.
The sources concluded by referring to the ongoing demand to continue accepting
registration requests for expatriates, stating that this is possible on the
condition that a law is issued later to extend this deadline. The entire
intention is to keep the embassy doors open to receive requests, even if they
are outside the deadline, provided their fate is linked to the fate of the law
awaited by the Parliament. Therefore, the government's refusal to continue
registering requests and closing the embassy doors to expatriates means that
Speaker Berri has no intention of involving this segment in the parliamentary
elections, especially since the registered numbers are modest due to the
expatriate's confusion over which law will eventually be settled upon. At the
beginning of the session, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the initial
results and conclusions regarding the committee tasked with the reconstruction
file, whether from the results of Israeli aggressions or the results of the
Beirut port explosion. The Cabinet took note of the committee's findings. The
Cabinet approved most of its 34 items.
American Warning
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, US Congress members Darrell Issa
and Darin LaHood emphasized that any obstruction of the democratic process by
Nabih Berri or others is considered a bias toward "Hezbollah" and its allies,
affirming the importance of Washington using all available tools to hold
accountable those who impede reforms and democratic processes in Lebanon. In the
midst of the pressing atmosphere, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the new US
Ambassador, Michael Eisner, who arrives in Beirut today, will present his
credentials to President Joseph Aoun next Monday. Significant files are expected
to move forward, foremost among them negotiations with Israel and the situation
in the South.
The Army Executes Instructions
Within the context of the movement of international envoys to Lebanon, the
political advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, Anne-Claire Legendre,
toured the three presidents. President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun
informed her that what prevents the Lebanese Army from completing its deployment
in the area south of the Litani River up to the international border is the
continuation of the Israeli occupation and the non-implementation of the
agreement announced in November 2024. President Aoun stressed that the Lebanese
Army accurately executes the instructions given to it, contrary to everything
Israel is promoting. In this context, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the visit of
Macron's advisor and her meeting with Aoun in Baabda focused on the negotiation
track, where Aoun explained Lebanon's viewpoint. The advisor affirmed Paris's
desire to play a role in this field and briefed him on the ongoing contacts. The
discussion also touched upon the possibility of European forces replacing UNIFIL
after its work ends, and she confirmed that this is one of the ideas being
discussed. Aoun welcomed the proposal and the European role in all fields,
noting that these forces would be funded by European countries and not the
United Nations. On the communication line between Baabda and Haret Hreik, the
head of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, met with the
First Advisor to the President of the Republic, André Rahal, and reviewed the
Israeli threats and the preservation of national sovereignty. They agreed on
positive deliberation for the benefit of Lebanon.
Geagea's Escalation Against the Government
Among the statements, the escalation by the head of the Lebanese Forces party,
Samir Geagea, against the government was notable. He confirmed during an
interview with The National newspaper that the Lebanese government has "not
shown any perseverance or determination" to disarm "Hezbollah." He believed that
most government members are "not serious" about the issue of "Hezbollah's"
weapons and lack the political will. Geagea called on President Aoun to engage
in indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve several files, from border
demarcation to the release of Lebanese prisoners in Israel. Geagea asked about
the content of those negotiations: "The President talks about negotiations, but
I don't really know what negotiations, in what form, and what is their content?
When these facts become clear, I can judge." Regarding the Palestinian weapons
file, MPs from the "Strong Republic" bloc—Ghassan Hasbani, Fadi Karam, Ghayath
Yazbek, Antoine Habchi, Nazih Matta, and Razi Al Haj—submitted a question to the
government about following up on the implementation of its decision to assign
the Lebanese Army the task of withdrawing illegal weapons from all
organizations, including Palestinian organizations and factions present on
Lebanese territory.
Positive Development
In a positive development concerning relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia,
a senior Saudi official told Reuters that a Saudi delegation visit to Lebanon is
imminent, and the removal of obstacles hindering the movement of Lebanese
exports to the Kingdom will be discussed. He also affirmed that the Kingdom
appreciates the efforts made by President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam in
addressing security and economic issues, including curbing drug smuggling into
Saudi Arabia. The Saudi official stressed that the security efforts will
contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries,
noting that these developments could lead to tangible progress in political and
economic cooperation in the near future. In Serail's activities, Prime Minister
Salam discussed the file of Lebanese prisoners in Israeli prisons with the
Regional Director for the Near and Middle East at the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC), Nicolas Von Arx. Prime Minister Salam pointed out the
necessity for the ICRC to contribute to verifying the number of prisoners,
determining their fate, finding out their places of detention, and checking on
their humanitarian conditions and health status.
Video Link and transcript to an Interview from "Independent
Arabia" Website with Lebanese Researcher at the Washington Institute, Ms. Hanin
Ghaddar:
Nabih Berri is the Real Leader of Hezbollah and We Will Pursue Him with
Sanctions
She discussed the probabilities of an all-out war, which she does not rule out
after the end of the year, criticized the inaction of the political leadership,
and considered Nabih Berri the political and financial heir of Hassan Nasrallah
in Lebanon.
Hanin Ghaddar: Nabih Berri is the Real Leader of "Hezbollah" and We Will Pursue
Him with Sanctions
The Lebanese researcher residing in Washington details the reasons for the
country's failure to disarm and why she considers the Speaker of Parliament the
primary obstacle.
Issa Al-Nahari, Political Affairs Editor / Independent Arabia / Wednesday,
November 12, 2025
(translated from Arabic)
Summary
In a new episode of "American Dialogues," the Lebanese-American researcher Hanin
Ghaddar discussed the probabilities of an all-out war, which she does not rule
out after the end of the year. She criticized the inaction of the political
leadership and considered Nabih Berri the political and financial heir of Hassan
Nasrallah in Lebanon.
When General Joseph Aoun shed his military uniform and headed to Baabda as
President last January, many were optimistic that Lebanon was taking its first
steps towards recovery and shedding the Iranian cloak after a two-year
presidential vacuum. This coincided with the dwindling of Iran's regional
influence network following Bashar al-Assad's flight to Russia and the death of
Hassan Nasrallah in his bunker in the Dahiyeh (southern suburbs), injecting hope
for a breakthrough in the Lebanese scene.
However, after 10 months, Lebanon remains stuck in the "Hezbollah" vortex.
Despite Iran being preoccupied with the calamities that befell its nuclear
program and its image following Israeli and American strikes, Tehran continues
to exert pressure to maintain its influence in Lebanon. On the other hand,
Israel continues its strikes against "Hezbollah" targets, and the possibility of
entering an all-out war with Lebanon to prevent the party from reorganizing its
ranks looms on the horizon.
In a new episode of "American Dialogues," the Lebanese-American researcher Hanin
Ghaddar spoke about the probabilities of an all-out war, which she does not rule
out after the end of the year, based on two factors:
Gaza no longer constitutes a burden on the Israeli army after the ceasefire, and
consequently, Lebanon is once again the priority.
Intelligence reports indicate that "Hezbollah" is rebuilding its arsenal, which
Israel will not accept.
Scenarios of Escalation and All-Out War
Ghaddar, who works at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warns that
the second phase of Israeli escalation in Lebanon will occur after the end of
the year through the bombing of civilian areas, which could be seen as the
beginning of the actual war. In that phase, the Southern Dahiyeh might be bombed
and some areas evacuated in preparation for striking "Hezbollah" facilities. We
may also witness additional incursions, like the recent one in the town of
Blida.
At the same time, she rules out the outbreak of an all-out war before the end of
the year, as this coincides with the Pope's scheduled visit this November and
the holiday season. Furthermore, the Lebanese Armed Forces plan set a deadline
for disarming "Hezbollah" south of the Litani River before the end of the year,
before moving to the second phase of disarmament north of the Litani.
Consequently, the United States wants to give the Lebanese Army time to complete
this plan without delay.
In parallel, Israeli escalation is expected to continue by targeting
"Hezbollah's" weapons depots, drone factories, and training sites. Ghaddar
recently wrote an article titled "A Roadmap for Lebanese-Israeli Peace," but
recent indicators point to the difficulty of achieving this goal, especially
after the Lebanese President directed the army a week ago to confront any
Israeli incursion, and criticized Israel for continuing its attacks while
calling for negotiation.
She commented, "America and Israel are ready to conclude an agreement, but
Lebanon is not ready yet. However, with the increasing pressure, whether through
Israeli or American escalation, Lebanon will find itself compelled to enter into
direct negotiations. And I believe that the Israeli escalation this time will
not be without purpose."
Israel's latest escalation focuses on disarming "Hezbollah," according to
Ghaddar, but it also wants to use it to pressure for a new agreement better than
the last ceasefire agreement, which failed due to a lack of a clear timeline,
allowing Lebanon to procrastinate and "Hezbollah" to reorganize its ranks.
In response to a question about the remaining arsenal of the party, she replied,
"There is no documented census of the military stockpile; the only knowledgeable
parties are 'Hezbollah,' the Israeli Army, and Israeli Intelligence. But after
the war, the party's capabilities declined, and the short-range missiles
deployed south of the Litani were eliminated, according to Israeli intelligence.
Today, two types of weapons remain: medium-range missiles north of the Litani,
and about 20 percent of the strategic missiles."
"Hezbollah's" strategy for rebuilding strength is based on two approaches:
The first focuses on intensifying drone manufacturing, which is the cheapest,
most convenient, and least conspicuous means in the re-armament process, where
smuggling is an important factor. "Hezbollah" still receives weapons by
smuggling through Syria, and specifically drones through shell companies.
Although Damascus was able to disrupt the arrival of some weapons shipments and
is making great efforts to stop smuggling, weapons are still reaching them, and
the stalled border demarcation has complicated the mission. The second approach
is to rebuild the leadership structure, as Tehran is working with the remaining
field commanders of the party to reshape the leadership.
Nabih Berri is the Real Leader of "Hezbollah"
Ghaddar launched an attack on Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, stating that "Nabih
Berri is the primary obstacle to efforts to disarm 'Hezbollah.' As long as Nabih
Berri is in power, there will be no change." She added, "The political and
financial heir of Hassan Nasrallah is Nabih Berri, not Naim Qassem. Therefore,
he and his entourage must be immediately targeted with sanctions."
She continued, "Nabih Berri is the current leader of 'Hezbollah' and he enjoys
it, and he will not easily relinquish leadership," explaining that Naim Qassem
and the rest of the military leadership succeeded Hassan Nasrallah only on the
operational side.
Ghaddar confirmed that there are ongoing efforts and discussions in Washington
to impose indirect sanctions on Nabih Berri, targeting his entourage with the
aim of pushing him to separate from "Hezbollah." She said, "We will see whether
he separates from 'Hezbollah' or not. If he does not, he will become a direct
target of sanctions himself."Ghaddar stressed the fateful nature of the upcoming
parliamentary elections, noting that "Berri and 'Hezbollah' are keen to secure
the 27 Shiite seats because they will then be able to choose the Speaker of
Parliament, and even if it is not Berri himself, they will choose someone loyal
to them, and Nabih Berri will choose the candidate himself." Weakening
"Hezbollah's" influence in the next Parliament requires introducing an
opposition Shiite MP with enough votes to be the candidate for the speakership.
Therefore, "Hezbollah" is keen to prevent any penetration of this bloc of 27
seats, because any breach could change the equation of the speakership. Ghaddar
does not express short-term optimism, noting that the hesitation of the
political leaders in confronting "Hezbollah" and dismantling its political and
military structure will come at a high price and may lead to a war with Israel.
She said, "I wished the army would undertake this mission itself, because in
that case, the consequences would not be great. Unfortunately, the Israeli war
on Lebanon will be very costly. Therefore, I do not feel very optimistic in the
short term, but in the long term, I am optimistic about Lebanon's return as a
country of peace, commerce, investment, and culture. I believe that we will get
rid of terrorism in Lebanon."Independent Arabia reached out to the office of the
Lebanese Speaker of Parliament regarding these accusations and received no
response.
Controversy over US Envoys in Lebanon
Since President Donald Trump took office, US diplomatic efforts in Beirut have
been characterized by volatility, and rivalry and animosity have flared up among
American officials. Months ago, Morgan Ortagus was appointed Deputy US Envoy to
Tom Barrack while he oversaw the Lebanese file, but Barrack soon used his
influence to seize the file by sidelining Ortagus and transferring her to work
with the US Mission in New York, according to Ghaddar. Regarding the reasons for
the rivalry, Ghaddar replied, "Frankly, the Lebanese file is attractive in
Washington. When you go to Lebanon, you are received with celebration and
pampering. Lebanon is an interesting and multi-faceted file that allows travel
between Israel and Lebanon, unlike the Syrian file, which is boring compared to
Lebanon. Officially, Barrack holds the position of Envoy to Syria, but due to
its proximity to Lebanon, Barrack thought he could interfere in the Lebanese
file and decided to fill this vacuum, capitalizing on his friendship with the
President."She continued, "After Ortagus left for New York, she was asked to
return to the Lebanon file. She returned while Barrack remained, and it is clear
that Ortagus has become responsible for the Lebanese file. Last week, Barrack
canceled his plan to visit Lebanon with a delegation from the Treasury
Department, and it seems he was asked to focus only on the Syrian file and leave
the Lebanon file to Morgan."However, Ortagus will not be the sole supervisor of
this file, as other Americans will have a share in the equation of American
influence in Lebanon, including Michael Eisner, who will be the de facto
official responsible for implementing American policy in Lebanon, according to
Ghaddar, while Ortagus works with him on files related to disarming "Hezbollah"
and coordination mechanisms with Israel. The style of the American envoys caused
resentment within Lebanon. Barrack was attacked after describing the manner of
Lebanese journalists as "animalistic," and Ortagus wore the Star of David ring
during a meeting with the Lebanese President, which angered some.
Geagea accuses government of showing no determination to
disarm Hezbollah
Naharnet/November 13/2025
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has lamented that the Lebanese government
has shown “no perseverance” and “no determination” to disarm Hezbollah.
“There is no determination. There is no clearness, there is no perseverance.
From time to time, there are some declarations, and everybody knows that these
declarations are like empty declarations,” Geagea said in English in an
interview with the UAE’s The National newspaper. He said most of the government
was not being “serious” over Hezbollah's weapons and lacked the political will,
although he absolved the four LF ministers and a handful of other
similarly-minded cabinet members.
“They don't want to take big decisions, clear decisions, even though the
government took a big decision on August 5 and 7. Ok, but it fell short of
applying any of these decisions or fulfilling any of these decisions,” Geagea
added. He contrasted the optimism in January, when President Joseph Aoun was
elected and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam began forming a government, both backed
by the Lebanese Forces, with the current mood. At the time, Geagea said there
was clear “political will, political declaration, [and] political
determination,” referring to the two leaders’ early pledges that all weapons
would be brought under state control. He stated that the government should have
stood firm on that commitment, despite the risk of igniting civil unrest,
instead of retreating after Hezbollah officials immediately rejected the move.
“At this point, the government should have been very clear and very adamant. The
government should have called them and told them, you cannot … You are against
the law.”He said Lebanon was “stuck” and would remain “stuck until we sink”
unless Hezbollah handed over its weapons and the country improved co-ordination
with the U.S. and Arab states, particularly in the Gulf.
Geagea warned Lebanon was at risk of being left behind in a rapidly changing
region – something foreign envoys have often warned – because of the impasse.
“Lebanon right now, frankly, and in a very transparent way, is starting to lag
behind. Because the overall strategic direction in the area is in one direction,
and the authorities in Lebanon are losing time in bickering here and there and
in small schemes that lead to nowhere,” Geagea said. “And the proof of it is
that the President of Syria is in the United States, in the White House, the
President of Lebanon is in Bulgaria, with all due respect, of course, to
Bulgaria, I'm talking about international influence,” he added.
Geagea said Lebanon did not have to face a binary choice between another Israeli
war or a new civil war. But avoiding both, he warned, required far greater
resolve from a government already under intense external pressure and grappling
with a deep economic crisis.
British Council, Ministry of Education renew strategic
reform partnership
Naharnet/November 13/2025
The British Council and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE)
have renewed their strategic partnership under the English and School Education
Program to advance education reform, strengthen school leadership, and promote
inclusive and equitable learning across Lebanon.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by H.E. Dr Rima Karami,
Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Mayssa Dawi Hachem, Country
Director of the British Council in Lebanon, in the presence of Amir Ramzan,
Regional Director, British Council MENA, Hamish Cowell, UK Ambassador to
Lebanon, Dr Hyam Ishak, President of the Centre for Educational Research and
Development (CERD), Dr Hilda El Khoury, Director of Counselling and Guidance
Department at MEHE, and senior representatives from MEHE and CERD.
This signing builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2023 under
the Schools Connect program, which focused on enhancing school leadership,
curriculum development, and education policy reform.
"The renewed agreement reaffirms the long-standing collaboration between the
Ministry and the British Council, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusive,
equitable and high-quality education that empowers Lebanon’s young people and
contributes to the country’s social and economic development," the British
Council said in a statement.
"Through this partnership, both organizations will continue to strengthen joint
efforts on policy-level reform, leadership development, curriculum enhancement,
English in education, and inclusion strategies." The collaboration will also
advance professional development opportunities for school leaders and teachers
across Lebanon’s public schools, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and
tools needed to deliver improved learning outcomes. Speaking at the ceremony,
Mayssa Dawi Hachem, Country Director, British Council Lebanon, said: "We are
proud to renew our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and
Higher Education under the English and School Education Programme. This
collaboration builds on years of joint effort to enhance teaching quality,
empower school leaders, and promote inclusion across Lebanon’s education system.
Together, we are working to ensure that every learner has access to
high-quality, inclusive education that opens pathways to opportunity, social
mobility, and sustainable development."H.E. Dr Rima Karami, Minister of
Education and Higher Education, said: "The British Council has long been a
trusted partner to the Ministry, and together we will continue to build the
capacities of our educators, empower our schools, and inspire a generation ready
to shape Lebanon’s future"."The British Council’s English and School Education
program continues to strengthen English in education, enhance school leadership,
and promote inclusive learning in partnership with MEHE and CERD — supporting
Lebanon’s national education priorities and reinforcing the UK’s long-standing
support for the country’s education sector and its future prosperity," the
statement said.
Bassil says Hezbollah would disarm 'at will' when army is
equipped to defend country
Naharnet/November 13/2025
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil said Thursday that the army must be
allowed and equipped to defend Lebanon against any aggression and that Hezbollah
would then deliberately hand over its arms. Bassil accused the political
authority in Lebanon of being powerless and taking orders from foreign
countries, as Washington is pressing the Lebanese government to disarm
Hezbollah. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem had complained earlier this week that the
U.S. is trying to force the country to make concessions to Israel with no
commitments offered in return, accusing it of imposing "diktats" on the Lebanese
government. In August, the government ordered the army to devise a disarmament
plan. Since then, the army has briefed the government twice on the plan but the
discussions were kept secret. Bassil said that Hezbollah would deliberately hand
over its arms to the army when they know there is a political decision that
allows the army to defend and free Lebanon. "Instead of being determined to make
the army the sole armed entity, we should be keen on funding and equipping it,"
Bassil said, so that the army can defend "all the Lebanese" against any
aggression.
"The army is not here to watch but to defend our people, our dignity, and our
nation. This is how we restore the confidence of the Lebanese in the army," he
said.
Disarm Hezbollah or face war: Lebanon’s impossible choice
Osama Al-Sharif/Arab News/November 13/2025
A year after Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, pressure is
mounting on the Lebanese government to take extreme measures to disarm the
militant group and cut off its links with its main benefactor, Iran. The US has
informed President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that, unless
concrete steps are taken to end all sources of finance to the group and to
dismantle its weapons, Washington cannot guarantee that Israel will not
intervene to end Hezbollah’s threat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Tel Aviv is ready
to step in and destroy Hezbollah. In recent weeks, he and his defense minister,
Israel Katz, have accused Hezbollah of rebuilding its arsenal, recruiting
thousands and smuggling weapons from Iran through Syria. Israel has stepped up
its daily attacks on what it says are Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and
the Bekaa Valley. It claims that it has killed hundreds of the group’s militants
since the ceasefire came into effect last November.
Meanwhile, the party’s secretary-general, Naim Qassem, has sent stern messages
to the Lebanese government rejecting any attempt to disarm the group or engage
in direct talks with Israel. While the government and the army have a mandate to
end Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon and restrict all arms to the state,
meaning disarming Hezbollah, little has been done in that regard. A
confrontation between the army and Hezbollah could easily spark a civil war in
Lebanon. While Aoun is determined to fulfill a promise to disarm nonstate actors
and limit weapons to state control, in reality, the government and the national
army have no tools to implement that promise.
A confrontation between the army and Hezbollah could easily spark a civil war in
Lebanon.
There is no evidence that Hezbollah is rearming and getting ready for another
round with Israel. It suffered considerable losses in the last war and, with the
collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, it has lost control over smuggling routes
from Iran. Its leadership now claims that it will not engage in a dialogue over
disarming itself while Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement by
occupying five strategic positions in southern Lebanon. It claims that Israel
has never fulfilled its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Furthermore, the party, which is represented in the government, has reiterated
that an exclusive state monopoly over arms can only be discussed as part of a
comprehensive strategy to defend Lebanon against Israeli threats.
Such a stalemate fits Israel’s objectives and short-term strategy. Netanyahu,
who feels cornered on Gaza by President Donald Trump’s peace plan, has no such
restrictions when it comes to Lebanon, or Iran for that matter. He has hinted
that the confrontation with Iran is not over. He may not be happy with this
week’s historic visit to the White House by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa,
which could result in restricting Israeli movement in Syria through US
guarantees to Damascus. But when it comes to Lebanon, Netanyahu can make a
strong case.
Hezbollah attacked Israel during the war on Gaza. Hezbollah fired hundreds of
rockets into northern Israel and forced tens of thousands of Israelis to
evacuate. In Israel’s view, which is shared by Washington, Hezbollah remains a
threat and it must be dismantled either by the Lebanese themselves or by Israel.
Hezbollah’s reference to direct talks between Lebanon and Israel is another path
that Washington is trying to pursue. The US special envoy to Syria and Lebanon,
Tom Barrack, has been putting pressure on Lebanese officials to engage in peace
talks with Israel. He has suggested that the two sides agree to security
arrangements that would eventually lead to a peace treaty under Trump’s Abraham
Accords. But while Aoun expressed readiness to engage in indirect talks, the
issue of peace between Lebanon and Israel is extremely divisive among the
Lebanese.
The current crisis in Lebanon over disarming the party will keep the country
weak and polarized. For Israel, security talks would center on ending the UN
peacekeeping role in southern Lebanon, abandoning any Israeli obligations under
UNSC 1701 and forcing Lebanon to accept an Israeli presence in key strategic
points south of the Litani River. No Lebanese official would accept such terms.
For Netanyahu, the current reality under the so-called ceasefire suits him well.
Washington will continue to pressure the Lebanese government over the Hezbollah
file. And the current crisis in Lebanon over disarming the party will keep the
country weak and polarized. Such a stalemate serves Israeli interests at a time
when Netanyahu, seeking to keep himself in power, is vowing that the battle
against the enemies in Lebanon and Gaza has not ended.
There is no doubt that Hezbollah has suffered huge losses, not only on the
battlefield but at the level of leadership. Qassem is no Hassan Nasrallah and
the party today is a shadow of what it was two years ago. Iran has lost its
Syrian ally and the geopolitical map of the region has been redrawn.
The alarming thing for the Lebanese is that the current political stalemate
cannot continue for much longer. The country is close to becoming a failed
state. Israel controls its airspace and is launching strikes daily. The US is
offering a way out, but the remedy is bitter and dangerous. The specter of a
civil war breaking out is real. The Israeli threat to invade and occupy more
territory is not far-fetched.
Hezbollah’s leadership must not repeat past mistakes. There is so much at stake
at this crucial moment of Lebanon’s history. It must provide Aoun and the
government with the resources to counter US pressure and Israeli threats. It
must accept the premise that only the state should have exclusive control over
arms and it must demonstrate its willingness to fulfill its obligations as a
Lebanese political party.
Permanent peace between Israel and Lebanon is a realistic endeavor and a
legitimate goal. But it cannot be imposed on the Lebanese people when Israel
refuses to withdraw from the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon or while
it continues to violate Lebanon’s sovereignty. Such peace must be honorable and
the US should not use the Israeli scarecrow to force Lebanon into submission.
**Osama Al-Sharif is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman. X:
@plato010
In Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo Will Find Ruins and
Roots of Catholic Faith
Alberto M. Fernandez//National Catholic Register/November 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149147/
COMMENTARY: Turkey is largely bereft of Christianity, while Lebanon still has a
vibrant Christian presence.
Pope Leo XIV’s first overseas trip will take him to two ancient, historic lands,
both lands of the Bible and of the early Church. But Turkey and Lebanon are
connected to each other by a difficult, shared past and present sharp contrasts
today. Ottoman Turkey ruled what is now Lebanon for more than 400 years, and
Ottoman rule on Mount Lebanon ended in 1918, amid a wartime famine that killed
hundreds of thousands of people, most of them Maronite Christians. Turkey today
is a dynamic, growing “middle power” aggressively projecting its influence,
including in Africa and Central Asia. It is a key NATO member and plays an
important mediating role in various conflicts, while intervening in others. The
country’s leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is seen as both a capable
visionary and power player and an intolerant authoritarian figure cracking down
on internal political dissent.
When Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit Turkey in 1967, he brought with
him some of the Ottoman battle flags captured at the great Christian victory at
Lepanto, returning them to the Turks as a gesture of reconciliation. But Turkey
under Erdoğan is an Islamist revisionist power, not only glorying in its
imperial past but aggressively seeking to spread Islam worldwide.
While restricting Christian missionary activity and turning not one but several
historic Byzantine churches back into mosques, Turkey’s official religious
affairs office Diyanet takes advantage of Western freedoms, funding and
controlling hundreds of mosques in Western countries, including a massive
Ottoman-style structure in suburban Maryland just outside Washington, D.C. And
while there is little doubt that the Turkish government will be gracious hosts
to the Holy Father, anti-Christian (and antisemitic and anti-Western) sentiment
is common in Erdoğan’s Turkey and often abetted by those in power. Turkey’s
Christian population is tiny, a few hundred thousand people, less than 0.5% of
the country’s 87 million people. Anatolia, the Asian mainland of modern Turkey,
had a Christian population of perhaps 20% in 1915, but that is all gone.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians were massacred by the Ottomans in Anatolia
during the First World War — what the world condemns, and the Turkish government
still denies, as the Armenian, Syriac and Pontic (Greek) genocides. The Pope
will meet with leaders of the tiny Greek, Armenian and Syriac Christian
communities in Istanbul, including visiting the Syrian Orthodox Church of Mor
Efrem (St. Ephrem the Syrian), the only new church (opened in 2023) built in
Turkey in more than 100 years. When Pope Leo visits the famed Blue Mosque in
Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood, he will see looming almost next door the
Ayasofya Mosque — for centuries the largest church in Christendom as Hagia
Sophia — which was once a museum but was turned into a mosque again in 2020 in
an act of blatant populist Islamist chauvinism.
Ayasofya was once, in a way, a “Catholic” basilica, in that the Patriarchate of
Constantinople was at the time of the city’s taking in 1453 in full communion
with Rome (as a result of the Council of Florence), as were the last two
emperors of Byzantium. One of the first acts of the victorious Mehmet the
Conqueror was to appoint a new Greek Orthodox patriarch hostile to union with
Rome. Pope Leo will not visit Ayasofya, in likely deference to the Orthodox. In
1967, Pope Paul VI was said to have committed a diplomatic faux pas when he
prayed while visiting the then church-turned-mosque-turned-museum. It was the
first open Catholic prayer in that sacred space for more than 500 years. When
Pope Leo visits the town of Iznik (ancient Nicaea) to commemorate the 1,700th
anniversary of the ecumenical council held there, he won’t be holding a meeting
at the place where the council was actually held. He can’t. That would be the
Ayasofya basilica of Iznik, which was also turned into a mosque in 2011. There
is no real Christian community remaining in the city.
If Turkey is dynamic, growing and mostly bereft of Christianity, Lebanon is the
opposite. The country is, and has been for years, in deep economic and social
crisis. Much of the country’s youth is fleeing, including its Christian youth.
The country is dying from political neglect, withering from inflation,
unemployment, crime and war. Informally (there is no official census),
Christians are still about a third of Lebanon’s population of about 6 million
people. While Turkey’s Christian footprint is all too often in the past,
archaeological or ancient, in Lebanon there are still all the elements that make
up a vibrant, living Christian — especially Maronite Catholic — presence.
Christians still have half the Parliament seats and hold key government
positions, including president of the republic and commander of the Lebanese
Armed Forces. The Christian influence on Lebanese society is still palpable.
While Turkey houses a miniscule Christian remnant, Lebanon’s Christian community
is still substantial, still viable, if deeply threatened by circumstances. There
are still many towns and villages that are almost entirely Christian, as is a
good portion of the Mount Lebanon region stretching from East Beirut to the
mountains near the Muslim town of Tripoli to the north. This is the last
remaining Christian heartland in West Asia.
Lebanon is in a way what Turkey used to be before 1915, a country with a
significant Christian population at great risk of further decline and
disappearance. While no one is expecting Christian massacres in Lebanon, the
danger is that economic crisis, inflation and insecurity will bring about the
disappearance of an ancient Christian community just the same. Pope Leo will
encounter Islam and engage in interfaith outreach in both countries. His
engagement with Christians will be slightly different. In Turkey, Pope Leo seeks
to fan the embers of a dying flame, while in Lebanon he aims to secure the
survival of a deeply rooted, living tree, now buffeted by gathering storms.
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/pope-leo-visits-turkey-lebanon-ruins-roots-christian-faith
**Alberto M. Fernandez Alberto M. Fernandez is a former U.S. diplomat and a
contributor at EWTN News.
Israel’s War of Attrition: Zero Losses, Total Victory
Charbel A. Antoun/November 13/2025
Dominance Without Death: Israel’s Perfect War. How Israel's most powerful tool
against Hezbollah was a ceasefire. A campaign that destroyed Iran's northern
spear, legal cover, and precision strikes.
Israel has been engaged in a silent, unstoppable war of attrition against
Hezbollah since the ceasefire on November 27, 2024, crushing Iran’s militia
without losing a single soldier. Precision strikes have flown over 1,000
sorties, vaporized 335 weapons sites, and killed over 358 Hezbollah fighters in
less than a year, all without causing any combat deaths among Israelis. It’s not
war. Dominance is this.
Hezbollah, once Iran’s feared spear, is broken. Its Radwan elite are ghosts. Its
rocket arsenal is halved. Its leaders are hunted down or gone. In reply, it has
managed fewer than ten feeble mortar shots—not out of restraint, but paralysis.
The U.S.–French ceasefire has become Israel’s perfect weapon: every strike
framed as “self‑defense,” legally unassailable, globally ignored.Will history
remember this as war? No. It will remember the silent campaign that dismantled
Iran’s northern empire—one perfect strike at a time. “Israel must keep mowing.
The grass will never grow back,” whispers a U.S. official.
Iran’s New Corridor: What if Hezbollah Rebuilds?
With Syria’s land bridge severed, Tehran now funnels arms through Iraq’s Anbar—PMF‑guarded
convoys moving from Al‑Qaim to the Bekaa. Yet this lifeline is paper‑thin: U.S.
forces track every move, Syrian raids seize caches weekly, and Israel pounds it
with nearly 100 strikes a month.
If the corridor succeeds, Hezbollah could claw back to 50% strength by 2028. If
it fails, the militia remains frozen at 15%—crippled indefinitely. Should Israel
pause? “No. Strike relentlessly,” insists a U.S. official. “Every drone that
erases a Radwan commander, every missile site turned to dust, buys years of
peace. This is not occupation. This is prevention. Let Hezbollah rearm, and the
next October 7 comes with 150,000 precision missiles.”
This corridor fight is not just about Hezbollah’s future—it is about whether
Iran can re‑establish a northern front at all. The next phase of the story is
not measured in convoys, but in the regional balance of power.
Hezbollah’s Refusal to Disarm: Toward a “UNSCR 1701‑Plus” Approach?
Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Lebanon’s authority has weakened daily in the
face of Hezbollah’s growing internal dominance. The militia recently refused
even to discuss disarmament, declaring in an open letter that “the government’s
hasty decision regarding the monopoly of arms is a governmental blunder” and
insisting that “the state’s monopoly on force is not being discussed in response
to foreign demands or Israeli blackmail.”
This stance reveals Hezbollah’s true loyalty, which is to its master in Tehran
rather than to a sovereign Lebanese state. It is considered a betrayal by
Lebanese citizens. It is a gift to Benjamin Netanyahu.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remains the foundational framework for
post‑2006 hostilities, but recent escalations have prompted calls for a “UNSCR
1701‑Plus” approach. Such an upgrade would expand the resolution’s scope to
include stronger enforcement mechanisms, updated disarmament provisions, and
tighter monitoring of cross‑border violations.
Advocates contend that Hezbollah can operate with impunity because the current
mandate is toothless. An upgrade to Chapter VII would provide the UN with the
legal power to signal global resolve and enforce compliance, even through
military means if needed. This approach is risky, though, as it could be vetoed
by important Security Council members and could exacerbate regional
sensitivities. The argument highlights a larger conundrum: how to protect border
security and international law without inciting more extensive hostilities.
Lebanese authorities who are hesitant to take on Hezbollah should be alarmed by
the idea of “UNSCR 1701 Plus.” Additionally, it should serve as a reminder to
the world that UNIFIL will no longer be symbolic by 2027. The enforcers will
wear blue helmets.
Israel’s shadow war is now a countdown as the UN clock runs out to June 2026.
The issue is whether Hezbollah’s comeback can be stopped by attrition alone or
if direct conflict without international protections will be the next stage.
The Real Power Source of Hezbollah: Money, Not Just Weapons
Senior officials from the National Security Council and the Treasury Department
traveled to Lebanon as part of the U.S. high-level visit from November 9–10,
2025. Their message was clear: stop the flow of money from Iran to Hezbollah,
which is estimated to be close to $1 billion in 2025 and comes from exchange
houses, cash, cryptocurrency, and Al Qard al Hasan. Tighten port and airport
controls, prosecute sanction evaders, and shut down unlicensed money exchangers.
Beyond money, use the Lebanese Army to seize control of Hezbollah and completely
disarm it south of the Litani.
Bottom line: Washington delivered an ultimatum. Dismantle Hezbollah’s financial
lifeline now—or face escalating sanctions and zero U.S. support for recovery.
This is not a side issue; it is part of the U.S. “maximum pressure” policy on
Iran.
Two months ago, in my article Disarming Hezbollah Without Dismantling Its
Financial Empire Is a Fool’s Errand, I explained why Lebanon’s future depends on
crippling Hezbollah’s cash empire before its guns. That argument stands even
stronger today.
Lebanon cannot succeed in disarming Hezbollah without dismantling the financial
empire that arms, shields, and sustains it. And it cannot dismantle that empire
without a sustained, U.S.‑led international campaign that treats Hezbollah not
merely as Iran’s proxy militia, but—as one former U.S. official privately put
it—a “globalized criminal terrorist conglomerate.”
This is U.S. policy in action. The only question is whether Lebanon’s
authorities will grasp what they heard—and act before time runs out.
This financial front is the final battlefield. Weapons can be struck, commanders
can be hunted—but unless Hezbollah’s cash empire is dismantled, the cycle of
rearmament will never end.
A Mafia State’s Crisis of Nerves
Ahmad Hussein ALHUSSEINI/November 13/2025
The phenomenon is not new. Political scientists call it state capture—or, in its
broader form, an integrated kleptocratic system or mafia state: the total
convergence of corruption, when thieves own the government, the banks, the
courts, and the press. In such systems, power is no longer contested but
consolidated through theft; institutions become façades, justice a bargaining
chip, and public office a cash register. The banker, the politician, the judge,
and the journalist fuse into one organism of plunder, feeding on the carcass of
a captured republic.
Lebanon has reached that stage of rot where crime no longer hides—it governs.
Dressed in suits, speaking the language of reform, the corrupt now rule in
daylight. It is in this theatre of moral collapse that the crooked politician
thrives.
It is no coincidence that this so-called “investigation” appears only months
before parliamentary elections—and on the very day websites were buzzing about
the prospective next speaker of parliament—to mobilize the political cartel
against Hassan El Husseini, precisely when serious and legitimate political
forces are challenging the corrupt monopoly that has paralyzed Lebanon’s
institutions. Its timing and tone expose it for what it is: a paid smear
designed to protect the mafia-state architecture that turned obstruction into
governance and decay into policy.
Let us be clear.
The El Husseini name needs no borrowed credibility. It is written into Lebanon’s
modern history—its sovereignty, its civil peace, and its constitutional rebirth.
Those who invoke Hussein El Husseini’s legacy to slander his son only reveal
their desperation. Rafic Hariri, who late in his life came to understand the
menace of state capture by the bloodletting warlords of the civil war, was El
Husseini’s fair and honest political foe—on a long list of issues, Solidere
among them. Generations grew up knowing that. Hariri’s fate was sealed when the
two men neared an understanding about the ills that befell the land. The man who
presided over the Taif negotiations and restored the principles of coexistence
and the rule of law never sought wealth or power; he left public life poorer
than he entered it—a rarity in Lebanon’s political landscape.
This desperate campaign seeks to invert that legacy—to suggest that integrity
begets corruption, and that anyone who challenges the current order must be
punished through slander. It fabricates “sources,” invents figures, and stitches
together half-truths into fiction to distract from the real question: who
benefits from the paralysis of Parliament, the erosion of the rule of law, and
the silencing of any credible alternative to the mafia’s cartel of obstruction?
The answer is simple: the very clique of robbers now funding this smear.
Addressing their absurd, self-contradictory allegations—collected from every
thief and fantasist—is an exercise in futility. It suffices to say that Ahmad El
Husseini has never had any dealings or professional relationship with any of the
individuals mentioned, some of whom he knows and some he has never even
met—whether the supposed unnamed Nigerian billionaire or the sanctioned art
collector.. Yes, Ahmad El Husseini maintains a wide global network, but it
serves one purpose: to expose corruption, looting, and the criminal suspension
of the Taif Constitution and the rule of law. That mission is what unsettles the
bandits who prefer plunder to reform.
The El Husseini family’s position has never wavered: full implementation of the
Taif Accord; restoration of state authority and the monopoly of arms; judicial
independence; and the reactivation of Lebanon’s constitutional institutions—free
from militia coercion, blood lords, or foreign tutelage. Ahmad has defended
these principles in every capital that still believes Lebanon deserves to
function as a state, not a fiefdom. These efforts have earned him enemies among
corrupt bankers, traffickers in influence, and political middlemen who live off
paralysis. Their retaliation now takes the form of slander disguised as
journalism.
Every line of this smear follows the same formula: a cowardly, fabricated
author; imaginary “sources”; unverifiable numbers; and recycled rumors from
individuals under investigation for corruption and money laundering. The
allegations are theatrical, contradictory, and transparent in intent—to deflect
attention from the real problem:
Refusal to convene Parliament for reform laws, even at the cost of losing a
World Bank loan of $280 million at 0 percent interest for the reconstruction of
the South;
Obstruction of judicial independence;
Ongoing gangstering of depositors’ money;
Fear of allowing the Lebanese diaspora to vote;
Protection of those responsible for the financial collapse, the port explosion,
and the disintegration of the state.
And the list is too long to cover it all.
Lebanon’s tragedy is not the ambition of reformers but the impunity and
insolence of the entrenched. Those who profit from rot are now trying to
criminalize dissent.
To those who read these attacks, we say:
We are judged by our record, not by the slanders of the frightened. Judged by
the positions we defend—the Constitution, the State, and the equal citizenship
envisioned by Taif—not by the caricatures drawn by the courtiers of corruption.
We are judged by what we build, not by what they invent.
This campaign against Ahmad El Husseini—and those before him—is not about one
man or what he does to earn a living. It is about silencing a movement that
insists Lebanon can still return to legality, accountability, and dignity. It
will fail—because truth, unlike defamation, needs no patron.
The mafia state and its godfathers have every reason to be nervous.
More on that in due course.
العمليات العسكرية الإسرائيلية ضد حزب الله ما
بين 03 و09 تشرين الثاني/2025
Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: November 3–9, 2025
David Daoud/FDD's Long War Journal/November 13/ 2025 l
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149141/
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous operations throughout Lebanon
against Hezbollah between November 3 and November 9, 2025. Israeli activities
this week were concentrated almost exclusively in south Lebanon but spanned both
sides of the Litani River and were significantly more intense than in previous
weeks. Thursday witnessed a significant Israeli escalation that targeted several
Hezbollah installations in different locales in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah responded to this intensification in an “open letter to the leadership
and people of Lebanon.” The group decried what it portrayed as Israeli
perfidiousness, beseeching Lebanon not to engage in further negotiations with
Jerusalem as they were ruses for Lebanese subjugation and “insist[ed] on its
right to resist the occupation” as self-defense. Lebanese officialdom, including
politicians and leaders in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), echoed Hezbollah’s
stance, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun decrying Thursday’s escalation as a
“comprehensive crime” that underscored Israel’s resort to “aggression against
Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Channel 11 News in Israel reported that the Israeli government was weighing
further escalation of its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Jerusalem was
considering this move due to Hezbollah’s ongoing regeneration efforts outpacing
any efforts by the Lebanese government or military to disarm or restrain the
group.
The IDF conducted operations in 25 Lebanese locales, some of them more than
once. These activities included:
Airstrikes: At least nine reported
Artillery strikes: Three reported
Construction activities: One reported
Detonations: One reported
Drone strikes: 10 reported
Flares: Two reported
Ground activities: Four reported
Leaflets: One reported
Quadcopter activities: Four reported
Beqaa Governorate
Rashaya District: Ain Ata-Shebaa
Nabatieh Governorate
Bint Jbeil District: Aitaroun, Ayta al Jabal, Ayta ash Shaab, Bint Jbeil,
Braasheet, Kfar Dounin, and Yaroun
Marjayoun District: Blida, Blida-Kilo 9, Khiam, Khirbet Selm-Sowaneh, Meiss al
Jabal, and Tel Hamames
Nabatieh District: Hamila-Houmine al Fawqa, Doueir, Kfar Dajjal-Nabatieh, and
Zawtar al Sharqiyeh
South Lebanon Governorate
Tyre District: Alma al Shaab, Abbassiyeh-Burj Rahhal, Naqoura, Taybeh, Tayr
Debba, Toura, and Zebqine
Casualties
Between November 3 and November 9, Israeli operations in Lebanon killed 10
people, including two Lebanese Resistance Brigades operatives and at least six
Hezbollah operatives, and wounded 27 people.
November 3, 2025: Two Hezbollah operatives were killed, and seven unidentified
people were wounded.
November 4, 2025: One unidentified person was wounded.
November 5, 2025: One Hezbollah operative was killed, and one unidentified
person was wounded.
November 6, 2025: One unidentified person was killed, and nine unidentified
people were wounded.
November 7, 2025: No casualties were reported.
November 8, 2025: Two Lebanese Resistance Brigades operatives were killed, one
Hezbollah operative was killed, and 11 unidentified people were wounded.
November 9, 2025: One Hezbollah operative was killed, and another possible
Hezbollah operative was killed.
Chronology of Israeli operations against Hezbollah, November 3–9, 2025
November 3
At 1:02 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle at the
Sharqiyah Junction in Doueir in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Nabatieh District.
The strike killed one person and wounded seven people. The mukhtar [local
leaders]of Doueir described the strike as an attack on civilians and named the
fatality as Mohammad Ali Hadid from Sharqiyah, who “had coincidentally been
present near one of the commercial stores in the area when he was targeted by
the enemy drone.” The IDF later released a statement claiming Hadid’s
assassination, describing him as a “commander in the Radwan Force [commando]
unit of the Hezbollah terror organization.” The IDF said Hadid “advanced several
terror initiatives targeting the territory of the State of Israel” and that
“more recently, he was involved in attempts to restore Hezbollah’s terror
infrastructure.” The IDF noted that Hadid’s “activities violated the
understandings between Israel and Lebanon.” Pro-Hezbollah and Iran-backed
Resistance Axis-linked social media accounts later announced the death of
Hezbollah operative Mohammad Ali Hadid, whose nom de guerre was Hassan Mojtaba,
from Sharqiyah. These pages noted that Hadid had been wounded in Israel’s pager
detonation operation on September 17, 2024. Hezbollah gave Hadid a military
funeral in his hometown.
At 2:23 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a motorbike in
Ayta ash Shaab in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District. The strike
killed one person. The IDF released a statement on the strike, saying it had
targeted and killed a Hezbollah operative “observed in efforts to collect
intelligence on IDF forces in the area” and that his “activities violated the
understandings between Israel and Lebanon.” Hezbollah-affiliated social media
later announced the death of Hezbollah operative Yousef Neemeh Srour, whose nom
de guerre was Badr, from Ayta ash Shaab.
November 4
NNA Lebanon reported that at 1:00 am, Israeli forces detonated a home in the
Kroum al Mrah area of Meiss al Jabal in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Marjayoun
District.
NNA Lebanon reported that at 1:15 pm, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on the
Kfar Dajjal-Nabatieh Road in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Nabatieh District. The
strike wounded one unidentified person.
At 5:34 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery strikes targeted Naqoura
in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre District, with the shells falling in the
water off Naqoura’s coast.
November 5
At 10:37 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun
grenade in Khiam in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Marjayoun District.
At 11:09 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on
the Burj Rahhal-Abbassiyeh main road in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre
District. The strike killed one person and wounded another. The IDF later
released a statement announcing that it had targeted and killed a Hezbollah
operative in the group’s Radwan Force commando unit, “who was advancing terror
initiatives against the State of Israel and its citizens.” Hezbollah-affiliated
social media later announced the death of Hezbollah operative Hussain Jihad
Dheeb, whose nom de guerre was Al Sheikh al Sadeq, from Shehour. Hezbollah gave
Dheeb a military funeral in his hometown.
At 10:03 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli ground force maneuvered into
the Kasayer area in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Marjayoun District. An LAF patrol
immediately moved into the area to monitor the IDF’s movements.
November 6
At 8:44 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped an explosive
on the coast of Naqoura in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre District.
At 12:08 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the area
between Toura and Abbassiyeh in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre District.
The strike killed one person and wounded eight others. The identity of the
fatality could not be determined. The IDF later released a statement on the
strike, saying it had targeted “terrorists operating inside terror
infrastructure belonging to the Construction Unit of Hezbollah near Tyre.” The
IDF said the structure “was used for the production of equipment which Hezbollah
was using to restore terror infrastructure that was attacked and destroyed
during the war” in “violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
At 2:46 pm, IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee announced that he would soon
issue warnings to residents of South Lebanon. At 3:04 pm, Adraee published
warnings to residents of Taybeh and Tayr Debba in the South Lebanon
Governorate’s Tyre District to distance themselves 500 meters from designated
buildings that he said were “used by Hezbollah.” At 3:22 pm, Adraee issued
additional warnings to the residents of Ayta al Jabal in the Nabatieh
Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District, likewise warning them to distance themselves
at least 500 meters from a designated building “being used by Hezbollah.” Adraee
said the impending strikes on the buildings were intended to “deal with the
forbidden activities being undertaken by Hezbollah to restore its activities in
the area.” At 3:31 pm, Adraee clarified that the IDF was not calling for
widespread evacuations from south Lebanese villages, instead only from the
vicinity of the designated buildings. At 3:57 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that the
Israeli military was calling residents of south Lebanon, while drones flew over
Tayr Debba, Abbassiyeh, and surrounding areas. At 3:58 pm, Adraee announced the
onset of the airstrikes on the designated buildings.
At 3:35 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces dropped leaflets in Ayta
ash Shaab in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District. The leaflets read,
“Yusef Neemeh Srour photographed and collected intelligence for Hezbollah near
the border, and destabilized the area. Do not allow Hezbollah’s members to
operate near your homes or to endanger you and your family members!”
At 4:02 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the
designated building in Tayr Debba. The strike wounded one person.
At 4:08 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the
designated building in Taybeh, causing damage to the surrounding buildings.
At 4:21 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the
designated building (a house) in Ayta al Jabal. The target was located
approximately 350 meters away from an LAF position.
At 4:35 pm, Adraee issued a warning to residents of Zawtar al Sharqiyeh in the
Nabatieh Governorate’s Nabatieh District to distance themselves at least 500
meters from a designated building that he said was “being used by Hezbollah” due
to impending strikes.
At 5:20 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the
designated building in Zawtar al Sharqiyeh.
At 5:33 pm, Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Kfar Dounin in the
Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District to distance themselves 500 meters
from a designated building that he said was “being used by Hezbollah.” At 6:16
pm, NNA Lebanon reported that two consecutive airstrikes targeted the designated
building in Kfar Dounin. The structure was located approximately 100 meters from
an LAF position to its north, and 190 meters from another LAF post to its
northwest.
At 6:28 pm, Adraee said the warning to the residents of Kfar Dounin remained in
place.
At 6:50 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery targeted Wadi Zebqine in
the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre District.
At 7:24 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that several Israeli airstrikes targeted the
designated building in Kfar Dounin.
At 7:48 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped a stun
explosive in Naqoura.
At 7:52 pm, the IDF released a statement announcing the completion of its waves
of strikes, saying it had targeted “terror infrastructure and several weapons
storage facilities belonging to [Hezbollah’s] Radwan Force [commando] unit in
south Lebanon.” The IDF said that “Hezbollah was continuing with its efforts to
restore its terror infrastructure in south Lebanon, especially the capabilities
of the [Radwan Force] unit with the goal of harming the State of Israel.” The
IDF also noted it had undertaken measures during the strikes to minimize
civilian casualties and harm, while stressing that Hezbollah’s presence among
the civilian population was subjecting them to danger. The Israeli military
emphasized that the presence of Hezbollah’s installations in the area
“constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”
At 8:01 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that a drone strike targeted the Debsh area of
Aitaroun in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District.
At 9:23 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces fired flares over Yaroun in
the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District.
At 9:44 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery strikes targeted Yaroun.
At 10:51 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces positioned in the IDF’s
Tel Hamames post in south Lebanon directed gunfire toward the surrounding area.
November 7
At 7:22 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces fired flares over the coast
of Naqoura in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre District.
November 8
At 12:06 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone targeted an excavator in
Blida in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Marjayoun District.
At 8:15 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle
with two missiles near the Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil in the Nabatieh
Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District. The strike wounded seven people.
At 8:59 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped three stun
explosives by an excavator near Kilo 9, between Aitaroun and Blida, in the
Nabatieh Governorate’s Marjayoun District.
At 11:32 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a
vehicle carrying two brothers from Shebaa on the road between Ain Ata and Shebaa
in the Beqaa Governorate’s Rashaya District. The strike killed two people. At
11:35 am, the IDF released a statement saying that it had targeted and killed
two “terrorists from the Lebanese [Resistance] Brigades organization that
operates under Hezbollah’s direction,” saying the two were “involved in weapons
smuggling on behalf of Hezbollah” in “flagrant violation of the understandings
between Israel and Lebanon.” The Lebanese Resistance Brigades and
Hezbollah-affiliated social media announced the death of Lebanese Resistance
Brigades operatives Hussain Said Kanaan and Mohammad Said Kanaan from Shebaa.
At 1:23 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle
in Braasheet in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District. The strike
killed one person and wounded four others. At 5:20 pm, the IDF released a
statement saying that it had targeted and killed a Hezbollah operative near
Braasheet who was “involved in efforts to restore Hezbollah’s military
infrastructure in the area and whose activities constituted a violation of the
understandings between Israel and Lebanon.” Hezbollah-affiliated social media
announced the death of Hezbollah operative Khalil Ibrahim Karnib, whose nom de
guerre was Hajj Alaa, from Maroun al Ras. Karnib had apparently been wounded in
Israel’s pager operation against Hezbollah on September 17, 2024. Hezbollah gave
Karnib a military funeral in his hometown.
November 9
At 8:58 am, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces directed heavy gunfire
toward the outskirts of Alma al Shaab in the South Lebanon Governorate’s Tyre
District.
At 9:11 am, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces directed heavy gunfire
toward the outskirts of Ayta ash Shaab in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil
District.
At 9:32 am, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle
with three missiles between Sowaneh and Khirbet Selm in the Nabatieh
Governorate’s Marjayoun District. The strike killed one person.
Hezbollah-affiliated social media later announced the death of Hassan Ali Jamil
Soltan from Sowaneh. The IDF later released a statement saying that it had
killed a Hezbollah terrorist near Sowaneh. However, the statement did not name
the target or describe his organizational role or the activities in which he was
involved at the time of his assassination.
At 10:30 am, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces conducted excavations on
the outskirts of Aitaroun in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Bint Jbeil District.
NNA Lebanon reported that at 5:50 pm, an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle
with two missiles near the olive press on the Houmine al Fawqa-Hamila road in
the Iqlim al Tuffah area in the Nabatieh Governorate’s Nabatieh District. The
strike killed one person. The IDF later released a statement saying that it had
killed a Hezbollah terrorist near Houmine. Hezbollah-affiliated social media
soon announced the death of Hezbollah operative Abbas Ali Al Jawad, whose nom de
guerre was Fares, from Houmine al Fawqa. Hezbollah gave Al Jawad a military
funeral in his hometown.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/11/israeli-operations-in-lebanon-against-hezbollah-november-3-9-2025.php
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November 13-14/2025
Gazans begin to restore historic fort damaged in war
AFP/November 14, 2025
GAZA CITY: One bucket at a time, Palestinian workers cleared sand and crumbling
mortar from the remains of a former medieval fortress turned museum in Gaza
City, damaged by two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas. A dozen workers
in high-visibility jackets worked by hand to excavate the bomb-damaged buildings
that remain of the Pasha Palace Museum — which once housed Napoleon Bonaparte
during a one-night stay in Gaza — stacking stones to be reused in one pile and
rubble to be discarded in another. Overhead, an Israeli surveillance drone
buzzed loudly while the team toiled in silence. “The Pasha Palace Museum is one
of the most important sites destroyed during the recent war in Gaza City,”
Hamouda Al-Dahdar, the cultural heritage expert in charge of the restoration
works, said, adding that more than 70 percent of the palace’s buildings were
destroyed. As of October 2025, the UN’s cultural heritage agency, UNESCO, had
identified damage at 114 sites since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct. 7,
2023, including the Pasha Palace. Other damaged sites include the Saint Hilarion
Monastery complex — one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the Middle East —
and Gaza City’s Omari Mosque.Issam Juha, director of the Center for Cultural
Heritage Preservation, a nonprofit organization in the Israeli-occupied West
Bank, who is helping coordinate the castle’s restoration at a distance, said the
main issue was obtaining materials for the restoration in Gaza.
“There are no more materials, and we are only managing debris, collecting
stones, sorting these stones, and have minimal intervention for the
consolidation,” said Juha. Israel imposed severe restrictions on the Gaza Strip
at the start of the war, causing shortages of everything, including food and
medicine.
HIGHLIGHTS
• As of October 2025, the UN’s cultural heritage agency, Unesco, had identified
damage at 114 sites since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023,
including the Pasha Palace Museum.
*Other damaged sites include the Saint Hilarion Monastery complex — one of the
oldest Christian monasteries in the Middle East — and Gaza City’s Omari Mosque.
After a US-brokered ceasefire deal came into effect in October, aid trucks began
flowing in greater numbers, but each item crossing into Gaza must be approved by
strict Israeli vetting, humanitarian organizations say.
Juha said the ceasefire had allowed workers to resume their excavations.
Before, he said, it was unsafe for them to work and “people were threatened by
drones that were scanning the place and shooting.”
Juha said that at least 226 heritage and cultural sites were damaged during the
war, arguing his number was higher than UNESCO’s because his teams in Gaza were
able to access more areas. Juha’s organization is loosely affiliated with the
Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Antiquities, he said.
“Our cultural heritage is the identity and memory of the Palestinian people,”
Dahdar said in Gaza City.“Before the war, the Pasha’s Palace contained more than
17,000 artifacts, but unfortunately, all of them disappeared after the invasion
of the Old City of Gaza,” he said.He added that his team had since recovered 20
important artifacts dating back to the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras.
Gaza’s history stretches back thousands of years, making the tiny Palestinian
territory a treasure trove of archeological artifacts from past civilizations,
including Canaanites, Egyptians, Persians, and Greeks.
“We are ... salvaging the archeological stones in preparation for future
restoration work, as well as rescuing and extracting any artifacts that were on
display inside the Pasha Palace,” Dahdar said. As the pile of excavated rubble
already several meters high grew, one craftsman carefully restored a piece of
stonework bearing a cross mounted with an Islamic crescent. Another delicately
brushed the dust off stonework bearing religious calligraphy. “We are not
talking about just an old building, but rather we are dealing with buildings
dating back to different eras,” said Dahdar.
Israeli forces to uproot olive trees and seize Palestinian land in Qalqilya
Arab News/November 13, 2025
LONDON: Israeli forces issued two military orders on Thursday to uproot olive
trees and confiscate land in the eastern part of the Palestinian city of
Qalqilya, located in the northern occupied West Bank. The initial order requires
the removal of olive trees in the eastern section of Qalqilya city, spanning
about 1.97 acres. The second order modifies a previous military directive that
authorized the confiscation of 0.56 acres, increasing it to 1.26 acres, which is
more than double the initial area. The lands impacted by the new amendment
belong to the Khalif and Radwan families from the nearby town of Azzun, located
east of Qalqilya, as well as to the Abu Hamed family from the city itself,
according to Wafa news agency. Wafa reported that the confiscation of these
plots is for the construction of a fence. In October, Israeli authorities
approved the expansion of the Mitzpe Yeshai settlement and confiscated 9 acres
of land from the Palestinian village of Kafr Qaddum, which is located east of
Qalqilya. Thousands of Palestinian families who depend on harvesting olive trees
for their livelihoods have faced increasing attacks since late 2023 from
settlers, entry restrictions to their fields imposed by soldiers, and land
confiscation policy.
Israeli troops kill two West Bank Palestinians, settlers
set mosque ablaze
AFP/November 13, 2025
DAYR ISTIYA, Palestinian Territories: The Israeli military said its troops
killed two suspected militants in a town in the occupied West Bank on Thursday,
while Palestinian officials accused Israeli settlers of setting fire to a mosque
in the territory. Settler violence has surged in recent weeks across the West
Bank, drawing international condemnation and even rare criticism from within the
Israeli military and government. “A short while ago, IDF soldiers who were
operating adjacent to the community of Karmei Zur, eliminated two terrorists who
were on their way to carry out a terror attack,” the military said in a
statement, without providing details. Palestinian authorities also did not
provide any details. Meanwhile, the Ramallah-based Palestinian foreign ministry
said Israeli settlers set ablaze the Hajja Hamida mosque near the town of Deir
Istiya in the north. “This blatantly violates the sanctity of places of worship
and reflects the deep-rooted racism driving settlers under the protection of the
occupying government,” the ministry said. AFP photographs from the scene showed
burnt copies of the Qur'an and walls blackened by smoke. A wall of the mosque
was also graffitied.
‘Red line’ -
Thursday’s arson attack came a day after Israeli army chief pledged to halt
settler violence, following a wave of attacks targeting Palestinians in the West
Bank. “We are aware of the recent violent incidents in which Israeli civilians
attacked Palestinians and Israelis. I strongly condemn them,” Lt. Gen. Eyal
Zamir said in a statement. “These acts contradict our values, cross a red line
and divert the attention of our troops from their mission,” he warned. “We are
determined to stop this phenomenon and will act decisively until justice is
served.”Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, where more than 500,000
Israelis now live in settlements. A minority of these Israelis engage in
violence against Palestinians, who complain that Israeli forces usually do not
arrest settlers. All settlements in the West Bank are illegal under
international law. Earlier this month, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs said that October 2025 was the worst month for settler
violence since it began recording in 2006, with at least 264 attacks that caused
casualties or property damage. Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to
account by the Israeli authorities. Violence has surged across the West Bank
since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023.At least 1,003 Palestinians,
including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or
settlers since the war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in
Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.
Israel says received body of one of final four Gaza
hostages
AFP/November 13/2025
GAZA CITY: Israel received the body of one of the last four hostages held in
Gaza from the Red Cross on Thursday as part of the ceasefire deal with Hamas,
the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The coffin was handed over
in the Gaza Strip to the Israeli army and Shin Bet security service, the office
said, adding that it would be sent to Tel Aviv for identification. The military
later said the body had reached Israeli soil. Earlier on Thursday, the armed
wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad had said they would hand over the remains as
part of the US-brokered ceasefire deal with Israel in Gaza.
Hamas said the body was found in Khan Yunis in the south of the territory. At
the start of the truce, which came into effect on October 10, Hamas was holding
20 living hostages and 28 bodies of deceased captives. It has since released all
the living hostages and before Thursday had returned the remains of 24 dead
hostages, in line with the ceasefire terms. In exchange, Israel has released
nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in its custody and returned the bodies of
hundreds of dead Palestinians. Israel has accused Hamas of dragging its feet in
returning the bodies of deceased hostages, while the Palestinian group says the
process is slow because many are buried beneath Gaza’s rubble after two years of
war.
Israel quizzed at UN over torture of Palestinian detainees
AFP/November 14, 2025
GENEVA: Israel was questioned at the UN this week over multiple reports alleging
the torture of Palestinian detainees, in particular since the Hamas attacks of
Oct. 7, 2023. Israel was undergoing its periodic review before the UN Committee
against Torture. “The committee has been deeply appalled by the description we
have received, in a large number of alternative reports, of what appears to be
systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians, including
children,” the body’s rapporteur, Peter Vedel Kessing, said.“It is claimed that
torture has become a deliberate and widespread tool of state policy ... from
arrest to interrogation to imprisonment.”The Committee against Torture comprises
10 independent experts who monitor the implementation of the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by member
countries. Citing reports before the committee, Kessing said that since the Oct.
7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the retaliatory war in Gaza, torture
and ill-treatment have escalated, reaching “unprecedented levels” and carried
out with impunity. Those reports, he said, came from various UN bodies, Israeli,
Palestinian, and international nongovernmental organizations, and other sources.
“Many of those detained and subsequently released have reportedly been subject
to torture and other ill-treatment,” said Kessing. “Severe beatings, including
on the genitals; electric shocks; being forced to remain in stress positions in
prolonged periods; deliberate inhuman conditions and starvation; waterboarding;
and widespread sexual insults and threats of rape,” he said, giving examples.In
July 2024, the UN human rights office published a report stating that
Palestinians detained by Israel during the Gaza war have largely been held in
secret and in some cases subjected to treatment that may amount to torture.
Similar accusations have been levelled against Hamas regarding its treatment of
hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel
Meron, rejected the allegations, branding them “disinformation,” particularly,
he said, on the part of the UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry, and Francesca
Albanese, the UN’s independent special rapporteur on rights in the Palestinian
territories. Meron said Israel was “committed to upholding its obligations in
line with our moral values and principles, even in the face of the challenges
posed by a terrorist organization.”Kessing said “the fact that one of the
parties to the armed conflict violates and disregards obligations under these
rules cannot be used as an excuse for the other party” to do likewise. He told
the Israeli delegation that the committee was aware of allegations of acts of
torture and war crimes committed by Hamas against Israeli soldiers and
civilians. “This is, of course, very disturbing and something we will take up
... with the state of Palestine” in a future session. The committee’s 83rd
session, running from Nov. 10 to 28, is conducting periodic reviews of Albania,
Argentina, Bahrain and Israel’s efforts to implement the convention’s
provisions. The committee is set to publish its findings on Israel on Nov. 28.
UN agency for Palestinian refugees asks for more funding
AFP/November 13, 2025
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which is no longer receiving US
funding, on Thursday asked other donor nations for more money, warning that its
operations could suffer without a cash infusion. “We run week by week, month by
month. I know that as of today, we will be able to process our salaries in
November, but have no idea if or no visibility if we will be able to process our
salaries in December,” chief Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference. Israel
has barred UNRWA from operating on its soil after accusing some of its employees
of participating in the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which triggered the
bloody conflict in Gaza. Following those allegations, the United States —
historically the agency’s biggest donor — suspended its support. In the wake of
Israel’s decision, UNRWA was forced to repatriate its international staff from
Gaza and the West Bank, limiting its food aid distribution abilities. But it
still employs 12,000 people in the Palestinian territories, and its services are
vital to Palestinians, Lazzarini insisted. “About 75,000 people were sheltered
in 100 of our premises across the Gaza Strip,” he told reporters at the UN
headquarters in New York. “We have, over the last two years, provided more than
15 million primary health consultations. Today, the average is about 14,000 a
day,” he added, also noting the agency’s joint vaccination campaign with UNICEF
and the World Health Organization.UNRWA predicts that its budget shortfall
between the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 will be about
$200 million. “Unlike in previous years, the projected income in the first
quarter of 2026 is too low to absorb a large deficit from 2025,” Lazzarini said.
“In the absence of a significant influx of new funding, the delivery of critical
services to millions of Palestine refugees across the region will be
compromised.”While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said UNRWA will have no
role in postwar Gaza, Lazzarini noted that since a ceasefire between Israel and
Hamas took hold, “we have expanded our services.”
Syrian authorities arrest Sednaya Prison guard linked to
torture
Arab News/November 13, 2025
LONDON: Syrian authorities have arrested a former guard accused of involvement
in torture and executions at Sednaya Prison, as part of their efforts to deliver
justice for victims and hold officials of the Bashar Assad regime accountable
for crimes against civilians. The Interior Ministry on Thursday announced the
capture of Mahmoud Ali Ahmad in Aleppo governorate, in the north of the country.
While at the prison Ahmad was part of a special security detachment and later
assigned to its notorious Red Section, where political prisoners and opponents
were held, tortured and killed. He is accused of taking part in the torture and
execution of prisoners and transporting and burying the bodies of victims in
mass graves. The ministry reiterated its commitment to pursuing all individuals
implicated in human rights abuses during the Assad regime, which fell in
December last year, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported. Amnesty International
has described Sednaya Prison as a “human slaughterhouse,” where an estimated
30,000 people have been detained since 2011. Of those, only about 6,000 have
been released, with the rest still missing. Syria’s new authorities have
initiated a process to close the prison near Damascus which was operated by the
Ministry of Defense during the Assad era. Since December they have invited
several Western, UN and rights groups officials to visit the facility and
witness the inhumane conditions that detainees endured.
Syria to help US fight Iran-backed armed groups, envoy says
AFP/November 13, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syria will play an active role in assisting the United States in
fighting armed groups including Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hamas and
Hezbollah, US special envoy Tom Barrack said on Thursday. Interim President
Ahmed Al-Sharaa, himself a former militant, became the first Syrian leader to
visit the White House since his country’s independence in 1946. Shortly after
his visit, the US-led coalition fighting the Daesh group announced that Syria
had become its 90th member. On Thursday, Barrack wrote on X that “Damascus will
now actively assist us in confronting and dismantling the remnants of Daesh, the
IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Hamas, Hizballah, and other terrorist
networks.”Iran’s powerful IRGC and Lebanon’s Hezbollah were key backers of
president Bashar Assad before he was ousted last december by a rebel coalition
led by Sharaa. Hamas does not have an armed presence in Syria. Barrack also said
he held a “pivotal” meeting with US top diplomat Marco Rubio, Turkiye’s Hakan
Fidan and Syria’s Asaad Al-Shaibani, during which they discussed steps toward
“integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the new Syrian economic,
defense and civic structure.”Backed by Washington, the Kurdish-led SDF played a
key role in unseating Daesh from its last strongholds in Syria. SDF leader
Mazloum Abdi told AFP last month that he had reached a “preliminary agreement”
with Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria’s military and
security forces. In a post on X on Tuesday, Abdi said he had discussed with
Barrack “our commitment to accelerate the integration of the SDF into the Syrian
state.”Sharaa’s administration and the SDF had signed an agreement in March to
integrate into national civilian and military institutions, but it has faced
hurdles since.
Syrian Embassy raises new flag in London to mark reopening after 12 years
Arab News/November 13, 2025
LONDON: Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani raised the new flag of
the Syrian Arab Republic at the country’s embassy in London on Thursday, marking
the reopening of the diplomatic building after 12 years of closure. Following
the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime nearly a year ago, the new authorities in
Damascus adopted a white, black, and green flag featuring three stars, which
replaced the previous white, black, and red flag with two stars. Al-Shaibani
raised the flag at the UN headquarters in April, replacing the old flag of the
United Arab Republic. He is set to hold talks with several British officials
while in London, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. Al-Shaibani met
President Donald Trump during an official visit to the US this week alongside
Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who became the first Syrian president to be invited to the
White House, marking a new era for the country after Assad.
Saudi deputy minister of industry meets with top Egyptian
officials to enhance cooperation
Arab News/November 14, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial
Affairs Khalil Ibn Salamah met in Egypt with government and private-sector
leaders to discuss strengthening industrial integration and developing joint
investments in priority sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and
automotive components. During his visit, Ibn Salamah met Egyptian Minister of
Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib to discuss enhancing bilateral
industrial integration, strengthening value chains, and reviewing investment and
trade opportunities, the SPA reported on Thursday.
He also met Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy to
discuss supporting integration and boosting Saudi exports to African markets.
Ibn Salamah attended the Smart Transport, Logistics and Infrastructure Fair and
Forum for the MEA Region in Cairo, where he viewed the latest smart and
sustainable transport solutions, and met industrial company heads while touring
leading facilities — including Mobica, Valeo, and Utopia Pharmaceuticals — to
observe production and technology, aligning with the National Industrial
Strategy’s goals of industrial localization and regional integration.
What lies ahead in Iraq: the hard task of forming a
government
AFP/November 13, 2025
BAGHDAD: Following Iraq’s parliamentary election this week, the complex and
often lengthy task of choosing the country’s next leader is set to begin.
Incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani claimed victory for his
coalition after preliminary results showed it was the largest bloc — though it
still falls short of the majority needed to form a government. Sudani now faces
the tough quest of securing support from other parties, mostly from the Shiite
majority, in his bid for a second term. With no single bloc dominating the next
parliament, key parties could spend weeks or even months negotiating alliances
to build the largest bloc and nominate the next premier. Sudani was brought to
power in 2022 by the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite factions with
varying links to Iran. While preliminary vote counts for each list by province
were released, seat allocations in parliament will not be announced until later.
By convention in Iraq, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister and a
Sunni that of parliament speaker, while the largely ceremonial presidency goes
to a Kurd.
How is the government formed? -
Naming a premier and forming a government has often proven to be an arduous task
involving protracted political wrangling. In previous parliaments, Shiite
majority parties have struck compromises to work together and form a government,
and the main contenders often find themselves sidelined. Seats are used as
bargaining chips, and newly-elected lawmakers can switch sides. With an outright
majority almost impossible to achieve by any single list — as was the case in
this week’s vote — the next premier will be selected by whichever coalition can
gather enough allies to become the biggest bloc. Since voting began two years
after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, only one premier,
Nuri Al-Maliki, has served for two terms (2006-2014).
What are the possible outcomes? -
Currently, no serious candidates have emerged except for Sudani — though he
himself was a relative unknown prior to his nomination. A senior politician told
AFP last month that the Coordination Framework is divided over supporting Sudani,
with Al-Maliki seemingly poised to oppose a second term for the incumbent.
Long-term powerbrokers, including from the Coordination Framework, worry that
Sudani has amassed too much power during his first term, making some reluctant
to allow him to keep his seat.
Sudani has also faced allegations that members of his office were responsible
for wiretapping the phones of politicians. A source within a main party in the
Coordination Framework told AFP that the alliance had previously agreed to
reunite and create the largest bloc. “They will name the next premier and
participate in choosing the parliament speaker, his deputies and the president,”
the source said.
What happened after previous votes? -
In the 2010 election, former premier Iyad Allawi’s bloc won most seats, 91,
closely followed by Maliki’s alliance, which won 89. After months of bickering,
political leaders stuck a deal and Al-Maliki was reappointed for another term
despite coming second in the ballot. In 2021, influential Shiite cleric Moqtada
Sadr’s bloc emerged as the biggest winner, with 73 seats, but still fell far
short of a majority. His bloc withdrew from parliament following a dispute with
other Shiite parties that culminated in deadly fighting in Baghdad. In the
aftermath, influential parties instead came together under the Coordination
Framework to form a larger bloc, and brought Sudani to power.
What role do Tehran and Washington play? -
For decades, Iraq has been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, and
forming a government has always been influenced by the two foes. The next
premier will have to maintain the delicate balance between their interests.
Since the US-led invasion, Iran has not only wielded significant influence in
Iraqi politics, but also backs armed groups in the country, whose power has
grown both politically and financially. As Iran’s regional influence wanes, it
aims to preserve its power in Iraq and keep the market open to products from its
crippled economy. Washington meanwhile wants to cripple Tehran’s influence,
pressuring Baghdad to disarm Iran-backed factions, many of which have been
designated as terrorist groups. Some of those groups will nonetheless have seats
in the parliament and maybe the government. Last week, Foreign Minister Fuad
Hussein told the Saudi-funded Al-Hadath channel that six pro-Iran factions are
on a US blacklist — a key factor the government must consider.
Erdogan says Cyprus should remain divided
AFP/November 13, 2025
ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s president on Thursday defended “the coexistence of two
states” on Cyprus, as he hosted the new leader of the island’s Ankara-backed
self-proclaimed republic who had backed reunification. In October, the breakaway
territory of northern Cyprus — recognized by only Turkiye — voted overwhelmingly
for former prime minister Tufan Erhurman as the next president, instead of
outgoing leader Ersin Tatar, who had been Ankara’s pick. Erhurman, who advocates
reunification of the Mediterranean island that has been split since 1974, had
campaigned for the resumption of negotiations with the Greek Cypriots. But after
hosting Erhurman on his first official visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Thursday said: “We believe that the most realistic solution to the
Cyprus issue lies in the coexistence of two states on the island.”“We continue
to hold the view that a solution in which the two peoples on the island can live
side by side in peace, prosperity, and security is possible, and we will
continue our sincere efforts in this direction,” Erdogan told a press conference
in Ankara. For his part, Erhurman said Turkish Cypriot people were one of the
two equal founding partners of Cyprus. “This status of my people is not open to
discussion, negotiation, or compromise,” he said. But he added if there is a
negotiation table, “we will be there.” “And if such a table has not yet been
set, we will be at the table of dialogue that seeks to produce cooperation and
solutions aimed at facilitating the daily lives of the two peoples on the
island, building mutual trust, and contributing-within the framework of the
win-win principle-to a future settlement,” he said. The last major round of
peace talks to negotiate a settlement to the island’s divided status collapsed
in Switzerland in 2017. The leaders of both sides met in July at the UN
headquarters in New York for talks that were hailed as “constructive” by UN
chief Antonio Guterres.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
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November 13-14/2025
How Hamas Is Planning to Deceive the Trump
Administration
Khaled Abu Toameh/ Gatestone Institute./November 13/2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22046/hamas-planning-to-deceive-us
According to these [Hamas] officials, Hamas only agreed to the first phase of
the Trump plan, which calls for Israel to suspend military operations and
release Palestinian prisoners, and for Hamas to return all Israeli hostages,
dead and alive, within 72 hours. It has been weeks, and Hamas has not yet
fulfilled that phase-one obligation.
What about the part in the Trump plan that talks about the demilitarization of
the Gaza Strip and the deployment of an "International Stabilization Force" as a
"long-term security solution?"
Hamas insists that these issues are "up for negotiation" but that it never
agreed to demilitarization or the presence of international experts and security
forces in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan affirmed on November 10 that his group did not
accept all the 20 points of Trump's plan.
By November 12, the terror group had not yet returned the remains of four
hostages, although Israel suspended its military activities and released
hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
By stating that it needs to launch "negotiations and discussions" about the
implementation of the rest of Trump's plan, Hamas is clearly seeking to win as
much time as ever to enable it to maintain a grip on the Gaza Strip. As far as
Hamas is concerned, the longer the negotiations continue, the better.
The Hamas official dismissed outright the deployment of international forces in
the Gaza Strip.
Hamdan also repeated Hamas's refusal to lay down its weapons in accordance with
the Trump plan. The weapons of the Palestinian terror groups, he emphasized,
will be handed only to the government of a future Palestinian state after its
establishment: "When there's a Palestinian state capable of protecting its
people, it's natural that the weapons would be handed over to that state. Until
then, resistance is a right that we cannot give up. This issue has not been
discussed until now with the mediators or with the Americans."
This statement by the Hamas official contradicts what Witkoff recently said:
"Hamas has always indicated they would disarm. They've said so – they said it to
us directly during that famous meeting that Jared [Kushner] had with them."
It is crucial to pay attention to what Hamas leaders are telling their people in
Arabic.... For Hamas, the Trump plan is nothing but a temporary ceasefire that
would enable it to wait out the Trump administration, get back on its feet to
rule Gaza again, and resume its Jihad (holy war) to destroy Israel.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan affirmed on November 10 that his group did not
accept all the 20 points of Trump's plan. In a podcast interview, Hamdan said
that Hamas had accepted only the first phase of Trump's plan, which calls for
Israel to suspend military operations and release Palestinian prisoners, and for
Hamas to return all Israeli hostages, dead and alive, within 72 hours. It has
been weeks, and Hamas has not yet fulfilled that phase-one obligation.
Did Hamas lie to US President Donald J. Trump when it said that it had accepted
his 20-point plan for ending its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip? Or is the
terror group simply trying to buy time to reassert control over the Gaza Strip
and prepare for more terror attacks against Israel? Yes and yes. Hamas lied.
Hamas is trying to gain time by arguing that it needs to engage in negotiations
and discussions about the implementation of most parts of the Trump plan.
Since the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip went into effect in early October, Hamas
officials have repeatedly emphasized that they did not accept all the points
mentioned in the Trump plan.
According to these officials, Hamas only agreed to the first phase of the Trump
plan, which calls for Israel to suspend military operations and release
Palestinian prisoners, and for Hamas to return all Israeli hostages, dead and
alive, within 72 hours. It has been weeks, and Hamas has not yet fulfilled that
phase-one obligation.
What about the remaining phases of the plan, which call for the establishment of
a temporary transitional committee consisting of technocrats and independent
figures, as well as international experts, to govern the Gaza Strip? This
committee is supposed to be supervised by a new transitional international body,
the "Board of Peace," chaired by Trump and including former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair, with other members to be announced.
What about the part in the Trump plan that talks about the demilitarization of
the Gaza Strip and the deployment of an "International Stabilization Force" as a
"long-term security solution?"
Hamas insists that these issues are "up for negotiation" but that it never
agreed to demilitarization or the presence of international experts and security
forces in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan affirmed on November 10 that his group did not
accept all the 20 points of Trump's plan.
In a podcast interview, Hamdan, who lives outside the Gaza Strip, said that
Hamas had accepted only the first phase of Trump's plan.
Hamas has since released all 20 living hostages and the remains of most of the
hostages they killed. By November 12, the terror group had not yet returned the
remains of four hostages, although Israel suspended its military activities and
released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Reminder: all the hostages, dead and
alive, were supposed to be returned within 72 hours of the announcement of the
Trump plan in late September.
What Hamdan and other Hamas officials are saying is: "After we return the
remains of the four Israelis, then we can start negotiations and discussions
about the implementation of the rest of Trump's plan."
Notably, the Trump plan was announced after intensive negotiations between Hamas
and Arab and Islamic mediators, as well as direct and indirect meetings with US
envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The full details of the plan were
presented to Hamas, whose leaders finally signed on to it. Hamas cannot say that
its leaders were not aware of the second and third phases of the plan,
especially regarding the international "Board of Peace," demilitarization, and
the deployment of international security forces in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas's main strategy is evidently to buy time so that it can reassert control
over the Gaza Strip and rebuild its military and organizational infrastructure.
By stating that it needs to launch "negotiations and discussions" about the
implementation of the rest of Trump's plan, Hamas is clearly seeking to win as
much time as ever to enable it to maintain a grip on the Gaza Strip. As far as
Hamas is concerned, the longer the negotiations continue, the better.
Those who are familiar with Hamas's way of handling things know that such
negotiations, if and when they start, could last for months or years. Since its
violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas has been engaged in endless --
and futile -- negotiations with the Palestinian Authority about ways to end the
rivalry between the two parties and achieve national unity.
Hamas will likely try to drag out negotiations over the administration of the
Gaza Strip, disarmament and international forces for another three years, until
the Trump administration is replaced by another administration that Hamas hopes
will be less interested in the Gaza Strip.
Hamdan said during the interview that when the Hamas representatives went to
Egypt to sign the Trump plan for peace in the Gaza Strip, they had only these
things in mind: a ceasefire, exchanging their hostages for Palestinian
prisoners, reopening the Gaza Strip's borders with Israel and Egypt, and the
entry of unrestricted humanitarian aid. "What we signed was related to the first
phase of the plan, the remaining phases are up for negotiations and
discussions," he claimed.
Hamdan alleged that the US administration was aware that Hamas had not accepted
all the 20 points of the Trump plan. "The Americans agreed to this," he said.
"Our response was very clear."
Hamdan repeated Hamas's rejection of the involvement of an international body or
similar figures in the governance of the Gaza Strip:
"There is a Palestinian national consensus on rejecting any non-Palestinian
administration. If there's an international committee that wants to supervise
the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, that's another story. We agreed on this
with all the other Palestinian factions."
The Hamas official dismissed outright the deployment of international forces in
the Gaza Strip:
"We reject international forces that come to replace Israel. These forces should
only be stationed at the borders to ensure the implementation of the Trump plan
and to protect the Palestinians against Israeli aggression. These forces should
have no role inside the Gaza Strip. We are capable of managing our own affairs
and we don't need guardianship. The negotiations over this still haven't
started."
Hamdan also repeated Hamas's refusal to lay down its weapons in accordance with
the Trump plan. The weapons of the Palestinian terror groups, he emphasized,
will be handed only to the government of a future Palestinian state after its
establishment:
"The Palestinian factions that recently met in Cairo made a clear statement on
this issue, that this is a national issue and that the resistance is tied to our
right to establish a Palestinian state after the liberation. When there's a
Palestinian state capable of protecting its people, it's natural that the
weapons would be handed over to that state. Until then, resistance is a right
that we cannot give up. This issue has not been discussed until now with the
mediators or with the Americans."
This statement by the Hamas official contradicts what Witkoff recently said:
"Hamas has always indicated they would disarm. They've said so – they said it to
us directly during that famous meeting that Jared [Kushner] had with them."
It is crucial to pay attention to what Hamas leaders are telling their people in
Arabic. The statements of the Hamas official show that the terror group is not
serious about laying down its weapons or relinquishing control over the Gaza
Strip. For Hamas, the Trump plan is nothing but a temporary ceasefire that would
enable it to wait out the Trump administration, get back on its feet to rule
Gaza again, and resume its Jihad (holy war) to destroy Israel.
**Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
**Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
The war against Christian ...President Trump is giving
attention to this matter
Clifford D. Mays/The Washington Times/November 13/2025
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” President Trump
asserted on X last week. “The United States cannot stand by while such
atrocities are happening there, and in numerous other Countries. We stand ready,
willing, and able to save our Great Christian Population around the World!”
His concern is justified. Wars in various forms are being waged against
Christians in a long list of countries including China, North Korea, Iran,
Pakistan, Eritrea, and much of the Arab Middle East.
Mr. Trump also is correct to focus on Nigeria because, credible sources
maintain, over the past 10-15 years more Christians have been killed there than
in any other nation. Christians have been the victims of bombings, beheadings,
rapes, the torching of churches and villages, and mass kidnappings.
This is not a new issue for Mr. Trump. In late 2020, his first administration
designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) citing the
government’s failure to adequately protect religious communities.
Not quite a year later, the Biden administration removed that designation,
arguing that the Nigerian government was not “engaged” in the attacks, and that
“climate change” was a primary driver of the conflicts.
President Trump recently reinstated the CPC designation and threatened to send
troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to “completely wipe out the Islamic
Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
A rattled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responded: “Nigeria stands firmly as a
democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”
He argued, too, that terrorists are targeting Muslim as well as Christian
communities.
I don’t doubt that second claim because the two best-known terrorist groups
operating in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram and the Islamic State-West Africa
Province (ISWAP), are only too eager to slaughter Muslims reluctant to join the
jihad.
As an Africa correspondent for The New York Times in the 1980s, I spent a fair
amount of time in Nigeria, a country of 237 million people, roughly divided
between Christians and Muslims, with the former a majority in the south and the
latter a majority in the north.
In 1983, I covered a presidential election that was won by the incumbent Shehu
Shagari, a devout Muslim. A few months later, he was overthrown in a military
coup that installed as dictator Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, also a devout
Muslim.
In 2015, after a decade on the sidelines, Mr. Buhari was democratically elected
president and served eight years. During that period, writes Michael Rubin, a
scholar at AEI, Mr. Buhari “nurtured Islamist extremism and tolerated violence
perpetrated against Nigeria’s Christians.”
Mr. Buhari, like the late Mr. Shagari, is a Fulani, which is a large ethnic
group, 35-45 million people, widely dispersed across more than 20 countries in
West and Central Africa. The Fulanis have a distinct language and history.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Fulani Muslim clerics and their followers
waged jihads to establish imamates and caliphates in West Africa.
According to some reports, armed Fulani groups in Nigeria have killed more
Christians than Boko Haram and ISWAP combined. And, though these Fulani militias
are generally regarded as separate from Boko Haram and ISWAP, credible sources
report links.
When I served as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission of International
Religious Freedom from 2016 to 2018 a debate broke out regarding the Fulani
militias: Were they Islamic terrorists or just nomadic herders in a conflict
with sedentary Christian farmers – akin to cowmen and farmers in early 20th
century Oklahoma? If the latter, it would be of no concern to USCIRF. What
seemed to me most likely was that the Fulani militias were driving Christians
out of their ancestral lands for economic benefit and justifying their violence
based on theology. So, even if Mr. Tinubu (a Muslim but a member of the large
Yoruba ethnic group) is doing his best to protect Nigeria’s Christians, that
mission cannot be easy to accomplish. “I am hereby instructing our Department of
War to prepare for possible action,” Mr. Trump recently posted. Secretary of War
Pete Hegseth responded: “Yes sir,” adding that the Pentagon was “preparing for
action.”
I don’t envy those assigned to plan such operations. The U.S. military could
undertake an advise, assist, and enable mission with the Nigerian military –
akin to the partnership between U.S. forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
that is battling the Islamic State in northeastern Syria. But that would require
serious buy-in from Mr. Tinubu. Direct military action, for example targeting
terrorist leaders, would require exquisite intelligence in a region where that’s
difficult to develop.
Such operations could weaken the terrorists, but their decisive defeat seems
improbable.
As I’ve written before, the Muslim Brotherhood, for almost a century, has been
instigating a Grand Jihad against the West, not sparing Muslim leaders who
decline to support them. This conflict has assumed a variety of forms from
Afghanistan to Somalia to Gaza to Nigeria to Mali. In addition, as the
Somali-born scholar Ayaan Hirsi Ali recently wrote, the violence now breaking
out on Europe’s streets “is the fruit of decades of indoctrination by the Muslim
Brotherhood, the mother organization of modern extremism” whose “influence turns
young minds into weapons.”
Memo to President Trump: Kudos for recognizing that a War on Christians is being
waged and that the Battle of Nigeria is a crisis to which most of the media, the
U.N. and the broader “international community” have turned a blind eye.
But defending Christians from jihadis and other sworn enemies of the West (don’t
forget the Chinese Communists) will require a broad strategy combining all
instruments of American national power – a sustained effort that will almost
certainly need to span decades. That said, may I emphasize: Thank you for your
attention to this matter!
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/11/war-christians/
**Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD), a columnist for the Washington Times, and host of the
“Foreign Podicy” podcast.
The (Calculable) Costs of Israel’s Wars ...Can Israel
afford its fights?
Jonathan Schanzer/SAPIR Journal/November 13/2025
By its nature, war imposes incalculable costs. There is no way to
put a price on the tragic loss of a son, a daughter, a parent, or a spouse. Nor
is there any good way to measure the psychological costs of war, either on those
who bear its burdens directly or those who live with secondary effects. When we
hear that Hamas’s October 7 massacre was the proportional equivalent of fifteen
9/11s — or that the death toll of 900 Israeli soldiers killed in two years of
fighting is proportionally four times that of the U.S. military in 20 years of
fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan combined — it still fails to convey the depth
of Israel’s suffering.
Yet there’s a side of war that is calculable — the financial side. For all the
intangibles that make a nation victorious in battle, money is one thing a modern
military can’t do without. With costs only increasing as the fighting drags on,
along with the growing specter of isolation, Israel is feeling the squeeze
economically, as Benjamin Netanyahu stated in September.
To give a sense of just how much the last two years of fighting have cost
Israel, it helps to start relatively small. Over three separate skirmishes with
the Islamic Republic — April and October of 2024, and then during the 12-Day War
of June 2025 — the regime fired approximately 800 missiles at Israel. If we
assume a 2:5 interceptor-to-missile ratio, the United States and Israel may have
fired a total of around 320 interceptors. If we assume that Israel fired about
two-thirds of the interceptors (a rough assumption), that would equal 213
Israeli interceptors. At roughly $4 million for each Arrow-3 interceptor, that
amounts to $852 million.
That number is conservative. And it doesn’t include the Arrow interceptors
deployed to shoot down dozens of Houthi missiles fired at Israel out of Yemen
since November 2023. It is likely that Israel spent more than $1 billion on
Arrow interceptions alone since the start of its multifront war.
Moreover, that estimate does not include the cost of shooting down dozens of
cruise missiles, hundreds of drones, and thousands of rockets launched against
Israel following October 7. Defeating many of those attacks required hundreds of
Iron Dome and David’s Sling interceptors, and air-to-air munitions. Iron Dome is
considered to be the least expensive of these defenses, yet it still runs at
roughly $50,000 per interceptor.
Then there is the price of offensive operations. The number of precision,
high-tech munitions fired at targets in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and
Iran has yet to be made public. But there’s no question that the total runs well
into the thousands, meaning that the cost will also run into the billions. In
fact, since the war began, Israel has had $11.4 billion worth of air-launched
munitions requests approved by the United States for purchase. And don’t forget
the price required to fuel Israel’s fighter jets for thousands of sorties over
Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
And this is just the air war. Keeping troops in the field over hundreds of days
of fighting, while maintaining, repairing, or replacing their equipment, adds
additional billions to the check. So do repeated military mobilizations, which
sap Israel’s economic vitality by removing tens of thousands of people from the
civilian workforce.
Of course, there is the cost to Israel of preparing for the next war. The
Israeli defense establishment has already decided it needs a far more
independent defense-industrial base as a hedge against future boycotts or
embargoes, like the one imposed by the Biden administration when it decided to
suspend deliveries of 2,000-pound bombs. The development of cutting-edge
military technologies that allow Israel to stay a step ahead of its enemies,
such as the Iron Beam laser for which the state last year signed a $500 million
contract with defense contractors Elbit and Rafael, will further strain the
public fisc, even if the laser is ultimately able to dramatically reduce the
cost of interceptions.
There’s also the cost of the wars to the home front. The destruction wrought by
Iranian ballistic missiles — especially in central Israel — will require massive
reconstruction, including $1.5 billion in property compensation and over $300
million to rebuild a single tower in Tel Aviv. Multiple towers were destroyed.
Rebuilding the kibbutzim in the Gaza Envelope and northern communities such as
Metula (where more than 60 percent of homes and buildings were destroyed by
Hezbollah rockets) adds further billions.
Now consider some of the aggregate numbers. From October 2023 to June 2025, the
cost of the Gaza war crept up, not only because of the length of the war but
also because the ground operations expanded. Earlier this year, the Bank of
Israel estimated that the war’s total cost through the end of 2025 could reach
approximately $68 billion. This translates to a daily burden of $84 million on
Israeli taxpayers.
Then came the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In November 2024, the direct and
indirect damage to Israel’s north was estimated at roughly $1.5 billion.
Approximately 75 square miles of land were burned in the north, with losses
estimated above $100 million. As of September 2024, the cost of evacuating
northern residents was $2.34 billion. That’s at least $3.84 billion in direct
damage, indirect damage, and evacuation costs. And it doesn’t include the cost
of the battles with the Assad regime in Syria or the destruction of the remnants
of the Assad regime’s military assets and the expansion of Israel’s security
perimeter on the Golan Heights.
Next came the war with Iran. The price of that campaign reportedly came to $10.5
billion, or nearly a billion dollars for each day of the war.
Last year, Israel ran a budget deficit of 6.9 percent of GDP. That’s more than
twice the level of Germany’s and higher even than in France, the land of
perpetual budgetary crisis. Israel’s defense spending as a percentage of GDP,
which stood at 4.5 percent in 2023, has risen to a whopping 8.8 percent — the
second-highest in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute. Israel’s Nagel Commission, headed by Brig. Gen. (Res.) Jacob
Nagel, believes that those numbers are only going to increase.
Still, Israel is also getting a lot for its money. For all the physical
destruction and human injury wrought by Iran’s ballistic missiles, Israel
emerged from the daily barrages with just 29 fatalities, all terrible losses,
but in their limited number an extraordinary tribute to the efficacy of Israeli
air defense. The expensive bombs that killed Hassan Nasrallah and most of
Hezbollah’s leadership removed a sword of Damocles over Israel’s head, as did
the degradation of Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and the humbling of
its regime. The air assaults that paved the way for the toppling of the Assad
regime severed the link by which Iran supplied Hezbollah with its most potent
weapons. Whatever happens in Gaza, it’s a safe bet that Hamas will never again
be able to hurt Israel the way it did in 2023. Israel has emerged, once again,
as the dominant military power in the Middle East.
Even so, Israelis will also have to pay to ensure that these victories aren’t
fleeting, and how they do so will matter. Shortly after the fighting erupted in
2023, the Institute for National Security Studies warned against repeating the
post–Yom Kippur War economic mismanagement that led to a “lost decade.” This was
a period marked by the deadly combination of a stagnating economy and inflation.
It’s too early to worry about such a bleak scenario right now.
Back in the 1970s, Israel’s economy was still dominated by a socialist state.
Today’s Israel is decidedly capitalist. One of the bright spots for the country
is that the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has soared during the conflict, with Israeli
high-tech and defense companies leading the way. It also helps that Israel
entered the war in a strong fiscal position thanks to 20 years of prudent
economic management. Even Israel’s debt-to-GDP ratio, which is projected to rise
to 75 percent, remains relatively low by Western standards. In the United
States, it is 124 percent; in Japan, 216 percent.
Still, the fiscal challenge Israel will have to face is daunting. The state
intends to pare overall expenditures at the same time that demand for
them — such as the cost of mental health services, reconstruction projects, or
security for schools — rises. The government has already begun cutting civilian
ministry budgets by roughly $5 billion, with a view toward bringing its budget
deficits to below 3 percent over the next three years.
American aid will also help: In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio used
emergency authority to expedite approximately $4 billion in military aid. The
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 maintained $3.3
billion of foreign-military financing and $500 million for missile defense and
extended loan guarantees through 2030.
But there could be a limit to American generosity. The current 10-year
memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel, signed in 2016
and worth $38 billion, is set to expire in 2028. Even though most of those funds
have been spent in the United States on American-made systems, with
neo-isolationists working in the administration and congressional support for
Israel not as iron-clad as it once was, Israel may have to envision a
diminution, if not an end, to American aid — at some point. In the face of this
uncertainty, Israelis will have to lean into the virtues that have allowed their
state to survive and thrive in the face of continuous adversity: ingenuity,
perseverance, adaptability, and self-reliance.
Among other blessings in disguise, Israelis will come away from the war with a
keener understanding of how artificial intelligence and other advanced
technologies work on a battlefield. No other war in history has been fought with
so many inputs from this emerging technology. This is a value proposition that
militaries and businesses around the world will pay good money to
acquire — assuming that Israel is willing to share what it has learned.
Israelis have overcome far more severe economic challenges in the past. The
country today enjoys a standard of living that could scarcely have been imagined
40 years ago, much less at the state’s founding. Per capita gross domestic
product exceeds that of Japan and most European countries. And for all of its
hardships, living in Israel offers something hard to come by in other
democracies: People know who they are and what they believe. This will
ultimately help secure the Jewish state as its people absorb the costs, and the
lessons, of this long, difficult, and transformative war.
**Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department
of the Treasury, is the executive director at Foundation for Defense of
Democracies.
How Gaza’s survivors are rebuilding lives and memories
among the rubble
ANAN TELLO/Arab News/November 13, 2025
LONDON: After the Gaza ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, thousands of
Palestinians returned to their rubble-strewn neighborhoods, passing roads that
reeked of death, expecting to find little more than debris where their homes
once stood.
Those who found any walls still standing shared videos of themselves on social
media attempting to clear the rubble and clean what remained, using whatever
tools they could find. Among them was content creator Hadeel Ahmed, who posted a
video of her family surveying the ruins of their home.
The video showed a floor strewn with rubble and broken furniture, the walls
blackened by smoke and stripped to their frames. Almost everything was either
charred or buried under a thick layer of ash. “A whole house with its furniture
and belongings. From bedrooms, dining table, sofas, and two salons ... a
complete home, this is what remains,” she wrote in the caption. “The kitchen was
the least affected by the fire, but everything else is gone.”She added: “The
loss is great, and the memories are heavier than words can describe. While we
laugh in the video, our hearts are full of sorrow for all that we’ve lost.”
Ahmed and her family were able to salvage remnants of their past — a few kitchen
utensils, some pottery, and baking trays that survived the bombardment and
resulting fire.
“These dishes are all we’ve managed to save, but the memories will stay with us
forever,” she wrote. A few miles away, another content creator, Sara Zaqout,
found her family home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City still
standing — but on the brink of collapse. In a video shared on Instagram, Zaqout
visited the wrecked apartment with her father, explaining that even their brief
visit was dangerous, as the ceiling could collapse at any moment. The floor was
buried under rubble and shattered furniture, yet faint traces of color and
pattern hinted at the home’s former warmth.
“This was the home where I grew up, studied for exams, drank coffee from little
pink cups, and laughed with my siblings,” Zaqout wrote in the caption. “For 20
years, this apartment held our life. Now the roof hangs open to the sky, ready
to collapse.”
While the ceasefire offered a pause in fighting, Zaqout said it did not bring
safety. Her family’s goal, she wrote, “is no longer just to survive — it’s to
rebuild. To create a home with walls that hold, a roof that won’t fall, a space
where my family can sleep, eat, and begin to heal.”Many Gazans were even less
fortunate. Where homes once stood, built over generations, only piles of rubble
remained.
At least 90 percent of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since the
Israeli offensive began in October 2023, leaving some 1.9 million Palestinians
without a safe or permanent place to live, according to UN figures.
The war in Gaza was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern
Israel, which saw 1,200 killed and 250 taken hostage. The resulting Israeli
assault has killed at least 67,000, according to local health officials.
A classified Israeli military database reviewed by The Guardian, +972 Magazine,
and Local Call indicated that the vast majority of those killed were civilians.
A US-brokered ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, halting major Israeli operations
and freezing battle lines, though Israeli forces retain control of more than
half of Gaza.
Under the deal, Hamas agreed to return 20 living hostages and the remains of 28
deceased, while Israel committed to releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and the
bodies of detainees who died in custody. The agreement also allowed large
humanitarian convoys into Gaza and the limited return of displaced residents.
But the ceasefire has not held consistently. Frequent Israeli airstrikes and
shelling in southern and central Gaza have continued. On Oct. 28, at least 104
Palestinians were killed in one such strike, the BBC reported. The Israeli
military said it hit “dozens of terror targets and terrorists” in response to
Hamas ceasefire violations. Israel’s defense minister accused Hamas of killing
an Israeli soldier and breaching the deal’s terms on returning hostages’ bodies.
Hamas denied involvement in the attack, saying Israel was seeking to undermine
the truce. Since October 2023, Israel’s campaign has destroyed much of Gaza’s
infrastructure, including hospitals and residential towers. The UN says nine out
of 10 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Many Palestinians now grieve not
just for lost loved ones but for the homes where they had built their lives and
memories.
Chef Samah Haboub shared an Instagram reel contrasting her home before the war
and after the ceasefire. Once filled with elegant furniture and warm decor, her
apartment now lies in ruins.
IN NUMBERS:
• 1.9m Palestinians displaced across the Gaza Strip.
• 90%+ Homes damaged or destroyed since Oct. 7, 2023.
(Sources: UNRWA, OCHA)
The footage cuts between scenes of comfort and destruction. Haboub, through
tears, lifts a cuddly toy from the rubble, a poignant symbol of everything lost.
Yet even amid the devastation, Haboub expressed resilience. “I will rebuild
again, even from the ashes,” she wrote in the caption.
Similarly, content creator Moayad Harazen recalled how his family’s home in Gaza
City’s Shuja’iyya neighborhood once stood “modern, well-built, newly constructed
— about 10 years old — and well-preserved.” “The building itself was modern —
and I’m not just saying that because it was ours,” Harazen told Arab News. “Most
homes in Gaza were like that. Almost every item was valuable, had meaning and a
story.”During a previous ceasefire in January, Harazen and his family cleared
debris and stayed briefly in their home, even though structural damage made it
dangerous. “That visit changed everything for me,” he said. “It had been a year
and a half — imagine being away from a place you love that long, and finally
returning. We were excited, really eager to see our home.” But their excitement
faded once they saw the devastation. “Our whole neighborhood — everything around
us — was gone, flattened. Around 70 percent of the area was destroyed. “Our
house, by some miracle — maybe because it was tucked in a bit — was still
standing. We went in, cleaned it, and tried to fix it. There were so many shell
holes, walls blown open, everything exposed and broken. “Still, we tried to
clean it and make it livable. We managed to clean the house and stay there for
about two months.”
When fighting resumed, they fled again.
“Our neighborhood is close to the border (with Israel), so when the new
offensive began, we were hit first,” he said, referring to renewed fighting that
broke out on March 17. He evacuated to his uncle’s house in Al-Nasr, western
Gaza, before Israeli forces ordered civilians to move south. By the time the
latest truce took effect, Harazen said the entire neighborhood had been “wiped
out.”“While we were still at my uncle’s house, I could still visit my home
sometimes — it was still standing,” he said. But before the October ceasefire
was announced, “the Israelis erased the entire area.”
“Every single one of the 30 houses left in my neighborhood was flattened,” he
said. “I went there and saw it myself. I was shocked. It was pure cruelty. This
isn’t war — it’s revenge.”Others, like Mariam, a water, sanitation and hygiene
expert from Khan Younis, found nothing at all to return to — not even during
previous truces.
“We didn’t find any homes to go back to,” she told Arab News.
“I did go back during the November 2023 truce, but my family’s house was
completely destroyed. I only managed to collect a few belongings from there. I
didn’t find much, not even clothes. Just a few items. “We couldn’t even live
there for half a day — it was unlivable.”Her siblings’ homes were gone as well.
“My sister’s house was completely destroyed, beyond repair, and my brother’s
house too,” Mariam said. “Ever since we were displaced from Khan Younis to the
central area, we haven’t gone back. Most of the houses there were destroyed … If
anyone still has a house, it’s in the central area — some are in Khan Younis or
Gaza City.“But none of my family went back to their homes; they’re all displaced
in the central area, in Deir Al-Balah and around there. “That experience of
returning and cleaning the house, we didn’t live through that, because there was
never a chance to. Even during the truce, my family wasn’t in Khan Younis at
all.”Harazen believes outsiders misunderstood Gaza before the war. “People think
we were poor, that we always needed help,” he said. “But before the war, we were
proud and dignified. Everyone had a home. You rarely saw anyone living in a
tent.” Despite years of blockade and economic isolation, Gaza had a vibrant
social life — bustling markets, family-friendly neighborhoods, historic
landmarks, and beaches where families gathered to fish, relax, and socialize.
“Gaza was full of hotels, restaurants, cafes, and tourist places,” said Harazen.
“The biggest proof are videos by content creators from before the war.”Sixteen
years under Israeli blockade and movement restrictions cost Gaza nearly $36
billion in lost gross domestic product between 2007 and 2023, according to the
UN Conference on Trade and Development. Harazen sees little room for hope. “The
future in Gaza feels very uncertain,” he said. “I sit here wondering if I’ll
keep living in the south, in a tent, or if I’ll ever be able to return north.
“So many thoughts spin in my head. What should I do? Will things ever get
better? Will there be reconstruction? Will life improve? I don’t know.”
Selected Face Book & X tweets for
November 12/2025
Pierre A. Maroun
President Aoun’s complaint is justified and true. Some Lebanese
wrongfully badmouth one another, driven by personal interests rather than the
well-being of the Lebanese people. Such behavior undermines our collective
dignity and distorts the truth, serving narrow agendas instead of the nation’s
greater good.
This is not new. During my time as a legislative assistant in Congress in
1995–96, and continuing to this day as active lobbyist, Lebanese have been
divided into competing camps and groups. Some stood firmly in defense of
Lebanon’s sovereignty, while others defended the Assad regime’s occupation of
Lebanon, disguising it under the term “Syrian presence” to make it sound
legitimate.
The same dynamic applies today, with factions excusing or enabling the Iranian
regime’s meddling in Lebanon’s affairs.
***********************
Excerpt from President Joseph Aoun’s statement:
President Aoun revealed that certain Lebanese are undermining one another in the
United States, a matter he said had been conveyed to him directly by American
officials.
Speaking at a reception for a delegation from the Press Editors’ Syndicate, Aoun
remarked: “Our problem, as some American officials themselves have told me, is
that some Lebanese who visit the United States ‘spread venom’ about one another.
They are the source of these damaging reports.”
He continued: “Some Lebanese no longer even spare themselves. I am now receiving
denials from the Americans about what is being said,” he added, referring to
alarmist claims about war. Aoun stressed: “There is a faction of Lebanese whose
aim is to tarnish the image, and they do not approach the Americans to convey
the reality of the situation.”
Concluding his remarks, Aoun urged: “You must tell the Americans the truth as it
is, not what they want to hear, which is what some Lebanese do.”