English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  October 16/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 13/06-09/:"Then Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down." ’

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 15-16/2025
Honoring the Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to the Illusions of Power and Wealth/Elias Bejjani/October 13/2025
Reggi Reshuffles the Electoral Equation, Aoun and Salam Head Towards an Exceptional Partnership
Two wounded in Israeli drone strike on Tebnine-Hariss
Casualties in Israeli drone strike on Siddiqin-Kafra road
Swift coordination resolves Lebanese-Syrian border detainment of two boys
Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Saddi discusses power cooperation in Amman
Tannourine water contamination raises alarm in Lebanon: New details emerge
Nassereddine says Tannourine file 'purely technical', samples contaminated
Lebanon's economy minister expects cabinet to sign fiscal gap law soon — Reuters
Foreign Ministry submits to govt. a draft law on expat voting
US lauds Aoun's remarks, Trump may press Netanyahu
Issa: Lebanon future belongs to those who believe in its recovery, independence, unity
Aoun Urges Truth and Transparency as Members of National Commission for Missing Persons Take Oath
Trump Pressures Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah Following Gaza Agreement/Amal Chmouny/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
One critically wounded in Israeli drone strike on motorbike in south
Lebanon’s Bananas Withstand TR4/Christiane Tager/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon: One of Many Unresolved Cases/Natasha Metni Torbey/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
Lebanon’s economy minister expects cabinet to sign fiscal gap law soon
Maronite leader says Pope Leo will carry message of ‘peace’ to Lebanon
Lebanon’s legal assessment for journalists killed by Israel offers ‘fresh opportunity for justice,’ rights group says
Lebanon, Syria Near Agreement on Handover of Syrian Prisoners, Wanted Suspects/Youssef Diab/ Asharq Al-Awsat/ October 15/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 15-16/2025
Red Cross has received remains of 2 more Hamas hostages to be given to Israel
Gaza to Egypt crossing remains shut as Israel pushes for hostage remains
Syrian leader seeks reset in Russia relations in Putin meeting
Egypt sends 400 shipments of aid to Gaza as ceasefire holds
Israeli military to seize Palestinian lands near Qalqilia for settlement expansion
Israeli intelligence shared with US claims Hamas has access to more bodies, Axios reports
Netanyahu back in court for hearing in corruption trial
Red Cross has received remains of 2 more Hamas hostages to be given to Israel
Israeli forces enter villages in Syrian countryside
Hunger in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen at ‘breaking point’ amid sharp funding cuts
Jordanian king affirms preserving Christian sites during visit to Vatican

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 15-16/2025
Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran After Gaza/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15, 2025
The Middle East: Limits of Despair and Glimmers of Hope/Emile Ameen/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15, 2025
Why Can’t Trump’s Domestic Policy Be More Like His Foreign Policy?/The New York Times/October 15, 2025
Turkish-Saudi ties amid rising geopolitical challenges/Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler/Arab News/October 15, 2025
The battle for Gaza’s future has only just begun/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/October 15/2025
Pope Leo’s reassuring attack on ‘degrading’ clickbait/Mohamed Chebaro/Arab News/October 15, 2025
What the World Bank’s latest growth projection reveals about Syria’s economy/ANAN TELLO/Arab News/October 15, 2025
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For 15 October/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 15-16/2025
Honoring the Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to the Illusions of Power and Wealth
Elias Bejjani/October 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/112651/
For our fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves at the altar of Lebanon on October 13, 1990, we offer our prayers and renew our pledge to live with our heads held high, so that Lebanon remains a homeland of dignity and pride, a beacon of truth, the cradle of civility, and a melting pot of culture and civilizations.
From our deeply rooted history, we know without a shred of doubt that patriotic and faithful Lebanese, with God on their side, wielding truth as their weapon and faith as their fortress, shall never be defeated.
On October 13, 1990, the barbaric Syrian Army, along with treacherous local mercenaries, launched a savage attack, occupying the Lebanese presidential palace and invading the last remaining free regions of Lebanon. Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers and innocent civilians were brutally murdered, their bodies mutilated. Tens of soldiers, officers, clergymen, politicians, and citizens were kidnapped, while a puppet regime, fully controlled by Syria’s intelligence headquarters in Damascus, was installed.
Though the Syrian Army was forced to withdraw in 2005 following UNSC Resolution 1559, Lebanon has since been occupied by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah. This terrorist militia has crippled Lebanon, turning it into an Iranian battleground and impeding the Lebanese people from reclaiming their independence, freedom, and sovereignty. Hezbollah’s crimes, wars, and terror have dismantled Lebanon’s institutions, public and private alike, while entrenching the country in poverty and chaos.
We must never forget that on October 13, 1990, the Lebanese presidential palace in Baabda and the free regions were desecrated by Syrian Baathist gangs, mafias, militias, and mercenaries. Our valiant army soldiers were tortured and butchered in Bsous, Aley, Kahale, and other bastions of resistance. Lebanon’s most precious possession, its freedom, was raped in broad daylight while the world, including the Arab nations, watched in silence.

Reggi Reshuffles the Electoral Equation, Aoun and Salam Head Towards an Exceptional Partnership
Nidaa Al-Watan/October 16/ 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The parliamentary election law has once again jumped to the forefront of concerns after it was significantly stirred by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Reggi, through an urgent draft law submitted by the Foreign Ministry to cancel Articles 112 and 122 of the law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants sent the draft law last Monday to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, requesting its inclusion on the agenda of the government's first session. The draft law requested the repeal of Articles 112 and 122 of the Election Law, which concern the voting of Lebanese expatriates and restrict their representation to six seats designated for the diaspora. The draft law includes the cancellation of the two articles and would allow Lebanese residents abroad to vote for all 128 representatives in the Parliament according to their registration districts. The Foreign Ministry's move came after receiving, in recent weeks, a number of petitions and letters from a large number of members of the Lebanese communities around the world, including Berlin, Stockholm, Ottawa, Montreal, Washington, New York, Abuja, Madrid, London, Melbourne, and Paris, demanding the repeal of the two aforementioned articles and granting them the right to vote according to their registration districts in Lebanon. It was very notable that among the capitals from which petitions and letters were received was Berlin, where there is a significant expatriate presence of emigrants supporting the "Amal Movement."
Nidaa Al-Watan learned that Minister Reggi sent the urgent draft law to President General Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Salam in Baabda Tomorrow
According to information obtained by Nidaa Al-Watan, the Prime Minister will visit Baabda tomorrow, Friday, following his trip to Paris. The meeting will focus on the recent developments in the region after the Gaza agreement and how Lebanon will deal with the new reality. Aoun and Salam will formulate a vision for the next phase, as Lebanon cannot remain outside the new regional map. Therefore, there will be intensive and exceptional coordination of ministerial work and follow-up on the sessions of August 5 and 7, as what happened in Gaza will have repercussions on Lebanon and the region.
A conceptual framework is expected to be drawn up, which will serve as a work plan for the next phase. This plan includes how to deal with internal files, but most importantly, working on keeping pace with the major issues such as confining arms and the aftermath of the Gaza agreement.
The Mechanism Committee
Yesterday, the "Mechanism" Committee met in a normal political atmosphere. Yesterday's meeting was attended, for the first time, by the committee's new president, who will succeed Michael Leaney, as part of an American mechanism that requires the committee's president to be changed every six months.
Aoun Gives Attention to the File of Detainees and the Disappeared
In parallel, the issue of the forcibly missing and disappeared is receiving great attention from President General Joseph Aoun. This was evident during the swearing-in ceremony of the members of the "National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared" before him. He announced that this issue transcends political and sectarian affiliations, and thus, the right of every family to know the truth is sacred. President Aoun continued: "Hence the precision and difficulty of your mission, as the passage of decades makes it more and more complex. Therefore, the necessity of all parties cooperating with you and breaking the wall of silence must be stressed to contribute to revealing the truth, no matter how harsh it may be."
President Aoun affirmed that "the state will provide everything that would facilitate the Commission's mission, in commitment to the law that established it and made it an independent body with guarantees for its work, in addition to Lebanon's commitment under international human rights agreements. And stemming from the tasks assigned to it, especially regarding the discovery of the fate of the missing and forcibly disappeared, gathering information and documents, establishing a comprehensive database, cooperating with relevant local and international parties, and supporting the families psychologically, socially, and legally." President Aoun considered that "the importance of the Commission's work lies in the link between the issue of the missing and the path of reconciliation and civil peace, and the affirmation that knowing the truth is an essential step towards building confidence and preventing the recurrence of the painful past."
Prime Minister Salam and the Conditions of Detainees and Prisons
The Prime Minister also chaired a meeting at the Grand Serail, attended by Minister of National Defense Michel Menassa, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad Al Hajar, Minister of Justice Adel Nassar, Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Judge Jamal Al Hajar, Director General of the Internal Security Forces Major General Raed Abdallah, Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem, Head of the Judicial Inspection Authority Judge Ayman Oueidat, the supervising judge of the Prisons Directorate at the Ministry of Justice Judge Raja Abi Nader, President of the Military Court Brigadier General Wassim Fayad, Commander of the Gendarmerie Brigadier General Jean Awwad, Head of the Prisons Branch Colonel Ismail Ayoubi, and Colonel Tarek Mekanna. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the conditions of prisoners, both convicts and detainees, in all prisons and detention centers.
The judges informed Prime Minister Salam and the attendees of the "positive atmosphere prevailing in the judicial departments in the courts of justice following the recent formations, which are expected to contribute to speeding up the pace of trials, implementing the provisions of Article 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure related to the maximum period of detention, and ruling on bail requests."
The participating ministers also stressed the "accompaniment of the concerned security agencies to the judicial procedures, which will contribute to reducing overcrowding within prisons and improving the conditions of prisoners."
Suspicious Campaign Against the Foreign Ministry
The campaign against the Foreign Ministry, which escalates every time the Minister achieves a success, stood out in the scene. One of the opposition newspapers published an article yesterday addressing the work of the Lebanese embassy in Ottawa, which contained many inaccuracies, prompting a response clarifying that the information contained in the article regarding the performance of the employees and workers at the Lebanese embassy in Ottawa is untrue and inaccurate. The Lebanese community in Canada attests to the professionalism of the Lebanese mission, headed by Chargé d'Affaires Ali Al Deirani, and its constant commitment to following up on all consular services and other matters related to the community's members.
The Ministry clarified that the new Ambassador, Bashir Touq, has not yet reported to his post in Ottawa and is still exercising his official duties at his current position until the necessary administrative procedures are completed.
In response to fabricated news about tension in the relationship between Foreign Minister Youssef Reggi and Lebanon's Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, the latter wrote the following on her Twitter page: "I read some rumors that speak of an alleged tension between me and His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Youssef Reggi. I would like to categorically clarify that these claims are baseless. Our visit to the UN General Assembly was very successful, where the entire Lebanese delegation worked in a harmonious spirit and with one common goal: to proudly represent our nation on the international stage. It is an honor for me to work alongside Minister Youssef Reggi, who continues with his dedication and courage to strengthen our nation's voice abroad."
The Hannibal Gaddafi Case
Judicially, a judicial source responded to Nidaa Al-Watan regarding the published letter addressed to the Higher Judicial Council by Hannibal Moammar Gaddafi's agents, asking: Is not the mere act of addressing the Council an attempt to intervene in the work of the judiciary?The source continued: In the most sophisticated countries in the world, this behavior is unacceptable in any way, whether from a foreign or national entity, and it is assumed that one should read the legal texts well.

Two wounded in Israeli drone strike on Tebnine-Hariss
Naharnet/October 15/2025
An Israeli drone targeted Tuesday a region between Tebnine and Hariss in south Lebanon, wounding two people, the national News Agency said. Despite a ceasefire reached in late November, Israel has kept up its strikes, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. It is also still occupying five hills in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic."On Monday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon, as he welcomed a ceasefire in Gaza. On Saturday, President Joseph Aoun condemned overnight strikes on civilian facilities in south Lebanon as a heinous Israeli aggression that has no justification.

Casualties in Israeli drone strike on Siddiqin-Kafra road
Naharnet/October 15/2025
An Israeli drone has targeted a Renault Rapid car on the Siddiqin-Kafra road in the South, causing casualties. An Israeli drone strike had overnight targeted a motorcycle on the Wadi Jilou road in the southern Tyre district, critically wounding one person. Despite a ceasefire reached with Hezbollah in November last year, Israel has kept up its strikes, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. It is also still occupying five hills in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic."

Swift coordination resolves Lebanese-Syrian border detainment of two boys
LBCI/October 15/2025
A limited incident on the Lebanese-Syrian border was handled through close coordination between the two countries, amid a recent increase in security and military cooperation between Beirut and Damascus. On Tuesday night, a patrol from Syrian General Security entered the Aarida border area in the town of Hawsh al-Sayyid Ali, where they stopped two Lebanese boys, Hussein Qattaya (born 2010) and Moujtaba Zaiter (born 2009), and took them into Syrian territory for questioning. The move sparked widespread concern among Lebanese tribes along the border, prompting intervention by Lebanese army intelligence, which worked to calm the situation on the ground while simultaneously initiating intensive communications to secure the boys’ return. The first track was managed by the Lebanese army’s cooperation and coordination office through the defense and interior ministries of both countries, neither of which had prior knowledge of the incident. The second track was led by the army's Intelligence Directorate, which opened direct communication with its Syrian counterpart to clarify the circumstances. The communications resulted in a security understanding between the two sides, stipulating that the boys be handed over to Lebanese authorities. After being questioned by the Syrian General Security, they were handed over to Syrian intelligence, which in turn delivered them to Lebanese intelligence at the Qaa border point at midnight. In Lebanon, intelligence officials completed questioning of the boys until 4 a.m., after which they were released once it was confirmed that they were not involved in any unlawful activity. The boys told officials that the questioning in Syria concerned suspected smuggling activities and that they were also asked about political parties, tribes, and the situation in Lebanon. Security sources told LBCI that, although the incident was sensitive, it was handled quickly and with direct coordination between the relevant agencies. The incident reflects the current level of cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian armies, which is expected to prevent similar incidents in the future, avoiding border tensions or political repercussions.

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Saddi discusses power cooperation in Amman
LBCI/October 15/2025
Energy Minister Joe Saddi visited the Jordanian capital, Amman, where he met with his Jordanian counterpart, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Al-Kharabsheh. Discussions focused on power importation and the status of the Arab Gas Pipeline to Lebanon, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Al-Kharabsheh highlighted the deep historical ties between Jordan and Lebanon, noting “the Royal directives to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and Jordan’s readiness to supply Lebanon with part of its electricity needs once the other concerned parties are ready,” adding that “the interconnection lines on Jordan’s side are fully operational.”

Tannourine water contamination raises alarm in Lebanon: New details emerge
LBCI/October 15/2025
A few days ago, the epidemiological monitoring team at the Lebanese Ministry of Health received a report indicating contamination in Tannourine water. The report followed social media posts that had circulated news about the water. Lebanon’s health minister confirmed to LBCI that the ministry and the specialized team acted immediately. Samples were taken from five sealed water bottles available in the Lebanese market, as well as one sample from the factory — though not from all points along the production line — and sent to a laboratory accredited by the Ministry of Health. The results showed that three of the bottled water samples tested positive, as did the factory sample, indicating contamination in the water. In response, the Ministry of Health decided, as a precautionary measure, to temporarily suspend the company’s water bottling operations and expand the investigation. New samples were to be taken and sent to other laboratories. The ministry announced the decision publicly, prompting widespread concern and damaging the reputation of the national industry. The company, however, stated that it conducts regular laboratory tests and that the laboratories used by the ministry are not authorized to perform this type of analysis. Contamination problems of this nature are not unique. Several international companies have faced similar issues, including the French company Perrier. In March 2024, environmental analyses detected bacteria in one of the wells used by Perrier in the Gard region of southern France. On April 19, the governor of Gard issued a decision to immediately stop pumping from the contaminated well and sent the order directly to the company without a media announcement. The company was required to destroy all bottles produced and distributed during a specific period that tested positive for bacteria. Perrier publicly revealed the news on April 24, confirming that approximately two million bottles would be destroyed as a precaution and assuring that bottles already on the market were safe. The company continued operations and maintained its reputation. In short, European authorities prioritize first coordinating with companies and removing goods from the market. Lebanon, by contrast, prioritized public notification, which unexpectedly turned the Tannourine water issue into a sectarian and political controversy on social media. The results of new tests and samples are expected on Thursday. Based on those results, the health minister said the precautionary measure against the company will either be lifted, allowing operations to resume, or, if contamination is confirmed, the problem will be addressed technically with the company so it can resume activity.

Nassereddine says Tannourine file 'purely technical', samples contaminated
Naharnet/October 15/2025
Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said Wednesday that the Tannourine Mineral Water company has been suspended for “purely technical” reasons, lamenting the politicization of the file. In remarks to LBCI television, Nassereddine clarified that the Ministry’s Epidemiological Surveillance team had received a complaint alleging the presence of contamination in Tannourine’s bottled water. “The uproar on social networking websites over Tannourine’s water pushed the Ministry to act,” the minister added. “Samples from the water present in the Lebanese market were sent to a laboratory hired by the Health Ministry and samples were taken from the factory, but not from the entire production line, and one of the taken samples confirmed the presence of contamination,” Nassereddine said. “The Ministry was faced by two options: either the closure of the company and taking measures against it without broadening the investigation, or taking a precautionary measure by temporarily barring the company from bottling water ahead of an expanded investigation, after which new samples would be sent to other laboratories,” the minister explained. “If the bacteria is not detected in the other samples, the measure against the company will be reversed and it will resume its work,” Nassereddine added, noting that “the problem will be resolved technically with the company should contamination be confirmed.”

Lebanon's economy minister expects cabinet to sign fiscal gap law soon — Reuters
LBCI/October 15/2025
Lebanon's cabinet is soon expected to approve and send to parliament a long-awaited law needed to restructure its debt burden, the country's economy minister said, adding that policymakers are in touch daily with the International Monetary Fund. Lebanon is struggling to emerge from a severe economic crisis following decades of profligate spending by ruling elites that sent the economy into a tailspin in late 2019, with depositors locked out of accounts as debt-laden banks shut down. Key to the fiscal and economic overhaul is a law on the distribution of financial losses between the state, the central bank, commercial banks, and depositors - dubbed the "fiscal gap" law. Asked about progress on the law, Amer Bisat said the government's emphasis was on good legislation rather than speedy progress. "The idea is to present it, discuss in the cabinet, approve in the cabinet, and then send it over to the parliament," Bisat told Reuters on Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. He added that he expected these things to happen "soon.""It's more important that we get something right than we get something fast," he said. Declining to give details on the numbers being discussed, Bisat said the draft would follow three principles - depositors would get back their money over time with no haircut, and that any solution would ensure the banking sector's back to health. Furthermore, smaller depositors would get their money back faster than larger depositors, he added. Bisat also said he was meeting with the IMF every day. Asked whether he would also meet bondholders on the sidelines of the meetings in Washington, Bisat declined to comment but said relations between authorities and those investors were "good, cordial and positive."Recent events in the region could bring big positive change for Lebanon, said Bisat, who previously was BlackRock's global head of emerging markets. "That change could potentially be very good, very positive for Lebanon," he said. "Let's not forget, we're in the middle of a war still ... but there's a possibility that the kind of changes that are happening, if stability, if security, comes back to the region, Lebanon could benefit enormously."The government is also expecting hundreds of investors to head to Beirut in November for a conference dubbed Beirut One, that Bisat hopes would help rekindle private investor engagement in the country. "There is a strong interest in imagining the day after," he said. "We know people are very realistic ... everybody knows that challenges are enormous, and the journey is still very, very long, but I really think people are saying it's okay to start imagining how things will be after."

Foreign Ministry submits to govt. a draft law on expat voting
Naharnet/October 15/2025
The Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that it has submitted to the government an urgent draft law for the abolition of Articles 112 and 122 of the electoral law, which limit the representation of expats to six newly-introduced seats. If approved, the draft law would allow expats to choose their representatives in the 128-seat parliament according to their registered electoral districts. The Ministry said its move came after it received over the past week a number of petitions and letters from a large number of Lebanese expats based in Berlin, Stockholm, Ottawa, Montreal, Washington, New York, Abuja, Madrid, London, Melbourne and Paris, who demanded the abolition of the two articles. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said that the May 2026 elections will be held on time but noted that “the remaining time does not allow for any amendment” of the electoral law. Sixty-five MPs from the parliamentary majority have tried to discuss the amendment of the electoral law in parliament but Berri has blocked the attempt. Expats had voted heavily in favor of the opposition, especially the so-called Change candidates, during the 2018 and 2022 parliamentary elections. Hezbollah and the Amal Movement argue that they do not enjoy the same campaigning freedom that the other parties enjoy abroad and have thus deemed the six newly-introduced seats as the lesser of two evils. It is still unclear how the voting for the six seats will take place seeing as there is no clear mechanism distributing the seats on sects and continents. That can be resolved through executive decrees issued by the government or an amendment of the electoral law by parliament. The Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb Party and some Change and independent MPs are meanwhile calling for allowing expats to vote for the current 128 seats as happened in the 2018 and 2022 elections. The law had been amended back then to allow for the postponement of the introduction of the six new seats until 2026.

US lauds Aoun's remarks, Trump may press Netanyahu
Naharnet/October 15/2025
The United States has welcomed President Joseph Aoun’s latest remarks on Lebanon’s readiness to engage in negotiations with Israel to resolve the outstanding issues, senior Lebanese diplomatic sources have said. The U.S. is “readying to activate its mediation between Lebanon and Israel in the coming period, especially as its new ambassador Michel Issa begins his work in Beirut,” the sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. Noting that Aoun had demanded the halt of Israeli attacks prior to any negotiations, the sources did not rule out that U.S. President Donald Trump might press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, especially that Beirut has openly declared its readiness for negotiations.

Issa: Lebanon future belongs to those who believe in its recovery, independence, unity
Naharnet/October 15/2025
The new U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa who is readying to assume his mission in the near future has said that “Lebanon’s future belongs to all those who believe in its recovery and its independence and its unity.” Issa, who is of Lebanese origins, voiced his remarks at a reception at the Lebanese embassy in Washington.U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus meanwhile congratulated her “dear friend” Issa, adding that she is “so thrilled” to work with him on the Lebanese file.

Aoun Urges Truth and Transparency as Members of National Commission for Missing Persons Take Oath
This is Beirut/October 15/2025
On Wednesday, members of the National Commission for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons were sworn in before the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, who reaffirmed that “the right to know the truth is a sacred right for every family.”The president also called on all parties to cooperate and “break the wall of silence” to help uncover the fate of the missing, “no matter how painful the truth may be.”The National Commission is tasked with addressing one of Lebanon’s most sensitive post-war issues, the fate of thousands of individuals who went missing or were forcibly disappeared during the 1975–1990 Lebanese civil war and its aftermath. The body is mandated to investigate cases, locate and identify remains, and maintain a national database for victims. The renewed focus on the issue comes as Lebanon and Syria, during a two-hour meeting in Beirut on Tuesday, reached an agreement for Damascus to hand over all available information related to security incidents that occurred in Lebanon during the period of Syrian control, particularly concerning political assassinations. The meeting, held between a Lebanese delegation led by Minister of Justice Adel Nassar and a Syrian delegation headed by Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weisi, also resulted in agreements to fully support the committee monitoring the issue of forcibly disappeared persons and to cooperate on locating and extraditing individuals who fled justice in Lebanon and are currently residing in Syria.

Trump Pressures Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah Following Gaza Agreement
Amal Chmouny/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
In the wake of the recent Gaza peace agreement, the United States is sharpening its focus on disarming Hezbollah, the militant group that has long contributed to Lebanon's instability. The aftermath of this agreement is expected to catalyze significant geopolitical shifts, compelling external powers, particularly the US, to take decisive actions against Hezbollah. Speaking in the Knesset, President Donald Trump asserted, "In Lebanon, the dagger of Hezbollah, long aimed at Israel's throat, has been totally shattered. My administration is actively supporting the new president of Lebanon and his mission to disarm Hezbollah's terror brigades permanently." This statement underscores Trump's commitment to peace in the region and highlights the US's renewed engagement with Lebanon as it seeks to bolster its statehood. The latest developments in the Middle East indicate that, rather than adopting an isolationist stance, the Trump administration has become deeply involved in regional conflicts. American experts describe the region as being at a "pivotal moment," where the old order is collapsing and a new one is beginning to take shape. The US, therefore, is playing a crucial role in stabilizing the Middle East while also aiming to reshape its political landscape.The Gaza peace agreement, carefully orchestrated by the Trump administration, has significant implications for Lebanon's security and political landscape. An American diplomat pointed out that this agreement could alter Israeli military strategy by redirecting its focus toward its northern border. This shift may compel the Lebanese government to intensify its demands for Hezbollah's disarmament. Indeed, Hezbollah's persistent military capabilities, operating beyond the control of the Lebanese state, pose significant challenges to Lebanon's sovereignty and contribute to the nation's ongoing struggles with economic turmoil and international isolation. In September 2025, the Lebanese government took a step towards addressing this issue by approving a phased disarmament roadmap targeting Hezbollah.Despite this, US patience appears to be waning. American officials are increasingly insistent that Lebanese authorities must take decisive action to disarm Hezbollah, viewing this disarmament not merely as a requirement but as a critical step towards the restoration of peace and governance in Lebanon. The US has made it clear that its support for Lebanese security forces is contingent upon tangible progress in dismantling Hezbollah's military capabilities. A significant security package has recently been approved to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in their efforts to dismantle Hezbollah's operational networks. US Representative Darin LaHood emphasized the urgency of this action, stating, "There must be tangible results in the disarmament of Hezbollah, especially in the South."
As the implications of the October 2025 Gaza Agreement begin to unfold, Lebanon's political landscape is at a critical juncture. Increased Israeli military operations directed at Hezbollah positions and heightened US emphasis on the need for effective disarmament place the LAF in a challenging position. On October 6, 2025, the Lebanese army presented a report to the cabinet detailing its military plan to disarm Hezbollah and secure state control over all weapons in Lebanon, responding to the lingering instability resulting from the 2024 Israeli-Hezbollah war.
Experts warn that Lebanon must adapt its strategies in light of ongoing geopolitical shifts. They point to three important decisions impacting the region: the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the lifting of sanctions on Syria, and the normalization of relations with Syria's transitional government, alongside the strong backing for the Netanyahu administration's policies against Gaza and Hezbollah.
As the US continues to navigate its role in the Middle East, its stance against Hezbollah and support for Lebanon's path toward peace remain critical components of its foreign policy strategy. American diplomats have emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities for peace and de-escalation, particularly in light of recent developments. Sources close to the US State Department have indicated that Hezbollah is actively seeking to exploit the ongoing instability in Lebanon. The end of the Gaza war should serve as a wake-up call for Lebanon to capitalize on the current administration's willingness to facilitate a peace agreement. According to White House sources, President Trump is planning to work through the new US ambassador, Michel Issa, to lay the groundwork for an agreement similar to the one achieved in Gaza. Concurrently, he intends to collaborate with key Arab and European nations on the Lebanese issue while applying pressure on Iran to reconsider its support for Hezbollah. In Gaza, Trump's decisive stance marked a turn toward prioritizing peace, and he has made it clear that he will not tolerate any delays from either Israel or Hamas. American diplomats highlight that Trump's approach to peace has demonstrated both skill and a strategic shift, invoking the idea of "achieving peace through strength." His tactics resemble those of a deal-making alliance, uniting Arab and Islamic countries alongside the United States, European nations, Israel, and Hamas. In this context, key figures such as Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, Ali Al-Thawadi, and Ron Dermer contributed to advancing Trump's strategy for peace. The pressing question now is: who will take the lead in the upcoming negotiations to manage Lebanon's strategic file in a manner that does not compromise the country's interests?

One critically wounded in Israeli drone strike on motorbike in south
Naharnet/October 15/2025
An Israeli drone strike overnight targeted a motorcycle on the Wadi Jilou road in the southern Tyre district, the National News Agency said. The attack critically wounded one person, NNA added.Despite a ceasefire reached with Hezbollah in November last year, Israel has kept up its strikes, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. It is also still occupying five hills in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic."

Lebanon’s Bananas Withstand TR4
Christiane Tager/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
Despite a ruthless disease threatening banana plantations worldwide, Lebanese growers keep smiling. With southern heat, clever greenhouse techniques and local know-how, Lebanon’s bananas continue to thrive… and turn a sweet profit. Under the southern Lebanese sun, banana trees proudly stretch their lush green leaves, standing tall against climate challenges, crises and conflict. In this fertile, humid region, bananas have become more than a crop; they are a national specialty. “We produce between 80,000 and 100,000 tons a year, and demand keeps rising,” says a grower from South Lebanon. The season runs from September to May, filling markets with golden fruit. During the dry summer months, Lebanon imports bananas – ironic for a country that exports nearly 30% of its harvest to Syria, Iraq and other Arab markets.
TR4: The Invisible Threat
Yet beneath this success lies a hidden danger. TR4, or Tropical Race 4, is a fungus that attacks banana roots and causes plantations to wither. First appearing in Southeast Asia in the 1990s, it has spread worldwide, prompting the FAO to warn of a “silent global crisis.”
In Lebanon, farmers remain confident. “Yes, TR4 exists here, but we control it and take preventive measures,” the grower explains. Careful use of insecticides and protective practices keeps the infection limited to 20–30% of trees. “Most plantations are covered by greenhouses,” he adds, structures that shield plants from the fungus and slow its spread.
Innovation and Resilience
Lebanese growers are not giving up. Supported by international organizations, they are testing resistant varieties and improving soil treatment methods. The fight against TR4 is collective, as the survival of this lucrative sector depends on it. Bananas rank among Lebanon’s most profitable crops, alongside avocados. “When the borders with Syria and Iraq were closed, prices fell,” recalls the grower. “But now exports are resuming, and the market is stabilizing.” In a country where crises often outpace harvests, the banana remains an agricultural success story. It embodies the resilience of rural Lebanon, which continues to cultivate its golden fruit with determination – despite disease, conflict, closed borders and import costs. Lebanese bananas are far from done making headlines. And if TR4 tries to bring them down, each season proves that here, even the fruit knows how to fight back.

Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon: One of Many Unresolved Cases
Natasha Metni Torbey/This Is Beirut/October 15/2025
A high-level Syrian delegation arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to address a long-neglected issue in strained bilateral relations: the case of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons. Officially, the meeting aimed to finalize a judicial agreement to organize the transfer of Syrian nationals incarcerated in Lebanon back to Syria within a legal framework that includes humanitarian safeguards. Unofficially, it tested how far Beirut and Damascus could cooperate in an area where justice, security and political memory intersect. Discussions, described by both parties as “positive,” focused on establishing joint committees to review prisoner files and determine which detainees might be eligible for transfer. These committees will also work to locate Lebanese citizens missing in Syria for years and resolve disputes related to undefined border areas. According to an official familiar with the matter, interviewed by This is Beirut, an initial draft of the agreement has already been prepared. It would create a bilateral coordination mechanism between the Ministries of Justice and Interior of both countries. The mixed committees, expected to begin functioning in the coming days, will examine each case individually before any transfer decision is made. The goal is to ensure transparency and prevent politically motivated reprisals, while also addressing the fate of missing persons and future judicial cooperation. “According to the preliminary elements of the agreement, only Syrian detainees not involved in violent crimes, terrorism or cases affecting Lebanon’s national security would be considered,” the official said. “This strict selection serves a dual purpose: avoiding any perception of leniency toward violence while easing pressure on a Lebanese prison system on the verge of collapse.”In parallel, the delegation also discussed progress on the bilateral judicial agreement concerning crimes and disappearances dating back to the former Syrian regime. According to official sources, the Syrian team pledged full support for the commission monitoring missing persons, committed to providing all available information on security operations conducted in Lebanon under the former regime, and agreed to cooperate in locating and transferring individuals who fled Lebanese justice to Syria. This progress, enabled by preparatory work initiated last month, will be further reinforced through additional meetings designed to strengthen bilateral relations while fully respecting the sovereignty of both states. Lebanon’s prisons are facing a critical overcrowding crisis. Official figures indicate that over 2,000 Syrian nationals are currently detained, representing approximately 30% of the total prison population. According to a judicial source interviewed by This is Beirut, these detainees include those convicted of serious crimes, those held for lesser offenses and political prisoners, many of whom are still awaiting trial.
This alarming situation has prompted Beirut to accelerate efforts to reach a compromise with Damascus, as security and humanitarian conditions in the prisons grow increasingly volatile. Lebanese Minister of Interior Ahmad al-Hajjar recently warned of a potential total collapse of the penitentiary system if urgent measures are not taken, citing inhumane conditions, record overcrowding and rising tensions among inmates. Syria, for its part, has pledged full cooperation with Lebanon to resolve the issue “in a spirit of fraternity and sovereignty,” but insists that any transfers follow its own judicial procedures. Beneath this technical negotiation lies a deeply political challenge. By opening this dialogue, both Damascus and Beirut aim to consolidate the recent thaw following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the rise of President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The new Syrian leadership seeks to restore its regional legitimacy, while Beirut hopes to achieve tangible progress on sensitive issues, including border demarcation, refugee returns and the fate of 17,000 Lebanese missing in Syria, according to official figures.These dossiers now serve as a litmus test for the Syrian government’s willingness to move beyond the past. Their success will depend on careful implementation, as any attempt at political manipulation or exploitation could derail the process and reignite mistrust.

Lebanon’s economy minister expects cabinet to sign fiscal gap law soon
Reuters/October 15, 2025
WASHINGTON: Lebanon’s cabinet is soon expected to approve and send to parliament a long-awaited law needed to restructure its debt burden, the country’s economy minister said, adding that policymakers are in touch daily with the International Monetary Fund.
Lebanon is struggling to emerge from a severe economic crisis following decades of profligate spending by ruling elites that sent the economy into a tailspin in late 2019, with depositors locked out of accounts as debt-laden banks shut down.
Key to the fiscal and economic overhaul is a law on the distribution of financial losses between the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors — dubbed the “fiscal gap” law.Asked about progress on the law, Amer Bizat said the government’s emphasis was on good legislation rather than speedy progress. “The idea is to present it, discuss in the cabinet, approve in the cabinet, and then send it over to the parliament,” Bizat told Reuters on Tuesday on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. He added that he expected these things to happen “soon.”“It’s more important that we get something right than we get something fast,” he said.
RELATIONS WITH BONDHOLDERS POSITIVE, MINISTER SAYS
Declining to give details on the numbers being discussed, Bizat said the draft would follow three principles — depositors would get back their money over time with no haircut and that any solution would ensure the banking sector back to health. Furthermore, smaller deposits would get their money back faster than larger depositors, he added. Bizat also said he was meeting with the IMF every day. Asked whether he would also meet bondholders on the sidelines of the meetings in Washington, Bizat declined to comment but said relations between authorities and those investors were “good, cordial and positive.”Recent events in the region could bring big positive change for Lebanon, said Bizat, who previously was BlackRock’s global head of emerging markets. “That change could potentially be very good, very positive for Lebanon,” he said. “Let’s not forget, we’re in the middle of a war still ... but there’s a possibility that the kind of changes that are happening, if stability, if security, comes back to the region, Lebanon could benefit enormously.”The government is also expecting hundreds of investors to head to Beirut in November for a conference dubbed Beirut One, that Bizat hopes would help rekindle private investor engagement in the country. “There is a strong interest in imagining the day after,” he said. “We know people are very realistic ... everybody knows that challenges are enormous, and the journey is still very, very long, but I really think people are saying it’s okay to start imagining how things will be after.”

Maronite leader says Pope Leo will carry message of ‘peace’ to Lebanon
Arab News/October 15, 2025
BKERKE, Lebanon: Pope Leo XIV will carry a message of peace to Lebanon and the Christians of the Middle East when he visits next month, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai told AFP on Wednesday. The Vatican said last week that Pope Leo will travel to Turkiye and Lebanon in a six-day trip beginning late November, his first since becoming head of the Catholic Church. Rai, who heads the Maronite Church, religiously diverse Lebanon’s most influential Christian sect, hailed the pontiff’s visit at a time of truce in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the war in Gaza.
In an interview with AFP from the Maronite Patriarchate headquarters in Bkerke, north of Beirut, Rai said that the US-born pope “will bring peace and hope to Lebanon during his visit.”“He comes at a time when the war in Gaza has ceased... and we are living in Lebanon under a ceasefire, despite violations occurring,” he added. After more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah Islamist group, a ceasefire agreement was signed in November. The truce remains in effect despite Israel carrying out near-daily strikes on Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah members and infrastructure. A few days ago, a ceasefire also came into effect in the Gaza Strip after a devastating two-year war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. “I believe that during this visit, he will focus on peace, and he will ask Lebanon to continue on its path toward peace,” said Rai, whose Church is in full communion with Rome.
- ‘Preserve Lebanon’ -
The latest conflict killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and devastated Beirut’s southern suburbs and the country’s south and east, areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Last week, Pope Leo said that his trip to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2 presents “the opportunity to announce once again the message of peace... in a country that has also suffered so much.”Rai, who has long called for Lebanon to be kept out of regional conflicts, stated that he believes the visit “will remind all Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike, of their responsibility to preserve Lebanon.”“The value of Lebanon lies in the fact that each of its groups maintains its role and identity. Coexistence means that Christians have their identity and Muslims have theirs. The pope does not come to say, ‘abandon your identity’, but rather, ‘Live your identity’,” he added. “This is how the Vatican understands Lebanon, with its cultural and religious pluralism.”Pope Leo XIV is the third pontiff to visit Lebanon, after John Paul II in 1997 and Benedict XVI in 2012, who received a tremendous popular reception. His trip comes in the wake of a series of crises that have ravaged Lebanon, from a crushing economic crisis that began in 2019, to the horrific port explosion the following summer, to the recent war. “The visit is a great relief for Christians in Lebanon,” Rai said, as well as for “Christians in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the Holy Land,” who have gone through wars, conflicts, and waves of displacement.

Lebanon’s legal assessment for journalists killed by Israel offers ‘fresh opportunity for justice,’ rights group says
Arab News/October 15/2025
LONDON: Human Rights Watch on Monday called Lebanon’s decision to legally assess the killing of Lebanese journalists by Israel a “fresh opportunity to achieve justice.”Nearly two years after a deadly attack by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, the Lebanese Cabinet instructed the Justice Ministry on Thursday to explore legal options to hold Israel accountable for such attacks.“Israel’s apparently deliberate killing of Issam Abdullah should have served as a crystal clear message for Lebanon’s government that impunity for war crimes begets more war crimes,” said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at HRW. “Since Issam’s killing, scores of other civilians in Lebanon have been killed in apparently deliberate or indiscriminate attacks that violate the laws of war and amount to war crimes.”On the second anniversary of Abdallah’s death, Information Minister Paul Morcos submitted a proposal based on a report by the independent Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research examining the circumstances of the killing. The initiative — backed by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam — was welcomed by Reporter Without Borders as “an important first step,” which called on Beirut to refer the case to the International Criminal Court for war crimes investigation. Abdallah, a 37-year-old video journalist, was killed by Israeli tank shells while filming cross-border exchanges. Six other journalists were wounded, including AFP photographer Christina Assi, who lost a leg. Independent investigations by HRW, Reuters, AFP, Amnesty International and RSF concluded that the attack was “deliberately” launched by Israeli forces on “clearly visible media members.”The organizations condemned the attack as a violation of international law and called for a war crimes investigation. A UNIFIL investigation similarly found that “an Israeli tank killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah by firing two 120mm rounds at clearly identifiable journalists,” violating international law. Despite these findings, no legal proceedings have been initiated in Lebanon or Israel. Israeli authorities deny wrongdoing, stating they are “reviewing the incident,” while no international inquiry has yet commenced. HRW said that Issam Abdallah’s death is one among numerous violations documented on Lebanese territory by Israeli forces that could amount to war crimes. Beyond deliberate attacks on journalists, HRW has recorded repeated assaults on peacekeepers, medics, and civilian infrastructure, including the targeted demolition of homes and the destruction of large areas of critical public services. The group also reported widespread use of white phosphorus — a wax-like incendiary weapon — by Israeli forces in populated areas, whose deployment is widely considered illegal under international humanitarian law. The previous Lebanese government requested the ICC extend its jurisdiction over Lebanon, which is not a member state. Under Article 12 of the Rome Statute, non-member states can accept ICC jurisdiction for specific crimes by submitting a declaration. However, that request was rescinded, and the current government, in office since February 2025, has yet to submit a new application. Thursday’s announcement represents a decisive step by Lebanon’s new Cabinet toward accountability. “Lebanon’s government can and should honor victims’ demands for justice by enabling the investigation of unlawful attacks and war crimes that caused untold damage and suffering,” Kaiss said.

Lebanon, Syria Near Agreement on Handover of Syrian Prisoners, Wanted Suspects
Youssef Diab/Asharq Al-Awsat/ October 15/2025
Lebanon and Syria are close to reaching a judicial agreement concerning Syrian detainees in Lebanon, fugitives from Syrian justice, and Lebanese nationals in Syria, officials from both countries announced on Tuesday. At a joint press conference in Beirut with Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar and Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais stated that the two countries’ positions were “closely aligned,” and the discussions were proceeding within the correct legal framework, reported Syria’s state news agency SANA. Special teams have been formed to investigate and pursue justice, he added. Nassar confirmed that “significant progress” has been made in drafting the legal text of the agreement. However, he emphasized that the agreement would not cover individuals involved in serious crimes such as murder or rape, whether committed against civilians or Lebanese military personnel.
He said he had “constructive and positive” talks with the Syrian officials over the issues, underscoring both countries’ commitment to respecting the legal frameworks of the agreement, ensuring the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria, and their shared desire for cooperation. Nassar added that they also discussed obtaining information from Syria about assassinations that had taken place in Lebanon. He said Damascus is responsive to cooperating with Beirut. Meanwhile, Mitri reiterated Lebanon’s political will to resolve the issue of detained Syrians in Lebanon. He added that al-Wais would visit Roumieh Prison, as part of Syria’s right to meet its detained or convicted citizens abroad. Mitri revealed that around 2,300 Syrians are currently detained or serving sentences in Lebanon. Future meetings on this issue will take place alternately between Beirut and Damascus. He further stressed that Lebanese-Syrian relations extend beyond the judicial cooperation agreement on detainees, with ongoing discussions on border issues, refugees, and other matters. A delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Justice, led by al-Wais, had arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to explore ways to support joint efforts in alleviating the plight of Syrian detainees in Lebanon and ensuring justice to protect their dignity and rights. The judicial meetings between Lebanon and Syria have been garnering attention from leaderships in both countries. Reaching a new judicial agreement will pave the way for a new phase in cooperation. An informed Lebanese official source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the agreement was necessary and once ratified, will serve the interests of both countries.
An agreement must be reached, it added.
It revealed that Lebanon is vehemently opposed to handing over any Syrian suspect or convict involved in the killing of members of the Lebanese army or carrying out terrorist bombings in Lebanon. It may hand over suspects who had provided the perpetrators with logistic or financial support, it went on to say. Lebanon has shown flexibility in releasing all 2,300 Syrian detainees, except some 500 who are held on charges related to murder, rape and dangerous drug networks, the source said. The move aims to ease overcrowding in Lebanese jails, it stated, revealing that Syrians make up 35 percent of the inmates.
The agreement is expected to be finalized in weeks and presented to the Lebanese parliament before the relevant laws are drafted and ratified, it explained.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 15-16/2025
Red Cross has received remains of 2 more Hamas hostages to be given to Israel
AP/October 15, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Red Cross received the remains of two more Hamas hostages on Wednesday, hours after the Israeli military said that one of the bodies previously turned over was not that of a hostage. The confusion added to tensions over the fragile truce that has paused the two-year war. The Israeli military said the International Committee of the Red Cross received the remains, which were to be transferred to Israeli forces in Gaza. Earlier Wednesday, military officials said one of the bodies previously handed over by Hamas was not that of a hostage who was held in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry said it received 45 more bodies of Palestinians from Israel, another step in implementation of the ceasefire agreement. That brings to 90 the total number of bodies returned to Gaza for burial. The forensics team examining the remains said they showed signs of mistreatment. As part of the deal, four bodies of hostages were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday, following four on Monday that were returned hours after the last 20 living hostages were released from Gaza. In all, Israel has been awaiting the return of the bodies of 28 hostages. The Israeli military said forensic testing showed that “the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages.” There was no immediate word on whose body it was. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees Monday. Unidentified bodies returned to Gaza show signs of abuse. Israel is expected to turn over more bodies, though officials have not said how many are in its custody or how many will be returned. It is unclear whether the remains belong to Palestinians who died in Israeli custody or were taken from Gaza by Israeli troops. Throughout the war, Israel’s military has exhumed bodies as part of its search for the remains of hostages. As forensic teams examined the first remains returned, the Health Ministry on Wednesday released images of 32 unidentified bodies to help families recognize missing relatives. Many appeared decomposed or burned. Some were missing limbs or teeth, while others were coated in sand and dust. Health officials have said Israeli restrictions on allowing DNA testing equipment into Gaza have often forced morgues to rely on physical features and clothing for identification. The forensics team that received the bodies said some arrived still shackled or bearing signs of physical abuse.
Sameh Hamad, a member of a commission tasked with receiving the bodies at Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, said some arrived with their hands and legs cuffed.
“There are signs of torture and executions,” he told The Associated Press.
The bodies, he said, belonged to men ages 25 to 70. Most had bands on their necks, including one that had a rope around the neck. Most of the bodies wore civilian clothing, but some were in uniforms, suggesting they were militants. Hamad said the Red Cross provided names for only three of the dead, leaving many families uncertain of their relatives’ fate. The fighting has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government in Gaza. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.Rasmiya Qudeih, 52, waited outside Nasser Hospital, hoping her son would be among the 45 bodies transferred from Israel on Wednesday. He vanished on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas-led attack that triggered the war. She was told he was killed by an Israeli strike. “God willing, he will be with the bodies,” she said. Netanyahu says Israel won’t compromise The ceasefire plan introduced by US President Donald Trump had called for all hostages — living and dead — to be handed over by a deadline that expired Monday. But under the deal, if that didn’t happen, Hamas was to share information about deceased hostages and try to hand them over as soon as possible. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel “will not compromise” and demanded that Hamas fulfill the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal about the return of hostages’ bodies. Trump, in an interview with CNN, warned that Israel could resume the war if he feels Hamas isn’t upholding its end of the agreement. “Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word,” Trump said. Hamas’ armed wing said in a statement Wednesday that the group honored the ceasefire’s terms and handed over the remains of the hostages it had access to. Hamas and the Red Cross have said that recovering the remains of dead hostages was a challenge because of Gaza’s vast destruction, and Hamas has told mediators that some are in areas controlled by Israeli troops. Two hostages whose bodies were released from Gaza were being buried Wednesday.

Gaza to Egypt crossing remains shut as Israel pushes for hostage remains
AFP/October 15, 2025
JERUSALEM: The lifeline Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt remained shut on Wednesday despite reports that it could reopen to aid convoys, as Israel insisted Hamas hand over the remains of the last deceased hostages it holds. Early in the day, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that the crossing point would reopen, but humanitarian sources told AFP this had not happened and a government spokeswoman ignored questions on the subject. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed frustration that the ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump and hailed by world leaders, had yet to facilitate the scale of relief needed in the devastated Palestinian territory. “As Hamas have agreed, they must make strenuous efforts to return all the bodies of deceased hostages, urgently. I am also gravely concerned by the evidence of violence against civilians in Gaza,” Fletcher said. “As Israel has agreed, they must allow the massive surge of humanitarian aid — thousands of trucks a week — on which so many lives depend, and on which the world has insisted. We need more crossings open.”
- Humanitarian risk -
Meanwhile, under the Trump plan endorsed by international mediators, Israel and Hamas are expected to continue their exchange of human remains, which also hit an unexpected obstacle on Wednesday. The swap has seen the last 20 surviving hostages return home in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails, as well as a halt in the fighting and bombardment. So far, Hamas has handed back eight bodies, seven of which have been identified. The remains of 20 others remain in Gaza, and there is domestic pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tie aid to the fate of the bodies.
The eighth — unidentified — body was not that of a former hostage, the Israeli military said after overnight tests, leading some Israeli politicians to accuse Hamas of breaking the ceasefire agreement. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to cut off aid supplies to Gaza if Hamas fails to return the remains of soldiers still held in the territory. Israel, meanwhile, transferred another 45 Palestinian bodies that had been in its custody to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, bringing the number handed back to 90, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said. Under the Trump plan Israel is to return 15 Palestinian dead for every deceased Israeli hostage.
- Aid trucks -
The war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel led to a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with the densely-populated territory reliant on aid that was heavily restricted, when not cut off outright. At the end of August, the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza, though Israel rejected the claim. The return of aid is listed in Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. Another political challenge is Hamas’s disarmament, a demand the militant group has refused to countenance. The group is tightening its grip on the Gaza Strip’s ruined cities, launching a crackdown and executing alleged collaborators with Israel. Hamas has published a video on its official channel showing the summary executions of eight blindfolded and kneeling people, branding them “collaborators and outlaws.”The footage, apparently from Monday evening, emerged as armed clashes were underway between Hamas’s various security units and armed Palestinian clans, some alleged to have Israeli backing. In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed their patrols.“Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the security of citizens,” a Palestinian security source in Gaza told AFP.
- ‘Perhaps violently’ -
Israel and the United States insist Hamas can have no role in a future Gaza government. Trump’s plan says that Hamas members who agree to “decommission their weapons” will be given amnesty. “If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them,” Trump told reporters at the White House a day after visiting the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire. “And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.”

Syrian leader seeks reset in Russia relations in Putin meeting
AFP/October 15, 2025
MOSCOW: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said Wednesday he wanted to “redefine” relations with Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him in their first meeting since key Kremlin ally Bashar Assad was ousted last year. In front of the television cameras, Putin greeted Sharaa warmly at the Kremlin, but behind closed doors the Syrian leader was expected to push for Moscow to extradite Assad, who fled there after being toppled. The two were also expected to discuss the status of Russia’s prized military bases in Syria — the naval base in Tartus and air base at Hmeimim — the fate of which has been uncertain since the rebel takeover. Russia was a key ally of Assad during the bloody 14-year Syrian civil war, providing vital military support that kept his forces in power. He was ousted last December in an offensive led by Sharaa’s Islamist forces, fleeing to Russia, which has been sheltering him and his family for the past 10 months. In remarks at the start of the meeting, Sharaa acknowledged the two countries’ historic ties but said he wanted a recalibration, as he brings Damascus in from isolation on the world stage. “We are trying to restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations so there is independence for Syria, sovereign Syria, and also its territorial unity and integrity and its security stability,” Sharaa told Putin.
Putin hails ‘special relations’ -
The Russian leader hailed “special relations” between the two countries that “have developed between our countries over many decades.”Neither publicly mentioned Assad or the Russian bases, the main sticking points in the relationship. Al-Sharaa said before the meeting: “We respect all previous agreements,” without elaborating. After the meeting, which according to Russian state media lasted for more than two and a half hours, Moscow said it was ready to continue its role in Syria’s crude oil production. “Russian companies have been working on Syria’s oilfields for a long time,” vice premier Alexander Novak was quoted as saying by state news agency TASS, adding that there were some new fields where Moscow was “ready to participate.”Russia, which in 2015 started launching air strikes on rebel-held territory in Syria, also said it wanted to help rebuild the country, battered by the long war. “Our companies are interested in the development of transport infrastructure and the restoration of energy systems” of Syria, Novak said.
- Assad asylum -
A Syrian government official told AFP before the meeting that Sharaa would request Putin hand over Assad, who Russia says it is protecting on “humanitarian grounds.”The official, who requested anonymity as they were not allowed to brief the media, told AFP: “Sharaa will ask the Russian president to hand over all individuals who committed war crimes and are in Russia, most notably Bashar Assad.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed earlier this week the ousted leader was still living in Moscow. “We have granted asylum to Bashar Assad and his family for purely humanitarian reasons. He has no issues residing in our capital,” Lavrov said at a forum on Monday. Russia’s military support for Assad helped turn the tide of the Syrian civil war in his favor when it started intervening in 2015. Russian warplanes rained air strikes on rebel-held areas of Syria including the northwest Idlib region, which was largely controlled by Sharaa’s Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in the later years of the conflict. During a government offensive launched in late 2019 to retake parts of the province, Moscow carried out hundreds of air strikes on the rebel bastion, causing casualties and widespread destruction, including to civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, marketplaces and residential areas. Moscow also sponsored so-called reconciliation deals between government forces and opposition factions in several parts of Syria that resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and fighters to Idlib.
HTS, of which Sharaa was a leader, was not one of them. During the Syrian civil war, Russia in 2020 placed HTS on its list of recognized “terrorists.”

Egypt sends 400 shipments of aid to Gaza as ceasefire holds
Arab News/October 15, 2025
LONDON: The Egyptian Red Crescent sent more than 400 shipments containing about 9,700 tonnes of humanitarian and petroleum aid to Gaza on Wednesday. The convoy carried about 5,700 tonnes of food and flour, 1,400 tonnes of medical supplies, and 2,500 tonnes of petroleum products to support Palestinians in the enclave. The initiative, “Zad El-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza,” is now in its 50th day and is part of Cairo’s efforts to provide relief to Palestinians. It has delivered thousands of tonnes of aid, including flour, baby formula, medical supplies, therapeutic drugs, personal care items and fuel.
Egypt has collaborated with several countries, including Kuwait and the UAE, to deliver aid to Gaza. Aid shipments transit from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to Karm Abu Salem, located at the southeasternmost point of Gaza. Last week, Egypt, along with Qatar, Turkiye and the US, signed on as guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire declaration in the Sinai city of Sharm El-Sheikh. The deal led to Israel and Hamas exchanging hostages and prisoners.

Israeli military to seize Palestinian lands near Qalqilia for settlement expansion
Arab News/October 15, 2025
LONDON: Israeli authorities issued two military orders on Wednesday to seize about 25 dunums (2.5 hectares) of Palestinian land for settlement expansion and development near the Qalqilia governorate in the occupied West Bank. Muneef Nazzal, who monitors settlement activity in Qalqilia, reported to Wafa that the Israeli army has issued an order to confiscate three dunums and 712 sq. meters of land in the town of Azzun, located east of Qalqilia. The seized plot will be used to construct a road that will connect the settlement of Alfei Menashe with the Qalqilia–Nablus road, also known as Road 55. Nazzal said that the second Israeli order approved the seizure of about 21 dunums and 307 sq. meters of land in Azzun and Jayyous for a “security wall” around the settlement of Tzufim. Both Alfei Menashe and Tzufim were built on land that belongs to residents from the towns of Azzun, Jayyous, and Kafr Thulth. Israeli settlements continue to expand in the area, taking over agricultural grounds, which directly threatens the livelihoods of Palestinian families who depend on farming as their primary source of income, according to Wafa. Israeli settlements in territories occupied in 1967 are considered illegal under international law and hinder the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank “fuels tensions, violence and instability” in the region, while threatening US efforts that led to a Gaza ceasefire and posing an “existential threat” to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Israeli intelligence shared with US claims Hamas has access to more bodies, Axios reports
Reuters/October 15, 2025
WASHINGTON: Israeli intelligence shared with the US claimed that Hamas had access to more bodies than claimed by the Palestinian militant group, Axios reported on Wednesday. Axios reported that Israel told the US Hamas was not doing enough to recover the bodies of dead Israeli hostages, and that the Gaza deal cannot move into the next phase until that changes. It cited two Israeli officials and one US official.

Netanyahu back in court for hearing in corruption trial
AFP/October 15, 2025
TEL AVIV: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a Tel Aviv court on Wednesday for the latest hearing in his long-running corruption trial, which opened in May 2020. The prime minister kept a smiling face as he and his entourage of several ministers from his conservative Likud party were heckled by protesters en route to the tribunal. It comes after US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the Israeli premier should be pardoned in his three separate corruption cases. His latest appearance at the Tel Aviv court also follows the return of the hostages taken by Hamas as part of Trump’s US-brokered plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In one case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods, including champagne, cigars and jewelry, from billionaires in exchange for political favors. In two other instances, Netanyahu is also charged with attempting to negotiate better press coverage from two Israeli media outlets. He has denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of a political plot. During his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu has proposed far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts.
Those prompted massive protests that only abated after the onset of the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. In an address on Monday to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Trump told the chamber that Netanyahu should receive a pardon in the graft cases.
“Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?” Trump joked, before asking his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog: “Why don’t you give him a pardon?“ The Israeli premier is also subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of ordering war crimes in his government’s assault on Hamas militants in Gaza. Netanyahu holds the record for the most years spent at the head of Israel’s government, having served 18 years in several stints as premier since 1996.

Red Cross has received remains of 2 more Hamas hostages to be given to Israel
AP/October 15, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Red Cross received the remains of two more Hamas hostages on Wednesday, hours after the Israeli military said that one of the bodies previously turned over was not that of a hostage. The confusion added to tensions over the fragile truce that has paused the two-year war. The Israeli military said the International Committee of the Red Cross received the remains, which were to be transferred to Israeli forces in Gaza. Earlier Wednesday, military officials said one of the bodies previously handed over by Hamas was not that of a hostage who was held in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry said it received 45 more bodies of Palestinians from Israel, another step in implementation of the ceasefire agreement. That brings to 90 the total number of bodies returned to Gaza for burial. The forensics team examining the remains said they showed signs of mistreatment. As part of the deal, four bodies of hostages were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday, following four on Monday that were returned hours after the last 20 living hostages were released from Gaza. In all, Israel has been awaiting the return of the bodies of 28 hostages. The Israeli military said forensic testing showed that “the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages.” There was no immediate word on whose body it was. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees Monday. Unidentified bodies returned to Gaza show signs of abuse. Israel is expected to turn over more bodies, though officials have not said how many are in its custody or how many will be returned. It is unclear whether the remains belong to Palestinians who died in Israeli custody or were taken from Gaza by Israeli troops. Throughout the war, Israel’s military has exhumed bodies as part of its search for the remains of hostages.As forensic teams examined the first remains returned, the Health Ministry on Wednesday released images of 32 unidentified bodies to help families recognize missing relatives. Many appeared decomposed or burned. Some were missing limbs or teeth, while others were coated in sand and dust. Health officials have said Israeli restrictions on allowing DNA testing equipment into Gaza have often forced morgues to rely on physical features and clothing for identification. The forensics team that received the bodies said some arrived still shackled or bearing signs of physical abuse.
Sameh Hamad, a member of a commission tasked with receiving the bodies at Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, said some arrived with their hands and legs cuffed.
“There are signs of torture and executions,” he told The Associated Press.
The bodies, he said, belonged to men ages 25 to 70. Most had bands on their necks, including one that had a rope around the neck. Most of the bodies wore civilian clothing, but some were in uniforms, suggesting they were militants. Hamad said the Red Cross provided names for only three of the dead, leaving many families uncertain of their relatives’ fate. The fighting has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government in Gaza. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Rasmiya Qudeih, 52, waited outside Nasser Hospital, hoping her son would be among the 45 bodies transferred from Israel on Wednesday. He vanished on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas-led attack that triggered the war. She was told he was killed by an Israeli strike. “God willing, he will be with the bodies,” she said. Netanyahu says Israel won’t compromise The ceasefire plan introduced by US President Donald Trump had called for all hostages — living and dead — to be handed over by a deadline that expired Monday. But under the deal, if that didn’t happen, Hamas was to share information about deceased hostages and try to hand them over as soon as possible. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel “will not compromise” and demanded that Hamas fulfill the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal about the return of hostages’ bodies.Trump, in an interview with CNN, warned that Israel could resume the war if he feels Hamas isn’t upholding its end of the agreement.“Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word,” Trump said. Hamas’ armed wing said in a statement Wednesday that the group honored the ceasefire’s terms and handed over the remains of the hostages it had access to. Hamas and the Red Cross have said that recovering the remains of dead hostages was a challenge because of Gaza’s vast destruction, and Hamas has told mediators that some are in areas controlled by Israeli troops. Two hostages whose bodies were released from Gaza were being buried Wednesday.

Israeli forces enter villages in Syrian countryside
Arab News/October 15, 2025
DUBAI: Israeli forces crossed into two areas in the Quneitra countryside in Syria on Wednesday before withdrawing, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. A SANA correspondent reported that an Israeli unit of eight military vehicles, a heavy vehicle, and two tanks advanced from Tal Kroum, toward the eastern town of Al-Samadaniyeh Al-Sharqiya, staying there for several hours before returning toward the destroyed city of Quneitra. The report added that another Israeli force entered the village of Ofaniya, where troops raided and searched two homes before pulling back.SANA said the incursions were part of continuing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, which Damascus says breach the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and international law. Syrian authorities called on the international community to take a firm stance to halt such actions.

Hunger in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen at ‘breaking point’ amid sharp funding cuts
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/October 15, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: The World Food Programme warned on Wednesday that a sharp decrease in funding is pushing food aid operations in crisis-hit countries, including Gaza, Sudan and Yemen, toward collapse, risking famine among millions of people already on the brink of starvation. In a report titled “A Lifeline at Risk,” WFP officials said unprecedented funding shortfalls are forcing the agency to slash rations, suspend vital food distributions, and cut entire populations off from aid in six of the world’s most fragile places: Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan. “Across these six countries, we’re seeing people completely cut off from assistance,” said Ross Smith, director of emergency preparedness and response. “These are the most vulnerable, living in the most fragile settings. We are at a breaking point.”Jean-Martin Bauer, the organization’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, joined Smith in warning that projections suggest 13.7 million people will fall into emergency levels of hunger this year alone as a direct result of funding cuts.“This isn’t theoretical,” Bauer. “These are mothers and children being turned away from clinics. This is the last lifeline being severed.
“We are looking at two concurrent famines for the first time in WFP’s history, in Gaza and Sudan, and the number of people facing famine-like conditions has doubled in just two years.”According to the WFP, 1.4 million people in five places — Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Yemen — are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity ranked by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system as Phase 5; this denotes the worst possible situation, or famine-like conditions. In Gaza, the WFP warned, access restrictions and funding gaps could leave vast swaths of the population without food in the coming weeks. The situation in Sudan, described by the organization as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, is equally alarming. Although the WFP provided 4.1 million people with aid in August, it said it has the capacity to reach nearly double that number but lacks the resources to do so. “Unless urgent funding is secured, we will have to reduce our footprint in Sudan and many other places,” Smith said. Other countries causing great concern include Afghanistan, where the WFP said it can currently assist less than 10 percent of the more than 10 million people facing acute food insecurity. Winter assistance is expected to reach less than 8 percent of those in need.
In South Sudan, record flooding has displaced populations, but funding shortfalls have forced the organization to scale down large-scale food-aid programs to a “famine-prevention” model that targets only the most critical areas. In Somalia, emergency food assistance has been cut by 75 percent compared with a year ago, with only 350,000 people targeted for help in November. In Haiti, funding shortfalls have forced the suspension of efforts to provide hot meals for displaced communities, and left the country unprepared for the ongoing hurricane season. Globally, 319 million people are affected by acute food insecurity, and 44 million are already at emergency levels of hunger. WFP officials said the situation is exacerbated by a dangerous narrative that suggests some crises, such as the situations in Afghanistan or Haiti, are no longer emergencies. “There’s a real risk that the world turns away, just as needs reach their peak,” Bauer said, warning that the erosion of humanitarian infrastructure and data systems could have long-term consequences. “The GPS of the humanitarian system — our data and analytics — is now also under threat. Without it, we’re flying blind,” he added. The WFP expects a 40 percent reduction in its assistance levels this year, with further cuts possible in 2026 unless donors urgently step in to help. “Famine is not inevitable,” said Bauer. “But without action, it is becoming increasingly likely.”

Jordanian king affirms preserving Christian sites during visit to Vatican
Arab News/October 15/2025
LONDON: King Abdullah II emphasized efforts to preserve Christian religious sites in Jordan during a meeting on Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, accompanied by Queen Rania. King Abdullah’s first meeting with the pontiff since the latter’s inauguration in May focused on the close relations between Jordan and the Vatican, exploring ways to cooperate in achieving peace and promoting the values of tolerance and dialogue. He invited Pope Leo to visit the site of Jesus Christ’s baptism, also known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, according to the Petra news agency. He warned of the dangers posed by Israeli attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem and emphasized Jordan’s ongoing religious and historical role in caring for both Muslim and Christian sites in the occupied city. He emphasized the importance of implementing the agreement to end the war in Gaza and delivering adequate relief aid to alleviate Palestinian suffering. King Abdullah highlighted that peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through a two-state solution, ensuring an independent Palestinian state, Petra reported. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, the chief adviser to the king for religious and cultural affairs, attended the meeting.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on October 15-16/2025
Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran After Gaza
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148226/
The war in Gaza has ended, but the same can’t be said about the others. Three fronts remain open. In Lebanon, a fragile truce holds, while sporadic exchanges of fire continue with Yemen’s Houthis. Meanwhile, Iran remains the major front, having been on alert since last June following the twelve-day war.
All eyes are on Netanyahu. Will the latest developments after the Sharm el-Sheikh conference sweep him out of office? It is more likely that he will try to complete the missions he pledged to carry out, which may reignite clashes on all three fronts. The October 2023 attacks happened under his watch, and he bears responsibility for them.
He likely believes that achieving full victories will place him above accountability. However, if his rivals succeed in toppling him, the region’s situation will hang in suspense as Israel awaits a new leader and a new policy. Still, Netanyahu might instead choose de-escalation and end two years of turmoil.
The likelihood of Netanyahu remaining in power is stronger, given his well-known political skills within a complex parliamentary system where he can craft coalitions that extend his rule. He has governed the Jewish state for more than 17 years – longer than Ben-Gurion – and still enjoys enough popularity after the wars he led, which brought Israel its biggest victories since the 1967 war.
Anxiety looms in Lebanon, as expressed by President Joseph Aoun, who warned that Israel might turn its attention to his country once it finishes with Gaza, describing this as “political profiteering.” Israel will certainly have surplus strength after withdrawing most of its troops from Gaza. And since Hezbollah is maneuvering to evade implementing what it agreed to with Israel – handing over its weapons to the Lebanese Army, under which the ceasefire was established – the Israeli northern front remains open.
The US president will not be able to restrain Netanyahu this time, as both the Americans and the French were witnesses and guarantors of the agreement. The ball is now in the court of the Lebanese president, who is avoiding confrontation with Hezbollah to preserve the civil peace and stability achieved since the beginning of the year.
According to Israel, it will not withdraw from southern Lebanon or stop its attacks unless Hezbollah hands over its weapons or perhaps new arrangements will be made to provide the necessary guarantees.
The confrontation with Yemen’s Houthis now depends on the behavior of the Iranian-backed group and what it does after Hamas accepted to end the war. Israel has the military capability to weaken the Houthis and prepare Yemeni forces on the ground to complete the mission of overthrowing the Ansar Allah regime in Sanaa. The renewed enthusiasm among these forces shows their readiness for the next phase.
The most difficult and dangerous front – with the widest regional repercussions – is Iran. President Trump was the one who stopped the fighting that lasted under two weeks. He had entered the war and ordered attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities; it was his first war, after which he announced a ceasefire. Netanyahu was dissatisfied at the time, failing to secure a green light to continue his planned military operations. The US president skillfully used that position against Tehran, warning it that he would unleash Netanyahu upon it if it resumed uranium enrichment or military activities.
That is why Iran’s armed forces are now on high alert, and Netanyahu will not lack cunning or pretexts to resume his war if he wishes. Should a clash break out between the two regional powers, Iran and Israel, it would be devastating. The region’s countries surrounding the conflict are watching anxiously and remain on alert.
Politicians in Lebanon and Iran must realize that the dangers have not ended – and will not end – with the Gaza ceasefire agreement. That bloody war concluded with a bilateral deal, while the situation on the other fronts remains unresolved.
The significant international presence that supports negotiations, exerts pressure, and provides aid in Gaza gives the other three threatened parties an opportunity to arrange their situations and agreements. They must not settle for temporary truces, for a truce is nothing more than a ticking time bomb.

The Middle East: Limits of Despair and Glimmers of Hope
Emile Ameen/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15, 2025
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) famously said that “Life begins on the other side of despair.” That is, hope often emerges in moments of despair. It is always darkest before dawn, and faith that anything is possible drives us.
Is the dawn of the Middle East about to begin after a pitch-dark darkness that lasted two years, during which it witnessed one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on Gaza’s land?
Without getting carried away or drowning in doom and gloom, we can say that the agreement to end the war in Gaza, though some believe that the ceasefire is fragile and that we face grave risks, is a glimmer that removes some of the occupation’s darkness.
The events of the past two years call for serious reflection and analysis that allows for drawing lessons from what happened that could benefit the whole region.
First and foremost, we must note the sublime scenes of Arab solidarity that reminded everyone that addressing existential questions must come from us, not others.
This time, the Arab states succeeded in their advocacy of their just cause. The efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has spearheaded the campaign for recognition of the independent Palestinian state, as well as Egypt’s firm and decisive rejection of displacement, as well as the logic of brute force, without emotional, uncalculated reactions, were key to this success.
From Cairo to Riyadh, with Amman and most of the Arab capitals in between, the Arab world made the case for this cause after eight decades of injustice. The summit in Sharm El-Sheikh thus amounted to a starting point.
What happened in Sharm El-Sheikh does not mean that life has become bliss. There are real reasons to worry about subsequent phases of the agreement, but it is clear that position shifts have unfolded and must be considered with a measure of objective and sensible optimism.
These shifts begin with the actions of US President Donald Trump, who has played a major role in bringing about this moment.
Some believe that this is the pragmatic side of Trump, and that may be the case. Enough with the daily slaughter and stripping of the Gazans of their land. The world does not remember an American president who could push Israel into political paths against its will since President Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969). Trump has managed to force a man who is not at all known for his pursuit of peace, Benjamin Netanyahu, to accept a deal that could open doors to peace if it receives additional American backing and international support.
One notable scene from the past few days was the return of Arab-Islamic solidarity. Indonesia and Pakistan played proactive and influential roles in the recent effort; the statements of Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, suffice to demonstrate the reinvigoration of this solidarity.
As for the European states in attendance, one can say that the Mediterranean states have taken the initiative. In fact, even the statements of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggest that London is following suit, and that it may consider atoning for its original sin (that cursed promise) by playing a role in the restoration of security and order to Gaza. Indeed, the Strip’s social fabric seems to have been torn apart, and without guidance and stabilization, “the house divided against itself will fall.”
Another moment to consider and take in is Trump’s speech in the Israeli Knesset, where he seemed more royal than a king. Although this is broadly well established, the flip side of the coin can be seen in the results obtained by reliable US pollsters, notably the Pew Research Center. According to the latter’s recent surveys, support for Israel, especially among youths, seems to be declining at a rate that threatens the future of US-Israeli relations.
Once again, we ask: have global geopolitical changes compelled the White House to change its stance, leading the president who had denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, to take commemorative photos with Abbas in Sharm El-Sheikh?Perhaps it is tied to the “monsters” Antonio Gramsci told us about, and to global developments. This is not the end of the story.

Why Can’t Trump’s Domestic Policy Be More Like His Foreign Policy?
The New York Times/October 15, 2025
When Donald Trump was first elected president, foreign policy seemed like the zone of greatest danger, the place where a political novice promising to remake the world order was most likely to blunder into true catastrophe.
Instead, Trump’s first-term foreign policy was broadly successful, with more stability, fewer dramatic stumbles and more breakthroughs than his domestic policy efforts. And it was much more successful than the rolling crises and debacles of the Biden presidency, a contrast that was one of the underrated cases for Trump’s restoration.
Now, with the provisional deal to end the war in Gaza, the pattern of Trump 1.0 is reasserting itself. As a domestic leader the president is powerful but unpopular, with a scant legislative agenda and an increasingly vendetta-driven public image. But on the world stage he is currently much more successful (allowing, yes, for strong skepticism about the administration’s China strategy).
If peace in Ukraine remains elusive, Trump has induced Europe to bear more of the burden without yielding to the Russians, as many critics feared. The Iranian nuclear program and terror networks have been hammered without major blowback. And now there is the possibility of a real breakthrough in Israel and Palestine, an achievement that’s clearly the result of the White House’s strong-arming diplomatic efforts.
All of which raises a question: What if Trump’s domestic policy were more like his foreign policy? Yes, presidents stymied at home often find it easier to maneuver overseas; that pattern is hardly unique to Trump. But there are still a few keys to his success on the world stage that, if applied at home, might make his domestic efforts more popular.
First, float above ideology. Trump’s first-term foreign policy team was staffed by traditional Republican hawks; his second has been divided between hawks and would-be realists, who have often feuded viciously with one another. But in both periods Trump himself has moved easily between different orientations — sometimes behaving like a conventional hawk, sometimes like a realist or a dove, going hyper-Zionist one moment and putting extra pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu the next, and generally refusing to let any single ideological camp rule his agenda.
On key domestic issues, by contrast, Trump has never quite shaken free of the pre-existing GOP consensus, which is why his populist presidency has repeatedly delivered unpopular tax-and-spending legislation, overweighted to the interests of corporations and the rich. Meanwhile, various potential projects that might break this mold, from infrastructure and industrial policy to family policy, have been disappointing or stillborn.
That’s partially because Trump has never found a consistent way to make deals with his political opposition, a contrast to the second key to his foreign policy success: Be open for dealmaking with everyone. Iran’s mullahs, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, the Taliban ... even when nothing comes of it or the whole thing ends in bombing raids, Trump is eager to have the conversation, to look for the unexpected bargain, the outside-the-box deal.
Critics will say that this is because Trump likes strongmen like Kim and Putin more than he likes fellow Americans who happen to be Democrats. But he’s also made deals with overseas figures whom he definitely doesn’t love, from left-leaning Eurocrats to now the leaders of Hamas.
It’s only in domestic politics that he’s been unable to consistently execute the pivot from insulting rivals on social media one day to making important bargains with them the next. And despite all the “America First” talk, it’s only in domestic politics that he’s been a true unilateralist, exploring the frontiers of executive power in ways that a future president could reverse — as opposed to a situation like the Gaza deal, where the hopes for its durability rest on Pan-Arab commitment, not just American power.
One reason for this difference is that in foreign policy he has followed a third rule: Let business-oriented outsiders run your negotiations. The fact that figures like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have seemingly done better — or at the very least no worse — than credentialed diplomatic professionals has striking implications for how we think about expertise in foreign policy. But it also contrasts with Trumpian domestic policy, where in the first term outsider figures like Kushner and Steven Mnuchin played notable roles, but where more second-term power is in the hands of committed partisan fighters like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought.
It is Trump who has given them that power, to be clear, and many of the differences I’m describing have clearly been consciously chosen by the president. Foreign policy is for grand achievements and the pursuit of Nobel Prizes, it seems, while the domestic front is where he hopes to get revenge for years of investigations and prosecutions.
If there’s anything that Middle Eastern politics should teach the president, though, it’s that true success lies somewhere outside the cycle of vengeance — if, that is, you want your victories to last.
*The New York Times

Turkish-Saudi ties amid rising geopolitical challenges
Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler/Arab News/October 15, 2025
I have had the privilege of living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in three different time periods, each of them during unique political and military challenges in the region. I first came to the Kingdom in 1979 as a student of the Arabic language at King Saud University. Later, in 2002, I returned as an associate professor and, finally, in 2024, as ambassador of my country. Remembering how life was in Riyadh back in the 1980s, the pace of change in the Kingdom in general and in Riyadh in particular has been truly amazing. In the meantime, I am pleased to observe that the generous Saudi hospitality has not changed throughout this time and I am grateful to the great people of Saudi Arabia for making me feel at home again in the Kingdom. This time around, the geopolitical landscape is certainly very different from both 1979 and 2002. There are major security threats arising from multiple sources, including the ever-increasing Israeli aggression, the plight of the Palestinians, instability in Lebanon, the transition in Syria, threats to maritime security in the Red Sea, and the conflict in Sudan. While global attention is currently — and rightly — on the developments in Palestine in general and Gaza in particular, we should not be distracted from the implications of these matters in the wider region. The recent unprovoked Israeli attack targeting the Hamas delegation in Doha during ceasefire negotiations was yet another example of Tel Aviv seeking escalation in the region. It clearly demonstrated the extent of Israel’s expansionist policies and its adoption of terrorism as a state policy. It was also a stark reminder that Israel has become the most serious threat to peace and security at both the regional and international levels.
These developments highlight the pressing need for deeper cooperation between our two countries. These developments highlight the pressing need for deeper cooperation between our two countries, namely Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. Our countries share similar perspectives on numerous regional issues, including those mentioned above. We have a strong common ground on upholding the principles of respect for sovereignty and good neighborliness, along with promoting dialogue and diplomacy, to achieve peace and security in the Middle East. The joint Arab League-Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit held in Doha last month was a clear reflection of this common ground. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the margins of the summit and had a fruitful exchange on bilateral relations and regional issues. Moreover, Turkiye has been an active supporter of and participant in the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organized by Saudi Arabia and France, at the UN General Assembly, as well as the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
The growth in tourism between the two countries is boosting our already strong people-to-people ties. In addition to the strengthening Turkish-Saudi coordination at international forums, our bilateral relations are also deepening. Our foreign ministers are in regular contact — they met twice in just the last month — and in May they co-chaired the second meeting of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council in Riyadh. Concurrently, economic relations between our countries are strengthening and bilateral trade and investments are expanding across a wide range of sectors. In addition to Hajj and Umrah visitors, the growth in tourism between the two countries is boosting our already strong people-to-people ties. Besides, we have increasing military and defense industry cooperation, which is becoming more important than ever in the face of the increasing security threats in the region.
Yet there is still untapped potential between the two countries and a lot of work ahead if we are to further expand the cooperation between our brotherly countries. We regard Saudi Arabia not merely as a major and trusted partner, but also as a brotherly Muslim nation with which to work together for stability and prosperity in our region and beyond.
*Prof. Dr. Emrullah Isler is Turkiye’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The battle for Gaza’s future has only just begun
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/October 15/2025
The guns may have quieted but Gaza today lies in ruins far beyond what many dared to imagine. What Israel’s military aggression and systematic destruction have inflicted on the Strip over more than two years is a catastrophe of an order that the world is only now beginning to grasp. As international media, aid organizations and observers will finally gain fuller access to Gaza, the grim truth will soon become visible: this is not a war zone in need of a ceasefire alone but a landscape of devastation demanding justice, reconstruction and a fundamental rethinking of what “peace” must mean.
Ending military operations is only the very first step. Peace and stability demand more than the cessation of bombs and bullets — they require that what Gazans endured not only be acknowledged but never allowed to recur. Reparations, meaningful accountability and a comprehensive reconstruction process must be front and center in any agreement. Without them, Gaza will remain a shell of suffering, an open wound in the conscience of humanity. The consequences of the Israeli campaign are staggering. According to Gaza authorities, well over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, thousands more remain missing and more than 20,000 children are estimated to have died. The destruction of infrastructure is near-total: more than 90 percent of roads damaged, hospitals, schools and water systems shattered, and entire neighborhoods erased.
International agencies estimate, optimistically, that rebuilding Gaza will cost as much as $40 billion and take at least a decade. Many neighborhoods are still covered in rubble, soaked with contaminants and littered with unexploded ordnance. Survivors return only to find nothing left: no walls, no roofs, no safe passage. Reparations, meaningful accountability and a comprehensive reconstruction process must be front and center. This is the world that now confronts Gaza’s survivors. The shock is finally arriving. Satellite images that once looked like abstract devastation now show human stories of loss: broken homes, collapsed hospitals, flattened marketplaces. Photographs of children with distended bellies, of families sifting through ruins for any salvageable remnant, of entire families buried beneath debris — these were always real, now they are undeniable.
But the true measure of justice will be whether the world acts on what it now sees. A ceasefire or truce does not erase the duty to repair. To stand with Gaza today is no longer a symbolic moral gesture. It is an urgent demand: ensure the Gazans’ grief is not recycled into another round of destruction.
First, full accountability must proceed — without exception. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must not be lionized for supposedly “agreeing” to a peace plan; rather, he should be recognized as an accused war criminal facing scrutiny. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants against both Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for crimes including using starvation as a weapon of war, targeting civilians and persecution. These warrants demand follow-through. Political immunity and diplomatic protection should not shield him.
Netanyahu must not be rewarded for complying with pressure. He should be prosecuted, not celebrated. When global leaders congratulate an offender rather than demand accountability, they signal that genocide and mass atrocity have a path to respectability.
Second, reparations must be substantial and binding. Under international law, victims of gross human rights violations are entitled to effective remedies: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of nonrepetition. No half-measures or symbolic compensation suffice after the scale of suffering Gaza has endured. Reconstruction must restore infrastructure, rebuild homes, restore utilities, provide healthcare and psychological support, and enable sustainable livelihood.
Netanyahu must not be rewarded for complying with pressure. He should be prosecuted, not celebrated. Third, the rebuilding process must be transparent and inclusive. Gaza’s people — not distant bureaucrats — should guide the decisions about how their homes and cities are rebuilt. Arab states, international donors, the UN and civil society must adopt oversight mechanisms to ensure that funds reach the intended beneficiaries and are not diverted through patronage or corruption. The reconstruction cannot be a reoccupation by foreign agendas; it must be a national revival.
Fourth, guarantees must be made that this devastation will never occur again. Ceasefire agreements must include binding clauses against siege, starvation tactics, forced displacement and disproportionate use of force. The rules of engagement must respect civilian life and civilian objects unequivocally. To tolerate future violations is to give them license. Fifth, memory matters: Gaza needs truth commissions, memorialization and a framework for justice that does not allow the atrocities to be forgotten or dismissed. Every homicide, disappearance and destroyed building must be documented — not quietly buried in UN reports or forgotten in media cycles. An international commission should be given unrestricted access and authority to investigate, exhume mass graves, identify victims and recommend prosecutions. The world must not repeat the familiar script of silence after a massacre. To those who say postwar governance must be practical and cautious, I say: there is no peace without justice. There is no stability without trust. And there is no honoring of Gaza’s dead without recognition of their rights. Every delay in repair or accountability is a betrayal. Yes, the road ahead is long. But let this moment be a turning point. Gaza must be more than a casualty of war. It must become a testament to humanity’s capacity to rebuild from ruin. The world must rise to this test — not because of what Gaza is but because of what it demands of us.And we must never forget: the war may be over but the obligation is unceasing.
*Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh

Pope Leo’s reassuring attack on ‘degrading’ clickbait
Mohamed Chebaro/Arab News/October 15, 2025
In nearly every social gathering or meeting I take part in nowadays, the question of whether journalism is still serving society reigns supreme. The questions posed and comments made all point to the rising lack of consensus about facts and diminishing trust.
All this comes while I fail to hide a sense of anxiety, of fear about the present and uncertainty about the future. I often try, and clearly I am increasingly failing, to make the case that we are experiencing a crisis that is partly of our own making. Our trust in state systems and institutions, as well as the mainstream media, which have long held society together, is fading due in part to the way we choose to consume information. One example is how we use news feeds that are aggregated based on harvested data and rejigged by often-warped algorithms that are geared for the profit of the tech giants.
And this, let us agree, is suffered by nations and citizens that enjoy some liberties and freedoms, not in closed or state-controlled digital spaces.
Since the explosion of the internet, its central tenets and integrity have been raided by various forces that have diluted and distorted facts and disorientated the masses, especially in Western democratic societies. It is getting increasingly difficult for even the most seasoned of journalists to defend journalism and its role in underpinning a well-informed, safe and cohesive democratic society. As a result, the public, especially young people, are on the receiving end of the sensationalist, clickbait-savvy information and knowledge ecosphere that often manipulates facts, changes the truth and reduces trust in everything.
So, it was rather reassuring to see Pope Leo intervene last week to condemn clickbait as a “degrading” part of journalism. As someone who has worked in newsgathering for three decades, I believe the words of Pope Leo should resonate with us all — as today’s media, journalism and information environment is increasingly at the mercy of artificial intelligence, with little or no human input. Our trust in state systems and institutions is fading due in part to the way we choose to consume information
The pope’s words should echo as much with media consumers — and that is everybody — as it does with media organizations, tech developers, contributors, journalists, content creators, influencers and anyone with a story to tell.
Pope Leo, who is still in the first six months of his papacy, is right to see the damage being done by misinformation, disinformation, fake news and malicious propaganda. He advocated for journalism as a “public good that we should protect” and called for communication to be “freed from the misguided thinking that corrupts it, from unfair competition and from the degrading practice of so-called clickbait.”All religious and political leaders should follow in his footsteps and warn their followers against clickbait traps, such as sensationalist, hyperbolic headlines that entice readers to click into a story, while omitting key information. This then takes people on journeys that leave them less informed and more disorientated than when they started. In his speech, the pope highlighted the importance of field reporting from conflict zones, such as Gaza or Ukraine — a practice that has been disappearing due to budget cuts and security concerns. He added that “free access to information is a pillar that upholds the edifice of our societies and, for this reason, we are called to defend and guarantee it.” He claimed that “current events call for particular discernment and responsibility, and it is clear that the media has a crucial role in forming consciences and helping critical thinking.” He is right to see the damage being done by misinformation, disinformation, fake news and malicious propaganda
Pope Leo also spoke about the challenges facing news media due to the rise of AI, questioning the entities that are designing, building, operating and controlling the tools that have quickly become indispensable. He queried who directs AI tools and for what purpose, calling on us all to “be vigilant in order to ensure that technology does not replace human beings, and that the information and algorithms that govern it today are not in the hands of a few.” In his address to journalists, he demanded they uphold the ethos of their profession for the public good. The pope is no doubt fearful for the future of society and the peace of humanity due to the intrusion of AI if the system is rigged to profit and not to serve. But people also need to defend their freedoms and hard-earned democracy by holding on to their critical thinking and having the ability to weed out the good information and content from the bad. In many of the 60 countries that held elections of some form in 2024, right-wing nationalism went mainstream. Many argue that the Western world and its democracy is suffering. The threats often emanate from malicious world powers, but also from powerful US tech companies and social media entrepreneurs. Western freedoms incubated these actors, only to see them naively unleashed to tear their own societies apart, cultivating doubts about democratic processes. They turned debates that were once democratic and measured into debates of hatred and exclusion in the name of an unhinged brand of free speech. To have good journalism, as the pope wishes for, you need democracy and a protected set of freedoms. And to have a functioning democracy, you need free and objective journalism that is capable of speaking truth to power. This relationship is symbiotic: one cannot exist without the other.
Adding unaccountable and unregulated AI tools to the mix has changed the media and information landscape. Western countries are failing to contend with this change, leading to rising distrust and grievances across Europe and the US, deepening political dysfunction and social discord. Would saving journalism help? Or do we need to rescue democracy — and how? This is another pressing question not only for the pope but for politicians, entrepreneurs and people everywhere, especially in the Western world.
**Mohamed Chebaro is a British-Lebanese journalist with more than 25 years’ experience covering war, terrorism, defense, current affairs and diplomacy.

What the World Bank’s latest growth projection reveals about Syria’s economy
ANAN TELLO/Arab News/October 15, 2025
LONDON: Syria’s battered economy is projected to grow by 1 percent this year after a 1.5 percent contraction in 2024, the World Bank said in its latest report. It warned that the modest rebound remains “extraordinarily uncertain,” as the war-ravaged nation struggles with dwindling aid, tight cash flows and persistent insecurity. Economic data from Syria remains “extremely scarce and hard to come by,” Jean-Christophe Carret, the bank’s Middle East director, said in the July report. He described the macroeconomic review as an effort to close key information gaps and lay the groundwork for future growth policies.
Economist Karam Shaar, who heads the Syria-focused consulting firm Karam Shaar Advisory, said that modest improvement was possible — but far from sufficient. “Syria will see some economic improvement, despite the divisions that still exist,” he told DW Arabia in September.
Most international sanctions originally aimed at the Assad regime have been lifted..  He added that government-held areas are likely to see gradual gains “even amid social divides and a lack of public trust.”Still, the World Bank warned that security threats and difficulties securing oil imports could drive up fuel prices and inflation, further complicating recovery efforts. Fourteen years of conflict and Western sanctions have devastated Syria’s economy. Gross domestic product has fallen by more than half since 2010, and per capita income dropped to about $830 in 2024 — below the international threshold for low-income countries, according to World Bank estimates. Following Bashar Assad’s ouster, interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, former commander of the armed opposition group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, took control of most of the country after a rapid offensive that captured Damascus on Dec. 8.
The new administration has sought to attract investment and aid, but the World Bank said that a severe cash shortage, disrupted currency circulation and limited access to banknotes have intensified a liquidity crunch, squeezing already struggling households and businesses.
Reintegration of Syria’s fractured geography could improve growth forecasts. (Reuters)
According to Benjamin Feve, a senior research analyst at Karam Shaar Advisory, security — not politics — will determine Syria’s recovery. “There are credible pathways for a broad-based recovery, and I don’t think that political change will be that important for economic recovery,” he told Arab News.
“What is preventing broad-based economic recovery is the security aspect of Syria,” he said. “So, before the security issues get really under control, we won’t be seeing any sort of huge, large investments.”Violence in the coastal region and in the southern province of Suweida this year has had “a chilling effect on investment,” he said. “We’ve been working with private-sector companies, and after the clashes and massacres in Suweida, they withdrew their interest. Since then, we haven’t seen any significant recovery or a return to pre-Suweida levels of interest in the Syrian economy.”
In March, the Alawite community in Latakia and Tartus came under attack, following clashes between remnants of pro-Assad forces and transitional government troops. Gunmen entered towns, interrogated residents about their religion, and executed those identified as Alawite, often through close-range shootings and torture, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Sept. 23. Sectarian violence spread south the following month, as members of the Druze community in Suweida and the Sahnaya district near Damascus were targeted amid disputes over autonomy and political integration.
Tensions flared again in mid-July, when clashes between Bedouin and Druze militias escalated into widespread sectarian attacks that killed hundreds — many of them civilians, according to rights groups — before Israel struck Syrian government targets and US mediation helped broker a ceasefire.
More than 90 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.
In late September, US President Donald Trump extended the national emergency related to Syria, describing the situation as an “extraordinary and unusual threat” to US national security and foreign policy, citing risks including Daesh, war crimes, human rights violations and narcotics trafficking linked to the former regime. Even so, Shaar pointed to several positive signs: The easing of Western sanctions, policy harmonization between the northern and government-held regions, a modest recovery of key resources, and a trickle of returning foreign investment. Indeed, most international sanctions originally aimed at the Assad regime have been lifted. The US ended its Syria Sanctions Program on July 1, while the EU suspended and later lifted most sanctions by mid-2025. Although the Caesar Act remains in effect, it is currently suspended under temporary waivers. Shaar cautioned against over-optimism. “In economics, this is called the ‘base effect’ — when the starting point is very low, as happened in Syria during the war, any sound policy, correct action or partial lifting of sanctions will naturally lead to improvement,” he said.
The World Bank echoed that view, noting that while partial sanctions relief offers some upsides, frozen assets and restricted access to global banking channels continue to choke energy supplies, block assistance, and constrain trade and investment.
Fourteen years of conflict and Western sanctions have devastated Syria’s economy.  Samir Aita, chair of the Paris-based Circle of Arab Economists, told Arab News that the World Bank had downplayed the broad impact of sanctions, which have affected “all economic sectors, including agriculture.”Regional engagement, particularly from Gulf states and Turkiye, could also support Syria’s recovery, the World Bank said in its macroeconomic review. In May, the World Bank confirmed that Qatar and Saudi Arabia repaid Syria’s $15.5 million debt, enabling the bank’s renewed involvement. Since then, the government has announced several major investment agreements aimed at rebuilding infrastructure. In July, Saudi Arabia signed 47 memorandums of understanding worth $6.4 billion, mostly in infrastructure, real estate, telecommunications and tourism, Reuters reported. In August, Syria signed a $4 billion deal with Qatar’s UCC Holding to build a new Damascus airport, a $2 billion agreement with a UAE firm to develop a subway system, and a $2 billion project with Italy’s UBAKO for the Damascus Towers real estate development. In late September, state media reported $1.5 billion in new tourism contracts. Many of these MoUs, however, remain nonbinding. “Overwhelmingly, the MoUs signed by the government are not translating into formal contracts,” Jihad Yazigi, editor-in-chief of The Syria Report, told Arab News.
INNUMBERS
• 50 percent Decline in Syria’s GDP between 2010 and 2020.
• $830 The country’s GNI per capita in 2024.
• 90 Percentage of the population living below the poverty line.
(Source: World Bank, UN)
“Of the many billions of dollars of contracts signed, only one — related to the management of the port of Tartus and signed with Dubai Ports — was translated into a formal contract,” he said. He argued that the government’s presentation of MoUs as binding deals, especially with the interim president attending the signing ceremonies, “raised unrealistic expectations,” similar to how it overstated the impact of sanction relief.
“By doing so, (the government) raised expectations a lot — the same way it raised expectations when sanctions were lifted, or rather reduced, because they were not entirely lifted,” Yazigi said. The Karam Shaar Advisory also noted in a September report that available information indicates that many partner companies are newly established and may lack the capacity to carry out large projects.
“The business environment in Syria remains very challenging — security-wise, politically, in infrastructure, the absence of an efficient financial sector, and the lack of funding for major reconstruction projects — there is none of this,” Yazigi said.
“When people are misled, it creates a legitimacy and credibility problem for future announcements.” Syria’s transitional government, operating under a five-year interim constitution ratified in March, continues to struggle to build cohesive governance amid disputes. (AFP)
Still, he acknowledged growing interest from Syrian expatriates and foreign investors, even if tangible results remain limited “because of the difficult business environment.”
The World Bank’s report notes that the interim government has begun unifying fiscal and monetary policies and strengthening public financial management.
To attract investors, Feve highlighted the need for “clarity in legislation — particularly regarding the investment law, taxes and incentives for private investors.”
“Until a new parliament is in place, I don’t expect much progress on that front,” he said. “Having a functioning parliament will be crucial, and I hope it will be able to pass laws that bring stability and predictability to the economy.”
He added: “Businesspeople in Syria are also waiting for this clarity,” noting that “while some amendments have been made to the 2021 investment law, they are still not enough.
“From what I know, Saudi investors, for example, expect much more in terms of regulation and legislation.”Syria’s transitional government, operating under a five-year interim constitution ratified in March, continues to struggle to build cohesive governance amid disputes with Kurdish-led groups in the northeast and Druze factions in the southwest. The US ended its Syria Sanctions Program on July 1, while the EU suspended and later lifted most sanctions by mid-2025. (AFP)
Feve said that a unified parliament will be “essential in designing a roadmap for reconstruction and recovery,” adding that “quick, well-crafted laws could boost investor confidence and transparency.” “The key is to do it intelligently,” he added. “It’s encouraging that 200 new members of parliament will be tasked with drafting legislation and using their technical expertise to guide the process. “Right now, we don’t even know who’s drafting presidential decrees, and some of them contradict one another — the system is opaque. Hopefully, a functioning parliament will increase transparency, boost investor confidence, and help drive economic recovery.”Feve warned that “without clear priorities, investors end up signing agreements for projects like subway systems or new airports — initiatives that don’t match the country’s most urgent needs.”Syria held its first parliamentary elections since Assad’s fall on Oct. 5, though 21 seats remain unfilled after polls were postponed for “security reasons” in two Kurdish-controlled provinces — Raqqa and Hasakah — and in Suweida, the interim authorities said. Ordinary Syrians are sinking deeper into hardship, struggling each day to secure even the most basic necessities. (Reuters)
Election officials admitted “significant shortcomings,” noting that only 13 percent of contested seats went to women and minorities.
Reintegration of Syria’s fractured geography could improve growth forecasts.
Aita said that the World Bank’s 1 percent growth projection underestimates actual conditions because “it relies on data from the Assad-controlled areas only,” which excluded the newly unified regions, namely the northwest.
He said that the GDP of both the northeast and the northwest “were comparatively significant.”“This creates confusion on how to interpolate Syria’s economic growth in 2025, from the data of the ex-regime area to the now united areas with the northwest,” he said. “The next analysis should address the whole of Syria, with insights into the remaining divides.”Yet beneath projections of recovery, ordinary Syrians are sinking deeper into hardship, struggling each day to secure even the most basic necessities.
More than 90 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, according to UN figures. The World Bank says one in four Syrians lives in extreme poverty, and two-thirds fall below the lower-middle-income threshold. Syria ranked sixth globally in the Nov. 2024-May 2025 Hunger Hotspot Outlook by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme.
About 14.6 million people are food insecure, including 9.1 million acutely and 1.3 million severely food insecure, while another 5.4 million are at risk of hunger.
Inflation, currency collapse and soaring prices for essentials such as food, rent and fuel have driven living costs to crisis levels. Many households now depend on remittances, multiple income sources and coping strategies such as selling assets or cutting health and education spending simply to survive.

Selected English Tweets from X Platform For 15 October/2025
Pope Leo XIV
We were created to rejoice in life, and life in abundance (Jn 10:10). This deep desire of our hearts never finds its ultimate answer in power or possessions. Only the Risen Jesus is the wellspring that satisfies our infinite thirst for fullness, which the Holy Spirit imbues into our hearts.

Vatican News
A Polish man has donated a purebred Arabian horse to Pope Leo XIV ahead of the weekly General Audience, saying he was inspired by the photo of the Augustinian Pope on horseback in Peru. Proton, a purebred Arabian, was given to the Pope by Andrzej Michalski, owner and founder of the Michalski Stud Farm, in Kołobrzeg-Budzistowo, Poland.

Ibtissam Keedy
Thank you Mr. President #DonaldTrump,
I would like to sincerely thank you for your recent remarks regarding Lebanon. Your clear stance on the importance of disarming terrorist groups and supporting Lebanon’s stability brings much-needed clarity and reassurance. We, Lebanese patriots are grateful for your leadership in addressing this critical issue. ‘’In Lebanon, the dagger of Hezbollah, long aimed at Israel’s throat, has been totally shattered’’. “My administration is actively supporting the new president of Lebanon and his mission to permanently DISARM Hezbollah’s terror brigades. He’s doing very well’’.

Joshua Landis
https://x.com/i/status/1978125406000853407
Sharaa's Trip to Russia mirror's Syria's original turn to the USSR after the 1948 War.
During the 1948 War, American B-17 Flying Fortresses bombed downtown Damascus, hitting the house of the American military attaché. He was furious and wrote a scathing telegram to DC, asking wtf? The US had imposed an arms embargo on the warring states.
Syria quickly discovered that no Western Power would help Syria build up its military or acquire jet airplanes that could compete with the aircraft acquired by Israel.
Khalid al-Azm, the "red millionaire" spearheaded a mission to Russia that led to a friendship agreement and military purchases. Syria has depended on Russia for its arms and training ever since. Israel's recent attacks on Damascus, whic

charles chartouni
After the destruction of Gaza, Hamas terrorists are transforming it into a killing field, whereby opponents are publicly executed and citizens wantonly murdered

Pierre Poilievre
Nazi Socialism, Soviet Socialism, Narco Socialism and all other forms of socialism move at different speeds but always to the same destination — impoverished hell for the many and special powers & wealth for the few. Only freedom — free speech, free enterprise and free choice — empowers all to fulfill their potential & live good and great lives.

Dr. Maalouf ‏
https://x.com/i/status/1978442448293490725
King Charles inaugurates an Islamic center, praises the Muslim community in the UK for their contributions, and urges the British people to ‘broaden their understanding’ of the Islamic world. Did he convert or something?

Hiba Nasr
https://x.com/i/status/1978168261813444793
Trump on Hamas : They’re going to disarm … and if they don't disarm, we will disarm them. They know I am not playing games .

Eastern christians
One year ago, we set out to give a voice to the Christians of the Middle East and North Africa , the first followers of Christ. With only faith, a phone, and the Holy Spirit, we reached millions. We are here. We exist. We will remain. Thank you for standing with us.

Donald J. Trump
Don’t forget to get a copy of my son Eric’s book, “UNDER SIEGE,” which is breaking records everywhere. It’s a phenomenal book, that’s a must read for everyone—Congratulations Eric, you deserve it!!! https://a.co/d/7oPyLF5

Department of State
The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.
The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk. Here are just a few examples of aliens who are no longer welcome in the U.S.:

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Hamas launched a massacre that killed 1,200 Israelis, led to war that killed 65,000 Gazans, flattened the Gaza Strip, lost control over 53 percent of the strip’s territory, all to free 300 Palestinian prisoners (1,700 others were scooped after October 7).
Do Hamas and its partisans understand cost and effect? For context, the 1948 war (worst disaster to have befallen Arabs of Palestine) killed 15,000 of them at most. And Hamas is not going anywhere after the Gaza War ended. More miscalculation and misery for Gazans.