English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For August 10/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.August
10.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of
earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
12/54-59/:”Jesus also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the
west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when
you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it
happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and
sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? ‘And why do you
not judge for yourselves what is right? Thus, when you go with your accuser
before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be
dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the
officer throw you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have
paid the very last penny.’”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on August 09-10/2026
A jihadist alliance built on hatred, enmity, and contradictions: its fate
is certain failure/Elias Bejjani/ِAugust 09/2026
Inside Every Human Being There Is a Beast …The true struggle within every human
being is between the image of God within them and the distortion of that
image/Elias Bejjani/ِAugust 08/2026
Lebanese authorities foil attempt to smuggle Captagon to Saudi Arabia
Hezbollah: Lebanese authorities fully responsible for pursuing concessions and
giving Israel ‘free gifts’
Hezbollah calls for action to stop ''Israeli brutality” against Lebanon’s
environment
Lebanon detains Assad-era Syrian officer wanted by Damascus
Israeli Army: Lebanese Army Failed to Disarm Hezbollah… and We Will Not Back
Down from Striking It
Netanyahu on Lebanon: We Are in the Midst of a Crucial Operation
Following Netanyahu's Hint... Israeli Robots and Gases Inside Ali Taher Tunnels
Netanyahu announces a "highly significant operation" in Lebanon and links the
Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran fronts to Gaza
From "Al-Qard Al-Hasan" to Beirut Airport: Hezbollah's Financial Strangles
Large explosions rock the South... and Israeli aircraft ignite forest fires
Israel Revives Lebanese Jews Case to Block Beirut’s 34-Detainee Demand
Lebanon Busts Attempt to Smuggle 5,000 Captagon Pills to Saudi Arabia
Hezbollah Chief’s Call for Dialogue Met with Skepticism in Lebanon
Lebanon Says Israeli Troops Infiltrated Lebanese Army-held Village
Hezbollah Continues to Consolidate its Hold Over the First Pilot Zone
Lebanon’s narrow opening/Amal Chmouny/Beiruter/August 07/2026
Hezbollah’s Tunnels in Keserwan, Jbeil, and
Al-Mukhtara: The Narrative and the Evidence?/Fatima
Houhou/Akhbarakum – Akhbarana/August 10, 2026
Help complete the southern section of the St. Charbel Trail: How to donate from
Lebanon, the US, Canada, Australia and Europe
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on August 09-10/2026
Pesach Wolicki/Video Link: A New Muslim Alliance Just Shocked the ENTIRE Middle
East
Israel365 News/Link Video addressing the New SUNNI Alliance that May Change The
Middle East FOREVER
Behind the scenes: Israel moves to counter Turkey’s growing presence in Lebanon
Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan in New Break from Trump
Iran Makes New Strait of Hormuz Demands
Iran issues demands for reopening of Hormuz
Iran’s Pezeshkian Recently Met Supreme Leader Khamenei, State Media Says
Iran Says Won't Reopen Hormuz Without US Meeting All Tehran's Conditions
Saudi Arabia Welcomes UN Statement Condemning Houthi Attacks on the Kingdom,
Commercial Vessels
Jordan Welcomes UN Security Council Statement Condemning Houthi Attacks on Saudi
Arabia
Bahrain, Kuwait Welcome UN Security Council Statement Condemning Houthi Attacks
Against Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Houthis say struck refinery on Saudi's Red Sea coast
Syria Says Reached Deal with Moscow on Fate of Russian Bases
Barzani Relays Zaidi-Sharaa Messages, Paves Way for Damascus Visit
Ukraine's Zelensky says up to 50,000 North Korean troops to be deployed in
Russia
Ukraine, Russia Accuse Each Other of Lethal Attacks, Odesa Port Damaged
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published
on August 09-10/2026
Making Policy: Marxist Rainbows and Mob Shock Troops/Peter Huessy/Gatestone
Institute/August 09/2026
The Need to Curb the Chaos/Sawsan al-Shaer/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
The Major Option/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Hamas: Questions After Relinquishing Rule and Arms/Nabil Amr/Asharq Al Awsat/August
09/2026
From Exporting Chaos to Importing It/Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Asharq Al Awsat/August
09/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on August 09/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published on August 08-09/2026
A jihadist alliance built on hatred, enmity, and contradictions: its fate is
certain failure.
Elias Bejjani/ِAugust 09/2026
Peace between Israel and Lebanon and Saudi Arabia's accession to the Abraham
Accords are the first casualties of this failed sectarian
Turkish-Saudi-Pakistani alliance.
Inside Every Human Being There Is a Beast
…The true struggle within every human being is between the image of God within
them and the distortion of that image
Elias Bejjani/ِAugust 08/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/151757/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwwRjeSflwc
Christian faith teaches us a fundamental truth: the human being was created in
the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) and was called to live in communion
with Him, in love and holiness. Yet, because of the Fall, every person carries
within himself a wounded nature. In this wounded nature lies what can be
described, in spiritual terms, as an inner “beast”—a force of uncontrolled
instincts and desires that emerges when the human person separates himself from
God’s grace.
This beast is not an independent power. It is not stronger than the human person
by nature. It remains dormant as long as the person lives in humility,
generosity, and love, and remains faithful to the gifts and responsibilities
entrusted to him by his Heavenly Father.
The beast sleeps when the human being lives according to love, because love is
not merely a moral value; love is God Himself:
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him”
(1 John 4:16).
As long as a person is conscious of his holiness, of his identity as a child of
God by grace, and remains faithful to God’s commandments, the inner beast
remains restrained. The awareness of standing one day before God’s judgment is
essential to Christian life, for Scripture tells us:
“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).
On the last day, when God reclaims from the human being the gift of life, the
soul will stand alone before Him. At that moment, wealth, power, and earthly
achievements lose all value. They remain behind, because:
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out” (1 Timothy 6:7).
The only thing a person carries with him is his spiritual provision—his faith
expressed through works of love. As Christ says:
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one
according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
According to what this spiritual provision contains, the Lord will either say:
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew
25:21), or the soul will face separation from God if it is empty of love, mercy,
and good works, and filled only with greed, pride, and unrepented sin, where:
“Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48).
The inner beast awakens when faith weakens, hope fades, and the human being
falls into temptation. At that point, the person returns to the “old self” and
abandons the new life given through baptism by water and the Holy Spirit,
forgetting the words of Scripture:
“Put off the old man… and put on the new man, which was created according to
God” (Ephesians 4:22–24).
When a person distances himself from God, disobeys His commandments, and lives
as if God does not exist, the beast within rises and dominates. Sin then becomes
not an isolated act, but a way of life, because:
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
In this light, Jesus presents to us the parable of the rich fool (Luke
12:16–21). This man was not condemned for being rich, but for believing that his
life depended on his possessions. He spoke only to himself and not to God. He
trusted his barns, not his Creator. Therefore God said to him:
“Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.”
This parable reveals a deep spiritual truth: the true beast within the human
person is the illusion of self-sufficiency and independence from God. When God
is removed from the center of life, the human being becomes a slave to money,
power, and pleasure. As Jesus teaches:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
This truth applies not only to individuals, but also to societies and political
systems. The crisis of our world—and of Lebanon in particular—is not only
political or economic, but spiritual. It is the crisis of humanity that has
forgotten God. Therefore Christ’s warning remains timeless:
“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
(Mark 8:36).
In conclusion, the true struggle within every human being is between the image
of God and its distortion. Salvation does not come by suppressing the beast
through human effort alone, but by returning to God through repentance, grace,
and a life rooted in faith and love. For in God alone there is true life:
“But now having been set free from sin… you have your fruit to holiness, and the
end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).
The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Lebanese authorities foil attempt to smuggle Captagon to
Saudi Arabia
LBCI/August 09/2026
Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces said they foiled an attempt to smuggle around
5,000 Captagon pills to Saudi Arabia through a shipping company. The ISF said
its Central Narcotics Control Office received information on July 17 about
preparations for the operation and monitored the shipment before arresting a
Lebanese man, born in 1977, while he was delivering the package at the shipping
company. A search of the package found the pills professionally concealed inside
a flowerpot box, according to the ISF. Legal proceedings were taken against the
suspect, while the investigation remains ongoing to identify and arrest other
people involved under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
Hezbollah: Lebanese authorities fully responsible for
pursuing concessions and giving Israel ‘free gifts’
LBCI/August 09/2026
Hezbollah: Lebanese authorities fully responsible for pursuing concessions and
giving Israel ‘free gifts’ Hezbollah said in a statement that the Israeli
Foreign Ministry published a map on Sunday incorporating occupied southern
Lebanon into Israel, calling it “undeniable confirmation” of Israel’s ambitions
toward Lebanon, its land, resources and capabilities, which it said Israel “has
not and will not abandon.”The statement said Israel’s entry into direct
negotiations with the Lebanese authorities was merely “an exposed attempt to buy
time and impose new realities on the ground.” “The Lebanese authorities bear
full responsibility for insisting on pursuing a path of concessions and giving
the enemy free gifts,” the statement said, calling on the authorities to conduct
a comprehensive review to correct their course and halt what it described as
“direct and humiliating negotiations” with Israel, which it said lacked any
leverage. Hezbollah called for immediate action at all levels, from the
government to the Higher Defense Council, saying an emergency session should be
held to take the necessary steps to address the issue, foremost among them
filing an urgent complaint with the U.N. Security Council.
It added that even if the Lebanese authorities had pledged not to pursue Israel
in international forums, “there is no longer any justification for ignoring the
reality of Israel’s ambitions toward Lebanon.”Hezbollah said Lebanese citizens
from all communities must recognize the scale of the risks to which the
authorities are exposing Lebanon by continuing along the path of concessions and
what it called “humiliating negotiations.”“It is a national responsibility to
unify efforts and positions in confronting the occupation and its ambitions, and
to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and its full rights to its land and resources,”
the statement said, adding that Israel’s ambitions “are not limited to southern
Lebanon but target the entire country.”
Hezbollah calls for action to stop ''Israeli brutality” against Lebanon’s
environment
LBCI/August 09/2026
Hezbollah’s Media Relations office said the Israeli military’s public setting of
fires in wooded areas in southern Lebanon has turned them into completely burned
and uninhabitable areas. It said this constitutes a continuation of the
destruction of buildings, the leveling of infrastructure and the theft of
centuries-old olive trees. In a statement, it said: “This ongoing environmental
destruction is taking place amid the authorities’ inability even to file a
complaint or bring charges against the enemy, because they previously gave it a
guarantee of protection by committing not to file any complaints in
international forums.''The statement emphasized, ''As a result, Israel continues
its actions, confident that it will escape accountability. This painful
contradiction clearly reveals how the authorities are managing their
negotiations and the extent of the dangerous concessions they have made on
various issues, demonstrating their complete inability to safeguard Lebanon’s
interests and their disregard for its fundamental rights.”It added:
“Accordingly, we call on the government, the Environment Ministry and all
relevant ministries and authorities to speak out and take action to stop
Israel’s brutality against the environment, following its actions against people
and infrastructure.”
Lebanon detains Assad-era Syrian officer wanted by Damascus
Agence France Presse/August 09/2026
Lebanese authorities detained a former Syrian army officer following an arrest
warrant from Damascus accusing him of "killing and crimes against humanity," a
judicial official told AFP. Adel Issa, a 67-year-old former officer in the
Syrian army's 17th brigade under ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, headed to his
country's embassy in Beirut for paperwork on Friday, the official said on
condition of anonymity. When staff learned of an arrest warrant from Damascus
filed in absentia for the "crimes of killing and crimes against humanity during
his time with the Syrian army," they called on Lebanese authorities to detain
him, the official added. He is still in their custody, and Lebanon's public
prosecutor has asked his Syrian counterpart to send the suspect's extradition
file before Beirut decides whether to hand him over. Since Assad's fall in
December 2024, Syrian authorities have arrested dozens of people they say
committed crimes during the country's 13-year civil war, and trials began in
April. Lebanon and Syria have expressed their determination to open a new
chapter in their relations since Assad's ouster and the weakening of Lebanon's
Iran-backex Hezbollah, a key Assad ally.
Under the Assad family, Syria exercised tutelage over Lebanon for decades, and
was accused of carrying out numerous assassinations in the country. Since 2024,
officials from the two countries have met on several occasions, agreeing to
cooperate on a number of issues including security.
Israeli Army: Lebanese Army Failed to Disarm Hezbollah…
and We Will Not Back Down from Striking It
South Lebanon/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The Israeli army accused the Lebanese army of “failing to carry out its mission
of removing Hezbollah’s presence from southern Lebanon,” while asserting that
Israel will not back down from its demand to disarm the party and will continue
its military operations against it. The Israeli army stated that its forces
attacked more than 2,000 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the past period,
indicating that the operations resulted, according to its claims, in the deaths
of approximately 700 Hezbollah members. It added that “hundreds of the dead
belong to the Radwan Force,” Hezbollah’s elite unit, considering targeting it an
essential part of the operations aimed at dismantling the party’s military
capabilities near the border with Israel. The Israeli army stressed that Israel
“will not compromise on disarming Hezbollah,” emphasizing that its forces will
continue to “intensify the strikes” against the party, in a message reflecting
the continuation of military pressure in parallel with the ongoing political and
security efforts regarding the situation in southern Lebanon. This escalation
comes as Beirut and Tel Aviv continue indirect talks, sponsored by the United
States, addressing issues such as a ceasefire, border demarcation, troop
deployment, disarmament, the prisoner exchange, and the establishment of model
zones in southern Lebanon. The Israeli positions are being taken amidst ongoing
tensions in southern Lebanon, coinciding with Lebanese efforts to solidify the
ceasefire and reinforce the Lebanese army's presence in the south. Beirut
insists on a complete cessation of Israeli attacks and a withdrawal from
Lebanese territory, while Israel focuses on ensuring Hezbollah's removal from
the border and its disarmament. This makes the Lebanese state and army's ability
to extend their sovereignty over all Lebanese territory one of the most
significant points of contention in the negotiations.
Netanyahu on Lebanon: We Are in the Midst of a Crucial
Operation
Al-Markazia/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is carrying out
what he described as a "crucial operation" in Lebanon, noting that the Israeli
army has conducted intensive operations in recent days targeting what he called
"terrorists," including elements in the Ali Taher Heights. Netanyahu said that
Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon in recent days, adding that he could not
reveal further details about the nature of the ongoing operations. He added: "We
are in the midst of a crucial operation, and we are acting wisely and with sound
judgment, and with determination and caution, in cooperation with the Israeli
army, and we are working to eliminate the threats." On the Iranian issue,
Netanyahu said that Iran is not attacking Israel because it understands, as he
put it, the magnitude of the powerful blow that Israel would deliver should it
do so. As for Gaza, Netanyahu announced Israel's rejection of the 15-point
document, emphasizing that there will be no withdrawal from the Strip before
Hamas is disarmed. These positions come at a time when developments on the
Lebanese front coincide with continued regional tension, while Netanyahu links
the Lebanese, Iranian and Gaza Strip files within a single security and military
approach.
Following Netanyahu's Hint... Israeli Robots and Gases
Inside Ali Taher Tunnels
Al-Markazia/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Field sources revealed to Al-Modon additional details about the operation
mentioned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Ali Taher area.
The sources indicated that during their recent movement in the area, Israeli
forces resorted to deploying robots and remotely controlled vehicles in an
attempt to advance and explore the area without directly exposing Israeli
soldiers to danger. According to the sources, the Israeli army adopted a
rear-based approach during the operation, starting from the area east of the
Kafr Tibnit crossing, before the forces and vehicles moved north of the town,
reaching the foot of Ali Taher Hill, where Israeli operations have been
concentrated recently. The sources explained that the use of robots coincided
with intensive reconnaissance and field sweeping operations, given the difficult
terrain and nature of the area. According to available information, Israeli
forces were able to locate a number of tunnel openings leading into Ali Taher
Hill and extending deep into it. Sources told Al-Modon that after discovering
these openings, Israeli forces pumped toxic gases into them as part of their
efforts to deal with the network of tunnels in the area. Precise information
regarding the nature of these gases or the consequences of their use remains
unavailable. This information sheds light on the nature of the Israeli military
operation in Ali al-Taher, which, according to the sources, is not limited to
bombings or shelling, but also includes ground movements, the use of remotely
operated vehicles and equipment, and the search for tunnels, attempts to disable
them, or efforts to uncover their extensions within the area. The Ali al-Taher
hill and its surroundings have witnessed intense Israeli military activity for
several days, and the area has become one of the most prominent points of
Israeli field operations in southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu announces a "highly significant operation" in
Lebanon and links the Damascus, Moscow, and Tehran fronts to Gaza
South Lebanon/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The recent escalatory statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
reflect the interconnectedness of regional fronts within a unified Israeli
security and military strategy. These statements coincided with escalating
tensions on the ground, including intensified strikes in Lebanon and increased
pressure on the Palestinian arena, alongside major geopolitical shifts that have
redrawn the region's balance of power. Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army
was carrying out what he described as a "very important operation" inside
Lebanese territory, noting that the past few days had witnessed intensive
military activity targeting those he called "terrorists," including strikes
focused on movements in the Ali Taher Heights. Netanyahu declined to reveal the
specific nature or ultimate objectives of these ongoing operations, stating
only: "We are in the midst of a very important operation, and we are acting
wisely, with sound judgment, determination, and caution, in cooperation with the
army, to eliminate the threats." These field movements coincided with the
Lebanese army's announcement of live-fire exercises with heavy weapons in the
Brital and Qurnat as-Sawda areas to secure the home front, amidst a categorical
denial of rumors circulating about the possibility of the Israeli Foreign
Ministry annexing parts of southern Lebanon. Regarding Tehran, the Israeli Prime
Minister attributed the absence of direct Iranian attacks to the Iranian
leadership's awareness of the scale and power of the potential Israeli
counterstrike. These statements coincide with the heightened security concerns
within Tehran's political and media circles. Iran views with considerable
apprehension the "Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense," signed by Saudi Arabia,
Turkey, and Iran, as an attempt to form an "Islamic NATO" aimed at containing
Iranian influence and securing maritime navigation. This comes at a time when
sensitive security details have been exposed following the fall of the Syrian
regime. Investigations have revealed that former Syrian intelligence chief
Hussam Luqa (known as "The Spider") fled to Moscow using a forged Russian
passport, reflecting the decline of Tehran's traditional regional influence. As
for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's hardline
stance, declaring its categorical rejection of the proposed 15-point settlement
document. He emphasized that there would be no Israeli military withdrawal from
Gaza before a comprehensive verification of Hamas's disarmament. This political
rejection coincides with a sharp escalation on the ground in the West Bank,
where Israeli forces, accompanied by settlers, are carrying out widespread raids
and house searches in Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, and Bethlehem. These attacks have
included targeting property and burning homes in Masafer Yatta, and converting
civilian homes into military outposts in Arraba. Simultaneously, the movement of
Palestinians is being stifled by a network of checkpoints and iron gates,
exceeding 916 obstacles, as part of a government strategy to expand settlements
and establish new outposts.
From "Al-Qard Al-Hasan" to Beirut Airport: Hezbollah's
Financial Strangles
Al-Arabiya/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
When the latest war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah last March, weapons
depots and underground command centers were not the first targets Tel Aviv
warned it would strike. Instead, it was banks. Israeli warplanes leveled more
than 12 branches of a shadowy financial institution known as "Al-Qard Al-Hasan,"
which has long been accused of operating as a Hezbollah bank in Lebanon. Other
airstrikes targeted money exchange offices that Israel claimed Iran used to
transfer funds to Hezbollah, as well as gas stations that generated revenue for
the group.
Tightening the Noose
Through these strikes, Israel wanted to send a clear message: Hezbollah's
finances, not just its military arsenal, were now within its sights. These
attacks culminated the most extensive campaign to date by Israel, the
administration of US President Donald Trump, and the Lebanese government to
financially strangle Hezbollah by targeting its funding channels, particularly
those originating from Iran. In the months leading up to the war, the Lebanese
government, under pressure from the Trump administration, worked to close the
channels Hezbollah used to receive and transfer funds, such as Beirut
International Airport. Washington also pressured the Central Bank of Lebanon to
tighten controls on the monetary system from which Hezbollah had profited for
years. According to documents reviewed by The New York Times and interviews with
Lebanese, American, and Israeli officials, as well as sources within Hezbollah,
the party is now facing one of its most severe financial crises in years.
Unprecedented Financial Pressure
The war that erupted in March was the second between Israel and Hezbollah in
less than three years. In the previous war, which began in late 2013, Israel
killed Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and several of his top
commanders. Washington and Tel Aviv considered this a moment to target the
party's financial infrastructure, while simultaneously pressuring the Lebanese
government to disarm it. While the war in Gaza and the confrontation with Iran
have captured the world's attention, the financial strangulation of Hezbollah
has become a less visible front in a strategy aimed at "reducing Tehran's
regional influence through its proxies," according to The New York Times.
Although Hezbollah and Iran have "shown resilience" in the face of previous
pressures, the party is now facing increasing difficulty in funding its
"extensive network of social services, which has been a cornerstone of its
support within Lebanon's Shiite community," the report states. It has also been
forced to prioritize military spending after suffering losses as a result of
Israeli operations. Hezbollah spokesman Youssef Zein told The New York Times
last May that the party had suspended some of the compensation payments it had
pledged to its supporters, given the difficulty of meeting the needs of hundreds
of thousands displaced by the war. Zein added that "the scale of the demands of
the battle and the displacement has placed a heavy burden on Hezbollah," adding
that "resource management is now being done according to a hierarchy of
priorities." While acknowledging the financial pressures, he asserted that the
party is capable of overcoming them. Before the war, the US State Department
estimated Iranian funding for Hezbollah at approximately $700 million annually.
This represented the bulk of its annual budget, which exceeded one billion
dollars.
Despite Tehran's increased financial support over the past year, the funds were
no longer sufficient to cover the substantial costs of the wars and military
operations. Washington is pressuring Lebanon. The financial campaign against
Hezbollah effectively began in late 2014, following a US-brokered ceasefire
between Israel and the group. Hezbollah's isolation deepened after the fall of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which severed one of its most
important smuggling and funding routes from Iran. For decades, Hezbollah had
built a quasi-state within a state in Lebanon, establishing a media network,
hospitals, schools, and economic institutions, all fueled by Iranian financial
support. But with the land route through Syria disrupted, Iran resorted to
alternative means of funding the group, including Beirut Airport, which US and
Lebanese sources said was being used to transfer Iranian money and weapons.
Early last year, US officials conveyed an Israeli warning to the Lebanese
government that Iran was sending suitcases full of US dollars to Hezbollah on
civilian flights to Beirut, sometimes via Iranian diplomats. These warnings led
Lebanon to suspend all flights from Iran, a decision that remains in effect.
Airport employees suspected of ties to Hezbollah were dismissed, and security
officials working in coordination with the United States were appointed.
Tightening Control Over the Cash Sector
Washington then focused on Lebanon’s central bank, amid accusations that the
country’s cash sector was being used for money laundering and transferring
Iranian funds to Hezbollah. According to the report, the Trump administration
supported the appointment of a new central bank governor, Karim Said, who took
what were described as decisive steps against Hezbollah’s influence within the
banking sector. The bank also launched investigations into major money transfer
companies suspected of being used to transfer funds to Hezbollah, and controls
on financial transfers were tightened. As pressure mounted on major exchange
companies, Hezbollah began relying more heavily on a vast network of less
regulated exchange offices. According to sources, Iranian funds are transferred
through three countries using the informal “hawala” system. For its part, the US
Treasury Department, when it imposed sanctions on Lebanese money exchangers last
November, stated that Iran had transferred approximately $1 billion to Hezbollah
that year, mostly through the hawala system. Hezbollah is feeling the pinch
financially. As pressure mounts, signs of strain are beginning to appear in the
party’s social services network. Sources told the newspaper that while the
salaries of tens of thousands of fighters are still being paid, some social
services have been cut back. In February, the US Treasury Department reported
that senior officials at the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Foundation had established a
network of gold trading companies to generate cash. Reports also indicated a
surge in gold sales last year, after Israeli airstrikes destroyed a significant
portion of the party’s foreign currency and gold reserves. Last year, Lebanese
authorities also prohibited banks and brokerage firms from dealing with Al-Qard
Al-Hasan, further isolating the party from the formal financial system. Despite
the foundation’s insistence that it is a “charitable lending organization and
not a bank,” the Trump administration is now pushing for its complete closure.
Following the 2014 war, Hezbollah announced that Al-Qard Al-Hasan would provide
between $12,000 and $14,000 to each family that lost their home, but these
payments were repeatedly postponed and then halted entirely, according to
Youssef Al-Zein.
Large explosions rock the South... and Israeli aircraft ignite forest fires
Al-Markazia/August 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The scope of Israeli escalation has widened to include the Western Bekaa Valley,
where projectiles and incendiary materials dropped by Israeli aircraft ignited
widespread fires in the forests and highlands stretching from Niha to Kfarhouna,
coinciding with low-altitude flights by Israeli warplanes over the Bekaa.
Firefighting teams continued their efforts to combat the blazes, amidst
significant difficulties due to the rugged terrain and the vast extent of the
fires. This afternoon, the following statement was issued by the Media and
Public Relations Department of the Lebanese Civil Defense Directorate: “The
Lebanese Civil Defense teams were able to extinguish the fire that broke out in
the forests of Toumat Niha – West Bekaa, after arduous field operations carried
out in light of the rugged terrain, the dangerous nature of the area, and the
lack of roads leading to the fire sites. Approximately 120 Civil Defense
personnel participated in the firefighting operations, having to reach the fire
sites on foot and immediately begin the firefighting and extinguishing
operations on the ground, until the fire was brought under control and
completely extinguished.” In a second statement, the Media and Public Relations
Department of the Lebanese Civil Defense Directorate reported that "two pieces
of unexploded ordnance left over from the Israeli aggression detonated while
Lebanese Civil Defense personnel were fighting a fire in the forests of Toumat
Niha in the Western Bekaa Valley. This resulted in damage to some equipment, but
no casualties or injuries. Despite the dangerous terrain and the lack of roads
leading to several fire locations, approximately 120 Civil Defense personnel
continued their firefighting efforts. Some were forced to reach areas
inaccessible to vehicles on foot. The personnel managed to control the fires,
while a specific area remained completely surrounded by unexploded ordnance due
to the presence of remnants of the aggression in its vicinity. This area is
under surveillance, and necessary safety measures are being taken." Continued
Bombardment: Furthermore, this evening, Israeli occupation forces carried out a
large-scale detonation of infrastructure in the communes of the towns of
Mansouri and Majdal Zoun. The explosion shook homes in the city of Tyre and the
surrounding area, and its sound was heard throughout the region. The Israeli
army shelled the town of Bani Hayyan in the Marjeyoun district this afternoon.
Artillery fire also targeted Wadi al-Salouqi in southern Lebanon. An Israeli
tank reportedly entered the town of Haddatha and set fire to houses. Around 9:10
this morning, the Israeli army carried out a large explosion in the town of
Zawtar al-Sharqiya. This morning, Israeli artillery fired five shells that
landed in the vicinity of the Litani River – the Khardali area. Israeli vehicles
advanced from Haddatha towards the outskirts of the town of Haris, accompanied
by machine gun fire. The area between the towns of Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiya
was subjected to intermittent artillery shelling. At dawn today, Israeli
aircraft launched an airstrike targeting the Mansouri Bridge, which spans the
Qasmiya-Ras al-Ain irrigation canal. As of now, precise information regarding
the extent of the damage to the canal is unavailable due to the danger of
approaching the targeted site and the current impossibility of conducting a
field assessment. Israeli artillery also heavily shelled, starting at midnight
between Saturday and Sunday, the Ali al-Taher heights on the outskirts of al-Tabtiya
al-Fawqa, as well as the outskirts of Zawtar, Mayfadoun, and Doha Kafr Rumman.
Shortly after midnight, artillery fire targeted the Ali al-Taher heights and the
surrounding areas of al-Dabsha and Doha Kafr Rumman.
Israel Revives Lebanese Jews Case to Block Beirut’s
34-Detainee Demand
Beirut: Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Israel has responded to Lebanese demands for the release of 34 Lebanese
detainees with what Lebanese sources described as an “impossible” condition:
information on Lebanese Jews who disappeared during the civil war in the 1980s
and the return of their remains. The Lebanese Association for Prisoners and
Freed Detainees has documented 34 Lebanese held in Israeli prisons, including
three detained in 1978, 1981 and 2005. The remaining 31 include 10 Hezbollah
fighters, two nurses detained while accompanying Hezbollah members who were
arrested, and 21 civilians. According to detainee lists obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat,
nine Lebanese were documented as having been detained during the latest war,
which erupted on March 2, while 22 were detained between October 2024 and
February 2026.
Impossible conditions
The issue of detainees was discussed on the third day of the seventh round of
US-sponsored negotiations at the US Embassy in Rome. Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun said on Friday that the Rome talks had “made positive progress on the
border and detainee files,” and voiced hope that practical steps would follow
soon. One positive development was an agreement to keep discussing the issue.
But the initial exchanges also exposed what Lebanese sources following the talks
described to Asharq Al-Awsat as “impossible Israeli conditions.”The sources said
Israel’s response came after Lebanon pressed for information on the detainees’
fate and their release. The Israeli delegation “demanded the return of the
remains of Lebanese Jews killed during the civil war and information on the fate
of Lebanese Jews who disappeared during the Lebanese civil war, particularly in
the 1980s,” the sources said. It also demanded information on Israeli pilot Ron
Arad “or the handover of his remains.”Arad disappeared in 1987 after his
aircraft went down in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is suspected of having been
involved in his abduction at the time.
Issue raised in 2022
The Lebanese sources called the Israeli demands “impossible,” saying the
Lebanese state “knows nothing about the remains of the Jews in the first place,
nor does it know anything about Ron Arad.”Israel has detained more than one
senior Hezbollah figure since the 1990s in attempts to obtain information about
Arad. German-mediated prisoner exchange talks between Hezbollah and Israel in
2004 also failed to make progress on the case. “What the Israeli side proposed
is impossible, so they can justify refusing to cooperate on the Lebanese
detainees file and also embarrass the Lebanese state, which has no information
on what the Israelis raised,” the sources said. They said neither the Arad case
nor the issue of Lebanese Jews killed or missing during the civil war was new.
The same issues were raised during US-mediated maritime border negotiations with
Israel in 2022, led at the time by US presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, the
sources said. The file was eventually closed after all sides concluded that the
Lebanese state had no means of establishing their fate.
Lebanese Jews and civilians versus fighters
The disappearance of Lebanese Jews dates to security incidents in Beirut’s
Qantari and Wadi Abu Jamil districts between 1984 and 1987. A number of Lebanese
Jews disappeared during that period, most notably former Lebanese Jewish
community leader Isaac Sasson, who was abducted at gunpoint in 1985. The groups
behind the abductions, foremost among them the Organization of the Oppressed on
Earth — a network historically linked to the early cells from which Hezbollah
emerged — announced that some of those abducted had been executed. Raising the
issue adds another layer of complexity to the Lebanese detainees’ file.Beirut’s
negotiating delegation presented an updated list of detainees whose details are
held by the Lebanese army, including their names, locations, and whether they
are fighters or civilians. There was no discussion of separating civilian cases
from those of fighters. The Israeli side instead raised the remains of Lebanese
Jews, and the two sides ultimately agreed to continue discussing the file.
Fears over detainees grow
The Lebanese Association for Prisoners and Freed Detainees also sees Israel’s
demands as impossible. Its head, Ahmad Taleb, told Asharq Al-Awsat that raising
the issue during the talks “increases concerns over the Lebanese detainees.”
“What do Lebanese detainees arrested over the past two years have to do with the
remains of Jews from the Lebanese war?” Taleb asked. Lebanon has “17,000 people
missing from the civil war whose fate has still not been determined, including
Jews who, in the end, are Lebanese citizens,” he said. Taleb said the Lebanese
detainees’ file was “first and foremost a humanitarian issue” and should not be
handled politically because it is governed by international law and the Geneva
Convention. He said Tel Aviv “refuses to cooperate with the International
Committee of the Red Cross to determine the conditions in which these detainees
are being held, check on their situation and document their legal and
humanitarian status.”
Taleb said the association had received information from Palestinian human
rights circles indicating that “Israel considers the Lebanese detainees unlawful
combatants and therefore grants them none of the rights guaranteed under
international law and international humanitarian conventions.”“Some of them are
wounded and we have no information about them, while most are civilians,” he
said.
67 missing since 2024
The association and Lebanese authorities have documented 34 Lebanese detainees
held by Israel, but the number could rise. Another 67 people remain unaccounted
for after contact with them was lost in areas that were under Israeli army
control during the 2024 war.
It remains unclear whether they were killed or are being held by the Israeli
military. “We presented our demands to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a
previous meeting with him, and today we renew our demand that the Lebanese state
do more to address this humanitarian issue,” Taleb said. He accused the state of
falling short, saying the Foreign Ministry had taken no action — neither
submitting a memorandum to the United Nations, forming a ministry committee to
follow the case, creating an official follow-up committee, nor referring the
file to the relevant UN human rights bodies in Geneva. “That is the very least
that should be done,” he said. “We demand that the state fulfill its
responsibilities.” Taleb said the detainees’ families also “feel that the state
has fallen short, as not a single government official has contacted them.”
Lebanon Busts Attempt to Smuggle 5,000 Captagon Pills to
Saudi Arabia
Beirut: /Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces Directorate announced Sunday that it has
foiled an attempt to smuggle approximately 5,000 Captagon pills to Saudi Arabia
through a shipping company. This new operation comes amid intensified Lebanese
measures to combat drug trafficking to the Gulf and other Arab countries.In a
statement, the ISF said that on July 17, 2026, the Central Narcotics Control
Bureau received information regarding preparations to smuggle narcotics to Saudi
Arabia via a shipping company. Following surveillance and tracking, the bureau
arrested the individual transporting the parcel while it was being delivered to
the shipping company. Upon inspection, approximately 5,000 Captagon pills were
seized, professionally hidden inside a vase crate. The investigation is
continuing under the supervision of the competent judiciary to arrest all other
involved parties. President Joseph Aoun had stressed that combating narcotics is
a priority, calling for intensified efforts to control trafficking and smuggling
operations and for cooperation among the relevant agencies to confront this
scourge. The Lebanese measures carry particular significance in light of a 2021
Saudi decision to suspend the entry of Lebanese products into the Kingdom,
following the foiling of repeated attempts to smuggle Captagon from Lebanon.
Riyadh reversed its decision on June 10 when Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi
Crown Prince and Prime Minister, directed the resumption of Lebanese exports to
the Kingdom, at the request of President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam,
and in light of what Saudi Arabia described as positive steps taken by the
Lebanese government and its measures to rebuild state institutions. Lebanese
Interior Minister Ahmed Al-Hajjar had confirmed that Saudi Arabia's decision to
resume exports resulted from a series of Lebanese measures, including border
control, combating narcotics, dismantling smuggling networks, and adopting
scanner devices for inspection. He underscored the Lebanese state's commitment
to making every effort to prevent the recurrence of smuggling operations.
Hezbollah Chief’s Call for Dialogue Met with Skepticism in Lebanon
Beirut: Paula Astih/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem’s call last week on Lebanese
authorities to launch dialogue has left official circles questioning its
motivations. The Iran-backed party had previously thwarted all dialogue efforts
by President Joseph Aoun since his election to resolve the issue of its weapons
arsenal. Hezbollah had deemed dialogue over the issue as a red line given the
Israeli occupation, attacks and violations. Even as he called for dialogue,
Qassem attacked the Lebanese authorities, accusing them of being "an aide to
Israel instead of being an aide to Lebanon's sovereignty."
He also attacked Aoun, saying he has not acted as an "arbitrator and a unifier,"
but rather he has become "partisan and a divider, which is entirely inconsistent
with his role." Qassem's remarks prompted a direct response from Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam, who stressed that "dialogue and unity can only be built with the
courage to acknowledge facts despite their bitterness, and by taking
responsibility for reckless choices for which the Lebanese continue to pay a
heavy price." Sources familiar with Aoun's positions said that both before and
after Qassem's statements, he had long stressed that the doors of the
presidential palace were open for dialogue with the party and with all other
forces. What is required of these forces, however, is a genuine desire and
intention to achieve positive results, rather than for them to repeat their
negative positions which they do daily through the media, they told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The sources said that Hezbollah had always negatively received the president’s
calls for dialogue, leading to a rupture in communications between them. Contact
is now taking place indirectly through parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key
Hezbollah ally. Meanwhile, sources close to Hezbollah said that launching
dialogue between the party and president demands "mechanisms, prerequisites, and
a positive atmosphere, both in positions and in the manner of engagement". They
noted that the decisions taken by the authorities, government, and president
since March 3 have all been "negative", adding that no new dialogue had been
launched since. The government banned Hezbollah’s military activities after the
party fired rockets at Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Tehran during the
US-Israel war on Iran. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the sources said that
dialogue "is in the interest of both parties".Recent experiences have proven
that neither the military option nor direct negotiations are effective, making
establishing communication channels necessary "to define what the authorities
want and what Hezbollah wants.""In light of this, a joint strategy would be
developed to determine shared goals, which requires closed-door communication
and the launching of positive initiatives aimed at building trust between the
two sides," the sources said.
Skepticism
MP Waddah Sadek expressed surprise at Qassem's call for dialogue, saying: "It
might be more effective for the Lebanese authorities to open a dialogue with
Iran to resolve the issue of Hezbollah's status, because ultimately the party
does not own its decision-making, and it will have to consult Tehran on any
position and decision it takes.""At any rate, the issue of weapons has become
much larger than a dialogue conducted by the Lebanese state, whether with the
party or even with Iran; it has become linked to the situation of the entire
region," he told Asharq Al-Awsat. "Furthermore, there are government decisions,
the constitution, and the Taif Agreement that clearly address the weapons file,
which no longer requires dialogue," he stressed. Lebanon has held numerous
dialogue rounds since 2006 to formulate a defense strategy, but all efforts
reached a dead-end with Hezbollah’s refusal to discuss handing over its arsenal
or with it sending its fighters to prop up the Syrian regime during the
country’s civil war. In recent years, the party has turned southern Lebanon into
a front against Israel, first in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza and later in
solidarity with its backer, Iran. Editor-in-Chief of the "Janoubia" website Ali
Al-Amine dismissed Qassem’s call for dialogue as a "ploy," saying that the
Hezbollah leader "says one thing and then does the opposite."President Aoun
"spent a year after the first support war [in solidarity with Gaza] in calling
for dialogue with the party, which led to internal and external criticism
against him. Hezbollah exploited the idea of dialogue to carry out agendas on
the ground that go against the positions of the state and the 2024 ceasefire
agreement," he added. Qassem’s call becomes even more suspicious given the
ongoing "unprecedented campaign accusing the president of treason that the party
is promoting through its media and policies," he noted. "The state, on the other
hand, has never refused dialogue with Hezbollah, even to this day," he remarked.
"Dialogue must be held under the authority of the state, its sovereignty and
free decision-making." There can be no dialogue so that it can be used in favor
of Iran’s interests or undermine the bilateral negotiations between Lebanon and
Israel, or undermine the authority of the Lebanese state, he stressed. "As long
as Hezbollah does not recognize the sovereignty of the state and authority of
the constitution and laws, then such dialogue calls are attempts at stalling and
seeking to suspend government so that the party can keep its power, role and
weapons forever," he added.
Lebanon Says Israeli Troops Infiltrated Lebanese Army-held
Village
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Israeli troops infiltrated a Lebanese village placed under the control of
Lebanon's army as part of a June agreement, building an earthen barrier there
overnight, state media and the local mayor said Saturday. An AFP correspondent
saw the barrier, situated at the village's eastern entrance and blocking the
road. The local authorities said it was unclear if any Israeli forces remained
in the area."An Israeli occupation army force advanced into the village of
Zawtar al-Gharbiya shortly after midnight... and erected a new earthen barrier
near the town square," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Zawtar al-Gharbiya was one of two designated "pilot zones" where the Lebanese
army was to take over as part of a US-sponsored framework agreement signed with
Israel. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it was "not aware of such an
event in this area".Israel invaded south Lebanon after militant group Hezbollah
entered the Middle East war on the side of its sponsor Iran in March. Israeli
forces continue to occupy a broad band of territory in the south along the
border. Its invasion and widespread bombing campaign have killed more than 4,300
people, according to Lebanon's health ministry, and displaced hundreds of
thousands more. Under the June agreement, Lebanon is meant to disarm Hezbollah
while Israel is supposed to gradually pull back its forces. Beirut's army
deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiya on July 21, and around 50 families have since
returned to the village, mayor Abed Ezzeddine told AFP.
Israeli troops had been present on the outskirts of the village before the
deployment. Ezzeddine said they were surprised to see the barrier in the
morning, located around 100 metres from the town square. Confirming the
incident, a Lebanese military source told AFP it was a violation of the
framework agreement. Separately, the military later reported that "three
soldiers were wounded, one of them moderately, while dismantling unexploded
ordnance" in Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Saturday. Lebanon and Israel had just
completed their seventh round of direct negotiations in Rome on Thursday, with a
Lebanese source telling AFP the Israelis refused to discuss withdrawing from
more areas before making sure Beirut's military had full control over the pilot
zones. Hezbollah rejects the deal and refuses to surrender its weapons, while
Israel still carries out intermittent strikes on southern Lebanon despite a
ceasefire in place since June.The NNA on Saturday reported artillery shelling in
southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah Continues to Consolidate its Hold Over the
First Pilot Zone
Tal Beeri/Alma's Blog, Articles/August 9, 2026
De facto, Hezbollah operatives are present and active within Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh
(the pilot zone) under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces, establishing a
civilian foothold that will enable renewed military entrenchment at the next
stage. After identifying the entry of Hezbollah’s
Islamic Health Organization into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under the auspices of the
Lebanese Armed Forces, which deployed in the village (see our July 27
publication), in recent days we have also identified the entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh
of Hezbollah-affiliated “Cooperate with One Another” Association—“Wataawanou”
Association Charity (جمعية “وتعاونوا” الخيرية). As with the Islamic Health
Organization, the association’s entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is also taking
place under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The association, which defines itself as “a charitable organization engaged in
collecting donations and assisting those in need” is, in effect, one of
Hezbollah’s civilian arms for creating social and economic influence and
dependency among Lebanon’s population—not only among Shiites, but also in Sunni
strongholds—which will enable Hezbollah to operate freely within its sphere of
influence, in both civilian and terrorist-military domains.Based on an analysis
of open-source materials, it appears that the association entered the pilot zone
in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh as early as July 29 and established a temporary center
for the village council and a service center “to support the residents’ return.”
The association placed a structure in the central square for use by the local
council. In addition, it placed a structure to provide food and daily meals to
residents who had returned to the village and began mapping their basic needs.
On August 5, the association organized a mourning rally in the village in
honor of Arbaeen, commemorating the death of Imam Hussein.
The association’s operatives cooperate with the Lebanese Armed Forces and
Lebanese Civil Defense on the rehabilitation and cleanup work being carried out
in the village. The association, which makes no effort
to conceal its affiliation with Hezbollah, serves as a platform for Hezbollah to
raise donations for the rehabilitation of civilian and military infrastructure,
including through an account at Hezbollah’s al-Qard al-Hasan bank, and has
financial ties to Iran. The association is headed by Afif Shouman, known as “Abu
al-Fadl.”It should be recalled that since the first ceasefire in November 2024,
the “Cooperate with One Another” Association has conducted a campaign to install
dozens of mobile structures—similar to those it placed in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh—throughout
southern Lebanon. Ostensibly, the aim was to provide residents with “temporary
housing solutions.” However, the campaign had an additional objective: to
reintegrate and once again conceal Hezbollah’s military and
intelligence-gathering activities in southern Lebanon and along the contact
line. In fact, some of the structures installed by the association beginning in
late 2024 and during the first months of 2025 were intended for Hezbollah’s
military activity and as replacements for the network of structures deployed
before the war by the “Green Without Borders” association and destroyed by the
IDF. Some of the new structures deployed by the “Cooperate with Another”
Association were also destroyed by the IDF.
Lebanon’s narrow opening
Amal Chmouny/Beiruter/August 07/2026
https://www.thebeiruter.com/article/lebanon%E2%80%99s-narrow-opening/2266
In an exclusive interview with The Beiruter, former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon
and veteran U.N. diplomat Jeffrey Feltman delivers a sobering analysis of the
trilateral diplomatic Framework now shaping Lebanon’s precarious future.
For much of the past half century, Lebanon has been acted upon more often than
it has acted. Its territory has served as a theater for regional wars, a
bargaining chip among stronger powers, and a convenient arena for foreign-backed
militias to pursue ambitions the Lebanese state never authorized. In an
interview with The Beiruter, Jeffrey Feltman offers a guarded but consequential
argument: the pattern may finally be shifting. The trilateral agreement, he
says, is important because “there’s been a fundamental shift” both inside
Lebanon and in Washington’s attention. Lebanon, long “on the menu,” may for once
be “at the table.”That judgment matters because Feltman is not a casual
observer. A former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, assistant secretary of state for
Near Eastern affairs, and United Nations under-secretary-general for political
affairs, he has seen Lebanon from Washington, Beirut, and New York. He remembers
the optimism of 2005, when Rafiq Hariri’s assassination and the March 14
uprising helped force Syria’s withdrawal. He also remembers what followed:
Hezbollah’s expansion, the 2006 war, the capture of Lebanese institutions by
armed coercion, and the long erosion of the state.
Feltman identifies two changes that give the trilateral track its unusual
significance. First, a U.S. president is personally engaged on Lebanon in a way
Feltman has not seen since George W. Bush worked with Jacques Chirac during the
crisis that preceded Syria’s withdrawal. Second, Lebanon now has a president,
Joseph Aoun, and a government led by Nawaf Salam willing to speak “honestly to
the Lebanese people” about the risks of hosting an armed non-state actor. But
Feltman’s optimism is deliberately limited. “President Trump has a notoriously
short attention span,” he warns. Presidential backing matters but only if it
lasts long enough for the Lebanese state to turn diplomatic opening into
political fact.
Hezbollah: A weakened, but persistent threat
Feltman’s assessment is neither triumphalist nor sentimental. Hezbollah, he
argues, has been badly weakened. “Three of the five pillars of support that
Hezbollah had are gone”: Nasrallah’s personal authority, the Syrian land bridge
once guaranteed by Assad, and the complicity of Lebanese governments that
refused to confront Hezbollah’s state-within-a-state. Nasrallah’s successor,
Naim Qassem, lacks the same stature. Syria is no longer an automatic logistical
rear base. And Lebanon now has leaders willing, at least rhetorically and
institutionally, to challenge Hezbollah’s presumption that it can decide
questions of war and peace for the entire country. But Hezbollah’s weakness is
not Hezbollah’s defeat. The party remains capable of sabotage. It still has
Iranian support, a hardened armed core, and a deeply rooted social presence
among Lebanese Shia citizens who were neglected by the state and then told that
Hezbollah alone could offer protection, jobs, services, dignity, and power.
Feltman is blunt about the party’s destructive logic: Hezbollah’s weapons
“create the very threat” they claim to prevent. Yet coercion is no shortcut. The
Lebanese Armed Forces cannot simply be ordered to disarm Hezbollah by a deadline
without risking institutional fracture and perhaps civil conflict. The real
opportunity is for the Lebanese state to occupy the space Hezbollah has
exploited for decades. “The Lebanese government must be seen as providing
compensation and reconstruction… not Hezbollah,” Feltman argues in substance.
The lesson of 2006 is painful: Hezbollah moved faster than the state after the
war and converted relief into renewed loyalty. Today, with Iran’s resources more
constrained and the Lebanese government at least rhetorically committed to
reform, Beirut has a narrow chance to show that sovereignty is more than a
slogan.
This is the central tension in the interview: Hezbollah must be diminished, but
the method matters. An Israeli occupation would not cure the Hezbollah problem;
it could revive the conditions in which Hezbollah historically thrived. While
Israeli security fears after October 7 are understandable, Feltman cautions that
maximalist demands can become self-defeating. If Israel remains in Lebanese
territory or treats the trilateral framework as cover for continued incursions,
it will undercut the very state it claims to want empowered. Hezbollah, he
notes, has long been most comfortable fighting occupation forces; Israeli
hard-liners and Hezbollah, though enemies, can feed each other’s worst
instincts. The alternative Feltman sketches is slower and more plausible: shrink
the space in which Hezbollah operates. That means cutting Iranian finance and
supply channels, tightening border cooperation between Beirut and Damascus,
restoring state authority over the airport and port, and policing financial
networks. Above all, it means replacing Hezbollah’s social infrastructure with
state capacity. If the state again arrives late, corrupt, or absent, Hezbollah
will turn destruction into political renewal.
For Lebanon, reconstruction is not charity but a matter of sovereignty. Feltman
argues that reforms, especially in electricity, compensation, government
visibility, and anti-corruption, are essential tools to restore state authority
and undercut Hezbollah’s appeal. Yet he warns that “there’s so many vested
interests” in corruption that even modest reforms will face significant
opposition, as corruption has thrived on, rather than merely coincided with, the
state’s absence.
That is why Feltman’s argument is strongly anti-Hezbollah without being anti-Shia.
He distinguishes between a community’s legitimate fears and a party’s
destructive exploitation of those fears. Hezbollah’s genius was to fuse
protection, patronage, identity, and Iranian strategy into a single political
machine. Its failure is that this machine has repeatedly dragged Lebanon into
wars decided elsewhere. The party claimed that its arms deterred danger;
increasingly, those arms invite it. The Lebanese state’s task is not to
humiliate Hezbollah’s constituency, but to prove that citizens do not need a
proxy army to be safe, respected, and served.
The trilateral moment
The trilateral framework, in his reading, is not normalization in disguise, “at
least not yet.” Feltman sees it primarily as a ceasefire architecture and
security mechanism, one that could create pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal and
Lebanese state deployment. Its success depends on verification.
Feltman delivers a scathing assessment of UNIFIL, calling some of its past
reports “dishonest” for ignoring Hezbollah facilities. He is blunt: only robust
“monitoring and verification” of the trilateral agreement can address the
problem, not more conventional peacekeepers. Verification, he insists, must be
two-sided: confirming both the removal of Hezbollah infrastructure and Israel’s
withdrawal. He favors a mechanism with Security Council authority and public
reporting to hold both sides publicly accountable.
Feltman contends that the shifting regional context now favors the Lebanese
state, provided Beirut acts swiftly. He notes that Assad’s collapse has stripped
Hezbollah of a permissive Syrian rear base. At the same time, Iran, in his
words, “will not negotiate away Hezbollah,” remaining firmly committed to its
Lebanese proxy. Feltman cautions that any sanctions relief or release of frozen
funds could further strengthen Hezbollah. He observes that Syria’s interim
government may be less threatening than the old Assad-Hezbollah axis, but
distrust persists. Feltman adds that Turkey, the Gulf states, and Egypt are
closely watching: none want Lebanon to become an Iranian satellite, but they are
equally wary of Israeli hegemony replacing Iranian influence.
Shifting strategies
American attention is decisive. Feltman sees a rare moment in Washington,
comparable in some respects to the Bush-Chirac focus on Lebanon in 2004 and
2005. External pressure alone did not end Syria’s occupation; nor did internal
protest alone. It took both. Today, Lebanon needs the same convergence: U.S.
engagement, a government willing to speak plainly, and a public that sees
evidence of change. But “the window is only as wide as Washington’s attention
span.” If American focus drifts, Israeli politics harden, or the Lebanese state
fails to deliver, Hezbollah can recover.
Feltman’s interview is ultimately a warning against both fatalism and fantasy.
Fatalism assumes Hezbollah is too entrenched to be challenged. Fantasy imagines
disarmament can be imposed immediately by military pressure. “There is no
exclusively military solution to Hezbollah,” his Brookings analysis stresses,
and the interview reinforces the same point. The realistic path is to isolate
Hezbollah, sever its external lifelines, deny it the benefits of Israeli
overreach, and build a state that can eventually replace the party’s coercive
welfare system. Hezbollah’s relevance has always depended on Lebanon’s weakness.
If the state fills the vacuum, the militia’s claim to necessity begins to
collapse. For now, Lebanon’s opening is real but fragile. Hezbollah is battered,
not broken. Its enemies have often strengthened it by misunderstanding how it
survives. Feltman’s message is that slogans about sovereignty will win the
contest ahead less than by proof of sovereignty itself: borders controlled,
services delivered, reconstruction led by the state, corruption confronted, and
arms returned-eventually, but unmistakably-to national authority. Hezbollah’s
most dangerous weapon may not be its arsenal but the memory of a state that was
absent. Lebanon’s challenge is to make that memory obsolete.
Hezbollah’s Tunnels in Keserwan, Jbeil, and Al-Mukhtara:
The Narrative and the Evidence?
Fatima Houhou/Akhbarakum – Akhbarana/August 10, 2026
(Translated from Arabic)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156542/
Charles Jabbour’s remark regarding Hezbollah’s tunnels stretching from Keserwan
and Jbeil all the way to Al-Mukhtara was not merely another passing comment in
Lebanon’s open-ended political polemic. What gave it a different weight this
time is that it was not presented as circulating Israeli intelligence, but
rather as the summation of information obtained by journalist Anthony Mershak
from the minutes of a negotiation session between Lebanon and Israel, citing
American sources. If this account is accurate, we are confronting an issue that
transcends the south, the borders, and the confrontation with Israel, raising an
entirely different question concerning the nature of the military infrastructure
embedded within Lebanon itself.
The problem is that the information, despite its gravity, remains devoid of any
published document that can be referenced. We do not possess the minutes of the
negotiation session, we do not know the nature of the American source cited, and
we still lack maps, photographs, or independent reports that would allow us to
assert that a connected network of tunnels extending from south of the Litani to
Keserwan, Jbeil, and Al-Mukhtara actually exists. This detail is far from
secondary, because the gap between a piece of security intelligence being
circulated and a verified reality upon which political and military action can
be built is vast.
Yet, this issue did not begin today. In 2024, Israeli narratives emerged
alleging the existence of Hezbollah facilities and tunnels in parts of Jbeil and
Keserwan, prompting the Lebanese Army to swiftly deny what it described as
claims regarding the presence of rocket sites and tunnel networks in those
areas. Conversely, other accounts surfaced in the Lebanese media detailing
underground facilities, roads, and sites in the mountainous hinterlands (the
juroud), with a sharp divergence in interpreting their nature and whether they
served military purposes or were tied to civilian projects. Thus, the issue
remained suspended between a narrative of denial and a narrative of accusation,
without the Lebanese debate reaching a conclusion that would allow it to
transition from rhetoric to evidence.
What is new now is not only the resurgence of talk about tunnels, but the source
from which the information reportedly originates. When it is claimed that
details regarding these facilities appeared in a negotiation transcript, relayed
via American sources, the primary question becomes not whether to believe it or
not, but: What is this transcript? Who participated in the session? What
specifically was stated? Does the talk refer to interconnected military tunnels
or separate, distributed facilities across various regions? And does the word
"extends" imply the geographical continuity of a single network, or the
existence of underground infrastructure across multiple distinct areas?
These questions are vital because the circulating phrase places Keserwan, Jbeil,
and Al-Mukhtara on a single line, as if we are dealing with a unified network
stretching across Lebanese geography. If this is indeed what is meant, the
situation would differ radically from the tunnels familiar to the Lebanese in
the south. If, however, the reference is to scattered facilities, using the word
"extends" might create an impression in the reader's mind far exceeding the
actual reality of the information.
Another, more pressing question relates to the state itself. If a foreign entity
possesses complete maps of these facilities, as the circulating discourse
suggests, has the Lebanese state received them? If it has not, why? If it has
received them, what action has it taken? And is the state even capable of
independently verifying the information handed to it?
These are not theoretical questions. A state that is asked today to uncover
tunnels and dismantle them must, above all else, know where they are located,
what their nature is, who uses them, and whether demolishing them in populated
or mountainous regions could trigger secondary hazards. Consequently, calls for
immediate demolition prior to acquiring and verifying information may be
politically easier than the actual process of detection, but they are not
necessarily the most responsible course of action.
Conversely, the absence of published evidence must not translate into an
absolute denial. The nature of clandestine operations makes it natural for maps
and intelligence data to remain outside the public domain. However, this does
not exempt those who introduce information of this magnitude from providing
whatever corroborating clues they can muster, nor does it absolve the state from
treating the matter seriously and verifying it.
Perhaps the most significant issue exposed by this episode is that, in Lebanon,
we find ourselves once again confronting high-stakes security information
reaching the public from outside official institutions. A journalist cites
sources, a politician cites the journalist, media outlets rebroadcast the claim,
and within hours the discourse hardens into "fact" within the public debate. In
the end, no one can distinguish where the raw information ends and the
speculation begins.
Therefore, the objective is neither to blindly believe the narrative nor to
dismiss it. The objective is to know.
To know whether Hezbollah military facilities truly exist in Keserwan, Jbeil,
and the Chouf; what their nature, date of establishment, and purpose are; and
whether they are independent of the southern network or part of a broader
system. And above all else, to know what was stated in the negotiation session
transcript upon which these claims rely.
If the maps exist, the question must be: Why have they not reached the Lebanese
state? If the state possesses them, the question must be: What has it done with
them? And if no maps exist in the first place, where did the narrative
originate?
Help complete the southern section of the St. Charbel Trail: How to donate from
Lebanon, the US, Canada, Australia and Europe
LBCI/August 09/2026
On a night filled with solidarity and hope, LBCI will host a special telethon to
raise donations to help complete the southern section of the St. Charbel Trail,
a project that carries a message of faith and hope and is being built to serve
future generations. Every contribution, regardless of its amount, brings the
project one step closer to completion. Join us tonight for the telethon
dedicated to completing the southern section of the St. Charbel Trail, starting
at 7 p.m. and continuing live on LBCI after the 8:30 p.m. news bulletin.
Here are the donation methods:
For donors in the United States:
(Tax-deductible)
www.eparchy.org | Darb Mar Charbel
For donors in Australia:
(Tax receipt provided)
Credit card: Call +61 2 9740 0998
Wire transfer: Bank of Sydney
Account number: 1917129
Account name: OLM Charity
Reference: Darb Mar Charbel
For donors in Canada:
(Tax-deductible)
Cheque payable to: EPARCHIE Saint Maron
Reference: DARB MAR CHARBEL
For donors in Europe:
(Tax-deductible)
Transfer: EvangelischeBank eG
IBAN: DE92 5206 0410 0006 4286 73
BIC: GENODEF1EK1
Reference: DARB MAR CHARBEL
For donors in Lebanon:
Audi Bank, IBAN: LB23 0056 0000 0000 0079 9997 0005
WHISH: Darbessama, tel. +961 70 437 847
OMT: On application
WhatsApp: +961 81 560389
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on August 09-10/2026
Pesach Wolicki/Video Link: A New
Muslim Alliance Just Shocked the ENTIRE Middle East
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRvyY3tXMU&t=311s
Israel365 News/Link Video addressing the New SUNNI
Alliance that May Change The Middle East FOREVER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks3pPsWSfcQ&t=390s
Behind the scenes: Israel moves to counter Turkey’s
growing presence in Lebanon
LBCI/August 09/2026
Quietly and away from the media spotlight, Israeli intelligence and security
agencies are working to prevent Turkey from establishing a foothold in Lebanon.
In this context, Israeli reports say Ankara is working to bolster Hezbollah’s
capabilities and providing extensive military and security assistance under the
guise of rebuilding southern Lebanon and developing civilian projects. Israel
considers visits by Turkish officials to Lebanon part of these efforts, raising
concerns over the Lebanese front. The issue is expected to be discussed by the
Cabinet on Sunday evening. Turkey’s growing presence, which extends to Lebanon,
Syria and Gaza, was part of discussions held by U.S. Central Command chief Adm.
Brad Cooper with Israeli military leadership, including Israeli Chief of Staff
Eyal Zamir. While Israeli officials expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. pressure
to reduce attacks on Lebanon, the two sides discussed how to maintain a high
state of alert and ensure the continued deployment of air defense systems in
Israel and the region in case of a deterioration on multiple fronts.Meanwhile,
Israel is continuing its preparations on the ground, recruiting hundreds of
soldiers into the Nahal Brigade, which operates in Gaza and Lebanon, and raising
its state of alert amid the possibility of launching an operation against Iran
without U.S. participation.
Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan in New Break from Trump
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a US-led Gaza plan
endorsed by Hamas, putting distance between himself and President Donald Trump
as he tries to shore up his base ahead of close elections. After more than a
week of gradually escalating criticism of the plan, and despite receiving
assurances that Israel would not need to start withdrawing in Gaza immediately,
Netanyahu explicitly opposed the deal following pushback from his right-wing
allies. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said, referring to the
plan Hamas agreed to in late July. The Israeli military "will not carry out any
withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, and will continue to thwart
threats against our forces and our citizens", he told a cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu described Trump, who had hailed the Gaza deal as a milestone for
peace, as "our greatest friend in the White House" -- but quickly made clear he
was willing to challenge him, saying Israel was raising its objections with the
United States. "They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are
not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he said. Netanyahu,
Israel's longest-serving leader, is running even or trailing in some polls ahead
of October 27 elections, the country's first since the devastating October 7,
2023, attack by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war. Polls show that the Gaza plan
is unpopular with Netanyahu's right-wing base, and far-right members of his
cabinet have urged him to kill it. Hamas, days after selecting a new leader,
Khalil al-Hayya, announced it supported the Gaza plan, and has since called on
Washington to push Netanyahu to accept it. "We expect the mediators and the
American guarantor to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the
roadmap, and not obstruct the process for internal political and electoral
reasons," Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told AFP. Hamas in
a statement said it was still committed to the plan.
Friction with Trump -
Netanyahu until recently campaigned on the strength of his relationship with
Trump, who has taken unprecedented steps to back Israel, including moving the US
embassy to Jerusalem. Trump joined Netanyahu in late February in launching a war
against Iran, but the two diverged when Trump sought a ceasefire and subsequent
settlement to the conflict as it sapped his popularity and sent oil prices
soaring. Netanyahu told his cabinet that "with an agreement or without an
agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons",
a goal he has long alleged Tehran is pursuing. Netanyahu last week also ordered
fresh strikes on Lebanon in response to what Israel called a ceasefire violation
by Iran-backed Hezbollah, just as Israel and Lebanon were holding US-mediated
talks. The Gaza plan was the latest stage in a US-brokered ceasefire announced
in October that has reduced, but not ended, Israeli operations there. Hamas said
it would surrender weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing body. The plan
said Israel would begin pulling out forces in tandem with the disarmament, a
timeline it adamantly rejected. After meeting Netanyahu last week, Trump's body
implementing the deal, dubbed the Board of Peace, backtracked and said Israel
would only need to withdraw after "complete" disarmament, but it was apparently
not enough for Netanyahu.
"We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament," he said
Sunday.
Israeli offensive -
Egypt, a key mediator, called on all sides to "honor their commitments" and
refrain from action that could jeopardize progress, in a call between Foreign
Minister Badr Abdelatty and the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza,
Nickolay Mladenov. Despite Netanyahu's stance, Israel appears to have decreased
operations in Gaza since the deal was announced, but hasn't halted them
completely. Israeli gunfire on Sunday injured a child who was taken to hospital
in Khan Younis, civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said Israeli operations
in Gaza have killed 1,258 Palestinians since the ceasefire, according to the
territory's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose
figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli army has
reported five deaths in its ranks during the same period.
Iran Makes New Strait of Hormuz Demands
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open
until the United States “corrects its behavior," issuing new demands that could
shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway. Iran's state broadcaster
published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr,
who is also a commander in the Revolutionary Guard. The United States must never
threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with
Iran and its armed allies in the region. The US must lift the naval blockade of
Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It must “completely
compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release
frozen assets. The US, which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait
before ending the blockade, had no immediate comment. According to the interim
deal signed in June, a schedule to end sanctions and plan on compensation would
be part of the final deal, and negotiations would address frozen assets. Iran
has said it was close to reaching a separate deal with Oman to manage the
strait, which runs between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi earlier Saturday said they were close to reaching an agreement on
navigation. But the waterway’s reopening is contingent on other conditions, he
said in remarks shared on social media, and blamed the situation on what he
called the US violation of the interim deal.Oman said in a statement discussions
were ongoing “in a positive and constructive atmosphere,” and condemned attacks
on ships on the strait.
Iran issues demands for reopening of Hormuz
Naharnet/August 09/2026
Iran set preconditions on Saturday for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,
including compensation for war damages, complicating a potential deal to open
the waterway essential to the world economy. Tehran has imposed an effective
blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel struck Iran in late
February, and wants to charge tolls for passage, attacking ships it accuses of
attempting to circumvent its preferred route. Continued attacks in the strait,
which was free to transit before the war, led to the collapse of an April
ceasefire. Mediators have since urged both sides to return to the terms of a
June memorandum. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with
Oman over transit and management of the strait were "approaching the final
stages", but added the reopening of Hormuz "is subject to other conditions and
compensation for the violation" of the June agreement. Security chief Mohammad
Bagher Zolghadr on Saturday laid out a list of demands for reopening the strait,
including an end to the "war and aggression against Iran and its allies in
Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq". He also demanded the lifting of a parallel
U.S. naval blockade of Iran, the end of sanctions, the release of frozen assets
and compensation for wartime damage, according to remarks reported by Tasnim
news agency. Iran's Revolutionary Guards, meanwhile, said Hormuz's reopening had
"nothing to do with the negotiations between Iran and Oman", adding that the
"enemy is forced to accept Iran's conditions for the opening of the strait".
Repeated attacks -
The comments came as transit through Hormuz has dropped significantly, with Iran
targeting ships it accuses of skirting its preferred route through Iranian
waters. The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry on Saturday condemned what it
called a "hostile Iranian attack that targeted a tanker belonging to ADNOC (Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company) with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of
Hormuz, without causing casualties".Later on Saturday, the United Kingdom
Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a ship was hit by a projectile off Oman
in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire that was extinguished but no casualties.
It was unclear whether they were referring to the same ship. On Friday, ADNOC
had put out a statement saying that since the start of the war, 15 of its
vessels had been attacked in Hormuz, "including three vessels this week alone".
Oman's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned "repeated attacks on vessels
transiting the Strait of Hormuz", without naming Iran. It also said that
"ongoing negotiations regarding navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz
are proceeding in a positive and constructive atmosphere", and urged against any
actions that might jeopardise the progress. The previous Iran-U.S. deal -- meant
to serve as a jumping-off point for negotiations on a permanent settlement --
had said Iran and Oman would hash out future arrangements for the strait in
discussion with other Gulf countries and "in line with the applicable
international law". International law generally forbids tolling in such
waterways.
Security agreement -
Turkey's foreign minister said Saturday he expected Egypt to join a joint
defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan designed to
stabilize the region, calling the country a "natural partner on all issues"."I
believe that at the next stage Egypt will also be among us in the alliance. We
already act toward one another as if we were alliance members," Foreign Minister
Hakan Fidan said in an interview. A drone struck U.S. assets at an Egyptian port
on the Mediterranean last month, marking the first drone attack on Egyptian
territory since the outbreak of the Iran war. Fidan said the agreement does not
target a specific country. "There is no common threat that we have put in
writing," he said, according to the news agency. Pakistan's foreign ministry
said Friday the pact meant an attack on any member would be regarded as an
attack on all, adding it was "intended to strengthen collective deterrence".
Middle EastWorld
Iran’s Pezeshkian Recently Met Supreme Leader Khamenei, State Media Says
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei around
the start of the president's third year in office in late July, state media said
on Sunday, and a paramilitary leader promised footage of Khamenei in the future.
Pezeshkian has given differing accounts in recent weeks about his access to
Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he succeeded his father in the
role in March. On July 21, the president said interactions with the supreme
leader were "increasing day by day", but in early August he said communicating
with Khamenei was "very difficult".The late July meeting covered military
affairs and the economy, including securing resources, managing foreign exchange
and energy use, as well as economic ties with foreign partners, according to
state media. In May, state media also reported that Pezeshkian had met
Khamenei for several hours, in what was then the first publicly reported
meeting between the two since Khamenei became supreme leader. Khamenei was
reportedly seriously injured in the February 28 strike that killed his father
and predecessor, Ali Khamenei on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
He had also generally kept a low public profile before becoming supreme
leader. Basij Organization deputy Qasem Qoraishi said on Sunday that footage and
other documentation showing Khamenei among the public and out in the streets, as
well as in meetings with armed forces commanders, would be released in the
future.Qoraishi said the footage would "once again bring disgrace upon the
enemies and detractors of the Iranian people." The comments appeared aimed at
countering speculation about Khamenei's health and lack of public appearances.
Iran Says Won't Reopen Hormuz Without US Meeting All
Tehran's Conditions
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday they would not reopen the Strait of
Hormuz until the United States met all of Tehran's conditions set out the day
before, including compensation for war damages. Iran has imposed an effective
blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel attacked in late
February, and wants to charge tolls for passage, striking ships it accuses of
attempting to circumvent its preferred route.Continued attacks in the waterway,
which was free to transit before the war, led to the collapse of an April
ceasefire. Mediators have urged both sides to return to the terms of a
subsequent June memorandum that set out a path for peace talks.Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Oman over transit and management
of the strait were "approaching the final stages,” but added that the reopening
of Hormuz "is subject to other conditions and compensation for the violation" of
the June agreement. He denied on Sunday that Iran was negotiating with the US,
saying they were merely "exchanging messages" via intermediaries. Iran's
security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr on Saturday laid out a list of demands
for reopening the strait, including an end to the "war and aggression against
Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq.”He also demanded the
lifting of a US counterblockade of Iranian ports, the end of sanctions, the
release of frozen assets and compensation for wartime damage, according to
remarks reported by the Tasnim news agency. Iran's Revolutionary Guards on
Sunday said their strategy was to maintain the closure "until the enemy accepts
all our conditions... the strait is now actually a theatre of war for us and not
just a waterway.”
Saudi Arabia Welcomes UN Statement Condemning Houthi
Attacks on the Kingdom, Commercial Vessels
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed a UN Security Council
statement condemning the missile attacks launched by the Houthi terrorist
militia against Saudi Arabia since July 13, as well as the attacks targeting
commercial vessels since July 22.
The ministry commended on Saturday the statement for stressing the need to
adhere to international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost
among them Resolution 2216.It also underscored the critical importance of
respecting Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity,
while firmly rejecting any actions that threaten Middle East security and the
rights and freedoms of maritime navigation. The ministry reiterated its demand
that the international community fulfill its responsibilities by implementing
relevant Security Council resolutions and taking a firm stance against
violations that threaten regional stability, safe navigation, and international
trade, which undermine efforts to achieve peace in Yemen and the broader Middle
East. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering determination to preserve its
security and sovereignty, reserving the right to defend its citizens, assets,
and facilities against any attacks and to take all necessary measures in line
with international law. The ministry underscored Saudi Arabia's steadfast
support for the legitimate Yemeni government and the diplomatic efforts of the
UN Special Envoy for Yemen to achieve lasting peace and stability, enhancing
broader security across the Middle East and safeguarding international maritime
routes.
Jordan Welcomes UN Security Council Statement Condemning Houthi Attacks on Saudi
Arabia
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Jordan welcomed the United Nations Security Council statement issued on August
7, which condemned the missile attacks launched by the Houthi militia against
Saudi Arabia since July 13, as well as the attacks targeting commercial vessels
since July 22. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
emphasized the significance of the statement, which underscored the need to
uphold international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly
Resolution 2216, SPA reported. It rejected actions that threaten regional
security and the freedom of navigation. The ministry reiterated Jordan’s
unwavering support for Saudi Arabia, as well as its backing for all measures
taken to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and stability, and protect the
safety of its citizens and residents.
Bahrain, Kuwait Welcome UN Security Council Statement Condemning Houthi Attacks
Against Saudi Arabia
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Kuwait welcomed the statement issued by the members of the UN Security Council,
which condemned the missile attacks launched by the Houthi militia against Saudi
Arabia since July 13, and the attacks against commercial vessels since July 22.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Kuwait’s full appreciation for
the statement’s emphasis on the need to uphold international law and relevant
United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216. It
also welcomed the call to respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Yemen, and to reject actions that threaten regional
security and the rights and freedoms of maritime navigation, SPA reported.
Kuwait reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all
measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty and security. It also
reaffirmed its support for the legitimate Yemeni government and for the efforts
of the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for Yemen to achieve peace,
security, and stability in Yemen. For his part, Bahrain also welcomed the
statement issued by the members of the United Nations Security Council
condemning the missile attacks launched by the Houthi terrorist militia against
the Kingdom and threatening the safety of commercial vessels, and which
underscored the importance of upholding international law, relevant Security
Council resolutions, Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial
integrity, and freedom of maritime navigation.
According to SPA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Bahrain’s full
solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard
its sovereignty, security, stability, and vital interests, emphasizing that
Saudi Arabia’s security and stability are integral to the security of Bahrain
and all Gulf states. The ministry expressed Bahrain’s appreciation for the
diplomatic, developmental, and humanitarian efforts undertaken by Saudi Arabia,
under its leadership of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, in support
of efforts to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable political solution. It
further highlighted Saudi Arabia’s vital role in establishing the Multinational
Maritime Defense Coalition to enhance maritime security, protect freedom of
navigation and international trade, and safeguard global energy supplies.
Yemen's Houthis say struck refinery on Saudi's Red Sea coast
Agence France Presse/August 09/2026
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Sunday they had struck an oil facility
on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast after the Gulf kingdom said it had extinguished
a fire at the site. The group's military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Houthis
had "succeeded in targeting the Aramco refinery in Jizan with a drone, and the
strike was precise", adding the attack had been launched in response to Saudi
drone incursions into northwest Yemen.Aramco is Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil
company. A 2022 truce in Yemen's civil war, which Saudi Arabia entered more than
a decade ago on the side of the internationally recognised government, appeared
to have collapsed last month, with the Houthis announcing a maritime blockade of
its northern neighbour and hitting Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis
control vast swathes of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and areas on the
border with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea provinces. The Yemeni threat to shipping and
Saudi oil facilities comes in parallel with Iran's blockade of the Strait of
Hormuz, which has become the central flashpoint between Tehran and Washington
amid efforts to end the Middle East war begun by the U.S. and Israel in
February. Earlier, Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said civil response teams had
brought under control a fire at Jizan refinery without giving the cause of the
blaze. The facility was also targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels in July. "Saudi
Aramco's industrial security firefighting teams extinguished a fire that broke
out at dawn today, Sunday, at one of the facilities belonging to the Saudi
Aramco refinery in Jizan, without any injuries," the ministry said.
Syria Says Reached Deal with Moscow on Fate of Russian
Bases
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Syria said on Sunday that it reached a deal with Russia on the fate of its two
bases in the country, which Moscow once used to provide military support to
ousted leader Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Russia was a key
Assad ally during the 13-year conflict, helping to keep the former leader in
power, and his ouster in 2024 dealt a major blow to its influence in the region.
President Vladimir Putin has since worked to build relations with the new
authorities in Damascus to secure the future of Russia's only two official
military bases outside the former Soviet Union. Syria's official SANA news
agency quoted the foreign ministry as saying that the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus
naval base would be turned into "joint training and capacity-building centers,
within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests". The memorandum of
understanding, which followed a year and a half of negotiations, "set a time
limit of no more than three months to complete the process", SANA said. In the
meantime, civilian facilities at both bases will be handed over to Damascus.
Russia has yet to officially comment on the agreement. Both the Hmeimim and
Tartus bases had remained operational while talks were ongoing.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the sites on Sunday "to
inspect the facilities and installations included in the historic memorandum of
understanding", according to SANA.
'Important step'
Omar al-Hasri, head of Syria's Civil Aviation Authority, said the body was
taking control of Latakia's international airport, a civilian facility adjacent
to Hmeimim whose operations were closely linked to Russia's presence. "The
Authority's specialized teams have begun the technical and operational
assessment of the airport, its facilities and systems, in preparation for
developing a plan to rehabilitate it," Hasri said. He called the move "an
important step towards restoring and operating Syrian airports and reintegrating
them into the national civil aviation system". Syria has expressed a willingness
to cooperate with Moscow, and President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been received by
Putin in Moscow twice since taking over. During Sharaa's last visit in January,
Putin said "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate
relations", commending Sharaa for his "efforts to restore Syria's territorial
integrity".
While Sharaa praised Russia's "historic role" in Syria and the region, Damascus
has repeatedly demanded that it extradite Assad, who has been sheltering in
Moscow with his wife since his ouster. Earlier this year, the Kremlin withdrew
its forces from the Qamishli airport in Syria's northeast.
Barzani Relays Zaidi-Sharaa Messages, Paves Way for Damascus Visit
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are stepping up
security and political coordination, with Erbil backing Baghdad’s push to bring
weapons under state control while working to bridge differences between Iraq and
Syria, informed sources said.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan
Barzani’s recent visit to Damascus helped ease mutual concerns between Baghdad
and Damascus over bilateral ties and unresolved political and security issues.
They said Barzani carried messages between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and helped pave the way for a possible visit by
al-Zaidi to Damascus. The diplomatic push comes as Baghdad seeks closer security
coordination with Erbil, including over efforts to place weapons exclusively
under state control.
The State Administration Coalition, which includes major political forces and
the president of the Kurdistan Region, has made the issue a priority. According
to a press statement, the coalition set Sept. 30 as the deadline for armed
factions to surrender their weapons, warning that those who refuse could face
action under the counterterrorism law. Kurdistan Regional Government Prime
Minister Masrour Barzani said his government supported Baghdad’s efforts to
bring weapons under state control and did not want the region drawn into any
regional conflict. In televised remarks carried by Kurdish media on Saturday,
Barzani said the Kurdistan Region had been hit by more than 1,000 rocket and
drone attacks, some originating from Iran and others launched from inside Iraq
by armed factions.He denied that US troops were stationed at Harir Air Base in
Erbil, saying there had been no US military presence there for about 10 years.
Barzani said the region had not been pressured to join the war and that its
priority was to protect its territory and remain outside regional conflicts.
Security coordination
Political and security sources said cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil
extended beyond the weapons issue to intelligence and security
information-sharing and coordination on domestic security matters. Majid
Shingali, a senior Kurdistan Democratic Party official, told Asharq Al-Awsat
that the Kurdistan Region backed efforts to bring weapons under state control
and supported al-Zaidi’s government on the issue. He said the region was among
the areas hardest hit by attacks carried out by armed factions during the war
between the United States and Iran. Some strikes targeted facilities and
oilfields and disrupted the operations of companies working in the region, he
added. On the US presence, Shingali said Harir Air Base hosted no American
forces, but that Iraqi-US security coordination continued in Erbil, similar to
arrangements in Baghdad. Security expert Sarmad al-Bayati said coordination
between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government operated on
several levels, including intelligence cooperation and the exchange of
information and wanted individuals. He also said Harir Air Base was free of US
forces, while Iraqi-US security coordination continued around Erbil airport
under arrangements similar to those at Baghdad airport. The Kurdistan Regional
Government denies having official relations with Israel, while Barzani has said
foreign policy is the responsibility of the federal government. He also said the
region’s ties with Damascus were developing and that relations with Türkiye were
good and marked by cooperation.
Ukraine's Zelensky says up to 50,000 North Korean troops to be deployed in
Russia
LBCI/August 09/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said up to 50,000 North Korean
soldiers will be deployed in Russia to fight for Pyongyang's ally, while calling
on South Korea to provide support for its air defense. Zelensky said on X on
Saturday that "a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to
be deployed on the territory of Russia", a higher figure than his estimate of
30,000 in July. He did not elaborate on how he obtained the information. He said
Kyiv had found some North Korean missiles in Ukraine's territory, without
disclosing their locations."It is absolutely clear that North Korea will
continue to build its experience in modern warfare, receive licenses from
Russia, and receive all kinds of military tools from them," he said. Urging
Seoul to have closer cooperation with Kyiv, Zelensky said that Ukraine "would
very much like to receive support from South Korea in an area where we have a
shortage", referring to its air defense systems.
Ukraine, Russia Accuse Each Other of Lethal Attacks, Odesa
Port Damaged
Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
Ukraine and Russia accused each other of lethal attacks on Sunday, as President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Moscow was targeting global food security by striking
Odesa's seaport. Three people were killed and 37 wounded in the eastern
Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, where a multi-storey apartment block was hit, while
authorities in Russia's Belgorod said five were killed and 25 wounded by a
Ukrainian drone attack. Zelenskiy said Odesa's seaport had been damaged by a
strike. Local authorities said dozens of drones and missiles hit the southern
seaside city, wounding a dozen people. "In this way, the Russians are at war
with the world's food security," Zelenskiy said. Odesa's seaports are the
artery for Ukraine's vast agricultural exports. He said Russia also hit nine
other Ukrainian regions on Sunday. Russia has been bombarding Odesa in an
attempt to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea. "Everyone who lives in Odesa
knows that the most common target is around the port area," said 67-year-old
Ihor, a local resident whose apartment narrowly escaped destruction. As Ukraine
seeks to disrupt Russia's revenues for waging war, it has hit Russian oil
tankers and other cargo vessels in the Black Sea, claiming another three such
strikes on Sunday. Both sides have launched a broader campaign against the
other's logistics, with e-commerce warehouses on both sides and Ukraine's petrol
stations coming under heavy attack during the summer months. Ukraine's state oil
and gas giant Naftogaz said attacks on its facilities had increased
significantly over the last three days, including on oil extraction facilities
overnight. Ukraine's energy ministry said Russia had attacked power facilities
in the Odesa region, causing a "significant amount" of the port city's residents
to lose electricity overnight. It said power had already been restored to 90,000
consumers. Russia's Defense Ministry said it hit fuel storage facilities "used
in the interests" of the Ukrainian military in the ports of Odesa and nearby
Chornomorsk. In the Vatican, Pope Leo on Sunday renewed his calls for an end to
the 4-1/2-year war. "Tragic incidents are multiplying, causing an ever-growing
number of civilian victims, including children," the pontiff said before
worshippers gathered for Sunday's Angelus prayer.
The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published
on August 09-10/2026
Making Policy: Marxist Rainbows and Mob Shock Troops
Peter Huessy/Gatestone Institute/August 09/2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22751/marxist-rainbows-mob-shock-troops
Ever since the time of Karl Marx, communists and their socialist brethren
assumed that the envy of financial success would attract the proletariat to
carry out a workers' revolution in the rich countries of the West. It turned
out, however, that even the poor would like to be rich.
In America, instead of locking up the wealthy or stealing their money, the poor
tried to figure out how to get rich themselves.
Given America's economic liberty, nearly every day, a typical American worker
likely hears of some ordinary guy inventing some gizmo or figuring out how to
sell millions of the same thing -- and meanwhile getting wealthy.
[T]he "Democratic Socialists of America" winning primaries and elections around
the nation are almost entirely foreign-born immigrants or first-generation
descendants of newcomers, some even originally illegal aliens.
Note that the race, ethnicity and gender of all "people of color" are inherited
characteristics: none has any connection to merit. Once proclaimed to be part of
the oppressed, you are in that class forever, unable to escape.
Conversely, once described as part of the oppressor class — white and successful
— you also can never exit it. You are stuck for eternity, unless you are an
exempted billionaire such as George Soros or a multi-millionaire such as
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren or Representative Ro Khanna. They
get a special dispensation.
The story of America that needs telling is, for instance, its extraordinary
campaign to end slavery, and to extend freedom and liberty to billions of people
worldwide.
That the US inherited slavery is what the noxious "1619 Project" missed, so they
could sell slavery as a permanent "oppressor" brand on our Founders.
The first legislative act of the 14th US state, Vermont, was to abolish slavery.
Why does no one in the US ever protest the slavery that persists in the rest of
the planet?
Ever since the time of Karl Marx, communists and their socialist brethren
assumed that the envy of financial success would attract the proletariat to
carry out a workers' revolution in the rich countries of the West. It turned
out, however, that even the poor would like to be rich.
Ever since the time of Karl Marx, communists and their socialist brethren
assumed that the envy of financial success would attract the proletariat to
carry out a workers' revolution in the rich countries of the West. It turned
out, however, that even the poor would like to be rich.
In America, instead of locking up the wealthy or stealing their money, the poor
tried to figure out how to get rich themselves.
Given America's economic liberty, nearly every day, a typical American worker
likely hears of some ordinary guy inventing some gizmo or figuring out how to
sell millions of the same thing -- and meanwhile getting wealthy.
So, how to lead a revolution if not with the workers rebelling against the rich,
or in the language of today, the "oligarchs" and "billionaires"?
In 1984, Reverend Jessie Jackson created the "Rainbow Coalition." The poor were
of different races, so Jackson wanted all races to be included in this pursuit
of prosperity. Years prior, the Chinese Communist Party under Chairman Mao
Zedong had recommended that the communists in the USA exploit racial -- not
class or economic -- identity to win elections. Mao might have reasoned that in
the US, since as people of certain races were historically oppressed and slavery
was exhibit #1, the white majority could be classed as "oppressors." Add up
everyone else, include women, gays, lesbians and bisexuals, and you easily win
the "oppressed" majority sweepstakes.
Race-hustling is big business. The four Reverends — Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah
Wright, Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan — made it clear: No colonialists,
imperialists or Zionists allowed, and that meant white people. Jackson himself
led demonstrations highlighting that Western "white" civilization "had to go."
In short, only the "right" kinds of races, ethnicities, cultures and genders
were allowed in the "Rainbow."
Unfortunately, Sharpton, Joy Reid and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani today have
fertile ground with which to spread racial division.
In 1965, twenty years before Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition," the US markedly
changed its immigration laws. One lead advocate was Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Key sponsors Emanuel Celler (D-NY) and Phil Hart (D-MI) vehemently argued —
explicitly — that the legislation was not seeking to change the racial
demography or ethnic makeup of the country or "America's western European
heritage."
In fact, nevertheless, that was exactly what the 1965 bill was designed to do --
and its sponsors knew it. The demography of America had to change. Following the
new law, the very American constitutional system that was deemed "oppressive"
was out.
Now, some 70 years later, the transformation is well underway. 56 million
people, or 16% of the US population, are now foreign-born. Ten to twenty million
more may be here illegally. Not coincidentally, the "Democratic Socialists of
America" winning primaries and elections around the nation are almost entirely
foreign-born immigrants or first-generation descendants of newcomers, some even
originally illegal aliens.
Many also come from nations that are economic and political failures, often
totalitarian, some Marxist. As Dave Portnoy, CEO of Barstool Sports, put it:
"How we've gotten to socialism is somehow seen as this thing that's gonna fix
the United States, and by the way, the people who are saying it have all
migrated from countries that are disasters to come to the United States!"
To escape Marxism, they bring it with them, then want to establish it here in
America.
Those following in the footsteps of Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition" pushed for the
"right" kind of immigration: "people of color." The assumption appears to be
that people from failed third-world nations are largely poor, so that they are
probably socialist in their political outlook: expecting to get the free health
care, food stamps, housing subsidies and in-state tuition offered by America,
irrespective of whether they arrive as illegal aliens or come through legal
immigration channels.
Note that the race, ethnicity and gender of all "people of color" are inherited
characteristics: none has any connection to merit. Once proclaimed to be part of
the oppressed, you are in that class forever, unable to escape.
Conversely, once described as part of the oppressor class — white and successful
— you also can never exit it. You are stuck for eternity, unless you are an
exempted billionaire such as George Soros or a multi-millionaire such as
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren or Representative Ro Khanna. They
get a special dispensation.
The oppressed — including the immigrant or alien class, legal or illegal — can
be expanded forever, never to be depleted. Note that Mamdani's "ethnic map" of
New York excluded the Italians, Irish and Jews — all white, even as it was was
careful to highlight people such as Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, as part of the
newly arrived oppressed class who are promised more and more free stuff—
housing, medical care, groceries and education. The Democratic Socialists of
America even call for a 32-hour workweek, while still being paid for 40 hours.
As for immigration, Senator Mark Warner (D-Va) proclaimed that once you get by
the border patrol or customs, the US owes you amnesty, citizenship -- but most
importantly, the right to vote. That is apparently what is meant by reforming --
actually abolishing -- ICE. If we are lucky, we might get to keep some border
patrol elements "for show."
The meaning, then, of US citizenship — as well as the idea of America and its
constitution — would be abolished. The US Constitution would be shredded and the
entire notion of checks and balances discarded, replaced by the tyranny of a
straight-up majority or "mob rule." There would be no president, no Senate, no
Supreme Court and certainly no Electoral College. Marchers in the street might
demand "No justice, no peace," just as the "turbas divinas" or "divine mobs"
(civilian paramilitary shock troops of Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega) did,
where street violence becomes law -- as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
might have hoped when he called for violence against Supreme Court justices:
"I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released
the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go
forward with these awful decisions."
Not only would the constitutional system of checks and balances and limited
powers disappear, but also all notions of accomplishment and merit. In the US,
medical students and doctors are being promoted and chosen due to their ethnic,
racial or gender characteristics, all of which are inherited and not "achieved,"
unless, as Ward Churchill or Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren, you "falsely
appropriate acquisition" to be part of the class of the oppressed. Many of these
"Democratic Socialists" now want to defund not only the police and border patrol
but also the Department of Defense. In short, they are announcing that they
would like to turn the country over to criminals, drug dealers, traffickers and
conquerors. No prisons, no borders, no accountability. It is much easier that
way to take over a country. You create chaos, then rush in heroically with
promises to fix it -- the old "you are the arsonist and firefighter" two-step.
In this new society, merit is dismissed as a result of "white privilege" rather
than as a measure or value of accomplishment. Only skin color or ethnicity has
merit. Even medical schools in America have been valuing race as a measure of
medical competency, leading to its explicit prohibition last year.
As merit goes out the window, education test scores are not needed. School
choice is demonized. Catholic schools? More "white privilege." The Smithsonian
Institute published a 3rd to 12th grade school study guide that complains,
"Whiteness: an ideology that reinforces power at the expense of others."
Measurements of teaching are not based on whether the students end up knowing
anything, but only if the right ideological content is taught by the "right"
kind of instructor who is of the "right" race, ethnicity, gender or sexual
orientation.
The entire "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) fraud is part of this clever
campaign to remake America into another China or Cuba by using race and
ethnicity as the lever.
The story of America that needs telling is, for instance, its extraordinary
campaign to end slavery, and to extend freedom and liberty to billions of people
worldwide.
That the US inherited slavery is what the noxious "1619 Project" missed, so they
could sell slavery as a permanent "oppressor" brand on our Founders.
The first legislative act of the 14th US state, Vermont, was to abolish slavery.
Why does no one in the US ever protest the slavery that persists in the rest of
the planet?
*Peter Huessy is a Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrent Studies
and Dr. Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research
Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22751/marxist-rainbows-mob-shock-troops
© 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.
The Need to Curb the Chaos
Sawsan al-Shaer/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
More than one international coalition is now taking shape to confront the
actions of militias across the region, whose activities threaten security and
stability and endanger international shipping. The more countries that join
these coalitions, and the more closely those coalitions coordinate with one
another, the greater the pressure on these militias will become. If Iran-backed
groups and militias refuse to be deterred, the international coalitions will
nevertheless have fulfilled their responsibility. No non-state group can be
allowed to take its own people, along with the rest of the world, hostage and
hold the threat over them indefinitely. Nor can the world be protected from the
danger posed by such groups without taking steps to curb the chaos. With the
trilateral alliance agreed in Mecca, another front has now emerged to confront
the coercive tactics employed by these groups. In this way, the international
community can stand up to such blackmail. Confronting armed groups is no longer
an individual choice for any one state. It requires collective action to protect
supply chains, keep international corridors open, and pursue peace and security.
The responsibility for ending this coercion, therefore, can no longer rest with
a single state. It has become an international responsibility. As for the
negotiations currently underway with Iran, they are little more than an attempt
to buy time. The process may take a long time, but it will not be like before.
Many countries believe the delay has gone on long enough and that the situation
has become intolerable. People around the world are suffering as a result of
this coercion. These countries will therefore certainly respond positively to
efforts to put an end to it, because their economies have been harmed by these
continuing acts of recklessness. It has taken time since the beginning of the
US-Iran war, during which Iran attacked the Gulf states and threatened the
region's waterways. But everyone now understands that delaying collective action
only deepens the crisis, increases the threat posed by militias, and aggravates
international tensions. The need, therefore, is for swift, coordinated action to
convince Iran that this conduct is damaging the global economy.
The Major Option
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
The surprise agreement was given the name of Makkah. In its name, it assumed
responsibility for security at a time of turmoil and amid an increasingly
volatile global situation. No gesture or initiative was left untried in the
effort to ease tensions with Iran. And Iran bombed every one of them.The Asian
triangle whose creation was announced in Makkah is a natural and direct response
to this rampant belligerence. Three established powers have finally recognized
that, in times of upheaval, deterrence is indispensable.
Since World War II, Türkiye has remained one of NATO's strongest members.
Pakistan, meanwhile, played a pivotal role in establishing the relationship
between the United States and China. Both countries have maintained close and
longstanding ties with the Kingdom since the days of King Abdulaziz.
These relationships have always been distinctive in character, as evidenced
across numerous fields, including the military and economic spheres. But the
hostile climate Iran has created across the region has compelled the three
countries to move from historic ties to a fully fledged alliance.The so-called
resistance states have long favored grandiloquent political language, with
"strategic patience" among the most familiar expressions. Judging from Iran's
reaction to the Makkah Agreement, Tehran appears to have exhausted every measure
of strategic patience.
One Iranian lawmaker said that a "piece of paper" could not guarantee the
security of the parties concerned. Perhaps not. But what can guarantee anything
in a world that does not know what each new day will bring? A world
instinctively divided against itself: one part governed by norms, laws, and the
principles of statehood, and another by contempt for the law and for the basic
principles of normal international relations. Three Muslim states, each an
established pillar of the international community, have signed their pledge
under the auspices of Makkah: a commitment to protect this ummah from a
civilization of tentacles.
Hamas: Questions After Relinquishing Rule and Arms
Nabil Amr/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
So far, Hamas has spoken in the language of justification for what it did. Some
believe its account, while others reject it. This is a natural state of affairs
for a political movement that went through a complex experience: governing an
isolated and blockaded territory, then entering a military war against a power
with overwhelming superiority over it, not only in weaponry but also in
geography and alliances. By its own calculations, Hamas embarked on the most
dangerous military operation carried out inside Israel since its establishment.
After successfully executing an operation whose success would have been beyond
even the wildest imagination, it began looking for allies or partners to enter
the post-October 7 war, under the banner of liberating Al-Aqsa and inflicting a
strategic defeat on Israel.
To preserve the credibility of Hezbollah's doctrine, Hassan Nasrallah responded
to Hamas's call and entered what became known as the "support front", a war he
waged without sufficient Lebanese backing and amid an Iranian neutrality that
surprised Hamas more than anyone else.
Halfway through, Hezbollah withdrew its support, leaving Hamas alone to confront
Israel. Israel, for its part, did not stop where it had stopped in previous
wars. Instead, it seized the opportunity to wage a war aimed at Hamas's physical
destruction and at radically reshaping the Palestinian cause politically. Given
American backing for Israel's war in Gaza, as well as its wars that expanded to
other fronts, it became clear that ending Hamas's military and governing
presence in Gaza was merely a matter of time.
Hamas resisted for as long as it could, inflicting significant losses in
personnel and equipment on the Israeli ground invasion. Yet, as Gaza's de facto
ruler, it was unable to provide even the most basic necessities for the millions
under its rule. This placed it in an extraordinarily difficult position and
forced it into a series of reluctant concessions, beginning with the release of
the first group of hostages it held and continuing to the present, when those
concessions have reached the point of declaring its abandonment of governance in
Gaza and agreeing to end the role of its armed forces, either by handing over
its weapons or placing them in storage.
Israel, meanwhile, which occupies three-quarters of Gaza's territory and
controls the whole of it through blockade and firepower, rejected the formula,
seeking instead the image of an absolute victory. The initiatives, which are the
more palatable term for concessions, lose their value once an adversary becomes
certain that they are made under duress and that there are no alternatives, or
that they concern appearances rather than substance.
The image Hamas seeks is to preserve its dignity in the wake of its decision to
relinquish its weapons. Israel, however, will not allow it that. It is eager for
the opposite image: humiliating Hamas in a manner that gives Netanyahu a
platform for boasting and lends credibility to his claim of an absolute victory,
a victory he promised Israelis from the earliest days of the war. Hamas was
forced, based on its reading of the balance of power between itself, or what
remains of it on the ground in Gaza, and Israel, to agree to everything demanded
of it. Much of what it has now accepted, it had previously described as red
lines from which there could be no retreat. This rendered its concessions
meaningless, because they were offered before Israel's response had been
established and before Israel had accepted the principle that concessions should
carry a price. Israel pocketed everything Hamas offered and treated it as credit
that could be used in its pursuit of further and greater concessions. Even the
latest concession, made at Trump's request through his senior envoy, Mladenov,
and described as a historic breakthrough, was rejected by Israel. Israel claimed
that the agreement had been reached between Hamas and Mladenov and that it had
no involvement in it. The question that no one but Hamas can answer is this:
What will it do after its reluctant surrender of governance in Gaza, as well as
its relinquishment of the use of arms? The question concerns not only its
present and future existence, but inevitably the Palestinian condition in all
its dimensions. Will it voluntarily announce its transformation into a political
party or political organization, under whatever name, with no present or future
connection to armed activity? Will it compete for leadership of the Palestinian
people after having been given an opportunity to govern Gaza for many years,
with all that transpired during that period? Does what happened to Gaza qualify
it to lead the Palestinian national movement in all its breadth? And will it
accept, without reservation, Mahmoud Abbas's conditions for partnership? The
most important of these, of course, is a commitment to the obligations
undertaken by the Palestine Liberation Organization, without overlooking the
conditions imposed by others, which may prove even harsher than Abbas's. These
are the questions of the post-Gaza-governance phase. They were put to Hamas in
the past, before the Al-Aqsa Flood, and Hamas refused to answer them. Now,
however, there is no room left for refusal. Whatever the answers may be, they
will be both decisive and unavoidable.
From Exporting Chaos to Importing It
Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Asharq Al Awsat/August 09/2026
My friend Mishary al-Dhayidi wrote in this newspaper a few days ago that anyone
seeking to understand the Iranian regime's behavior cannot rest on judging it by
his own logic; he must also try to see the world through the regime's eyes.
The idea struck me as a key to an important dimension of current Iranian policy,
but it led me to another question. What happens when this mind travels beyond
Iran's borders and is reproduced in the organizations orbiting it - Lebanon's
Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, the loyalist factions in Iraq? This is where
the real, thorny story begins. Looking at those groups, known as the "arms," one
might assume they are distinct experiments shaped by divergent local conditions.
Closer scrutiny reveals the opposite: the intellectual structure is virtually
identical, and so is the method of operation - down to the political language
used to justify keeping weapons outside the authority of the state and
preventing the national state from performing its natural functions, so that it
appears incapacitated and deformed. In Lebanon, we are told the weapons will not
be surrendered before a full Israeli withdrawal from the south. In Yemen, the
Houthis tie the future of their weapons to bringing the whole country under
their authority. In Iraq, we hear again and again that the armed groups will not
give up their weapons before foreign forces leave. These look like different
slogans, but they serve one function: postponing the emergence of the state
indefinitely. Even if the conditions were met, these groups would not submit to
the national state, because they were created in the first place to bind the
state to the Iranian project. The purpose of their existence is to hollow out
the modern substance of the Arab state and mortgage it to a regional power that
deploys it for its own ends of domination. The conditions are less final
objectives than instruments for perpetuating the status quo. Meet one, and
another appears; remove one adversary, and a new one emerges. Anyone who
imagines the problem is tied to a temporary political cause is reading the
phenomenon from the outside rather than the inside. Within this structure,
weapons are not a means but the very source of legitimacy - the thing that lets
a minority within society control them at a remove from the state. Whoever
criticizes this is demonized, charged with the ugliest accusations, and may be
eliminated, even if he comes from within the same group.This is why these
organizations treat negotiations conducted by the national state not as a path
to ending the conflict, but as a way to manage it. They may enter a truce,
negotiate for a time, or accept a partial settlement, but they steer clear of
the moment when the state recovers its monopoly on the use of force. At that
point a settlement becomes a danger to them, because it means the end of the
role for which they were created. And they have no objection to waging a civil
war to entrench permanent division within a single society.
For a long time, the prevailing belief was that Iran's own military was
different from these models, since the Revolutionary Guard is part of the state
rather than an organization operating outside it. Recent developments, however,
invite a second look. The controversy stirred by Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi's statements - what he disclosed about the backstage of managing
negotiations and making decisions, and the subsequent blocking of the interview
and the curbs on its circulation in the Iranian media - has revived a question
rarely posed with such force: who holds final decision-making power inside Iran?
The truth is that the military - the Revolutionary Guard - has become an
independent component. It was created to be the "protector of the revolution,"
but it has developed interests that conflict with the state's, and statements by
the Iranian president and others bear that out. This is why the world hears one
thing and its opposite out of Iran from one period to the next, with noone
certain what lies behind the words.The question is no less important than any
negotiating file. If the state is negotiating while other centers of power can
alter or obstruct the course, then we are looking at a picture familiar from
Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, except that this time it is appearing inside Iran
itself. Herein lies the paradox: the model Tehran helped entrench beyond its
borders has begun to impose its questions on Tehran. The issue here is not the
nuclear file, nor sanctions, nor the details of the relationship with
Washington. These are all important files, but they remain the reflection of a
deeper problem. The root of the crisis is the rise of an ideological structure
that holds itself superior to the institutions of the state, and commands enough
weaponry and economic resources to impose its will even when the state is
pursuing a different course.
This structure has managed to establish, in more than one country, what might be
called the "parallel state." But history tells us the parallel state does not
always stay outside the borders where it was created. It carries its logic with
it wherever it goes, including into the state where it was born. Perhaps the
gravest feature of the Iranian experiment is that it exported the model of dual
decision-making to its surroundings, only to find itself facing the same
question at home. States can endure sanctions, weather economic crises, and even
hold out through wars. They rarely survive when decision-making is split between
two heads, each with its own legitimacy, its own weapons, and its own
calculations. At that point the real danger lies not in one's adversaries, but
in the division growing inside the state itself. A final word: once the guns
fall silent, one of the likeliest outcomes is that the world will see the end of
the project.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on August 09/2026
Joe Wilson
The mutual defense pact of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan is another
achievement of
@POTUS promoting stability, peace, and prosperity in the Middle East. With our
prosperous Gulf allies, a liberated Syria, and Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, it
is clear the murderous regime in Iran is isolated and the people of Iran can
regain a new government worthy of Iran’s rich history.
Barak Ravid
Netanyahu: "Israel rejects the Gaza Board of Peace 15-point document. The IDF
will not make any withdrawal until Hamas disarms. I mean the heavy weapons, the
less heavy weapons, all the weapons. And we are talking about real disarmament,
not fictitious disarmament"
Phil Gordon
U.S. acceptance of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz is an extraordinary
outcome only made conceivable by an administration that squandered legitimacy,
alienated allies, attempted regime change in a war it had not adequately
prepared for and that is being forced to accept a catastrophic outcome without
viable alternatives. Counterfactuals are impossible to prove but in other
circumstances Iran's closure of Strait by brazenly attacking maritime traffic
and neighbors' civilian infrastructure would likely have justified and led to a
united, global response--like the U.S.-led naval escort mission during the
Iran-Iraq war, the global coalition that reversed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in
1991, the multinational naval force enforcing UN sanctions in the Gulf in the
1990s, or the UN Security Council sanctions on the Iranian nuclear program in
the 2010s--that led to the JCPOA. Instead US and other countries are now being
forced to accept an outcome that would have been unthinkable before the war but
seems to have become unavoidable because of it.
ראש ממשלת ישראל
@IsraeliPM_heb
https://x.com/IsraeliPM_heb/status/2086406673946599770/video/1
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the government meeting:
"You've certainly noticed an interesting point - Iran is attacking all the
countries in the region, even outside the region, but there is one country it is
not attacking - the State of Israel. So far it hasn't attacked, it may attack,
but why have long weeks passed and it hasn't attacked us? Because it knows what
a devastating blow we will land on it if it does that.
I'm saying this because lately, in the last two days, we've been flooded with a
wave of rumors about Israeli weakness and Israeli retreats on all fronts. The
funniest thing is that these attacks are coming from people who preached to
withdraw from all of the Gaza Strip, not to enter Lebanon at all, and not to
strike Iran. So I'm asking to go through with you briefly front by front.
First of all, Iran - I greatly appreciate President Trump. He is a great friend
of ours in the White House. I greatly appreciate the historic partnership with
the United States against Iran's attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons.
And I want to emphasize again: with an agreement or without an agreement, as
long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Because the
existence of our precious state, the state of all of us, the existence of
Israel, is not up for negotiation.
Regarding Lebanon - even in Lebanon we're hearing all sorts of rumors. I want to
clarify: in recent days, Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminated
terrorists, including in the Ali Taher ridge. I can't detail this. We're in the
midst of a very important operation. We're working with sound judgment and
wisdom. Both with determination and with wisdom with the Israel Defense Forces
and eliminating threats.
As for the Gaza Strip - first of all, I want to clarify the main thing: as long
as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will arise - not in Gaza and not in
Judea and Samaria. Neither 'Fatahstan' nor 'Hamasstan.'
As for specific things coming up in the news lately, I want to be precise here:
Israel rejects the 15-point document.
I heard people saying: 'You didn't say it.' So here I am saying it again: Israel
rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until
Hamas is disarmed. And when I say disarming Hamas of its weapons, that means the
heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons, all the weapons. And we're talking about
real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament. Now we're talking to the Americans
about this issue. They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some
are not acceptable to us, and we know how to stand firm on these things. We've
proven it in the past and we're proving it today as well. In addition, the IDF
will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our civilians.
The existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens is not up for
negotiation. We stand firm on these interests. We're doing this not in
advertising offices, we're doing this for real in the field. We've proven it all
the time when we entered Rafah, and the Philadelphi Corridor, when we entered
Lebanon and eliminated Nasrallah there and the rocket stockpile, when we
attacked Iran twice. Contrary to all those who preach to us, we do what needs to
be done for Israel's security and we can and know how to stand our ground even
against our best friends when necessary."
Video: Royi Avraham / GPO
Sound: Yechzekel Kandil / GPO
Shay Gal שי גל
@ShayGal84
·Riyadh Bought Allies Who Need Its Enemy More Than Its Victory
A new Line of State statecraft position, published in @IsraelHayomEng
Saudi Arabia accepted Turkish and Pakistani wars. Ankara and Islamabad
did not accept Riyadh’s.
Turkey sells Riyadh protection from an Iran it needs alive. It trades with
Tehran, profits from its isolation and benefits when Houthi disruption at Bab
al-Mandab and Suez reprices the Middle Corridor. Turkish territory and firms
have served Houthi finance and procurement networks. Tehran arms the pressure.
Ankara monetises it.Pakistan sells Riyadh force with a ceiling. It will defend
Saudi territory, preserve its channels to Tehran and mediate before it helps
destabilise Iran. Islamabad offers protection precisely where Saudi victory must
stop.
Riyadh pays for both in sovereignty. It duplicated the GCC’s core guarantee
outside the Gulf, imported Qatar’s Turkish protector into Saudi security and
rejected the Emirati autonomy that had built the Houthi buffer Riyadh itself
needed. Abu Dhabi protected Saudi interests more effectively than Riyadh
protected its own.Then Riyadh put the same contradiction inside Vision 2030.
IMEC needs Saudi Arabia to become India’s dependable bridge to Europe. Riyadh
made Pakistan’s security its obligation and Turkey, whose competing Middle
Corridor profits from disrupted southern routes, its security partner.
The Middle Corridor makes Turkey the gate. IMEC makes Saudi Arabia the bridge.
Riyadh chose the gatekeeper. Jerusalem chose the
inverse architecture: Saudi cooperation can help; Saudi consent cannot decide.
Riyadh was never in Jerusalem’s decision chain. Ankara and Islamabad are now in
Riyadh’s.
Trump taught both that contradiction pays. Turkey breached alignment and was
offered renewed access. Pakistan preserved every channel and regained
Washington. Ambiguity became leverage.
Ankara sold the contradiction. Islamabad sold the ceiling. Riyadh bought both
and called it security.
🔗
https://israelhayom.com/opinions/riyadh-bought-allies-who-need-its-enemy-more-than-its-victory/
Israel-Alma
@Israel_Alma_org
·Hezbollah continues to consolidate its hold over the first pilot zone—Zawtar
al-Gharbiyeh. De facto, Hezbollah operatives are present and active within the
pilot zone under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces, establishing a
civilian foothold that will enable renewed military entrenchment at the next
stage.
After identifying the entry of Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization into
Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under the auspices of the Lebanese Armed Forces, which
deployed in the village (see our July 27 publication), in recent days we have
also identified the entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh of Hezbollah-affiliated
“Cooperate with One Another” Association—“Wataawanou” Association Charity (جمعية
"وتعاونوا" الخيرية). As with the Islamic Health Organization, the association’s
entry into Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is also taking place under the auspices of the
Lebanese Armed Forces.
Dr. Maalouf
https://x.com/realMaalouf/status/2086159567713337849/video/1
Islamic scholar and imam in Dearborn, Michigan, teaches that a wife has no right
to refuse her husband intimacy. He then offers instructions on how to punish and
hit her.
This is sick!
Shadi khalloul שאדי ח'לול
I always stated that there are no differences between Sunni and Shitte Islamic
world when it comes to policies against Non Muslims. In the past they worked
together to annihilate Christian Lebanon and now they are uniting again with the
aim to annihilate Jewish Israel.
Mosab Hassan Yousef
The $3.8 Billion Lie: Why Cutting Aid to Israel Would Sabotage America’s Power,
Not Save It. The US federal budget is about $7 trillion. That $3.8 billion to
Israel is less than 0.05% of it. The defense budget is around $960 billion. The
aerospace and defense industry generates nearly $1 trillion in sales and about
$500 billion in economic value. Most of that $3.8 billion goes right back into
American companies and jobs.
Israel’s own budget is about $220 billion. This is not charity, and Israel is
not dependent on it. If it was just a matter of money, Israel could build its
own weapons on its own. It has that capacity. But this is a real partnership,
just like any corporate partnership where each side contributes to the project.
Israeli pilots and the Israeli defense establishment operate under constant
threat from terrorists, jihadists, and anti-American entities. They make
real-time, do-or-die adjustments to equipment developed for both countries.
That is what gives American weapons their edge over Russian, Chinese, and other
competition. This is how America builds and maintains power through smart,
long-term vision.
Yet the anti-Israel crowd, including figures like Ilhan Omar and Zohran Mamdani,
tells the public that cutting this tiny fraction would make everyone rich. It’s
not just a lie. It’s ridiculous.
If people with that Robin Hood mindset gain real power, they would sabotage the
American way of investing, developing, and staying dominant. At the same time,
American Jews, roughly 7.5 million strong, contribute an estimated $250 billion
annually to the US treasury through taxes. Their bond with Israel isn’t just
strategic; it’s family.
Cutting aid to Israel while pushing to isolate it sends a clear message to this
highly productive community: your taxes may fund policies hostile to your family
and your values.
These new voices aren’t serving the American people. They’re advancing Islamic
and communist agendas, whether funded by China or anti-American Islamic regimes.
This outrage over Gaza is manufactured by the same terrorists and jihadists who
dragged Israel and America into this dirty war, using human shields and
weaponizing civilians by design to turn Americans against their own government
and allies.
Replacing a proven alliance and a successful economic fabric with dependency and
foreign interests is a dangerous gamble. The average American needs to wake up.
Nicholas Lissack
I’ve been informed that, with Trump’s full blessing, Netanyahu has ordered
assassination strikes on senior regime/IRGC officials.Expect the bloodthirsty
butchers who slaughtered 52,000 innocent Iranians to meet their maker very, very
soon.Stand by. Israel will free Iran!
Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו
Our heroic reservists give everything for the country, and they deserve
everything.
Today, we're bringing them huge good news in the field of housing.
About 20,000 opportunities to purchase an apartment or land under preferential
terms in 2026–2027. About 16,000 apartments at target prices and about 4,000
plots for ground-adjacent construction. We're increasing the priority for
reservist servers in the "Discounted Apartment" lotteries from 50% to 75% of the
apartments, with special priority for reservist combatants. The winners of
apartments will enjoy a discount of more than half a million shekels. In
National Priority Areas A, reservists will be able to receive plots for
ground-adjacent construction with full exemption from payment for the land
value, except for development costs. All this is added to about 25 billion
shekels that we've already transferred to reservists and their families in
grants and benefits.From reserves to key.
Those who defend all of our home deserve that we help him build his home.
Nadim Koteich
The “Hezbollah protects a marginalized Shia community” argument is outdated.
Lebanese Shia gained deep access to the state, capital and institutions decades
ago. Nabih Berri’s political machine is proof of that.
Hezbollah’s weapons did not protect those gains. They helped squander them:
killing Hariri, wars, isolation, collapsing investment, tourism and dollar
inflows, then economic ruin.
The real story is simpler: Hezbollah turned Shia progress into collateral for an
ideological project they do not control. The first thing Hezbollah decided to
sacrifice when it had to going Iran’s wars in 2024 and 2026 was the well being
of the Shiaa. It sad to see a super smart diplomat like Jeffrey Feltman stumble
over such a fallacy!
Greek Report
The Mecca Agreement's Fatal Flaw: It Only Works Until Washington Says No
Why the Mecca Agreement is dead on arrival?
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement declares that an attack on Turkey, Saudi
Arabia, or Pakistan is an attack on all three. On paper, deterrence. In
practice, the clause is hollow.All three depend on the United States for arms,
training and security guarantees. None can afford to trigger a clause that pits
them against Washington, NATO or Israel. Riyadh's
F-15s, Pakistan's economy, Ankara's F-16 pipeline and NATO membership all run
through American goodwill. A pact built on Islamic solidarity cannot override
that dependency, which means it carries no real weight against the West, against
Israel, or by extension against Greece and Cyprus. Compare that with the
Greece-Cyprus-Israel framework, increasingly joined by India: no sweeping
automatic-trigger rhetoric, just joint exercises, intelligence sharing,
special-forces interoperability and technology transfer, built step by step on
interests that actually converge.
Symbolic pacts photograph well. Structural ones deter.
Mosab Hassan Yousef
Muhammad was not born Jewish or Muslim, so he almost certainly wasn’t
circumcised at birth; it wasn’t part of Meccan tradition. As a grown man,
there’s no evidence he ever chopped off his own foreskin. Yet he ordered every
Muslim male after him to do exactly that, follow a Jewish tradition he himself
never practiced. Cut your dick first, then I’ll do it myself. He
kept his. They lost theirs.