English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  April 25/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
John 06/48-59: "I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. ’The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum."

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 24-25/2026
Anniversary of the Massacres Committed by the Ottoman Empire Against the Armenian People—Alongside Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, & Greeks/Elias Bejjani / April 24, 2026
The Life of Saint George On the Occasion of His Annual Feast/Elias Bejjani/ April 23/2026
Hezbollah says ceasefire 'meaningless' as fighting continues in south/Maya Gebeily and Alexander Cornwell/Reuters/April 24, 2026
Indonesian peacekeeper dies of wounds suffered in Lebanon last month, UNIFIL says/Gavin Blackburn/Euronews/April 24, 2026
Indonesia Condemns Israeli Attack Resulting in Death of Another Peacekeeper in Lebanon
UN says Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah rockets into Israel may breach international law/Olivia Le Poidevin/Reuters/April 24, 2026
Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Extended by 3 Weeks after White House Meeting
Israel PM Says Hezbollah Trying to ‘Sabotage’ Peace Efforts with Lebanon
Aoun: Lebanon Rejects Being A Bargaining Chip in Regional Conflicts
Lebanon Ambassador in Riyadh: Saudi Arabia Played Key Ceasefire Role/Ghazi al-Harthi/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
UN Says Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah Rockets into Israel May Breach International Law
Hezbollah and Lebanon – The Strategic Situation/Colonel Charbel Barakat/April 25/2026
Fox News/Video link to an English-language video of the press conference held by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hackett and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Keane, in which they discussed the latest developments regarding the war with Iran.
Arab positions have turned peace between Lebanon and Israel into a hostage of an “internal veto/Zéna Mansour/X platform/April 24/2026
Israel military issues evacuation warning for south Lebanon Deir Aames village
Hezbollah shoots down drone in south Lebanon after 2 killed in strike on Touline
German court jails Hezbollah supporter over videos showing weapons
Israeli army says six Hezbollah fighters killed in Bint Jbeil
Hezbollah MP says Israel talks 'will in no way enjoy Lebanese consensus'
In south Lebanon's Tyre, man seeks family mementos after deadly Israeli raid
What did Saudi envoy discuss in Beirut?
Report: US, KSA, Egypt working on Lebanon-Israel non-aggression pact
Aoun meets Macron in Nicosia on sidelines of European summit
Lebanese residents call for peace in south Lebanon
Israelis express mixed views on Lebanon talks
Lebanon resident recognizes family crucifix smashed by Israeli soldier in viral image
The Sleeping Giant: How One Forgotten Paragraph Could Legally Transform Lebanon Forever/Cathryn Papadopoulo/Now Lebanon/April 24/2026
Links to several important news websites

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 24-25/2026
Trump to send envoys to Pakistan for talks with Araghchi
Witkoff, Kushner going to Pakistan for more Iran talks: White House
Iran to make offer aimed at satisfying US demands, Trump says
Shaken by Iran War, EU Seeks Larger Voice on Middle East
US imposes sanctions on Chinese teapot refinery for buying Iranian oil
CENTCOM reports three aircraft carriers operating in Middle East
US weighs targeting Iranian IRGC commander, shipping threats if ceasefire collapses
Pentagon chief Hegseth says Iran has chance to make a ‘good deal’
Qatar’s emir stresses need for de-escalation during call with Trump
Israeli Strike Kills Three in Gaza, Medics Say
Gaza Reconstruction Back on the Table, Parallel Track to the Board of Peace
Unexploded Bombs Littering Gaza Threaten Recovery for Decades, UN Warns
Syria Celebrates Arrest of Main Tadamon Massacre Suspect
US Puts $10 Million Bounty on Iraq’s Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada Leader
Saudi Arabia’s MBS meets Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Jeddah
Kuwait says drones coming from Iraq target border posts
EU aims for closer ties with Syria after Nicosia talks
Syrian authorities arrest ex-intelligence officer tied to a leaked video of a massacre
US considers suspending Spain from NATO, reported internal email suggests
Links to several important news websites

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 24-25/2026
Europe's Energy Suicide: The EU Admits the World Runs on Fossil Fuels — While Deliberately Destroying Its Own/Drieu Godefridi/ Gatestone Institute/April 24, 2026
Rising strategic value of minerals in Gulf states and Saudi Arabia/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
Lessons from war: Rethinking energy, supply chains, and resilience/Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
The Urgent Need for Vaccines Against Deadly Disease/Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
Trump’s Dream Team in Tehran/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
A Final Curtain/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
From Weapons to the State: The Test of Darfur Movements/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
Question: What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14/GotQuestions.org/April 24/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on April 24-25/2026
Anniversary of the Massacres Committed by the Ottoman Empire Against the Armenian People—Alongside Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, & Greeks
Elias Bejjani / April 24, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/04/129151/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfYltxaeNrE
On this day each year, the human conscience stands before one of the most horrific crimes in modern history: the massacres committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people—alongside the Chaldeans, Maronites, Assyrians, Syriacs, and Greeks. A crime that does not expire with time, that cannot be justified by any context, and that history will never forgive.
More than a century ago, in 1915, the Ottoman killing machine launched a systematic, brutal campaign of religious and ethnic extermination. One and a half million innocent Armenians—children, women, the elderly, and men—were slaughtered, starved, displaced, and dragged across death marches simply because they were Armenian, because they were Christian. It was not a war—it was a full-scale ethnic cleansing project, comparable in scale to the Holocaust and perhaps even more barbaric in execution.
Yet despite the catastrophe, the Armenian people did not perish. Their spirit was not broken. Their faith did not falter. Rising from the ashes of genocide, they spread across the globe like a phoenix, carrying with them their message, their culture, their Christian faith, and their sacred history. From this sorrow, from this blood, emerged a vibrant Armenian diaspora—resilient, proud, and brilliant.
As a Lebanese Maronite Christian, I do not merely sympathize with the Armenian people—I share their pain, I stand by their just cause, and I am united with them in faith, in values, and in the belief in Christ the Redeemer. I am also proud that my homeland, Lebanon, is home to a strong and dignified Armenian community that has contributed immensely to the survival and defense of our nation.
The massacres committed by the Ottomans against the Armenians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Maronites, and other Christians of the East are not merely events of the past—they remain an open wound in the conscience of humanity. A wound that deepens with every official Turkish denial, every international silence, and every attempt to falsify or erase history.
The time has come to end political appeasement at the expense of historical justice. The international community, human rights organizations, religious institutions, and global cultural bodies must speak out boldly and without hesitation. Recognizing the Armenian Genocide is not only a duty toward the victims—it is a moral responsibility toward future generations and toward the values humanity claims to uphold.
There can be no true peace without justice, no genuine reconciliation without truth. Turkey, the legal heir of the Ottoman Empire, must assume full ethical, legal, and humanitarian responsibility by officially acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and taking meaningful steps toward reparation—just as Germany did in the case of the Holocaust.
A heartfelt salute to the Armenian people—resilient and faithful—who gave the world the first Christian kingdom in history and who continue to inspire with their saints, martyrs, thinkers, and creators. A tribute to the innocent souls of the Armenians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Maronites, and Syriacs who were slaughtered for their faith and identity, yet never surrendered their dignity or their cross.
And in the end, let us say this with unwavering conviction: Those who escape the justice of man will never escape the justice of God. Innocent blood does not vanish. Truth never dies. And though justice may be delayed, it never disappears. Glory to the martyrs, eternal memory to their cause, and light to the truth.

The Life of Saint George On the Occasion of His Annual Feast
Elias Bejjani/ April 23/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/04/153842/
Today, the Church celebrates the annual memorial of Saint George. Who is this saint? What were his noble deeds and the story of his life? And why does the Church venerate him as a saint?
1. Birth and Chronology
Year of Birth: Saint George was born circa 280 AD.
Place of Birth: He was born in the region of Cappadocia (in modern-day Turkey) to noble Christian parents.
Year of Repose: He received the Crown of Martyrdom on April 23, 303 AD.
2. Upbringing and Family Environment
George was raised in an illustrious family of high standing. His father, Gerontius, held a high military office, while his mother, Polychronia, hailed from Lydda in Palestine. Following his father's repose during his adolescence, he moved with his mother to Palestine. There, the seeds of a profound Christian faith and the virtues of chivalry were sown in his heart. From his youth, George was imbued with spiritual values that led him to view military service as a vocation to protect the oppressed rather than an instrument of tyranny.
3. Military Career and the Imperial Encounter
At the age of twenty, George joined the Roman Army, displaying exceptional prowess in battle and rare discipline. By virtue of his valor, he rose swiftly through the ranks to the dignity of "Comes" (Count)—a prestigious military title that placed him among the Emperor’s inner circle of companions. He served as a commander of the imperial guard during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Despite his eminent position, George remained steadfastly faithful to his Christian creed in secret, practicing virtue and charity.
4. Confronting Tyranny (From Secrecy to Public Witness)
In the year 303 AD, Emperor Diocletian issued an edict mandating the persecution of Christians, the demolition of their churches, and compelling military commanders to prostrate before idols and offer pagan sacrifices as a test of allegiance. At this juncture, George’s fortitude was revealed. Rather than concealing his faith to preserve his rank and wealth, he distributed his possessions to the poor, manumitted his servants, and presented himself at the imperial court. There, he tore the edict of persecution asunder before the Emperor and his ministers, declaring the vanity of the Roman gods and publicly professing his faith in Christ.
5. The Saint’s Torments and Heroic Resilience
The Emperor sought to dissuade him through enticements and promises of higher governorships and ranks. George, however, replied: "Your kingdom shall perish, but the kingdom of my God is eternal." Thus, the Emperor commenced a series of brutal tortures recorded in Sacred Tradition:
The Spiked Wheel: He was placed upon a wheel fitted with sharp blades to lacerate his body; it is said an angel appeared and healed him in the sight of all.
The Fiery Shoes: He was forced to walk in red-hot iron boots lined with long nails.
The Triumph over Sorcery: He drank a lethal poison prepared by the Emperor’s sorcerer after making the Sign of the Cross over it. The poison caused him no harm, leading the sorcerer to believe in Christ and destroy his idols.
6. Martyrdom and Interment
When the Emperor despaired of breaking his spirit—and after the Empress Alexandra herself converted to the faith due to George’s steadfastness—he ordered George to be beheaded by the sword. He was martyred in the city of Nicomedia. His holy relics were later translated to the city of Lydda (Lod) in Palestine according to his wishes. Today, his tomb lies beneath the altar of the church that bears his name, serving as a sanctuary for both Christians and Muslims (who venerate him as Al-Khidr).
Churches of Saint George in Lebanon
Lebanon is sanctified by hundreds of churches and cathedrals bearing the name of Saint George (Mar Jirjis). He is considered the most popular saint and the patron of numerous Lebanese villages across various Christian denominations (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Syriac).
While it is difficult to enumerate them all, below are some of the most prominent and renowned churches distributed across Lebanon:
1. In the Capital, Beirut
Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral: Located in Nejmeh Square, Downtown Beirut; it is one of the city's oldest churches and houses an archaeological museum beneath it.
Saint George Maronite Cathedral: Also located in Downtown Beirut, adjacent to the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque; it is a significant architectural and historical landmark.
Saint George Church - Hayy Al-Syrian: Belonging to the Syriac Orthodox community.
2. In Mount Lebanon
Saint George Church - Bhamdoun: A significant historical church.
Saint George Church - Chyah: One of the largest Maronite parishes in the region.
Saint George Church - Edde, Byblos: An ancient medieval church.
Saint George Church - Dabbayeh: Located in the Shouf region.
Saint George Church - Mtaileb / Bsalim.
Saint George Church - Sarba (Jounieh).
3. In North Lebanon
Saint George Church - Ehden: A very significant ancient church in the heart of Ehden.
Saint George Al-Humayrah Monastery: Located near the Lebanese-Syrian border; it remains a primary pilgrimage site for the people of Akkar and the North.
Saint George Church - Chekka.
Saint George Church - Amioun (Koura): An ancient church built upon a rock, considered one of the most beautiful in Koura.
4. In the South and Beqaa
Saint George Church - Al-Qulay’ah: In South Lebanon, where Saint George is the patron of the town, celebrated with grand festivities.
Saint George Church - Zahle: Several churches bear his name in the "City of Churches" across different denominations.
Saint George Church - Rmeich: Located in the southernmost part of Lebanon.
Notes on Devotional Prevalance:
Al-Khidr: In many Lebanese regions, Saint George is known by the title "Al-Khidr." There are famous shrines and churches under this name, such as the Church of Al-Khidr in Bauchrieh and the Shrine of Al-Khidr in Kfarmeshki.
Local Designations: It is common to find more than one Saint George church in a single Lebanese village—one for the Orthodox and another for the Maronites—bringing the total number in Lebanon to over 400 churches and shrines.
A Prayer for the Liberation of Lebanon
Through the Intercession of Saint George the Triumphant
O Holy Saint George,
Great Martyr and Triumphant Warrior of Christ, you who stood unshaken before the tyrants of old and preferred the crown of martyrdom over the vanities of an earthly empire: we turn to you this day with heavy hearts but steadfast hope.
O Patron of the Oppressed,
You who are venerated from the peaks of Mount Lebanon to the shores of its ancient cities, look down upon the Land of the Cedars. Lebanon, which has long been a sanctuary of faith and a beacon of light, now groans under the weight of occupation, the darkness of oppression, and the chains of those who seek to extinguish its spirit and sovereignty.
O Victorious Knight,
Just as you struck down the dragon to save the innocent, we beseech you to intercede with the Almighty to strike down the forces of malice and greed that hold Lebanon captive. By the power of the Holy Cross which you carried as your shield, break the yokes of foreign dominion and dismantle the strongholds of those who trade in fear and injustice.
Grant Strength to the People,
Intercede for the sons and daughters of Lebanon, that they may be clothed in your courage. Grant wisdom to its leaders, unity to its citizens, and perseverance to those who struggle for truth. May the Cedars of Lebanon flourish once more in the soil of freedom, watered by the grace of God and protected by your watchful eye.
O Saint George,
Deliver this sacred land from all its enemies, seen and unseen. May the light of liberation shine upon its mountains, and may peace—true peace born of justice—reign in every heart and home.
Through your holy intercession, may Lebanon rise again, proud and free, to sing the praises of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
NB: The information contained in this study is taken from numerous documented ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media sources.

Hezbollah says ceasefire 'meaningless' as fighting continues in south
Maya Gebeily and Alexander Cornwell/Reuters/April 24, 2026
Lebanon's Hezbollah said a U.S.-mediated ceasefire in the war with Israel was meaningless a day after it was extended for three weeks, as Lebanese authorities reported two people killed by an Israeli strike and Hezbollah downed an Israeli drone. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the three-week extension on ‌Thursday after hosting Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors at the White House. The ceasefire agreement between the governments of Lebanon and Israel had been due to expire on Sunday. While the ‌ceasefire has led to a significant reduction in hostilities, Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to trade blows in southern Lebanon, where Israel has kept soldiers in a self-declared "buffer zone". Responding to the extension, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said "it is essential to ​point out that the ceasefire is meaningless in light of Israel's insistence on hostile acts, including assassinations, shelling, and gunfire" and its demolition of villages and towns in the south. "Every Israeli attack ... gives the resistance the right to a proportionate response," he added. Hezbollah is not a party to the ceasefire agreement, and has strongly objected to Lebanon's face-to-face contacts with Israel.
BUFFER ZONE
The April 16 agreement does not require Israeli troops to withdraw from the belt of southern Lebanon seized during the war. The zone extends 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) into Lebanon. Israel says the buffer zone aims to protect northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, ‌which fired hundreds of rockets at Israel during the war. Hostilities between Hezbollah ⁠and Israel reignited on March 2, when the group opened fire in support of Iran in the regional war. The ceasefire in Lebanon emerged separately from Washington’s efforts to resolve its conflict with Tehran, though Iran had called for Lebanon to be included in any broader truce. Nearly 2,500 people have been killed ⁠in Lebanon since March 2, the Lebanese health ministry says.
ISRAELI MILITARY WARNS RESIDENTS TO LEAVE TOWN
Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli airstrike killed two people in the southern village of Touline on Friday. Hezbollah shot down an Israeli drone, the group and the Israeli military said. Hezbollah identified it as a Hermes 450 and said it had downed it with a surface-to-air missile. An Israeli drone was heard circling above Beirut throughout the day on Friday, Reuters ​reporters ​said. The Israeli military warned residents of the southern town of Deir Aames to leave their homes immediately, saying it ​planned to act against "Hezbollah activities" there. Deir Aames is located north of the area ‌occupied by Israeli forces, and it was the first time Israel had issued such a warning since the ceasefire came into force on April 16. Posted on social media, the Israeli warning gave no details of the activities it said Hezbollah was conducting in the town. The Israeli military also said it had intercepted a drone prior to its crossing into Israeli territory, and that sirens were sounded in line with protocol.
WAR-WEARY RESIDENTS SEEK END TO FIGHTING
The continued fighting has angered war-weary Lebanese, who say they want to see a genuine ceasefire put a full halt to violence. "What's this? Is this called a ceasefire? Or is this mocking (people's) intelligence?" said Naem Saleh, a 73-year-old owner of a newsstand in Beirut. Residents of northern Israel had mostly returned to daily life, but expressed pessimism about the longevity of the ‌ceasefire with Lebanon. “I believe that the ceasefire is so fragile, and unfortunately it won’t stand long, in my opinion,” ​said Eliad Eini, a resident of Nahariya, which lies just 10 km (6 miles) from the border with Lebanon.
On Wednesday, Israeli ​strikes killed at least five people in the south, including a journalist. Israel's Ambassador to Washington ​Yechiel Leiter, in his opening remarks at Thursday's talks, said "Lebanon should acknowledge the temporary presence of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and the right of Israel to ‌defend itself from a hostile force that is firing on the population". Lebanon's Ambassador ​to the United States Nada Moawad, in a written ​statement sent to Reuters, called for the ceasefire to be fully respected and said it would allow the necessary conditions for meaningful negotiations. Lebanon has said it aims to secure the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from its territory in broader talks with Israel at a later stage. Trump said on Thursday that he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ​and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future, and said there ‌was "a great chance" the two countries would reach a peace agreement this year. Hezbollah attacks killed two civilians in Israel after March 2, while 15 Israeli soldiers have died ​in Lebanon since then, Israel says.

Indonesian peacekeeper dies of wounds suffered in Lebanon last month, UNIFIL says
Gavin Blackburn/Euronews/April 24, 2026
The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said on Friday that an Indonesian blue helmet died in hospital of wounds suffered in an attack on his base on 29 March. "UNIFIL deplores the passing today of Corporal Rico Pramudia, who was critically injured following a projectile explosion in his base in Adchit Al Qusayr on the night of 29 March," the force said in a statement. His death brings the number of peacekeepers killed since the start of the most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah on 2 March to six. UNIFIL said at the time of the 29 March attack that one Indonesian soldier was killed and another wounded. A preliminary investigation by the UN found that the soldier was killed by an Israeli tank shell. The following day, two more Indonesian blue helmets were killed by an improvised explosive device. The same UN investigation found that Hezbollah was likely responsible. Indonesia has already urged the UN to launch a thorough investigation into both incidents. Two French soldiers serving in UNIFIL were killed in an ambush on 18 April, which French authorities and the UN have blamed on Hezbollah. The group denies any involvement. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has carried out peacekeeping duties between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 but has found itself caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. UNIFIL comprises nearly 8,200 troops from 47 countries. A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has been in effect since 17 April, which the US said on Thursday night had been extended by three weeks.

Indonesia Condemns Israeli Attack Resulting in Death of Another Peacekeeper in Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/24 April/2026
Indonesia once again strongly condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that resulted in the death of a fourth Indonesian peacekeeper, the foreign ministry said on Friday. The peacekeeper sustained severe injuries due to an artillery explosion from an Israeli tank on March 29 and the ministry announced on Friday that he has passed away. Three other Indonesian peacekeepers had also died due to the attack, Reuters reported. Indonesia urged the UN to conduct a thorough, transparent and accountable investigation into the deaths of its UNIFIL peacekeepers.

UN says Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah rockets into Israel may breach international law
 Olivia Le Poidevin/Reuters/April 24, 2026
GENEVA, April 24 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office said on Friday it has documented patterns of attacks on civilians in populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel that may amount ‌to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, which ‌began after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to respond with a large‑scale military offensive. Since then, nearly 2,500 people have been killed ​in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities, amid widespread displacement and heavy damage to civilian infrastructure. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension to a ceasefire. The Israeli military and Hezbollah did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment about the report.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STRUCK, OHCHR SAYS
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented several cases in which Israeli strikes hit, and ‌in some instances destroyed, multi‑storey residential buildings, killing ⁠entire families in Lebanon, which may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said. The report cited the example of an Israeli strike on March 8 that hit a multi‑storey ⁠residential building in the town of Sir el‑Gharbiyeh, in the Nabatiyeh governorate. The strike killed at least 13 civilians inside the building, including five women, five men, two boys and a girl.
The office said incidents such as this raised concerns about compliance with the principles of ​distinction, proportionality ​and precautions in attack under international humanitarian law. The report also said ​the OHCHR had found Hezbollah was firing unguided rockets ‌that lacked the precision required to strike specific military targets, and damaged buildings and other civilian infrastructure in Israel, which likely violated international humanitarian law. While the office noted that notifications, including blanket evacuation warnings, had been issued by Israeli forces before some strikes in Lebanon, it identified cases in which warnings were either not given, were ineffective, or prevented many civilians from evacuating safely. Meanwhile, the OHCHR also said on Friday that attacks on journalists could amount to war crimes if they were ‌deliberate. An Israeli strike on Wednesday killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured ​photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was accompanying her in southern Lebanon. Rescue teams, including the ​Lebanese Red Cross, faced obstruction by the Israeli military ​when trying to reach them, Lebanon's health ministry said. "This included the use of a sound grenade and ‌live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the ​site," Al-Kheetan added. The Israeli military ​said the Israeli Air Force troops struck a vehicle and a structure after two vehicles in southern Lebanon were identified as leaving a Hezbollah military site, and crossed the Forward Defence Line, which posed an immediate threat. It received reports ​that two journalists were injured, the army ‌said, but it did not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area. The army does not deliberately target journalists ​or medical teams and the incident is under review, it added.

Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Extended by 3 Weeks after White House Meeting
Washington: Asharq Al Awsat/24 April 2026
Lebanon and Israel extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday. Trump hosted Israel's ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawad in the Oval Office for a second round of US-facilitated talks. "The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump added that he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.Trump also spoke to reporters in the Oval Office alongside the participants in the meeting, saying he hoped the leaders would meet during the three-week cessation of hostilities. He said there was "a great chance" the two countries would reach a peace agreement this year. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa also attended the meeting. The ceasefire, reached after talks between the two nations' ambassadors ⁠to Washington ⁠last week, was set to expire on Sunday. It has yielded a significant reduction in violence, but attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone. The Lebanese president said a day earlier that during the talks Moawad would ask for an end to Israeli home demolitions in villages and towns occupied by Israel after the latest war broke out on March 2. Moawad thanked Trump for hosting the talks. "I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again," she said. Asked how the US would help Lebanon to fight Hezbollah, Trump did not provide details but said Washington had "a great relationship with Lebanon." Trump said Israel had to be able to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah. He also called for Lebanon to abolish laws against engagement with Israel. "Well, I'm pretty sure that that will be ended very quickly. I'll make sure of that," Trump said.

Israel PM Says Hezbollah Trying to ‘Sabotage’ Peace Efforts with Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/24 April 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah on Friday of trying to "sabotage" efforts to reach a peace agreement with Lebanon. "We have started a process to reach a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it's clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this," he said in his first remarks after a ceasefire with Lebanon was extended. The comments came as the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah targets in a south Lebanon village in response to a "ceasefire violation", after earlier warning residents to evacuate the community. "A short while ago, the army struck military structures in the area of Deir Aames, from which rockets were launched toward the town of Shtula in Israel yesterday," it said. "The structures that were targeted were used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to advance terrorist activities against soldiers and the State of Israel," it added. The military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, had earlier warned residents of Deir Aames to "evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters outside the area"."Due to Hezbollah's terrorist activity, the army is conducting targeted operations in the area," he said on X. Deir Aames is located north of the so-called "Yellow Line" in Lebanon, behind which Israeli forces are operating despite the ceasefire. On Iran, Netanyahu said he "had an excellent conversation" with US President Donald Trump, without specifying when the pair spoke. "He is putting very strong pressure on Iran, both economically and militarily. We are working in full cooperation," he added.

Aoun: Lebanon Rejects Being A Bargaining Chip in Regional Conflicts
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/24 April 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon “refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts,” stressing it “negotiates in its own name, in defense of its national interests and sovereignty,” as Beirut pursues a US-sponsored diplomatic track backed by European and Arab support to reach a lasting end to the war and ensure arms are held exclusively by the state. Aoun made the remarks in Lebanon’s address to an informal meeting of European Union leaders, attended by southern neighbors and convened by Nikos Christodoulides during Cyprus’ EU presidency. He said Lebanon had “engaged in a diplomatic negotiation process under US sponsorship, with support from the European Union and Arab countries,” aimed at a “sustainable solution” that ends Israeli attacks and secures a full Israeli withdrawal behind internationally recognized borders, allowing the state to extend authority over all its territory. “Lebanon today refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. It negotiates in its own name, in defense of its national interests and sovereignty,” he said, adding the country “places great importance on de-escalation and achieving stability and peace,” and that diplomacy, not escalation, is the only path to a lasting solution.
Severe humanitarian situation
Aoun described conditions on the ground as “extremely dangerous,” citing “more than 1,300 evacuation orders affecting 311 towns and over 6,800 airstrikes up to April 11,” leaving “more than 10,000 casualties, killed and wounded.”He accused Israel of “violating international law” by targeting medical teams, hospitals, schools, journalists and places of worship, and by the “systematic destruction” of villages and civilian infrastructure to prevent residents from returning. Displacement has “exceeded one million,” he said. Only 13% of the displaced are in shelters, mostly in public schools and universities, increasing pressure on the education system, he added. Lebanon still hosts around one million Syrian refugees, placing “significant strain” on infrastructure, services and host communities. He described the crisis as “not a conventional humanitarian crisis, but an existential one by all measures.”
Economic losses mount
More than 150,000 people are expected to have no homes to return to after the war. Aoun urged the EU to convene an international conference on reconstruction and recovery, alongside boosting humanitarian funding, and called for reviving a France-backed conference to support the Lebanese army, which he described as “a guarantor of national unity and a cornerstone of local and regional stability.”
Syrian refugees
Aoun called for coordination with Syrian authorities, backed by international partners, to step up efforts for the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees, saying Syria’s recovery offers “a real opportunity” to advance the process gradually and in an organized manner. He said Lebanon is “not merely a humanitarian case,” but is directly tied to regional stability, migration, counterterrorism and energy security, urging stronger cooperation with Europe.
Nicosia meetings: French and Italian support
On the sidelines, Aoun met French President Emmanuel Macron, briefing him on efforts to end the conflict and ease the suffering of the Lebanese people. He said Lebanon had pressed in talks at the US State Department and the White House for a ceasefire, followed by a three-week extension to halt hostilities, stop the destruction of homes in villages occupied by Israeli forces, and end attacks on medics, Red Cross and civil defense personnel, journalists and civilians. Aoun also outlined Lebanon’s post-ceasefire position, thanking France for aid to displaced Lebanese and expressing hope for continued support from France and EU countries. Macron reaffirmed France’s backing, saying he had contacted European leaders and partners to support Lebanon’s push to consolidate a ceasefire and begin bilateral negotiations, adding Paris would continue efforts to bolster Lebanon’s position.
Aoun also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, briefing her on ceasefire contacts and two rounds of talks in Washington, the first attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the second by US President Donald Trump.“The option of war leads to no result,” he said.
Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s support for Lebanon, particularly for direct bilateral negotiations, and said Rome was ready to assist efforts to achieve stability, while continuing aid.

Lebanon Ambassador in Riyadh: Saudi Arabia Played Key Ceasefire Role
Ghazi al-Harthi/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
Lebanon’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ali Karanouh, said a phone call on Tuesday between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, along with a statement by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, marked the culmination of Saudi efforts that drew on the kingdom’s regional and international weight to secure Lebanon’s inclusion in a temporary ceasefire agreement. He added that the Saudi crown prince affirmed the kingdom’s support for Lebanon in asserting its sovereignty and backing its efforts to preserve its resources and the safety and unity of its territory. Karanouh, who took up his post in Saudi Arabia less than six months ago after serving as a diplomatic adviser to the prime minister, told Asharq Al-Awsat in an extended phone interview that the past days during the war had been difficult for Lebanon and the region, with a large number of casualties and widespread destruction. He also referred to Lebanon’s position, which unequivocally condemns Iranian attacks on Gulf states, stressing his country’s need for all its friends, foremost among them Saudi Arabia, given its regional and international weight. He said that reaching a ceasefire agreement is, in itself, an achievement, given the complexities of the regional situation and Lebanon’s internal challenges. Karanouh said Lebanon’s position “aims to liberate its land, preserve its rights, and achieve sustainable security and stability,” expressing hope that the negotiations represent the only hope for Lebanon, given the difficult situation and the war it was drawn into, which it does not want and its people do not want, while paying a heavy price. He added that Lebanon hopes the next phase, through the return of security and stability, will allow it to continue the path it had begun before the war, paving the way for rebuilding the state and extending its authority over all its territory. On reports of recent visits by Lebanese politicians to Saudi Arabia, the ambassador said the kingdom maintains relations with all parties in Lebanon and calls for unity, security, stability, and the preservation of civil peace.
He noted that Saudi Arabia had previously sponsored the Taif Agreement and the reconstruction phase that followed, adding that these visits came within that framework. He said this had been reflected domestically through a reduction in the intensity of rhetoric and a calming of internal tensions in recent periods, in favor of a unifying discourse and national unity, which has had a positive impact on Lebanon’s internal situation, where civil peace and a ceasefire are top priorities. Karanouh said there is genuine seriousness today in addressing the issues that have affected Lebanon’s relations with Arab and Gulf states, with the aim of lifting the ban on Lebanese exports and rebuilding trust. He added that the Lebanese side has held multiple meetings with Arab envoys, listened to their concerns, and is working to address many of them, noting that significant progress has been made and that many issues have already been resolved. He added that there is a track of dialogue and cooperation with Saudi Arabia in this regard, noting that security concerns are troubling all parties at this stage. Karanouh said the return of security and stability is a condition for the return of Gulf nationals to Lebanon, reiterating the current government’s seriousness in ensuring this, especially since the start of the current term under Aoun and Salam.
He cited cooperation in combating drug trafficking and tightening control over crossings and airports, adding that the outbreak of war had frozen these Lebanese efforts, with the priority shifting to preserving lives. The ambassador said the Lebanese army has a responsibility to extend its authority over all Lebanese territory, expressing Lebanon’s aspiration for support from Saudi Arabia and Gulf states to help the army carry out its major responsibilities, alongside support for reconstruction, stability and economic recovery. He said Gulf states are “the lifeblood of Lebanon,” adding that “the return of Gulf nationals to Lebanon is like the return of life to Lebanon and its economy.” Karanouh concluded by thanking the Saudi Foreign Ministry for its cooperation with the Lebanese embassy in Saudi Arabia and Lebanese embassies in Gulf states in facilitating the entry of more than 1,500 Lebanese nationals stranded in Gulf countries during the war and the closure of most airports and flights in the region, by securing transit visas and facilitating their return home or onward travel to Saudi Arabia and other destinations. On a symposium held by the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday, attended by the council’s secretary general as well as a number of ambassadors and experts, Karanouh said the event itself was a message of attention to Lebanon and a reaffirmation of support. He said GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi affirmed the council’s support for Lebanon, the implementation of international resolutions, the restriction of arms to the state, and the extension of state authority over all Lebanese territory. He stressed that this position aligns with Lebanon’s demands and with the Taif Agreement, particularly regarding the extension of state authority over all its territory, adding that it is also a central element of the president’s inaugural address and a key part of the ministerial statement of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government. Karanouh expressed hope that the efforts of both sides would lead to the return of security and stability to Lebanon and the region, paving the way for the return of investments and Gulf tourists to Lebanon. Over the past 48 hours, there have been a series of political consultations between the two countries. On Wednesday, Karanouh met Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Saud Al-Sati to discuss issues of mutual interest. On Thursday, the Lebanese presidency said President Joseph Aoun received Prince Yazid bin Farhan, adviser to the Saudi foreign minister, and discussed the current situation in light of recent developments and Saudi Arabia’s role in helping Lebanon overcome its difficult circumstances. On the same day, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, thanked the kingdom for its efforts to help Lebanon and halt the aggression against it. He also discussed developments in Lebanon and the region with Prince Faisal.

UN Says Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah Rockets into Israel May Breach International Law
Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
The UN human rights office said on Friday it has documented patterns of attacks on civilians in populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel that may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, which began after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to respond with a large-scale military offensive. Since then, nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities, amid widespread displacement and heavy damage to civilian infrastructure. US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension to a ceasefire. The Israeli military and Hezbollah did ‌not immediately respond to ‌Reuters requests for comment about the report.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STRUCK, OHCHR ‌SAYS
The ⁠Office of the ⁠United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented several cases in which Israeli strikes hit, and in some instances destroyed, multi-storey residential buildings, killing entire families in Lebanon, which may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said. The report cited the example of an Israeli strike on March 8 that hit a multi-storey residential building in the town of Sir el-Gharbiyeh, in the Nabatiyeh governorate. The strike killed at least 13 civilians inside the building, ⁠including five women, five men, two boys and a girl. The office ‌said incidents such as this raised concerns about compliance ‌with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack under international humanitarian law. The report also ‌said the OHCHR had found Hezbollah was firing unguided rockets that lacked the precision ‌required to strike specific military targets, and damaged buildings and other civilian infrastructure in Israel, which likely violated international humanitarian law. While the office noted that notifications, including blanket evacuation warnings, had been issued by Israeli forces before some strikes in Lebanon, it identified cases in which warnings were either not given, were ‌ineffective, or prevented many civilians from evacuating safely.
WARNING AFTER JOURNALIST KILLED
Meanwhile, the OHCHR also said on Friday that attacks on journalists could ⁠amount to war ⁠crimes if they were deliberate. An Israeli strike on Wednesday killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was accompanying her in southern Lebanon. Rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, faced obstruction by the Israeli military when trying to reach them, Lebanon's health ministry said. "This included the use of a sound grenade and live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the site," Al-Kheetan added. The Israeli military said the Israeli Air Force troops struck a vehicle and a structure after two vehicles in southern Lebanon were identified as leaving a Hezbollah military site, and crossed the Forward Defense Line, which posed an immediate threat. It received reports that two journalists were injured, the army said, but it did not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area. The army does not deliberately target journalists or medical teams and the incident is under review, it added.

Hezbollah and Lebanon – The Strategic Situation
Colonel Charbel Barakat/April 25/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/04/153882/
Most political analysts argue that Hezbollah's problem is the conflict with Israel. Therefore, Hezbollah and its arsenal are inextricably linked to Israel's fate. Hence, the issue is existential; Hezbollah is compelled to defend its support base along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The conflict cannot end, and the weapons cannot be surrendered to the state, except through an agreement guaranteeing the security and stability of the population on the Lebanese side of the border. Thus, some advocate for talks between the two governments to reach a peace agreement that would end the war, lead to the surrender of weapons, and close the chapter on the conflict.
However, anyone familiar with Hezbollah's ideology and its Iranian masters cannot accept this proposition. Simply put, the party calls for the establishment of a state ruled by the Supreme Leader, extending from Iran to encompass the entire Middle East, with Lebanon as a part, and potentially ruling the world (hence the plan to acquire nuclear capabilities). In the party's ideology and its pronouncements, the state of Lebanon does not exist, nor does the Lebanese people, their history, civilization, or the diversity of their population and beliefs. International friendships and relations with the surrounding region are unnecessary, except as approved by the Supreme Leader after he consolidates his control over the Middle East and establishes his state, which will prepare for the return of the Hidden Imam.
The party does not belong to the Lebanese people in any way, but rather imposed itself on the Shiite community based on the belief that some Sayyids from Jabal Amil, at the end of the 15th century, contributed, at the request of Shah Ismail, to spreading the Twelver Shiite doctrine in Iran and Azerbaijan. This secured for them a distinction from the Sunni Turks, who had controlled Asia Minor under Sultan Selim I and, with the decline of the Byzantine Empire, had become the dominant power threatening the entire Levant.
Consequently, these Shiites had been persecuted by the Turks since the time of Sultan Selim and were forced into isolation in Lebanon. However, they will enjoy prosperity and a sense of belonging in the state of the mullahs, which some of their imams helped to shape.
The party theory would not have fooled the liberal Shiites who kept pace with the era of science and Lebanese openness. Some of them, like the rest of the Lebanese, went to the countries of the diaspora and learned about political, national and social theories and contributed to some political movements in the region. Some of them adhered to Arabism in the Nasserist way, others to the internationally oriented Communist Party, and others to local parties such as the Syrian Nationalists, the Baath Party and others. The visible class among them, like many Lebanese, was still looking for a Lebanese path that would fulfill its ambitions.
The Shia community lost only four villages during the demarcation of the border between Lebanon and Palestine. These villages were considered within the existing border line established during the Mandate period and were therefore unaffected by the 1948 war. However, the political upheavals that followed the war, the psychological impact of the influx of refugees into Lebanon, and the subsequent expansionist regimes that arose in neighboring countries, all contributed to pushing impoverished Shia communities toward liberationist ideologies. The majority leaned toward the left, prompting Shah Reza Pahlavi to send Musa al-Sadr to Lebanon to restore balance to the Shia community. But Yasser Arafat and his revolution moved faster than Musa al-Sadr's projects, despite his success in securing many of the community's "rights" without resorting to violence or the kind of street pressure we have become accustomed to seeing. He was thus forced to join Arafat's plans and establish the Amal Movement to escape the pressure of rival militias. Despite all his attempts to avoid violence and participation in the conflict, he was eliminated in a Syrian-Libyan plot orchestrated by the mullahs, who were vying for power in Iran and feared his influence on the Shia community.
As for Hezbollah, it is an Iranian construct that has exploited Lebanese citizens by identity, indoctrinating them into becoming operatives who carry out the orders of the mullahs and are willing to sacrifice themselves for them. So, are they afraid that the country, which you deem unnecessary, will collapse, or that the rest of the citizens who share it will be lost? Therefore, Lebanon's salvation lies in reaching an agreement with Israel and controlling these individuals as a prelude to seizing their weapons and re-indoctrinating them as much as possible. Their surviving leaders should be placed in sanatoriums or special prisons to prevent them from influencing an environment that no longer knows how to act without orders, nor does it understand the consequences of its actions. Their provocations against Israel have led to Lebanon losing land and homes, displacing citizens, and destroying infrastructure. Yet, the state pays them salaries and compensation to the families of their dead, despite all the losses they have inflicted on institutions, citizens, and the country alike.
It remains that some Arab countries, in addition to Turkey, are currently trying to intervene to prevent Lebanon from moving towards peace negotiations with Israel and ending the current open-ended situation. They propose resorting to internal understanding, meaning dialogue and an agreement with Hezbollah, and taking its interests into account. To these people we say:
- Firstly, to the Saudi Minister Farhan, we urge you to focus on negotiating with the Saudi Shia community in the Qatif region and understanding their concerns and desires. You yourselves suffered from Iranian orders that led the Saudi state to execute their leaders to prevent sedition. You also endured the missiles and drones that their masters rained down upon you without cause, and you know the consequences better than we do. We do not want to repeat the Bahraini experience and allow Iran's proxies to wreak havoc and destruction there. Or should we remind you of what the Emir of Kuwait is doing, forced to rid his country of evildoers by revoking their citizenships? What should we say to him? "Come and engage in dialogue with them?" Why was the parliament dissolved in the first place? Wasn't it because they violated and sabotaged institutions to create chaos?
- As for our Egyptian brothers, we say: it would be more beneficial for you to open a dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood, against whom you turned and who fought you in
Sinai and elsewhere. Hezbollah and its Iranian masters played a major role in those events. Weapons were transferred through Hamas and its affiliates. We need not remind you that President Nasser caused the events of 1958 in Lebanon because he nationalized the Suez Canal two years prior, provoking a French-British-Israeli attack. When the United States pressured for the withdrawal of these forces, he rushed into Syria and Lebanon to cut off European trade through the port of Beirut to the Gulf. Then, after Sadat cleared the canal following the 1973 war, with its inauguration scheduled for June 1976, he allowed Lebanon to be devastated and plunged into a war you called a "civil war" so that all companies could return and reopen their offices in Egypt, restoring normal operations to the Suez Canal. We are grateful for your kindness and suggestions, but we still do not know what lies hidden behind these sweet words and "brotherly" proposals.
- President Erdoğan has some brotherly advice: he should seek dialogue with those who disagree with him in Turkey. The prisons are full of those falsely accused of attempting a coup, and we haven't forgotten the mayor of Istanbul, who is imprisoned for defying the sultan's orders.
To all those "concerned" about Lebanon's interests and demanding dialogue with Hezbollah, we say: cease your "brotherly" pressure and let Lebanon manage and find appropriate solutions for its situation. We've had enough of your poisoned advice and unhelpful suggestions. If some of you are merely seeking personal gain, always looking for those who pay and contribute to lining their pockets, then we are grateful to you, because Lebanon can rise from the rubble and rebuild itself if you refrain from your advice and interference.
Hezbollah is the disease that the Iranian regime uses to control its neighbors, and there is no cure except to uproot it, cleanse the country of its evils, and collect and destroy its weapons so that Lebanon and its neighbors can find peace. Otherwise, no solutions will find their way, and no country in the entire Middle East will be free from its interference and the shrapnel it sows.

Fox News/Video link to an English-language video of the press conference held by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hackett and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Keane, in which they discussed the latest developments regarding the war with Iran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WyjDzz8Urs&t=1113s
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine  press briefing at the Pentagon.
Pete Hegseth, Dan Caine hold press conference at the Pentagon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WyjDzz8Urs&t=1113s

Arab positions have turned peace between Lebanon and Israel into a hostage of an “internal veto
Zéna Mansour/X platform/April 24/2026
Arab positions have turned peace between Lebanon and Israel into a hostage of an “internal veto” wrapped in the symphony of the “dialogue table.” The pretext of internal consensus is nothing but a cover for a hidden fear that Lebanon might precede the rest of the region’s parties to Israel.
In essence, everyone is pursuing their own interests. No one is truly concerned with or interested in building a normal relationship between Lebanon and Israel, even though history and geography say otherwise. Deviating from this path was a historical and geographical sin.
Lebanon and Israel are a single historical-geographical unit—from Mount Lebanon to Mount Hermon, to the Mount of Olives, to Mount Zion—and the Canaanite-Hebraic intersection compels Lebanon to return to its civilizational self. Enough of turning it into a shop for investing in a cause that Arabs, Muslims, Persians, secularists, and non-Arabs alike have all abandoned… while Lebanon alone keeps paying the price for everyone.

Israel military issues evacuation warning for south Lebanon Deir Aames village
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
The Israeli military on Friday warned residents of a village in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate, the first such warning since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension. "Urgent warning to the residents of the area of Deir Aames. Due to Hezbollah's terrorist activity, the IDF is conducting targeted operations in the area," the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee wrote on X. "For your safety, we urge you to evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres outside the area," he added. Deir Aames is located north of the so-called "Yellow Line" in Lebanon, south of which Israeli forces are operating despite the ceasefire.

Hezbollah shoots down drone in south Lebanon after 2 killed in strike on Touline
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
Hezbollah shot down one an Israeli drone in south Lebanon on Friday, hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group was extended. Hezbollah stated that its fighters launched a surface-to-air missile that shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over the Tyre region.
The Israeli military confirmed that a "remotely piloted aircraft" was downed in southern Lebanon following the launch of a small surface-to-air missile"" by Hezbollah. Hezbollah said it was in retaliation for Israeli violation of Lebanese air space. The group also targeted Friday Israeli troops in the southern border town of Qantara with an attack drone, while Israeli troops were detonating houses in Khiam. The border towns of Qantara and Khiam are in a "buffer zone" that Israel is occupying in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army had targeted earlier on Friday the southern villages of Touline and Kherbet Selem despite residents returning home to their southern towns and villages after a 3-week extension of the ceasefire. The strike on Touline killed two, the health ministry said. In Zar'it, northern Israel, sirens sounded following the detection of a drone infiltration from Lebanon. Hezbollah said on Thursday it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to the country's ceasefire "violations", as Lebanon and Israel's U.S. ambassadors were set to meet in Washington.
"In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire and its targeting of the town of Yater in southern Lebanon," Hezbollah "targeted the Shtula settlement with a rocket salvo", the group said in a statement. The Israeli military said "several launches that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were identified" and intercepted. An Israeli strike on Shoukine had killed three people on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said that "an Israeli airstrike on the Shoukine road in the Nabatieh district," more than 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Israel, killed three people while artillery shelling of the village of Yater wounded two people, including a child. The attacks come shortly before a second meeting between Lebanon and Israel's U.S. ambassadors in Washington, where Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks.

German court jails Hezbollah supporter over videos showing weapons
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
A German court on Friday sentenced a supporter of Lebanon's Hezbollah to more than three years in jail Friday over for "illegal access to weapons" and social media posts supporting the group. Earlier in the same trial the 30-year-old was acquitted on charges of actually fighting for Hezbollah and being a member of the group. The court in Berlin gave him a sentence of three years and nine months over social media posts he made with videos taken during a trip to Lebanon in 2023. In the videos he was seen handling rifles and anti-tank missiles and taking part in shooting practice. The court found he also spread propaganda videos and displayed Hezbollah symbols such as flags and scarves. However the court said that the videos in question showed that the accused had had no training in dealing with the weapons and that he had acted in a "partly amateurish" fashion. His earlier claims to have fought with the group were made up in order to impress his friends, the court found. Hezbollah's military wing is classed as a "terrorist" organization by the United States, the European Union and Britain. Germany considers Hezbollah a "Shiite terrorist organization" and in 2020 banned Hezbollah from carrying out activities on its soil.

Israeli army says six Hezbollah fighters killed in Bint Jbeil
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
The Israeli military said its forces killed six Hezbollah fighters in the flashpoint southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Friday during a clash that included a firefight. According to the Israeli military, troops identified six Hezbollah fighters operating Bint Jbeil, an area that saw heavy fighting before a ceasefire was declared last week. "Following the identification, an exchange of fire began between the (militants) and the soldiers, during which the soldiers eliminated two (militants)," the military said. "Subsequently, the soldiers struck the structure from which the (militants) had been operating. In the strike, the four remaining (militants) were eliminated," it added. The clash came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah was trying to "sabotage" efforts to secure peace with Lebanon following an extension of the ceasefire between the two sides.

Hezbollah MP says Israel talks 'will in no way enjoy Lebanese consensus'
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
Lawmaker Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, called on Friday for Lebanon to "withdraw" from direct talks with Israel that U.S. President Donald Trump says have a "very good chance" of achieving peace. "The authorities ought to feel ashamed before their people and withdraw from what has been called direct negotiations with the Zionist enemy," he said in a statement, adding that "any official contact or meeting bringing together the Lebanese and Israeli sides amid the ongoing war... will in no way enjoy Lebanese national consensus"."Any so-called truce that grants the occupying enemy in Lebanon a special exemption to open fire... is not a truce at all, but rather a devious deception and an attempt to dupe others, one that entails covering up Israeli hostility and turning a blind eye to the enemy's continued violations."Ali Fayad, an MP for the party, said Friday that Hezbollah reserves the right to respond to any Israeli "aggressions" during the ongoing truce in Lebanon. He said extending the ceasefire "makes no sense" in light of continued "hostile acts" by Israel, saying they gave "the resistance the right to respond at the appropriate time". U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the ceasefire in Lebanon, due to expire on Sunday, would be extended by three weeks.

In south Lebanon's Tyre, man seeks family mementos after deadly Israeli raid
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
Clutching a battered photo album, Mohamad Ali Hijazi searched a mountain of rubble in south Lebanon's Tyre for mementoes of his family, killed in an Israeli strike minutes before a ceasefire took hold. "I'm trying to find my mother's hairbrush... and a bottle of perfume that she loves," said Hijazi, 48 -- some of the last things he sent her from France, where he has long lived with his wife and two daughters. "My life has been destroyed. I haven't slept for five days," he said, repeatedly fighting back tears. His sister Ghazwa and her two young children were killed alongside his cousin in the Israeli attack on April 16 that flattened six buildings. His mother Ikhlass was pulled out alive but died later. His father and a nephew miraculously survived. The bombs struck just before midnight, when the pause in fighting began between Israel and Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire. "I saw the strike and I broke down," said Hijazi, who first learned of the raid on social media in France. "When I saw the damage... I expected them to come out in pieces... and they were in pieces," he said. "It was like a horror film."For a seventh day, excavators were removing rubble from the vast devastation in the residential area in Tyre, just a stone's throw from the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean.
'Innocent civilians' -
Curtains, cushions and mattresses, a red fluffy blanket and a dish rack were all strewn through the rubble, while a ground-floor minimarket had been obliterated. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,400 people and wounded some 7,700 others. Deputy mayor Alwan Charafeddine said around 27 bodies had been recovered from the site, with the search ongoing for at least one missing person, while body parts were being DNA tested. "All my memories are here," Hijazi said, holding the damaged family album close as he surveyed the devastation. Dust rose as the excavators worked, an Israeli drone buzzed overhead and smoke rose along the Lebanese coast near where Israeli forces are still operating. Hijazi said his mother died shortly after he visited her in hospital. There was no space in the cemetery so "we opened my grandfather's grave... and buried her with him".
"Here we are all innocent civilians... We have no link with any party," said the distraught Hijazi. Across the street, surrounded by shattered glass, his stunned father Fadl Hijazi, 66, watched the bulldozers work.The large, blue-eyed man, his arms covered with blackened wounds, recalled trying to make his family laugh by pretending to shoo the Israeli warplanes away not long before the strike, and tucking in his grandson.
'Ripped our hearts out' -
Then it was as if "there was an earthquake... only the cupboard stopped the ceiling from crushing us", he said. He said he was pulled from the rubble around three hours later, not long after his young grandson was rescued. "I lost my family, I lost my loved ones," he said. "I've lost everything... they pulled me out barefoot, people have brought me clothes and shoes."Many of those who were killed had stayed in their homes because they couldn't afford to go elsewhere, he said. Israel's army had previously issued sweeping evacuation orders for swathes of Tyre and the country's south, but no specific warning preceded the April 16 raid. "Why did they strike us?" he cried out in distress. "They ripped our hearts out. For what? Are there fighters or rockets here?" he added, gesturing at the street. "We never thought this would happen before the ceasefire... We're used to the planes, but to wipe out a whole neighborhood?"From a balcony overlooking the grim scene, Fadia Melliji, a relative of the Hijazis, said she used to like being on the veranda. But now, "when I wake up in the morning I think maybe I'm having a bad dream", said Melliji, 53. "They didn't just bring down a building, they brought down a street," she said in shock, adding that "in an instant, everything disappeared.""Why this massacre?" she said. "People were sleeping in their beds."

What did Saudi envoy discuss in Beirut?
Naharnet/April 24/2026
Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan has met in Beirut with a number of Lebanese MPs, including Fouad Makhzoumi, Faisal Karami, and Elias Bou Saab.Prince Yazid bin Farhan affirmed KSA's support for the implementation of the Taif Agreement, full withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon, and the restriction of arms to the state, al-Jadeed TV said, quoting Yarze's visitors. Bin Farhan said this war should be the last and stressed that the position of the Prime Minister in Lebanon is a "red line", al-Jadeed said. The Saudi diplomat had also met Thursday with President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Report: US, KSA, Egypt working on Lebanon-Israel non-aggression pact
Naharnet/April 24/2026
Political and diplomatic developments are accelerating toward forging an understanding between Lebanon and Israel, that has started to be known as a "non-aggression pact," based on a U.S.-Saudi initiative joined by Egypt, a political source informed on the talks said. "Egypt is reviving its previous proposal to contain Hezbollah's weapons, given the inability to remove them," the source told al-Joumhouria newspaper. The source revealed that contacts have intensified between Saudi Arabia, the United States and Egypt, in coordination with Tehran, to end the state of war in Lebanon through a comprehensive solution that revives the 1949 Armistice Agreement. The proposed agreement stipulates that Israel withdraw to the Blue Line, simultaneously with the Lebanese Army's entry into southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's withdrawal beyond the Litani River. In return, a plan to contain Hezbollah's weapons will be initiated, along with addressing outstanding issues along the Blue Line. The agreement also includes the release of Lebanese captives, the return of residents to habitable villages, and the launch of reconstruction efforts. A key feature of this agreement is the international and Arab guarantees, particularly from the United States, to ensure both parties' commitment to its implementation and respect. The same source also revealed that proposals have been put forward to contain heavy weapons, missile arsenals and drones, in coordination with Tehran, stemming from a desire for Shiite participation in the solution. A dialogue table is also being arranged under Saudi-Egyptian auspices to resolve the disputes. Al-Juomhouria has also learned that Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan is arranging a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri to unify their positions, as well as a meeting of the Aoun, Berri and PM Nawaf Salam to coordinate Lebanon's strategy. The source also said that Lebanon is benefiting from the renewed U.S. interest in it, particularly from U.S. President Donald Trump, in order to formulate a solution that will not deviate significantly from the possible American-Iranian agreement.

Aoun meets Macron in Nicosia on sidelines of European summit
Agence France Presse/April 24/2026
President Joseph Aoun met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nicosia, on the sidelines of a European summit. European leaders vowed during the summit to do more to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East, as they prepared for discussions with regional counterparts from Egypt, Lebanon and Syria in Cyprus.

Lebanese residents call for peace in south Lebanon
Associated Press/April 24/2026
Some residents in Beirut believe south Lebanon should be included in a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. They said a deal will not be sustainable without a lasting truce between Iran and the United States. “It is not related to Hezbollah and Israel, but to Iran and the US. If they reach an agreement, the whole of the Middle East will be calm, but if not, there will be escalation in Lebanon and the rest of the world,” Joe Ghafari said.Diala Ammar said it is “unfair” for the south to stay at war while the rest of the country “lives normally.”Israeli forces occupying a strip of territory extending several miles into southern Lebanon have continued strikes, while Hezbollah has attacked Israeli forces there.

Israelis express mixed views on Lebanon talks
Associated Press/April 24/2026
Residents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv expressed mixed views on talks between Israel and Lebanon, with opinions ranging from calls for diplomacy to deep skepticism over Hezbollah’s role. “I always believe that you can talk, but you have to be prepared for war,” said Ben Kurtzer, a Jerusalem resident.
Others were more skeptical. “Who is there to talk to?” said Yardena Sharon. Some drew a distinction between Lebanon and Hezbollah. “We do not want to be hostile with the state of Lebanon; we have no hostility towards them. I think there are, undoubtedly, wonderful people there, people who seek peace, just as we seek peace,” said Matan Moalem, a Jerusalem resident. “Hezbollah needs to be eliminated once and for all, to take control of the entire area that constantly threatens Israel, firing in our direction and always seeking to eliminate and kill us.”In Tel Aviv, others emphasized diplomacy. “Force without brains is worth nothing. In the end, only agreements bring peace and security, only agreements,” said Daron Sabani.

Lebanon resident recognizes family crucifix smashed by Israeli soldier in viral image
Sally Abou Aljoud/April 24, 2026
BEIRUT (AP) — Houssam Naddaf said no words could capture the shock of seeing an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his family’s private garden in the southern Lebanese village of Debel — an image he recognized instantly as it spread online. “I saw it on the internet like everyone else,” he said. Naddaf had not been able to go to the house in person to see the damage because of restrictions on movement imposed by Israeli forces in the area. Israeli forces took control of the area as part of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired a salvo of missiles over the border two days after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran. Israel then launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and its forces have remained there despite the announcement of a truce last week. The images of the soldier swinging an ax into the fallen statue of Jesus on the cross in the southern Lebanese village of Debel had sparked widespread condemnation, in Lebanon and internationally. Israel’s military said Tuesday that it had replaced the sculpture, and Naddaf confirmed that the Israeli army brought a similar but smaller crucifix, offered an apology and installed it in the presence of village priests. However, Naddaf said that his family members, who were not present for that installation, already had been contacted by U.N. peacekeepers about a crucifix being offered by Italy. The family decided to accept the Italian donation, a statue about the same size as the original, and give the Israel-supplied one to a local church instead. The Italian-donated crucifix was erected in a small ceremony Wednesday attended by local priests, residents and U.N. peacekeepers, along with Naddaf and other members of his family. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a message from Italy calling the replaced statue “a powerful message of peace, hope, and dialogue.”The family had installed the original crucifix in the garden in 2018, part of a shared property that Naddaf and his three brothers have divided into four apartments for their families since 2010. Naddaf said his home sits on the edge of Debel, between the village and nearby Rmeish — an area residents consider more exposed than the village center, which is largely seen as outside the main fighting zone. Naddaf said he moved with his wife and three children to his parents’ home deeper inside Debel when the war reignited between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2.
Since agreeing last week to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the Israeli army has been leveling neighborhoods in towns and villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border. The military says it only targets buildings that were used as outposts by the Iran-backed militant group. But in many areas, the demolition is almost complete. The wide scale of destruction has Lebanese officials and residents increasingly worried that large numbers of people displaced by the latest war will have nowhere to return if the fragile truce holds. Despite the ceasefire, Naddaf said his family has been barred by the Israeli army from returning to their home. Israeli forces are occupying a border strip that extends around 10 km (6 mi) into Lebanese territory, describing the area as a necessary buffer zone to protect its northern towns from Hezbollah rockets. Many Lebanese civilians fear the moves could lead to prolonged displacement.
Unlike during the 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Naddaf’s family was displaced to Beirut, he said they chose to remain in the village this time. “It was clear that the plan was expulsion, so we say good thing we didn’t leave this time,” he said. Upon visiting his home during the crucifix installation, escorted by U.N. peacekeepers, he said he found a “total mess,” though he said he was grateful that the house was still standing, unlike several nearby homes that were demolished.

The Sleeping Giant: How One Forgotten Paragraph Could Legally Transform Lebanon Forever
Cathryn Papadopoulo/Now Lebanon/April 24/2026
Twenty years ago, the Security Council handed the Lebanese government a key. It has never used it. That omission may be the most consequential political failure in Lebanon’s modern history. In August 2006, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Most remember it for UNIFIL and the demand for Hezbollah withdraw north of the Litani River. But buried within it for nearly two decades sits Paragraph 12, a clause rarely invoked in public discourse. Paragraph 12 calls on the Security Council to authorize, upon request of the Lebanese government, an expanded UNIFIL mandate and additional international forces to help extend state authority. The operative word is request. The Lebanese government must ask. No external power can impose this. The legal key sits in Beirut, in the hands of the cabinet, and it has sat there, unused, for two decades years. This is not foreign intervention. It is the legitimate exercise of sovereign invitation. UNIFIL today operates under Chapter VI. It observes violations and reports them. It cannot physically interpose itself between armed groups and civilian populations. It watches. It documents. It reports.
Chapter VII represents the enforcement arm of international law. It can impose sanctions, authorize member states to use all necessary means, and deploy forces mandated to actively enforce peace, not merely observe its absence. A Chapter VII mandate in Lebanon would mean international forces empowered to physically assist the state in extending its authority, including confronting armed groups that refuse to disarm. Every legal instrument needed to act already exists. The only missing element is political will.
The case for invoking Paragraph 12 rests on three interlocking facts. The Lebanese government has repeatedly issued cabinet decisions, in August 2025 and March 2026 under Prime Minister Salam, ordering the monopoly of arms, disarmament and full army deployment across national territory. These are not suggestions. They are sovereign decisions of a legitimate government that has said, twice and in writing, exactly what it wants. Hezbollah has made it clear it will not comply. The government has the will. It does not have the capacity. Paragraph 12 covers the gap between sovereign decision and impotence. Using it would not be a surrender of sovereignty. It would be its most assertive possible expression. How would the government invoke this? The cabinet would pass a resolution formally requesting Security Council action under Paragraph 12. The Foreign Ministry would transmit this to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, who would then deliberate and adopt a resolution authorizing an expanded mandate under Chapter VII. It is legally clean. The government has both the right and the tools.
The political reality, however, is that elegant legal architecture does not vote in the Security Council. Russia and China hold vetoes and would almost certainly block any Chapter VII expansion tied to Hezbollah disarmament. Iran’s allies will call it foreign interference, as they always do, about everything, whenever Lebanon tries to become a sovereign state. Yet pursuing this track is itself a form of power. Building international pressure and isolating Hezbollah diplomatically could shift the calculus, or at minimum force Hezbollah into a position where the cost of defiance exceeds the cost of compliance, rendering enforcement unnecessary by the very credibility of its invocation. If Chapter VII were to take place on Lebanese soil, the consequences would be historic and irreversible: international forces deploying with authority to enforce disarmament, the Lebanese Army extended into territories it has never fully controlled, Hezbollah’s parallel military state facing compliance or direct confrontation, and Lebanon having, for the first time since 1975, a genuine chance at becoming a country where the state alone decides questions of war and peace.
The law has already answered every question except one, and that one is not legal. It is a matter of whether this government wants to be remembered as the cabinet that had the courage to finally act, or the latest in a long line that chose not to.”
**Cathryn Papadopoulo is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and The Diaspora, in Lebanon’s National Liberal Party, called Ahrar.

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 24-25/2026
Trump to send envoys to Pakistan for talks with Araghchi
Naharnet/April 24, 2026 
U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to send his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan to participate in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the coming days, two administration officials tell CNN. Vice President JD Vance is not currently planning to attend given Iran’s Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, is not participating either, the officials said. Ghalibaf is viewed internally by White House officials as the head of the Iran delegation and Vance’s counterpart. However, the vice president will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if talks progress, the officials said, and members of his staff will be in Pakistan and attending the negotiations. Kushner and Witkoff have been working with Iran officials on a potential agreement on Tehran’s nuclear material for months.

Witkoff, Kushner going to Pakistan for more Iran talks: White House
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
US President Donald Trump is sending senior officials to Pakistan for more talks on a potential deal with Iran, the White House said on Friday. “Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary, but first, Steve and Jared will be going over there to report back to the president, the vice president and the rest of the team,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. In an interview with Fox News, she added that Iran has “reached out” and asked for an in-person meeting. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the United States. Speaking to reporters later Friday, Leavitt said the US had “certainly seen some progress” from the Iranian side in recent days. With Reuters

Iran to make offer aimed at satisfying US demands, Trump says
Reuters/24 April ,2026
US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at satisfying US demands, as talks were expected to resume in Pakistan. “They’re making an offer and we’ll have to see,” Trump said during a phone interview. Trump said he did not know what the offer would be yet.
When asked who the US was negotiating with, Trump said: “I don’t want to say that, but we’re dealing with the people that are in charge now.”Trump plans to send special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to talks with Araghchi in Islamabad, and the pair will depart on Saturday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday.Reuters reported earlier that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the US. Trump has insisted the US military will maintain a blockade against Iran’s ports until an agreement is reached. When asked what is needed to lift the blockade, Trump said: “I’d have to be able to answer that question later. I have to see what they’re offering.”

Shaken by Iran War, EU Seeks Larger Voice on Middle East
Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
EU leaders vowed to boost security and economic ties with Middle East partners and push for a diplomatic end to the Iran war, after talks in Cyprus focusing on the fallout from the conflict. Leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan as well as the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were in Nicosia to meet their European Union counterparts on the sidelines of an EU summit."The current situation clearly underscores how closely Europe's security is linked with that of the Middle East, and how vital our cooperation on security and defense has become," European Council president Antonio Costa told a press conference after the talks. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, including the direct targeting of US allies in the Gulf, have rattled the global economy, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz sending oil prices soaring and crimping supply of jet fuel in Europe. "The Strait of Hormuz must immediately reopen without restrictions and without tolling, in full respect of international law and the principle of freedom of navigation. This is vital for the entire world," Costa said. "Diplomacy is the only sustainable way forwards, and European Union is ready to contribute to all ongoing efforts," he added.
The meeting came after Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran this week, but push for fresh peace talks in Pakistan has stalled in recent days. An extension of a shaky truce between Israel and Lebanon has also been agreed on -- but European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that was "not enough", calling for a permanent settlement. "You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames," she said. "A temporary pause is not enough". The EU has largely remained on the sidelines in the Middle East war despite US President Donald Trump lashing out at what he says is Europe's lack of support for Washington's efforts to contain Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that "Europe must do even more" to help end the crisis. "It is in everyone's interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world's economies to be reassured," Macron said, in stark contrast to Trump who said the United States had "all the time in the World". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said works was under way to boost economic, trade and political ties with Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Gulf nations and proposed the partnership broadens to defense matters. "We could consider expanding the scope of missions like Operation Aspides evolving from mere protection to a sophisticated joint maritime coordination," she said without providing further details. Aspides is the EU's naval mission in the Red Sea, launched in 2024 to prevent attacks on trade vessels by Iran-backed Houthi rebel forces. "The threat of mass proliferation of drones and missiles is sadly a shared reality. We should set up a structural cooperation of scaling up defense production," von der Leyen added.

US imposes sanctions on Chinese teapot refinery for buying Iranian oil
Reuters/24 April ,2026
The Trump administration said on Friday it imposed sanctions on an independent “teapot” refinery in China for buying billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil as Washington and Tehran struggle to restart peace talks. The Treasury Department targeted Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co, which it said is one of Iran’s largest customers of crude oil and petroleum products. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said it also imposed sanctions on about 40 shipping companies and vessels that operate as part of Iran’s shadow fleet. The Trump administration last year imposed sanctions on teapots Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengxing Chemical. That created some hurdles for the refiners, including receiving crude and forcing them to sell refined products under different names. Teapots account for roughly a quarter of Chinese refinery capacity, operate with narrow and sometimes negative margins and have been squeezed recently by tepid domestic demand. The US sanctions, which block US assets of those designated and prevent Americans from doing business with them, have deterred some larger independent refiners from buying Iranian oil. China buys more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil, data for 2025 from analytics firm Kpler showed. Sanctions experts have long said, however, that the independent refineries are somewhat immune to the full effect of US sanctions as they have little exposure to the US financial system. Imposing sanctions on China’s banks that help facilitate the purchases would have a larger effect on the purchases of Iranian oil, they say. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US is imposing a “financial stranglehold” on the Iranian government. “Treasury will continue to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets,” Bessent said. The teapot refiners recently have had to buy Iranian oil at premiums to international Brent oil prices after Washington’s temporary waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea raised expectations that India might buy more of the oil. The US last week allowed the waiver to expire.

CENTCOM reports three aircraft carriers operating in Middle East
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
Three US aircraft carrier groups are operating in the Middle East for the first time in decades, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday, as a fragile US-Iran ceasefire holds on. “Accompanied by their carrier air wings, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) include over 200 aircraft and 15,000 Sailors and Marines,” the CENTCOM statement read, alongside a table displaying the different carrier groups. CENTCOM had reported the arrival of USS George H.W. Bush in the region on Thursday, saying that she was now sailing in the Indian Ocean. The US and Israel have launched attacks on Iran since February 28 to which Tehran retaliated with strikes on neighboring Gulf countries and Israel. The strikes were interrupted for the time being by a ceasefire beginning on April 8.
US attacks on Iran were majorly launched by the USS Abraham Lincoln currently operating in the Arabian Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford was equally dispatched to the region but was docked in Croatia for five days in Croatia following a fire incident on board and departed on April 3.

US weighs targeting Iranian IRGC commander, shipping threats if ceasefire collapses
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
The United States is considering a range of military options against Iran if the current ceasefire breaks down, with early plans focusing on targeting senior individuals seen as obstructing negotiations, CNN reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the discussions. One option under review reportedly involves strikes against specific Iranian military leaders and key figures within the system accused by US officials of undermining diplomatic efforts. Among those is Ahmad Vahidi, who serves as commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), CNN reported citing one of the sources. Beyond individual targets, US military planners are also preparing broader operational scenarios focused on Iran’s maritime capabilities. According to CNN, these plans include “dynamic targeting” of assets around the Strait of Hormuz, the southern Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, including small fast-attack boats, mine-laying vessels, and other asymmetric tools used by Tehran to disrupt shipping lanes. Those waterways have become a central pressure point in the conflict. Iran’s disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through global markets and complicated efforts by US President Donald Trump to contain inflation, even as a ceasefire has paused direct US strikes since early April. CNN reported that earlier US operations focused more heavily on targets deeper inside Iran, but new plans shift attention toward concentrated strikes on strategic maritime chokepoints. However, sources cautioned that military action alone may not be enough to quickly reopen the strait. “Unless you can unequivocally prove that 100 percent of Iran’s military capability is destroyed… it will come down to how much risk [Trump] is willing to accept,” one source familiar with the planning told CNN. Another escalation pathway under consideration is striking dual-use infrastructure, including energy facilities, to pressure Iran back to the negotiating table. According to CNN, US officials have warned that such a move would represent a significant and controversial escalation. Additional strikes could also target Iran’s remaining military capabilities, including missiles, launchers, and production facilities that survived initial US-Israeli attacks or were repositioned after the ceasefire began, the sources said. A US Defense Department official declined to comment on specific plans, telling CNN: “The US military continues to provide the President options, and all options remain on the table.”Trump has repeatedly argued that Iran’s leadership is internally divided following joint US-Israeli operations that killed several senior figures, including the country’s supreme leader. In recent remarks, he pointed to tensions between the IRGC and political officials engaged in talks as a key obstacle to reaching a deal. However, Iranian officials have publicly rejected those claims, insisting the system remains unified despite mounting military and diplomatic pressure.

Pentagon chief Hegseth says Iran has chance to make a ‘good deal’
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that a US blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a “good deal” with Washington. “Our blockade is growing and going global,” Hegseth told reporters. “No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy,” he said. Peace talks between Iran and the United States could resume soon in Pakistan, three Pakistani sources told Reuters on Friday, after the last round of talks expected earlier this week fell through. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported on Friday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would begin a trip that includes visits to Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow. Standing next to top US General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the US was “not anxious” for a deal with Iran, and repeated Trump’s previous comments of having “all the time in the world.”“Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely ... at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways,” he said. Caine said the US Central Command continues to maintain a strict blockade on all ports in Iran. Thirty-four ships had been turned around as of Friday morning, he said. The US military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans, Caine added. “We’re enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory,” Caine said. “We’re closely tracking vessels of interest headed towards Iran and those moving away from Iran that were outside the blockade area when this blockade was ordered and ... we’re prepared and postured to intercept them,” he said. The US naval blockade on Iran began on April 13. Hegseth also warned that any attempts by Iran to lay mines in the strait would be a violation of the ceasefire. “Transit (of the Strait of Hormuz) is occurring, much more limited than anybody would like to see and with more risk than people would like to see, but that’s because Iran is doing irresponsible things with small, fast boats ... with weapons on them,” Hegseth said. With Reuters

Qatar’s emir stresses need for de-escalation during call with Trump
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
Qatar’s emir stressed the need to de-escalate tensions in the region during a call with US President Donald Trump on Friday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani highlighted Doha’s support for peaceful solutions and affirmed that Qatar would continue to support mediation efforts by Pakistan, “thereby contributing to the enhancement of security and stability in the region.”During the call, the two leaders reviewed the latest regional developments, particularly the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, as well as international efforts to consolidate it, according to a Qatari readout of the call.
“They also discussed the implications of the situation for maritime security and global supply chains,” Doha said.

Israeli Strike Kills Three in Gaza, Medics Say
Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
An Israeli strike killed at least three in Gaza on Friday, according to Palestinian health officials. The strike hit a crowded area in Gaza City near an area where local police are stationed to guard a bank, said the medics and eyewitnesses. Gaza's interior ministry said ‌that the strike ‌had killed two policemen and ‌wounded ⁠two others, in ⁠a statement on Friday. Reuters has previously reported that Israel has heightened its attacks on Gaza's Hamas-run police force that the group has used to reestablish governance in the areas it controls ⁠in the strip. It was not immediately ‌clear whether ‌any of Gaza's police force had been killed in ‌the attack. The Israeli military did not ‌immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident. Violence in Gaza has persisted despite the October 2025 ceasefire, with Israel conducting ‌near-daily attacks on Palestinians. At least 790 Palestinians have been killed since ⁠the ceasefire ⁠deal took effect, according to local medics, while Israel says gunmen have killed four of its soldiers. Israel and Hamas have exchanged blame for ceasefire violations. More than 72,000 Gazans have been killed since the war started in October 2023, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Gaza Reconstruction Back on the Table, Parallel Track to the Board of Peace
Cairo: Ahmad Jamal/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has returned to the agenda in recent days during Egyptian talks with international parties, amid a stalemate in implementing the ceasefire and earlier reports of funding problems facing the “Board of Peace” led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Those reports were later denied, but without producing tangible steps toward even early recovery. Egyptian experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo is pushing the file forward, either by opening parallel tracks to the Board of Peace’s reconstruction plan or by breaking the deadlock in the ceasefire phases, while preserving the agreement’s effectiveness as attention shifts to the “Iran war.”Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met Japan’s envoy for Gaza reconstruction, Takeshi Okubo, days ago, discussing “early recovery and reconstruction efforts in light of the ongoing regional escalation.”Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khallaf said Abdelatty stressed the need to accelerate early recovery through practical projects with immediate impact on Palestinians’ lives, including medicines, construction materials, desalination plants, mobile power units, and adequate temporary housing, taking into account realities on the ground and residents’ needs. The issue also featured during Abdelatty’s mid-April visit to Washington, where he discussed with Stefan Emblad ways to boost cooperation on early recovery and reconstruction. Abdelatty called for a major role for the World Bank in ensuring sustainable living conditions for Palestinians, citing its experience in reconstruction. He stressed the need to prioritize urgent projects and affirmed Egypt’s readiness to fully cooperate with the Board of Peace and the bank. Ashraf Harbi of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs said reviving the reconstruction file aims to create parallel paths to the Board of Peace’s steps, which have yet to begin, adding that Cairo is counting on international and European institutions to push early recovery. He said Egypt is also seeking to break the ceasefire deadlock and sustain momentum on the Palestinian issue and the “Gaza agreement,” amid fears of a complete freeze as global attention turns to the Iran war.In recent weeks, Cairo hosted talks between Hamas and the Board of Peace’s representative in Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, focused largely on Hamas disarmament, but without agreement. Mladenov said arrangements acceptable to all parties “will take some time.”
A Reuters report in early April said the Board of Peace had received only a small share of the $17 billion pledged for Gaza, delaying Trump’s plan for the devastated territory. The Board said it faces no funding obstacles and that all requests were met “immediately and in full,” adding it is focused on enabling a national committee to manage Gaza, restoring governance, and expanding aid. Days before the Iran war erupted in February, Washington hosted the Board of Peace’s first meeting, where countries pledged billions for Gaza’s reconstruction and administration after two years of war.
The plan envisions large-scale reconstruction alongside Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal, paving the way for a Palestinian national committee to take over governance. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, also of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said Cairo is stepping up efforts to overcome Israeli obstacles that have delayed a technocratic committee from taking over in Gaza and hindered the formation of a “stabilization force,” both of which are tied to reconstruction and early recovery. He said delays in implementing the ceasefire are also linked to funding for reconstruction and development. Cairo is working to establish a practical starting point to boost humanitarian and development support through the World Bank or the Japan International Cooperation Agency, aiming to restore hope for Palestinians facing harsh conditions. Anwar added that the faltering first phase of the ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal from only 55 percent of Gaza, and the focus on the Iran war and its economic and political fallout, including the risk of renewed fighting, are shaping the Palestinian landscape and require intensified action on multiple tracks. International institutions estimate Gaza’s reconstruction cost at about $70 billion after widespread destruction of infrastructure and buildings, leaving the enclave’s future dependent on funding and political consensus. The World Health Organization said on Friday that rebuilding Gaza’s health system will require $10 billion over five years, with 1,800 health facilities damaged, some fully and others partially.

Unexploded Bombs Littering Gaza Threaten Recovery for Decades, UN Warns
Asharq Al Awsat/24 April 2026
War-torn Gaza is heavily contaminated by unexploded ordnance, which frequently kill and maim people and could threaten recovery efforts far into the future, the UN said Friday. Unexploded ordnance, ranging from undetonated bombs or grenades to simple bullets, has become a common sight in the Gaza Strip since the start of Israel's war in the Palestinian territory, sparked by Hamas's unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said it had data suggesting that since the start of the conflict, more than 1,000 people had been killed in Gaza due to "indirect conflict", from the remnants of war, AFP reported. Julius Van der Walt, UNMAS chief in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stressed that that number was certainly a severe under-estimate. Half of the known casualties were children, he told reporters in Geneva. Speaking along side him at a press conference on mine action work worldwide, Narmina Strishenets of Save the Children UK, also highlighted the heavy toll on youngsters. A report by the organization published last year found that in 2024, the use of explosive weapons in Gaza left an average of 475 children each month with potentially lifelong disabilities, including amputations. Today, Strishenets said, Gaza has "the largest cohort of child amputees" in the world.
'High density'
Van der Walt said UNMAS had so far been unable to conduct an extensive survey of the full scope of the problem, but "the evidence already suggests a high density of explosive ordnance contamination across the Gaza Strip". So far, UNMAS had identified "more than 1,000 items of explosive ordnance", during missions conducted over the past 2.5 years. Compared to Gaza's small geographic size, that means there is about one piece of explosive ordnance "every 600 metres", he pointed out. And those are only the items that have been found. "We have barely scratched the surface in understanding what is the level of contamination," he acknowledged. Adding to the danger was Gaza's very high population density. Prior to the conflict, Gaza was one already of the most densely-populated places on Earth, with around 6,000 people per square kilometre, Van der Walt said, pointing out that the war had effectively halved the space available, and doubled the density. "Explosive weapons are being used all across the territories, including in densely-populated refugee camps," he said, pointing to a recent case where explosive ordnance was found inside a tent where people had been living for several weeks. At the same time, "humanitarian convoys risk detonation as they travel throughout the Gaza Strip, and early recovery efforts are essentially stalled before they can even begin", he said.
$541 million -
Van der Walt pointed to an assessment that, in a best case scenario, it will cost around $541 million to address the explosive ordnance threat, if all necessary permissions are granted and the equipment required is accessible. He warned that the contamination, including within mountains of debris, was so vast and so varied, that it was "very close to impossible to ... do a full assessment", and that ordnance would likely remain a problem for decades to come. He pointed to the World War II bombs that continue to be discovered during construction projects in Britain. "We can anticipate something along those lines" in Gaza, he said.

Syria Celebrates Arrest of Main Tadamon Massacre Suspect
Damascus : Muwafaq Mohammed/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
Celebratory chants rang through the streets and women handed out sweets after authorities officially announced the arrest of “Amjad Youssef,” 40, a criminal who was a former member of military intelligence under Bashar al-Assad and the main suspect in the Tadamon massacre during the early years of the uprising. Residents of the district in southern Damascus woke up to a statement by the Interior Ministry announcing a “precise security operation” that led to Youssef’s arrest. The ministry said he was the main suspect in the massacre in Damascus, in which dozens of innocent people were killed.
The ministry said surveillance and tracking operations had continued for several days before the raid was carried out in the Ghab region in rural Hama, adding that efforts would continue to pursue the remaining perpetrators and bring them to justice. Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais said Youssef’s arrest was “proof that the state is moving steadily on the path of accountability and preventing impunity.” In a post on X, Wais said: “Justice will take its course in a way that ensures fairness for the victims and preserves their dignity.” He thanked the security forces for their efforts in pursuing those involved and bringing them to justice. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said Youssef had been on the list of the most wanted suspects since the beginning of Syria’s liberation and the fall of the former regime because of the global impact of the massacre and its brutality. A child holds a Syrian flag as residents gather in a street after Friday prayers to celebrate the arrest of Amjad Yousef, a key suspect in the 2013 Tadamon massacre, in Tadamon, Syria, April 24, 2026. (Reuters)
Baba said security agencies had made several attempts in recent months to locate and arrest Youssef, including one in September that failed. Monitoring continued until his approximate location was identified about a month ago in the village of Nabaa al-Tayeb in rural Hama. He said Youssef had left Syria after his identity was revealed following the circulation of videos documenting the massacre, before later returning to Damascus and maintaining ties with military intelligence until liberation. He then went into hiding, moving between several areas, including the Qardaha countryside and Ghab area.
Local media quoted Abdul Basit Abdul Latif, Chairman of the National Authority for Transitional Justice, as saying Youssef’s arrest was “a pivotal step on the road to justice. These crimes are not subject to a statute of limitations, and the rights of the victims will not be forgotten. Accountability is coming, and justice will continue until the end.”Crowds gathered outside Al-Zubair Mosque in the center of Tadamon following the news. After Friday prayers, worshippers chanted “God is greatest” and demanded the arrest and punishment of the remaining criminals, including Fadi Saqr, who had led the National Defense Forces militia that supported the regime’s army during the years of the uprising. Residents accuse him of involvement in the massacre. Participants marched from the mosque toward the massacre site in the far east of the district. Abdul Moneim Zain al-Din, the “General Coordinator of the Syrian revolution,” told Asharq Al-Awsat during the march that “there are 27 videos of the Tadamon massacre in Britain, and only one has been published,” calling for the release of the rest. He said the total number of victims was 280.
He urged the government to speed up justice for the families of those killed in the uprising. “We want to see the gallows of the criminals in the streets. Amjad Youssef was not alone; he had partners,” he said. “We want the execution of Amjad Youssef, Fadi Saqr and everyone who killed the people’s sons in this square.”The celebrations over Youssef’s arrest extended to other provinces. Local media said celebrations were held in Homs in central Syria and in the Akyoul neighborhood of Aleppo in the north. With Youssef’s arrest, the number of suspects accused of carrying out the Tadamon massacre has reached seven, according to local media. The Guardian revealed details of the massacre in an investigation published on April 27, 2022. It said Assad forces carried out the massacre on April 16, 2013, in Tadamon, killing about 41 people and burying them in a mass grave.
The investigation showed footage of a non-commissioned officer named Amjad Youssef from the military intelligence pushing dozens of blindfolded people into a large, deep pit before shooting them after they fell inside and then burning their bodies. The massacre is considered one of the most horrific documented acts of violence attributed to the Assad regime during the civil war that began in 2011 and lasted 14 years. After Syria was liberated from the former regime, Asharq Al-Awsat made several field visits to the area and found that the Tadamon massacre was not the only massacre committed in the district. It identified several other sites where other massacres or executions had taken place, as indicated by the discovery of human bones.

US Puts $10 Million Bounty on Iraq’s Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada Leader
Washington: Asharq Al Awsat/24 April 2026
The United States has placed a $10 million bounty on the leader of an Iranian-backed Shiite group in Iraq. The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program issued a notice it sought the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. It said Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji led the group, whose members “killed. Iraqi civilians and attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq.”It also said Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada attacked US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria. Iraq has several Shiite groups backed by Iran that are part of the country’s Popular Mobilization Forces.

Saudi Arabia’s MBS meets Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Jeddah
Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Jeddah on Friday, with Zelenskyy describing the meeting as “very productive.”Zelenskyy voiced his appreciation for the constructive cooperation with the Kingdom. A strategic security arrangement is being developed in three areas, the Ukrainian president said. These include the export of Ukrainian security expertise and capabilities in air defense, energy cooperation, and food security. “We are working together to strengthen our peoples and our partners,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Upon his arrival, Zelenskyy said on X: “Yesterday, at a meeting with European leaders, we secured financial guarantees for our resilience. Today, we are advancing our agreements with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, energy, and infrastructure.”During his visit to Saudi Arabia in late May, Kyiv and Riyadh reached an agreement on defense cooperation. With Reuters

Kuwait says drones coming from Iraq target border posts
Reuters/25 April ,2026
The Kuwaiti military said on Friday that two drones coming from the direction of neighboring Iraq struck border posts on the countries’ shared frontier, causing damage but no casualties.No Iraqi group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Baghdad’s interior minister said it would investigate the incident.
"This morning, two of Kuwait’s northern land border posts were targeted in a criminal act of aggression involving two explosive-laden drones guided by fiber-optic cables, originating from the Republic of Iraq, resulting in material damage but... no human casualties," the military said in a statement on X. In a call with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdel Amir al-Shammari denounced such attacks, saying they "damage the reputation of the fraternal relations between the two countries,” Iraq’s official INA news agency reported. He said that Iraq had ordered the formation of an investigative committee "to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

EU aims for closer ties with Syria after Nicosia talks
AFP/24 April ,2026
EU leaders vowed Friday to build closer ties with Syria after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, following talks with the country’s leader in Cyprus. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was in Nicosia, along with the leaders of Egypt and Lebanon and a Gulf countries’ representative, to discuss the Iran war and closer cooperation with European counterparts on the sidelines of an EU summit. “The European Union acknowledges the important steps that you have taken to rebuild Syria,” European Council chief Antonio Costa told al-Sharaa after the meeting. “We support your efforts towards a peaceful and inclusive Syria.”
Al-Sharaa’s presence in Nicosia was another testament of the new chapter in relations between Brussels and Damascus since al-Assad’s ouster from power in December 2024 after over a decade of fighting that devastated the country. It comes as the EU and Syria prepare for a new round of talks with a “high-level political dialogue” due to be held in Brussels on May 11. “What we have accomplished today is a solid start that paves the way for the major event in Brussels,” al-Sharaa told reporters. The 27-nation EU has sought to help bolster Syria, as it seeks to rebuild after the civil war. This week Brussels proposed EU states fully restart the bloc’s cooperation agreement with Damascus -- which abolishes customs duties on imports of most industrial products from Syria -- and is looking to strike a more ambitious deal. The May gathering could pave the way “for possible future association agreement,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Nicosia. “We will keep supporting the revival of Syria’s economy and the reconciliation of its society,” she added. In January von der Leyen announced a 620-million-euro ($730 million) two-year financial support package during a visit to Damascus. The bloc has also dropped economic sanctions as it looks to help the authorities under al-Sharaa, who spearheaded al-Assad’s expulsion, to rebuild the country and reintegrate internationally.

Syrian authorities arrest ex-intelligence officer tied to a leaked video of a massacre
Ghaith Alsayed/AP/April 24, 2026
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian authorities said Friday they have arrested a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades fatally shooting dozens of people during the country’s conflict. Amjad Yousef was arrested in the central province of Hama, where he had been hiding, the Interior Ministry said, and posted a photo of him in a striped prison uniform. Since insurgents ousted former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, dozens of members of his security agencies that were blamed for atrocities during the conflict have been arrested. Assad fled to Russia. The conflict, which that began with anti-government protests in March 2011 before turning into a civil war, has left half a million people dead and over 1 million wounded. Yousef was one of several Syrian security agents who authorities said appeared in a video leaked in 2022, in which dozens of blindfolded, bound men were shot and thrown into a trench. U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that the arrest was "a powerful step away from impunity toward accountability, exemplifying the new paradigm of justice emerging in post-Assad Syria: one rooted in the rule of law, national reconciliation, and the equal application of justice regardless of past affiliations.” The 6 minute and 43 second clip shows members of Syria’s notorious Military Intelligence Branch 227 with a line of around 40 prisoners in an abandoned building in Tadamon, a suburb of Damascus near the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk. For much of the war, the district was a front line between government forces and opposition fighters. The prisoners were blindfolded, with their arms tied behind their backs. One after another, the Branch 227 gunmen stand them at the edge of a trench filled with old tires, then push or kick the men in, shooting them as they fall. In the video, the intelligence agents tell some of the prisoners that they are going to pass through a sniper’s alley and that they should run. The men tumble onto the bodies of those who went before them. As bodies pile up in the trench, some still move, and the gunmen shoot into the pile.The gunmen later set the bodies on fire, presumably to erase evidence of the massacre. Last year, security forces in Syria said that they arrested three people involved in the same killings. The Interior Ministry said in its statement Friday that authorities will go after all those involved in the Tadamon shooting to bring them to justice.In March 2023, the U.S. State Department banned entry into the U.S. of Yousef, his wife and immediate members of his family.

US considers suspending Spain from NATO, reported internal email suggests
Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters/April 24, 2026
An email has circulated within the United States Department of Defense laying out potential measures Washington could take against NATO allies it believes have not sufficiently supported its war on Iran, such as Spain and the United Kingdom, according to a US official quoted by the Reuters news agency.
The internal email considers options such as suspending Spain from NATO and re-evaluating Washington’s stance on the British Falkland Islands, which are also claimed by Argentina, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The email, which alleges “a sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans”, is intended as a signal to NATO partners, according to the official. Suspending Spain from the bloc would carry symbolic weight with little operational consequence to the US military, the email says. Asked about the missive while at an EU leaders’ meeting in Cyprus on Friday, Spanish ⁠⁠Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid is a “reliable member” of NATO that meets all its obligations. “I am absolutely not worried,” he said. “We do not work with emails. We work with official documents and positions taken, in this case, by the government of the US. “The position of the government of Spain is clear: Absolute collaboration with the allies, but always within the framework of international legality.”Advertisement Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also attending the Cyprus meeting, said NATO “must remain united”. A German government spokesperson said Spain’s membership in the military alliance was not in question. “Spain is a member ⁠of NATO. And ⁠I see ⁠no reason why that should change,” said the spokesperson. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hit back, saying the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands is “unchanged”. “Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the islands’ ‌right to self-determination is paramount. It’s been our consistent position and will remain the case,” the spokesperson said. The UK and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over ⁠the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them. Some 650 Argentinian and ⁠255 British service personnel died before Argentina ⁠surrendered. Asked if Starmer thought the email was an attempt by the US to put pressure on him to join the Iran war, the spokesperson said: “Pressure does not affect him, and he ‌will ‌always act in the national interest.” ‘Baseline for NATO’ US officials have long criticised their European allies for refusing or hesitating to allow the use of their bases for attacks on Iran. Spain has refused to let the US wage attacks on Iran from its airspace or bases. Trump called Spain “terrible” and threatened to end all trade with the country. The US president has also slammed Starmer as “no Winston Churchill” and mocked the UK’s aircraft carriers as “toys” while condemning what he views as insufficient support. Initially, the UK did not authorise US planes to launch attacks on Iran from two British bases. Starmer later greenlighted their use for what he called “defensive purposes”. The reported Pentagon email relayed Washington’s frustrations, saying basing and overflight rights should be “just the absolute baseline for NATO”, according to the US official quoted by Reuters. Trump has also urged NATO countries to deploy their navies to help force open the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely shut off to global shipping for two months. He has called NATO countries “cowards” for not sending their forces, and said the 77-year-old military alliance is a “paper tiger” without the US.
‘Time of free-riding is over’
European-US tensions grew further on Friday, when US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, commenting on the Strait of Hormuz at a news conference, said, “the time for free-riding is over. “America and the free world deserve allies who are capable, who are loyal and who understand that being an ally is not a one-way street. It’s a two-way street,” said Hegseth. “We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do, and [they] might want to do less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe, and get in a boat. This is much more their fight than ours.” While Trump has previously floated withdrawing the US from NATO, the Pentagon email does not present US withdrawal from the alliance, nor the closure of US bases in Europe, the official told Reuters.

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 24-25/2026
Europe's Energy Suicide: The EU Admits the World Runs on Fossil Fuels — While Deliberately Destroying Its Own
Drieu Godefridi/ Gatestone Institute/April 24, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22468/europe-energy-suicide
[W]ithin Europe itself... institutions pursue the systematic dismantling of their own domestic fossil fuel capacities.
The result is not environmental salvation. It is an engineered dependency that can only delight oil producers such as Russia.
Households face increasingly high energy bills that contribute to widespread energy poverty. Official EU figures show that roughly 9-10% of the population, more than 40 million people, struggle to heat their homes.
"[T]he only cases in which the masses have escaped from... grinding poverty... in recorded history, are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade. If you want to know where the masses are worse off, worst off, it's exactly in the kinds of societies that depart from that." — Milton Friedman, economist, 1979. Fossil fuels are not opposed merely for their emissions; they are opposed because they underwrite prosperity, independence, and power — attributes the cultural Marxist worldview seeks to delegitimize. An affluent, independent public is harder to control. Politically, if you are poor and dependent, there is the possibility that you will keep reelecting your incompetent leaders in the hope that they will rescue you. It is in their interest just to keep dangling the promise of rescue in front of you.
Europe does not lack energy resources. It lacks the political will to use them. Britain's North Sea oil and gas resources alone are a treasure trove waiting to happen. Until European policymakers confront the ideological roots of this self-defeating strategy — and prioritize the security and prosperity of their own citizens over utopian visions — the continent will continue its slide toward deindustrialization, mass hardship and strategic irrelevance.
Europe does not lack energy resources. It lacks the political will to use them. Britain's North Sea oil and gas resources alone are a treasure trove waiting to happen. Until European policymakers confront the ideological roots of this self-defeating strategy — and prioritize the security and prosperity of their own citizens over utopian visions — the continent will continue its slide toward deindustrialization, mass hardship and strategic irrelevance.
The European Union's energy policy has reached a level of ideological self-harm that even its harshest critics could scarcely have imagined.
The global economy continues to run overwhelmingly on fossil fuels. Transportation, electricity generation, heavy industry, heating, and plastics production all depend on them.
The European Commission, in a moment of geopolitical stress, finally acknowledged this truth. When tensions rise in critical chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Brussels joins international calls to keep energy flows open, implicitly conceding that modern civilization cannot function without reliable hydrocarbon supplies.
On March 19, 2026, the European Council, which consists of the heads of the 27 European Union nations, issued a statement, saying:
"The European Council calls for de-escalation and maximum restraint... [and] for a moratorium on strikes against energy and water facilities.... The European Council also welcomes the increased efforts announced by Member States, including through strengthened coordination with partners in the region, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz..."
In early April, the EU backed a coalition of more than 40 countries, led by the UK and France, to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs representative, said:
"[R]estoring safe, toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait, consistent with the Law of the Sea, is an urgent priority. The EU supports all diplomatic efforts to achieve this."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in addition, pledged to work with partners to resume navigation "as soon as possible." So far, in mid-April 2026, von der Leyen has repeatedly emphasized that the ongoing closure is "greatly damaging" for the EU. The bloc has rejected any "toll" or fee system proposed by Iran (or others) and has insisted on unrestricted, toll-free passage under international law.
EU officials, including Kallas, have repeatedly highlighted that about 20% of global oil and a significant share of liquified natural gas (LNG) normally flows through the strait. She further noted that the closure is "really dangerous for the oil supplies, energy supplies to Asia" (with roughly 85% of the oil/gas through Hormuz going to Asia), and that it affects fertilizers as well.
In short, while the EU's public emphasis is often on "freedom of navigation" and international law (toll-free passage), they clearly connect this to the oil and energy dimension — both for the global economy and for Europe's own exposure to higher prices and supply risks. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is a major threat to energy security, not just abstract maritime rights.
Nevertheless, within Europe itself, the same institutions pursue the systematic dismantling of their own domestic fossil fuel capacities. The Netherlands is proceeding with the final closure and capping of wells in the Groningen gas field — one of Europe's largest reserves. Germany has accelerated phasing out coal and, as part of its "Energiewende" -- "energy turnaround" from fossil fuels to "renewable energy" such as wind and solar that do not work -- has been deliberately flooding coal mines. Across the continent, shale gas exploration remains effectively banned in most member states. Nuclear capacity has been curtailed in several countries, most notably Belgium and Germany, with the latter's abrupt shutdown of its last nuclear power plants.
The result is not environmental salvation. It is an engineered dependency that can only delight oil producers such as Russia.
Europe, therefore, has to import the vast majority of its oil and gas. According to Eurostat and recent analyses from think tanks such as Ember, the EU's fossil fuel import bill, while lower than the 2022 peak of over €600 billion, still stood at approximately €337 billion in 2025.
Industrial gas and electricity prices in Europe are two to four times higher than those faced by major competitors in the United States or Asia. This is not an accident of the market; it is the direct consequence of policy choices that have eliminated domestic supply options while both domestic and global demand continue unabated.
The economic consequences are already visible -- and severe. Energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, fertilizers, glass and refining are relocating outside Europe or curtailing production. Competitiveness is eroding. Households face increasingly high energy bills that contribute to widespread energy poverty: official EU figures show that roughly 9-10% of the population, more than 40 million people, struggle to heat their homes.
The cumulative extra cost of fossil fuel imports between 2021 and 2024 has been estimated at nearly €930 billion above pre-Ukraine War baselines. This transfer of wealth benefits oil producers in Russia and elsewhere — hardly the outcome envisioned by those who promised "strategic autonomy."
This is not mere policy error or short-term pragmatism. It is the logical outcome of an ideological framework – an almost religious infatuation with a fantasy of climate purity that for a time captured key EU institutions. As well-intended as the wish may have be — after all, who does not want clean air? — it was roundly upended each week by China and India industriously increasing their CO2 emissions by more than Europe could cut its own.
What we are witnessing is the practical application of cultural Marxism — the postwar theory that shifted the locus of revolutionary struggle from economics to culture and institutions. Facing the empirical failure of classical Marxism, thinkers such as Herbert Marcuse reframed Western civilization itself as the oppressor. Capitalism, industrial society, and traditional sources of energy independence became targets not because they fail, but because they symbolize the very success of the West, capitalism and the incentives of free-market economies. "Capitalism has done more to empower people and raise living standards than any other force in history," according to Michael D. Tanner, an American expert on poverty and economic inequality."
The late American economist Milton Friedman, who promoted economic freedom, expanding opportunity, and economic growth, said in 1979:
"[T]he only cases in which the masses have escaped from... grinding poverty... in recorded history, are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade. If you want to know where the masses are worse off, worst off, it's exactly in the kinds of societies that depart from that."
Instead of handing out small slices of a finite pie, why not make a bigger pie?
Nevertheless, this current "kitchen Marxism" — counter-factually and self-destructively retaining its animus against capitalism and Western achievement — permeates the European Commission and allied bodies.
The EU's "Green Deal" and its associated regulations are presented as environmental imperatives, but their effect is the deliberate weakening of Europe's industrial base and energy security. Fossil fuels are not opposed merely for their emissions; they are opposed because they underwrite prosperity, independence, and power — attributes the cultural Marxist worldview seeks to delegitimize. An affluent, independent public is harder to control. Politically, if you are poor and dependent, there is the possibility that you will keep reelecting your incompetent leaders in the hope that they will rescue you. It is in those leaders's interest just to keep dangling the promise of rescue in front of you.
The European Court of Human Rights and other supranational mechanisms have been reinforcing this orientation, prioritizing abstract, Quixotic "pie-in-the-sky" climate targets over the concrete well-being of Europe's citizens.
The result is a continent that lectures the world on decarbonization while quietly increasing its reliance on costly imported oil and gas, often from regimes whose human rights records, geopolitical ambitions, and climate records -- receive far too little scrutiny.
Europe does not lack energy resources. It lacks the political will to use them. Britain's North Sea oil and gas resources alone are a treasure trove waiting to happen. Until European policymakers confront the ideological roots of this self-defeating strategy — and prioritize the security and prosperity of their own citizens over utopian visions — the continent will continue its slide toward deindustrialization, mass hardship and strategic irrelevance.
The Strait of Hormuz will soon fully reopen, but Europe's path to energy independence is being deliberately and self-destructively sealed shut.
*Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain), philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green Reich (2020).
© 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.

Rising strategic value of minerals in Gulf states and Saudi Arabia
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
As the world shifts toward sustainable energy and advanced technologies, the demand for critical minerals like lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements has skyrocketed. These resources are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-tech manufacturing, positioning the Gulf region as a potential powerhouse in this emerging sector. Saudi Arabia, in particular, stands at the forefront, leveraging its vast reserves to diversify its economy and enhance its global influence. This transformation is not just about economic survival in a post-oil era; it’s about strategic positioning in a geopolitically charged landscape. With global supply chains vulnerable to disruptions and major powers seeking to reduce dependence on dominant suppliers like China, the Gulf states offer stability, investment capital, and untapped potential. By developing their mineral sectors, these nations can secure long-term prosperity while forging stronger alliances with the West and other regions.
Global surge in demand for critical minerals
The push for a greener planet has dramatically increased the need for critical minerals. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries all rely on materials such as lithium for energy storage, copper for wiring, and rare earth elements for magnets. According to projections, demand for these minerals could quadruple by 2040 as countries commit to net-zero emissions goals. This surge is driven by the energy transition, but also by advancements in artificial intelligence, defense technologies, and digital infrastructure, where minerals play a foundational role. Beyond environmental imperatives, economic and security concerns amplify this demand. Supply shortages could hinder technological progress and economic growth, leading to price volatility and potential conflicts over resources. The International Energy Agency has warned of significant deficits in key minerals like copper and lithium by the mid-2030s if production doesn’t ramp up. For developed nations, securing reliable sources is crucial to maintaining industrial competitiveness and national security.
Mineral wealth in the Gulf region
The Gulf states boast substantial mineral reserves that have historically been overshadowed by hydrocarbons. Saudi Arabia alone holds an estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped minerals, including gold, phosphate, bauxite, copper, zinc, and rare earth elements. Recent discoveries have boosted this valuation from $1.3 trillion in 2016, highlighting the region’s potential in transition metals vital for clean energy. Other Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Oman, are also rich in resources like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. The Arabian Shield, a geological formation spanning much of the region, contains promising deposits that could contribute to global supply chains. While mining has traditionally contributed minimally to GDP – less than 1 percent in Saudi Arabia – the focus is shifting toward exploration and extraction to meet rising international needs.
Capitalizing on Mineral resources: Strategies and investments
To capitalize on their mineral wealth, Gulf states are adopting multifaceted strategies. Saudi Arabia plans to invest $46 billion in mining by 2030, focusing on critical metals for batteries and renewables. Joint ventures with international firms, such as those from China, India, and the US, bring expertise and capital, enabling rapid development of refineries and processing plants. The UAE and Qatar emphasize overseas investments to complement domestic resources, forming consortia to mine in Africa and Latin America. This approach ensures access to lithium and cobalt while fostering integrated value chains at home. By prioritizing sustainability and local content, these nations aim to attract ethical investors and mitigate environmental risks, turning mineral assets into engines of inclusive growth.
Geopolitical implications and international ties
The rise of Gulf minerals has profound geopolitical ramifications. Recent agreements, like the US-Saudi minerals partnership, facilitate joint ventures in exploration and refining, supported by defense collaborations. For Europe, partnerships with Gulf states align with the Critical Raw Materials Act, promoting sustainable sourcing and technological cooperation. These alliances extend to shared interests in AI and green tech, where minerals underpin data centers and defense systems. In conclusion, the importance of minerals in the Gulf states transcends economic diversification; it represents a pathway to global leadership in the sustainable future. Saudi Arabia’s proactive stance under Vision 2030 exemplifies how the region can harness its resources to meet surging demand, foster innovation, and strengthen international bonds. As the US, Europe, and other powers deepen engagements, the Gulf’s role will likely expand, ensuring mutual benefits in a world increasingly reliant on these vital elements.

Lessons from war: Rethinking energy, supply chains, and resilience
Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/24 April ,2026
As the Iran war has upended supply chains and energy markets globally, we are now facing the most severe supply chain disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst energy crisis since the 1970s. Yet even in this moment, there are clear lessons that can help shape the future:
1) Energy and critical infrastructure:
Currently oil and gas is expensive and physically scarce in some places. Demand destruction and fuel substitution are on many policy makers’ minds – which is understandable – but renewable energy, and electrification, while important, cannot substitute for all. Fossil fuels will be needed going forward and we should design our energy systems accordingly. Before the first oil shock in 1974 more than 80 percent of primary energy consumption came from fossil fuels. By the end of 2024 the percentage stood at just below 80 percent. A major factor is that the worldwide population more than doubled in the past 50 years. By 2050, another 1.5 to 2 billion people are expected to live on Earth. Countries would be well advised to take a comprehensive and integrated approach when designing their future energy systems. Old dependencies for oil and gas may be replaced by new ones: For instance, on China when it comes to solar panels, batteries, EVs, or refining of critical minerals, etc., we need to be conscient of such facts when designing our future. Both energy systems and critical infrastructure need redundancies. When an integrated electricity grid goes down in one place the whole grid comes down. Therefore, we need redundancies. The East to West pipeline in Saudi Arabia is a prime example. The Kingdom planned it in the 1980s and has upgraded it ever since. It might have looked like a waste of money at times, but now the concept more than proved its worth. Redundancy becomes more manageable when government entities are prepared to cover the costs, but it poses greater challenges in liberal systems where shareholders expect quarterly returns.
2) Supply chains
COVID-19 brought to us the concepts of near shoring and friendly shoring. We can expect supply chains to be realigned while we are experiencing the second supply chain shock in six years. The process will not be easy and takes time. Alas we hopefully have learned something the second time around.
3) Diplomacy and resilience
Whatever we do, we cannot change geography. Russia will always remain a near neighbor of Europe as will Iran to the Middle East. Therefore, lines of communication matter. We should applaud the GCC nations, who did not ask for this war, for their wisdom in not hitting back when Iranian missiles hit their infrastructure. This showed remarkable restraint, which cannot be taken for granted forever. GCC countries were hit economically, but they are also remarkably resilient. Saudi Vision 2030 was designed to wean the Kingdom off its over dependence on the oil and gas sector. The years 2024 and 2025 showed such results. In both years the non-oil sector contributed more than 50 percent to GDP. The Vision also supported national champions like ACWA Power or Maaden.
4) Funding mechanisms
The sovereign wealth funds of the GCC nations are now giving them the wherewithal to withstand economic problems resulting from the war. In that context, it is important to note that the Public Investment Fund is justifiably shifting more of its focus to domestic investments.
5) Multilateral institutions
International waterways matter and they must remain open. There are other choke points beside the Strait of Hormuz like the Bab El Mandeb, the Suez Canal and Panama Canal, the Strait of Malaka and in future the Arctic, just to name a few. They should be free shipping lanes governed by the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is the United Nations Agency responsible for regulating international shipping. The IMO or any successor institution needs to be adequately funded and equipped with enforcement mechanisms to fulfil its mandate. Similarly, we need to look at multilateral and bilateral development assistance. In the wake of war, it is understandable that countries want to focus on their defense. Priorities have sadly shifted from funding multilateral institutions and overseas development assistance to purchasing weapons. Multilateral development institutions like the World Bank, the ADB and in our region especially the Islamic Development Bank matter. The blockade of Hormuz does not only deprive the world of 20 percent of oil and LNG supplies, it also curtails 30 percent of nitrogen-based fertilizers from leaving the Arabian Gulf. Developing countries will be the worst hit when they can no longer afford fertilizer. Reduced agricultural productivity can contribute to food insecurity and hunger in certain regions. Similarly, some developing countries will be priced out of receiving LNG at the height of the bidding war for the commodity between Asia and Europe. We need these aid institutions to be able cushion the blow. In that context multilateral trade financing and insurance schemes like ITFC or MIGA and ICIEC as well as bilateral ECA need to be adequately funded. These mechanisms will allow the private sector to operate where it otherwise could not. The above are just a few factors amid a myriad of things to look out for, when the guns are hopefully silenced.

The Urgent Need for Vaccines Against Deadly Disease
Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
Poet, writer, and professor of sociology at University of Tunis
There is no doubt that rising life expectancy for both sexes is one of humanity’s great achievements and a sign of improved quality of life on Earth. Infant mortality has declined dramatically over the decades, as has mortality among children.
This success in saving the lives of countless children is a source of pride for humanity today, yet often without acknowledging the single most important factor that made children’s lives more resilient against the many diseases that once claimed them.
That factor is vaccination. Its story is one of extraordinary success, beginning in 1796 when the English pioneer of immunology Edward Jenner developed a vaccine against smallpox, a disease that ravaged populations without mercy, killing about 10 percent of people, and in some regions as many as a quarter. Successes followed, with the discovery of multiple vaccines that protected children from polio, measles, and other diseases long responsible for the deaths of thousands throughout history.
For nearly two and a quarter centuries, this success story has transformed the human condition, raising life expectancy. From today through April 30, World Immunization Week, organized by the United Nations, is being observed to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines in saving innocent lives.
Anyone who reflects on the history of vaccines and the greatness of those behind them recognizes that every vaccine we received in our earliest weeks, months, and years of life meant far more than a painful injection that caused a temporary fever. It represented something more profound: preserving human life and equipping each individual with a shield against the body’s vulnerabilities.
What stands out, however, is that this story of nobility and success reached its peak during the first century and a half, followed by a kind of slowdown, as if what had already been achieved in vaccines was sufficient and no longer required further breakthroughs.
What is often overlooked is that the scientists who developed the vaccines that reshaped humanity produced solutions that were, in their time, nothing short of revolutionary. By contrast, today’s scientists have largely focused on refining these existing vaccines, with incremental advances such as combination techniques. Yet today’s challenges demand solutions to conditions such as autism and epilepsy, and especially to deadly diseases that claim 10 million lives annually. These are no less serious than smallpox once was, and they require the same urgency and resolve. It is also important to acknowledge a painful reality: vaccines developed decades ago remain out of reach for many of the world’s children. Around 14 million children globally have not been immunized. This deprivation of the basic rights to health and life is particularly acute in conflict zones. More than a year ago, global health agencies were prevented from entering Gaza to vaccinate children.
Another striking point is that for many years no new vaccine has emerged that could meaningfully address the complex, accumulated health challenges facing humanity, challenges that require research efforts on par with those that led to the smallpox vaccine in the late eighteenth century.
Major medical breakthroughs have historically focused more on prevention than on treatment. Treatment, by contrast, has become an open market that profits from people’s fear of death and their attachment to life. Prevention, meanwhile, remains far less commercially rewarding.
Today, humanity faces more than one challenge. The first is ensuring that every child in the world, without exception, has access to vaccination. Given the vast number of children deprived of this life-saving right, the United Nations must adopt a more stringent policy, even if that means placing vaccination within the scope of the UN Security Council, as politics and conflict continue to endanger children’s lives and health. All children must benefit from a revolution more than two centuries old that has subdued deadly infectious diseases through immunization. The second challenge lies in the stalled momentum of the vaccine revolution. Medical research has shifted toward treating modern diseases, a direction that, in the case of chronic and complex conditions, has often produced management rather than cures. This is evident in autoimmune diseases and genetic cancers. The predominance of limited outcomes in treatment should prompt a reassessment of research priorities, or at least a balance between treatment and preventive vaccines. After the discovery of the smallpox vaccine in 1796, it is reasonable to ask why we have not succeeded in developing vaccines against conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia, and cancers of all types. World Immunization Week is therefore not only an occasion to raise awareness of vaccines but also an opportunity to hold the medical community accountable for addressing today’s pressing health challenges through vaccine innovation.

Trump’s Dream Team in Tehran
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
In his torrent of tweets, US President Donald Trump often claims that though he didn’t intend to do so, he has succeeded in bringing regime change to Iran. In the new regime he says he has created he finds unnamed reasonable people with whom he could reach a deal to end the war and make Iran great again as he has done in America. Sometimes he even goes as far as implying that baring a few finishing touches the deal has already been made. I think we should take his claims seriously because they offer a clue to the mindset of a key player in a war that few people wish to see continued.
But by claiming that regime change has already happened, he encourages those in Tehran who take that as an insurance policy that allows them to do whatever they like. Regime change is the only thing that frightens them enough to accept a deal to end the war. In other words, what Trump says fans the fires of a hubris that has lit the fires of so many wars and conflicts in the region. However, Trump isn’t completely off the mark when he suggests that the set-up in Tehran isn’t the same as it was before the US and its Israeli partner started bombing and killing political and military leaders.
By most accounts, the “targeted killing” of the Tehran leadership “eliminated” 168 top figures of a regime dominated by a clan that numbers a few hundred.
A major reshuffle has taken place with dozens of younger figures moving up the ladder. Provided the regime survives, one might witness a generational change that could inject new blood into the zombie like regime led by the late Ali Khamenei. Many of those moving up the ladder haven’t yet received the usual written confirmation by the “Supreme Gide” because the newly minted, Mujtaba Khamenei, the man supposed to incarnate the function, may not even be alive. The threat of regime change was always the Damocles sword hanging above turbaned heads in Tehran. Whenever it was unsheathed, the mullahs backed down as did the late Ruhollah Khomeini in 1988 and his successor Ali Khamenei in 2003 and 2015. With the sword sheathed by Trump, the new breed of wannabe “Jihadists” moving up the ladder believe they need to establish a reputation as radical bitter-enders determined as one of their gurus Saeed Jalili says to rub the Great Satan’s nose in dust. According to best estimates the regime’s core popular base represents around 10 to 15 percent of Iran’s population of 92 million. Part of that base consists of people who have a material interest in the continuation of the system. That interest may consist of a share in the Mafia network that controls over 40 percent of the economy. Many of the political and military leaders eliminated were millionaires often with sizeable investments in Europe, Canada and the UAE.
Major-General Hussein Salami as IRGC chief was board-member of 32 companies. The late Admiral, Ali Shamakhani, was one of Iran’s five richest men. However, the bulk of regime supporters with material interest in its survival fall in the category of Just-About-Managing families enjoying minor privileges such as access to rare commodities, cash bonuses and positive discrimination places in universities and civil service. To be sure, having a material interest in the survival of the regime doesn’t exclude ideological commitment to its ideological discourse. Nor does it mean a systematic opposition to negotiations and even normalization with the Great Satan. The late Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, for example, was both wealthy and a supporter of making a deal with the US. The faction that still regards hum as a source of inspiration also consists of wealthy men who believe the regime’s long-term survival requires normalization with the US. It is no accident that some 1,500 senior military and political officials of the country have family members living and working in the United States and Canada.
One misconception about the Islamic Republic is that it has always opposed any talks with the US. The opposite is the case. The US established direct contact with Khomeini months before he returned to Iran to seize power.
President Jimmy Carter’s special emissaries Ramsey Clark and George Ball held talks with the ayatollah’s top aides in Paris.
The US Embassy in Iran had regular contacts with Khomeini’s henchmen such as Muhammad Beheshti and Martez Motahhari via its Political Secretary George Lambrakis. Khomeini’s first Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan held his first meeting with a senior official of a foreign power with President Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. Then the two sides held long talks led by US Assistant Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Iranian Deputy Premier Behzad Nabavi. In one way or other, Iran has negotiated with all US presidents since Jimmy Carter. You may be surprised that all factions within the regime wanted and still want to make a sweetheart deal with the Great Satan. The only problem is that each faction wants that privilege exclusively for itself and sabotages any deal done by a rival faction. What is left of the Tehran regime is today more ridden by factions than ever and the absence of an active “Supreme Guide” to pull in the strings encourages the more radical elements to pull their holier-than-thou shenanigans regardless of the regime’s long-term interests. By pretending that he already has unidentified partners in Tehran and is decided to preserve the regime with them in the driving seat, President Trump undermines the potential dealmakers and incites the more radical elements to stick to a rejectionist posture. Trump has made a number of moves to embolden his imaginary dream team in Tehran. He agreed to indirect talks whereas, as we mentioned, the two sides had held direct talks on many occasions. Trump then agreed to replace Steve Witkoff-Jared Khushner duo as lead negotiators by Vice President JD Vance whom Tehran regarded as anti-war. The choice of Pakistan as the new venue for talks was also to please the Iranians. Trump also pushed Qatar to release some $6 billion in Iran’s frozen assets transferred from South Korea. And when Tehran demanded that Lebanon be included in the ceasefire, Trump complied even if that meant throwing his erstwhile partner Benjamin Netanyahu under a bus. Trump seems to have understood that regardless if what concessions he offers, Tehran - gripped by struggle for power - would be unable to make a deal to end the war. People like Majlis Speaker Muhammad-Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi may promise a lot but can deliver little. A deal could be made only if it doesn’t appear to tip the balance in favor of one faction in Tehran, a new challenge for the best-seller author of “The Art of the Deal.”

A Final Curtain
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
With Kuwait’s emergence as an independent state in 1966, three pioneering forces emerged whose ambitions exceeded the resources at hand. The first was an emerging, highly ambitious press, working with rudimentary presses yet driven by diverse professional voices and experience.
At the same time, a theatrical movement took shape, rooted mainly in comedy, but it quickly drew an enthusiastic and deeply loyal audience. Alongside the press and theater, an artistic movement arose that reached beyond the boundaries of the local scene to the wider Gulf, producing singers and performers whose stardom carried regional titles such as “Shadi al-Khaleej.”The theater movement presupposed women taking to the stage, and that was no easy step. Actresses began to appear in roles that conformed to prevailing social norms. Among the earliest and most prominent of them was Hayat Al-Fahad, who passed away last week at the age of 78. Kuwait’s cultural life flourished, advancing day by day until the catastrophe of the Iraqi invasion. The occupation slowed the momentum of this renaissance and its expressions, but its overall trajectory endured. Kuwaitis had their own newspapers, singers, and actresses before this became common across other Gulf states. Hayat Al-Fahad carried her experience from the stage to television, securing a lasting place for herself in its stories and narratives. Before that, she had worked in radio, after a long struggle to convince her mother to allow her into public life. It was not an easy path for an orphan raised in a modest household. In every program, she left her mark: the image of the working woman, burdened by hardship that never leaves her. She belonged to a generation whose identity and self-image were bound to their craft, unable to live outside their profession, or their “mission.” At first, her mother opposed her decision to pursue art as a career. In time, it became her entire life.

From Weapons to the State: The Test of Darfur Movements
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/April 24/2026
From time to time, leaders of the Darfur movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement issue statements that raise both confusion and concern. These statements hint at leveraging arms to consolidate positions or to obtain concessions in exchange for continuing to fight alongside the army against the Rapid Support Forces. The fact is that since the Juba Agreement was signed, the question has not been whether Darfur movements secured their share of power, but how they will navigate Sudan's current moment: with the mindset of a state or that of a militia. The agreement was not an endpoint. It was the beginning of a far more demanding challenge: transitioning from the mentality of armed movements to that of a responsible partner in state-building.
In this context, it is hard to ignore that combining “state privileges” with “non-state tools of force” is not sustainable. Even if such an arrangement appears workable in the short term, it ultimately sows the seeds of instability over the medium and long term. Dual authority is fundamentally incompatible with statehood: either there is a single source of authority and decision-making, or the entire system becomes an arena of open contestation. If there is one lesson people have drawn from this war, it is that the experience of the Rapid Support Forces must not be repeated.
Some movements obtained executive positions and sovereign posts after Juba, an understandable outcome of a peace settlement. These positions, however, must not be treated as spoils of war. They are public responsibilities and must be assessed by their results. What is required, therefore, is a shift from the logic of “political rewards” to that of “accountability.” Anyone in public office must be judged by performance, not by the power balances that brought them there.
The problem begins when weapons are used, even implicitly, as instruments of political pressure. Resorting to force in moments of disagreement does not only threaten opponents; it undermines the legitimacy of the state itself. More alarmingly, the persistence of this dynamic transforms weapons from a “temporary means” into an “acquired right.” Over time, bearing arms is no longer tied to exceptional circumstances. It becomes embedded in political and organizational identity, as seen elsewhere in the region. Fighters come to view it as a source of status, leaders tie their influence to it, and any call for disarmament becomes an existential threat rather than a reform measure.
What might be called “war economies” gradually take shape in parallel: off-budget resources, informal activities, and networks of interest that thrive on, or resist, oversight. Such a system does not merely exist on the margins of the state; it competes with it. The longer this cycle persists, the harder it becomes to break. Equally dangerous is the continued use of mobilizing rhetoric built around the “center/periphery” divide. Such discourse may be understandable in times of war, where identity serves as a tool of mobilization, but it becomes destructive within a state. A state is not built by dividing citizens or fueling regionalism and resentment, but by uniting them around a shared project. Repeating the same worn-out slogans produces no new solutions; it merely reproduces the same crisis in different terms. What is needed today is genuine integration into an inclusive state project, strengthening its institutions, and learning from wars that have brought Sudan nothing but destruction, deep underdevelopment, and chronic instability. In the current situation, some movements are fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces while maintaining separate command structures. What is needed now is a shift in loyalty from movement to state. This requires integrating these forces into the army and other regular institutions through clear frameworks: full registration of personnel and weapons, and a unified chain of command. The ultimate goal is to bring all arms under state control, ensuring no armed group operates outside it. In parallel, all forces must contribute to removing the remnants of war, promoting coexistence, rejecting regionalist rhetoric, and accepting the principle of peaceful democratic transfer of power. The aim is a stable Sudan where legitimacy is earned through elections, not weapons, and where demands are pursued within institutions through peaceful means, not by obstructing the state or taking up arms against it.
If these movements are serious about becoming durable political actors, they must articulate a national discourse that transcends regional boundaries and speaks to all Sudanese, backed by clear programs. This applies not only to Darfur movements but to all armed movements across the country.
The required transformation will not be easy. It demands giving up immediate advantages such as direct influence and financial gains. In return, it opens the door to greater and more sustainable rewards: genuine political legitimacy, long-term stability, a constructive role within the state, and participation in building it rather than undermining it.

Question: What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14?
GotQuestions.org/April 24/2026
Answer: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV).
The key to understanding any verse of Scripture is context. There is the immediate context—the verses before and after it, as well as the larger context of Scripture—how the verse fits into the overall story. There is also the historical and cultural context—how the verse was understood by its original audience in light of their history and culture. Because context is so important, a verse whose meaning and application seem straightforward when quoted in isolation may mean something significantly different when it is taken in context.
When approaching 2 Chronicles 7:14, one must first consider the immediate context. After Solomon dedicated the temple, the Lord appeared to him and gave him some warnings and reassurances. “The Lord with Lord appeared to him at night and said: ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.’ When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:12–14).
The immediate context of 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows that the verse is tied up with Israel and the temple and the fact that from time to time God might send judgment upon the land in the form of drought, locusts, or pestilence.
A few verses later God says this: “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord with Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord with Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them’” (2 Chronicles 7:19–22).
No doubt Solomon would have recognized this warning as a reiteration of Deuteronomy 28. God had entered into a covenant with Israel and promised to take care of them and cause them to prosper as long as they obeyed Him. He also promised to bring curses upon them if they failed to obey. Because of the covenant relationship, there was a direct correspondence between their obedience and their prosperity, and their disobedience and their hardship. Deuteronomy 28 spells out the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. Again, divine blessing and divine punishment on Israel were conditional on their obedience or disobedience.
We see this blessing and cursing under the Law play out in the book of Judges. Judges chapter 2 is often referred to as “The Cycle of the Judges.” Israel would fall into sin. God would send another nation to judge them. Israel would repent and call upon the Lord. The Lord would raise up a judge to deliver them. They would serve the Lord for a while and then fall back into sin again. And the cycle would continue.
In 2 Chronicles 7, the Lord simply reminds Solomon of the previous agreement. If Israel obeys, they will be blessed. If they disobey, they will be judged. The judgment is meant to bring Israel to repentance, and God assures Solomon that, if they will be humble, pray, and repent, then God will deliver them from the judgment. In context, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a promise to ancient Israel (and perhaps even modern-day Israel) that, if they will repent and return to the Lord, He will rescue them. However, many Christians in the United States have taken this verse as a rallying cry for America. (Perhaps Christians in other countries have done so as well.) In this interpretation, Christians are the people who are called by God’s name. If Christians will humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent, then God will heal their land—often a moral and political healing is in view as well as economic healing. The question is whether or not this is a proper interpretation/application.
The first problem that the modern-day, “Westernized” interpretation encounters is that the United States does not have the same covenant relationship with God that ancient Israel enjoyed. The covenant with Israel was unique and exclusive. The terms that applied to Israel simply did not apply to any other nation, and it is improper for these terms to be co-opted and applied to a different nation. Some might object that Christians are still called by God’s name and in some ways have inherited the covenant with Israel—and this may be true to some extent. Certainly, if a nation is in trouble, a prayerful and repentant response by Christians in that nation is always appropriate. However, there is another issue that is often overlooked.
When ancient Israel repented and sought the Lord, they were doing so en masse. The nation as a whole repented. Obviously, not every single Israelite repented and prayed, but still it was national repentance. There was never any indication that a small minority of the nation (a righteous remnant) could repent and pray and that the fate of the entire nation would change. God promised deliverance when the entire nation repented.
When 2 Chronicles 7:14 is applied to Christians in the U.S. or any other modern nation, it is usually with the understanding that the Christians in that nation—the true believers in Jesus Christ who have been born again by the Spirit of God—will comprise the righteous remnant. God never promised that if a righteous remnant repents and prays for their nation, that the nation will be saved. Perhaps if national repentance occurred, then God would spare a modern nation as He spared Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah (see Jonah 3)—but that is a different issue.
Having said that, it is never wrong to confess our sins and pray—in fact, it is our duty as believers to continuously confess and forsake our sins so that they will not hinder us (Hebrews 12:1) and to pray for our nation and those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–2). It may be that God in His grace will bless our nation as a result—but there is no guarantee of national deliverance. Even if God did use our efforts to bring about national repentance and revival, there is no guarantee that the nation would be politically or economically saved. As believers, we are guaranteed personal salvation in Christ (Romans 8:1), and we are also guaranteed that God will use us to accomplish His purposes, whatever they may be. It is our duty as believers to live holy lives, seek God, pray, and share the gospel knowing that all who believe will be saved, but the Bible does not guarantee the political, cultural, or economic salvation of our nation.
 

Selected Face Book & X tweets for April 24/2026