English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 16/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Verses telling the Story of Zechariah the Priest & His
Wife Elizabeth, John the Papist’s Parents
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke01/01-25/:”Since many
have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been
fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after
investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth
concerning the things about which you have been instructed. In the days of King
Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly
order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the
commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because
Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was
serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot,
according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord
and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly
of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the
Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw
him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do
not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth
will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the
Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be
filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the
Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to
turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom
of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’Zechariah said
to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife
is getting on in years.’The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good
news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in
their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things
occur.’ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his
delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and
they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to
them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went
to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months
she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when
he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my
people.’”
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 15-16/2025
A Biography of Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle, on the Anniversary
of his Annual Feast Day/Elias Bejjani/November 16/ 2025
Hell, its Fire, and Worms Await All Who Have Killed Their Conscience and Lost
Their Shame/Elias Bejjani/November 14/2025
Arrival of Ambassador-Designate Michel Issa in Lebanon
US ambassador-designate Michel Issa arrives in Lebanon
Hezbollah resents ‘financial siege’ as Lebanese authorities’ apply stricter
rules on money transfers
Lebanon plans UN complaint against Israel over border wall
Speaker Berri faults Cabinet over election law, says vote will proceed on time
Economy Minister Amer Bisat tells LBCI: “Beirut 1” conference signals renewed
Arab engagement
Northern front on alert: Israel adjusts strategy along Lebanon border
Expert assessment: Lebanon's iconic Jeita Grotto cleared for reentry, new
restrictions ahead
France’s far-Reaching Focus: From Naqoura to Damascus/Bassam Abou Zeid/This is
Beirut/November 15/2025
Weather Depression Hits Lebanon Until Sunday
Hezbollah’s Assassination Machine: What the Killing of Elias al-Hasrouni and
Lokman Slim Really Tells Us/Makram Rabah/Now Lebanon/November 15/2025
The Epigraphs of Our Lady of Ilige/Amine Jules Iskandar/This is Beirut/November
15/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
November 15-16/2025
UN Security Council to vote Monday on Trump Gaza plan
EU considers taking ‘leadership role’ training Palestinian police as UN prepares
to vote on US resolution on Gaza
Hamas quietly reasserts control in Gaza prompting doubts that it intends to cede
authority
Palestinians return for prayers in West Bank mosque after attack
Rocket attack in Syria's capital wounds 1 person and causes damage
Iran’s IRGC confirms it seized oil tanker in Gulf
Iran’s clerical regime eases social restrictions but intensifies political
crackdown on dissent
UN Security Council calls for end to Houthi attacks
Gaza health ministry confirms received bodies of 15 Palestinians under truce
deal
First major winter rains pummel Gaza, destroying makeshift shelters
Trump’s Africa envoy says Sudan ‘world’s biggest humanitarian crisis’
Trump says he is considering F-35 fighter jet deal with Saudi Arabia ahead of
MBS meeting
Trump says he 'sort of' decided on what to do with Venezuela
Trump demands probe into Epstein links to Bill Clinton
Blast at police station in Indian Kashmir kills nine, injures 27
Zelenskyy vows overhaul of Ukraine’s scandal-hit energy firms
Ukraine says Russian oil refinery near Moscow attacked
Report identifies four new sites where RSF is disposing of bodies in Sudan’s al-Fashir
Jordan’s King Abdullah in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources on
November 15-16/2025
The Iranian Regime Is Preparing Its Next War
— Prevent It Now/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 15, 2025
Crown prince’s White House visit could chart the course for the next 80
years/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/November 15, 2025
Crises of Sudan, Iraq, and Libya/Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Arab News/15 November 2025
Without action, the horrors of El-Fasher will be repeated/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab
News/November 15, 2025
Selected Face Book & X tweets for November 15/2025
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 15-16/2025
A Biography of Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle, on the Anniversary
of his Annual Feast Day
Elias Bejjani/November 16/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149224/
The Feast Days of Saint Matthew in the Eastern and Western Churches
The Western Church (the Vatican) celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthew on
September 21 of every year, while the Eastern Churches — including the Maronite
Church according to the Synaxarium and the Antiochian tradition — commemorate
him on November 16.
Name and Identity
Saint Matthew is one of the Twelve Apostles and one of the four Holy
Evangelists. His original name was Levi, son of Alphaeus, but he became known as
Matthew, meaning “Gift of the Lord” or “God’s gracious gift.” He likely received
this name after joining the disciples of Christ, as a sign of the grace of
repentance and salvation granted to him.
From Tax Collector to Disciple: A Call of Radical Transformation
Before his calling, Matthew was a tax collector, working in Capernaum on the Sea
of Galilee—an occupation despised and rejected in Jewish society.
The Divine Call and the Immediate Change
The Gospel recounts how Jesus passed by Matthew as he sat at the tax booth
(Matthew 09:09) and said to him, “Follow Me.”Matthew rose at once, leaving
behind everything—wealth, power, and a secure profession—to follow Christ. This
immediate response, without hesitation or negotiation, makes him the perfect
model of true repentance and total devotion.
Author of the First Gospel: The Gospel of the Kingdom
Ancient Church tradition holds that Saint Matthew composed his Gospel first,
around 50–60 A.D., writing originally in Aramaic (or Hebrew) for his own Jewish
people in Israel. It was later translated into Greek.
The Core Themes of His Gospel
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Matthew’s chief purpose is to proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth is the
long-awaited Messiah.
The Bridge Between the Old and the New Covenants: He cites the Old Testament
more than any other Evangelist, often using the phrase: “that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets.”
The Teachings of Jesus: Matthew arranged the Lord’s teachings into five major
discourses, most notably:
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 05–07): the charter of the New Kingdom.
The Parables (Matthew 13): revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
His Apostolic Ministry
After the Ascension of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, Saint Matthew
carried the Gospel far and wide. Among the regions he evangelized:
Israel and Judea
He began among his own people, explaining how the prophecies were fulfilled in
Jesus.
Syria and the Antiochian Regions
From here, his Gospel spread widely—reaching Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Near East.
Mesopotamia
According to Syriac tradition, he preached in Edessa, Nisibis, and Basra.
Persia (modern-day Iran)
He proclaimed the Word of God in territories under the Persian Empire.
Ethiopia
Tradition holds that he was martyred there, after the king Eglion accepted the
faith through Matthew’s miracles and teaching.
Saint Matthew’s Relationship to Lebanon
Though no direct evidence confirms that Saint Matthew visited Lebanon
personally, his connection to the country is deep and spiritually significant:
1. His Gospel Reached Lebanon Early Through the Church of Antioch
The Antiochian Church—mother of the Lebanese Christians—was the gateway through
which the Gospel of Matthew spread to the Lebanese coast and mountains,
especially to the early monks of the Holy Valley (Wadi Qadisha).
2. Influence on the Monastic Life of Lebanon
The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount formed the backbone of early monastic
teachings.
Thus, Matthew’s Gospel became a primary source for liturgical readings, prayers,
and the spiritual life in ancient hermitages of Qannoubine.
3. Numerous Lebanese Churches Honor His Name
This reflects the deep veneration of the Lebanese faithful for the Apostle and
his teachings. Among the churches dedicated to him:
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Wadi el-Sitt (Chouf)
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Kfarnabrakh (Chouf)
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Bsharri (Bsharri District)
Saint Matthew Church — Greek Orthodox, Deddeh (Koura)
His Martyrdom and His Ecclesiastical Symbol
Tradition agrees that Saint Matthew sealed his life with a glorious martyrdom in
Ethiopia or Persia, where he was pierced by a spear (or sword) while standing at
the holy altar, refusing to offer sacrifice to pagan idols and steadfastly
confessing Christ.
His Symbol
In Christian iconography, Saint Matthew is represented by a man or an angel with
a human face—a symbol drawn from the vision of Ezekiel. He is represented by the
man because his Gospel begins with the genealogy of Christ, the Son of Man,
emphasizing the humanity of the Savior and His entrance into history.
Spiritual Conclusion: The Apostle of the Kingdom Whose Voice Still Speaks
The Feast of Saint Matthew calls us to reflect upon:
True repentance that transforms every life, no matter the past.
The primacy of the Kingdom, reminding us to place the love of Christ above all
earthly riches.
The fidelity of the Gospel, which Matthew wrote with divine inspiration as a
guide to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The deep bond between the Lebanese Church and the apostolic, evangelical
heritage upon which the early monks built their life of prayer and holiness.
He is the Apostle whose voice still resounds through his Gospel, reminding all
believers that the Kingdom begins in the heart, and that the divine call has the
power to transform everything.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Hell, its Fire, and Worms Await All Who Have Killed Their Conscience and
Lost Their Shame
Elias Bejjani/November 14/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/11623/
Many people do not fear God; they forget that there is a Day of Judgment in the
afterlife, and that there is a hell. They forget that on the Day of Judgment,
there will be a line to the left and a line to the right. The line to the left
is a stampede straight to hell, and the line to the right leads to God’s
heavenly abodes. They forget that hell has a fire that never extinguishes, worms
that never rest, and torment that never ceases.
Is it possible that a person, for the sake of money, palaces, power, and
authority would numb their conscience, act foolishly, deny God, and walk
willingly into the stampede for hell? Yes, of course. When people fall into the
temptations of Satan and descend into his pit, all they see is the dust of the
earth, its wealth, powers, authority, palaces, hatred, resentment, and revenge.
They become slaves to their animalistic instincts.
They kill their conscience, which is the voice of God within them, and they lose
all shame. Their tongues—which are also a gift from God—ceases to bear witness
to the truth and is transformed into diabolical tongues.
The certainty—the absolute certainty—is that none of us, no matter how great our
status, can escape the accounting of the Lord. Those who manage to escape the
judiciary of the earth, will never be able to escape the court and Judgment of
Heaven.
On the Last Day of Judgment, the torment of those who were given much, the
keepers of vows, the straying scribes and Pharisees, and the Iscariots will be
the harshest and most severe.
Let us pray that the merciful, loving Lord, would save all those who are caught
in temptation, straying, arrogant, shameless, tyrannical, and who killed their
conscience. Let us pray that the Almighty will help all those who are preys of
Satan’s temptations see his light, repent, perform penance, and return
remorsefully, seeking forgiveness, and humbleness.
Arrival of Ambassador-Designate Michel Issa in Lebanon
U.S. Embassy Beirut/November 14, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149203/
U.S. Embassy Beirut is pleased to announce the November 14 arrival of
Ambassador-Designate Michel Issa in Lebanon. Ambassador Issa had a distinguished
former career in banking, where he spent two decades excelling as a currency
trader, managing trading floors, and leading initiatives in credit and
compliance before transitioning to a successful career in the automobile
industry.
Below is Ambassador Issa’s official biography:
Ambassador Designate Michel Issa arrived on 14 November 2025 to the Republic of
Lebanon.
Ambassador Designate Issa previously served as President & CEO of Newton
Investment Group LLC, in Newton, New Jersey, following a distinguished
twenty-year banking career, including in New York, and Paris. In 1999,
Ambassador Designate Issa retired from banking to pursue his passion for
automobiles and successively applied his business acumen to the automobile
industry.Ambassador Designate Issa was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent his
early childhood there before moving to Paris, France. He holds a DEUG (Diplome
D’Etudes Universitaires Generales) Associate Degree in Economics from the
University of Paris X Nanterre in Nanterre, France. He also studied at the Cours
d’Etudes Superieures de Banques, in Paris, France.
US ambassador-designate Michel Issa arrives in Lebanon
Naharnet/15 November/2025
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut has announced the November 14 arrival of U.S.
Ambassador-Designate Michel Issa in Lebanon. Ambassador Issa had a distinguished
former career in banking, where he spent two decades excelling as a currency
trader, managing trading floors, and leading initiatives in credit and
compliance before transitioning to a successful career in the automobile
industry," the Embassy said in a statement. Below is Ambassador Issa’s official
biography: Ambassador Designate Issa previously served as President & CEO of
Newton Investment Group LLC, in Newton, New Jersey, following a distinguished
twenty-year banking career, including in New York, and Paris. In 1999,
Ambassador Designate Issa retired from banking to pursue his passion for
automobiles and successively applied his business acumen to the automobile
industry. Ambassador Designate Issa was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent his
early childhood there before moving to Paris, France. He holds a DEUG (Diplome
D’Etudes Universitaires Generales) Associate Degree in Economics from the
University of Paris X Nanterre in Nanterre, France. He also studied at the Cours
d’Etudes Superieures de Banques, in Paris, France. Ambassador Designate Issa is
passionate about sports, having competed internationally in track and field and
later developed a passion for tennis and golf. Ambassador Designate Issa is
married and has two sons. He speaks French and Arabic.
Hezbollah resents ‘financial siege’ as Lebanese authorities’ apply stricter
rules on money transfers
The Arab Weekly/November 15/2025
Measures come after the US Treasury said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had
transferred over $1 billion to Hezbollah this year, mainly via money exchange
companies. The FATF in October last year added Lebanon to its “grey list” of
nations that are subject to increased monitoring of financial transactions.
Lebanon announced on Friday that money changers and transfer companies must
comply with stricter rules as the country faces heavy US pressure to regulate
its cash economy and cut off Hezbollah funding. The move comes days after a
visiting US official said his country was determined to cut off Tehran’s funding
to the group, and after the US Treasury said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had
transferred over $1 billion to Hezbollah this year, mainly via money exchange
companies. Lebanese authorities are seeking to disarm Hezbollah, which was badly
weakened in a recent war with Israel, and face heavy US pressure to do so more
quickly as well as fears of expanded Israeli military action. As part of efforts
“to remove Lebanon from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list … the
central bank of Lebanon today has taken the first step in a series of
precautionary measures aiming to strengthen the compliance environment within
the financial sector”, a central bank statement said. The FATF in October last
year added Lebanon to its “grey list” of nations that are subject to increased
monitoring of financial transactions. The central bank said it was imposing
measures “on all non-bank financial institutions licensed by the central bank of
Lebanon, including money transfer companies, exchange bureaus” and other firms
handling foreign currency transactions and transfers to and from the country.
According to a central bank circular, from December 1, all non-bank financial
institutions must “collect information and data linked to their customers and
operations” for transactions of $1,000 or more and report them to the central
bank. Institutions must confirm they have collected the required information
before carrying out any transaction, the circular added. The measures are
consistent “with international standards on fighting money-laundering and
terrorist financing, and preventing the misuse of the authorised financial
system for suspicious transactions.”Hezbollah has pushed back against moves to
stifle the group. On Thursday, its parliamentary bloc condemned “US efforts to
tighten the financial siege on Lebanon” and rejected what it said was
Washington’s aim of imposing “financial guardianship” on the country. Lebanon
was once known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East” for its thriving banking
sector before a crippling financial crisis in 2019. Confidence in lenders tanked
and the cash economy has since boomed, despite international institutions
repeatedly warning of the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing.
Lebanon plans UN complaint against Israel over border wall
Reuters/15 November/2025
Lebanon will file a complaint to the UN Security Council against Israel for
constructing a concrete wall along Lebanon’s southern border that extends beyond
the “Blue Line,” the Lebanese presidency said on Saturday. The Blue Line is a
UN-mapped line separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights. Israeli forces withdrew to the Blue Line when they left south Lebanon
in 2000. A spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, said on
Friday the wall has made more than 4,000 square meters (nearly an acre) of
Lebanese territory inaccessible to the local population. The Lebanese presidency
echoed his remarks, saying in a statement that Israel’s ongoing construction
constituted “a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and an
infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”Dujarric said
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had requested that the wall
be removed. An Israeli military spokesperson denied on Friday that the wall
crossed the Blue Line. “The wall is part of a broader IDF plan whose
construction began in 2022,” the spokesperson said, referring to the Israel
Defense Forces. “Since the start of the war, and as part of lessons learned from
it, the IDF has been advancing a series of measures, including reinforcing the
physical barrier along the northern border.”UNIFIL, established in 1978,
operates between the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line in the south.
The mission has more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries and about 800 civilian
staff, according to its website.
Speaker Berri faults Cabinet over election law, says
vote will proceed on time
LBCI/November 15/2025
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri criticized the government on Saturday, saying he
had repeatedly warned against “throwing the fireball toward parliament” instead
of assuming its own responsibilities. He noted that the cabinet formed two
committees but “did not commit to any of their decisions,” ultimately shifting
the issue to parliament. “Until now, I have not received anything from the
government,” he said. Berri added that some actors are “unjustifiably rushing”
him to resolve the dispute over the election law, even though he has not yet
been sent the draft. He reaffirmed that parliamentary elections will take place
on time, insisting there will be “no postponement and no extension.”
Economy Minister Amer Bisat tells LBCI: “Beirut 1”
conference signals renewed Arab engagement
LBCI/November 15/2025
Lebanon’s Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bisat said the “Beirut 1” conference
reflects “a form of success,” noting that broad participation — including an
initiative by Saudi representatives to attend — is “a very positive beginning.”
Speaking to LBCI’s Nharkom Said TV show, Bisat said the conference aims to
“break the stagnation and disconnection” that have isolated Lebanon in recent
years, adding that the government seeks to reconnect the country economically
with its Arab surroundings, its diaspora, and “our Arab brothers.”He emphasized
that the goal is to “create a new narrative about Lebanon.”Bisat also noted
ongoing “transformations, changes, and greater control over the ports,” saying
these measures send clear signals that “the right path has begun.”
Northern front on alert: Israel adjusts strategy along
Lebanon border
LBCI/November 15/2025
Israel has updated its northern border defense doctrine in response to
developments along the frontier with Lebanon, issuing new orders to the Air
Force to ensure rapid response capabilities, including the deployment of attack
helicopters, in the event of a sudden escalation. The adjustments follow lessons
drawn from the events of October 7 and aim to reduce response times and prevent
potential infiltration operations, which could be carried out by Hezbollah's
elite Radwan Force via parachute landings. Israeli positions on Lebanon remain
divided. Hardliners argue for a military strike on Hezbollah to weaken its
capabilities, citing the perceived coordination between the Lebanese Army and
the militant group. These officials also claim that the Lebanese military
refrains from raiding private homes and other locations to accommodate Israeli
demands. In contrast, other reports indicate a shared optimism in Washington and
Tel Aviv regarding a diplomatic path. Hezbollah may face two difficult choices:
agree to disarm through the U.S.-French mechanism or confront Israel in a new
confrontation supported by Washington. This cautious optimism stems from
statements by Lebanese officials rejecting any enhancement of Hezbollah's
military capabilities. Israeli intelligence assessments are also reportedly
focusing on exploiting divisions within Lebanon to strengthen their strategic
leverage.
Expert assessment: Lebanon's iconic Jeita Grotto cleared
for reentry, new restrictions ahead
LBCI/November 15/2025
Jeita Grotto will reopen to visitors on Saturday, November 15, after a technical
report confirmed that the site's underground ecosystem remains stable following
a controversial wedding event held inside the caves. The Tourism Ministry
announced the reopening after receiving the findings of a technical report
conducted by experts and specialists across all sections where the event took
place. The assessment focused on potential damage caused by loud music, crowd
presence, and vibrations. The inspection was visual only, as no previous
scientific data exists to allow for comparative measurements. According to the
report, there are no baseline images of the cave's original formations, nor are
there 3D models or earlier measurements documenting its geological structures.
Despite this limitation, experts unanimously concluded that the wedding did not
cause any visible harm. The report stated that no cracks or fractures were
detected in the concrete pathways of the upper grotto, and no breakage was
observed in the stalactites or stalagmites—especially in the lower grotto, where
performers had been positioned close to the formations. The experts noted that
the grotto's temporary closure after the event helped restore its internal
climatic balance. The final report included several recommendations, drawing on
international standards used in natural caves across France, Italy, Spain, the
United States, and New Zealand. These recommendations include avoiding loud
events, limiting sound levels during any permitted activities, and banning the
use of microphones or speakers. They also call for restricting the number of
attendees and keeping visitors at a safe distance from cave walls. The experts
further recommended establishing a continuous scientific monitoring system to
track carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and humidity. The Tourism Ministry
said it will incorporate these recommendations into its guidelines for the
Municipality of Jeita and include them in the tender documents for the cave's
upcoming management and maintenance contract. The incident, while controversial,
highlighted the urgent need to preserve Jeita Grotto—one of Lebanon's most
significant natural landmarks—through strict protections that prevent any future
damage.
France’s far-Reaching Focus: From Naqoura to Damascus
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/November 15/2025
France’s focus on Lebanon is closely aligned with that of its American and Saudi
partners. French envoys in Beirut highlight active coordination with Washington
and Riyadh on a range of critical issues, most notably the military situation in
the south, Hezbollah’s disarmament, financial reforms—particularly the proposed
fiscal gap law—and the demarcation of the Lebanon-Syria border. Regarding the
military situation in the south and Hezbollah’s disarmament, the French have no
guarantee that Israel will refrain from intensifying strikes on Lebanese
territory. They are also concerned about Hezbollah’s stance, repeatedly
stressing to the group’s officials that the ceasefire agreement mandates the
centralization of all weapons in Lebanon, with the process beginning south of
the Litani River. In addition, the French do not oppose negotiations between
Lebanon and Israel but refrain from delving into the details, instead awaiting
Israel’s response to Lebanon’s proposal to accept talks in principle as a basis
for discussion. They place significant emphasis on the Mechanism’s committee and
see no disagreement with the Americans over its operation. At the same time,
they regard the Lebanese army as making substantial progress toward completing
the first phase of centralizing weapons in the south of the Litani River by
year’s end. They would, however, like the army to publicly outline its
activities in this context. French envoys also stressed the upcoming conference
to support the army, noting that while the commitment is firm, the date and
location have yet to be finalized.As for Lebanese-Syrian relations, France
considers that, in coordination with the Americans and Saudis, it can secure a
breakthrough in delineating the land border between Lebanon and Syria. The
matter falls under the mandate of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and is also part of
Saudi efforts to strengthen ties between Damascus and Beirut. The Saudis have
reportedly raised the issue in meetings with both parties. Furthermore, France
sees success in this step as essential for reinforcing Lebanese-Syrian relations
and enhancing security along the border. Having provided Lebanon with historical
documents related to the border with Syria, France positions itself as a central
facilitator in the border delineation negotiations and in securing a final
agreement. Finally, the French are closely monitoring the upcoming parliamentary
elections and the ongoing debate over the election law, particularly the
provisions concerning the expatriate vote. Their message is clear: they want the
elections to proceed on schedule.
Weather Depression Hits Lebanon Until Sunday
This is Beirut/November 15/2025
Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean basin are currently affected by a weather
depression centered north of Turkey, accompanied by cold air masses that are
causing temperatures to drop below seasonal averages, along with occasionally
heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Snowfall is also expected at
altitudes starting from 2,200 meters. This depression is expected to persist
until Sunday morning, after which more stable autumn weather should return, with
temperatures gradually rising. Since dawn, northern regions of Lebanon have seen
heavy rainfall along the coast and in the mountains, accompanied by lightning,
thunder, and strong winds, leading to a significant drop in temperatures. The
heavy rains have turned streets and roads into large puddles and streams. In the
high mountain areas, snow fell for the first time this season, covering Qornet
al-Sawda, the al-Arbaine mountains in Dennieh, and the upper Cedars region,
offering a white landscape overlooking Bcharre, Ehden, Hadath al-Jebbé, and
surrounding villages. In Saida, in southern Lebanon, rain and thunderstorms were
absent in the morning, and the weather appeared partly sunny to cloudy.
Disruptions at the Airport
The severe weather disrupted operations overnight at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri
International Airport, where several planes were unable to land due to
thunderstorms and heavy rain, forcing them to divert to Larnaca Airport in
Cyprus. Later, two out of five planes were finally able to land in Beirut, and
by the early morning hours, air traffic had returned to normal as the weather
depression began to subside. According to relevant sources, diverting flights
during storms or low-pressure systems is a routine procedure aimed at ensuring
the safety of passengers and flight operations.
Power Outage in 30 Towns in Nabatieh District Due to the Storm
A severe thunderstorm that struck shortly after midnight hit the Nabatieh power
station located at the Kfarroman–Nabatieh roundabout, causing transformers No. 1
and No. 2 to go completely out of service due to the extensive damage inflicted
directly by the lightning. As a result, 30 towns in the Nabatieh district that
are supplied by the damaged station have been left without electricity. The
storm also caused the shutdown of the service line, known locally as the 24-hour
line, which supplies groundwater wells and hospitals in the area, leading to
expected water cuts in several towns across the district. Maintenance teams have
begun assessing the damage to the station. Repair work is set to start on Monday
morning, supported by specialized teams from Beirut. Until the two damaged
transformers at the Kfarroman station are restored, electricity will remain cut
off in the affected localities of the Nabatieh district.
Hezbollah’s Assassination Machine: What the Killing of
Elias al-Hasrouni and Lokman Slim Really Tells Us
Makram Rabah/Now Lebanon/November 15/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149211/
The Israeli army’s disclosure—that Hezbollah’s Unit 121 orchestrated the
assassination of Lebanese Forces official Elias al-Hasrouni in August 2023—did
not surprise those who have long understood how Hezbollah maintains its grip on
political life in Lebanon. What the information did was confirm what many
Lebanese have whispered privately for years: political murder is not a deviation
from Hezbollah’s doctrine; it is one of its foundational tools.
Hezbollah had insisted that Hasrouni died in a car accident. But the new
intelligence describes something else entirely: a premeditated ambush near his
home in Ain Ebel, followed by kidnapping, poisoning, the fracturing of his ribs,
and the deliberate staging of his vehicle to resemble a fatal crash. This level
of planning and precision reflects not a moment of wartime improvisation but the
operational method of an organization that has used political elimination as a
pillar of its strategy since the day it was formed.
Some will dismiss the revelation simply because it comes from Israel. But that
argument collapses immediately under scrutiny. Yes, Israel is a sworn enemy of
Iran and Hezbollah. But this reality does not undo Hezbollah’s own internal
record of surveillance, intimidation, and assassination. Two truths can coexist:
Israel has every political interest in exposing Hezbollah’s crimes, and
Hezbollah has a long, well-documented history of committing those crimes against
fellow Lebanese.
The question “why would Hezbollah assassinate a political opponent?” only
confuses those who refuse to confront the fundamental nature of the group.
Hezbollah was not established in 1982 as a Lebanese community project or a
political experiment. It emerged as an Iranian-organized hit squad, built to
eliminate rivals, sabotage state institutions, impose ideological control, and
regulate political life by force. Its early resume—the bombings, the kidnappings
of journalists and diplomats, the execution-style murders, the
disappearances—reads like the textbook of a militia designed to police a
society, not liberate it.
Its logo, with a raised rifle at its center, openly says what others pretend not
to hear: violence is not an accessory; it is the heart of the movement.
Everything that followed—as in the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri, executed
by operatives of the very same Unit 121—flows directly from these origins.
Unit 121, the branch implicated in Hasrouni’s killing, occupies a central role
in Hezbollah’s internal architecture. It is the group’s enforcement arm—the unit
tasked with identifying, tracking, isolating, and neutralizing anyone whose
presence challenges Hezbollah’s narrative or authority. Its former commander,
Salim Ayyash, convicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for orchestrating
Hariri’s assassination, remains celebrated and sheltered by Hezbollah, a symbol
of how deeply political assassination is woven into the party’s identity.
The operation against Hasrouni followed the same patterns that Lebanese have
come to recognize: the surveillance of the target, the elimination itself, the
fabrication of a public explanation, and the reliance on fear and silence to
ensure that the story sticks. This is not how political parties behave. This is
how parallel states enforce compliance.
And it did not happen in isolation. Lokman Slim, the outspoken writer and
activist, was kidnapped in 2021 just a few kilometers from where Hasrouni was
later killed. Slim, like Hasrouni, had been relentlessly threatened, monitored,
and vilified for rejecting Hezbollah’s domination of the Shiite community which
he belonged to. His execution—shot at close range, dumped in his car, left as a
message—fit precisely the same operational signature: a targeted killing,
followed by a staged scene and a climate of terror designed to ensure silence.
His wife, his sister, his colleagues, and human rights organizations all pointed
to Hezbollah’s responsibility, and yet the state could not even conduct a basic
investigation. Two murders, two critics, two staged crime scenes—both in the
same contested geography. This is not coincidence; it is a pattern.
The Hasrouni assassination is merely the latest entry in a catalogue of
political killings that stretches back decades. Each time, the basic sequence
repeats: an opponent is eliminated, a narrative is crafted, a segment of society
is intimidated into silence, and the state retreats into impotence. The argument
that “there is no proof” becomes not a reflection of innocence but a symptom of
the environment Hezbollah has engineered—one where proof cannot emerge because
the state is too weak, too infiltrated, or too afraid to seek it.
Lebanon’s crisis is not only economic or institutional. It is existential. A
state that cannot protect its citizens from a militia within its borders is not
a sovereign state. A republic where political figures, writers, journalists, and
local notables can be abducted, poisoned, shot, or disappeared without
consequence is not a functioning republic.
The Israeli disclosure may have supplied the details, but it did not create the
problem. It only reminded Lebanon of what it has spent years avoiding:
Hezbollah’s monopoly on violence is the central obstacle to the country’s
sovereignty. The group’s political dominance is not sustained through elections
or persuasion, but through a decades-long strategy that blends coercion,
assassination, territorial control, and fear. Lebanon cannot continue pretending
that the assassinations of Hariri, Hasrouni, Lokman Slim, and so many others are
unrelated episodes. They are chapters in the same story: a militia that uses
murder as a governing strategy, and a state that has surrendered the ability to
confront it. The killing of Elias al-Hasrouni exposes not only Hezbollah’s
responsibility but Lebanon’s dilemma. Until the Lebanese state—and the political
class that shelters behind ambiguity—confronts the truth that Hezbollah’s
violence is structural, intentional, and inseparable from its identity, Lebanon
will continue to live in the shadow of a militia that sees assassination not as
a last resort but as a governing principle.
The Epigraphs of Our Lady of Ilige
Amine Jules Iskandar/This is Beirut/November 15/2025
In addition to the iconographic painting that bears its name and its valuable
citations in the Codex Rabulensis, Our Lady of Ilige houses two Syriac
inscriptions carved in stone. Among them is a singular treasure for the Maronite
tradition, for no other medieval Maronite inscription is known to have survived
the devastation of the Mamluk era. This epigraph allows us to glimpse the form
of medieval Maronite script, recognized as the square Estrangelo.
Following Saint John Maron of Kfar-Hay (685–770) and Saint George of Yanouh
(770–1120), Patriarch Peter I established his seat at Our Lady of Ilige in 1121.
Ilige lies in a valley of the Mayfouq region, high above Byblos, annually
cloaked in a thick mantle of snow. The monastery of Our Lady was built upon the
remains of a Phoenician temple, nestled between two streams.
The Monastery of Ilige
The masonry is characteristic of the early Maronite Middle Ages. It draws
indiscriminately on Canaanite megaliths, fragments of pagan sculpture, raw rock,
and carefully squared stone. The overall effect seems to grow with the
unpredictability of a living plant. A bull’s head emerges from a pedestal wedged
to the right within the entrance vault. Bearing witness to its activity during
the Byzantine period, a cross inscribed within a circle adorns the megalithic
lintel of the main doorway.
Inside, the three naves rise at different levels. From the right-hand nave, a
staircase leads up to the patriarchs’ quarters. From there, a small chamber
hidden within the thickness of the wall can be reached. It once served as a
secret refuge during Mamluk raids.
In the apse, a painting of the Virgin and Child holds a central place. For a
long time, it was dated to the eighteenth century, until a restoration in the
1980s revealed successive layers reaching back to the tenth century.
This patriarchal monastery flourished during the Crusader period, exerting
considerable influence over the County of Tripoli. At that time, the surrounding
mountains were dotted with churches adorned with frescoes reflecting both Syro-Byzantine
and Crusader styles, complemented by Syriac inscriptions. Ilige stood at the
crossroads of three worlds: Byzantine, Latin, and Syro-Maronite, each with its
own arts, schools, and languages.
The Patriarchs of Ilige
The patriarchs of Ilige are known for leaving their handwriting on the pages of
the Codex Rabulensis. Among them, Jeremiah III of Dmalça (1282–1297), ally and
protector of Bohemond VII, Count of Tripoli, is the author of the Syriac text in
Estrangelo script on folio 6 v°.
He recounts how, in the year 1590 of the Greeks (1279 CE), he came to the
monastery of Our Lady of Saint Mary of Mayfouq, in the valley of Ilige, in the
land of Botroun, to Mor Pétros, Patriarch of the Maronites, in order to be
ordained metropolitan of the monastery of Kaphtoun. He then wrote how, four
years later, Bohemond VII, together with the bishops, archpriests, and
hieromonks, had him elected patriarch and sent him to Rome.
The Syriac text on folio 8 r• is the work of Patriarch John IV of Gége. His
account tells how, in the year 1550 of the Greeks (1239 CE), he received at the
blessed monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouq the hieromonk Matthew from the Maronite
monastery of Koutsovendis in Cyprus.
Ilige and Cyprus
Patriarch Peter III also mentions this Maronite monastery in Cyprus on folio 7
v°. He recounts how, in 1465 of the Greeks (1154 CE), he received at the convent
of Our Lady of Mayfouq in the valley of Ilige the young monk Isaiah from the
monastery of Qozhaya and ordained him superior of the convent of Saint John of
Koutsovendis.
The monastery is also mentioned by Patriarch Estephanos Doueihi, who copied a
note from the manuscript of the Homilies of Jacob of Sarugh. It originated from
the scribe Simeon, who recorded that in 1432 of the Greeks (1121 CE), Patriarch
Peter I, residing at the holy monastery of Mayfouq in the valley of Ilige, in
the land of Botroun, had granted him the authority to preside over the monastery
of Saint John of Kûzvandû (Koutsovendis)
This period of wealth and openness toward Cyprus and Europe came to a sudden end
at the close of the thirteenth century with the departure of the Franks and the
Mamluk invasion, which unleashed a genocide lasting over a century and only
ending with the arrival of the Ottomans in 1516. The violence had become so
severe that in 1440, Patriarch John VIII of Gége was forced to transfer the
patriarchal seat to the monastery of Our Lady of Qannoubine in the Qadisha
Valley.
This era of affluence and openness toward Cyprus and Europe came to a sudden end
at the close of the thirteenth century with the departure of the Franks and the
Mamluk invasion, which unleashed a genocide lasting more than a century and only
ended with the arrival of the Ottomans in 1516. The violence had become so
severe that in 1440, Patriarch John VIII of Gége was forced to transfer the
patriarchal seat to the monastery of Our Lady of Qannoubine in the Qadisha
Valley.
The 1276 Epigraph
In addition to the iconographic painting that bears its name and its valuable
citations in the Codex Rabulensis, Our Lady of Ilige houses two Syriac
inscriptions carved in stone.
The first one, on the main façade, is a unique treasure for the Maronite
tradition, as it remains the only Maronite inscription from the medieval period
that has not been moved and has survived the Mamluk devastation. This
inscription allows us to identify the Maronite stone-carved script, known as
square Estrangelo. It is incised using the Latin technique, rather than carved
in relief as in Eastern inscriptions.
Its design is strongly geometric, likely influenced by monumental Latin script.
The lettering is vertical, following the style of Syriac frescoes and the
captions of the miniatures in the Codex of Rabula. The central cross is
accompanied by Psalm 44:6 of King David: Through you we defeat our enemies, and
by your name we trample those who rise against us.
This psalm is embedded within the text, which reads:
In the name of God, living forever,
In the year one thousand five hundred eighty eight of the Greeks (1276–1277),
Was completed
The construction (renovation) of this convent of the Mother of God, Mary.
May her prayer be with us. Amen.
By the hands of sinful men,
David and D… and Peter and John.
The 1746 Epigraph
The second epigraph is located on the side façade overlooking the torrent. It
dates to the eighteenth century, a period that witnessed a revival of Syriac
architecture and inscriptions thanks to the more tolerant rule of the Ottomans.
After the Middle Ages, however, the dominant script became Serto, the cursive
form that replaced monumental lettering. Thus, Frankish influence gradually gave
way to the Arabic script traditions of the Turks and Arabs. Meanwhile, the
inauguration of the Maronite College in Rome in 1584 brought an end to the use
of the Antiochene era by the Syriac-Maronite Church, which from that point
forward adopted the Gregorian calendar.
The side epigraph refers to a second restoration of the building. It reads,
again in the Syriac language:
In the name of Yeh, the Ever-Living,
In the Christian year 1746, this sanctuary was restored
By the hands of two cleric brothers, Amon and Mikhael.
It had been governed by the four patriarchs Peter, Jeremiah,
And Jacob and John, since the year 1121.
The Latest English
LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
November 15-16/2025
UN Security Council to vote Monday on Trump
Gaza plan
Agence France Presse/November 15/2025--wq
The U.N. Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution endorsing U.S.
President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, diplomats said. Last week the
Americans officially launched negotiations within the 15-member Security Council
on a text that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war between Israel
and Hamas and endorse Trump's plan. A draft of the resolution seen Thursday by
AFP "welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace," a transitional governing
body for Gaza -- that Trump would theoretically chair -- with a mandate running
until the end of 2027.It would authorize member states to form a "temporary
International Stabilization Force (ISF)" that would work with Israel and Egypt
and newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and
demilitarize the Gaza Strip. Unlike previous drafts, the latest mentions a
possible future Palestinian state. The United States and several Arab and
Muslim-majority nations including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey called Friday
for the UN Security Council to quickly adopt the resolution. "The United States,
Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia,
Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye express our joint support for the Security Council
Resolution currently under consideration," the countries said in a joint
statement, adding they were seeking the measure's "swift adoption."Friday's
joint statement comes as Russia circulated a competing draft resolution to
Council members that does not authorize the creation of a board of peace or the
immediate deployment of an international force in Gaza, according to the text
seen Friday by AFP. The Russian version welcomes "the initiative that led to the
ceasefire" but does not name Trump. It also only calls on the U.N.
secretary-general to submit a report that addresses the possibilities of
deploying an international stabilization force in war-ravaged Gaza. The United
States has called the ceasefire "fragile," and warned Friday of the risks of not
adopting its draft. "Any refusal to back this resolution is a vote either for
the continued reign of Hamas terrorists or for the return to war with Israel,
condemning the region and its people to perpetual conflict," the U.S. ambassador
to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, wrote in The Washington Post. "Every
departure from this path, be it by those who wish to play political games or to
relitigate the past, will come with a real human cost." While it seemed until
now that Council members supported principles of the peace plan, diplomatic
sources noted there were questions about the U.S. text, particularly regarding
the absence of a monitoring mechanism by the Council, the role of the
Palestinian Authority, and details of the ISF's mandate. The Russian U.N.
mission said in a statement that its alternative proposal differed by
recognizing the principle of a "two-State solution for the Israeli-Palestinian
settlement." "Unfortunately, these provisions were not given due regard in the
U.S. draft," it said.
EU considers taking ‘leadership role’ training Palestinian
police as UN prepares to vote on US resolution on Gaza
The Arab Weekly/November 15/2025
European Union foreign ministers will discuss next week a proposal for the bloc
to take the lead in training 3,000 Palestinian police officers with the aim of
later deploying them in Gaza. In a paper produced by the bloc’s diplomatic arm
ahead of the gathering of ministers on November 20, officials outlined options
for contributing to the implementation of a 20-point plan for Gaza proposed by
US President Donald Trump. Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed in
October to the first phase of the blueprint, but the implementation of further
parts of the deal remains highly uncertain. In the document, the European
External Action Service outlined proposals to expand the bloc’s two civilian
missions in the region, which focus on border assistance and supporting the
Palestinian Authority’s (PA) policing and justice reforms. The EU’s police
support mission could “take leadership in training the Palestinian police force
in Gaza by providing direct training and support to approx. 3,000 Palestinian
police officers (on the PA pay-roll) from Gaza, with a view to training the full
13,000 Palestinian police force,” it said. The paper also raises the idea of
expanding the EU’s civilian border monitoring mission in Rafah to other border
crossing points. But prospects for the EU moving ahead with these initiatives
are unclear. Russia on Thursday proposed its own draft of a UN resolution on
Gaza in a challenge to a US effort to pass its own text that would endorse
President Trump’s plan. The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution
endorsing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, diplomats said. Last week
the Americans officially launched negotiations within the 15-member Security
Council on a text that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war
between Israel and Hamas and endorse Trump’s plan. A draft of the resolution
“welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace,” a transitional governing
body for Gaza — that Trump would theoretically chair — with a mandate running
until the end of 2027. It would authorise member states to form a “temporary
International Stabilisation Force (ISF)” that would work with Israel and Egypt
and newly trained Palestinian police to help secure border areas and
demilitarize the Gaza Strip. Unlike previous drafts, the latest mentions a
possible future Palestinian state. The United States and several Arab and
Muslim-majority nations including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Qatar, Jordan and Turkey called Friday for the UN Security Council to quickly
adopt the resolution.
Hamas quietly reasserts control in Gaza prompting doubts
that it intends to cede authority
The Arab Weekly/November 15/2025
From regulating the price of chicken to levying fees on cigarettes, Hamas is
seeking to widen control over Gaza as US plans for its future slowly take shape,
Gazans say, adding to rivals’ doubts over whether it will cede authority as
promised. After a ceasefire began last month, Hamas swiftly re-established its
hold over areas from which Israel withdrew, killing dozens of Palestinians it
accused of collaborating with Israel, theft or other crimes. Foreign powers
demand the group disarm and leave government but have yet to agree who will
replace them. Now, a dozen Gazans say they are increasingly feeling Hamas
control in other ways. Authorities monitor everything coming into areas of Gaza
held by Hamas, levying fees on some privately-imported goods including fuel as
well as cigarettes and fining merchants seen to be overcharging for goods.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of the media office of the Hamas government, said
accounts of Hamas taxing cigarettes and fuel were inaccurate, denying the
government was raising any taxes. The authorities were only carrying out urgent
humanitarian and administrative tasks whilst making “strenuous efforts” to
control prices, Thawabta said. He reiterated Hamas’ readiness to hand over to a
new technocratic administration, saying it aimed to avoid chaos in Gaza: “Our
goal is for the transition to proceed smoothly”. Hatem Abu Dalal, owner of a
Gaza mall, said prices were high because not enough goods were coming into Gaza.
Government representatives were trying to bring order to the economy, touring
around, checking goods and setting prices, he said. Mohammed Khalifa, shopping
in central Gaza’s Nuseirat area, said prices were constantly changing despite
attempts to regulate them. “It’s like a stock exchange,” he said. “The prices
are high. There’s no income, circumstances are difficult, life is hard and
winter is coming,” he said. US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan secured a
ceasefire on October 10 and the release of the last living hostages seized
during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. The plan calls for the
establishment of a transitional authority, the deployment of a multinational
security force, Hamas’ disarmament, and the start of reconstruction. But
Reuters, citing multiple sources, reported this week that Gaza’s de facto
partition appeared increasingly likely, with Israeli forces still deployed in
more than half the territory and efforts to advance the plan faltering.
Nearly all of Gaza’s two million people live in areas controlled by Hamas, which
seized control of the territory from President Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian
Authority (PA) and his Fatah Movement in 2007. Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow
at the Washington Institute think-tank, said Hamas’ actions aimed to show Gazans
and foreign powers alike that it cannot be bypassed. “The longer that the
international community waits, the more entrenched Hamas becomes,” Omari said.
Asked for comment on Gazans’ accounts of Hamas levying fees on some goods, among
other reported activities, a US State Department spokesman said: “This is why
Hamas cannot and will not govern in Gaza”.
A new Gaza government can be formed once the United Nations approves Trump’s
plan, the spokesman said, adding that progress has been made towards forming the
multinational force. The PA is pressing for a say in Gaza’s new government,
though Israel rejects the idea of it running Gaza again. Fatah and Hamas are at
odds over how the new governing body should be formed. Munther al-Hayek, a Fatah
spokesman in Gaza, said Hamas actions “give a clear indication that Hamas wants
to continue to govern”. In the areas held by Israel, small Palestinian groups
that oppose Hamas have a foothold, a lingering challenge to it. Gazans continue
to endure dire conditions, though more aid has entered since the ceasefire. A
senior Gazan food importer said Hamas had not returned to a full taxation
policy, but they “see and record everything”. They monitor everything that
enters, with checkpoints along routes, and stop trucks and question drivers, he
said, declining to be identified. Price manipulators are fined, which helps
reduce some prices, but they are still much higher than before the war began and
people complain they have no money. Hamas’ Gaza government employed up to 50,000
people, including policemen, before the war. Thawabta said that thousands of
them were killed, and those remaining were ready to continue working under a new
administration. Hamas authorities continued paying them salaries during the war,
though it cut the highest, standardising wages to 1,500 shekels ($470) a month,
Hamas sources and economists familiar with the matter said. It is believed that
Hamas drew on stockpiled cash to pay the wages, a diplomat said. The Hamas
government replaced four regional governors who were killed, sources close to
Hamas said. An Hamas official said the group had also replaced 11 members of its
Gaza politburo who died. Gaza City activist and commentator Mustafa Ibrahim said
Hamas was exploiting delays in the Trump plan “to bolster its rule”. “Will it be
allowed to continue doing so? I think it will continue until an alternative
government is in place,” he said.
Palestinians return for prayers in West Bank mosque after
attack
Reuters/November 15, 2025
JERUSALEM: Palestinians in a village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank held
weekly community prayers after clearing insulting graffiti, broken glass, and
burn marks from a mosque they say was targeted by Jewish settlers amid a spike
in attacks. Villagers in Deir Istiya who cleaned up the mosque said that
settlers had smashed windows, sprayed slogans, and tried to torch the building
in an assault on Wednesday night. Reuters video of the mosque showed the
graffiti as well as shattered glass, charred internal walls and furniture.
Israel’s military said security forces had arrived at the mosque after hearing
reports of the attack but had not identified or arrested any suspects. It said
in a statement that it “condemns any force of violence and will continue to
operate to safeguard the security and order in the area.” Settler attacks have
proliferated in the West Bank, according to the UN, which recorded at least 264
attacks against Palestinians in October, the highest monthly total since it
began tracking such incidents in 2006. “It’s an attempt by them (the settlers)
to take control of lands in the West Bank. But we remain steadfast and rooted in
our land,” said Raed Salman, a leader of the main Palestinian political party,
Fatah. Home to 2.7 million Palestinians, the West Bank has long been at the
heart of their aspirations to a future independent state, but successive Israeli
governments have expanded settlements there, fragmenting the territory. The UN,
Palestinians and most countries regard settlements as illegal under
international law. Palestinians say Israeli forces do not protect them from
settler violence. The Israeli military says soldiers are often dispatched to
deal with any trouble. “We are here for Friday prayer because it’s an Islamic
holy site. We want to show Netanyahu and his allies that this mosque was fixed
in 24 hours, and we will put back the carpets soon,” said worshipper Wadee’
Salman, referring to the Israeli prime
Rocket attack in Syria's capital wounds 1 person and causes damage
The Associated Press/15 November/2025
Rockets were fired at a home in Syria's capital on Friday night, wounding one
person and causing damage, state media reported. It wasn’t immediately clear who
was behind the rocket attack in Damascus’ western neighborhood of Mazzeh 86. An
Associated Press journalist at the scene said that security forces cordoned off
the area and prevented anyone from getting close to the building that was
struck. State television reported that one woman was wounded in the blast, which
was caused by an attack by “unknown assailants,” adding that security forces
were investigating. State news agency SANA also said that one woman was wounded
in the Friday night explosion, and that the blast was caused by rockets that
were fired from a mobile launcher. Explosions aren’t uncommon in the Syrian
capital, but have decreased in recent months. Since the fall of President Bashar
al-Assad’s government in December last year by insurgents who took over his seat
of power in the capital, there have been several explosions in Damascus. Israel
has also carried out hundreds of airstrikes around the country since the end of
the 54-year Assad dynasty, mainly targeting assets of the Syrian army.
Iran’s IRGC confirms it seized oil tanker in Gulf
AFP/15 November/2025
Iran’s the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed on Saturday that they had
seized an oil tanker in the Gulf off the country’s coast, a day after security
companies determined they were likely responsible. “Yesterday morning at 7:30,
after a judicial authority ordered the seizure of the cargo of an oil tanker
with the trade name Talara and the flag of the Marshall Islands, the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rapid reaction units of the naval forces
monitored its movements and intercepted and seized it,” said a statement from
the IRGC. “The tanker was found to be in violation of the law by carrying
unauthorized cargo,” the statement continued, adding it “was carrying 30,000
tonnes of petrochemical cargo and was heading to Singapore.”The vessel had
departed from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates and was heading south through
the Strait of Hormuz when it was approached by three small boats, after which it
made a “sudden course deviation,” maritime security company Ambrey said. The US
Navy had earlier said it was “actively monitoring the situation.”“Commercial
vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation and commerce on
the high seas,” said the US 5th Fleet, which patrols the region. The Strait of
Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas, has
previously been the scene of similar incidents.Last year, the IRGC seized a
container ship, saying it had links to Israel, following a deadly attack on
Iran’s consulate in Syria blamed on Israel.
Iran’s clerical regime eases social restrictions but
intensifies political crackdown on dissent
The Arab Weekly/November 15/2025
On Tehran’s bustling streets, signs of change are unmistakable. Women walk
unveiled in jeans and sneakers, men and women linger together in cafés where
Western music hums softly, while couples stroll hand-in-hand, subtle acts that
chip away at the rigid social codes that have long defined the Islamic Republic.
But beneath the surface, a darker reality is unfolding. Iran’s clerical rulers
are intensifying a crackdown on political dissent to instil fear and prevent
unrest, activists inside Iran told Reuters. Hundreds of journalists, lawyers,
students, writers and human rights advocates have been harassed, summoned,
detained or subjected to other punitive measures in recent months, according to
rights groups and activists. The authorities’ strategy is calculated: relax
visible restrictions to soothe public opinion amid Iran’s growing economic
isolation, while quietly intensifying a crackdown on political dissent, three
Iranian officials and one former senior reformist official said. Alex Vatanka,
director of the Iran Programme at the Middle East Institute, based in
Washington, said the strategy shows “tactical management” but the government’s
red lines remain firm. “That contradiction is deliberate: a release valve for
the public, coupled with a hard ceiling on genuine dissent,” Vatanka said.
Iran’s clerical rulers are facing one of their gravest tests since the 1979
Islamic Revolution. Conflict with Israel left Iranian military and nuclear sites
badly damaged in June, and has dismantled its regional network of allies, from
Hamas in Gaza to Lebanon’s Hezbollah and militias in Iraq. At home, the economy
is reeling from the collapse of the rial currency, soaring inflation and
crippling energy and water shortages. “Iran is in uncharted territory, and the
regime’s current approach is less a coherent strategy than a series of
short-term experiments aimed at surviving a volatile moment.”
The hijab, a flashpoint during the protests sparked by the death in custody of
Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained in 2022 for allegedly violating the
mandatory hijab law, is now being enforced selectively. Fearing a resurgence of
nationwide protests amid growing public frustration, Iranian President Masoud
Pezeshkian has refused to implement a hard-line “Hijab and Chastity” law,
approved late last year. Online, a stream of glossy videos paints a picture of a
vibrant, welcoming Iran. Foreign travel influencers, some invited and sponsored
by the government, post wide-eyed reactions to ancient ruins, bustling bazaars
and lavish meals. Often they portray the country as misunderstood and unfairly
maligned. Their content, shared with millions of followers, is part of the
clerical establishment’s effort to rebrand Iran as a safe and alluring
destination. Meanwhile, viral video clips from recent street concerts show young
Iranians dancing unveiled, singing along to pop ballads in controlled venues,
scenes unimaginable two years ago. But critics say these spectacles are
carefully choreographed, designed to project openness while masking a deepening
crackdown. Iran’s execution rate has surged to levels not seen since 1989. As of
October 21, authorities had executed at least 1,176 people in 2025, an average
of four per day, according to the UN Human Rights Office. “Pressure is mounting,
from threats to our families, to arrests of activists, students and journalists.
They want to crush dissent,” said one activist, jailed in 2019 during protests
over fuel price hikes that quickly turned political, with protesters demanding
“regime change”.
All of the activists spoke on condition of anonymity, from fear of reprisals.
Iran’s ruling elite are caught between discontent at home and stalled nuclear
talks with Washington to end a decades-long dispute, a combination that has left
the country politically and financially isolated. A snapback of UN sanctions in
September because of the failure to reach a nuclear deal could significantly
increase pressure on Iran’s economy, further restricting its trade with
countries that have previously disregarded unilateral US sanctions. Moreover, in
Tehran’s power corridors, concern is mounting over the prospect of renewed
Israeli strikes on Iran if diplomacy with the US collapses, the officials said,
a scenario that would further exacerbate the establishment’s already deepening
internal and external pressures. The United States and Israel have warned they
will not hesitate to hit Iran again if it resumes enrichment of uranium, a
possible pathway to developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking nuclear
bombs. Tehran, which says it welcomes a “peaceful” nuclear deal, has threatened
a forceful retaliation if attacked again. “The risk of renewed mass unrest is
real; Iran’s society remains angry, disillusioned and convinced that the
economic and diplomatic dead end will not lift,” said Vatanka. Vatanka said
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s strategy appears two-track.
“Externally, he keeps a narrow diplomatic door open to avoid a war with Israel
or the United States. Internally, he is experimenting with calibrated
concessions,” he said.
The clampdown on political dissent has intensified after a 12-day war in June
with Israel, which killed several senior military figures in the Iranian
leadership and shook its foundations. The second activist said loosening social
restrictions is a way to keep people off the streets. “But it’s just a band-aid.
I have been summoned and threatened by security authorities since the end of the
war in June,” the second activist said. “They have threatened to arrest my
younger brother if I engage in any political activity.” The justice ministry did
not respond to questions about the activists’ claims of threats following the
conflict. In the war’s aftermath, authorities invoked national security to
justify the sweeping crackdown. Iran’s judiciary ordered swift trials for those
accused of collaborating with Israel, while parliament passed legislation
expanding the death penalty for espionage. The new law also targets online
activity, criminalising posts deemed to spread “false information.”More than
21,000 people were arrested, according to Iran’s judiciary, including
journalists, activists and members of minority groups such as Kurds, Baluchis
and Arabs. Members of the Baha’i religious minority have been accused of being
“Zionist spies,” and some were arrested in house raids, with their property
confiscated, according to rights organisations. “International pressure is
mounting, and they fear losing their grip on power, so they tighten it at home
on political dissent,” said the former senior reformist official, who had spent
years in prison for ‘acting against national security’ because of his political
views.
UN Security Council calls for end to Houthi attacks
AFP/15 November/2025
The UN Security Council on Friday called for an end to cross-border and maritime
attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis and urged member states to beef up
efforts to implement an arms embargo against them. In a resolution renewing
sanctions against the group, the Council condemned the attacks and demanded an
end to all such actions, “including those against infrastructure and civilian
targets.”The text was adopted in a 13-0 vote, with permanent members China and
Russia abstaining. Targeted sanctions were extended until November 14, 2026,
including a freezing of assets and travel bans currently in place against about
10 people, most of them high-ranking Houthi officials and the group as a whole.
The text says that sanctions could now affect those who launch cross-border
attacks from Yemeni territory using ballistic and cruise missile technology, or
attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.
Member states were asked to “increase efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons
and components via land and sea routes, to ensure implementation of the targeted
arms embargo.”The UN text called on the panel of experts tasked with monitoring
the application of the embargo to present a report to the Council by mid-April
with recommendations on the sale and transfer to Yemen of “dual-use components
and precursor chemicals” that could fall into Houthi hands. Council members also
want the report to offer advice on improving information sharing on vessels
suspected of carrying arms in violation of existing sanctions. “The resolution
will support the council’s ability to monitor and therefore deter violations of
the arms embargo,” Britain’s interim UN envoy James Kariuki said. But several
member states, notably the United States and France, lamented that the Council
had not gone farther. “We regret that the text adopted was not more ambitious
and does not reflect the deterioration of the situation in Yemen over the past
year,” said France’s deputy envoy Jay Dharmadhikari. But veto-wielding China and
Russia kept the council from further strengthening the sanctions. Since the
start of the war in Gaza, triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by
Hamas, the Houthis have increased the number of missile and drone attacks on
Israeli soil and on ships in the Red Sea, claiming those actions were carried
out in solidarity with Palestinians.
Gaza health ministry confirms received bodies of 15 Palestinians under truce
deal
AFP/15 November/2025
The health ministry in Gaza confirmed Saturday it had received the bodies of 15
Palestinians the day before under the US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal. “The
Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs who were
released yesterday, Friday, by the Israeli occupation through the Red Cross.
This brings the total number of bodies received to 330” as part of the deal, the
ministry said, adding it had so far identified 97. They were returned in
exchange for the remains of 73-year-old Israeli hostage Meny Godard, which Hamas
returned via the Red Cross on Thursday.
First major winter rains pummel Gaza, destroying makeshift shelters
The Associated Press/15 November /2025
The first heavy rainfall of the season sent water cascading Saturday through the
sprawling Mawasi tent camp in the Gaza Strip, as the embattled enclave struggles
to cope with flooding and devastated infrastructure from two years of war.
Residents attempted to dig trenches to direct the water from flooding their
tents, as rain dripped through tears in tarpaulins and makeshift shelters. The
first rain of the season pounded down in intermittent bursts, soaking the scant
belongings families have managed to save. Strong winds can also topple tents and
destroy families’ attempts to gather food and supplies as another bleak winter
sets in. Two weeks ago, Bassil Naggar bought a new tent from the black market
for 2300 NIS ($712.50), because the scorching summer sun had worn his old tent
thin. Still, rainwater leaked through his tent. “I spent all (Friday) pushing
water out of my tent,” Naggar said, adding that his neighbors’ tents and
belongings were completely wrecked. “Water puddles are inches high, and there is
no proper drainage,” he said Barefoot children splashed in puddles as women made
tea outside under dark clouds. According to the UN, Mawasi, which was largely
undeveloped dunes before the Israeli military designated it a humanitarian zone
early in the war, held up to 425,000 displaced Palestinians this past summer,
the vast majority living in makeshift temporary tents. The Israeli defense body
in charge of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has said it is allowing in
winterization materials, including blankets and heavy tarpaulins, but aid
organizations warn the efforts are far from sufficient when temperatures plummet
in the winter and the wind whips off the sea. As heavy clouds threatened further
rain, some attempted to take shelter in destroyed buildings, even those at risk
of collapse, with gaping holes covered by pieces of tarpaulin.
The war broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise
attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251
hostages. They are still holding the bodies of three hostages, which Israel is
demanding in return before progressing to the second stage of the ceasefire.
Hamas has said that it is unable to locate the bodies under the rubble, but
Israel has accused Hamas of dragging its feet. The first stage of the ceasefire
agreement that took effect on Oct. 10 is nearing its end. The next stage calls
for the implementation of a governing body for Gaza and the deployment of an
international stabilization force. It is not clear where either stands. Israel’s
military campaign against Gaza has killed 69,100, including many women and
children, according to the Gaza health ministry, which does not distinguish
between civilians and combatants in its figures. The offensive has destroyed
large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90 percent of its population of roughly
2 million Palestinians.
Trump’s Africa envoy says Sudan ‘world’s biggest
humanitarian crisis’
AFP/November 15, 2025
DOHA: US President Donald Trump’s Africa envoy Massad Boulos on Saturday called
the war in Sudan “the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis,” telling AFP he hoped
to see diplomatic progress toward peace. Since its outbreak in April 2023, the
war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has
killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly 12 million. At the end
of October, the paramilitary group seized control El-Fasher, the conclusion of a
bitter 18-month siege for the strategic hub in western Sudan’s Darfur region and
marked by reports of mass killings and sexual violence. “The conflict in Sudan,
the humanitarian side of this conflict, is the world’s biggest humanitarian
crisis today, and the world’s biggest humanitarian catastrophe,” Boulos told AFP
in an interview in Doha. “Especially what happened in El-Fasher in the last two
or three weeks. We’ve all seen those videos. We’ve seen those reports. Those
atrocities are absolutely unacceptable. This must stop very quickly.” Washington
has urged the warring parties to finalize a truce in Sudan. The country’s
army-aligned government has indicated it will press on with the war following an
internal meeting on a US ceasefire proposal. And while the RSF has said it
agrees to the humanitarian truce presented by mediators, the paramilitary group
has also continued its offensive. Boulos said the US and its mediating partners
in Sudan were calling on the two sides to agree to a “three-month humanitarian
truce.”“It’s being discussed and it’s being negotiated... we’re urging them to
accept this proposal and implement it immediately, without delay,” he said. In
September the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt
jointly called for a humanitarian truce followed by a permanent ceasefire and a
transition toward civilian rule — but suggested that no warring party should be
part of that transition. Boulos said the US hopes, with its partners, to
“achieve some breakthrough in the coming weeks” on the larger plan including on
a transition to a civilian-led government. “The top priority right now remains
the humanitarian aspect and the humanitarian truce,” he said.
Trump says he is considering F-35 fighter jet deal with
Saudi Arabia ahead of MBS meeting
Al Arabiya English/15 November/2025
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is considering agreeing to a
deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are made by
Lockheed Martin. “They wanna buy a lot of jets,” Trump told reporters aboard Air
Force One. “I’m looking at that. They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to
buy a lot of ‘35’ - but they want to buy actually more than that, fighter
jets.”The potential sale comes as Trump plans to host Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman at the White House next week, when they are expected to sign
economic and defense agreements. Asked about the talks, Trump told reporters it
was “more than meeting, we’re honoring” Saudi Arabia. He repeated that he hoped
Saudi would normalize ties with Israel. Riyadh has resisted such a step absent
agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
Trump says he 'sort of' decided on what to do with
Venezuela
Agence France Presse/November 15/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he has "sort of" made up his mind about
Venezuela, as his escalating military deployment in Latin America has ignited
concerns about a wider regional conflict. "I sort of made up my mind," Trump
told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to his estate in Florida. "I
can't tell you what it is, but we made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms
of stopping drugs from pouring in," Trump added. In recent weeks, Washington has
deployed warships, fighter jets and thousands of soldiers to Latin America and
launched strikes on 21 alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing at least 80 people.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, arrived in Latin
America on Tuesday with the stated goal of helping to counter drug trafficking
in the region. But Caracas fears the U.S. military deployment, which also
includes F-35 stealth warplanes sent to Puerto Rico and US Navy ships in the
Caribbean, is a regime change plot in disguise. CBS News on Wednesday cited
multiple sources as saying senior military officials had presented Trump with
updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on
land. On November 2, Trump downplayed the prospect of going to war with
Venezuela but said the days of Nicolas Maduro -- whom he accuses of being a drug
lord -- were numbered. Colombia's first leftist president, Gustavo Petro, has
also alleged that the ultimate goal of the US deployment is to seize Venezuela's
oil wealth and destabilize Latin America.Venezuela has announced its own
nationwide military deployment to counter the growing US naval presence off its
coast.
Trump demands probe into Epstein links to Bill Clinton
Agence France Presse/November 15/2025
U.S. President Donald Trump told law enforcement chiefs Friday to investigate
links between Jeffrey Epstein and ex-president Bill Clinton, seeking to deflect
growing questions about his own ties to the late alleged sex trafficker. Under
mounting pressure from the release of a new trove of Epstein emails, Trump also
demanded the Justice Department and FBI probe banking giant JPMorgan Chase and
ex-Harvard president Larry Summers, who served as Clinton's treasury secretary.
The 79-year-old Republican accused Democrats of pushing the "Epstein hoax" after
emails emerged in which the disgraced financier suggested Trump "knew about the
girls" and spent hours with one of the victims at his house. "I know nothing
about that. They would have announced that a long time ago," Trump told
reporters aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida for the weekend.
"Jeffrey Epstein and I had a very bad relationship for many years."
Questions about his long friendship with Epstein have dogged Trump since his
return to the White House in January. Epstein died in prison in 2019 -- by
suicide, authorities ruled -- before he could face trial on federal sex
trafficking charges. But questions over his alleged masterminding of a sex ring
where powerful men were provided with underaged girls have only mounted. Trump
said on Truth Social that he would be "asking" Attorney General Pam Bondi and
the FBI "to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationship with Bill
Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people
and institutions." "Records show that these men, and many others, spent large
portions of their life with Epstein, and on his 'Island.'"Bondi named senior New
York prosecutor Jay Clayton to "take the lead" on Trump's request.
'Damning information' -
The order for a probe comes even though the FBI and Justice Department said in a
memo in July that they had not uncovered evidence that would justify an
investigation of uncharged third parties. That memo also sparked a huge backlash
in Trump's MAGA movement after it said a "client list" Bondi claimed to have
been reviewing did not in fact exist.Democratic former president Clinton has
long faced scrutiny over his ties to Epstein and flew on his private plane,
although he has never been accused of wrongdoing in the scandal, either. Epstein
said that Clinton had "never ever" been to his notorious private island in the
Caribbean, according to several emails in the latest trove dating from 2011 and
viewed by AFP. Clinton spokesman Angel Urena said on X that the emails "prove
Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract
from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else."JPMorgan
Chase -- which in 2023 agreed to pay $290 million to settle a class action
lawsuit brought by victims of Epstein, its former client -- rejected Trump's
claims. "The government had damning information about his crimes and failed to
share it with us or other banks," it said in a statement to AFP. "We regret any
association we had with the man, but did not help him commit his heinous
acts."There was no immediate comment from Summers or Hoffman, the founder of
professional networking app LinkedIn.
'No middle ground' -
Trump's message and comments broke two days of silence over the scandal, which
has overshadowed his victory lap after Democrats agreed to end the longest
government shutdown in US history. The email traffic between Epstein and friends
said Trump had spent "hours" with Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim and his
main accuser. The White House said that Giuffre, who died by suicide in April,
had cleared Trump of any wrongdoing and had declared that Trump "couldn't have
been friendlier."Trump's efforts to put a lid on the scandal have repeatedly
failed, in part because there are photos and videos of him interacting with
Epstein decades ago. Another problem is that Trump and some of his close allies
had in the past promised his right-wing base they would seek the release of all
the evidence against Epstein. The U.S. House of Representatives is to vote as
early as next week on a motion demanding that the White House release the files,
after a rebellion by a handful of MAGA lawmakers provided sufficient votes.
Surviving Epstein victims and the relatives of Giuffre sent U.S. lawmakers a
letter Friday urging the release of those files and saying: "There is no middle
ground here. There is no hiding behind party affiliation."
Trump on Friday made clear he does not want the effort in Congress to proceed.
"Don't waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!" he said on social
media.
Blast at police station in Indian Kashmir kills nine, injures 27
Reuters/15 November/2025
At least nine people were killed and 27 injured when a pile of confiscated
explosives blew up at a police station in Indian Kashmir, the region’s police
chief said on Saturday, days after a car blast in New Delhi killed eight people.
The dead included policemen, government officials and forensic staff who were
examining the explosives at the time, Nalin Prabhat, director general of police
for the federally administered region of Jammu and Kashmir, told a news
conference. He said the cause of the blast late on Friday and the extent of the
damage were being investigated.
Indicating there was no militant involvement in the incident, Prabhat said
forensic and chemical examinations of previously recovered explosive materials
were under way when “an accidental explosion” occurred on Friday night. “Any
other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” he said. The
identification of the bodies was under way, as some have been completely burnt,
a police source said. “The intensity of the blast was such that some body parts
were recovered from nearby houses, around 100-200 meters away from the police
station,” the source said. Earlier, a local police official told Reuters an
explosion had ripped through Nowgam police station. The official said fire had
engulfed the compound and fire tenders had been rushed to the spot. The blast
occurred four days after a deadly car explosion in the Indian capital New Delhi
killed at least eight people in what the government has called a terrorist
incident. Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan have for decades fought
periodic wars over the disputed region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full
and rule only in part.
Zelenskyy vows overhaul of Ukraine’s scandal-hit energy firms
AFP, Kyiv/15 November/2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday announced an overhaul of
state-owned energy companies, after a corruption scandal at the heart of a
sector battered by Russian attacks sparked a public outcry. Anti-graft
investigators said around $100 million had been embezzled from the energy
sector, causing outrage in a country where Russian attacks have resulted in
devastating power outages. Zelenskyy ordered two ministers to resign over the
corruption scheme and sanctioned a former business partner who was named as its
mastermind. “We are beginning the overhaul of key state-owned enterprises in the
energy sector,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Alongside a full audit of their financial
activities, the management of these companies is to be renewed.” He called for a
new supervisory board at Energoatom - the state nuclear company at the heart of
the scandal - “within a week” that would enable a “complete overhaul of the
company’s management.”He also called for the quick appointment of a new head of
hydropower generating company Ukrhydroenergo and other reforms for oil and gas
giant Naftogaz and the main gas operator. Zelenskyy has previously said he is
committed to fully cooperate with the anti-corruption investigation. “I have
also instructed government officials to maintain constant and meaningful
communication with law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies,” he said
Saturday.“The full transparency and integrity in the energy sector remain an
absolute priority.”The scandal prompted some of Ukraine’s European allies to
urge Zelenskyy’s government to do more to battle corruption.
Ukraine says Russian oil refinery near Moscow attacked
AFP/15 November/2025
Ukraine said Saturday it had attacked a Russian oil refinery in a region near
Moscow, a day after deadly Russian attacks on its capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian
army said on social media it had hit a refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow
as “part of efforts to reduce the enemy’s ability to launch missile and bomb
strikes.”Ukraine has regularly staged missile and drone attacks inside Russia
throughout the Kremlin’s invasion since 2022. Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said
Russian air defenses shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over the region during the
night. “Falling debris caused a fire on the premises of one enterprise,” Malkov
said on Telegram but there had been no casualties. The attack came a day after
Russia struck apartment blocks across Ukraine’s capital Kyiv that left seven
dead, according to the latest toll. “It has been reported that an elderly woman
who was wounded during the shelling on November 14 died in hospital this
morning,” Tymur Tkachenko of Kyiv’s city administration, said on social media.
Other victims included a couple in their 70s and a 62-year-old. Officials in the
central Dnipropetrovsk region said a Russian drone on Saturday wounded five
people, one seriously, in the city of Nikopol.
Nikopol lies on the Dnipro River that forms the frontline with Russian forces.
On the opposite occupied bank of the river, Moscow-installed official Yevgeny
Balitsky said a Ukrainian drone had hit power lines, causing outages for some
44,000 subscribers.
Report identifies four new sites where RSF is disposing of
bodies in Sudan’s al-Fashir
Al Arabiya English/15 November/2025
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is disposing of bodies in four newly
identified locations in and around the city al-Fashir, the Humanitarian Research
Lab (HRL) at Yale School of Public Health has found. In an “atrocity alert”
published on Friday, the institute identified the four sites as Al-Fashir
University, Abu Shouk IDP Camp, the Saudi Hospital and Daraja Oula neighborhood.
Through data fusion methodologies of open source and remote sensing data
analysis, the lab concludes “with high confidence” that activities observed in
these sites indicate the RSF is using them to collect and dispose of human
remains – both through burning and burial.While Yale’s HRL could not conclude
the scale or speed of the ongoing killing, it said “the fact that activities
consistent with body disposal have continued across the city more than two and a
half weeks after the city’s fall is alarming given the large number of al-Fashir
residents whose whereabouts remain unknown.”Structures observed at the sites
signal the potential presence of bomb shelters, detention centers, and large
earth disturbances consistent with repeated body disposal activities. Last week,
Yale’s HRL said that the RSF has closed one out of only five exits out of al-Fashir.
The latest report added that two of the sites, Al-Fashir University and the
Saudi Hospital, allegedly serve as two of five purported RSF-operated detention
centers identified by displaced persons who arrived in Tawilah. The five
detention sites reportedly hold a total of over 50,000 people, the report added.
Jordan’s King Abdullah in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan
PM Shehbaz Sharif
Arab News/November 15, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Jordan’s King Abdullah II met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif on Saturday in Islamabad, the Jordan News Agency reported. During an
expanded meeting, the king and prime minister affirmed their commitment to
building on Jordanian-Pakistani relations, which span 78 years. They
discussed strengthening joint action in key areas, including trade, economy,
investment, tourism, education, technology, and defence, JNA added. The king
emphasized the need for continued coordination at both bilateral and
international levels to advance peace and stability in the Middle East. He also
conveyed condolences over last week’s terrorist attacks in Pakistan, reaffirming
Jordan’s solidarity in the fight against terrorism. The situation in Gaza was
another key topic, with King Abdullah stressing the importance of all parties
fully adhering to the ceasefire and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.
He highlighted Pakistan’s influential role in the UN Security Council and the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as its support for the Gaza
ceasefire agreement. The king further warned against unilateral measures in the
West Bank, including settlement expansion and attacks on holy sites, and
reaffirmed Jordan’s and Pakistan’s support for an independent Palestinian state
based on the two-state solution. Sharif expressed Pakistan’s commitment to
further strengthening cooperation with Jordan and said the king’s visit would
enhance bilateral ties. The meeting also featured the signing of several
agreements, including a cooperation pact between the Jordan Radio and Television
Corporation (JRTC) and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, and another with
the Pakistan Television Corporation. A memorandum of understanding was also
exchanged to establish a chair for Urdu language and Pakistani studies at the
University of Jordan, alongside a cultural cooperation program.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
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November 15-16/2025
The Iranian Regime Is Preparing Its Next War — Prevent It Now
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 15, 2025
From the very first day of their 1979 revolution, the Ayatollahs established a
theocracy whose core mission was not just to govern, but to export its
revolution across the world and impose its radical Shia Islamist doctrine on
others.
The Islamic Republic's constitution actually mandates exporting the revolution.
Spreading its ideology beyond its borders is not an option, it is a structural
principle of the state itself. The regime has never sought to win influence by
persuasion or diplomacy, but through nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and
global assassinations. The regime uses its nuclear weapons program and ballistic
missiles as both a shield and a spear — a way to protect its power domestically
and threaten its adversaries abroad.
Iran's regime is already plotting its next war: 2,000 missiles pointed at Israel
to swarm it all at once and overwhelm its interceptors.
There needs to be an unmistakable ultimatum delivered to the regime: either it
halts its nuclear program, dismantles its ballistic missile program, and ends
its global assassination and terror operations — or it will soon face a new
military campaign. The West cannot allow Tehran once again to buy time, deceive
inspectors, and hide behind diplomatic jargon. Economic and political pressure
alone will fail if not accompanied by credible enforcement. President Trump's
approach of cutting off all financial lifelines, including secondary sanctions,
to the regime remains one of the most effective strategies.
The Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable for purchasing Iranian oil:
they are directly violating international sanctions and empowering the regime to
finance its military and nuclear projects.
Europe must also stop treating the regime as a legitimate diplomatic partner.
Iranian consulates and embassies across European capitals have often been used
as centers for intelligence gathering and operational planning. Many of the
regime's terror plots have been conceived or coordinated from within these
diplomatic compounds. The European Union should immediately close Iranian
consulates and expel their staff.
The West cannot afford to fall asleep while Tehran quietly prepares for the next
great war. The stakes are higher than ever — for Israel, for Europe, for the
United States, and for every nation that values stability and peace.
Since its inception, the current Iranian regime has not been built on peace, but
on the sword. The revolutionary slogans of the regime are not about coexistence
or mutual respect; they are about domination, erasing enemies, and building an
empire under the flag of the Supreme Leader. The regime has never sought to win
influence by persuasion or diplomacy, but through nuclear weapons, ballistic
missiles, and global assassinations.
Since its inception, the current Iranian regime has not been built on peace, but
on the sword. From the very first day of their 1979 revolution, the Ayatollahs
established a theocracy whose core mission was not just to govern, but to export
its revolution across the world and impose its radical Shia Islamist doctrine on
others. The regime's founding ideology is built on conquering people and lands
through terror, deception and force.
The revolutionary slogans of the regime are not about coexistence or mutual
respect; they are about domination, erasing enemies, and building an empire
under the flag of the Supreme Leader. The Islamic Republic of Iran's
constitution actually mandates exporting the revolution. Spreading its ideology
beyond its borders is not an option, it is a structural principle of the state
itself. The regime has never sought to win influence by persuasion or diplomacy,
but through nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and global assassinations.
Today, Iran's revolutionary ambitions are cloaked in a modern arsenal of
advanced weaponry and covert operations. While the regime continues to brandish
religious slogans and revolutionary rhetoric, its true instrument of influence
is violence. The regime uses its nuclear weapons program and ballistic missiles
as both a shield and a spear — a way to protect its power domestically and
threaten its adversaries abroad. It funds and arms militias across the Middle
East — Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the militias in Iraq — and
deploys them as extensions of its will. It carries out assassinations and terror
attacks across continents, sending its operatives to strike against Jews,
Christians, dissidents, and Western officials.
For the Ayatollahs, peace is not a divine goal; it is a temporary illusion to be
exploited -- before the next strike. The regime views every confrontation not as
an end but as a step toward a greater conflict that it believes will fulfill its
revolutionary and apocalyptic vision.
The West must not fall into the dangerous delusion that the regime has become
rational, restrained, or pragmatic -- one of the most perilous illusions in
international politics today.
Iran's regime is already plotting its next war: 2,000 missiles pointed at Israel
to swarm it all at once and overwhelm its interceptors.
The country's president has openly declared that its nuclear weapons program
will continue at warp speed. Iran is refusing to cooperate with international
inspectors, leaving the world uncertain about the fate of large quantities of
enriched uranium that have mysteriously disappeared from declared facilities. No
one truly knows where this material is or how close the regime is to achieving a
weaponized form of it.
Behind closed doors, Tehran continues to strengthen its partnerships with
dangerous, anti-Western states — China, Russia and North Korea. Each of these
countries continues to provide either direct support, technical assistance,
economic or political cover to Tehran's ambitions. China fuels Iran's economy by
purchasing its oil despite international sanctions. Together, they form a
protective shield that enables the Iranian regime to pursue its nuclear dream,
its destiny.
The Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps most likely see
missiles and nuclear weapons as divine tools that will allow them to destroy the
state of Israel, which they have openly vowed to wipe off the map. Achieving
that goal would fulfill one of the regime's long-standing prophecies: the
destruction of Israel, the "Little Satan," and the creation of a world order led
by the Shia clerical system. The regime does not hide this vision.
The regime's targets will not be limited to Israel or the Gulf states. Europe
and the United States, the "Great Satan," are in its crosshairs. Amir
Hayat-Moqaddam, a member of Iran parliament's National Security and Foreign
Policy Committee, recently boasted that Iran's ballistic missiles can hit
European capitals and American cities. The regime recently issued threats,
warning the West that its enemies should be afraid of Iran's growing missile
power. These statements are not mere bluster; they are a window into the mindset
of a leadership that sees confrontation as inevitable and perhaps even
desirable. The Islamic Republic's rulers are not content just with survival;
they want victory — one achieved through intimidation, terror, and eventual
destruction of their perceived enemies.
In the meantime, while preparing for a larger confrontation, the regime has
already begun reactivating its global terror networks in Australia, Germany and
Greece. The regime's agents are already working to assassinate and terrorize
Jews, Christians, and Western targets across the world. A foiled plot was
recently foiled to assassinate Israel's ambassador in Mexico, underscoring the
global reach of Iran's Quds Force and its intelligence apparatus. Israel's
intelligence agency, the Mossad, has identified operatives connected to Iranian
networks behind multiple terror attacks and plots against Jewish individuals and
institutions. These incidents, not isolated, are coordinated campaigns aimed at
spreading fear, creating chaos, and sending a message that Iran's enemies are
never beyond its reach. Western intelligence agencies should assume that Tehran
is planning more — and more sophisticated — assassination attempts, possibly
targeting top officials in Israel and, as several years ago, in the United
States. The regime understands that once former officials leave office and are
private citizens again, their security is weaker.
There needs to be an unmistakable ultimatum delivered to the regime: either it
halts its nuclear program, dismantles its ballistic missile program, and ends
its global assassination and terror operations — or it will face a new military
campaign. The West cannot allow Tehran once again to buy time, deceive
inspectors, and hide behind diplomatic jargon. Economic and political pressure
alone will fail if not accompanied by credible enforcement. President Trump's
approach of cutting off all financial lifelines, including secondary sanctions,
to the regime remains one of the most effective strategies. Every dollar that
flows into Tehran through oil sales or trade is a dollar that funds missiles and
militias.
The Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable for purchasing Iranian oil:
they are directly violating international sanctions and empowering the regime to
finance its military and nuclear projects.
Europe must also stop treating the regime as a legitimate diplomatic partner.
Iranian consulates and embassies across European capitals have often been used
as centers for intelligence gathering and operational planning. Many of the
regime's terror plots have been conceived or coordinated from within these
diplomatic compounds. The European Union should immediately close Iranian
consulates and expel their staff. Diplomatic immunity must not be allowed to
shield assassins and plotters from justice. If Europe continues to provide
Tehran with the privilege of diplomacy, it will continue to suffer the
consequences of the regime's duplicity.
The Iranian regime is not reforming; it is regrouping. It is not moderating; it
is militarizing. The West cannot afford to fall asleep while Tehran quietly
prepares for the next great war. The stakes are higher than ever — for Israel,
for Europe, for the United States, and for every nation that values stability
and peace. If the West does not keep pressure on the regime, the next conflict
will not just be another regional flare-up. It will be catastrophic.
The Iranian regime interprets silence as weakness and hesitation as surrender.
To prevent another devastating war, the West must sustain military and economic
pressure, and act before the regime's ambitions create a reality that it will be
dark and costly to reverse. Tehran is plotting its next war. The only way to
prevent it is to confront the regime now, with unity, strength and resolve.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22049/iran-preparing-next-war
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Crown prince’s White House visit could chart the course
for the next 80 years
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/November 15, 2025
It may be a coincidence, but history rarely writes itself without purpose. Next
week’s meeting in Washington between Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald J. Trump falls 80 years after the
seminal 1945 encounter between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin D.
Roosevelt aboard the USS Quincy. That meeting laid the foundation for a
strategic partnership that has endured wars, oil shocks and political
transitions.
The parallels between then and now are striking — and significant.
In 1945, the world was emerging from the ashes of the Second World War. The US
was poised to become a global superpower. Saudi Arabia, under King Abdulaziz,
had just unified its territories and was beginning to build its modern state.
The USS Quincy summit focused mainly on two pillars: security for the Kingdom
and oil for America. The summit came just over a decade after the birth of Saudi
Aramco — a joint venture that evolved into the world’s largest oil company.
Though now fully Saudi-owned, the American contribution to its success remains
undeniable.
Today, we stand on the cusp of a new chapter — one that could multiply the
Aramco success story exponentially.
The relationship is no longer confined to oil and security. Nuclear cooperation,
space exploration, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies are now on
the table. This is not just a bilateral upgrade — it is a strategic leap. The
timing could not be more surreal: Vision 2030 and Make America Great Again are
aligned in ambition, scope and urgency. Today, we stand on the cusp of a new
chapter — one that could multiply the Aramco success story exponentially. Saudi
Arabia is no longer the oil-dependent economy of the past. The Kingdom is
unlocking its full potential across tourism, healthcare, mining and tech.
American companies have a golden opportunity to be the first movers in many of
these sectors — and reap the rewards of early investment, knowledge transfer and
cooperation. Furthermore, the bold reforms introduced over the past decade mean
that any concerns some might have had over doing business in Saudi Arabia are no
longer relevant. And while we are far from being perfect, nobody in their right
mind can deny — if they are fair — the quantum leaps that have happened in areas
such as women’s empowerment, the removal of barriers to entry and bureaucratic
procedures, as well as the improvement in the quality of life for both residents
and citizens of Saudi Arabia. President Trump, known for his “art of the deal,”
is not one to let bureaucracy stifle progress. His administration’s openness to
fair competition means American firms can engage without being hamstrung by red
tape. This is good news for both sides — and for global investors watching
closely. Yet, security remains paramount. The region is volatile. Rogue actors
persist. The recent Israeli strike on Qatari territory — which hosts the
region’s largest US military base — underscores the urgency of a robust defense
framework. Saudi Arabia, preparing to host Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup in
2034, must secure its borders, airspace and waters. A written defense treaty is
not just desirable — it is essential. From a Saudi perspective, the scars of
Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure remain fresh. The Biden
administration’s early decision to delist the Houthis as a terrorist
organization and the 2022 withdrawal of Patriot missile batteries was met with
concern. Yet, by the end of President Joe Biden’s term, negotiations for a
historic defense treaty were nearly complete. This visit offers a chance to
finalize that pact — and ensure such atrocities never happen again.
The Saudi-US relationship has weathered storms.
From defeating communism to liberating Kuwait, both nations have collaborated on
global challenges. Despite political shifts between Republicans and Democrats,
the strategic value of Saudi Arabia has remained constant. It is not a cash
machine — it is a stabilizing force. As custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, the
region’s largest economy and a key player in global oil markets, Saudi Arabia is
indispensable to US interests. The recent Israeli strike on Qatari territory —
which hosts the region’s largest US military base — underscores the urgency of a
robust defense framework.
Saudi diplomacy is also evolving. The Kingdom has pushed for a two-state
solution in Palestine, condemned atrocities in Gaza and facilitated negotiations
in Sudan, Ukraine and Syria. Its humanitarian aid and development contributions
are generous and consistent. Riyadh is no longer just a regional actor — it is a
global mediator.The US needs a partner that commands respect in the region.
Saudi Arabia fits that role. Whether it is lifting sanctions or brokering peace,
American policymakers know that Riyadh’s guarantees carry weight. The emergence
of a new Syria — after decades of turmoil — is testament to that influence. This
visit is not ceremonial. It is consequential. If Israel is ready to commit to a
serious path toward Palestinian statehood, it could join what the crown prince
calls “the new Europe” — a region of integration, cooperation and shared
prosperity. The stakes are high. The opportunity is rare. And the moment is
now.Let us hope that Nov. 18, 2025, becomes another date etched in history — not
just as a commemoration of the past but as a launchpad for the future.
• Faisal J. Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas
Crises of Sudan, Iraq, and Libya
Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Arab News/15 November 2025
Are the various crises in the Arab world- from Sudan to Iraq to Libya to Lebanon
and others- linked to another? Some argue that they are not. However, if we
choose to take a deeper look, we find that there is an undeniable underlying
connection. This connection has two parts: the first is the failure to
understand the difference between the nation-state and the civic state, and the
second is the failure to understand the difference between citizenship and
identity. The overarching theme, then, is “failure to manage diversity.”
This failure is the cause of all the crises in our vast Arab lands.
Some in the region argue that Arab states are artificial constructs and that the
solution is uniting the Arab or Islamic “Ummah.” Consequently, they have no
problem in disregarding borders to pursue larger projects that they believe
offer a way out of the impasse. Others see the nation itself as an identity,
seeking to impose uniformity and mold a single identity for all citizens. This
is also impossible: nowhere in the world (except in extremely isolated
societies) do nations or societies have a single unified identity. All states
and societies contain multiple identities. Lee Smith, an American writer who
published a book fifteen years ago (that has not been translated into Arabic)
entitled “The Strong Horse: Power, Politics, and the Clash of Arab
Civilizations”, offers powerful insights into this matter. In his book, he seeks
to explain the dynamics of Middle Eastern conflicts from within Arab cultural
experience, rather than approaching these questions with the usual Western
projections. His work drew on the years he had spent in the region (living in
Beirut, Damascus, and Cairo) closely observing its political and intellectual
shifts. If we add to that another important book, which has been translated into
Arabic, Alex Rowell’s “We Are Your Soldiers: How Gamal Abdel Nasser Remade the
Arab World,” which covers the Nasserist experiment and its negative
repercussions on the Arab world, a clearer picture emerges. In essence, both
books (despite their differences) reveal the immense suffering engendered by the
“swamp of ideology’s” influence on state-building: the pursuit of a unified
identity, or the pull of transnationalism, and how these projects brutalized the
Arab individual. The truth is that this region never truly had a modern state in
the institutional sense. Authority stems from personal, kinship, or sectarian
ties. That is why we see military coups constantly recur under various
ideological slogans. At the same time, laws are marginalized, and public policy
is not shaped by the notion of citizenship.
The absence of equal citizenship within a comprehensive legal framework has
pushed non-state actors to rely either on a foreign patron or on a fabricated
sense of victimhood. We have seen this happen in the twenty-first century. The
fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, followed by Gaddafi’s, then al-Bashir’s, and
before them Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen, were all the result of crude attempts
to melt citizenship into an imagined identity and to bypass the national state.
For this reason, we should not be surprised by today’s bloody conflict in Sudan
along ethnic, racial, and interest-based lines. Nor is it surprising to see
Iraq’s political struggle shaped by these same ethnic and sectarian lines, under
the cover of armed militias that prioritize what is beneath the state over the
state itself. It should not be surprising that a segment of the Lebanese
population clings to either- arms that threaten the very existence of the
Lebanese state. And if we turn to the Maghreb, we find the unjustifiable
conflict over Western Sahara (a conflict between brothers) that has largely
paralyzed development in those regions.
When the central state collapses, as in Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon,
minorities or sub-state groups dominate, relying on foreign support to
marginalize others, who fall victim to sectarian and political chaos. All of
this reflects the absence of a dignified social contract for all citizens that
guarantees equality in rights and duties; that is, the denial of public freedoms
and of equality among citizens. Reform cannot come through superficial
elections. It requires domestic cultural change that begins within education: a
shift toward respecting law and institutions rather than individuals, placing
citizenship above religious and tribal identity, and recognizing the various
components of society as essential and indigenous components. Some of us rushed
to embrace elections and democracy, ignoring the cultural and social system
built on allegiance and power. Constructed enemies are often used to justify
domestic failures and to rally society together around hostility to a foreign
enemy. Instead of confronting the crisis of citizenship inside Arab societies
themselves, these political frames fuel crises that have sparked civil wars, as
in Yemen, Sudan, and others.
Most forces that present themselves today as alternatives take the same
approach: submission to a totalitarian ideology rather than redefining power:
replace the power of domination with the power of institutions, law, and
knowledge, for the sake of coexistence within healthy, harmonious societies.
To conclude: the crisis is born of reducing the state to an individual rather
than institutions.
Without action, the horrors of El-Fasher will be repeated
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/November 15, 2025
El-Fasher’s fall did not close a chapter so much as open a wider, already
festering wound. Satellite imagery and on-the-ground reports show clusters of
probable bodies and newly dug mass graves around the Sudanese city. Local
monitors report thousands killed since the siege began, while health workers and
patients were murdered or abducted and hospitals ransacked. The horrors of El-Fasher
were not isolated, spontaneous battlefield excesses but deliberate operations in
a systematic campaign to wipe whole communities from Sudan’s map — and its
future.
What the Rapid Support Forces’ conduct in Darfur signals is a return to the
techniques of ethnic targeting first seen in the early 2000s and again in El-Geneina
in 2023, where about 15,000 Masalit people were massacred. The pattern is clear:
siege, blockade, selective slaughter, and then monopolize the territory’s
governance and resources. When a paramilitary group couples battlefield success
with control of food routes and aid denial, sanctioned violence and mass
civilian deaths become a tool of consolidation. The planning behind the fall of
El-Fasher is as brutal as it is straightforward. The city was the last major
Sudanese Armed Forces garrison in Darfur, and its capture now means the RSF can
redirect its fighters, drones, and logistics toward new targets. The
redeployments telegraph an imminent escalation of the RSF’s signature tactics:
the encirclement of population centers, weaponization of starvation through
siege barriers, and subsequent massacre of civilians.
In El-Fasher alone, the RSF’s 18-month siege, which included constructing 35
miles of barriers to block aid and escape, was followed by mass executions of at
least 1,500 people in the first three days after the city’s fall. The group’s
established pattern of house-to-house executions in non-Arab neighborhoods, as
seen previously in El-Geneina, provides a clear blueprint for what awaits other
communities. Operational momentum gained from El-Fasher’s capture directly
translates into a repeat of this sequence of atrocities for towns in the RSF’s
path. We can expect a rapid spread of suffering. RSF control in Darfur creates
corridors that link western fronts to central Sudan. Those corridors make it
easier for the RSF to project force toward population centers in Kordofan and to
threaten logistical hubs such as El-Obeid. The Sudanese Armed Forces’ likely
counteroffensives will drive more civilians from frontlines into already
overstretched urban shelters or across borders. The dynamic is one of movement
and multiplication: One city conquered fuels the next offensive, spawning
multiple new crises. Beyond Sudan’s borders, spillovers are no longer
hypothetical. Chad, which shares a 1,360 km border with Sudan’s Darfur region,
serves as a primary logistical corridor for the RSF and hosts a massive influx
of displaced people. The arrival of more than 100,000 people in a short period
has overwhelmed local resources and crippled host communities, inciting local
tensions. Such chaos is ripe for exploitation by armed groups seeking to profit
from despair. Meanwhile, tribal militias, some trained in neighboring Eritrea,
operate across borders, while Libyan factions facilitate the flow of weapons to
the warring parties, and paying migrants out. In South Sudan, the sabotage of
oil pipelines has severely damaged the economy, and the ambush of forces loyal
to Vice President Riak Machar by the RSF illustrates how internal conflicts are
becoming entangled with Sudan’s war. There is no risk of future escalations — it
is the current reality: Local coping mechanisms have collapsed, and the conflict
is exporting instability, transforming a civil war into a wider transregional
conflagration.
One city conquered fuels the next offensive.
If neighboring states become directly involved, whether to secure borders,
support co-ethnic militias, or protect economic interests, the scale of violence
will surge. Naturally, more military involvement brings airpower, external
logistics, and proxy forces. Those elements professionalize the conflict in a
terrifying way as sieges become more lethal, targeting more precise, and
humanitarian access more difficult.Worse yet, even if the international
community had the will and capacity to intervene, at best, the resulting
“meddling” would only freeze front lines and permanently divide territory. At
worst, it would just widen the war into the Horn of Africa and into the Sahel,
sparking instability and disarray across already contested borderlands and vast
ungoverned spaces. On the other hand, we can barely scratch the surface of the
catastrophic humanitarian consequences unfolding in Sudan with little to no help
forthcoming. When the UN appealed for billions for Sudan’s relief needs this
year, it only received roughly a quarter of what it sought. In addition, while
the US has been a major supporter of relief historically, funding gaps and
access denials today mean food, water, and medicine will never reach many of the
people who need them most.
And when aid is blocked, mortality rises quickly, while attacks targeting aid
workers and hospitals devastate an already overwhelmed healthcare system for
months. There are not just temporary shortages but sustained, layered disasters
involving food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and the breakdown of basic
services. There is also an economic multiplier: Darfur’s gold and trade networks
are already entwined with armed actors. Territory that the RSF secures becomes a
financial prize that can bankroll further operations. That makes negotiated
settlements harder and violence more sustainable. In practical terms, we can
expect longer sieges, better-supplied militias, and longer periods of stepped-up
brutality in areas where strategic resources matter.
Finally, think about social erosion. Communities that survive mass killing
suffer long-term disintegration: Elders lose authority, youth are militarized,
and intercommunal trust collapses. Rebuilding is never only physical; it is
social and psychological. Years from now, towns emptied by ethnic targeting will
be harder to repopulate and govern. That is the slow, persistent crime against a
nation’s future, one that outlives military wins and losses. The only realistic
short-term policy objective now is harm reduction: insisting on unhindered
humanitarian corridors, sharpening forensic documentation to support rapid
accountability mechanisms, and squeezing the material lifelines that allow
paramilitaries to operate at scale. But do not mistake these steps for a
solution. Without a credible effort to deprive commanders of the ability to
starve, displace, and reconfigure populations, El-Fasher will be the first of
many. The next cities to fall will be measured by the depth of human ruin they
leave behind, not mere lines redrawn on a map. If we are to take away one thing,
it is that the immediate future is not about front lines alone. It is about what
a paramilitary that practices ethnic cleansing does to the fabric of whole
regions, and how that damage spills outward, multiplying suffering and
instability across borders. The scale of next-stage catastrophe will be
determined less by diplomacy and more by who controls roads, drones, and the
means to starve people into submission.
• Hafed Al-Ghwell is senior fellow and program director at the Stimson Center in
Washington and senior fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian
Studies.X: @HafedAlGhwell
Selected Face Book & X tweets for
November 15/2025
Charles Chartouni
Every Lebanese, and more specifically Shiite, shall remember you,
Avichay Adraee, since you saved thousands of lives from the war tragedies
plotted by the Hezbollah sequence after sequence. May the incoming peace end the
bitter chapters in the lives of our two people and the region.
@followers
@highlight
@everyone