English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For April 23/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
You have already
spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in
licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry
First Letter of Peter
04/01-11:”Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with
the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with
sin), so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires
but by the will of God. You have already spent enough time in doing what the
Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels,
carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you no longer join them
in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. But they will have
to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For
this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though
they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the
spirit as God does. The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and
discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant
love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one
another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God,
serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks
must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with
the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things
through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever.
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on April
22-23/2026
A Reading of “President” Joseph Aoun’s Speech: Cloning Failure in
Military Garb, Fear of Naming Things, and Words Without Action/Elias Bejjani/April
18/2026
French Soldier Dies of Wounds After Attack on UN Force in Lebanon
Lebanon to Request One-month Truce Extension in Israel Meeting
Lebanon hopes for extension of ceasefire at Washington meeting
Israeli Strike on Lebanon's Bekaa Kills One Despite Truce
Lebanese journalist killed in Israeli strike on southern town
Hezbollah says targeted Israeli post in south Lebanon with drone
Israeli strikes kill 3 in Lebanon despite ceasefire
Aoun orders strict enforcement of arms monopoly decision in Beirut
Aoun says contacts ongoing to extend ceasefire
Report: Lebanon remains part of US-Iranian discussions
More than 62,000 Lebanon housing units damaged, destroyed in Israel war
Riyadh and Beirut coordinate to extend truce ahead of Washington talks
Wounded Hezbollah fighter turns himself in to Israel after receiving first aid
in Rmeish
Israel FM calls on Lebanon to 'work together' with Israel against Hezbollah
Hezbollah buries fighters killed in war with Israel in Kfar Sir
Lebanese State Not Seeking Confrontation with Hezbollah but Won’t Be
Intimidated, PM Says
Hezbollah Fires at Israel, Citing Truce Breaches
Mohammed bin Salman, Aoun Discuss Situation in Lebanon
Hezbollah supporters defiant after sons killed fighting Israel
Gulf Underscores Support for Lebanon’s Security, Stability
Hezbollah Threatens to Derail Israel Talks, Invokes 1983 Scenario/Paul Astih/Asharq
Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Israel Destroys Infrastructure in Southern Lebanon to Prevent Residents’ Return/
Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
When Aoun Meets Netanyahu/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/April 22/2026
Southerners in Their Honest Narratives and Noble Emotions/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq
Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
The Twilight of Illegitimate Force’s Arrogance/Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al-Awsat/April
22/2026
US arm twisting bears fruit in Lebanon/David Powell/Al Arabiya English/22 April
,2026
Links to several important news websites
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on April 22-23/2026
Trump says Iran will not execute eight women after his request
White House denies claim Trump sought to use nuclear codes in Iran meeting
Trump says US-Iran talks could be held in next three days
Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Extension
Pakistan PM meets Iran envoy as US-Iran talks stall despite ceasefire
US-Iran talks could be held in next three days, Trump says
Iran says it won’t reopen Strait of Hormuz while US naval blockade remains
Chief of Staff: Israel Ready ‘to Return Immediately and Forcefully’ to Fighting
on All Fronts
Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump Halts Attacks
Three Vessels Hit by Gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, Crews Safe
Report Says US Blocked $500M Cash Shipment to Iraq Over Pro-Iran Attacks
Arab Foreign Ministers Condemn Hormuz Closure, Demand Iran Pay Reparations
Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel
Sources: Islamic Jihad Military Chief Survives Assassination Attempt in Iran
Qatar Warns Against Internationalizing Strait of Hormuz Crisis
NATO ‘Will Always Defend’ Türkiye, Says Rutte
China Warns Middle East at ‘Critical Juncture’ After Trump Extends Ceasefire
Extreme Heat Threatens Global Food Systems, UN Agencies Warn
Ukraine Has Asked Türkiye to Host a Zelenskiy-Putin Meeting, FM Says
Emir of Qatar, Syrian President Hold Talks on Regional Developments
Links to several important news websites
on April 22-23/2026
Europe's Jew-Hate with a Vengeance/Nils A. Haug/Gatestone Institute/April
22, 2026
A Starmer Error That Laid Bare More Errors/Bakir Oweida/Asharq Al-Awsat/April
22/2026
A Quiet Shift in Syria/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
Undermining the Gulf–US Relationship/Mamdouh al-Muhainy/Asharq Al-Awsat/April
22/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets for April 22/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published on April 22-23/2026
A Reading of “President” Joseph Aoun’s
Speech: Cloning Failure in Military Garb, Fear of Naming Things, and Words
Without Action
Elias Bejjani/April 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/04/153736/
I. Lost Credibility: Faith Without
Works (A Dead Faith)
Yesterday, Friday, April 17, 2026, President Joseph Aoun appeared before us with
a quintessentially “wooden” speech, repeating the same old symphony of promises
from which the Lebanese have seen nothing since he took office. The “Inaugural
Address” he delivered on his election day has remained mere ink on paper, and
today he returns with rhetorical fluff devoid of any tangible executive plan.
Here, we remind him of the words from the Epistle of James: “Faith without works
is dead.” The trust of the Lebanese is not built on resonant speeches but on the
actions that Aoun completely lacks. He “talks much and does nothing,” constantly
attempting to mask his impotence behind terms like “steadfastness” and
“sacrifice,” while attacking those who oppose the terrorist Hezbollah and the
Iranian-Jihadi occupation that occupies Lebanon and sows destruction,
corruption, displacement, and impoverishment.
II. Malice, Narrow-Mindedness, and the Betrayal of Those Opposing Hezbollah’s
Occupation
The speech reveals a mindset that rejects criticism and grows weary of political
opposition. Instead of holding the party responsible for the ruin and
devastation—namely Hezbollah—accountable, Joseph Aoun poured his wrath upon the
sovereignist voices that criticized the presidency’s “cover” for the Hezbollah
mini-state. This is evident in the following phrases from his speech:
“We endured accusations… insults… slander, and misinformation”: Here, he
classifies political criticism as “insult and slander,” a military language that
brooks no debate.
“Do not allow skeptical and treacherous voices to sow division among you”: In a
bizarre irony, he labels opponents as “traitors” simply because they questioned
the utility of his choices.
“Overcome the instincts of the misleaders”: He dismisses the opposing opinion as
mere “instinct” and “misleading,” as if he holds the absolute truth.
“Do not be dragged behind those who exploit your emotions to build their glory
at the expense of your stability”: A direct accusation of opportunism and
trading on people’s pain.
This fierce attack on Hezbollah’s opponents (exclusively) proves that the man
does not write his own speeches. Instead, the task is left to a team of
“entrusted” advisors (groups tied to Berri, Hezbollah, the Syrian Social
Nationalist Party, opportunists, scribes, and Pharisees). Through this language,
they aim to silence any voice demanding the reclamation of the state from its
kidnappers—the Iranian-Shia Duo. His statements are issued in a vengeful tone
toward “Sovereignists,” while remaining “cowardly” and appeasing toward the Shia
Duo and their masters, the Mullahs of Iran. This confirms he is fully tied to
the interests of the Duo’s system and the opportunistic advisors who surround
him—with his consent—shielding him from the reality of the situation.
III. Cowardice in Naming the “Internal Enemy”
In a predictable sovereignist failure, Joseph Aoun did not dare mention the name
“Hezbollah” a single time in his lengthy speech. He utilized vague, generalizing
language, avoiding the naming of the party that has violated Lebanon’s
sovereignty and its decisions on war and peace. Although the party—by
international, legal, and local (Cabinet) decisions—represents an entity outside
the state’s legitimacy, Aoun preferred to flee forward. This confirms he remains
a silent (or coerced) partner in an alliance that places the party’s interests
above those of the nation, stripping him of the title of “Sovereign President.”
IV. Linguistic Acrobatics and Fleeing the Obligation of Peace
Aoun used an “acrobatic” expression when he said: “I am ready to go anywhere to
liberate my land and protect my people.” This is a pathetic attempt to emulate
historical leaders (like Sadat) without possessing their courage. Had Aoun been
serious about “saving his country,” he would have had the courage to say
explicitly: “I will go to the White House and meet Netanyahu, and I will go to
Israel if necessary to end the cycle of death and conclude a permanent peace.”
But, true to form, he prefers the gray zone to appease Nabih Berri, Hezbollah,
and Iran, confirming he remains in their political trench and has never stepped
out from under their cloak.
V. The “Let Us Congratulate” Groups: Okazis of a Wretched Time
One cannot read the echoes of President Joseph Aoun’s speech without pausing at
the choir of “clappers” from the political class, “party corporations,” and the
rabble of media mouthpieces and cymbals who rushed to issue statements of praise
and support. These represent the “Qumwa Ta Nehni” (Arise, let us congratulate)
mentality—a quintessentially opportunistic Lebanese mindset where everyone
rushes to praise whoever sits on the throne without any self-respect or
objective analysis. We are witnessing an “Okazi” scene (referring to the
historic Souk Okaz), but a low-end political version of it. In the past, poets
sold praise and blame for dinars; today, we see these politicians like the
“repliers” in Lebanese Zajal troupes, improvising praise for Aoun’s speech to
guarantee their place in the paradise of power or to satisfy the “entrusted”
advisors. Their “Zajal-like” statements lack any credibility; they are merely
opportunistic rituals that do not seriously address the issues, but settle for
echoing the “President” and those behind him from the de facto powers (Berri and
Hezbollah).
Final Conclusion
The scene is now complete: a President drowned in rhetoric, advisors passing the
agendas of external axes, an opposition being betrayed rather than heard, and a
“Zajal” troupe applauding the void. The speech of April 17, 2026, was not
“salvation”; it was a confirmation that power in Lebanon remains a prisoner of a
gray-zone mentality and disguised dependency, and that the true “man of the
hour” has yet to emerge.
French Soldier Dies of Wounds After Attack on UN Force in
Lebanon
Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a second French soldier had
died following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon last week,
which he said was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah.The soldier, Chief
Corporal Anicet Girardin, was severely wounded on April 18 and died of his
wounds after being evacuated to France on Tuesday, Macron said in a post on
social media platform X.One of his colleagues was killed immediately while
clearing a road in southern Lebanon in the same attack on the UN peacekeeping
mission. Macron blamed Hezbollah for the attack. UNIFIL said initial assessments
indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an
investigation had been launched into what it called "a deliberate
attack".Hezbollah has denied any involvement, expressing its "surprise at
positions that rushed to make baseless accusations" against the group.During a
visit to Paris on Tuesday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was
personally following the investigation into the incident. "I have instructed
the police force to carry out all necessary inquiries in order to identify
those responsible and bring them to justice," he said. France, which has deep
historical ties to Lebanon, has about 700 troops as part of the UNIFIL mission.
Three French soldiers have now died in the region since the United States and
Israel launched strikes on Iran at the end of February. One was killed earlier
in northern Iraq after a drone attack on a French-Kurdish base.
Since 1978, more than 160 French soldiers have been killed in Lebanon.
Lebanon to Request One-month Truce Extension in Israel Meeting
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during its meeting
with Israel in Washington on Thursday, a Lebanese official told AFP. The
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the
topic, said "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an
end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a
commitment to the ceasefire".Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that
"contacts are underway to extend the ceasefire period", which began last week
and is set to expire Sunday. Israel to Lebanon: Cooperation Required on Your
Side Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking to diplomats during an event
marking the 78th anniversary of Israel’s “independence” on Wednesday, called on
Lebanon to cooperate and make joint efforts to confront Hezbollah. Saar said:
“Tomorrow, direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume in Washington. I
call on the Lebanese government to cooperate with us against the state of
terrorism that Hezbollah has built on your territory.” He added: “This
cooperation is required more from your side than from ours. It requires moral
clarity and the courage to take risks. But there is no real alternative to
ensuring a future of peace for you and for us.”Lebanon and Israel have been
formally at war since 1948. Israel took control of additional areas in southern
Lebanon after the Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel in support
of Tehran on March 2.
The war between Hezbollah and Israel has resulted in the deaths of more than
2,400 people and the displacement of around one million on the Lebanese side.
Despite a ceasefire being in effect, Israeli forces still occupy areas in
southern Lebanon and continue to operate there. Last week, Israeli Defense
Minister Israel Katz warned that his country would use its “full force” in
Lebanon if its soldiers were threatened. Under the terms of the truce, Israel
says it retains the right to act against “planned, imminent, or ongoing
attacks.”The Israeli army announced last week the establishment of a “yellow
line” separating areas in southern Lebanon, similar to the line that separates
its forces from areas controlled by Hamas in Gaza.
Lebanon hopes for extension of ceasefire at Washington meeting
Al Arabiya English/22 April ,2026
Lebanese and Israeli envoys will meet for the second time in two weeks in
Washington on Thursday, building on nascent contacts between the states, with
Lebanon hoping for the extension of a shaky ceasefire between Hezbollah and
Israel. The 10-day, US-mediated ceasefire is set to expire on Sunday.
Underlining its fragility, Iran-backed Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had fired
rockets at northern Israel in response to Israeli violations, while Israel also
accused the group of breaches. Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel
reignited on March 2, when the group opened fire in support of Tehran in the
regional war.Washington’s mediation over Lebanon emerged in parallel to
Pakistan’s bid to end the US war with Iran, which had demanded Lebanon be part
of a ceasefire. Washington has denied any link between the tracks. More than
2,400 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched an offensive in
response to Hezbollah’s March 2 attack, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israel has seized a belt of territory at the border where its troops remain,
saying it aims to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from attacks by
Hezbollah, which fired hundreds of rockets at Israel during the conflict. A
Lebanese official said Thursday’s meeting would be focused on two agenda items:
extending the ceasefire and exploring a date for expanded negotiations beyond
the ambassadorial level, in which Lebanon would push for an Israeli withdrawal,
the return of Lebanese detained in Israel and a delineation of the land border.
Another official told AFP that Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the
ceasefire during the meeting. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity
given the sensitive nature of the topic, said “Lebanon will request an extension
of the truce for one month, an end of Israel’s bombing and destruction in the
areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire”.Lebanon’s position
is that a ceasefire extension is a prerequisite for talks to move to the
expanded negotiations, the official said. Hezbollah, which says the Lebanon
ceasefire was the fruit of Iranian pressure, has condemned Beirut for seeking
talks with Israel, reflecting wider splits with the government that has sought
Hezbollah’s peaceful disarmament for a year. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon
Saar, in a speech, said Israel had taken a “historic decision to negotiate
directly with Lebanon after more than 40 years” whilst also calling it a “failed
state.”“I call on the Government of Lebanon: Let’s work together against the
terror state that Hezbollah built in your territory. This cooperation is needed
by you even more than by us,” he said. The Israeli military said it had killed
two militants who had crossed its “Forward Defense Line” in south Lebanon on
Tuesday and approached Israeli soldiers, saying they had violated the
ceasefire.With agencies
Israeli Strike on Lebanon's Bekaa Kills One Despite Truce
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
An Israeli drone strike on Lebanon's Bekaa region killed one person and injured
two others on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, despite an ongoing truce
between Israel Hezbollah. "One person was killed and two others were wounded as
a result of an attack carried out by an enemy drone at dawn on the outskirts of
Al-Jabur in West Bekaa," the National News Agency (NNA) reported. However, the
Israeli military said it was unaware of the strike. Hezbollah on Tuesday said
it had launched rockets and attack drones at a site in northern Israel in
response to "blatant" Israeli ceasefire violations, which it said included
"attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages.”The
Israeli military said that day that Hezbollah "launched several rockets" towards
soldiers stationed in south Lebanon and that the military struck the launcher in
response. NNA on Wednesday reported Israeli artillery shelling and demolitions
in southern towns Israel continues to occupy. Israel conducted huge strikes
across Lebanon and invaded the south after Hezbollah entered the Middle East war
in support of its backer Iran on March 2. Despite the truce which began on
Friday, Israeli soldiers are still active in south Lebanon, with Defense
Minister Israel Katz saying on Sunday that they would use "full force" if
threatened. Under the truce terms, Israel says it reserves the right to act
against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”Israeli attacks on Lebanon have
killed at least 2,454 people since the start of the war, a Lebanese government
body said in its latest toll.
Lebanese journalist killed in Israeli strike on southern town
Associated Press/22 April 2026
The body of a Lebanese journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike on southern
Lebanon on Wednesday was pulled from under the rubble hours after the attack.
The daily Al-Akhbar newspaper confirmed that its reporter, Amal Khalil, was
killed in the strike on the southern village of al-Tiri. Information Minister
Paul Morcos also confirmed Khalil’s death and condemned it. Khalil had been
covering the Israel-Hezbollah war since it started in October 2023 and had been
reporting from different parts of southern Lebanon on the hostilities. Earlier
on Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, called on the international
community to immediately pressure the Israeli army to allow the rescue of Khalil.
“Her life is in danger right now! Continued Israeli airstrikes are preventing
rescuers from reaching her,” RSF said.President Joseph Aoun had called on the
Lebanese Red Cross to work on the rescue of Khalil prior to her death's
confirmation. Aoun had requested the Lebanese Red Cross to coordinate with the
Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers “to carry out the rescue operation in the
shortest possible time.” The Red Cross had earlier evacuated another journalist
Zeinab Faraj, who was injured in the same attack, along with the bodies of two
people who were in a car that was also targeted in the location. "Israel fired a
stun grenade at the Red Cross team, forcing it to withdraw from al-Tiri. The
team is expected to return later to continue the search for the journalist Amal
Khalil," LBCI television said. The Israeli military confirmed that it struck a
vehicle and a structure in the area after identifying what it described as
militants posing an immediate threat near the border.The Israeli army said it
was aware of reports that journalists were injured but did not confirm them and
denied preventing rescue teams from reaching the area.The details of the
incident are under review, it added.
Hezbollah says targeted Israeli post in south Lebanon with
drone
Naharnet/22 April 2026
Hezbollah on Wednesday said it targeted an Israeli artillery position in the
southern town of al-Bayyada with an attack drone, adding that a control room
went up in flames. The Israeli army had earlier said it "intercepted" a drone
launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli troops in south Lebanon, calling it a
blatant violation of the ceasefire. Israel later targeted a car in al-Tiri in
the Bint Jbeil district, killing two people, Al-Jadeed TV said. This is the
second attack that Hezbollah claims since the ceasefire went into effect. The
first attack was launched less than 24 hours ago.
Israeli strikes kill 3 in Lebanon despite ceasefire
Agence France Presse/22 April 2026
Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon on Wednesday, Lebanese state
media said, despite an ongoing 10-day ceasefire, which an official said Beirut
will request an extension for in the upcoming talks with Israel in Washington.
Ahead of the talks on Thursday, Israel called on the Lebanese government to
"work together" with it against Hezbollah. The two governments, which do not
have diplomatic relations with each other, are set to hold a second round of
talks under U.S. auspices on Thursday, in a bid to end more than six weeks of
war between Israel and Hezbollah that began on March 2. Lebanon will request a
one-month extension of the ceasefire during the meeting with Israel, a Lebanese
official told AFP. "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one
month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is
present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," the Lebanese official told AFP, on
condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks. The ten-day
ceasefire, which expires Sunday, was announced after an initial meeting last
week. President Joseph Aoun, for his part, said Wednesday that "contacts are
underway to extend the ceasefire period."He said Lebanon seeks "a complete halt
on Israeli attacks and the achievement of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese
territory."
'Serious disagreements' -
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Wednesday that Israel does not have
any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon. "Unfortunately, Lebanon is a failed
state, a state that is de facto under Iranian occupation through Hezbollah," he
said. Hezbollah -- represented in the Lebanese cabinet and parliament --
strongly opposes the direct talks with Israel pushed by Aoun and Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam. A Hezbollah lawmaker however told AFP on Monday that the group
might accept indirect talks mediated by the United States. "The obstacle to
peace and normalization between the (two) countries is one -- Hezbollah," said
Saar. Despite the truce, Israel is continuing its strikes in Lebanon, where one
person was killed Wednesday in the eastern Bekaa region, and two were killed in
the country's south, according to state media. Israeli attacks on Lebanon have
killed at least 2,454 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese
authorities. Israeli forces remain in dozens of southern villages, behind what
the army has called a "Yellow Line", described by the Israelis as a 10-kilometer
(six-mile) deep "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.Most locals
have fled the area, though residents of some Christian villages have been
defying Israeli army evacuation orders. Hezbollah, for its part, said it carried
out an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in response to Israel's "flagrant"
violations of the ceasefire, for the first time since it came into effect on
Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron also said on Wednesday that a second
French soldier died "of the consequences of his wounds" suffered in a weekend
ambush against U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, which has
denied responsibility.
Aoun orders strict enforcement of arms monopoly decision in
Beirut
Naharnet/22 April 2026
President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that the measures adopted by Cabinet must
be "strictly enforced in Beirut," adding in a security meeting that "raids on
locations containing weapons caches must be intensified."He added that the
number of military and security forces deployed in the capital and various
Lebanese regions must be increased. "There must be zero tolerance for armed
appearances by any party whatsoever," the president emphasized.
Aoun says contacts ongoing to extend ceasefire
Associated Press/22 April 2026
President Joseph Aoun’s comments on Wednesday came a day before a second meeting
is scheduled to take place in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli
ambassadors. Aoun said in comments released by his office that preparations are
ongoing for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
He said the aim of the future talks is to “fully” stop Israeli attacks,
withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, release of Lebanese prisoners in
Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border and beginning the
reconstruction process. Aoun said the support to Lebanon that was promised by
U.S. President Donald Trump and other countries “provided us with an opportunity
that we must not miss, as it may not come again.”The latest Israel-Hezbollah war
was halted by a 10-day ceasefire that went into effect Friday.
Report: Lebanon remains part of US-Iranian discussions
Naharnet/22 April 2026
The issue of the Israeli war against Lebanon remains a key topic in the
U.S.-Iranian contacts and separating the Lebanese file from the Islamabad talks
does not appear to be certain, informed sources told al-Akhbar newspaper. "This
issue continues to exert pressure on the American side, which is attempting to
expedite direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel while preventing Iranian
interference. However, Tehran has informed the Pakistani mediators that the
current situation in Lebanon does not constitute a ceasefire, but rather a
unilateral truce, and that the matter will not be resolved until a comprehensive
ceasefire is declared and the occupying forces withdraw immediately from
Lebanese territory," the sources said. The sources added that there are voices
within the U.S. administration advocating for resolving the Lebanese issue
within the framework of negotiations with Iran to ensure that fighting does not
resume. "U.S. intelligence has alerted White House officials to the fact that
Hezbollah is preparing to resume its attacks against Israeli forces, not
exclusively within Lebanese territory, and that Israel's extensive destruction
operations in border villages threaten to undermine the entire settlement," the
daily said."The ongoing deliberations by the team supporting Israel in
Washington are focused on preparing a multi-stage working paper. The first stage
stipulates a declaration of a cessation of all hostilities, in exchange for
Lebanon launching an executive action plan that would completely restrict
weapons in southern Lebanon, with a pledge from Hezbollah not to launch attacks
on Israel," the daily added. The second stage would begin immediately with an
Israeli withdrawal from the areas that the occupation forces entered after March
2, a return to the previous five points and the release of Lebanese captives.
"The file of demarcating the land border would be left until the two sides reach
a security agreement, which would stipulate that Lebanon would take measures
that do not impose disarmament by force, but would rather 'freeze' the weapons
according to the Egyptian initiative, amid an initial discussion on the
necessity of a Lebanese-international mechanism to monitor the 'weapons freeze'
process," the newspaper said.
More than 62,000 Lebanon housing units damaged, destroyed in Israel war
Agence France Presse/22 April 2026
Israeli attacks on Lebanon during its latest war with Hezbollah damaged or
destroyed more than 62,000 housing units in the country, a government estimate
found on Wednesday. "Within about 45 days (of the war), we had 21,700 destroyed
housing units and 40,500 damaged housing units," Chadi Abdallah, head of the
National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), said in a press conference.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed more than 2,400 people and displaced more than
a million since Iran-backed Hezbollah drew the country into the Middle East war
on March 2. Despite an ongoing 10-day truce that started on Friday, Israeli
forces have continued to demolish and blow up homes in southern Lebanese towns
they currently occupy, according to Lebanese authorities, eyewitnesses, and
photographs taken by AFP from the Israeli side. The CNRS estimates that "428
housing units were destroyed and 50 were damaged" during the first three days of
the ceasefire, Abdallah said. Lebanon is set to ask for an extension of the
truce during its next talks with Israel on Thursday, a Lebanese official told
AFP. Hezbollah and Israel had previously clashed for more than a year in 2023,
escalating into two months of full-blown war in late 2024 until a November
ceasefire sought to end the hostilities. Israel continued to strike Lebanon
despite the previous truce and kept troop positions at five border points. "The
aggression that extended between 2023 and 2025, which is in fact an aggression
that did not stop, left behind enormous destruction at various levels," Lebanese
Environment Minister Tamara Zein said at the press conference. She added that
"more than 220,000 housing units were damaged and destroyed" during that period.
Zein added that Israel's strikes did not spare residential neighborhoods,
civilian infrastructure and places of worship, and resulted in damage to large
agricultural and forested areas.
Riyadh and Beirut coordinate to extend truce ahead of
Washington talks
Naharnet/22 April 2026
Coordination is ongoing between Riyadh and the Lebanese state to extend the
10-day truce and ensure the success of direct negotiations between Beirut and
Tel Aviv, informed Gulf sources told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. Lebanese
President's Advisor Andre Rahal had visited Saudi Arabia in the past hours to
discuss these files and reiterate Lebanon's commitment to Hezbollah's
disarmament, the daily said. President Joseph Aoun held a call Tuesday with
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who praised Aoun's "bold steps" and
affirmed the kingdom's willingness to support the Lebanese state in its path
toward sovereignty.
Wounded Hezbollah fighter turns himself in to Israel after
receiving first aid in Rmeish
Naharnet/22 April 2026
Lebanese Civil Defense personnel in the southern border town of Rmeish on
Wednesday provided first aid to a wounded Hezbollah fighter who had crawled to
Ain Ebel from Bint Jbeil, the National News Agency said.
"They then contacted the Lebanese Red Cross to transport him to a safe area,"
NNA added. Israeli forces in the nearby Lebanese town of Debel meanwhile learned
of the wounded man's presence and, via telephone, demanded that the paramedics
hand him over, threatening to bomb the ambulance but the paramedics refused, NNA
said. The wounded fighter then decided to walk to Debel to turn himself in, out
of concern for the safety of the paramedics and the local residents, despite
having lost a significant amount of blood due to his injuries, the agency added.
Israel FM calls on Lebanon to 'work together' with Israel
against Hezbollah
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/22 April 2026
Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beirut to make joint efforts with
Israel to counter the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, ahead of talks between the
countries set to resume in Washington. "Tomorrow the direct talks between Israel
and Lebanon will resume in Washington DC. I call on the government of Lebanon --
let's work together against the terror state that Hezbollah built in your
territory," Gideon Saar said in a speech to diplomats at a function marking
Israel's 78th Independence Day. "This cooperation is needed by you even more
than by us. It requires moral clarity and the courage to take risks. But there
is no real alternative for ensuring a future of peace for you and for
us."Thursday's meeting follows a similar gathering last week in Washington, and
is the first time in decades the two countries are speaking directly.
“We don’t have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor
border disputes that can be solved,” Saar said during Independence Day remarks
to Israel’s diplomatic corps. “The obstacle to peace and normalization between
the countries is one: Hezbollah,” he said, adding that Lebanon could have “a
future of sovereignty, independence and freedom from the Iranian occupation.”
Israel’s military has currently established a buffer zone stretching around 10
kilometers into southern Lebanon to remove the threat of short-range rockets and
anti-tank missiles toward northern Israel.
Hezbollah buries fighters killed in war with Israel in Kfar
Sir
Agence France Presse/22 April 2026
Hezbollah held a mass funeral in south Lebanon's Kfar Sir on Tuesday for more
than a dozen fighters killed during more than six weeks of war with Israel. The
ceremony came after Israel and Lebanon entered into a 10-day ceasefire on Friday
announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran-backed Hezbollah has not provided
the total number of its fighters killed since Israel last month launched a
massive wave of strikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon. But it said it would
hold funerals for fighters in the town of Kfar Sir on Tuesday, returning "a
group of blessed souls to the soil of the south". People flocked to the center
of the village, which was decorated with Hezbollah flags and pictures of those
killed, AFP correspondents saw. Men, women and children thronged the streets as
14 coffins, covered in Hezbollah flags, entered on an open truck adorned with
flowers, before being taken in a procession to the cemetery.
Women stood on balconies and threw rose petals onto the coffins as they passed
through the village, parts of which were damaged. On Monday, AFP footage showed
Hezbollah holding a funeral for four fighters in the southern suburbs of the
capital Beirut, with chants and gunfire heard from the crowd. Lebanese
authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,450 people since the war
broke out on March 2. Israel said last Wednesday that it had killed "more than
1,700" Hezbollah fighters during the war, a number AFP cannot verify.
Lebanese State Not Seeking Confrontation with Hezbollah but
Won’t Be Intimidated, PM Says
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his government was not
seeking confrontation with Iran-backed Hezbollah, but would not allow itself to
be intimidated as it prepares direct talks with Israel to end the conflict.
Salam and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris to see how to strengthen
Lebanon's hand in possible direct future negotiations with Israel, as Beirut
turns to a trusted European ally.The US will host ambassador-level talks with
Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, although it remains unclear whether the
objective is to extend a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
or pave the way for deeper negotiations.
'NOT INTIMIDATED BY HEZBOLLAH'
"We are continuing along this path, convinced that diplomacy is not a sign of
weakness, but a responsible act to leave no avenue unexplored in restoring my
country's sovereignty and protecting its people," Salam said. Israeli troops
occupy territory deep in the south, aiming to create a buffer zone to shield
northern Israel from Hezbollah attack, while the group says it maintains the
"right to resist" Israeli occupation. Lebanon in 2025 said it would disarm
Hezbollah, but its army treaded carefully, wary of igniting internal tensions.
The United States and Israel criticized Lebanon for not moving fast enough. "We
are not seeking confrontation with Hezbollah. On the contrary, I wanted to avoid
confrontation with Hezbollah, but believe me, we will not be intimidated by
Hezbollah," Salam said when asked about the state's ability to disarm the
group.Salam said the country would need 500 million euros ($587 million) over
the next six months to deal with the humanitarian crisis that has seen 1.2
million people displaced from Lebanon's south, east and the southern suburbs of
Beirut.
FRANCO-LEBANESE HISTORICAL TIES
France, which has deep historical ties with Lebanon, has sought alongside
Washington to mediate in the conflict, brokering the ceasefire in 2024 and
helping establish a mechanism to monitor it. But relations with Israel have
soured over France’s stance on Gaza and the West Bank, its accusations that
Israel’s actions in Lebanon are disproportionate, and its contacts with
Hezbollah’s political wing. Israel’s ambassador to Washington said last week
that France should be excluded from any talks, describing Paris as having "no
positive influence."The US, while maintaining contact with France on the issue,
has also sought to marginalize its role. European and Lebanese diplomats say
they fear that if direct negotiations begin, Lebanon’s government could be too
weak to resist unrealistic demands, potentially fueling domestic tensions given
Hezbollah’s refusal to negotiate with Israel. "We are trying our best to get
them back in the discussions, but the US and Israel are adamant not to include
them," said a Lebanese diplomat. France has pushed initiatives only to be
rebuffed by the US and Israel. Macron said the priority was to end the war and
ensure stability for the future, promising to help Lebanese authorities prepare
negotiations."France does not need to be at any negotiating table, wherever it
may be, in order to stand by Lebanon," he said. Echoing the need for French
support, Salam said negotiations with Israel would be demanding, and as a
result, Lebanon would need the "active" support of all its partners. Paris
argues that unlike Washington it has a significant presence on the ground in
Lebanon with some 700 UN peacekeepers, and that any peace deal would still need
a significant international presence to implement it. A French soldier was
killed in southern Lebanon this week in an attack the French government said was
carried out by Hezbollah. In a sign of the ceasefire's fragility, Israeli troops
have continued demolitions of homes in the southern Lebanese border strip they
now occupy and the Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israeli
troops in that zone on Tuesday. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Hezbollah Fires at Israel, Citing Truce Breaches
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it fired rockets and drones into northern
Israel on Tuesday, accusing the Israeli military of violating a ceasefire ahead
of US-mediated talks between the Israeli and Lebanese governments this week.The
Israeli military earlier said Iran-aligned Hezbollah had fired several rockets
toward its troops operating in southern Lebanon, in what it described as a
"blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement. It was not immediately clear if
the incidents were the same. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
mediated by Washington came into effect last Thursday, but Israeli forces remain
deployed in a belt of Lebanese land 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) deep along the
entire border. Israel has said it aims to create a buffer zone to shield
northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah. Hezbollah, in its statement on
Tuesday, accused Israel of attacking civilians and destroying homes in breach of
the truce. It said it fired at a position in northern Israel that had been
striking southern Lebanon.The Israeli military said it struck the launcher from
which the rockets were fired, and that sirens in northern Israel were likely
sounded after the interception of a drone launched from Lebanon. The Israeli
military did not respond to a question on whether Hezbollah's announced attack
was the same as the one the Israeli military had announced earlier.
BERRI SAYS PEOPLE WILL RESIST
On Thursday, the US will host a second round of ambassador-level talks between
Israel and Lebanon, which was dragged into war on March 2 when Hezbollah opened
fire in support of Tehran in the regional conflict. Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri, a Hezbollah ally, earlier told Lebanese newspaper al-Joumhouria that
Israeli forces occupying parts of the south would face resistance. If Israel
"maintains its occupation, whether of areas, positions, or by drawing yellow
lines, it will smell the scent of resistance every day," said Berri. The
Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both referred to
Israel's deployment line in Lebanon as the "Yellow Line" last week - the same
term used by Israel for its deployment line in Gaza. Israeli officials have
since refrained from describing it in those terms, instead calling it a "forward
defense line" that was marked in red in a military map published on Sunday that
included a "naval forward defense area" extending from Lebanon's coast into the
sea. The Israeli military has been carrying out demolitions in southern
villages since the ceasefire, saying it is acting against Hezbollah
infrastructure embedded in civilian areas. Lebanese state media on Tuesday
reported new Israeli detonations in at least eight villages and Israeli
artillery shelling in several areas. Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in
2000 after a 22-year occupation, during which Hezbollah, Berri’s Amal and other
groups waged attacks against Israeli forces. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have
killed nearly 2,300 since March 2, Lebanese authorities say. The Lebanon
conflict has complicated Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the US and Iran.
Tehran has demanded that Israel's campaign against Hezbollah be included in any
deal on the wider war. US President Donald Trump announced the Lebanon
ceasefire on April 16, saying there was no link to its talks with Iran.But
Iran said it was part of an understanding reached with the US and mediated by
Pakistan. The US hosted talks between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to
Washington on April 14, the highest-level contacts between the states in
decades, despite strong objections from Hezbollah.
NO NEED FOR DIRECT TALKS WITH ISRAEL, BERRI SAYS
Berri, in his comments to al-Joumhouria, reiterated his view that there was no
need for direct talks with Israel, noting he had been a party to several rounds
of indirect negotiations with Israel over the years. Aoun has listed Israeli
withdrawal among Lebanon's goals in face-to-face talks with Israel. His
administration has sought Hezbollah's peaceful disarmament for a year.Lebanese
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his government did not seek
confrontation with Hezbollah but would not be intimidated by it. Israeli Defense
Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday the ultimate goal of the campaign against
Hezbollah was to see the group disarmed, by both military and diplomatic means.
"If the Lebanese government continues not to keep its commitment (to disarm
Hezbollah), the Israeli army will do so by continuing its military activity,"
Katz said in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu struck a softer tone last Friday, saying that
disarming Hezbollah "will not be achieved tomorrow. It requires sustained
effort, patience, and endurance, and it requires wise navigation of the
diplomatic field."
Mohammed
bin Salman, Aoun Discuss Situation in Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime
Minister, received on Tuesday a telephone call from Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun for talks on the latest developments in Lebanon. They discussed the
situation in Lebanon and the wider region, addressing ongoing efforts aimed at
achieving security and stability. Aoun expressed his gratitude to the Crown
Prince for Saudi Arabia's consistent support for Lebanon during all
circumstances. For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed underlined the Kingdom's
support for Lebanon's sovereignty and its right to preserve its resources,
territorial integrity, and unity.
Hezbollah supporters defiant after sons killed fighting Israel
Agence France Presse/22 April 2026
Lebanese town official Sharif Badreddine begged his youngest son not to leave to
fight for Hezbollah against Israel in the country's south, but as the tearful
father buried his child he could not hide a sense of pride. In the face of a
government push to disarm the group, its supporters call on a long-held enmity
with Israel, deep religious beliefs and backing from Iran to justify their sons'
sacrifice in the group's latest war that has killed thousands in Lebanon.
"Before he left, I told him, 'Don't go, the situation is bad,'" Badreddine, 67,
told AFP. But his son Ahmad, who was in his twenties with two children,
insisted, leaving his father no choice but to accept his death as a necessary
sacrifice for his homeland, where Israel has launched several invasions since
the 1970s. "I am proud of him. He was martyred on the front lines. This is an
honor for me," said the grieving father, who last saw his son six weeks ago.
"He was defending me, all of southern Lebanon, and all of Lebanon." As the
father buried his son alongside 13 others, including two rescuers, in southern
Lebanon's Kfar Sir, a 10-day truce agreed between Israel and Lebanon that began
on Friday had brought some calm to the area.
Israel conducted huge strikes across Lebanon, including Kfar Sir, and invaded
the south after Hezbollah entered the Middle East war in support of its backer
Iran on March 2, killing more than 2,400 people according to Lebanese
authorities. The ceasefire allowed displaced residents of the town, which sits
15 kilometers (nine miles) north of Israel's border, to return and mourn the 14
men, some killed in Israeli strikes and others in clashes with invading troops.
"These young men did us proud. They forced the Israelis to retreat. The Israelis
were unable to achieve their goals," said father-of-five Badreddine, one of the
few who remained in the town. If his other son decided to fight, he said he
would hold his head "high thanks to him too".
'The last inch' -
Faces in the crowd were filled with gloom and sadness as mourners waited for the
Hezbollah-organized ceremony to begin. The men's pictures were hung around the
town, and when their coffins draped in Hezbollah's yellow flags reached its
square, women in black ululated, wept and threw roses and rice from balconies.
Amena al-Shami stood looking at her son Hussein Sheaito's coffin, weeping while
women hugged her. "He defended our pride, our dignity, and our honor. He
sacrificed himself and offered himself up on the border," she said while holding
up his picture. "I still have two young men to offer as well."
The scene showed the entrenched support of Hezbollah that remains in southern
towns despite the government banning the group's military activities at the
beginning of March, shortly after the start of the war. Hezbollah has not
officially mourned the fighters it lost in more than six weeks of war, but mass
funerals have been held by relatives in southern towns like Kfar Sir. The truce
came after unprecedented direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington
ahead of future negotiations, which Hezbollah and its supporters are strongly
opposed to. Shami called the talks "cowardice" and said the group's fighters
remained unbowed despite being squeezed by the government and Israel.
"We will continue on this path to liberate the last inch of Lebanon," she said.
'Honored'
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP on Monday that thousands of young
men are "demanding to join the ranks" of the group to fight Israel's invasion,
indicative of the fierce belief among its supporters. Following the ceasefire,
the Israeli army said it had established a "yellow line" in southern Lebanon. It
encompasses dozens of villages and is reminiscent of Israel's occupation of a
20-kilometer-deep strip of land along the border until 2000. Hezbollah has vowed
to break the line through "resistance". Sitting on a chair in Kfar Sir's square,
teary-eyed Haydar Sbeiti, 68, talks about his engineer son, Mahmoud, killed by
Israel in the war. "We have been on this path for a long time," he said. "He
chose this path from a young age, and I encouraged him. I am honored to be the
father of a martyr."He said he had three other sons who were defiant and ready
to join the fight against Israel. "We are all ready to sacrifice ourselves for
Lebanon, its people, and the resistance."
Gulf
Underscores Support for Lebanon’s Security, Stability
Riyadh: Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi
stressed on Tuesday the council’s firm support for Lebanon and everything that
can bolster its security, stability and sovereignty. Albudaiwi sponsored a
symposium on GCC relations with Lebanon, “Challenges and Drivers”, organized by
the Political Affairs and Negotiations Sector at the General Secretariat in
Riyadh. The event was attended by a number of ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, as
well as officials and experts. Albudaiwi said GCC countries “view Lebanon as an
integral part of its Arab surroundings and an important pillar of regional
stability.”“Relations between the GCC countries and Lebanon are historic and
robust, built and consolidated on many foundations and bonds, foremost among
them the bond of brotherhood, which has remained unchanged despite all
developments and circumstances,” he stressed. The leaders of GCC countries have
repeatedly underlined the need for the full implementation of United Nations
Security Council resolution 1701 in Lebanon. They have also repeatedly expressed
their support for Lebanon’s state institutions, added Albudaiwi. “The GCC
welcomes the steps taken by the government to extend the state’s control over
all Lebanese territory and ensure that arms are held exclusively by the state,
as an indispensable foundation for restoring stability and building trust with
the Arab and international communities,” he went on to say. “During our visits
to Beirut and our meetings with Lebanese leaders, we were keen to convey a clear
message that the GCC countries will remain an active partner in supporting
Lebanon and its recovery,” he remarked. He acknowledged the complex challenges
Lebanon is currently facing, which require concerted international efforts to
support and assist it.
He noted that the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, which resulted in the
displacement of more than a million people and left more than 2,000 dead, places
Lebanon before a major humanitarian and security challenge. Albudaiwi stressed
the importance of strengthening cooperation with the international community and
regional organizations to support the capabilities of the Lebanese army, control
borders, and combat smuggling and illicit activities, “to restore Lebanon’s
position as a trusted partner within its Arab and international
surroundings.”“GCC countries will remain by Lebanon’s side,” he declared.
“Lebanon’s future begins from within, through the will of its people and their
ability to build a strong and stable state,” he stressed.He expressed confidence
that Lebanon “is capable of overcoming its crises and returning to its natural
role within its Arab surroundings, with the support of its brothers and friends,
the determination of its people, and the wisdom of its leadership.”
Hezbollah Threatens to Derail Israel Talks, Invokes 1983 Scenario
Beirut: Paul Astih/Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Hezbollah has stepped up its campaign against Lebanon’s authorities, objecting
to their decision to pursue direct negotiations with Israel and insisting the
government reverse course, while warning it could seek to bring down the process
by force. The group argues that such talks require a broad national consensus,
which it says is lacking, and has warned that the fate of any negotiations and
resulting agreement would mirror that of the May 17, 1983 accord. That
agreement, reached 43 years ago, was a peace treaty between Lebanon and Israel
that included security arrangements aimed at ending the state of war, securing
an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and regulating their shared border. It
followed Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in June 1982, when Israeli forces reached
Beirut and occupied large parts of the country. The deal came after Palestinian
factions withdrew from Lebanon and a new president, Amin Gemayel, was elected
and led the negotiations. However, the US-brokered accord was abandoned on March
5, 1984 after broad domestic opposition from Lebanese factions, particularly
nationalist, leftist and Islamist groups, as well as outright Syrian rejection
at a time when Syrian military presence in Lebanon was influential.
Different circumstances
Despite Hezbollah’s fierce opposition to direct negotiations, some observers say
current conditions differ from those in 1983. MP Salim Sayegh of the Kataeb
Party said that in 1983 “the Lebanese government, presidency and parliament were
facing Syria, the Warsaw Pact, Israeli ill intent and weak US commitment all at
once.” “Today, regional dynamics have changed. Hezbollah no longer has strategic
depth, and its capabilities are very limited,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, warning
that “any misstep in the street would turn the entire Lebanese public against
it.”Sayegh added that the Lebanese government now holds a firm position and
“will act decisively,” dismissing doubts about the army’s capabilities. “The
army knows the terrain, both land and people. What it lacked was a clearly
defined battle. No army can throw itself into an open-ended conflict. But if
Hezbollah chooses chaos and strife, it will face a cohesive army and a united
people,” he said.
Anger and threats
Anger spread among supporters of the Shiite duo, Amal and Hezbollah, after
images circulated of a meeting last Tuesday in Washington between the Lebanese
and Israeli ambassadors. Commentators and activists aligned with the two groups
warned that the talks could meet the same fate as the May 17 agreement.
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said: “A large segment rejects the authorities’
path, and it was this segment, along with national forces, that brought down the
May 17 accord, and it will not allow the experience to be repeated.” “This is
not limited to the Shiite community, which is a core component of the Lebanese
people and rejects direct negotiations. No one can bypass its role,” he added.
Sayegh said Hezbollah also lacks the ability to create alternatives, as in the
past, when Syrian influence in Lebanon allowed disruptions to serve Damascus’
interests. “At the time, Israel was also mired in internal contradictions that
led it to prefer managing the Lebanese file through security arrangements with
Syria, as seen in the red lines agreement that covered Syria’s entry into
Lebanon in 1976,” he said. “Today, chaos offers zero benefit after the
separation of the Lebanese and Iranian tracks. Israel will not bargain over
Lebanon, having concluded that strengthening the state in Beirut secures what it
wants in the south while respecting Lebanese sovereignty,” he added.
Civil war risks
While agreeing that conditions differ from 1983, political science professor
Hilal Khashan of the American University of Beirut expressed a more pessimistic
outlook. “The key Syrian role in bringing down the agreement back then is absent
today, and there is no longer a Syrian-Israeli struggle over Lebanon,” he said.
Khashan said Israel now seeks a peace agreement that would provide cover and
legitimacy to continue fighting Hezbollah, adding that “it is clear no one can
stop it, and its decision to end the group’s military presence is final.”He
warned the escalation could push Lebanon toward civil war, with a possibility of
Syrian intervention from the north, noting that Hezbollah fighters are spread
across the country. “We also fear this could lead to the army splitting and
ultimately the division of the country,” he said. Khashan added that Hezbollah’s
potential move to ignite internal tensions is tied to developments in the
Lebanon-Israel talks and their possible outcomes, even as Israel itself does not
appear to be placing much hope in the negotiations.
Israel Destroys Infrastructure in Southern Lebanon to
Prevent Residents’ Return
Beirut: Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Israel is escalating its campaign in southern Lebanon beyond direct military
operations, pursuing what Lebanese officials describe as a systematic
destruction of infrastructure, particularly in villages along the so-called
“Yellow Line.”Hospitals, schools, and water, electricity and telecommunications
networks have been repeatedly targeted, alongside the destruction of bridges and
roads, severing links between towns and isolating communities. Lebanese
ministerial sources noted that the approach is part of a policy of displacement.
Residents have been repeatedly warned not to return to more than 80 villages, in
what appears to be an effort to create an uninhabited buffer zone lacking basic
services. Air strikes have also hit areas outside occupied zones, including Wadi
al-Hujeir, which was struck on Tuesday. Israeli demolitions using explosives and
bulldozers have not been limited to homes, but health and education facilities,
seen by Lebanese officials as part of pressure on Hezbollah’s support base.
Israel considers civilian infrastructure in these areas a form of indirect
support for the group and a potential platform where it can renew its activity.
Hospitals hit
From the first hours after hostilities erupted on March 2, triggering
large-scale displacement, the Israeli army targeted hospitals and health centers
in the south. MP Bilal Abdullah, head of the parliamentary health committee,
said Isarel had “intensified the destruction of health institutions and the
medical system in southern villages.”He told Asharq Al-Awsat that available data
indicate “partial destruction of eight southern hospitals, all of which are now
completely out of service,” listing them as the Tebnin Governmental Hospital,
Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital, Salah Ghandour Hospital, Hiram Hospital, Jabal Amel
Hospital, Hasbaya Governmental Hospital and Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital. He
added that “the greatest damage has affected primary health centers,” noting
that more than 100 ambulances had been destroyed and 121 doctors and paramedics
killed in the hospitals and medical centers he listed.
Education sector targeted
The destruction of infrastructure is also aimed at deterring civilians from
returning to the area for years to come, Lebanese officials say.
The education sector has been among the hardest hit. A source at the education
ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat that targeting schools and institutes aims “to
undermine the population’s ability to remain in their towns.” Israel sees
strikes on education as an effective way to empty villages of residents, forcing
families to relocate in search of schooling alternatives for their children, the
source stated. The war has resulted in the total destruction of public schools
in Dhayra, Bustan, Yarin and Tayr Harfa, as well as partial damage to Naqoura
Intermediate School. In vocational and technical education, the Khiam and
Qantara institutes have been completely destroyed, while institutes in Bint
Jbeil, Aita al-Shaab, Tebnin, Toul, Nabatiyeh, Zrariyeh, Jbaa, Maarakeh,
Abbasiyeh, Jouaiyya, Qana and Ansar have sustained partial damage. The extent of
structural damage means some of these institutions may be beyond repair, the
source added. According to education ministry statistics, schools in Nabatiyeh
and its district have suffered the most damage: one school has been completely
destroyed, 18 heavily damaged and seven left unharmed, while no information is
currently available on 61 others.
Electricity and water
Damage to electricity and water infrastructure has also been severe. A source at
the energy and water ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat it is not yet possible to
compile a precise assessment of losses, but it confirmed damage to a number of
power transformers and water facilities. “The biggest problem lies in water
networks,” the source remarked, noting that losses in the sector during the 2024
war exceeded $100 million. “The damage in this war surpasses that figure,” due
to the destruction or disruption of pumping stations, treatment plants,
reservoirs and supply networks. Israel is pressing ahead with turning dozens of
southern villages into a scorched zone, in what observers see as an attempt to
extract political or security concessions from Lebanon. The higher the cost of
destruction, the greater the pressure on the Lebanese state to seek arrangements
to halt the war and limit its losses.
When
Aoun Meets Netanyahu
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/April 22/2026
Lebanese President Michel Aoun is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in the coming weeks, according to
President Trump, who said he would invite both leaders. However, Aoun appears
poised to follow a political path that will be rejected by Israel.
Lebanon has vilified Israel for so long that a Lebanese leader merely shaking
hands with an Israeli counterpart is treated as the end of the world. This
prospect forced Aoun to address the nation and justify direct talks with Israel.
Their goal, he said, was to restore the status quo that prevailed between
Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon on May 25, 2000, and the onset of the
multi-front regional conflict on October 7, 2023. During this time, a de-facto
truce governed the tense border. Such an outcome would mark a significant
victory for Hezbollah but would be unacceptable to Israel. For Jerusalem, its
long-standing policy of “land for peace” is no longer viable. After defeating
the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian armies in the June 1967 War, Israel began
offering territories captured in the conflict in return for Arab recognition of
the Jewish state and normalized relations. It took the Arabs more than twenty
years to accept the offer, which became known as “land for peace.”
At the 1991 Madrid Conference, Arab states declared that if Israel withdrew from
the territories captured in 1967—the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and
southern Lebanon (occupied in 1978)—all 21 member states of the Arab League
would normalize relations with Israel. Egypt, the 22nd member, had already
signed a separate peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
The Madrid process split into separate tracks, with the Israel-Palestinian one
producing the Oslo Accords, again based on land-for-peace. Israel began handing
over territory to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which was unable
to deliver peace as Hamas suicide bombings killed Israeli civilians. The process
collapsed in its early stages, becoming the de facto, permanent autonomy
arrangement still in place in the West Bank today.
Jordan, having ceded the West Bank to the PLO, no longer had a territorial
dispute with Israel and signed a peace treaty with Jerusalem in 1994. Syria,
which effectively controlled Lebanon, proved far more difficult. Syrian leader
Hafez al-Assad relished the international spotlight, played a cunning game, and
constantly moved the goalposts. No breakthrough was ever reached with Israel.
Because Syria occupied Lebanon, the Lebanese track was similarly stalled. Unlike
the relatively quiet Golan front, however, southern Lebanon remained an active
war zone, which Israel eventually concluded was not worth occupying.
In 1997, Netanyahu offered Beirut a full Israeli withdrawal with one condition:
Lebanon would take responsibility for any attack on Israel launched from its
territory. Damascus rejected the deal, as an Israeli pullout would have
undermined Hezbollah’s raison d’être and Syria’s pretext for occupying Lebanon.
In 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak withdrew unilaterally from Lebanon.
The UN verified the border and certified to the Security Council that Israel had
fully complied with Resolution 425. Jerusalem wished Lebanon well and expected
both sides to live peacefully on their respective sides of the frontier, even
without a peace treaty.
Hezbollah immediately claimed victory, but one that did not bring peace. The
militia had never been built for peace and, within days of Israel’s withdrawal,
began manufacturing pretexts to retain its weapons, inflating minor border
disputes into existential threats.
In 2006, Hezbollah launched a cross-border raid on Israel, purportedly to free
three Lebanese prisoners, and instead sparked a major war. In 2022, it
threatened war with Israel over maritime boundary disputes. On October 8, 2023,
it opened a new front “in support of Gaza.” And on March 2, 2026, it re-entered
the war in support of Iran.
The twenty-three years since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon taught
Jerusalem that its land-for-peace formula must be reversed. Israel would now
demand peace first, whether from the Palestinians in Gaza or from Lebanon on its
northern border, before conceding territory.
President Aoun, the Lebanese state, and especially Hezbollah appear not to have
received that message. In his speech, Aoun laid out a sequence of conditions:
first a permanent ceasefire, then Israeli withdrawal, followed by the return of
refugees and foreign-funded reconstruction. Only after these demands are met
would Lebanon declare the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) the country’s sole
legitimate armed force.
Aoun’s blueprint is likely to trigger Israeli rejection. Jerusalem still tasted
the bitterness of trusting Beirut with a quiet border after 2000, 2006, and the
2024 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Each time, Lebanon formally committed
to disarming Hezbollah while the militia rearmed to the teeth.
Zionism, a curse word for many Arabs, is actually a simple idea. After the
Holocaust, Jews vowed never again to entrust their fate to others. That is why
they fought to build their own sovereign state, whose central mission is to
guarantee Jewish security in Israel and around the world.
Israel’s long experience in Lebanon has taught it that there are no reliable
partners on the other side of the border. Therefore Israel will secure its own
border with its own hands. That plan requires a ten-kilometer-wide, depopulated
buffer zone, inside Lebanon, and the unconditional policing of Lebanese
territory against a militia Beirut is either unwilling or unable to control. As
long as Aoun clings to his blueprint, the upcoming meeting is likely to produce
a symbolic photo-op rather than progress toward peace. So far, the scheduled
talks suggest that Lebanon and Israel will be talking past one another rather
than to each other. This is exactly what Lebanon’s adversaries, in particular
Iran and Hezbollah, want.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at The Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD) in Washington, DC.
Southerners in Their Honest Narratives and Noble Emotions
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
Today’s column will host a few excerpts of texts by individuals from southern
Lebanon; there is no space for a larger number of them, but the few examples
presented here are powerful. Their authors have lost loved ones, property, and
homes. In these excerpts (copied from Facebook posts) and others like them, they
have tried to recount chapters of the real story, disregarding the narratives
imposed by force of arms to share aspects of their pain and ours. The prominent
historian and intellectual Ahmed Beydoun, who hails from Bint Jbeil, wrote about
“occupation”: “With our blood we purchased this occupation. We knew we would get
to it, that this was inevitable. We would get to it if this meant breaking
ourselves in two. We had lost it for a long time, and now we have reclaimed it.
Again and again, we pointed our middle and index fingers at it:
“Come back; don’t get used to life away from us. Come back and displace us once
more. From these homes we had built again. Or displace the homes themselves,
from their images and from ours!
“Displace their limbs piled on top of ours!..“Yes, we did! We got it again: this
horror that was lusted for. It contracted and expanded greatly, and we
relentlessly insisted. And so, we attained it with boundless pride. It is the
monster we have taken up as the reason for our existence, and that we have
shared our bed with. It tightened its grip on our throats and choked us with
gratitude.“We said: We will defeat it eventually. Or our children will defeat
it. We say: that is what we say to the future. And we say: It is now what we say
to the past as well... With lives, land, and buildings, we have now bartered
with occupation,
“For our children, we leave behind the glories we remember and glories we had
spun up...“Over a quarter century or more, half a century or more, or a century
or slightly more, we never tired of hosting death at the heart of our homes and
squares, clamoring for its return when it would stay away for too long...
“For our children, we leave glory and ruins- ruins of homes, ruins of lives,
flourishing cemeteries for idle days, and pavements that begrudgingly shelter
them...”The writer and journalist Rami al-Amin narrated the tragedy faithfully:
“October 8, 2023: the ‘support war’ for Gaza. Months of skirmishes between
Hezbollah and Israel along the border. The party took the initiative and
launched the war the day after October 7, less than 24 hours later. No one was
consulted, and the residents of the South were not informed before the front was
opened. Zero responsibility and zero regard for people and their lives.
“The American Envoy Amos Hochstein made repeated visits to propose a ceasefire.
All of them were rejected by the party.
“Things escalated. Israel launched painful strikes: the pager attack, the
killing of the Radwan command, and then the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah.
It entered and occupied five positions in the South. The party eventually
accepted a ceasefire and agreed again to the implementation of UN Resolution
1701. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah fully complied. The state had been lying to
the Americans and the international community about the disarmament of the party
south of the Litani. “The result was five occupied positions and Hezbollah’s
militants becoming totally exposed to Israeli assassinations for 15 months. The
party was preparing for another round, this time on Iran’s time. “After the
assassination of Ali Khamenei, the party launched another round of conflict, ‘to
improve our negotiating position,’ it said. The time for words was over,
Hezbollah insisted; it was the battlefield that would speak.
“Nearly two months later, the battlefield says that Israel has advanced in the
South and is now preparing to occupy 15 permanent positions along the border. It
reached Bint Jbeil. From five occupied points to fifteen. From total destruction
in front-line villages to devastation expanded to second and third lines.
“Estimated at $11 billion in 2024, reconstruction costs have risen
significantly. The hundreds of dead and wounded to thousands today will become
tens of thousands tomorrow if the massacre continues. “No one disputes the
brutality of Netanyahu and his government. Gaza is before our eyes, and we saw
how the world reacted and how things went (...) Negotiating with fire against
Netanyahu’s Israel is not the same as in 2006 under Ehud Olmert. “The Iran of
2006 is not Iran today. The Syria of 2006 is not the Syria of today. Hezbollah’s
2006 alliances then are not what they are now. Yet, many continue to read from
the same old script.“Netanyahu wants the battlefield to speak and negotiate. The
outcome of these talks is not difficult to predict. Context- how this began and
how it evolved - is essential to understanding the current situation. To ignore
it and focus only on the present moment alone is to delude yourself.
“And of course, any debate of context, facts, and outcomes is shunned by the
hotheads and the merchants of victory on Facebook and elsewhere; like this post,
it will be labeled treason.”
In turn, the engineer Nizar Murtada pointed to some of the reasons behind
Hezbollah’s conception of ‘’politics’’: “Refusal to negotiate is not always the
patriotic position. Sometimes it reflects a refusal to recognize Lebanon as a
state but a weak entity that can be exploited to serve narrow projects and
private interests.“Lebanon is not even part of their calculus in the first
place. To them, it is nothing more than a battleground. It is not a country but
a subordinate entity that is used when needed and violated when necessary, a
minor detail in a daily or monthly ledger of gain.”
Criticism, reflection, and pain will have to grow louder.
The
Twilight of Illegitimate Force’s Arrogance
Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
Yasser Arafat once said that he would accept the liberation of even a single
inch of Palestinian land. In response, Hassan Nasrallah “asked:” Isn’t there a
Khalid al-Islambuli among the Palestinian? Islambuli, of course, was the
terrorist who assassinated President Anwar Sadat and whom the mullah regime in
Iran “honored” by naming a street in Tehran after him.This episode should be
recalled in light of the current wave of hysteria: nasty rhetoric, gratuitous
accusations of treason, and threats of assassinating senior Lebanese officials.
Where are they coming from? From some officials within Hezbollah, the
military-security organization established by Iran in the mid-1980s to defend
the Iranian regime and its interests. When Iran dragged its Lebanese proxy into
a war of “support” to avenge Ali Khamenei, “the party” turned the battlefield
into a card in Iran’s hands and lost any independence from its handlers in
Tehran. At the same time, the Lebanese government, while distancing itself from
this war, made clear that it could not ignore the consequences.
From the very outset of the Iranian-Israeli war on Lebanese soil, the contours
of an impending catastrophe began to emerge. The government translated its
ministerial statement into action, stressing that reclaiming our land demands
rejecting suicidal approaches, and launching political and diplomatic
initiatives instead. Given the severe imbalance of power, rights cannot be
protected through perpetual war decided by a foreign party for its own ends.The
presidential initiative for direct negotiations with the enemy is a courageous
step, as the real catastrophe lies in the return of occupation, not in
negotiation. Committed to a ceasefire and to defending the negotiation
initiative, President Joseph Aoun declared: “I am ready to go anywhere to
liberate my land and save my people and my country.”
Madness, and denial, followed. Both reflect an advanced stage of a culture that
glorifies death, which Hezbollah has elevated above the protection of lives and
land. Nawaf al-Moussawi declared: “There will no longer be an acceptable
president... he is no more important than Anwar Sadat.” MP Hassan Fadlallah made
threats: “Whoever wants to be another Antoine Lahad (the commander of the South
Lebanon Army allied with Israel during the previous occupation), we will fight
him as we fought Israel.”
Denial and detachment from reality reach their peak with Sheikh Naim Qassem:
“The battlefield has the final word, and successful politics is that which draws
strength from its results to force the enemy into submission.” He seems to have
overlooked the fact that the enemy, which had occupied five hills before March
2, now occupies 55 towns across 500 square kilometers. They have been wiped off
the map, with their 300,000 residents uprooted. Yet Mahmoud Qamati demands
nothing less from the state than an apology; or else, it will be overthrown.
It is clear that Hezbollah seeks to entrench a culture that has shaken Shiite
consciousness, almost collectively. It is an approach that denies facts, the
value of human life, and the role of the individual; it reduces the annihilation
of Lebanese towns to mere “collateral damage” of the battle to defend the
“greatness” of Iran’s project. Indeed, Mohammed Raad considers “lamenting
losses, victims, and destruction... nothing but gratuitous incitement, dancing
on the wounds of the honorable, and a vile exploitation of the enemy’s crimes.”
Aoun’s speech, his “second oath,” tore apart this narrative of denial,
death-glorification, and casual accusations of treason. He affirmed citizens’
right to security and stability needed to unleash the country’s creative
potential, rejecting the transformation of citizens into fodder for endless
conflicts. He condemned the notion “that Lebanese lives should be sacrificed for
external agendas,” and rejected “periodic, gratuitous death justified by foreign
causes.”
Indeed, Lebanon was dragged into three devastating wars over two decades to
serve Iran’s interests: the July 2006 war managed by Qassem Soleimani; the Gaza
support war decided by Esmail Qaani; and the war of support for Iran in revenge
for Khamenei. These wars brought recurring, needless death to the Lebanese:
around 15,000 killed, some 40,000 wounded, hundreds of thousands of homes
destroyed, and the forced displacement of two million people, threatening
demographic change.
Iran has allowed Israel to bring upon the Shiite community a calamity comparable
to the Palestinian Nakba of 1948. More troubling still, within this same culture
of glorifying death, it has become forbidden to discuss the outcomes of these
wars, the costs that society cannot afford.
One state, one constitution, and one armed force to protect Lebanon and its
people - these are the principles reaffirmed in the presidential speech. At this
moment, keeping Beirut safe and free of weapons is the gateway to restoring
genuine sovereignty. The decision to strip illegitimate weapons of their
legitimacy is historic and pivotal. Equally significant is the rejection of the
absurd notion of “integration” between official forces and any armed group.
Dismantling the rhetoric itself is another priority: a militia operated from a
distance by Iran can no longer be called “resistance.”
On the path toward restoring sovereignty, there is a need to reestablish the
true meaning of the state. Lebanon needs a restoration of republican values that
protect people’s dignity and safeguard their rights. The more attention is given
to those most affected by this unjust and criminal war, the more people can be
rescued from the grip of the armed militia whose arrogance has led it into
suffocating isolation. At the same time, the moment has come for the emergence
of Shiite elites that save their community. Then, the remaining weapons will
rust, and Lebanon will enter, through its widest gates, the era of the twilight
of illegitimate force’s arrogance.
US arm
twisting bears fruit in Lebanon
David Powell/Al Arabiya English/22 April ,2026
When the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US – Nada Hamadeh Moawad and
Yechiel Leiter - held their unprecedented meeting at the State Department in
Washington on April 14, US officials were careful to play down expectations of a
breakthrough in relations between the two countries, still officially at
war.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the meeting was not an “event” but a
“process”, and one that would “take time.” Yet only the next day President
Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached on a 10-day ceasefire
between Israeli and Hezbollah forces, which duly came into effect at midnight
the following day. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has long called for a
ceasefire in the latest round of fighting, triggered when Hezbollah launched
missile barrages at northern Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei, on the opening day of the Iran war.
Netanyahu had for weeks refused to halt the assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon
insisting Israeli forces would press on until Hezbollah was eliminated. Recent
days have seen Israeli forces lay siege to the town of Bint Jbeil, considered
Hezbollah’s main stronghold in the south. Before talking to his Lebanese
counterpart in Washington, Israel’s ambassador to the US had repeated his
country’s refusal to even discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
It was reportedly a phone call from Trump that persuaded Netanyahu to back down
and agree an extendable 10-day halt in its offensive. By doing so, he provoked
anger from both inside his government, for allegedly caving into US pressure to
call the ceasefire, and from leaders of municipalities in northern Israeli,
which have suffered relentless Hezbollah missiles and shelling since the start
of the Iran war on March 2.
The text of the ceasefire agreement issued by the US State Department shows the
extent to which the US went to get Netanyahu to sign up to the truce. It states
that, while Lebanon must take “meaningful steps” to stop Hezbollah attacks,
Israel is permitted to respond against “planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks”
by Hezbollah. Netanyahu was careful to highlight this clause in the agreement in
his comments following the ceasefire announcement. And it is not hard to imagine
that Israeli forces could launch attacks during the ceasefire if they suspect
Hezbollah of “planning” an attack. Netanyahu is not like to put much faith in
Trump’s call for Hezbollah to “act nicely” during the ceasefire, or in the
ability of the Lebanese armed forces to make good the government’s call for the
disarmament of Hezbollah.
Questions remain, therefore, over the stability of the ceasefire and whether it
can be extended, as the agreement suggests. Can the Lebanese army really compel
even a weakened Hezbollah to give up its weapons without this causing the army
to fragment on sectarian lines? And if this does not happen, will the Israeli
army not simply restart its campaign to eliminate Hezbollah’s threat to its
northern towns and cities?
While international attention has focused on the ceasefire element of the
agreement, its most assertion is that “the two countries are not at war” and are
committed to reaching a comprehensive agreement to ensure “lasting security,
stability and peace” between them. While Lebanon and Israel differ over tactics,
the long-term strategy of both countries is to end Hezbollah – and therefore
Iranian – control of Lebanon. This is the first clear statement by both sides
that the days when Iran used Hezbollah to keep Lebanon in a permanent state of
war with Israel for its own ideological ends, are over.
This announcement did not come out of the blue. There have been several
indicators recently of a new assertiveness by the Lebanese government. Last year
it approved a plan to remove weapons from all non-state militias. And after
Hezbollah launched its missile attacks on March 2, it declared Hezbollah’s armed
wing illegal. Lebanese Minister for the Displaced Kamal Shehadi had accused
Hezbollah of holding Lebanon to ransom. He dismissed the long-standing Hezbollah
claim that its weapons were for the defense of Lebanon, saying they were in fact
a liability to the Lebanese.
Lebanon and Israel also are both opposed to Iran’s policy of roping Lebanon into
the ongoing Iran war and making it an element in the negotiations to end that
conflict. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said on April 13 that Beirut
was seeking “direct negotiations” with Israel to reinforce “the separation
between the Lebanese file and the Iranian track.”
Nothing demonstrates Hezbollah’s weakened hold over Lebanese politics more than
the failure of the demand by its leader Naim Qassem for the ambassadorial
meeting in Washington to be cancelled and calling it a “stab in the back for the
resistance.” This profound change in Lebanon has been brought about partly by
debilitating military reversals Hezbollah has suffered at the hands of the
Israeli army in the last three years, including the assassination of its leader
Hassan Nasrallah and much of its top commanders. It is also a result of the
overthrow in December 2024 of the Assad regime in Syria, which long facilitated
delivery to Hezbollah of arms and money from Iran and which intimidated any
Lebanese figure who spoke out against it. Hezbollah is often portrayed as
controlling Lebanese politics, but that is too simplistic a view. It and its
Shia ally the Amal Movement, led by the veteran parliamentary speaker Nabih
Berri, together hold just 27 out of the 128 seats in parliament. The biggest
single bloc is the Christian Lebanese Forces with 19 seats. Hezbollah is trying
its best to overturn the cabinet decision to outlaw it, but has so far failed to
do so.
There is a clear commitment by the president and government of Lebanon to refuse
to allow their country to be used any longer as a pawn by outside political
interests. They realize that Iranian influence over Lebanon through Hezbollah
has served only to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, weaken the country’s
cohesiveness by exacerbating sectarian differences and bring death and
destruction to its people. By publicly stating that the country is no longer at
war with Israel, Lebanon is making a strategic option for cooperation not
confrontation, much as the Arab countries did who signed the Abraham Accords
back in 2020. There may be further outbreaks of violence before Hezbollah’s
military power is broken and Lebanon can free itself from the ideology of
permanent conflict with its southern neighbor. But this US-supervised bilateral
agreement is a first step on the road to a truly free and stable Lebanon.
Links to several
important news websites
National News Agency (Lebanon)
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar
Nidaa Al Watan
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
MTV Lebanon
https://www.mtv.com.lb/
Voice of Lebanon
https://www.vdl.me/
Asas Media
https://asasmedia.com/
Naharnet
https://www.naharnet.com/
Al Markazia News Agency
https://almarkazia.com/ar
LBCI (English)
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/en
LBCI (Arabic)
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/ar
Janoubia Website
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/ar
Kataeb Party Official Website
https://www.kataeb.org
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on April 22-23/2026
Trump says Iran will not execute eight
women after his request
Agence France Presse/22 April ,2026
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran had halted alleged plans to
execute eight women arrested over anti-government protests, after he urged
Tehran to release them to help peace negotiations. "I very much appreciate that
Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States,
and terminated the planned execution," he said on his Truth Social platform.
Iran denied it planned to execute the women. Rights groups have said at least
one woman arrested over the January protests has been sentenced to death while
at least one more is facing charges that carry the death penalty and could see
her executed. Trump had earlier said on social media that the women's release
could work in Iran's favor in negotiations, reposting an activist's claim that
eight women were facing death by hanging. That claim did not give names but
included photographs of the women. The fate of U.S.-Iran talks hosted by
Pakistan remains unclear. A previous round collapsed with Tehran accusing the
United States of making excessive demands over the Strait of Hormuz and its
nuclear program. Rights groups accuse the Islamic republic of using capital
punishment to instill fear throughout society and stepping up executions of
political prisoners against the background of the war against the United States
and Israel.
White House
denies claim Trump sought to use nuclear codes in Iran meeting
Al Arabiya English/22 April ,2026
A White House spokesperson has dismissed as false a viral claim that President
Donald Trump attempted to use nuclear codes during a heated meeting on the Iran
crisis on Saturday, Newsweek reported. The allegation stems from remarks by
former CIA officer Larry Johnson during an April 20 appearance on the “Judging
Freedom” podcast. Johnson claimed that an emergency White House meeting on April
18 became confrontational, alleging that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, resisted a presidential directive involving so-called
nuclear codes. According to Johnson, the exchange was “quite a blowup,” with the
general allegedly refusing to facilitate the action. However, no independent
reporting or official confirmation has substantiated the account. While
senior-level meetings did take place around the expiration of the Iran
ceasefire, no credible sources have verified that nuclear launch authority was
ever invoked. Some Republican lawmakers have also expressed skepticism. Senator
Thom Tillis told Newsweek he would require multiple source confirmations before
taking the claim seriously, adding that he could not imagine such a scenario
being a genuine consideration. The claim conflicts with how the US nuclear
command system operates. Under established protocols, the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff serves in an advisory capacity and does not have the authority
to block or execute a launch order. While safeguards such as the “two-person
rule” exist, the system is designed to ensure that any lawful order from the
commander-in-chief is carried out. A direct confrontation over nuclear launch
procedures of the kind described would represent a far-reaching constitutional
crisis, rather than a routine disagreement. Johnson, who served as deputy
director of the State Department’s Office of Counterterrorism from 1989 to 1993,
has faced scrutiny in recent years over past claims. Johnson was among those
linked to a widely disputed 2017 allegation that British intelligence agency
GCHQ helped the Obama administration spy on Trump’s presidential campaign – a
claim publicly rejected by US and UK officials and described by GCHQ as “utterly
ridiculous.” He previously spread false rumors that Michelle Obama made a racist
speech against white people, according to Newsweek. He has also appeared on
Russian state media, where his commentary has been amplified in pro-Kremlin
narratives.
Trump
says US-Iran talks could be held in next three days
Agence France Presse/22
April 2026
A second round of U.S.-Iran talks could take place within the next three days,
the New York Post reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Pakistani sources and
President Donald Trump. "It's possible!" Trump reportedly told the Post by text
message, when asked about sources in Pakistan -- which mediated the first round
of talks -- saying that a second round was "expected in Islamabad within the
next 36 to 72 hours." Trump on Tuesday extended a two-week truce in the war just
as it was about to expire. A digital news outlet in Pakistan, News Post,
reported the three-day time frame for more talks without a source or further
details.
Trump
Declares Iran Ceasefire Extension
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
US President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with
Iran to allow for further peace talks, although it was not clear on Wednesday if
Iran or Israel would agree. Trump said in a statement on social media the US had
agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators "to hold our Attack on the Country of
Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a
unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or the
other."Pakistan's leaders have hosted peace talks in Islamabad to end a war that
has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.
But even as he announced what appeared to be a unilateral ceasefire extension,
Trump also said he would continue the US Navy's blockade of Iran's trade by sea,
considered an act of war by Iran. There was no response early on Wednesday to
Trump's announcement from senior Iranian officials, although some initial
reactions from Tehran suggested Trump's comments were being treated skeptically.
Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, said
Iran had not asked for a ceasefire extension and repeated threats to break the
US blockade by force. An adviser to Iran's lead negotiator, the speaker of
parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said Trump's announcement may be a ploy. The
US and Israel began the war on February 28 with aerial bombardments of Iran.
The conflict quickly spread to Gulf states that host US military bases and to
Lebanon once the Hezbollah joined the fighting. More than 5,000 civilians have
been killed across the region and hundreds of thousands displaced so far, mostly
in Iran and Lebanon.
Pakistan
PM meets Iran envoy as US-Iran talks stall despite ceasefire
Al Arabiya English/22 April ,2026
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iran’s ambassador to Islamabad on
Wednesday, a day after the US-Iran ceasefire was extended and a planned second
round of talks failed to take place. Sharif and Reza Amiri Moghadam discussed
“the ongoing regional situation and peace efforts,” according to a statement
posted on the Pakistani government’s X account. The meeting came after US
President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely,
just hours before it was due to expire, to allow more time for negotiations. It
also followed uncertainty over a second round of US-Iran talks that Islamabad
had been preparing to host, which ultimately did not materialize.US Vice
President JD Vance had been expected to travel for the talks, but a White House
official confirmed he would not depart. Iran, on the other hand, never announced
whether it had decided to send a delegation.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in the conflict, which began on
February 28 when the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, with the
fighting quickly spreading across the region, including to Lebanon.
US-Iran talks could be held in next three days, Trump says
Agencies/22 April ,2026
A second round of US-Iran talks could take place within the next three days, the
New York Post reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Pakistani sources and President
Donald Trump. “It’s possible!” Trump reportedly told the Post by text message,
when asked about sources in Pakistan – which mediated the first round of talks –
saying that a second round was “expected in Islamabad within the next 36 to 72
hours.”Trump on Tuesday extended a two-week truce in the war just as it was
about to expire. A digital news outlet in Pakistan, News Post, reported the
three-day time frame for more talks without a source or further details.Citing a
source briefed on the matter, Reuters reported that Trump has not set a timeline
for the extension of the ceasefire with Iran. A first session of talks 11 days
ago produced no agreement, with the United States focusing on a longstanding
dispute over Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Trump wants to take
it out of Iran to prevent Tehran from enriching it further to the point where it
could be used to make a nuclear weapon. Iran says it has only a peaceful
civilian nuclear program and a sovereign right to continue it as a signatory of
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It wants the war to end, sanctions to be
lifted, reparations for wartime damage and recognition of its control over the
Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says it won’t reopen Strait of Hormuz while US naval blockade remains
Al Arabiya English/22 April ,2026
Iran’s parliamentary speaker said on Wednesday that Tehran would not reopen the
Strait of Hormuz as long as a US naval blockade remained in place, calling it a
“blatant violation of the ceasefire.”“A complete ceasefire only has meaning if
it is not violated through a naval blockade... reopening the Strait of Hormuz is
not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire,” Mohammad Bagher
Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s chief negotiator, said on X. “They did not achieve
their goals through military aggression, and they will not achieve them through
coercion either. The only path forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian
people,” he added. In a separate English-language post, Iranian President Masoud
Pezeshkian said Tehran remained open to “dialogue and agreement,” but warned
that “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine
negotiations.”“World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction
between claims and actions,” he added. Iran seized two vessels in the Strait of
Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway after US
President Donald Trump paused planned military action while maintaining a naval
blockade on Iran’s maritime trade. Trump said on social media late on Tuesday
that the US had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators “to hold our Attack
on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can
come up with a unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or
the other.”A source familiar with the matter said Trump had not set a timeline
for the ceasefire extension. Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator,
continued efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table after a
planned round of talks failed to take place before the initial two-week
ceasefire was due to expire. Throughout the conflict, Iran has effectively
restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz by targeting vessels attempting
to transit without its authorization. The waterway typically carries around a
fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.Read more: US-Iran
talks could be held in next three days, Trump says
Chief of Staff: Israel Ready ‘to Return Immediately and Forcefully’ to Fighting
on All Fronts
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that the military
remained on high alert and was ready to return to fighting on all fronts, amid
the fragile truces in Iran and Lebanon. “Since the inferno of October 7, we have
been working to reestablish our military strength through continuous fighting,”
Zamir said while addressing soldiers honored at an Independence Day ceremony at
the President’s Residence. The Times of Israel quoted Zamir as saying that in
Gaza, the Israeli military “prevailed in the fight against Hamas.”“At this very
moment, we are conducting intense fighting in Lebanon to strengthen the defense
of the northern communities,” he stated. “So too in the fighting against Iran in
Rising Lion and Roaring Lion,” he said, referring to the June 2025 war with Iran
and the latest 40-day conflict with Iran. The Israeli military is on high alert
and “prepared to return immediately and forcefully to combat in all sectors,”
Zamir added. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called on Lebanon to work with
Israel to disarm the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah ahead of
negotiations in Washington on Thursday. The meeting follows a similar gathering
last week in Washington, and is the first time in decades the two countries are
speaking directly.
Iran Seizes Ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump Halts
Attacks
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip
on the strategic waterway, after US President Donald Trump called off attacks
indefinitely with no sign of peace talks restarting. Iran's semi-official Tasnim
news agency said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime
violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first time Iran has
seized ships since the war began at the end of February. The Revolutionary Guard
Corps Navy also warned that any disruption to order and safety in the strait
would be considered a "red line", Tasnim said. Earlier, a British maritime
security agency reported that three ships had come under fire. Trump said in a
statement on social media late on Tuesday that the US had agreed to a request by
Pakistani mediators "to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time
as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal ... and
discussions are concluded, one way or the other." But even as he announced what
appeared to be a unilateral ceasefire extension, Trump also said he would
continue the US Navy's blockade of Iran's trade by sea. The US fired on and
seized an Iranian cargo vessel on Saturday and boarded a huge Iranian oil tanker
on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean. Iran considers the US blockade an act of war and
has said that as long as it continues it will not lift its closure of the
strait, which has caused a global energy crisis. In a show of defiance, Iran
showcased some of its ballistic weapons at a parade in Tehran on Tuesday
evening, with images showing a large banner in the background with a fist
choking off the strait, the WANA news agency reported. Captions read:
"Indefinitely under Iran's Control" and "Trump could not do a damn thing",
referring to the waterway.
PAKISTAN STILL WORKING TO FOSTER TALKS DESPITE 'SETBACK'
Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator, was still trying to bring the sides
together for negotiations after both failed to show up for last-ditch talks on
Tuesday before the two-week-old ceasefire had been due to expire. A luxury hotel
in Islamabad had been cleared out for the talks, but Iran never publicly
accepted the invitation and the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance
never left Washington. The hotel was still shut on Wednesday but a wider
security perimeter had been loosened. "We were all prepared for the talks, the
stage was set," a Pakistani official briefed on the preparations told Reuters.
"If you ask me honestly, it was a setback we were not expecting, because the
Iranians never refused, they were up to come and join, and they still are."
Another Pakistani source who was involved in the talks said Pakistan was still
"working very hard to bridge that conflict, talk to each side with their
sensitivities in mind"."We will know later on when they can come. Things change
so often it's hard to speak on what's to come," the source said. There was no
response early on Wednesday to Trump's ceasefire announcement from senior
Iranian officials, although some initial reactions from Tehran suggested Trump's
comments were being treated skeptically. Tasnim said Iran had not asked for a
ceasefire extension and repeated Tehran's threats to break the US blockade by
force. An adviser to Iran's lead negotiator, the speaker of parliament Mohammad
Baqer Qalibaf, said Trump's announcement might be a ploy. Just hours before
Trump called off attacks, he had repeated threats to resume them, saying his
military was "raring to go".
Three Vessels Hit by Gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, Crews
Safe
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
At least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on
Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade
Operations (UKMTO) said. Iran has imposed restrictions on ships using the
strait, first in retaliation for the US-Israeli bombardment of the country, and
then in response to a US blockade of Iranian ports. A Liberia-flagged container
ship sustained damage to its bridge after being hit by gunfire and
rocket-propelled grenades northeast of Oman. The UKMTO said the master of the
vessel reported being approached by an IRGC gunboat. The vessel, it said, was
subsequently fired upon. All crew members were safe and there was no fire or
environmental impact due to the incident. Maritime security sources said that
three people were onboard that gunboat, Reuters reported. The master of the
Greek-operated container ship also reported that no radio contact was made prior
to the incident and that the vessel had been initially informed that it had
permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The UKMTO later said that a second
container vessel had been fired upon about eight nautical miles west of Iran.
The Panama-flagged vessel was not damaged and its crew members are safe.
Maritime security sources said that a third container ship was fired upon about
eight nautical miles west of Iran while transiting outbound of the Strait of
Hormuz. The Liberia-flagged vessel, which was not damaged had stopped in the
water. Its crew are safe, the sources said. Before the war began on February 28,
the waterway typically handled roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and
liquefied natural gas supply.
Report Says US Blocked $500M Cash Shipment to Iraq Over
Pro-Iran Attacks
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from
delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on
Baghdad to fight Iran-backed armed factions. The Wall Street Journal reported
that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq and frozen funding for
security programs following attacks on US interests in the country by groups
showing solidarity with Iran. Iraq has long walked a tightrope between the
competing influences of its allies, neighboring Iran and the United States.
However, Iraqi leaders have struggled to maintain that delicate balance as war
engulfs the Middle East. The US State Department said this month it had summoned
Iraq's ambassador to Washington to express "strong condemnation" of attacks by
pro-Iran groups on US interests, "including the April 8 ambush of US diplomats
in Baghdad". The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Treasury Department
blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in cash from Iraqi oil sales, quoting
US and Iraqi officials. AFP has contacted the Treasury Department for comment.
The United States has leverage over Iraq because the country's oil export
revenue is largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, under an
arrangement reached after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The
Wall Street Journal quoted unidentified US officials as saying that the
suspension on cash shipments was temporary. The Central Bank of Iraq has not
commented specifically about the reports. However, it said on Tuesday it was not
lacking US dollars and that it had "fulfilled all requests from banks and
exchange companies for US dollars, which are intended for pilgrims, travelers
and foreign transfers." The funding freeze to security programs includes
training for Iraq's army and counterterror efforts against the ISIS group, The
New York Times reported.
Arab Foreign Ministers Condemn Hormuz Closure, Demand Iran Pay Reparations
Cairo: Fathiya al-Dakhakhni/Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Arab foreign ministers have condemned Iran's threats to close the Strait of
Hormuz and disrupt international navigation, demanding, in a virtual meeting
they held on Tuesday, that Tehran be compelled to compensate and make amends for
the economic losses resulting from these threats.
The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, affirmed that “Arab
countries have not been, and will not be, hostages in the hands of Iran to
settle scores.”At the request of Bahrain, the Council of the League of Arab
States, at the foreign ministers' level, held an extraordinary meeting on
Tuesday to “discuss Iranian attacks against Arab countries, Iran's obligations
under international law, and efforts made to end the crisis in the region.”In a
resolution, the ministers condemned Iranian threats to close the Strait of
Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, calling on the UN Security Council to
assume its responsibility in maintaining regional and international peace and
security and to ensure accountability for attacks deliberately targeting
civilian facilities and infrastructure. They reaffirmed that these deliberate
attacks constitute a grave violation of the sovereignty of those states,
undermine regional peace and security, and represent a flagrant breach of
international law, including international humanitarian law and the UN Charter.
Moreover, the ministers noted that Iran has failed to comply with Resolution
2817 to immediately cease its attacks against Arab states, adding that its
continued deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects constitutes a
violation of international law.
Tuesday’s resolution also stressed that Iran bears full international
responsibility for its unlawful and unjustified attacks against Arab states, and
is obligated under international law to make full reparation for all resulting
damage and losses, including restitution and compensation.
It called on relevant Arab and regional bodies, in coordination with affected
countries, to consider establishing mechanisms to document violations, assess
damages and losses, and pursue avenues for redress through diplomatic, legal,
and other peaceful means. The resolution stressed that any attempt by Iran to
obstruct lawful maritime passage constitutes a threat to the security of sea
lanes and global energy supplies, affirming the right of Arab states to defend
their vessels and means of transport in accordance with international law. The
council said that any attempt by Iran to obstruct lawful transit and freedom of
navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would constitute an internationally unlawful
act, adding that Iran would bear international responsibility and be obliged to
provide full reparation for all resulting damage, injuries, and economic losses.
It reiterated that such actions threaten the stability of the Arabian Gulf
region and its vital role in the global economy and energy supplies, as well as
international peace and security. The council also stressed its rejection and
condemnation of Iran’s continued financing, arming, and mobilization of
affiliated militias in several Arab countries in pursuit of its interests,
describing this as a serious threat to the security and stability of those
states and the region. The Arab foreign ministers urged the Security Council to
uphold its responsibility to safeguard regional and international peace and
security, ensure accountability for deliberate attacks targeting civilian
facilities and infrastructure, and work toward the full implementation of
Resolution 2817, including requiring Iran to immediately halt all its attacks
against Arab states and comply with its international obligations. The council
also affirmed the inherent right of affected Arab states to self-defense,
individually or collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter,
and to take all necessary measures to protect their sovereignty, security, and
stability, stressing that the provisions of this resolution do not prejudice any
rights or remedies available to states under international law. The
Secretary-General of the Arab League stated at Tuesday’s meeting that Iran has
not complied with Security Council Resolution 2817 issued on March 11, calling
for an immediate halt to aggression, nor has it acknowledged that its
aggressions against Arab states in the Gulf, Jordan, and Iraq constituted a
grave breach of international law, an unacceptable violation of state
sovereignty, and a blatant disregard for all principles of good neighborliness.
Aboul Gheit demanded that Iran “immediately comply with the Security Council
resolution and bear full responsibility for the damages and losses caused by
these unlawful attacks, which necessitates compensation and reparation as
stipulated by international law in such cases.” He stated that “Iran's
perceptions of controlling the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are legally
null and void, lack any argument or justification, and are rejected outright.”He
emphasized that 'freedom of navigation in international straits and waterways,
including the Strait of Hormuz, is guaranteed by international law... and Iran
cannot give itself the right to control the Strait of Hormuz, because it simply
does not own it.”He added that the Arab League “considers aggression against any
Arab state, or the practice of threatening and terrorizing its civilian
population, as aggression against all Arab states,” affirming that “everyone
stands united in solidarity with the countries that have been subjected to
sinful attacks.”This marks the third time, since the outbreak of Iran's war on
February 28, that the Arab League Council has convened at the ministerial level
to discuss developments in the region.
The foreign ministers had previously condemned Tehran's attacks on Arab
countries in an emergency virtual meeting on March 8, affirming their support
for all measures taken by those countries, including the option of responding to
the attacks. Again, they reiterated their condemnation of the attacks at the
165th regular session meeting end of last month.
Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Iran executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence service and
passing sensitive information, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported on
Wednesday. Mizan identified the man as Mehdi Farid, saying he had held a
position in a civil defense unit within a sensitive organization and had used
his access to gather and transmit information to Israel's Mossad.His death
sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and carried out after legal
procedures were completed, Mizan said.
Sources: Islamic Jihad Military Chief Survives Assassination Attempt in Iran
Gaza: Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Three sources in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said a member of its political
bureau and head of its military wing, Akram al-Ajouri, survived an Israeli
airstrike that targeted him in Iran about a month ago. Two senior sources in the
group, based in Lebanon where al-Ajouri had lived in recent years, said the site
where he was expected to be in the Iranian city of Qom was struck in mid-March,
but he escaped along with those who were with him. The military wing led by al-Ajouri,
who is in his sixties, is the highest authority within the Al-Quds Brigades, the
armed wing of Islamic Jihad. He has overseen it since the early days of the
Second Intifada, which erupted at the end of 2000, and rose to prominence in
late 2002 and early 2003. One source said al-Ajouri was not at the targeted site
at the time, having left “a day or perhaps hours before the strike for routine
security reasons, as he frequently changed locations under the protection of
intelligence from the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.”The source
added that the targeted location in Qom belonged to Mohammad Saeed Izadi, known
among Palestinian factions and Lebanon’s Hezbollah as “Hajj Ramadan.” Izadi was
assassinated by Israel on June 21 last year in an apartment in the same city.
Islamic Jihad is considered the Palestinian faction most closely aligned with
Iran, which is its main source of funding and support. Izadi was responsible for
coordinating with Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as
well as Hezbollah, in his role as a representative of the Quds Force. He
maintained close ties with the group’s leadership, particularly its
Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah and al-Ajouri. The second source did not
confirm or deny whether al-Ajouri had changed locations, saying only that
“al-Ajouri is fine,” a statement echoed by a third source inside the Palestinian
territories. The two Lebanon-based sources said Palestinian leaders in Iran,
including al-Ajouri and faction representatives, have adopted strict security
precautions in anticipation of possible assassination attempts, particularly if
the war resumes. Islamic Jihad has not issued any official comment confirming
the attempted assassination or al-Ajouri’s survival. Israeli media had reported
in March, citing an Israeli military source, that al-Ajouri and the group’s
deputy secretary-general Mohammad al-Hindi had been targeted in Iran. Informed
sources later told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Hindi was not in Iran at the time,
and he subsequently appeared in a televised interview.
Who is Akram al-Ajouri?
Al-Ajouri is regarded as a key figure within Islamic Jihad, not only in
operational matters related to arming the Al-Quds Brigades in Gaza, but also for
maintaining strong ties with Hezbollah’s leadership and previously with the
government of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Sources in the group say al-Ajouri is highly important to the IRGC due to his
role in carrying out missions and drafting plans related to military operations
and the transfer of weapons to the Gaza Strip and other areas. He is also
responsible for forming several militant cells in the West Bank.
Al-Ajouri has managed the group’s armed wing for many years. In addition to
overseeing armament in Gaza and the West Bank, he is credited with building the
group’s military presence in Lebanon and Syria, and deploying fighters from both
countries in attacks launched from Lebanon in support of Hezbollah since Oct. 8,
2023, during the latest war. Al-Ajouri has survived several assassination
attempts, including two in Syria, one in 2014 and another in 2019 that targeted
his home and killed his son and others. At the time, estimates suggested he was
in Lebanon, where he also survived at least one assassination attempt. Sources
said that shortly before the war involving Iran, al-Ajouri had been preparing to
leave Lebanon, but several Arab and Islamic capitals refused to receive him
despite efforts by al-Nakhalah, citing his inclusion in cases before local
courts.
Qatar Warns Against Internationalizing Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Doha: Asharq Al Awsat/22 April 2026
Advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Majed Al Ansari has said that any closure of the Strait of
Hormuz would transform the regional crisis into a global one. He stressed on
Tuesday that the strait is connected to the energy sector, supply and logistics
chains, export and re-export operations. “The impact of closing the strait would
be felt even at the household level and basic services in countries thousands of
kilometers away from the region," Al Ansari warned. He also stressed that
ensuring that the strait remains open to navigation is a shared international
responsibility, expressing Qatar's commitment to its international partners and
its continued role as a reliable partner in the energy sector, while continuing
coordination to ensure maritime security and market stability “Reaching
solutions to this crisis represents a priority for Qatar's national security and
national interests and those of its partners,” he said. Al Ansari affirmed that
Qatar continues to maintain ongoing communication with various parties,
including the United States, to follow developments and to support efforts aimed
at reaching a peaceful solution to end the crisis. During the Ministry's weekly
media briefing, Al Ansari stressed Qatar's full support for the efforts
undertaken by Pakistan, which is mediating between Iran and the US. Regarding
Lebanon, Al Ansari affirmed Qatar's firm position in supporting the unity and
sovereignty of Lebanon, condemning violations and attacks that resulted in
casualties and large-scale displacement, and welcoming the ceasefire as an
initial step toward de-escalation.He also stressed the need for full adherence
to the ceasefire. “All regional crises can only be resolved through the
negotiating table,” he added.
NATO ‘Will Always Defend’ Türkiye, Says Rutte
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance would do "what's necessary
to defend" its members including Türkiye after intercepting four missiles fired
from Iran and head into Turkish air space over the past weeks. A member of the
US-led defense alliance, Türkiye, which borders Iran, has been largely spared
the sort of retaliation from Tehran suffered by countries in the Middle East
before the ceasefire. NATO forces had shot down ballistic missiles fired from
Iran for four times, prompting the alliance to deploy a new Patriot missile
battery at Incirlik air base in southern Türkiye. "Iran is spreading terror and
chaos, and you feel this prominently here in Türkiye," Rutte told journalists on
a visit to Türkiye’s largest defense electronics company Aselsan. "In recent
weeks, NATO has successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Türkiye
from Iran on four separate occasions," he said."NATO is prepared for such
threats and will always do what is necessary to defend Türkiye and all others.
And we cannot do it alone," he added. Rutte's visit comes ahead of a July summit
by NATO leaders to be held in Ankara. Praising the progress made by Türkiye in
the defense field, Rutte said: "We can learn a lot from what Türkiye is doing
here". "This is needed because we live in a more dangerous world... and that
means we need strong defenses to protect our security". Rutte said: "Türkiye has
gone through a defense industrial revolution. I could really say it's a
revolution in recent years."The NATO chief is due to meet with President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
China Warns Middle East at ‘Critical Juncture’ After Trump Extends Ceasefire
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
China warned on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East was at a
"critical juncture" after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire to
allow Iran more time to negotiate. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the
two-week truce on Tuesday with Tehran yet to respond but he said a US blockade
of Iran's ports would continue. "The current regional situation stands at a
critical juncture transitioning between war and peace; the paramount priority
remains to make every effort to prevent a resumption of hostilities," Chinese
foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing. Guo did not comment
directly on the ceasefire when asked about it, adding only that Beijing would
continue to play a "constructive" role.
Extreme Heat Threatens Global Food Systems, UN Agencies Warn
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the
livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report
by the UN's food and weather agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said
heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged, damaging crops,
livestock, fisheries and forests. "Extreme heat is rewriting the script on what
farmers, fishers and foresters can grow and when they can grow. In some cases it
is even dictating if they can still work," said Kaveh Zahedi, head of FAO's
climate change office. "At its core, this report is telling us that we face a
very uncertain future," he told Reuters. Recent climate datasets show global
warming is accelerating, with 2025 ranking among the three hottest years on
record, triggering more frequent and severe weather extremes.
Acting as a risk multiplier, extreme heat intensifies droughts, wildfires and
pest outbreaks and sharply cuts crop yields once critical temperature thresholds
are breached.
RISKS ESCALATE RAPIDLY AS TEMPERATURES PUSH HIGHER
The report said higher temperatures are shrinking the safety margin that
plants, animals and humans rely on to function, with yields for most major
crops falling once temperatures exceed about 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees
Fahrenheit).
Zahedi cited Morocco, where six years of drought were followed by record
heatwaves. "This led to a fall in cereal yields by over 40%. It decimated the
olive and citrus harvest. Basically, those harvests failed," he said. Marine
heatwaves are also becoming more frequent, depleting oxygen levels in water and
threatening fish stocks. In 2024, 91% of the world's oceans experienced at
least one marine heatwave, the report said. Risks rise sharply as warming
accelerates. The intensity of extreme heat events is expected to roughly
double at 2 degrees Celsius of warming and quadruple at 3 degrees, compared with
1.5 degrees, the report said. Zahedi said every one-degree rise in average
global temperatures cuts yields of the world's four major crops - maize, rice,
soya, and wheat - by about 6%. The FAO and WMO said piecemeal responses were
inadequate and called for better risk governance and early-warning weather
systems to help farmers and fishers take preventive action. "If you can get the
data into the farmers' hands, they can adjust when they plant, they can adjust
what they plant, they can adjust when they harvest," Zahedi said. But the report
said adaptation alone is not enough, arguing the only lasting solution to the
growing threat of extreme heat is ambitious, coordinated action to curb climate
change.
Ukraine Has Asked Türkiye to Host a Zelenskiy-Putin Meeting, FM Says
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Ukraine has asked Türkiye to host a meeting between President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv
seeks to reinvigorate stalling peace talks. "We asked the Turks about it, we
asked some other capitals," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in comments to
reporters on Tuesday that were cleared for release on Wednesday. He added
that Ukraine would be ready to consider any place other than Belarus or Russia
for a meeting with Putin, which Zelenskiy has long sought to try to hasten a
resolution of the more than four-year war. Belarus is a close ally of Russia
and allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sybiha did not say how Ankara had responded to the
proposal. "We addressed the Turks specifically," he said. "But if another
capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organizes such a meeting, we will go."
The Kremlin previously said it is willing to host Zelenskiy in Moscow, where the
Ukrainian leader has said he will not go. Separately, Sybiha said that he had
already exchanged written messages with Anita Orban, who will become Hungary's
new foreign minister when the new government, which won the election there
earlier this month, takes power.
Emir of Qatar, Syrian President Hold Talks on Regional Developments
Asharq Al Awsat/22 April/2026
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks in Doha on Wednesday
with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, focusing on regional and international
developments. Sheikh Tamim hoped the visit would strengthen cooperation and
expand ties between their two countries across various sectors. Sharaa stressed
Syria's commitment to enhancing bilateral relations in a way that serves the
shared interests of both nations and their peoples.He also expressed solidarity
with Qatar following Iranian attacks targeting the country and other states in
the region, voicing support for measures taken by Doha to safeguard its
sovereignty, security and citizens. The leaders underscored their commitment to
supporting regional security and stability, while discussing bilateral relations
and ways to further develop them. The meeting was attended by Qatari Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin
Jassim Al-Thani, Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, and
Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz
Al Khulaifi, as well as a number of senior officials.Also in attendance were
Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shaibani, along with
a number of senior officials.Sheikh Tamim and Al-Sharaa held a separate
bilateral meeting to exchange views on key issues of mutual interest, followed
by an official luncheon hosted in honor of the visiting delegation. Al-Sharaa is
on a tour of the Gulf that he kicked off in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday where he met
with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Links to several important news
websites
Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper
https://aawsat.com/
National News Agency
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar
Al Arabiya/Arabic
https://www.alarabiya.net/
Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/@SkyNewsArabia
Nidaa Al Watan
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
Al Markazia
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
Al Hadath
https://www.youtube.com/@AlHadath
Independent Arabia
https://www.independentarabia.com/
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on April 22-23/2026
Europe's Jew-Hate with a Vengeance
Nils A. Haug/Gatestone
Institute/April 22, 2026
[M]any in the West who sympathize with Islamic terrorists were, within hours,
trying to justify Hamas's atrocities by blaming Israel. The allegations against
Israel were that it was denying supposed rights of an invented Palestinian
people that "does not exist," as admitted by senior PLO official Zoheir Mohsen
in 1977 in the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw. They nevertheless repeat spurious
claims to the Jews' ancestral land, on which Jews have lived continuously for
nearly 4,000 years, explicitly named "Judea," and to the failure by Israel to
implement what -- according to the Palestinians themselves -- would be a
"two-state solution" dedicated to taking whatever land they can get and using it
as a base from which to conquer the rest.
There is invariably a grim consequence to constant vilification of minorities;
the current slandering of Jews is no exception.
Israel may stand pretty much alone against the haters of this world. Depending
on the political climate at the time, it can be expected that international
leaders will remain absent, even silent, for the most part when Israel's enemies
once again attack it – as they surely will. As historic events reveal, Israel
and Jewry at large cannot fully rely for protection on the West.
"Many things will be forgiven," observed Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir in
1973. "but one thing will not—weakness. The moment we are marked as weak—it is
over."
On October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas's jihadists invaded Israel and murdered
some 1,200 people. Defenseless civilians were slaughtered, including elderly men
and women, and babies in their cribs. Many in the West who sympathize with
Islamic terrorists were, within hours, trying to justify Hamas's atrocities by
blaming Israel.
On October 7, 2023, the moral corruption of Western politicians, journalists,
radical feminists, and social commentators was exposed in all its fullness. On
that morning, thousands of Hamas's jihadists invaded Israel and murdered some
1,200 people and wounded thousands more, with many victims being raped or
tortured. Defenseless civilians were slaughtered, including elderly men and
women, and babies in their cribs. Hamas terrorists kidnapped 251 others and
dragged them to Gaza's terror tunnels as hostages; 85 of them did not survive.
Possibly motivated by Jew-hate cloaked in self-righteous neo-Marxist "social
justice," many in the West who sympathize with Islamic terrorists were, within
hours, trying to justify Hamas's atrocities by blaming Israel. The allegations
against Israel were that it was denying supposed rights of an invented
Palestinian people that "does not exist," as admitted by senior PLO official
Zoheir Mohsen in 1977 in the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw. They nevertheless
repeat spurious claims to the Jews' ancestral land, on which Jews have lived
continuously for nearly 4,000 years, explicitly named "Judea," and to the
failure by Israel to implement what -- according to the Palestinians themselves
-- would be a "two-state solution" dedicated to taking whatever land they can
get and using it as a base from which to conquer the rest.
Whatever the best political solution might be for the Palestinians, nothing can
justify Hamas's October 7 atrocities, which then backfired into the deaths of
many Palestinian civilians. Hamas's jihad that day seems to have been an attempt
to start eliminating Israel, and instead may end up, thanks to US President
Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, eliminating Hamas
and its patron, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Much of the international media has inexplicably accused Israel of being
responsible for deaths that were caused by Hamas's use of Gazan civilians as
human shields. The irrationality of this evaluation by Islamist sympathizers
might be explained as just the latest installment of the West's extensive
romance with hating Jews. This hatred, even apart from its Islamic component,
also is now directed against the state of Israel. It appears, therefore, that
much of Europe and other nations have for decades remained fertile ground,
albeit sometimes dormant, for a modern-day revival of orgiastic anti-Semitism.
Columnist Melanie Phillips noted on March 12 that Jews now have the dubious
honor of being defamed by both sides of the political aisle, currently framing
their grievances once again with updated, anti-Jewish blood libels:
"There's been growing concern in America over the increasingly mainstream belief
that Israel drags it into foreign wars, a belief given rocket fuel by the war
against Iran.
This belief not only ignores demonstrable reality—the thousands of Americans who
have been killed by Iranian-backed terrorists or militias for almost half a
century; the accelerated progress by Tehran towards nuclear weapons and
ballistic missiles that could reach the United States; and the Iranian regime's
implacable goal of destroying America (the 'Great Satan') as well as Israel (the
'Little Satan').
"It also channels the odious image of war-mongering Jews straight out of the
ancient antisemitism playbook. It's an image reflecting the belief embedded in
Western culture of the demonic, cunning Jews acting covertly in their own
interests to put others in danger.
"This belief was formerly confined to cranks and nut jobs on the fringes of
society. No longer. Mainstreamed by the Tucker Carlson faction, it's cutting a
swath across the ranks of conservatively minded, mainly young Americans.
"Last week, Brian McGinnis, a veteran U.S. Marine, burst into a hearing of the
Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., and yelled: 'America does
not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!'"
As Jews increasingly are vilified and attacked around the world, it forces an
analogy with similar events that occurred more than 80 years ago. Germany's
persecution of Jews burst into overt mass violence the night of November 9, 1938
with Kristallnacht when Hitler's Nazis murdered nearly 100 Jews, destroyed
thousands of synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses, and sent 30,000 Jews to
concentration camps.
The current situation is not that much different – only a question of degree –
to the events that preceded the Shoah (Holocaust), during Germany's Third Reich.
Countless examples exist, but consider just the atrocities committed on October
7, 2023 at Kibbutz Be'eri and also recent attacks such as the pogrom in
Amsterdam and the jihadist murders in Sydney. Author Jonathan Tobin remarked
that the Amsterdam pogrom was the "the inevitable consequence of a sinister
red-green anti-Zionist alliance of leftists and Islamists in Europe."
Similarly, there seems little difference between the endemic propaganda of
hatred against Jews and Israel spouting today from the microphones of the
red-green alliance, with their multitudes of supporters, and the pernicious
program created by Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, who
successfully cultivated Jew-hate in the Third Reich. Then and now, both cohorts
have substantially succeeded in deploying the populace's anger against Jews.
In the instance of Goebbels, his venom eventually led not only to the mass
slaughter of Jews but also to many of those regarded by the Nazis as "subhuman"
(Untermensch). Insofar as the red-green alliance is concerned, the cancellation
of Jewish academics, the boycott of Jewish artists, authors and businesses, and
attacks on Jews, their schools and their places of worship, appear as renewed
attempts to erase the Jewish presence and breathtaking accomplishments from
Western society.
In 1942, David Ben-Gurion, Israel's future first prime minister, stated:
[I]f the world war ends... the Jews will have nowhere to return. Not a memory
will remain of their homes, shops, and property."
Professor Paul Socken wrote last month:
"The philosopher Emil Fackenheim, survivor of the Holocaust, said that there are
three stages of antisemitism: You cannot live among us as Jews; You cannot live
among us; You cannot live. It's the gradual, insidious, filthy slime of
hostility that slowly overtakes nations in their moral amnesia and blames 'those
Jews.'"
In various forms and to various degrees, this process is now seen in the West,
and increasingly in the US (such as here, here and here.)
Insofar as the Islamist agenda of killing Jews (and then Christians) is
concerned, one recalls Amin al-Husseini, who served as the British-appointed
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem from 1921 to 1937. Husseini met with Adolf Hitler in
Berlin in November 1942, with the purpose of enlisting Germany's help in
eliminating Jews from the Holy Land.
"The Führer confirmed [to Husseini] that the 'struggle against a Jewish homeland
in Palestine' would be part of the struggle against the Jews. Hitler stated
that: he would 'continue the struggle until the complete destruction of
Jewish-Communist European empire'; and when the German army was in proximity to
the Arab world, Germany would issue "an assurance to the Arab world' that 'the
hour of liberation was at hand.' It would then be al-Husayni's 'responsibility
to unleash the Arab action that he has secretly prepared....' and that the only
German 'goal at that time would be the annihilation of Jewry living in Arab
space under the protection of British power.'"
That era's alliance of Islamists and Germany's National Socialists evokes a
comparison to today's red-green coalition of a leftist-elite lobby and their
Islamist partners.
It is evident that the West's leaders, by and large, have forgotten, never knew,
or choose to ignore the horrific events of the Nazi-era -- events which directly
led to the shooting, gassing and starving to death of some six million Jews. The
combination of mass propaganda, false or compliant reporting by journalists, and
a gullible populace inclined -- as many still are -- to believe the worst of
allegations against Jews led to widespread participation in, or complacency in
the face of, strategically planned attacks on Jewish communities. The result was
the Holocaust. There is invariably a grim consequence to constant vilification
of minorities; the current slandering of Jews is no exception.
Despite Germany's shameful historic treatment of Jews, many people today seem
indifferent to those historic atrocities. In mid-April 2026, German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz had the callousness, audacity, and insensitivity to criticize
Prime Minister Netanyahu for what Merz alleged to be Israel's "de facto
annexation of the West Bank" – Israel's rightful heartland of Judea and Samaria.
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a resident of Samaria himself,
replied:
"On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the German Chancellor should bow his
head and apologize a thousand times on behalf of Germany, rather than daring to
preach morality to us on how to conduct ourselves against the Nazis of our
generation—who murdered, raped, slaughtered, and burned women, the elderly, and
children in the most horrific massacre perpetrated against the Jewish people
since the terrible Holocaust. We will not accept instructions from hypocritical
leaders in Europe, a continent that is once again losing its conscience and its
ability to distinguish between good and evil.
"Mr. Chancellor, The days when Germans dictated to Jews where they were
permitted or forbidden to live are over and shall not return. You will not force
us into ghettos again, certainly not in our own land."
"A People which no longer remembers," the Russian dissident and author Alexander
Solzhenitsyn stated in 1976, "has lost its history and its soul." At Harvard, he
remarked that the "striking feature of the modern West was a 'decline in
courage;" and, on another occasion:
"Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes
not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties
either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. "
Clearly, the animus against Jews has never dissipated; once again the danger has
become acute.
Hope is to be found in the extraordinary resilience of the Jewish people – a
peaceful, vibrant, productive and creative people who base their core identity
on the Torah, from which flow the principles of Judeo-Christian morality. The
ethical underlay of Western civilization is founded upon such precepts.
Despite facing continual expulsions, persecution, and pogroms in foreign lands,
the Jewish people endure somehow. Since the establishment of the modern State of
Israel in 1948, Jews have their own homeland back at last. Primarily aliens in
other lands for centuries, they longed for return to Jerusalem, their capital.
For two thousand years, their prayer every year at Passover has been "Next year
in Jerusalem."
They never lost hope; that hope was rewarded in 1948. Although facing enemies
who resent them and the return to their ancestral land, they have overcome all
threats to their existence -- and thrived. "Jews," said David Ben-Gurion, "are
not sheep to be slaughtered, but a people who can hit back—as Jews did in the
War of Independence." Their enemies are by now fully aware of this ability. The
Jews are no longer helpless, no longer to be abused.
Even before they were rooted back into their promised land, their sanctuary, the
gifted Jewish people, including Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and Jonas Salk,
among many others, have shown the world what they can do with freedom and
opportunity. They transformed, in Israel, a tiny land of sand dunes, deserts and
malarial swamps, into a prosperous, exciting, enormously successful
technologically-advanced nation, with a military among the world's most
powerful. Hugely, if grudgingly, respected but also, in some quarters, deeply
resented and envied for their success, Israel's citizens are major innovators in
fields including medicine, science, technology, agriculture, water conservation
and desalination. It is no accident that the small number of Jews -- just 0.2%
of the world's population -- constitute 22% of Nobel Prize winners: they are a
brilliant people, to whom the world is deeply indebted.
Israel may stand pretty much alone against the haters of this world. Depending
on the political climate at the time, it can be expected that international
leaders will remain absent, even silent, for the most part when Israel's enemies
once again attack it – as they surely will. As historic events reveal, Israel
and Jewry at large cannot fully rely for protection on the West.
"What have you done to us, you freedom-loving peoples, you guardians of justice,
defenders of the high principles of democracy and of the brotherhood of man?"
asked Ben-Gurion in 1944, against the West's apathy and silence during the
Holocaust.
"What have you allowed to be perpetrated against a defenceless people while you
stood aside and let it bleed to death, without offering help or succour, without
calling on the fiends to stop, in the language of retribution which alone they
would understand?"
"Many things will be forgiven," observed Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir in
1973. "but one thing will not—weakness. The moment we are marked as weak—it is
over."
Did not the Hebrew prophet Isaiah predict such an outcome 2,700 years ago?
No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,
declares the Lord.
Isaiah's prophecy has proven true and trustworthy for nearly three millennia.
Israel and the Jewish people thrive – and will continue to thrive.
***Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by profession, he is member
of the International Bar Association, the National Association of Scholars, the
Academy of Philosophy and Letters. Among degrees in Philosophy, English
Literature, and Law, Dr. Haug holds a M.A.in Jewish Studies (cum laude) and a
Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology. He is author of 'Politics, Law, and Disorder in
the Garden of Eden – the Quest for Identity'; and 'Enemies of the Innocent –
Life, Truth, and Meaning in a Dark Age.' His work has been published by First
Things Journal, The American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone
Institute, National Association of Scholars, Jewish Journal, James Wilson
Institute (Anchoring Truths), Jewish News Syndicate, Tribune Juive, Document
Danmark, Zwiedzaj Polske, Schlaglicht Israel, and others.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
A Starmer Error That Laid Bare More Errors
Bakir Oweida/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
An impartial observer, independent and not affiliated with any party or
political current, may be uncertain what position to take on Keir Starmer: to
join those blaming him, to call for the British prime minister’s resignation, or
to feel sympathy for him in the face of a highly complex predicament he has been
confronting since last week, which reached its peak at the start of this week,
particularly during the House of Commons session the day before yesterday.
For those not familiar with the substance of the issue, the crisis can be
summarized as follows. On the Tuesday before last, The Guardian revealed in a
notable scoop that UK security vetting responsible for approving ambassadorial
appointments did not approve the selection of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador
to the United States in December 2024. Despite this, officials at the Foreign
Office decided to bypass Mandelson’s failure in the security check, and he
assumed the post in February 2025.
A few months after Mandelson took up the post, a series of scandals involving
relations between the American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide
in his cell after being convicted of sex crimes involving minors, and a number
of prominent figures began to become clear, including Mandelson himself. In
response, Starmer moved quickly to deny any knowledge of the level of
Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein. However, further documents released by
the US Department of Justice exposed Mandelson’s involvement in exploiting his
position while serving as a minister in Gordon Brown’s government to pass
sensitive economic information to Jeffrey Epstein. This led to police
intervention: Mandelson’s home was searched, and he was seen accompanying police
officers as an investigation began into exploiting public office for personal
purposes.
Surrounded by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Keir
Starmer faced in the House of Commons the day before yesterday a fierce campaign
against him that reached the point of demanding his immediate resignation. The
attack began with a forceful speech by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch,
who over the past four days has repeatedly claimed that Starmer is no longer fit
to bear the responsibility of governing. This was followed by questions and
speeches from leaders of other parties and other MPs, including a number of
prominent Labour representatives, most of which focused on questioning the prime
minister’s statement that he had not known Mandelson had failed the security
vetting. For his part, Starmer held to this argument, insisting that officials
deliberately did not inform him of the security agencies’ decision regarding
Mandelson, while also acknowledging that the matter may appear illogical.
This leaves the impartial observer torn between believing Starmer and feeling
sympathy for him, and applying the principle of doubt until the truth becomes
clear and falsehood is exposed.
What is certain, however, is that Starmer made the first mistake by appointing
Mandelson as ambassador in Washington, despite a record that indicates a series
of errors that led to his resignation more than once. That appointment itself
exposed several further errors, which in turn led to a storm that will not
subside easily, and may lead to electoral storms that will affect Labour Party
candidates in the local council elections at the start of next month.
A Quiet Shift in Syria
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
In 1958, as he proclaimed the union of Egypt and Syria, Gamal Abdel Nasser
declared that Syria was the beating heart of Arabism. At that moment, Syria, the
union, and Arabism itself were closer than ever to that truth. What followed has
been told and retold, and explained in countless ways.
Nasser was compelled to mourn the first union, after which Syria, unity, and
Arabism entered a cycle of coups, secessions, and rule by barracks and tanks.
From what happened in Hama and in the Golan Heights to Daraa and the
consequences that unfolded there.
These developments marked the worst outcomes of Syria’s, Arabism’s, and unity’s
turbulent passages. Syria’s face and identity shifted as it became clear that
multiple forces were seeking to remake it. Its historical boundaries eroded,
while tendencies toward separation and estrangement from Arabism emerged. Iran
entrenched itself at the heart of Syria, and thus at the heart of the region.
Through this, longstanding regional powers returned to shape the country’s new
contours, as seen in the Kurdish and Turkish dynamics. Syria and its
surroundings were swept into a striking regional cycle.
After all this struggle over Syria, a system that appears capable of stability
has come into view. Ahmed al-Sharaa has succeeded in establishing a serious
dialogue and fostering optimistic Arab and international relations.
Syria has not witnessed such a scene in decades, and for the first time, a
genuine political process is beginning to take shape, even as other countries
remain mired in conflicts, disputes, and troubling regional excesses.
The reversal is striking: Syria is regaining a path toward stability and the
confidence of states, while others struggle to restore cohesion to their core
foundations. Until recently, such an outcome seemed unlikely. Today, it appears
increasingly plausible, even if the road remains long.
Undermining the Gulf–US Relationship
Mamdouh al-Muhainy/Asharq Al-Awsat/April 22/2026
The Iranians are calling on Gulf states to sever ties with the United States.
Extremist groups demand the same. Leftists and Arab nationalists have been
repeating these same calls for decades. All of this is understandable. It is not
new, and they each have their reasons. However, when such demands come from
within the Gulf itself, they are a serious mistake. These calls are harmful and
ultimately serve the interests of the Gulf’s adversaries.
These three groups - the Iranian regime and its supporters, extremists, and
leftists - converge on a single objective: dismantling the Gulf-American
alliance. This campaign entails more than rhetoric; the words have been coupled
with action. First, the Iranian regime has sought to break up this alliance
through terrorist attacks on Americans in the Gulf. In 1996, Iran was behind the
bombing of the Khobar Towers in eastern Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 Americans
and injured hundreds. The aim was to push the Americans out to undermine the
strong relationship between Riyadh and Washington. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf
capitals have exposed numerous cells seeking to do the same. None of their
attempts succeeded, and the relationship endured.
Iran has sought regional hegemony for decades. It used every available tool it
had to drive the Americans out, thereby clearing the way for its dominance. It
succeeded in Lebanon with the 1983 bombings, and it succeeded in Iraq in 2011.
It tried in the Gulf, but it has failed. The recent attacks on Gulf states in
the latest war has been aimed at sabotage - at undermining this strategic
partnership. The propaganda we hear today is part of that effort.
Second, extremists have pursued the same goal. Osama bin Laden chose to recruit
15 Saudis to carry out the September 11 attacks in order to damage the
relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Al-Qaeda’s leaders
understood that bringing down the Twin Towers would not lead to the collapse of
the US, but it could create a deep rift between Riyadh and Washington.
Their plans were not entirely misguided. The relationship was strained for a
time, though it eventually recovered. They also knew that their actions would
ignite a war between East and West, fueling hatred. Subsequent terrorist attacks
followed, some in which the interests between al-Qaeda and Iran overlapped, as
with the 2003 Riyadh bombings at the Al-Hamra compound.
Al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adel ordered the bombing from within Iran. Despite
ideological differences between the two sides, shared interests brought them
together. Chief among them, in this case, was the destruction of relations
between Saudi Arabia, the other Gulf states, and the United States.
The third group, the leftists, are those calling on the Gulf to break from
Washington. They are stuck in the past, constantly reiterating obsolete slogans
about colonialism, conspiracies, and reaction to distort the image of Gulf
states and portraying them as agents of the West. They echo the Nasserist
propaganda that led Egypt into the disaster of the 1967 war before President
Anwar Sadat changed course, aligning with the West, reclaiming Egypt’s occupied
territory, concluding a peace agreement, and sparing Egypt devastating wars.
It should not be forgotten that Gamal Abdel Nasser himself attempted this path
through propaganda, failed, and retreated. The same pattern was followed by
Saddam Hussein and Moammar al-Gaddafi. They attacked and conspired against the
Gulf under the pretext that the latter was “reactionary” and “aligned with
Western,” but their efforts ultimately failed.
The relationship between the Gulf and the United States is important and
strategic. It is not only militarily and politically substantial, but also
economically, educationally, and culturally. Gulf investments in artificial
intelligence are among the largest in the world. The most prominent universities
globally are American and Western institutions.
On a civilizational level, communication between the two sides is essential.
Societies and nations develop through engagement with and by learning from
successful nations, not from those that are struggling.
The question is: where are those who had bet on undermining the Gulf-US
relationship? Bin Laden is dead. Qassem Soleimani is dead. Hassan Nasrallah is
dead. Saddam is dead. Larijani is dead. Gaddafi is dead.
As for the relationship between the Gulf and the United States, it remains
robust and continues to grow.
Selected Face
Book & X tweets for April 22/2026
יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog
https://x.com/i/status/2046962810555449462
My dream is to get into a car and drive straight to Beirut, visit that beautiful
city, and befriend the good people of Lebanon.I shared this message of hope and
peace with ambassadors, diplomats, military attachés, and faith leaders as we
celebrated Israel’s 78th Independence Day at the President’s Residence today.
Tom Harb
Grateful for Congressman @RepLaHood ’s continued support for Lebanon amid the
challenges. While he highlights steps by Pres. Aoun & PM Salam toward peace ,
however Aoun & Salam their focus remains a security agreement only.Too far apart
! Lebanese officials must get serious
@LBpresidency @nawafsalam Most Lebanese would like to do the same: visit the
shores of Jaffa and Haifa, and make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
@Isaac_Herzog let us make it happen
Hanin Ghaddar
https://x.com/i/status/2046736778107744281
Talked to @BBCNews about the next round of direct negotiations between
#Lebanon and #Israel - What’s expected and what’s next.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Washington has suspended funding of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
until Lebanon reforms its military, including firing its commander Rudolph
Haykal and reshuffling its top generals (most of whom are Hezbollah loyalists
via their loyalty to former Prez Michel Aoun). Washington is now considering
imposing sanctions on the big fat bank accounts (around the world) of Speaker
Nabih Berri and his family. Berri is Hezbollah’s ally. His aid of an FTO makes
sanctions on him possible.