English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  September 20/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
The Criminal on the Right: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus replied, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 23,36-43/The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! ’There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews. ’One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 19-20/2025
Naim Qassem lives in a pathological state of denial. His constant existence in an underground pit has rotted his mind and distanced him from reality./Elias Bejjani/September 20/2025
Doha Summit: Islamizing the Palestinian Cause While Arab Leaders Ignore the Fact that Iran and Turkey—Patrons of Political Islam—Are the Real Enemies, Not Israel/Elias Bejjani/September 16/2025
Sheikh Qassem: Powerful Hezbollah Calls on Opponents in Lebanon, KSA to Unite against “Greater Israel”/Al-Manar English Website/September 19, 2025
Israeli strikes on south Lebanon kill two: ministry
Aoun discusses Israeli attacks with Salam and army chief
US envoy to pressure army to expedite disarmament plan in Beirut visit
Israeli drone kills 1 and hurts 11 in Tebnin as strike in Ansar kills one
Cyprus expresses readiness to mediate release of Lebanese captives
Johnson says army has done 'admirable work to disarm Hezbollah' but 'more is needed'
UNIFIL condemns Israeli strikes on south Lebanon
Lebanese Army says Thursday strikes on south Lebanon hindering disarmament plan
Geagea responds to Berri on electoral law

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 19-20/2025
UN Security Council votes to reimpose Iran nuclear sanctions
Israel army to use ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City, urges residents to leave
Israel shuts West Bank crossing with Jordan following deadly attack
Civilians make up vast majority of Gaza deaths since March, report finds
Gaza civil defense says 450,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City
More Americans say Israel has gone too far in the Gaza conflict
Pakistan deputy PM says other countries interested in security pacts after Saudi defense deal
Taliban release British couple who had been held for months in Afghanistan on undisclosed charges
Jordanian crown prince, Princess Rajwa attend dinner hosted by US Vice President
French Daesh suspects transferred from Syria to be tried in Iraq
Iraq nears deal to restart pipeline oil exports from Kurdistan to Turkiye, sources say
Syria’s new envoy vows to ‘turn hope into action’ in first UN Security Council address

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on September 19-20/2025
Syria: Al-Sharaa's Campaign of Extermination against Druze, Minorities/Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/September 19, 2025
What Doha attack means for Arab mediation efforts/Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Palestinian statehood can end this historical injustice/Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Trump’s UK visit benefits both sides of the Atlantic/Luke Coffey/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Syria would dominate any Trump-Erdogan meeting at UN/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Slected X tweets For September 19/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 19-20/2025
Naim Qassem lives in a pathological state of denial. His constant existence in an underground pit has rotted his mind and distanced him from reality.
Elias Bejjani/September 20/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/09/147431/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH3I4a6yFUY&t=174s
The speeches of Sheikh Naim Qassem are no longer worth delving into. They are repetitive, parrot-like, and recycle the same lies and hypocrisy of a so-called “resistance” that was nothing but an Iranian criminal terrorist project—now gone forever. Hezbollah has been stripped bare of its heresies and empty bravado after Israel inflicted on it a crushing defeat, eliminated its commanders, and continues—on a daily basis—to hunt down its operatives across multiple Lebanese areas, without the group being able to respond with even a single bullet.
This criminal Hezbollah has now been reduced to a mere sound organization: militarily, politically, and through its media mouthpieces. Empty threats, ridiculous posturing, and accusations of treason against the overwhelming majority of Lebanese who reject it and demand its removal—militarily, politically, and criminally—through the enforcement of international resolutions and the ceasefire agreement that amounted to an act of surrender signed by Hezbollah and its patron Iran.
As for Naim Qassem, who hides underground in a dark pit where no light or sun reaches him—terrified of Israel—he has become completely detached from reality. Rot seems to have infected his mind, and perhaps the drugs he consumes (hashish, Captagon) are adulterated, causing him hallucinations and daydreams, just as was evident in his speech yesterday on the occasion of the “anniversary of Ibrahim Aqil’s killing.”
The man lives in absolute denial—blind to all the developments, defeats, and disasters Hezbollah has inflicted upon Lebanon and upon its Shiite community. Moreover, this state of denial is not limited to him; it engulfs Hezbollah’s MPs, officials, media voices, and supporters. It is a pathological denial, coupled with anger, leaving them incapable of moving through the natural stages of dealing with pain (denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance). Qassem, Iran, and Hezbollah’s leadership remain shackled and imprisoned in the stage of denial and anger, and all their discourse reflects this diseased mindset.
His call for Saudi Arabia in his yesterday speech to “open a new page” with Hezbollah and to engage in dialogue to freeze disputes is nothing short of a mental farce. Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state, not a gang. It cannot and will not negotiate with an organization designated globally as terrorist—an Iranian jihadist criminal group that has been and continues to be behind the Houthis’ attacks on the Kingdom, the Gulf states, and international shipping routes.
A final piece of advice to the remaining Hezbollah officials still alive, and to their clerical patrons in Iran: take Sheikh Naim Qassem out of his underground hole and place him in a mental hospital. His speech of September 19, 2025, was a disgraceful bundle of denial, hallucinations, daydreams, and delusions—a pathetic farce. And as a person, he remains revolting and repulsive.

Doha Summit: Islamizing the Palestinian Cause While Arab Leaders Ignore the Fact that Iran and Turkey—Patrons of Political Islam—Are the Real Enemies, Not Israel
Elias Bejjani/September 16/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/09/147332/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfY7_9m0kuo&t=704s
The so-called “Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit” held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on September 15, 2025, gathered leaders from 60 Arab and Islamic states under the pretext of showing solidarity with Qatar after the precise Israeli airstrike that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha—a strike for which Israel’s Prime Minister openly claimed full responsibility.
Yet this summit was not about supporting Qatar. It was a theatrical propaganda show aimed at reviving the delusion of “Islamizing” the Palestinian cause—turning it from a national struggle for rights into a religious jihadist crusade. This represents a dangerous ideological regression and an undeserved gift to Israel.
Islamizing the Palestinian Cause:
Arabizing the Palestinian cause was the fatal mistake to which Said Akl pointed out.
Decades ago, the great Lebanese poet and philosopher Said Akl warned against the sin of "Arabizing" the Palestinian cause, saying, "They made the Palestinian cause an Arab cause, opening the door for Israel to turn its cause into a Jewish cause. Thus, they transformed the conflict from a political dispute into an endless war of religions." This is precisely what the Doha Summit did: It removed Palestine from its national, human rights, and humanitarian dimensions, placing it in the category of Arab fanaticism, religious extremism, and isolationism, just as the extremists on both sides, Turkey and Iran—the sponsors of terrorist and jihadist political Islam, in keeping with the entire culture of the Muslim Brotherhood—wanted. This is also the case, as the majority of the countries that participated in the farcical summit.
Erdogan and the “Liberation of Palestine”… A Renewed Ottoman Jihadism
One of the clearest moments exposing the summit’s true nature was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement declaring that “the Islamic Ummah is responsible for liberating Palestine.”
This was not support for Palestine but an open declaration of a “new Ottoman” project—draping Turkish expansionism in the cloak of religion. Erdogan, who occupies northern Syria, blackmails Arab states politically and economically, and shelters Hamas’s Muslim Brotherhood leaders, came to Doha to sell the illusion of “liberation” in exchange for influence and control.
Iran and Turkey’s Presence: Sheer Folly and Sectarian Blindness
The most surreal sight at the summit was seeing the Iranian and Turkish presidents sitting in the front rows, leading large delegations—even though they are, in reality, the Arab world’s fiercest enemies:
Iran represents the Shiite wing of political Islam, invading the Arab world through its militias: Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.
Turkey represents the Sunni wing of political Islam, embracing the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas and financing transnational jihadist movements.
Allowing these two regimes to sit at the head of an Arab summit was the peak of strategic blindness—granting legitimacy to the very enemies who destroyed Arab capitals and wrecked regional stability.
A Sarcastic Question: Where Were Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis at This “Jihad Summit”?
If this summit was truly “Islamic” and “jihadist” as its organizers wanted, why weren’t the groups that embody this jihadism on the ground invited?
Where was Hamas, the group supposedly being supported?
Where were Hezbollah and the Houthis, whose “cause” the Iranian axis falsely claims is Palestine?
The answer is clear and ironic: their visible presence would have exposed the summit as neither Arab, nor peaceful, nor humanitarian—just a stage to whitewash jihadist terrorism with diplomatic neckties.
The Real Enemies of the Arabs: Iran and Turkey, Not Israel
What Arabs must understand—and what the Doha Summit completely ignored—is that their real enemies are Iran and Turkey, not Israel. Iran seeks to swallow the Arab East and turn it into a patchwork of sectarian Persian-controlled zones. Turkey dreams of resurrecting the Ottoman Empire on the ruins of Arab sovereignty. Both exploit the Palestinian cause as blackmail to dominate Arabs, while Israel at least does not claim to represent or lead the Arab world.
From the Arab League’s Failure to the Doha Summit’s Collapse
Since the Arab League was founded in the mid-20th century, all its summits have been nothing but empty slogans and meaningless final statements. It has neither liberated a single inch of occupied land, nor stopped a war, nor protected one Arab state from collapse or occupation. The Doha Summit did not break this miserable tradition—it was an even more pitiful and shallow version, laced with a high dose of jihadism, Islamization, and deception.
An Iranian-Turkish Summit with an Arab Façade… and Arab Witnesses of Falsehood
Despite its “Arab-Islamic” label, the Doha Summit was in reality an Iranian-Turkish summit with an Arab façade. The Arab leaders present were mere witnesses of falsehood—blind to their real enemies, applauding jihadist speeches, and granting Arab cover to Persian and Ottoman expansionist projects that have nothing to do with Palestine or peace.They have willingly reduced themselves to tools of their own destruction.
Qatar… Sponsor of Jihadist Terrorism and Muslim Brotherhood Propaganda
Any discussion of the Doha Summit must also recall Qatar’s long-standing destructive role:
Financing political Islam movements and jihadist groups from Afghanistan to Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza.
Sheltering the leaders of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood and offering them media platforms.
Sponsoring and funding Hamas politically, militarily, and through propaganda.
Running Al Jazeera TV, which has turned into a global platform to market jihadist and incitement rhetoric, whitewash terrorists, and amplify their narratives under the guise of “journalism.”

Sheikh Qassem: Powerful Hezbollah Calls on Opponents in Lebanon, KSA to Unite against “Greater Israel”
Al-Manar English Website/September 19, 2025
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem on Friday called on the opponent political parties in Lebanon as well as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to start a new phase of cooperation in face of the Zionist expansionist scheme which targets the entire region. Addressing Hezbollah ceremony to commemorate the first martyrdom anniversary of the great Jihadi Commander Ibrahim Akil (Martyr Abdul Qader) and Al-Rudwan Unit commanders at Sayyed Al-Shuhada Complex in Beirut’s Dahieh Beirut, Sheikh Qassem indicated that the entire region is facing an exceptional and dangerous political turning point.“The Israeli entity, planted in our region since the beginning of the 20th century, dug deeply with colonial and arrogant support that began with Britain and then moved to America.” Sheikh Qassem added that this usurping entity is an expansionist presence meant to be a piece of the West, an instrument of America, a scarecrow for the region, and an expansionist case preventing the region from achieving independence. ‘Israel’ has reached the peak of criminality, brutality, and disregard for any humanitarian, legal, international, or human rights norms — with full, detailed backing from the American administration, his eminence affirmed.
“The soft war, sanctions, Madrid, and the Abraham Accords all failed to achieve the clear and quick results America and ‘Israel’ sought — hence, genocide became their chosen solution.”Hezbollah considers that what follows the strike by the enemy entity against the State of Qatar is different from what preceded the strike on Qatar, Sheikh Qassem underlined. “After the strike on Qatar, the targeting now reaches the Resistance, the regimes, the peoples, and every geographic and political barrier standing before ‘Greater Israel’. The goal has become Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iran.”We must all confront this danger together — states, regimes, peoples, and the Resistance — and the only path for this confrontation is unity against the common enemy within defined limits of unity, Sheikh Qassem underscored. Sheikh Qaassem noted that ‘Israel’ must be recognized as the danger, not the Resistance, adding that the threat from ‘Israel’ is comprehensive and affects everyone — the Resistance, regimes, peoples, Arabs and Muslims and Christians, and all of humanity. Sheikh Qassem called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to open a new page with the Resistance on the following foundations: a dialogue that addresses the problems, answers fears, and secures mutual interests
*a dialogue based on the premise that ‘Israel’ is the enemy, not the Resistance
*a dialogue that freezes past disputes.”
*The weapon of the Resistance is directed at the Israeli enemy — not at Lebanon, not at Saudi Arabia, nor at any place or party in the world, his eminence added.
*Pressure on the Resistance is a clear win for ‘Israel’, and when the Resistance is absent that means the turn will come to the states.
*The Resistance in Palestine is part of this wider Resistance that constitutes a strong bulwark against Israeli expansion.
*Sheikh Qassem also called on everyone inside Lebanon — even those whose enmity with us has grown close to hatred — not to provide services to ‘Israel’.
“When America openly declares that it acts in Israel’s interest, how can we trust any American or non-American proposal, and how can we accept giving concession after concession?” Sheikh Qassem affirmed that the Resistance continues in spite of ‘Israel” and America. This Resistance continues because it has leaders who are martyrs, because it has the Master of the Ummah’s Martyrs His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah [May Allah bless his soul], and because of Sayyed Al-Hashimi, Hajj Abdul Qader, and others [Allah’s blessings are upon them].
Hezbollah leader stressed that this Resistance cannot but remain with its head held high, adding that, if ‘Israel’ wants to end it, let it know that it will itself come to an end later, God willing, because of the steadfastness of these fighters. Sheikh Qassem noted that America provides the Lebanese Army only with the type of weapons that allow it to manage internal affairs, adding that any weapon suspected of possibly reaching the Israeli entity, affecting its aircraft, or influencing its army is strictly prohibited from being provided to the Lebanese Army. “Let us stand as one hand to expel ‘Israel’ and build Lebanon: hold parliamentary elections on time, make reconstruction a government priority, accelerate financial and economic reforms, fight corruption, and engage in positive dialogue for a national security strategy.” We are ready to make the utmost sacrifices to remain honorable, Sheikh Qassem vowed.
The Resistance’s supporters are, with their own eyes, holding firmly to the Resistance’s weapons because they have seen their fruits in liberation, deterrence, and presence, his eminence added. “We offer dialogue and understanding from a position of strength; our arena is ablaze with the light of sacrifices, and our faith in resisting the occupier to expel him and liberate our land is steadfast. We accept nothing less and are ready for the greatest challenges to remain honorable. Our supporters cling to the Resistance’s weapons because they have witnessed the results in deterrence and liberation, and as leadership, we take mobilization from our people.” We view any confrontation with the Israeli project as an existential battle for us and the nation, for which everything else becomes trivial, Hezbollah leader affirmed. “The Lebanese government is responsible for confronting Israeli aggression and must scream about it every day so the world hears this cry. The Lebanese government must think of out-of-the-box solutions.”Sheikh Qassem stressed that the Lebanese official stance regarding the Israeli aggression is good, calling for turning it to be daily. “We, as the Resistance, are ready to perform our duty alongside the Lebanese Army, whatever your decision, but in confronting the Zionist army.”
“All previous empires reached the highest ranks but fell when they were corrupt and oppressive; injustice will fall, even if later. We will not be slaves and will remain free,” Sheikh Qassem concluded. Hezbollah Secretary General started his speech by indicating that Martyr Abdul Qader confronted the 1982 invasion, was responsible for central training in the early 1990s, participated in the Ansariya battle, and was among the commanders of the July War. “Martyr Abdul Qader fought in Syria, in Al-Qusayr and Al-Qalamoun, and since 2008 he was an aide to The Master of the Ummah’s Martyrs.”From the stances of Martyr Abdul Qader we take lessons and see his great sacrifices for the liberation of the land, sovereignty, and independence, Sheikh Qassem said. Martyr Commander Ahmad Mahmoud Wehbi joined the Resistance since its founding, was captured by the ‘Israeli’ enemy, and served as the commander of the Rudwan Force until 2024, Sheikh Qassem added. “I was informed that one of the mujahideen brothers passed away a few days ago, Mazloum Adloun, who had participated in most of the Resistance’s operations and was the commander of the armor corps in 2006.” Sheikh Qassem explained that, on September 20, 2024, the Israeli enemy raided a meeting center of the Radwan commanders in the southern suburb, leading to the martyrdom of eighteen Rudwan commanders and around fifty civilians — men, women, and children. Until now, four of them remain missing.

Israeli strikes on south Lebanon kill two: ministry
AFP/September 19, 2025
BEIRUT: Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed two people and wounded 11 on Friday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, in the latest attacks despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.The ministry said that an “Israeli air strike on a vehicle” outside a public hospital in Tibnin killed one person and wounded 11, while another strike on a vehicle in Ansar killed one person. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the strikes. The attack comes a day after Israel bombed five towns it told residents to evacuate. The Israeli military said it struck several weapons storage facilities belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force on Thursday. President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks and “the silence of the countries who had sponsored” the ceasefire, which he said “encourages further aggression.”“The time has come to put an immediate end to these blatant violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he said. United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon said the attacks “put the fragile stability that has been built since November of last year at risk” and called on Israel to “refrain from any further strikes and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory.”Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite a November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah. Lebanon’s army said Thursday’s strikes brought Israel’s ceasefire “violations” to 4,500, adding that they hinder efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Under US pressure, Beirut has ordered the Lebanese army to draw up a plan to disarm the Iran-backed group in areas near the Israeli border by the end of the year. Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said last week that Lebanon’s army would fully disarm Hezbollah near the border within three months.

Aoun discusses Israeli attacks with Salam and army chief
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
President Joseph Aoun met Friday in Baabda with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and discussed with him the latest Israeli attacks on south Lebanon and the Bekaa and the ongoing contacts to address these developments, the Presidency said. Aoun and Salam also tackled the 2026 draft state budget and the general situations, ahead of the president’s travel on Saturday to New York to take part in the annual meetings of the U.N. General Assembly. Aoun also met with Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, who briefed him on the details of the Israeli attacks that targeted five southern towns on Thursday night. Haykal also briefed the president on the army’s achievements against drug networks.

US envoy to pressure army to expedite disarmament plan in Beirut visit
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortgus will pressure the Lebanese army command to accelerate the implementation of its plan to disarm Hezbollah north and south of the Litani River as she visits Lebanon this weekend, media reports said Friday. Al-Binaa said that, according to sources, Ortgus will arrive Saturday in Lebanon to meet with the five-member ceasefire monitoring committee -- France, the U.S., Lebanon, Israel, and the UNIFIL -- over the disarmament plan and its implementation. She will not meet with Lebanese leaders and politicians, the daily said. Ortagus will meet the committee on Sunday in Naqoura to review the army's plan and its implementation and will discuss with the army how to enhance its human, material, and logistical capabilities for it to implement the plan by the year end. The United States had announced it would donate more than $117 million in security assistance for the Lebanese Army, as the crisis-hit country seeks to implement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli drone kills 1 and hurts 11 in Tebnin as strike in Ansar kills one
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
An Israeli drone strike targeted Friday a car at the entrance of the Tebnin government hospital in south Lebanon. The strike killed one person and wounded 11 others, including two critically, according to the Health Ministry. Later in the day, a similar strike hit a water truck between the southern towns of Kawthariyet al-Rizz and Ansar, killing one person. The attacks come after overnight Israeli strikes on five towns in south Lebanon that were preceded by evacuation warnings for six buildings which Israel claimed contained Hezbollah weapons. Israel has kept up its strikes on southern Lebanon despite a truce signed in November that ended more than a year of hostilities and two months of open war with Hezbollah. It has also maintained troops in five locations in the south of Lebanon it deems strategic.Under U.S. pressure, the Lebanese government has ordered the Lebanese Army to draw up a plan to disarm the group in areas near the Israeli border by the end of the year.

Cyprus expresses readiness to mediate release of Lebanese captives
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
The Cypriot government has expressed its readiness to be part of the mediations for the release of the Israel-held Lebanese captives, in continuation of its part in the mediation that led to the release of Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov who was kidnapped in Iraq, Lebanese sources informed on the negotiations said. “Through a lightning visit to Beirut and a meeting with a prominent security official following up on the file, Cypriot intelligence chief Tasos Tzionis carried his country’s desire to continue the mediation it had started,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. “He is contact with foreign sides capable of pressing Israel to release them and he also met with Hezbollah officials,” the sources said. The Lebanese security official told Tzionis that “Lebanon agrees to the continuation of the Cypriot mediation for the release of the captives and that it welcomes any international or regional effort to press Israel to release them as soon as possible, because it is one of the government’s priorities,” while noting that “Lebanon has nothing to offer in return for their release,” the sources added. The sources also revealed that Tzionis had visited Beirut on Monday evening before meeting on Tuesday with the security leader and the Hezbollah officials.

Johnson says army has done 'admirable work to disarm Hezbollah' but 'more is needed'
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson said that “if Lebanon continues down the path it is on now, it can shine with the light of new beginnings.”“With historic cabinet decisions in August and September to disarm all non-state groups in the country, the Lebanese government has a historic opportunity to reclaim Lebanon’s sovereignty for the Lebanese people,” Johnson noted, in a speech during a reception marking the 249th anniversary of the U.S. Independence Day. “Lebanon can seize this moment and build a national community. A community led by a government free from corruption and malign influence, and one that protects and serves all of its people,” she added. Pointing out that “this government was able to achieve more in seven months than was achieved over the past six years,” Johnson said Lebanon has an “opportunity to reestablish its sovereignty, pursue lasting peace with its neighbors, and reach its full economic potential.” “None of this would be possible without the commitment and courage of Lebanon’s security institutions. The Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces play critical roles across the country where their presence and professionalism help preserve calm and prevent escalation,” the ambassador said. “The Lebanese Armed Forces ensure that Lebanon’s path forward is determined by the Lebanese people – and not by the ambitions of malign external powers, she added.As for the U.S.-mediated cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Johnson said the Lebanese Army has done “admirable work to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state groups in Lebanon,” but added that “more work is needed to ensure the state’s monopoly of weapons across all Lebanese territory.”She added: “The United States shares the vision of a Lebanon that chooses unity over division, stability over strife, and growth over stagnation. Lebanon can move forward -- not in the shadow of the past, but toward the light of a better future, because we know that when Lebanon thrives, the region thrives.”

UNIFIL condemns Israeli strikes on south Lebanon
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned Friday Israeli air strikes on five towns in southern Lebanon. "Last night’s strikes by Israel in south Lebanon are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and put the fragile stability that has been built since November of last year at risk. They further undermine civilians' confidence that a non-violent solution to this conflict is possible," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that peacekeepers continue to support both parties in their implementation of resolution 1701 and that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army are on the ground each day, working to restore stability to the south and along the Blue Line. "Peacekeepers in two positions in Deir Kifa, near Burj Qalawieh, moved to shelters for safety. The strikes put the lives of Lebanese soldiers, U.N. peacekeepers, and civilians in danger," the statement said. UNIFIL called on the Israeli army to refrain from any further strikes and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. "We urge the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701 and the Cessation of Hostilities understanding. These mechanisms exist specifically to resolve concerns and avoid unilateral resort to violence, and should be used to their full extent. Continued escalation puts the hard-fought progress the parties have made to restore stability at risk."

Lebanese Army says Thursday strikes on south Lebanon hindering disarmament plan
Agence France Presse/September 19, 2025
The Lebanese army, tasked to draw up a plan to disarm Hezbollah, said Thursday that the Israeli strikes on south Lebanon risk slowing down Hezbollah's disarmament. "These assaults and violations obstruct the army's deployment in the south, and their continuation will hinder the implementation of its plan starting from the area south of the Litani River," the army said in a statement, adding that the attacks brought Israel's ceasefire "violations" to 4,500.Israel had carried out Thursday air strikes on five towns in southern Lebanon shortly after telling people to flee. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a strike on Mais al-Jabal, a border town ravaged by the war last year between Israel and Hezbollah, where the health ministry said one person was injured. Strikes also hit the towns of Debbin, Burj Qalawiya, Al-Shahabiya and Kfar Tibnit, the roads out of which were full of people fleeing ahead of the attacks. President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the attacks and called for pressure on Israel to stop its aggressions. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said for his part that "the renewed Israeli aggression on southern villages will not push our people to surrender or abandon their land". Israel has kept up its strikes on southern Lebanon despite a truce signed in November that ended more than a year of hostilities and two months of open war with Hezbollah. It has also maintained troops in five locations in the south of Lebanon it deems strategic.

Geagea responds to Berri on electoral law
Naharnet/September 19, 2025
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday responded statements by Speaker Nabih Berri about the electoral law. “You’ve said that Amal and Hezbollah cannot manage their electoral campaigns abroad and freely practice their electoral rights without facing harassment, in order to justify your rejection of expats voting abroad for the 128 seats. Accordingly, you are clinging to the six districts mentioned in the current law for expat voting,” Geagea said. “Here the big question is raised: how can the supporters of Amal and Hezbollah run for the six seats abroad and carry out their electoral campaigns without being able to do the same campaigns and voting for the 128 MPs in their own districts? There is a clear contradiction on this level,” the LF leader added. Moreover, Geagea commented on Berri’s announcement that he has “another draft electoral law that would continue what was agreed on in the Taif Agreement.”“We in turn are ready to discuss any proposal that you have, but on one condition: that the subcommittee does not become a graveyard for draft laws and that a very short time be specified for it, in light of the tight deadlines that separate us from the elections. Afterwards all draft laws would be referred from the committee to a plenary session that possesses the right to vote and decide what it sees appropriate,” the LF leader added. “This is how democracy triumphs, through the plurality of opinions, conducting discussions and taking the decision at the right place: a plenary session in parliament,” Geagea went on to say.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
UN Security Council votes to reimpose Iran nuclear sanctions
Agence France Presse/September 19, 2025
The United Nations Security Council voted Friday to reimpose deep economic sanctions on Iran over its resurgent nuclear program after Britain, France and Germany called for action which Tehran called "unlawful."The three European nations are signatories to a 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) intended to stop Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The trio alleged that Iran has broken its promises under the treaty. Iran's ambassador to the U.N. reacted angrily, calling the vote "unlawful". "Today's action is hasty, unnecessary and unlawful. Iran recognizes no obligation to implement it," Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's envoy to the U.N., told the U.N. Security Council describing it as the "politics of coercion."Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier Friday he had put forward a "fair and balanced" proposal to European powers to prevent the return of sanctions.
"We urge (Iran) to act now," said British ambassador Barbara Woodward after casting a vote against a resolution that would have extended the current suspension of the sanctions. She left the door open for diplomacy at the U.N. general assembly next week, when heads of state and government will gather in New York. Ahead of the vote, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an Israeli television interview that he expected international sanctions to be reinstated by the end of the month. But the French ambassador to the U.N. said Friday that the option of a negotiated settlement was still on the table. In a letter to the U.N. in mid-August, the "European Three" slammed Iran as having breached several commitments under the JCPOA, including building up a uranium stock to more than 40 times the level permitted under the deal. Despite a flurry of diplomatic talks between the European powers and Tehran, the Western trio insisted there was no progress. "The Council still has time to greenlight a further resolution extending the suspension of sanctions -- if Iran and the Europeans reach a last-minute bargain," Gowan said.
2015 deal in tatters -
The hard-won 2015 deal has been left in tatters since the United States walked away from it in 2018, during Donald Trump's first presidency, and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Western powers and Israel have long accused Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies. Following the U.S. withdrawal, Tehran gradually broke away from its commitments under the agreement and began stepping up its nuclear activities, with tensions high since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June. The war also derailed Tehran's nuclear negotiations with the United States and prompted Iran to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with inspectors of the Vienna-based UN body leaving the Middle Eastern country shortly after. Iran late Thursday withdrew a draft resolution at the IAEA that called to ban attacks against nuclear facilities after its war with Israel, citing US pressure. In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, starting the war that saw Israeli and also US strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities. During his previous term, Trump attempted to trigger the JCPOA's so-called "snapback clause" to reimpose sanctions on Iran in 2020, but failed due to his country's unilateral withdrawal from the deal two years earlier. While European powers have for years launched repeated efforts to revive the 2015 deal through negotiations and said they have "unambiguous legal grounds" to trigger the clause, Iran does not share their view. Iran has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the snapback is triggered.

Israel army to use ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City, urges residents to leave
AFP/September 19, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: The Israeli military warned on Friday it will operate with “unprecedented force” in Gaza City, urging residents to flee southwards while announcing the closure of a temporary evacuation route opened 48 hours earlier. Israel’s bid to capture Gaza City has sparked international outrage, with the territory already devastated by nearly two years of war and gripped by a UN-declared famine. It comes ahead of a planned move by several Western countries, including France and Britain, to recognize a Palestinian state next week at a UN summit. The United Nations estimated at the end of August that about one million people were living in Gaza City and its surroundings. Israel says hundreds of thousands of them have fled the Gaza Strip’s largest city. In a post on X addressing residents of Gaza City, the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said: “From this moment, Salah Al-Din Road is closed for southbound travel. The Israel Defense Forces will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other terrorist organizations.”He added the only possible route south was via Al-Rashid street and urged residents to “take this opportunity and join the hundreds of thousands of city residents who have moved south to the humanitarian area.”Israel on Wednesday announced a “temporary” new route for residents to flee Gaza City, after it launched an intense ground offensive and massive bombardment of the Palestinian territory’s main city after nearly two years of devastating war. The military had said the transportation route via Salah Al-Din street would remain open for just 48 hours from midday (0900 GMT). Salah Al-Din street is the main north-south road through the Gaza Strip.The US-backed offensive on Gaza City began on Tuesday and came as a United Nations probe accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials had incited the crime.Israel rejected the findings and slammed it as “distorted and false.”
‘We have lost everything’
AFP footage from the Al-Rashid coastal road on Thursday showed long lines of Palestinians heading south on foot or in vehicles piled high with meagre belongings. In western Gaza City on Friday, displaced Palestinian Sami Baroud described “relentless and intense shelling.”
“Our life has become nothing but explosions and danger,” the 35-year-old told AFP by telephone. “We have lost everything – our lives, our future, our sense of safety. How can I evacuate when I can’t even afford transportation?”Umm Mohammed Al-Hattab, 49, also said her family had nowhere to go and couldn’t afford the cost of moving. “My seven children and I are still living in tents in western Gaza City after (Israel) bombed our home,” she said.“The bombing hasn’t stopped, and at any moment, we expect a missile to fall on us. My children are terrified, and I don’t know what to do,” she said. Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 65,141 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory’s health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

Israel shuts West Bank crossing with Jordan following deadly attack
Reuters/September 19, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel shut the sole gateway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan on Friday, a day after a driver bringing humanitarian aid from Jordan for Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli military personnel there. The Israeli Airports Authority, which operates the Allenby Bridge crossing, announced that it would be closed until further notice.The two crossings between Israel itself and Jordan were also affected, with the Jordan River crossing in the north shut and the Rabin crossing in the south remaining open only for workers. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at the Allenby Bridge, which is a key route for trade between Jordan and Israel and the only gateway for more than 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank to reach Jordan and the wider world.

Civilians make up vast majority of Gaza deaths since March, report finds
Arab News/September 19, 2025
LONDON: Nearly 94 percent of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since March have been civilians, according to data released on Friday from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data organization. The figure is among the highest recorded during the conflict and comes as Israeli forces advance into Gaza City, forcing up to a million people to evacuate and raising the risk of further large-scale civilian casualties. ACLED’s researchers tracked deaths among Hamas and allied groups using reports from the Israeli military, local and international media, and statements from Hamas over a six-month period. The report said: “Since March 18, Israel claims it killed more than 2,100 operatives, though ACLED data indicates that the number is closer to 1,100, and includes Hamas’ political figures, as well as fighters from other groups.” More than 16,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel broke a two-month ceasefire in March, according to UN statistics, equal to 15 out of every 16 deaths. The report highlighted a sharp rise in building demolitions, with 500 incidents recorded in the six months since March, compared with 698 in the preceding 15 months. A senior Israeli officer told The Guardian last week there is “a tension” between protecting civilians and the “demands of fast-moving military operations,” adding: “We are fighting a very different war from any previous conflict anyone has fought anywhere in the world … We are now fighting in Gaza to ensure that Hamas is not ruling Gaza.”ACLED noted that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 40 senior Hamas commanders since March. Ameneh Mehvar, ACLED’s senior analyst for the Middle East, said: “Hamas has been weakened undoubtedly and does not think they can now stop or defeat Israel and push them out of Gaza through military force. “At this point Hamas is trying to preserve what is left of the movement.”The group now largely operates in Gaza City and Deir Al-Balah, relying on booby-trapped buildings and roadside bombs to inflict casualties. The report also said there is no evidence of Hamas systematically stealing UN aid, though some smaller nongovernmental organization assistance may have been diverted. “Israel has created conditions of chaos and violence around aid distribution,” ACLED said, warning that the long-term Israeli strategy appears aimed at degrading Hamas while pushing Gaza toward unlivable conditions and obstructing Palestinian sovereignty.

Gaza civil defense says 450,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City
AFP/September 19, 2025
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defense agency said Friday that 450,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since Israel began its offensive to seize the territory’s largest urban center. “The number of citizens displaced from Gaza to the south has reached 450,000 people since the start of the military operation on Gaza City in August,” said Mohamed Al-Mughayir, an official of the rescue force, which operates under Hamas authority The Israeli military, which has called on residents to evacuate as it presses its ground assault, had told AFP that it estimated “approximately 480,000” people had fled the city.

More Americans say Israel has gone too far in the Gaza conflict
AP/September 19, 2025
WASHINGTON: At a moment of growing international alarm about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, more US adults view Israel’s military action in the Palestinian territory as excessive than at the beginning of the war, according to a new poll. About half of Americans say the military response from Israel in the Gaza Strip has “gone too far,” according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s up from November 2023, when 40 percent said Israel’s military action had gone too far. That AP-NORC poll was conducted shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. But at the same time, Americans overall, particularly Republicans, are less likely to say that negotiating a ceasefire should be a high priority for the US government than they were just a few months ago when the US was holding ceasefire talks with Hamas.The shift in American attitudes about Israel’s actions comes as Israel begins an expanded ground offensive on Gaza City. Israel is facing increased international scrutiny over its conduct in Gaza, with a team of independent experts commissioned by the UN’s Human Rights Council this week announcing it has concluded that Israel is committing genocide.“The level of innocent women and children suffering,” said Renee Hollier, of Lafayette, Louisiana, who described herself as a political independent and mother of a toddler. “There’s just no justification for this kind of suffering to continue.”The poll found a bipartisan uptick in Americans finding Israel’s military response has “gone too far.”About 7 in 10 Democrats say this now, up from 58 percent in November 2023. And roughly half of independents say the same, compared with about 4 in 10 in the earlier measure. Republicans have also moved slightly, from 18 percent to 24 percent. Concern about overreach from Israel was high in January 2024, when 50 percent of US adults said Israel had “gone too far,” but that fell slightly as the war continued. And 45 percent of US adults now say it’s “extremely” or “very” important for the US to provide humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, similar to Americans’ views at the start of the war but up slightly from 41 percent in March. Miguel Martinez, 55, of Miami, said it remains critical for the Republican administration to prioritize humanitarian relief even as it backs the Israeli military’s effort to defeat Hamas. Martinez supports Israel’s aim to defeat Hamas, but he’s concerned that the conflict is dragging on. “Not everyone there is the enemy,” said Martinez, a Republican who said he broadly approves of Trump’s handling of the conflict. “Those people need help.”In interviews, Americans across the political spectrum were dour about the prospects of the US mediating a lasting ceasefire.  “There’s an all-or-nothing attitude on both sides,” Martinez said of Israel and Hamas. “Any resolution, any ceasefire, it’s hard to see it being anything more than temporary.”Democrats are more likely to prioritize negotiations on an independent Palestinian state. Larry Kapenstein, 71, a Democrat from Middletown, Pennsylvania, said he’s worried about the conflict’s long-term ramifications for Israel’s economy and standing in the world. “I side with Israel, and I think they’re in the right in this, but I think Netanyahu has just taken this too far,” Kapenstein said. “There’s got to be a better way.”
About 3 in 10 US adults said it is “extremely” or “very” important to negotiate the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, unchanged from January 2024. But that belief is especially pronounced among Democrats: About half now say this is highly important, up from 41 percent in 2024. That compares with 19 percent of independents and 14 percent of Republicans. The survey also found slightly less support for military aid for Israel.About 2 in 10 US adults said it is “extremely” or “very” important for the US to provide aid to Israel’s military to fight Hamas, down from 36 percent at the war’s start. The decline has been particularly dramatic among Democrats, from 30 percent at the war’s beginning to 15 percent now.

Pakistan deputy PM says other countries interested in security pacts after Saudi defense deal
Hasaan Ali Khan/Arab News/September 19, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday several countries had expressed interest in signing a security pact with his country after it concluded a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia this week, though he stressed such accords take time and do not materialize overnight. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sealed the deal during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional and bilateral issues. Both nations have said the pact formalizes decades of defense partnership and is not directed against any third country. Since the signing of the agreement, analysts have widely speculated more such accords could follow amid a shifting geopolitical environment in the region. “It is premature to say anything, but many countries desire, after this development, to have a similar arrangement,” Dar told a group of reporters in London in a video shared on social media platforms without naming them. “However, it [takes] a due process,” he continued. “It [the accord with Saudi Arabia] wasn’t signed overnight. It took several months.”Dar said every word of the agreement had been carefully considered by both sides. He maintained that the two countries were “very happy” about the development, pointing out that Saudi Arabia had always stood with Pakistan in tough circumstances. “You will recall that their support after the [nuclear] sanctions was very relevant and important,” he said, referring to the international situation for Pakistan that followed its decision to conduct nuclear tests in response to India’s in May 1998. “Likewise, during the current crises, Saudi Arabia has also played a major role,” he added, citing Pakistan’s recent financial turmoil that brought it close to sovereign debt default and prompted it to enlist support from Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries to unlock an International Monetary Fund bailout. Dar noted that the people of Pakistan always felt strongly about Saudi Arabia’s security, saying the newly signed pact builds on the same sentiment and years of bilateral partnership.

Taliban release British couple who had been held for months in Afghanistan on undisclosed charges
AP/September 19, 2025
Earlier this month, the Taliban reached a prisoner exchange agreement with US envoys
DUBAI: The Taliban released on Friday a British couple held in Afghanistan for more than seven months on undisclosed charges, an official said, part of a wider effort to get their government recognized internationally years after taking power. The case of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 75, underlined the concerns of the West over the actions of the Taliban since they overthrew the country’s US-backed government in a 2021 lightning offensive. The Reynolds had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and run an education and training organization in the country’s central province of Bamiyan, choosing to remain in the country after the Taliban seized power. Qatar, an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that mediated talks between the US and the Taliban before the American withdrawal, helped in releasing the Reynolds. The couple left Afghanistan on Friday, a diplomat said. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations in the case. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Friday hailed the “vital role” played by Qatar in winning the release of a British couple held by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan. He welcomed the release of Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife, Barbie, 76, who had been arrested in February, saying: “This long-awaited news will come as a huge relief to them and their family.”“I want to pay tribute to the vital role played by Qatar,” including the emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, “in securing their freedom,” Starmer added in a statement. The Reynolds’ family members in the United Kingdom repeatedly called for the couple’s release, saying they were being mistreated and held on undisclosed charges. While the Taliban rejected the abuse allegations, they have never explained what prompted their detention.There was no immediate comment from the Taliban government or the UK Foreign Office about the couple’s release.In July, United Nations human rights experts warned the couple’s physical and mental health was deteriorating rapidly and that they were at risk of irreparable harm or even death. Earlier this month, the Taliban said they had reached an agreement with US envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations. The meeting came after the Taliban in March released US citizen George Glezmann, who was abducted while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist. Afghanistan remains a focus of US President Donald Trump. On Thursday, while visiting the UK, Trump suggested that he is working to reestablish a US presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Zakir Jalaly, an official at the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, dismissed the idea.

Jordanian crown prince, Princess Rajwa attend dinner hosted by US Vice President
Arab News/September 19, 2025
AMMAN: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and his wife Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein attended a dinner in Washington on Thursday, hosted by US Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance as part of their official visit to the US. During the dinner, the crown prince and Vance discussed the close ties between Jordan and the US and explored ways to strengthen cooperation, the Jordan News Agency reported. They also reviewed efforts to restore stability and promote peace in the Middle East.

French Daesh suspects transferred from Syria to be tried in Iraq
Arab News/September 19, 2025
BAGHDAD: Iraqi intelligence services are questioning 47 French nationals, recently transferred from Syrian Kurdish custody, over their alleged involvement in crimes committed in Iraq by the Daesh group, officials said Friday. “Iraq received 47 French nationals over a month ago from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and they are currently under investigation,” an Iraqi security official told AFP on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to brief the media. “They belong to Daesh,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.The official said the security services also had documentary evidence and testimonies from Iraqi suspects that implicated the French nationals in “crimes against Iraqis.”“They will be tried under Iraqi law,” the official said. Iraq’s National Intelligence Service confirmed that the French nationals would face trial in Iraq. It said the suspects were “wanted by the Iraqi judiciary for their involvement in terrorist crimes committed in Iraq” after the group captured swathes of the country in 2014. Some of them were involved “in activities that threatened Iraqi national security from outside the country,” it added. Iraqi courts have handed down hundreds of death sentences and life prison terms to people convicted of “terrorism” in trials some human rights groups have denounced as rushed.Iraqi courts sentenced 11 French nationals to death in 2019, all of whom remain on death row.

Iraq nears deal to restart pipeline oil exports from Kurdistan to Turkiye, sources say
Reuters/September 19, 2025
BAGHDAD: Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer, has given preliminary approval to a plan to resume pipeline oil exports from its semi-autonomous Kurdistan region through Turkiye following delays to a hoped-for restart, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters. The deal between Iraq’s federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government and international oil companies could add at least 230,000 barrels per day of fresh supplies at a time OPEC producers are raising output to regain market share. Iraq exports around 3.4 million barrels of oil per day from its southern ports, but the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline in the north has been shut since March 2023 after an arbitration court ruled that Turkiye should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorized exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkiye is appealing the ruling. Ankara has since said it is willing to restart exports, but the flows remain suspended because of ongoing legal and political disputes between Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government in Irbil, and the international oil companies.Iraq’s cabinet has given preliminary approval to a plan to resume exports, and international oil companies operating in Kurdistan have also tentatively agreed, two sources familiar with the talks said.APIKUR, a group representing firms including Genel Energy , DNO and Gulf Keystone, declined to comment, citing ongoing negotiations.“Discussions have intensified and we’re closer to a tripartite agreement... than we’ve ever been, as all are showing flexibility,” an executive from one of the international oil companies said.Under the preliminary plan, the KRG would commit to delivering at least 230,000 bpd to Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO, while keeping additional 50,000 bpd for local use.An independent trader would handle sales from Ceyhan using SOMO’s official prices. For each barrel sold, $16 would be transferred to an escrow account and distributed proportionally to producers. The remainder of the revenue would go to SOMO. The draft plan also does not specify how or when producers will receive about $1 billion in unpaid arrears, accumulated between September 2022 and March 2023. Luke Clements, CFO of Genel Energy, told a conference in Oslo last week that there had been significant progress made in drafting agreements to restart pipeline exports.
“But it still needs to get over the line,” he added.

Syria’s new envoy vows to ‘turn hope into action’ in first UN Security Council address
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/September 19, 2025
NEW YORK: The Syrian Arab Republic’s new Permanent Representative to the UN Ibrahim Olabi pledged to “turn hope into action” in a landmark address to the Security Council on Thursday, signaling what he described as a historic shift in the country’s approach to diplomacy, accountability, and national reconciliation.Delivering his first remarks since assuming the post on Sept. 11, the 34-year-old British-German lawyer and human rights advocate, acknowledged international calls for justice and reform. He vowed that Syria would “add to hope, action,” and work to restore unity and stability in a country ravaged by over a decade of war amidst the fall of the previous regime. “Less than a year ago, a young Syrian woman sat at this very table speaking out against tyranny. Today, I stand before you as a representative of a new Syria — a Syria committed to freedom, dignity, and justice,” Olabi said.
Much of Olabi’s statement focused on recent unrest in Suwayda, a southern governorate that has seen mass protests and violent crackdowns in recent months. He told council members that the Syrian government had adopted a comprehensive roadmap for resolving the crisis, developed during a tripartite meeting in Damascus with the US and Jordan. The plan includes an official request for an investigation by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria and a commitment to hold accountable all perpetrators of violence, regardless of affiliation. Olabi noted that suspects from the Ministry of Defense and Interior had already been arrested and that the government had taken “unprecedented steps” to cooperate with international investigators. “The families of the victims should feel that justice was truly served,” he said, promising that the process would be inclusive and transparent. The roadmap, according to Olabi, also envisions the creation of a local police force representative of Suwayda’s diverse population, reconstruction of destroyed areas, delivery of humanitarian assistance, and a campaign to promote national unity and counter extremism. Olabi outlined what he called a “new political reality” in Syria, following the “liberation of the country from oppression” and the preservation of state institutions. He announced that Syria would soon hold the first elections “in decades” based on a genuine separation of powers. “These elections will be a genuine opportunity for all Syrian men and women to participate in drafting the future of the country,” he said, promising a minimum of 20 percent representation for women on candidate lists and allowing international observers to monitor the vote.Olabi said the electoral process would be carried out under judicial and media supervision, with oversight agreements already signed between the High Electoral Commission and civil society organizations. In addition to political reforms, Olabi emphasized Syria’s efforts to revive its economy through agreements with foreign governments and international companies. He pointed to global partnerships and community-led initiatives from the Syrian diaspora aimed at supporting the country’s recovery. However, he lamented what he called the international community’s “insufficient” support at both the humanitarian and developmental levels. He urged member states to fulfill their pledges to the UN’s humanitarian response plan and warned that Syria is facing its worst drought in three decades, threatening food and water security. “We need a quantum leap in international engagement to meet the scale of our challenges,” he said. Olabi also condemned recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria and called on the UN Security Council to take urgent action. He accused Israel of expanding its operations in Syrian territory, particularly in the occupied Golan Heights, and cited relevant UN resolutions demanding Israeli withdrawal. Olabi concluded his remarks with a sweeping vision for Syria’s future, one centered on inclusivity, sovereignty, and civil peace. “Damascus, the heart of Syria, will continue to bring together all Syrian men and women,” he said. “They stand today united, looking towards the future, rejecting terrorism, hate speech, and extremism — turning the page on suffering and pain.”

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on September 19-20/2025
Syria: Al-Sharaa's Campaign of Extermination against Druze, Minorities
Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/September 19, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/09/147422/
"Other groups were reported held hostage in Dar'aa and Idlib, locations where the Jolani regime is still utilizing 'extra judicial' prisons and has a market for the 'spoils of war,' as they call the abducted people. The regime provides no information about their current status or condition." — Socrates Naufal, a Druze from Syria, to Gatestone.
"The Jolani regime (HTS/al-Nusra) declares...its attacks on [the Druze] as a jihad (holy war). The deeper reason, however, is that Sweida and the Druze community have consistently called for a secular, democratic Syria based on equal citizenship, human rights, and the rule of law. This vision directly contradicts the Islamic state government that Jolani seeks to impose.... The Druze stand for an alternative Syria that extremists cannot tolerate." — Socrates Naufal, to Gatestone.
"The Druze are hoping that the US and EU will recognize the real nature of this threat. Washington says it is committed to eliminating ISIS, yet ISIS is part of the forces aligned with the Jolani regime. HTS/Al-Nusra is merely another name for ISIS. Normalizing relations with such a regime means nothing but supporting terrorists and empowering them to expand their influence. The West needs to be clear-eyed: these groups are built on an ideology that rejects democracy as a 'heresy' against Allah's law, denies universal human rights by placing Muslims above all others, and suppresses any attempt at building national institutions in favor of an 'Islamic nation.'" — Socrates Naufal, to Gatestone.
"Jolani committed the massacre in July under the pretext of 'extending state control over all Syrians.' In Sweida, however, he acted selectively. He demanded the disarmament of Sweida but did not demand the disarmament of the Sunni Arab tribes, who are surrounding and attacking Sweida..." — Amr Fahed, a Druze from Syria, to Gatestone.
"Strategically, controlling Sweida means controlling the border with Jordan, which al-Sharaa's regime seeks as part of its political project. The ultimate goal of the regime is to subjugate Sweida and integrate it into the 'Islamic administration' project promoted by the regime, but strongly rejected by the people of Sweida." — Amr Fahed, a Druze from Syria, to Gatestone.
"The Western governments also have not contributed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a political transition in Syria with the participation of all Syrians." — Samer Fahed, a Druze from Syria, to Gatestone.
How much longer will the West tolerate this "experiment"?
The persecution of Druze and Christians in Syria has been escalating since Ahmed al-Sharaa took over as the country's president, after his al-Qaeda affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group overthrew the Assad regime in December.
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, murdering approximately 3,000 people and wounding thousands of others.
In 2012, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — the leader of ISIS — tasked Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Abu Mohammad al-Julani) with forming a contingent of al-Qaeda in Syria. Sharaa then set up this al-Qaeda branch, naming it the Nusrah Front (Jabhat al-Nusra), and put into action taxing civilians, looting factories, and kidnapping civilians for hefty ransoms. At one point, the Nusrah Front was helping support the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq. In 2013, Sharaa declared the organization's allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and expressed their "pride in the banner of the Islamic State in Iraq."
In 2017, Sharaa formed Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The same year, HTS announced the creation of what it called the "Syrian Salvation Government" (SSG) in the governorate of Idlib, with Sharaa as its de facto ruler. There, HTS forces forcibly expelled from homes, detained, tortured or murdered many civilians. They also removed crosses from churches and prevented Christian pastors and priests from walking outside in religious attire.
Now, 13 years after he created Syrian al-Qaeda, Sharaa is now Syria's self-described "president," and is expected to mark his United Nations debut with an official address to the General Assembly in New York on September 24, during the 80th session of the organization.
The United States has granted Sharaa an entry visa to visit the country from September 21-25. According to the sources, Sharaa will be accompanied on the trip by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Syria's new envoy to the United Nations, Ibrahim al-Albi.
Sharaa's HTS, with Turkey's help, conquered the Syrian capital of Damascus in December 2024, overthrowing the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Because of their association with al-Qaeda and ISIS, Sharaa and HTS were designated as terrorists by several countries—including the United States (until July 2025) and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations and the European Union.
Since seizing power in Syria, Sharaa's new Islamist regime has systematically targeted, abducted, raped, tortured and massacred Druze, Christians, Alawites and people of religious minorities.
On July 13, the Islamist regime launched an incursion against the majority-Druze city of Suweida and its surrounding villages in the south, and massacred civilians, mainly Druze, including children. Some victims were tortured; others were abducted and remain missing. All were singled out based on their non-Muslim religion. Atrocities were filmed by the perpetrators, who then posted them on social media.
Although Suweida is primarily populated by the Druze, it is also home to a sizable Christian minority. Currently, hundreds of Druze remain hostages at the hands of the Sharaa regime.
"The Druze were abducted by the regime's MoD [Ministry of Defense] and General Security forces," Socrates Naufal, a Druze from Syria who works as a translator from English to Arabic, related to Gatestone:
"Those are the same Jolani's forces who are documented all over social media by the videos that they were sharing with pride.
"On September 9, 16 bodies were received in the national hospital of Sweida from Damascus. They were recognized as those who were abducted alive and detained in Dar'aa by the regime's forces on July 16. The current location of the others who were abducted is not yet confirmed. Some appeared -- in dire condition -- on the regime's media in Adra's Prison, on the outskirts of Damascus. Other groups were reported held hostage in Dar'aa and Idlib, locations where the Jolani regime is still utilizing 'extra judicial' prisons and has a market for the 'spoils of war,' as they call the abducted people. The regime provides no information about their current status or condition.
"The families of the victims have not been able to seek help from the regime. It is controlled by a small circle who publicly support the regime and promote its false narratives. These 'intermediaries' deny the systematic campaign of extermination targeting our community. They are not even based in Sweida. They live outside the governorate and have no connection to the daily life of the people here.
"The Jolani regime (HTS/al-Nusra) declares the Druze outside their narrow definition of Islam and frames its attacks on them as a jihad (holy war). The deeper reason, however, is that Sweida and the Druze community have consistently called for a secular, democratic Syria based on equal citizenship, human rights, and the rule of law. This vision directly contradicts the Islamic state government that Jolani seeks to impose. You can see it in his constitutional declaration, his loyalty-based government, and his reliance on Sharia law rather than universal legal principles. The Druze stand for an alternative Syria that extremists cannot tolerate.
"The Druze are hoping that the US and EU will recognize the real nature of this threat. Washington says it is committed to eliminating ISIS, yet ISIS is part of the forces aligned with the Jolani regime. HTS/Al-Nusra is merely another name for ISIS. Normalizing relations with such a regime means nothing but supporting terrorists and empowering them to expand their influence. The West needs to be clear-eyed: these groups are built on an ideology that rejects democracy as a 'heresy' against Allah's law, denies universal human rights by placing Muslims above all others, and suppresses any attempt at building national institutions in favor of an 'Islamic nation.'
"The Druze, therefore, hope that the US and EU will not only to refuse to legitimize extremist regimes but also that they will recognize the threat to its existence that the Druze community faces, and that they will provide protection, and support their right to self-determination. They need to demand the safe return of abducted civilians, clarification of the fate of the missing, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, an independent international commission of inquiry, and unfettered access for the press and media."
Amr Fahed, another Druze, told Gatestone:
"More than half of the abducted remain unaccounted for. Some bodies arrive daily at the Sweida Hospital, apparently tortured or executed.
"242 cases of rape have been documented following the regime's invasion of Sweida. And this topic is of great sensitivity for the community as a whole.
"Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by al-Julani, are believed to be responsible for the abductions and other atrocities, especially after its members were monitored around Daraa and Sweida during the time the abductions took place. Reports indicate that they are being held in secret prisons run by the regime in the Idlib countryside or northern Daraa.
"So far, no deaths have been reported among the abductees, so they may still be alive, even if in conditions less than humane.
"The targeting of the Druze by the regime has several dimensions. The regime seeks to impose its control over southern Syria and considers Sweida 'an area outside of obedience.' The regime considers the Druze a 'deviant sect,' even though the leadership attempts to project a moderate rhetoric. Strategically, controlling Sweida means controlling the border with Jordan, which al-Sharaa's regime seeks as part of its political project. The ultimate goal of the regime is to subjugate Sweida and integrate it into the 'Islamic administration' project promoted by the regime, but strongly rejected by the people of Sweida.
"The Druze are calling on US and EU for urgent intervention to stop the expansion of armed groups in the south. As a threatened minority, the Druze need international protection and humanitarian support. We need the media to document violations, pressure actors, and future constitutional guarantees in any political solution that assure Sweida's independence and the rights of its residents."
Another Druze from Syria, Samer Fahed, told Gatestone:
"The number of missing Druze in Syria exceeds 800 people, possibly more but we cannot be sure as we have no way of accessing villages occupied by the Ministries of Defense and Internal Security under Jolani's authority.
"The abductions occurred when the regime forces attacked Sweida from July 13th to 19th, simultaneously with the reopening of the Damascus–Sweida road. Since then, the number of kidnappings has escalated and we have documented at least 15 new cases of people kidnapped on this road.
"There were also abductions and arrests targeting students and Druze civilians in various governorates. There is evidence that many were transferred to Dmascus's Adra Central Prison. It is currently managed by the Internal Security Forces led by the former commander of the Internal Security Forces in Sweida, Brigadier General Dalati"
Fahed said that he and other Druze activists informed some international organizations, including an Independent International Commission under the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the seven UN special rapporteurs, who have since issued a statement on this matter. He said:
"We hold the regime responsible and are pressing for the release of the abductees. The issue of abducted women is non-negotiable. Women should not be politicized. Women must not be used as war captives.
"Jolani committed the massacre in July under the pretext of 'extending state control over all Syrians.' In Sweida, however, he acted selectively. He demanded the disarmament of Sweida but did not demand the disarmament of the Sunni Arab tribes, who surround and attack Sweida from Daraa, outside the authority of the Ministry of Defense.
"The Druze have lost trust in the European Union and the U.S. administration: they allowed the July massacre against the Druze. We continue to engage with them anyway, to protect our community and safeguard its rights. The Western governments also have not contributed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a political transition in Syria with the participation of all Syrians."
In a few days, on September 24, Sharaa -- despite his connections with al-Qaeda and ISIS and his ongoing crimes in Syria -- will address the United Nations in New York.
How much longer will the West tolerate this "experiment"?
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21914/syria-sharaa-extermination-druze-minorities
**Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
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What Doha attack means for Arab mediation efforts
Zaid M. Belbagi/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Israel’s airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Doha last week sparked outrage from Arab and Islamic states, highlighting how fragile stability in the region remains. Long seen as a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Qatar now finds its role under strain. The attack not only challenges Doha’s position as a diplomatic bridge but also highlights the urgent need for Arab states to rethink their strategies and deepen cooperation as tensions rise. On Monday, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation brought together nearly 60 member states in a rare joint session to send a united message against what they described as an “unprecedented escalation” by Israel. The Gulf Cooperation Council went further and pledged to activate its joint defense mechanism, a pact which states that an attack on any one of its six members is an attack on all.
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging the Gaza ceasefire talks. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani urged action to hold Israel accountable, a sentiment that is resonating widely across the Arab world. The events in Doha mark a potential diplomatic turning point for the region. The attack shows that mediators may face greater risks, as even Doha — a central hub for truce talks throughout the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza — has been targeted. This development raises urgent questions about the role and security of Arab mediators in regional peace efforts. Undeterred by Israel’s threats, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry made clear that it will not be deterred from pursuing mediation
Mediation has long been at the heart of Qatar’s foreign policy. Doha has played a role in peace efforts in various conflicts, from facilitating peace discussions in Congo to leading initiatives that reunited Ukrainian children with their families and hosting Afghan peace and humanitarian negotiations with the Taliban. Qatar also helped broker a deal between Iran and Israel that ended their 12-day war in June and which has held since.
This record underscores Doha’s importance as a mediator — a role it has sought to play in efforts to end the war in Gaza. Recognizing this, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Doha on Tuesday to encourage Qatar to remain engaged in the negotiations. The visit also advanced talks on a new defense cooperation agreement — a strong signal of Washington’s intent to reassure Qatar, both a key partner in Gaza ceasefire efforts and host to the region’s largest US base, of its security guarantees even as Israel threatens further action against the Hamas leadership abroad.
Undeterred by these threats, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry made clear that it will not be deterred from pursuing mediation and de-escalation. In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warnings that strikes would persist until Hamas is defeated, Doha pledged to work more closely with international partners to pursue war crimes accountability and to counter incitement to genocide.
Despite Qatar’s insistence that it will not be deterred, recent events highlight the need for mediation to be embedded within a broader, multiparty framework. At the same time, the strike has undermined trust and Qatar may now seek stronger assurances from the US to respect its neutrality and guarantee the safety of ongoing negotiations, particularly as the decision to host Hamas’ leadership in Doha was made at Washington’s request. If neutral negotiating venues are now legitimate targets, the fundamental framework of conflict resolution is undermined. The attack also sets a dangerous precedent for mediation more broadly. If neutral negotiating venues are now considered legitimate targets, the fundamental framework of conflict resolution is undermined. For other mediators in the region, particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which have also championed talks on the Palestinian conflict, the strike on Doha is a clear sign that security arrangements must be diversified and strengthened. That could mean reinforcing collective defense capabilities or pursuing broader security partnerships with powers such as China, Russia and Turkiye. Some Gulf states are already deepening their cooperation with Beijing and Moscow, whose economic and military footprints in the region continue to grow. Kuwait and the UAE’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is one of the markers of this shift.
Turkiye, too, is emerging as a strategic partner. At Monday’s emergency summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared his “unwavering support” for Qatar, and he has taken on a more active role in shaping an Arab defense framework. The rapid growth of the defense industries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, strengthened through industrial cooperation with Turkiye and bolstered by Sino-Arab partnerships, has the potential to provide the strategic edge once guaranteed by American weaponry and defense systems.
The Doha strike has sharpened awareness that mediators and diplomatic venues are now vulnerable, forcing a fundamental strategic rethink. For Arab states, this moment may trigger a shift toward greater strategic autonomy and more diversified alliances. Arab and Islamic leaders have already called for collective action, both diplomatically and in security, emphasizing the need to pursue action through international bodies rather than relying on fragmented, individual efforts. Looking ahead, mediation will likely become more cautious and calculated, given the risks neutral negotiating venues now face, creating a potential crisis for future conflict resolution. Yet it remains vital, particularly for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Qatar’s role is expected to continue, though other players in the region may adopt a more measured, multilateral approach, embedding their efforts within international frameworks and collective diplomatic channels.
**Zaid M. Belbagi is a political commentator and an adviser to private clients between London and the Gulf Cooperation Council. X: @Moulay_Zaid

Palestinian statehood can end this historical injustice
Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/September 19, 2025
The eyes of the world are fixed on New York, where the UN General Assembly is holding a decisive meeting dedicated to the recognition of a Palestinian state. This gathering comes at a critical moment, as the Palestinian people live under occupation, deprived of their most basic national and human rights, while the international community remains divided between those who support their legitimate cause and those who obstruct it. Recognition of a Palestinian state is not a concession, but a historical, legal, and moral entitlement enshrined in UN resolutions for decades — from the 1947 partition plan, to resolution 67/19 in 2012 granting Palestine “non-member observer state” status, to today’s renewed call for full UN membership. If achieved, such recognition would mark a milestone on the path of international justice and correct a long-standing historical injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people, who have paid dearly in land, liberty, and lives. It would also strengthen the principle of the two-state solution, recognized by the international community as the only viable path toward a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
In this context, the active role of Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman deserves emphasis. He has consistently reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the need to secure justice for the Palestinian people through a two-state solution. This position reflects the Kingdom’s historic and Islamic responsibilities, and lends significant momentum to diplomatic efforts within the UN. Likewise, France, under President Emmanuel Macron, continues to advocate for a balanced international approach that calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state as an essential step toward ensuring regional and global stability. Macron has repeatedly warned that continued occupation and denial of legitimate Palestinian rights undermine peace and threaten the future of the entire region.
Palestinian people have paid dearly in land, liberty, and lives.
As for my country, the Republic of Djibouti, it has always expressed a firm and unequivocal stance in support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and has consistently backed the two-state solution as the fair and just resolution of the conflict. Djibouti has never hesitated to vote in favor of international resolutions that support the Palestinian cause, out of its conviction that justice is the foundation of stability in both the region and the wider world. However, the greatest challenge lies in the will of certain major powers that still pursue double standards — offering unconditional support to Israel while imposing harsh conditions on the Palestinians and obstructing their legitimate rights. Yet the growing international momentum and support of most UN member states reflect a firm conviction: The Palestinian cause can no longer be marginalized, and the time has come to translate it into full political and legal recognition. Recognition of a Palestinian state would not be merely a symbolic gesture, but a gateway enabling the Palestinian people to exercise sovereignty over their land, safeguard their holy sites, build their institutions, and integrate fully into the international community as an equal partner. It would also be a message of hope to millions of Palestinians still facing occupation and blockade: The world has not abandoned them, and justice, though delayed, will inevitably prevail. On the eve of the New York meeting, the international community faces a profound moral and political test: Will it remain a spectator to the longest-running occupation in modern history, or uphold international legitimacy by recognizing a Palestinian state and granting it full membership?The answer will be written in history, and remembered by generations to come.
**Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama is Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. X: @dya_bamakhrama

Trump’s UK visit benefits both sides of the Atlantic
Luke Coffey/Arab News/September 19, 2025
US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK this week offered an interesting reminder of how far US-European relations have come during his second administration compared with his first. The images from England were stunning: smartly dressed soldiers, a horse-drawn carriage procession, all the trappings of a state dinner glistening in gold, and with everything revolving around the US leader. In fact, Trump’s visit made history. He is the first elected leader to be hosted for two state visits to the UK. Keir Starmer’s invitation — personally delivered during the UK prime minister’s first meeting with Trump in the Oval Office in February — set the stage for the occasion, and also for the broader tone of US-European relations in Trump’s second term. It is worth remembering how rocky US-European relations were during Trump’s first White House tenure. Senior European officials and leaders openly mocked the US leader in public and on social media. Trump, in turn, hit back with sharp attacks. Only a few European leaders at the time knew how to manage the relationship. Jens Stoltenberg, then NATO secretary-general and now Norway’s finance minister, was perhaps the most effective, even earning the nickname “the Trump Whisperer.” Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, also managed to build a productive relationship with Trump. But most of Europe’s elite were counting down the days until Trump departed the Oval Office.
This time, the situation is very different. European leaders across the political spectrum have demonstrated an ability to engage with Trump, unlike many of their predecessors in his first term. This has led to a healthier transatlantic relationship at a time when there are many geopolitical challenges.
Trump respects tough negotiating tactics
What is the secret? The answer is to focus on the person, not just the position. Starmer understood that Trump admires the British monarchy, and a handwritten letter from King Charles inviting him to an unprecedented second state visit was well received. Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, has become one of the most effective communicators with Trump on Ukraine. His path to the Oval Office was not through formal policy channels but on the golf course, having once played as a college-level golfer in the US. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, aware of Trump’s pride in his family heritage, brought a framed copy of the US leader’s great-grandfather’s German birth certificate during his first Oval Office meeting with him. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is more ideologically aligned with Trump, has also found it easier to engage, stressing issues of sovereignty and migration where she and Trump share common ground. High-stakes diplomacy and statecraft often come down to personalities. European leaders miscalculated in Trump’s first term by failing to engage with his personality and, instead, joining the anti-Trump bandwagon. By contrast, Europe’s new approach has already produced real results. For example, the US and the EU recently agreed on what some claim is the largest trade deal in history — something unthinkable during Trump’s first term. NATO members have committed to spending 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, far beyond previous levels. And it seems that Trump himself is starting to shift on Ukraine. Previously highly critical of US military support, he now facilitates large aid packages of American-made weapons funded by Europe. This marks a dramatic shift from the tensions of his first term, when he openly questioned NATO’s value and European leaders feared US abandonment.
Had anyone predicted these outcomes before January 2025, it would have seemed unimaginable. Yet Trump thrives on deal-making. He enjoys bargaining, negotiating, and being the center of attention. He also respects tough negotiating tactics from European leaders.
The best example is Volodymyr Zelensky. Of all European leaders, Ukraine’s president faced the greatest difficulties with Trump in the early days of his second term. But over time, Zelensky adjusted his approach and became one of the most effective advocates for his country with Trump. The minerals deal between Ukraine and the US, signed after weeks of grueling negotiations and even a public Oval Office falling-out, illustrates this evolution. Zelensky learned to work with Trump on personal terms, becoming the enabler of Trump’s peace proposal and making the Kremlin look like the obstacle. The result has been stronger US-Ukraine cooperation.
Diplomacy is often about personalities
This is good not only for Europe but for the US as well. Although some in Trump’s administration take an isolationist world view, Europe’s importance is undeniable. Europe is America’s most important single trading partner, largest export market, and biggest source of foreign direct investment. The economic well-being and security of the US are deeply tied to Europe’s, as the 20th century clearly demonstrated. Even though many around Trump’s inner circle often criticize and complain about Europe, deep down they know how important the region is to the US. Even Vice President JD Vance, who has been highly critical of many political issues in Europe, especially those relating to free speech, recently found himself vacationing in the UK with his family. The symbolism of such a trip should not be overlooked: It shows that despite the rhetoric, the cultural, personal, and economic bonds between the US and Europe run deep.It is, therefore, fortunate that European leaders have adapted their approach to Trump. By appealing to his instincts and personality, they have opened the door to a healthier and more pragmatic transatlantic relationship. For his part, Trump has responded to these gestures of goodwill by advancing cooperation rather than confrontation. The lesson is simple. Diplomacy is often about personalities as much as policies. In Trump’s case, European leaders now understand that engaging with the man himself is the best way to ensure good relations for both sides of the Atlantic.
**Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. X: @LukeDCoffey

Syria would dominate any Trump-Erdogan meeting at UN
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/September 19, 2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit the US to attend the upcoming high-level week at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Political circles in Ankara are anticipating a bilateral meeting between Erdogan and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the event, although there has been no official confirmation. I recently came across an interesting piece by prominent Turkish journalist Murat Yetkin, who has followed the high-level visits made by the president and Turkiye’s foreign policy cadre for many years. He argued that “it may be in Turkiye’s best interest not to insist too strongly on arranging a high-profile Erdogan-Trump meeting.”He supported his view by pointing to the many unresolved issues between Ankara and Washington, from the war in Gaza to Israel’s aggression in the broader region. There is also the situation in Syria and the presence of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, along with tensions over defense procurement and arms sales. Yetkin stated that the weight of all these issues, combined with Trump’s unpredictable approach to foreign leaders and Erdogan’s own uncompromising stance, could risk such a meeting producing an undesirable outcome. It is still unclear whether any Erdogan-Trump meeting will take place. However, I can be certain of two things. First, in Trump’s world, strongmen are at the top of the list. He gets along better with personalities such as Erdogan. Second, among all the structural and current issues that test Turkish-American relations, Syria would be the main topic at any meeting between the two leaders.
Turkiye wants to see the SDF adhere to the March deal and integrate into the Syrian national security forces.It is not easy to decipher the current US policy in Syria, even for those in Ankara. There is apparently one key individual in the narrow foreign policy-making circle in the White House who holds the Syria file: Tom Barrack. Barrack is not only the US special envoy for Syria and a long-time adviser and friend of Trump, but also the US ambassador to Turkiye, a critical post. Barrack’s statements have been supportive of Syria’s territorial integrity. He has also urged the SDF to move more quickly to ratify a March deal with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to bring areas it runs under state authority and to integrate the group into the national security forces. This is the policy that Ankara wants the US to follow in Syria.At the same time, the US is undergoing a paradigm shift that is shaping its Syria policy. The ousting in the last week of a “handful” of US diplomats focused on Syria has been interpreted as being a result of a divergence in views between staffers and Barrack on the issue of the SDF and Al-Sharaa.
Barrack has a challenging task. He is trying to do three things at once: promote US policies that will aid Syria’s stability, secure Trump’s support for these policies despite Israel’s opposition, and navigate the tensions between American allies in Syria. There are currently tensions among key US allies: between the SDF and Turkiye on one front and between Turkiye and Israel on another.
Turkiye has launched a “terror-free Turkiye” initiative, which seeks the dissolution of the PKK and its branches, including the SDF, and the laying down of its arms. Within this process, Turkiye wants to see the SDF adhere to the March deal and integrate into the Syrian national security forces. Currently, Ankara is avoiding interfering with this process, exercising strategic patience; however, at the same time, that patience is not limitless. Media reports indicate that military action against the SDF is imminent if it does not take the necessary steps toward integration. Turkiye views both Israel and the SDF as favoring a divided Syria to undermine Al-Sharaa’s control over the country. Coming to the possibility of a Turkish intervention in Syria, I think Ankara would only act militarily if it were to see a direct threat to Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. Here, Israel comes to the equation. The current Israeli government is determined to prevent Syria’s unification and economic development, bombing targets across the country at will and supporting the SDF at all costs. Turkiye views both Israel and the SDF as favoring a divided Syria to undermine Al-Sharaa’s control over the country. Turkiye is not against the US’ presence in Syria, but rather its support for the SDF. The new team in Washington understands Ankara’s concerns regarding the SDF.
While Israel and the SDF may be proponents of a fragmented and unstable Syria, there are other parties — namely Turkiye, the Arab world and, most importantly, the Syrian government — that want the country to be stable at all costs. Turkish-Arab relations are growing in light of the Israeli aggression in the region. This has certainly shifted the perception of Turkiye’s role in the Middle East and in Syria in particular. This is a significant paradigm shift. The coming few days will be critical to see whether Erdogan and Trump hold a high-level meeting and what any such meeting means for Syria.
**Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz

Slected X tweets For September 19/2025
Natalia ܢܐܬܐܠܝ
Fares, there are no “Christian Arabs.” Stop repeating this illusion. We are Maronites, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Copts; identities that existed long before Arabism and Islam. In the Arab countries, you can barely find a handful of churches. In Saudi Arabia, the very heart of Arabness, not a single church exists. To erase us under the label of “Arab Christians” is nothing but dimmitude. And if you truly wish to call yourself a Maronite leader, the very least you should do is know the history of your own people.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
https://x.com/i/status/1968882401897013606
In pro #Israel rallies, you always find the Israeli flag next to the flag of the host country. In anti #Israel rallies, you always find the Palestinian flag instead of the flag of the host country, which is sometimes shunned and even burnt.

Nick Sortor
BREAKING: President Trump just accused Ilhan Omar of IMMIGRATION FRAUD, setting the stage for possible REVOCATION of her citizenship and deportation to Somalia
PLEASE make it happen, 47! “Wasn't she the one that married her brother in order to gain Citizenship???”

Nick Sortor
https://x.com/i/status/1968783538733363598
JUST IN: While aboard Air Force One, President Trump calls for Ilhan Omar to be EXPELLED from Congress after she glorified Charlie Kirk’s kiIIing. “She’s from SOMALIA! These people come from a place with NOTHING, and then they tell us how to run our country”EXPEL AND DEPORT!

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
LOL! “We have been here for a thousand years.”
500 years ago, Turkish invaders (that’s what they called themselves — Ghazi) swept Christian Anatolia and ruled by the power of the sword. In my ancestors’ house in Lebanon we have an olive tree that’s older than Turkey. “Been here”, he says…

U.S. Mission to the UN
U.S. opposition to today’s UN Security Council resolution on the situation in the Middle East should come as no surprise. It fails to condemn Hamas or recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and it wrongly legitimizes the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found currency in the Council. Hamas is responsible for starting and continuing this war. Israel has accepted proposed terms that would end the war, but Hamas continues to reject them. This war could end today if Hamas freed the hostages and laid down its arms.