English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For August 19/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.August
19.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be
exalted
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
18/09-14/:”Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that
they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee,
standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like
other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.I
fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.”But the tax-collector,
standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast
and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”I tell you, this man went down to
his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be
humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on August 18-19/2026
General Labor Confederation President Bechara Al-Asmar Appointed Chairman
of the Social Security Fund Board… What a Choice!/Elias Bejjani/August 18/2026
A Political Class Hatched by the Incubators of Occupations/Elias Bejjani/August
18/2026
The rulers & state of occupied Lebanon are mere marketing megaphones for the
occupation of the Party of Satan and their foolish mullahs./Elias Bejjani/August
15, 2026
Video link & text to an interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni
Report: No green light for Hezbollah and Israel from Iran, US
Israeli forces bulldoze lands in al-Mansouri after dawn strike
Report: Hezbollah rejects US-Arab proposal for ceding Ali al-Taher to army
Hezbollah to defend Ali al-Taher by all means, MP says
President Joseph Aoun receives Canada’s Minister of State for International
Development; Sarai affirms his country's readiness to assist in humanitarian and
development fields
Aoun says Lebanon determined to continue negotiations with Israel
Risk of Escalation in Lebanon as Israeli Military Prepares for ‘Intensified’
Fighting
Lebanese President to Visit Rome for Talks on UN Force’s Future, Says Official
What will Aoun discuss in Rome?
Lebanon to extradite Syrian Assad-era general
Hezbollah Threat to Mobilize the Street: Venting Anger or a Pressure Tactic?
What Does the Return of UNIFIL to Lebanon Mean?/Brigadier General Khaled Hamade/Al-Liwaa/August
18/2026
Passenger 53 on Flight 103: The Lebanese-American Haunted by Lockerbie in Life
and Death/London: Kawtar Wakil/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The ‘South’ Beneath the South/Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on August 18-19/2026
US slams 'unnecessary escalation' after Israeli strike on Syria
Syrian Abu al-Duhur Airport Under Fire: A Potential Israeli Strike and a Message
to Turkey?
Barak: Working on a Mechanism to Avoid Clashes Between Turkey, Israel, and Syria
Syria Accuses Israel of Striking Military Airfield
IAEA chief says found 'tons of nuclear materials' in Syria
Syria state media says 3 dead in blast at coastal power plant
Syrian Official: Trials of Assad Regime Figures Are Fair and Dedicated to War
Crimes
Tehran to Washington: We Want to End the War… No Concessions Under Pressure
Mojtaba's Absence Continues: His Brothers Appear at Ali Khamenei's 40th-Day
Commemoration
Trump suspends talks with Iran... and moves to increase economic pressure
Khatami: Squandering the Memorandum of Understanding with America Will Cost Iran
Dearly
Following repeated Iranian attacks, Abu Dhabi suspends financial transactions
with Tehran.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies all claims regarding the status of
economic relations with the Iranian regime.
Trump says no talks taking place or planned with Iran
Iran negotiator Ghalibaf says Hormuz will not open until US meets demands
Iran condemns 'suspicious' drone attack on Iraqi Kurdistan PM's office
UAE Accuses Iran of Firing Ballistic Missiles at Its Territory
Houthis Fire 5 Ballistic Missiles at Bab el-Mandeb
Houthis target refinery in southern Saudi Arabia
Ship hit on way through Strait of Hormuz
Turkey urges Trump to seek diplomatic solution to war
Iran Parliament Speaker to Visit Iraq on Wednesday
Iraq to Probe Drone Attack on Kurdistan PM’s Office
Iraq Tests Limits of State Power in Push to Rein in Armed Factions
Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas
disarming
Hamas says committed to Gaza deal after Kushner talks in Israel
Israel Demands Gaza Disarmament Begins October 7
Palestinian American returns to besieged West Bank home but Israeli settlers
remain
Sudanese Defense Minister: Rapid Support Forces Were Never Part of the Army
U.S. Escalates Against the ICC and Sanctions Its President Tomoko Akane
Baghdad: Targeting Barzani's Office Hinders Peace Efforts and Threatens Our
Security
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published
on August 18-19/2026
The newly adopted strategy of the Israeli army in its operations in Southern
Lebanon reflects a clear tactical evolution/Colonel Charbel Barakat/August
18/2026
The Helmet That Protects Everyone/Mamoun Fandy/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
Makkah Agreement Aims to Thwart Wars before They Erupt/Ahmad Mahmoud Ajaj/Asharq
Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The ‘Virtue of Stability’ Guides Saudi Policy/Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al-Awsat/August
18/2026
American missionary abducted in Niger freed after nearly 10 months of
captivity/Caleb Weiss/Long War Journal-FDD/August 18/2026
Open-Source Intel Makes U.S. Troops an Easier Target for Iran/Ari Ben Am/The
Cipher Brief/August 18/2026
Nicaragua’s War on the Catholic Church/Samuel Ben-Ur, and Connor
Pfeiffer/National Interest/August 18/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on August 19/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on August 18-19/2026
General Labor Confederation President
Bechara Al-Asmar Appointed Chairman of the Social Security Fund Board… What a
Choice!
Elias Bejjani/August 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156755/
With each passing day, enlightened, free, and sovereignty-minded
Lebanese become increasingly convinced that the tenure of Joseph Aoun and the
government of Nawaf Salam, along with most of those who revolve within the orbit
of power, the owners of the country’s political parties enterprises and
political parties agencies, and their networks of vested interests, is nothing
more than a blatant and transparent continuation of the approach that ruled
Lebanon throughout the years of Syrian and Iranian occupations.
From this perspective, the election of Bechara Al-Asmar, President of the
General Labor Confederation, as Chairman of the Board of the National Social
Security Fund can only be understood within the context of the continuation of
the same ruling establishment that brought the country to collapse and whose
real levers of power remain firmly in the hands of Nabih Berri and Hezbollah.
It is well known that the General Labor Confederation, which was supposed to
serve as the umbrella defending the rights of Lebanese workers, has for many
years been transformed into an instrument subordinate to the political
establishment and its apparatuses, losing both its independence and its genuine
trade-union role. In the eyes of large numbers of Lebanese workers, the
Confederation no longer represents their interests or aspirations. Instead, it
has become part of a system of political patronage and dependency that has
stripped national institutions of their true purpose and national character.
The experience of past decades confirms that the majority of labor and
professional unions that fell under the domination of the traditional political
parties—the poisonous legacy of successive occupations—have been transformed
into tools of political and electoral mobilization rather than institutions
dedicated to defending the rights of their members.
In this context, the names of Bechara Al-Asmar and Bassam Tlais stand out as
prominent figures within a union structure that has become closely associated
with the projects and interests of the forces dominating Lebanon’s political
decision-making, foremost among them the Amal Movement and Hezbollah.
If the National Social Security Fund constitutes the last social safety net for
hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens, then placing it under the management
of figures affiliated with the same political establishment raises legitimate
concerns among citizens who have suffered from corruption, waste, and political
patronage throughout the past decades. Genuine reform begins by removing public
institutions from the influence of political parties and occupation forces and
restoring them to competent, experienced, and independent leadership.
In recent years, the Lebanese people have endured an unprecedented financial and
economic collapse, while the official union leadership remained largely absent
from any serious and effective defense of workers, retirees, and low-income
citizens. It also failed to prevent the erosion of wages, protect social
security and mutual assistance funds, or confront policies that pushed hundreds
of thousands of Lebanese into poverty and forced many into emigration.
Accordingly, what is required is not merely opposition to the appointment of
this individual, Rather, it is a fundamental reassessment of Lebanon’s labor
movement, its liberation from partisan and political tutelage and from
subservience to occupation forces, and the enactment of modern laws that
guarantee its independence and transparency, thereby restoring its natural role
as the foremost defender of workers’ rights and interests.
In conclusion, the heresy of installing Bechara Al-Asmar at the head of the
National Social Security Fund Board under the false pretense and deception of an
“election” constitutes yet another indication that the mentality of political
quotas and patronage still controls the state and its institutions, and that the
presidency tenure of Joseph Aoun and the government of Nawaf Salam serves merely
as a façade for Iranian domination as represented by Nabih Berri and Hezbollah.
Real reform will begin only when Lebanon frees itself from occupation and when
competence, integrity, and independence become the sole criteria for assuming
public office, free from partisan loyalties and regional agendas.
The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
A Political Class Hatched by the Incubators
of Occupations
Elias Bejjani/August 18/2026
The entire political class, from top to bottom, from the middle to the
seventies, is a scumbag, hatched by the incubators of occupations...
emasculated, with fabricated files, opportunists, corrupt, narcissistic, with no
vision or cause. And there are no exceptions... politicians, party-owning
companies, religious figures, and rulers who are themselves ruled. And of
course, the flocks of sheep belonging to the party-owning companies.
The rulers & state of occupied Lebanon are mere marketing megaphones for
the occupation of the Party of Satan and their foolish mullahs.
Elias Bejjani/August 15, 2026
Berri, Salam, and Aoun condemn Israeli strikes like parrots, while shamelessly
and disgracefully marketing the crimes and occupation of the Iranian Hezbollah
and the jihadism of the insane mullahs, failing to implement the required
resolutions for Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of peace. It is truly a
time of misery, drought, and eunuchs.
Video link & text to an interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni
The Interview discusses in depth, with details and
events, the file of the South Lebanon Army from the date of its establishment
until the year 2000, when Israel unilaterally withdrew from South Lebanon and
the SLA was dismantled; while denouncing the injustice and unfair accusations
directed at its members and at all the Southerners who were forcibly exiled by
Lebanon’s miserable and subservient governments under the Palestinian, Syrian,
and Iranian occupations, as well as the latest distorted amnesty law that denied
the heroism, legitimacy, patriotism, and sacrifices of the Southerners and all
the exiles.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156767/
August 18, 2026
The interview was conducted by journalist Patricia Samaha from the Transparency
YouTube platform
The Truth About the South Lebanon Army and the Amnesty Law: Does It Open the
Door for the Return of the Exiles? Dr. Charles Chartouni Explains
Professor of Political Science and political writer Dr. Charles Chartouni, in a
fiery interview on the program “Politics and People” with journalist Patricia
Samaha, opened the file of the South Lebanon Army and those exiled to Israel, at
a time when a new general amnesty law is being proposed.
Dr. Chartouni reveals the historical and security circumstances that led to the
establishment of the South Lebanon Army, from Major Saad Haddad to General
Antoine Lahad, stressing that it emerged because of the collapse of the state
and armed attacks, and not as a collaborator entity.
He also attacks the performance of the Lebanese judiciary and the political
class, and opens the file of the suffering of the families of the exiles and the
second generation born in Israel, questioning the reality of genuine national
reconciliation and the possibility of return without political dictates.
The episode discussed several main topics:
The historical roots of the South Lebanon Army and the state’s negligence.
The difference between the periods of Saad Haddad and Antoine Lahad and the
official cover.
The file of the exiles and their families in the general amnesty law.
The struggle for political dominance and the problem of weapons.
The crisis of the judiciary and constitutional institutions in Lebanon.
Timeline of the Interview
00:00 Introduction and the file of those exiled to Israel
02:23 Historical roots of the emergence of the South Lebanon Army
07:07 The difference between the Saad Haddad and Antoine Lahad periods
11:06 Was the South Lebanon Army file subjected to the logic of victors and
defeated?
14:50 Hezbollah’s position and the general amnesty law
20:03 The amnesty law and the return of the children of the exiles
24:04 Sharp attack on the Lebanese judiciary and politicians
29:30 Do the exiles wish to return to Lebanon?
31:54 Israeli escalation and regional negotiations
37:03 The use of human shields and the future of the situation in South Lebanon
40:48 End of the episode and Dr. Charles Chartouni’s message.
Report: No green light for Hezbollah and Israel from
Iran, US
Naharnet/August 18/2026
Hezbollah has not yet received a "green light" from Iran to launch operations
against Israel and Washington has not given Israel the green light to carry out
a large-scale operation on the Ali Taher heights, sources told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath
channel. “U.S. intervention halted the Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon
over the weekend,” the sources added, following the bloodiest Israeli strikes on
Lebanon since the June ceasefire. Separately, the sources said “there are no
clear criteria for selecting the countries that will participate in verifying
Hezbollah's disarmament in Lebanon.”The sources added that U.S. General Joseph
Clearfield's visit to Lebanon "did not result in expanding the pilot zones."
Israeli forces bulldoze lands in al-Mansouri after dawn
strike
Naharnet/August 18/2026
Israeli forces bulldozed lands in the southern border village of al-Mansouri on
Tuesday following a dawn airstrike on the village. Also on Tuesday, artillery
shelled the outskirts of Majdalzoun.
The strikes follow a series of heavy demolitions in Baraachit, Bani Hayyan and
Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh and intermittent artillery shelling on Jabal al-Rafii.
Report: Hezbollah rejects US-Arab proposal for ceding Ali
al-Taher to army
Naharnet/August 18/2026
U.S. and Arab efforts, described as last-minute attempts, were made in the past
hours to hand over the Ali Taher site to the Lebanese Army, but these efforts
failed because Hezbollah, acting on Iranian orders, has refused to leave the
area, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday.
“This suggests that the U.S. will give (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin)
Netanyahu a green light to seize the hill and reports indicate that Netanyahu
will not back down, confirming Tel Aviv's inclination towards a military
solution,” the daily said. Separately, Nidaa Al-Watan reported that all contacts
made in recent days to establish a framework for the disarmament verification
committee have yielded no results and that “this means that the doors to a
political solution are closed, amidst an Iranian desire to exchange Ali Taher
for Hormuz, a proposal rejected by both Washington and Tel Aviv.”
Hezbollah to defend Ali al-Taher by all means, MP says
Naharnet/August 18/2026
Hezbollah will defend Ali al-Taher against Israel by all means possible and will
not relinquish the strategic hill, Hezbollah MP Hassan Ezzeddine vowed Tuesday,
adding that the group welcomes any Iranian assistance. Ezzeddine said Iran has
established the Dahieh deterrence equation and could do the same in Ali al-Taher.
He criticized the "shameful and humiliating" framework agreement between Lebanon
and Israel and threatened to take to the streets when the right time comes.
Ezzeddine said Hezbollah has good relations with Turkey and that Turkey is
leading an initiative to reconcile the group with the new Syrian regime.
President Joseph Aoun receives Canada’s Minister of
State for International Development; Sarai affirms his country's readiness to
assist in humanitarian and development fields
NNA/August 18/2026
President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday received at Baabda
palace Canadian Minister of State for International Development Randeep Sarai,
with whom he discussed the Lebanese-Canadian relations and ways to develop them
across various fields.
The meeting took place in presence of Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon, Gregory
Galligan. The Canadian minister affirmed his country’s support for Lebanon amid
the circumstances it is currently facing, expressing Canada’s readiness to
assist in the humanitarian and development fields, based on the longstanding
ties of friendship between Lebanon and Canada.Minister Sarai conveyed an
invitation to President Aoun to visit Canada and meet with Canadian
officials.President Aoun briefed the Canadian minister on the situation from
various aspects, with particular emphasis on the importance of Canadian
assistance in the humanitarian and social fields, especially in helping
displaced southerners return to their villages and providing them with housing
in the towns and villages destroyed by Israel, through the provision of
prefabricated homes for temporary accommodation pending the launch of the
reconstruction process, which will be undertaken by the Lebanese state following
the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese Army up to
the international border. President Aoun stressed the
importance of activating joint cooperation programs between the two countries,
particularly in the economic and investment sectors. The Canadian minister
expressed his country’s readiness to pursue this matter.
The discussions also addressed the situation in southern Lebanon. President Aoun
explained Lebanon’s position on the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations that
resulted in the "framework agreement," which Lebanon remains committed to
implementing. Aoun called for pressure to be exerted on Israel to abide by its
provisions, particularly with regard to halting the demolition, destruction and
bulldozing of homes and property, as well as attacks on civilians, as occurred
in the towns of Ansar and Zahrani days ago.
President Aoun also welcomed economic cooperation between the two countries,
stressing that "security and political stability boost the economy and tourism
and attract investment." He also commended the role played by members of the
Lebanese community in Canada in supporting Lebanese residing in Lebanon.
Aoun says Lebanon determined to continue negotiations with
Israel
Naharnet/August 18/2026
President Joseph Aoun has admitted that the framework agreement with Israel is
facing “difficulties,” but stressed that Lebanon does not want to backtrack on
it. “Instead, we aim to strengthen this framework and achieve a breakthrough on
several issues, such as the captives' file, the border, the pilot zones, and the
ceasefire,” Aoun told a delegation from the American Task Force on Lebanon.“We
are counting on the United States, the sponsor of this agreement, which is
serious, committed, and doing its utmost. It has been extremely supportive and
helpful,” the president added. Aoun also indicated that Lebanon is awaiting a
new round of negotiations "to see how we can move forward." He said, "We took
this initiative and we are committed to it because, as I said before, we are
faced with two options: war or diplomacy. There is no third option, and I
emphasize that war will not lead to any result. Therefore, the time has come,
and this situation can only be addressed through diplomacy."“The Lebanese Army
is highly trained, professional, and committed, but it needs the necessary
resources and capabilities to carry out its duties,” the president added. In
response to a question, he reiterated that Lebanon would continue the
negotiations, saying: “Unfortunately, as I have said many times, Israel is not
waging this war intelligently. It is thinking tactically but neglecting the
strategic level. As President Trump said, you don’t have to destroy an entire
building to kill just one person.”“Massive destruction, a large-scale military
response, and the killing of innocent people are not helpful. They don’t help
us, and they don’t help the United States. The Israelis believe that by using
force, or sheer military force, they will be able to achieve their goals, but
they never will,” Aoun emphasized. Regarding relations with Iran, he reaffirmed
the necessity of establishing a relationship between states, based on mutual
respect and non-interference in internal affairs.
Aoun concluded the meeting by emphasizing that Lebanon is very important to the
United States and its interests, and that stability in the region cannot be
achieved without stability in Lebanon and support for the Lebanese Army.
Risk of Escalation in Lebanon as Israeli Military Prepares
for ‘Intensified’ Fighting
Beirut: Soubhi Amhaz/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The confrontation in southern Lebanon is entering a sensitive phase as Israeli
military operations continue alongside US-mediated negotiations, while Israel’s
Channel 12 has reported that the Israeli military is preparing for the
possibility of several days of intensified fighting in Lebanon.
The report has raised questions over whether any escalation would remain
contained or spread, although there has been no public indication of a decision
to launch a wider war or set a deadline for negotiations.
Channel 12 reported that Israel remains determined to complete its operations in
the Ali al-Taher Heights and linked the intensity of military activity to the
negotiations. Washington, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to the “pilot
zones” plan, maintaining that Hezbollah’s disarmament is part of the process.
Retired Lebanese Brig. Gen. Khalil Gemayel told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israeli
preparations for several days of fighting did not, in his assessment, mean
Israel intends to launch a broader war.
Rather, it wants to settle the battle for the Ali al-Taher Heights, securing a
battlefield achievement, he added. Any expansion of the confrontation would
largely depend on the scale of Hezbollah’s response, particularly if it
broadened its operations and struck Israeli communities, potentially prompting
Israel to widen the fighting, he explained.
Gemayel described Ali al-Taher as a key defensive hub for Hezbollah in southern
Lebanon, noting that Israeli forces were attempting to advance gradually along
the hills toward sensitive positions, tunnel entrances and underground
facilities with the assistance of specialized engineering units.
Hezbollah intervenes locally when Israeli troops approach critical points in its
defensive network, he remarked. Capturing the area could give Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a military and political achievement while dealing
Hezbollah a significant military loss, he noted.
15 August 2026, Lebanon, Nabatieh District: First responders are searching the
rubble following an Israeli airstrike on a house in a tourist area of Ansar,
southern Lebanon, before dawn, completely destroying the building and causing
extensive damage to surrounding properties. (dpa)
Retired Brig. Gen. Naji Malaeb, meanwhile, said Israel’s escalation could be
part of an attempt to draw Hezbollah into a response that would provide grounds
for widening its operations.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat Israel may have used an incident that caused casualties
in the Ali al-Taher Heights as a pretext to expand its operational reach beyond
areas it occupies. He questioned whether Israel was attempting to provoke
Hezbollah into a response that would allow it to broaden its military campaign.
Malaeb said increasingly forceful rhetoric from Hezbollah and its
secretary-general, Naim Qassem, including warnings that Israel would “pay the
price,” made that scenario worth considering.
A wider escalation would not necessarily begin with a ground advance. Israel
could instead rely heavily on air power and expand its strikes to other areas,
he went on to say.
Malaeb warned that expanding the conflict from the south deeper into Lebanon
could also bring Iran into the confrontation, particularly if Beirut’s southern
suburbs were targeted.
An Iranian response could provide Israel with a pretext to resume attacks on
Iran even without US participation, he argued. On the ground, the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a “significant increase in Israeli
military activity in southern Lebanon” over the previous two weeks, recording an
average of 137 projectiles a day between August 5 and 16.
Israeli operations continued across several areas. Drones dropped explosives
around the Ali al-Taher Heights and Dabsha Hill, while Mansouri came under
artillery fire. Strikes and shelling were also reported around Wadi al-Hujeir,
Qantara, Aitaroun, Khiam, Hadatha and Mais al-Jabal, while Israeli forces
carried out explosions in Bani Hayyan and Majdal Zoun.
Lebanese President to Visit Rome for Talks on UN Force’s
Future, Says Official
Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will head to Rome this week for talks focusing on
future of the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, whose mandate
ends this year, a Lebanese official told AFP. The visit scheduled for Thursday
comes after Italy and France said in June that they wanted to set up a
multinational coalition to succeed the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Both countries have large troop contingents in UNIFIL.
Aoun is to meet his counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni, to discuss "the future of the international forces, particularly in
light of the French-Italian initiative to set up a force to replace UNIFIL", the
official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Aoun will also meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and brief him on "the contacts
Lebanon has been making since negotiations began" with Israel, the official
added. Lebanon and Israel launched US-sponsored direct talks after the
Iran-backed Hezbollah group drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March by
attacking Israel, which responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Rome has hosted the last two rounds of talks.Aoun has said Lebanon's preferred
choice is an extension of UNIFIL's mandate, a move opposed by Israel. On Monday,
he said that "the second choice is adopting a formula that ensures the continued
presence of international forces in the south" alongside Lebanon's army "and in
coordination with it". A framework agreement reached in June between Israel and
Lebanon calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli
forces from south Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region,
starting in "pilot zones".
Despite a weeks-long lull in fighting, Israel has kept up intermittent strikes
and heavy demolition operations in south Lebanon, where its forces are operating
in a strip of territory around 10 kilometers (six miles) deep inside the
Lebanese border. Lebanon and several other countries fear a security vacuum if
UNIFIL pulls out without an alternative in place. In a June report, UN chief
Antonio Guterres said peacekeepers would be needed after UNIFIL's mission ends
and proposed three options ranging from nearly 2,000 to more than 5,500 UN
personnel. Last month, 86 Lebanese lawmakers signed a letter urging the Security
Council to keep the peacekeepers. UNIFIL, which now counts some 7,500 personnel
from nearly 50 countries, has been in place since 1978, although its presence
has not prevented repeated outbreaks of conflict.
What will Aoun discuss in Rome?
Naharnet/August 18/2026
President Joseph Aoun will travel to Rome on Thursday on an official visit, the
Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported. The negotiations with Israel and the security
situation will be tackled in Aoun’s meeting with Pope Leo in the Vatican, the
daily said. The president will also discuss with Italy’s president and prime
minister the issue of negotiations, the disarmament verification committee, and
the French-Italian proposal for establishing a force that would replace UNIFIL,
after Italy was strongly nominated for leading the verification panel.
Lebanon to extradite Syrian Assad-era general
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Lebanon's judiciary decided on Tuesday to extradite a former Syrian general it
detained this month following a warrant from Damascus accusing him of "killing
and crimes against humanity", a judicial official said. The official, requesting
anonymity, told AFP that Lebanon's public prosecutor "decided to extradite
former Syrian General Adel Issa, currently detained in Lebanon, to Syrian
authorities to stand trial for crimes he is accused of committing on Syrian
soil" during the rule of former president Bashar al-Assad, ousted in late 2024.
The official added that the extradition decision, made under a 1951 judicial
agreement between Beirut and Damascus, was based on "legal requirements,
documents, and the case file received by Lebanon from Syrian authorities" and
that judicial and legal requirements for extradition were met. The file
"contains evidence indicating that Issa committed crimes on Syrian territory",
the official said, stating that "prosecuting him for these crimes falls under
the jurisdiction of the Syrian judiciary". Issa will therefore be transferred to
Lebanon's General Security before being taken to the border with Syria, where he
will be handed over to a Syrian security committee, the official said.
Issa, a 67-year-old former general in the Syrian army's 17th brigade under
Assad, headed to his country's embassy in Beirut for paperwork earlier this
month, another judicial official told AFP at the time. 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. 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 ousting and the weakening of Lebanese militant
group Hezbollah, a key Assad ally.
Under the Assad family, Syria exercised tutelage over its neighbor for decades,
and was accused of carrying out numerous assassinations there. Since 2024,
officials from the two countries have met on several occasions, agreeing to
cooperate on a number of issues including security.
Hezbollah Threat to Mobilize the Street: Venting Anger or a
Pressure Tactic?
Beirut: Paula Astih/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
“You have the right to be angry. But we ask you to hold that anger inside and be
ready to use it when the time comes to achieve your goals and demands.” With
those words, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem addressed supporters in his
latest appearance last week. He then went further: “This anger has its time, and
it can erupt,” warning in advance that responsibility for the fallout from any
such eruption would lie with those who “do not know how to do their job” or who
“try to work against the resistance and its people.”The remarks have raised a
broader question in Lebanon: Is Hezbollah preparing its supporters for a stage
in which it moves from containing anger in the street to mobilizing it? The
question comes as southern Lebanon and its residents face severe hardship,
mounting losses, and growing political and military pressure.
No decision to take to the streets
For now, there is still a gap between anger and a decision to mobilize.
Qassem Qassir, a political writer close to Hezbollah, said the anger Qassem
referred to “is real and present within the resistance’s support base,
particularly in the south, which is facing Israeli killings, destruction and
massacres, which the Lebanese authorities have been unable to stop despite
ongoing negotiations with Israel.”But Qassir said there was “no information so
far indicating any change in Hezbollah and the Amal Movement’s decision not to
take to the streets.” Amal, led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, is a close
ally to the Iran-backed party. Qassir said some groups occasionally stage
spontaneous protests, while anger is also expressed through statements and
comments on social media.
Still, he said Qassem’s remarks could be “a signal for steps to come,”
particularly amid what he described as “psychological preparations” for possible
action if the situation moves toward further escalation. “Hezbollah’s popular
base is ready to mobilize,” he said, pointing to large turnouts whenever
supporters are called to an event or funeral.
Protest vs. uprising
Political writer and academic Mona Fayyad drew a sharper distinction between
anger inside Hezbollah’s support base and the ability to turn it into collective
action. “The main question is whether there is anger among Hezbollah’s
supporters that could lead to an explosion, and whether the secretary-general is
capable of turning that anger into actual mobilization,” Fayyad told Asharq Al-Awsat.
She said anger was unsurprising given displacement and the difficult social and
living conditions facing Hezbollah’s supporters. But, she added, that did not
mean it would become a popular uprising. Collective action, she said, requires
several conditions: a shared sense of threat, confidence in the leadership
calling for action, and a belief that mobilization can produce results. She also
warned that a leader who identifies his supporters’ anger while asking them to
delay expressing it risks widening the gap between the leadership and its
base.Qassem’s limited charisma “does not help him manage Hezbollah’s
relationship with its supporters or turn anger into popular mobilization,” she
went on to say.
‘Operating on the margins’
Lawyer and university professor Ali Mourad was more critical. He said Qassem’s
latest speech, particularly his effort to place responsibility for the
consequences of the war on the state, reflected “a major illusion” and “a
continued attempt to evade responsibility by shifting it onto the state.”
“The situation in the south is extremely difficult, and Jabal Amel is facing one
of its most dangerous political and social moments after the people of the south
were uprooted from their land,” Mourad told Asharq Al-Awsat. But he questioned
where Qassem’s threatened “eruption” would be directed.
“Against whom would this explosion be, and for what purpose?” he asked. “Would
it be against the state, which is now dealing with the consequences of a war it
was not part of?” “The current phase is not one of anger or explosion,” Mourad
said. “It is a phase of reassessment, limiting losses and dealing with their
consequences.”He said Hezbollah was “incapable of taking serious steps in this
direction” and was instead “operating on the margins to escape its
responsibility.” The people of the south understand that the state is not
responsible for what happened and that responsibility for the choices that led
to the war lies with Hezbollah, he stressed. Mourad said the “anger, wounds, and
sorrow” felt by southerners should instead be translated into politics by ending
the existing duality and moving toward a clearer equation based on “land in
exchange for weapons,” rather than “fueling the battle or reproducing it.”“The
tragedy of the people of the south now goes beyond the political dispute between
Hezbollah and its opponents,” he said. “Everyone must come under the authority
of the state as the only available option.”Mourad ended with a pointed question:
What is the value of calling people into the streets to protest when many are
already living there after losing their homes and property?
What Does the Return of UNIFIL to Lebanon Mean?
Brigadier General Khaled Hamade/Al-Liwaa/August 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156753/
(Translated from Arabic)
In its handling of the framework agreement signed with Israel, Lebanon has not
deviated from the pattern that Lebanese have grown accustomed to in similar
junctures, despite the major variables surrounding it that were absent in
previous eras. The exact same scene is repeating itself, much like the Cessation
of Hostilities Agreement signed on November 27, 2024—navigated by Speaker Nabih
Berri—and prior to that, Resolution 1701, led by then-Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora, which ended a war initiated by Hezbollah when it abducted two Israeli
soldiers from inside occupied territory.
What all these milestones have in common is that they followed wars whose timing
and themes were chosen by Hezbollah, while the Lebanese state subsequently
struggled to achieve ceasefires and forge settlements. However, the most vital
and consistent common denominator among those junctures has been the state's
persistent failure to fulfill its commitments, alongside Hezbollah and its
allies' attempts to overturn agreements in order to recreate the conditions that
lead to the renewal of war.
Following the issuance of Resolution 1701, the international community believed
that a state which had wrested the initiative from Hezbollah and succeeded in
mobilizing major powers was inherently capable of securing the area south of the
Litani River and preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military
infrastructure. Politically, however, what transpired was a rebellion against
the substance of the international resolution through the occupation of downtown
Beirut, followed by a military incursion into its neighborhoods. On the ground,
the resolution was contained by rules of engagement that restricted the freedom
of movement of UNIFIL forces in the South Litani Sector and prevented them from
carrying out the mandates entrusted to them within the text of the international
resolution.
In this context, the launch of the Gaza support war in October 2023 constituted
a new attempt by Hezbollah to bypass international resolutions in accordance
with Tehran’s dictates, and a test of its ability to contain and neutralize
their effects. Yet, battlefield outcomes—specifically Israel’s successful
advance southward and the assassination of Hezbollah’s leaders—rendered
Resolution 1701 obsolete, necessitating a ceasefire that required a new
agreement forged outside the Security Council. This resulted in the November
2024 agreement, whose harsh terms Speaker Berri submitted to in order to rescue
Hezbollah after the collapse of the deterrence equation the party had relied
upon for years.
Those playing with fire failed to realize that the November 2024 agreement had
nullified the effects of Resolution 1701, which at the time did not tie Israeli
withdrawal to the enforcement of a state monopoly on weapons, but rather to the
Lebanese army beginning its deployment in the south. Furthermore, this time the
circumstances did not favor the success of attempts to contain the new
agreement, despite the success of the party—alongside Speaker Berri—in
compelling the government to ignore the heavy responsibilities placed upon its
shoulders, including enforcing the state's monopoly on weapons by August 5,
2025, even though the decisions taken on that date remained mere ink on paper.
Field imperatives in Iran did not align with the calculations of Hezbollah and
its allies regarding the containment of the new agreement. The Iran-U.S. war and
the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei plunged the party into a new
support war that dismantled all of the Lebanese state's claims of controlling
south of the Litani, while thrusting the party into an unpredictable
confrontation.
True to habit, the President of the Republic opted this time for the inevitable
choice of direct negotiations, adding yet more complexity to the situation.
Attempts to circumvent the framework agreement appear to be ongoing. The state’s
stance toward it is embodied by a fluctuating state of affairs: professing
adherence to it outwardly on the one hand, while undermining the procedures
leading to its implementation and ignoring its provisions regarding the monopoly
on weapons on the other. The failure to establish verification procedures,
despite General Joseph Clearfield's repeated visits to Beirut, may well attest
to this. The multifaceted efforts being exerted to move toward a new framework
that maintains UNIFIL forces in the south—or to seek any other international
framework—are nothing more than a step back toward reproducing the elements of
crisis anew. Do the adventurers realize the true nature of the new UNIFIL after
the effects of Resolution 1701 were dealt a knockout blow?
Everyone realizes—or perhaps fails to realize—that the return of UNIFIL
necessitates the issuance of a new Security Council resolution that defines the
tasks of the participating forces, their numbers, and the procedures available
for carrying out their missions. In light of the current battlefield realities,
several questions must be raised: Will the new international forces deploy only
south of the Litani or also north of it to secure the implementation of the
Israeli withdrawal and the state's monopoly on weapons? Will the new forces
accept the rules of engagement that prevailed with UNIFIL—meaning their work is
tied to the approval and escort of the army—or does reality dictate granting
them freedom of movement to execute their mission?
Do not the requirements of the mandated missions and the protection of
international forces necessitate that the new resolution be issued under Chapter
VII, implying the freedom to use force? And does not preventing illicit weapons
from reaching Lebanon require a deployment along Lebanon's eastern and northern
borders, in application of Resolution 1680?
Do the decision-makers, bewildered by the framework agreement, truly understand
what the return of UNIFIL to Lebanon means?
Twenty MPs sign a petition addressed to the President of
the Republic, demanding that he renew the mandate of UNIFIL.
Lawyer Maroun El-Amil/Secretary-General of the Guardians of the
Cedars Party August 18, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156748/
It is clear that it has slipped from the minds of the esteemed MPs that the
UNIFIL force will conclude twenty years of presence in Lebanon at the end of
December of the current year. Throughout these long years, it has not achieved
any objective related to Resolution 1701; on the contrary, its area of
operations turned into tunnel networks and countless weapon arsenals, until the
situation exploded and war broke out. This force rushed to gather its personnel
at sites and compelled them to stay in shelters, while the inhabitants of the
regions demanded that UNIFIL take action to protect the defenseless civilian
population, especially in towns and villages that were not implicated in the
war. However, their repeated demands met with failure, as this force refrained
from offering any assistance, whether moral or logistical, to those who were in
dire need of it.
The Lebanon’s MPs have forgotten that the aforementioned force has failed
miserably in carrying out its missions, and after a few years of its deployment,
it turned into a folkloric and exploitative force without achieving any
noteworthy results on the ground. This is noting that its personnel numbered
15,000 soldiers, assisted by two brigades of the Lebanese Army, not to mention
Intelligence, State Security, Information, General Security, and the Internal
Security Forces.
This means there was a deployment of 20,000 soldiers on the ground in the
region, yet Hezbollah remained roaming and operating freely under the sun, above
ground and beneath it, right before their eyes.
For comparison, the personnel of the South Lebanon Army SLA numbered only 3,000
soldiers.
The clauses of UN Resolution 1701 are clear, and this force has failed to
implement them over the past twenty years. Therefore, we say to the
parliamentary enthusiasts: The time of folklore has ended, and we now face
reality; and at the test, a person is either honored or disgraced.
Passenger 53 on Flight 103: The Lebanese-American Haunted
by Lockerbie in Life and Death
London: Kawtar Wakil/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
On Dec. 21, 1988, Lebanese-American Khaled Nazir Jafaar boarded Pan Am Flight
103, traveling from Frankfurt to New York via London. He could not have known
that the journey would end over the quiet Scottish town of Lockerbie or that his
death would become entangled in one of the 20th century’s most complex criminal
and political investigations.
The Boeing 747 exploded over Lockerbie, killing 270 people. As wreckage
scattered across the Scottish countryside, Jafaar’s story was transformed from
that of a young immigrant with plans for his future into the subject of
conspiracy theories, accusations and intelligence intrigue stretching from
Beirut to Washington. The case has returned to public attention with “The
Bombing of Pan Am 103,” a BBC-Netflix drama starring Patrick J. Adams and Peter
Mullan. Beyond the politics of the international prosecution, the series
examines the victims, their families and the initial investigation.
Among those stories is Jafaar’s. The architecture student, who occupied seat
53K, became a focus of early suspicion largely because of his background.
Born in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Jafaar grew up in a family that emigrated to the
United States and settled in Detroit, Michigan. At 20, he was studying
architecture and hoped to build his future there.
A winter trip to Lebanon to visit family before Christmas abruptly ended those
plans.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, investigators scrutinizing the
passenger list quickly focused on Jafaar, the only Arab aboard the flight. His
Lebanese origins and the fact that his journey began in Frankfurt fueled
theories that he might have been a suicide bomber or an unwitting carrier of
explosives planted in his luggage by Palestinian or Iranian groups.
His family in Detroit was left with the ordeal of mourning their son while
confronting a terrorism stigma that followed his name in the international media
for years. Jafaar subsequently became central to an alternative theory of the
Lockerbie bombing advanced for years by defense teams and prominent journalists.
The theory alleged that, because of his travel between Lebanon and Germany,
Jafaar had been unwittingly drawn into a drug-smuggling network operating under
the protection of the CIA and US Drug Enforcement Administration as part of a
covert operation linked to efforts to secure the release of American hostages
held in Beirut. According to that scenario, the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine-General Command penetrated the protected route at Frankfurt Airport
and substituted a suitcase containing a radio packed with Semtex for a drug
shipment associated with Jafaar. The bomb was then allegedly transferred through
a feeder flight to London Heathrow and loaded aboard Flight 103 without
inspection.
Jafaar’s name also became intertwined in intelligence reports and competing
theories with that of Badri Hassan, a figure linked to Libyan intelligence and
to Swiss electronics company MEBO, which manufactured timers connected to the
bombing investigation.
These claims helped sustain for years the so-called suitcase-switch theory and
allegations that a protected drug-smuggling route had been exploited to place
the bomb aboard the aircraft.
But forensic evidence presented before the special Scottish court ultimately
pointed investigators in another direction. Travel records and subsequent
inquiries established that Jafaar had not checked luggage into the Boeing 747’s
cargo hold. He carried two small pieces of hand luggage into the passenger
cabin, including a cylindrical cloth bag. After the explosion, investigators
recovered both bags largely intact near Langholm, about 13 kilometers east of
Lockerbie. They still contained Jafaar’s identification, wallet and some cash.
Technical examinations found no traces of explosives, burning or internal
charring in his hand luggage. The findings showed that the bomb had detonated in
the main baggage container, away from Jafaar and his seat, undermining claims
that he had knowingly or unknowingly carried the explosives. The court cleared
Jafaar of involvement and convicted Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi,
concluding that the bomb suitcase had originated in Malta rather than through
Jafaar in Frankfurt. Despite his exoneration, Jafaar’s name remained embedded in
the political history of Lockerbie — the story of a young Lebanese-American
whose architectural ambitions ended aboard Flight 103 and whose reputation
became another casualty of the bombing.
The ‘South’ Beneath the South
Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The disaster of the "Gaza support war" reached its peak when Hezbollah’s
military media launched a propaganda campaign on August 16, 2024, titled "Our
Mountains Are Our Storehouses," featuring a video of the fortified "Imad 4"
underground military facility. The footage showed deep tunnels carved beneath
mountains, spacious enough for large trucks carrying heavy rocket launchers,
making the "Gaza metro" appear primitive in comparison to a warfare city that
includes a command-and-control center and accommodates large numbers of fighters
and equipment for a prolonged confrontation.
In the context of the promotion, it was noted that "what is remarkable is the
size of the facility, its underground depth, and the messages it sends to the
Israeli enemy that the 'resistance' is ready for all possibilities."As it turned
out recently, the "Imad 4" site is located deep within the Ali al-Tahir region,
which MP Hassan Fadlallah included within the trio of Iranian confrontation: the
Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and Ali al-Tahir. Military media marketed it as
one of the prominent landmarks for confronting the enemy and protecting the
overlooking cities and towns. However, the tunnel city is now at the mercy of
Israel, which is controlling it with fire, discovering its entrances, besieging
fighters inside, and threatening to detonate it. Tehran responded that it will
not allow this site to fall and will engage in its defense, reinforcing
information that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers are among the
besieged. This was confirmed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher
Ghalibaf, who said he "is in contact with the fighters on the front lines in
Lebanon."
The reality of the situation is that this tunnel city, with its equipment and
fighters, is taking shelter in neighboring towns, and it could be the cause of
completing the destruction of Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Yohmor,
Arnoun, Kfar Tebnit, Mayfadoun, and the city of Nabatieh!
The story of the tunnel cities is an old one. The creation of another "South"
beneath the South falls within the context of the Iranian project spanning "the
Caspian to the Mediterranean." The actual beginning followed the July 2006 war.
At that time, Lebanon's friends generously provided support to rebuild what the
war had destroyed, with the government undertaking the rehabilitation of
infrastructure.
Attending the press conference to thank donor countries, led by the Gulf states,
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri joined Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in labeling
the cabinet the "government of political resistance." However, the failure to
deliver reconstruction funds to Hezbollah and the "Shiite duo" transformed the
cabinet into the "Feltman government" - a reference to the US ambassador at the
time. Amid a false triumphalist climate, Hezbollah organized a money collection
campaign for "affected individuals," and Jihad al-Binaa - the facade of Iran’s
Quds Force - launched the construction of rocket and drone cities in the South
to the Dahieh and areas in eastern Lebanon. In 2008, Hezbollah invaded Beirut
and shed the blood of innocent people to overturn a government decision
preventing the party from using telephone network tunnels to establish its own
private landline communications network. Hassan Nasrallah labeled that
"catastrophic day" as a "glorious day," revealing that "weapons are to defend
weapons."
On December 4, 2018, Israel announced the discovery of tunnels crossing into the
Galilee, originating from the border town of Kfar Kila. Tel Aviv launched
Operation Northern Shield to seal these tunnels, which totaled six and had
breached the Blue Line. The Israeli army said that the purpose of the tunnels
was "to enable thousands of Hezbollah fighters to launch an attack on military
and civilian targets in northern Israel." Responsibility was placed on the
Lebanese government and UNIFIL forces, and the matter simply passed during the
presidency of Michel Aoun.
After forcibly dragging Lebanon into the first "support war," the Israeli army,
which subjected the country to collective punishment, initiated its plan to
dismantle what it deemed an "underground state" belonging to the IRGC. While it
destroyed tunnels in Beirut’s southern suburbs that served as primary
command-and-control centers, killing Nasrallah, his successor Hashem Safieddine,
and commanders of the Quds Force, the military subsequently shifted its
attention to the tunnels in the South. The destruction of the "Khiam tunnel"
wiped out entire neighborhoods, and the destruction of the "Majdal Zoun tunnel"
split the town in half, while the destruction of the two-kilometer-long "Qantara
tunnels" - boasting dozens of rooms and operational launch openings for rockets
and drones - created a seismic crater. The landmarks of the rocky terrain
changed following the detonation of tunnels in the vicinity of Beaufort Castle.
The Israeli enemy is tightening its grip on the Ali al-Tahir Hill tunnels, with
dozens of towns placed under scrutiny through bombing and bulldozing. It
executes what it claims to be "surgical" operations, as seen recently in the
Ansar and Deir Zahrani areas, exposing Hezbollah’s repositioning among civilians
and turning the era of occupation into a weapon to complete the annihilation.
The big question remains: where were the successive authorities and their
security apparatuses, especially after 2006? Why did they acquiesce to turning
the South and Dahieh into a compromised canton for establishing military
infrastructures beneath the pillows of children, women, and the elderly, in
service of a regional hegemony project? Furthermore, who is responsible for
paralyzing the role of UNIFIL and besieging them with organized assaults carried
out by "local residents," according to the formula that gained currency
particularly after 2017 during Aoun's presidency? The most painful reality is
that suffering Lebanese citizens paid the largest cost for these rocket cities,
while the outcome today is the presence of hundreds of thousands of displaced
individuals left out in the open to face their fate.
The "South" beneath the South and rocket cities should be the focal point of the
greatest investigation to uncover those behind turning citizens into sandbags to
defend weapons that caused the reduction of the South to ashes and the
destruction of Lebanon.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on August 18-19/2026
US slams 'unnecessary escalation' after Israeli strike on Syria
Associated Press/August 18/2026
Israeli airstrikes on an airbase in northwest Syria early Tuesday caused
material damage without inflicting any casualties, Syrian state TV reported.
State TV said eight strikes hit the runway of the Abu Duhur airbase in the
northwestern province of Idlib. It gave no further details. There was no comment
from the Israeli military on the attack. Turkish officials also did not
immediately respond to requests for comment. The Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said foreign fighters used to stay
at the base before they were recently asked to leave. The Observatory added that
Turkey, which is a main backer of Syria's government, has been rehabilitating
the air base that had been out of service for years during Syria's conflict that
left nearly half a million people dead. Since the fall of Bashar Assad's
government in December 2024 when insurgents marched into his seat of power in
Damascus, tensions between Israel and Turkey over Syria have been on the rise.
Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes around Syria after Assad's fall,
mainly destroying assets of the Syrian army to keep them out of the hands of his
successors. Israeli drone strikes on a southern suburb of Damascus last year
killed eight soldiers and wounded others. The new authorities in Damascus have
said they do not want a conflict with Israel, but Israel has remained suspicious
of the government led by former Islamist insurgents. U.S. envoy for Syria Tom
Barrack said Israel was behind the strikes, slamming what he called an
"unnecessary escalation"."The confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur
Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional
stability," he wrote in a post on X, adding "we encourage all parties to
prioritize logical discourse over further military incidents".
Syrian Abu al-Duhur Airport Under Fire: A Potential
Israeli Strike and a Message to Turkey?
Janoubia / August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The airstrikes that targeted Abu al-Duhur Military Airport in the eastern Idlib
countryside at dawn on Tuesday have reopened questions regarding the objectives
and timing of the strike, amid Israeli estimates that it may be linked to
efforts to rebuild the Syrian air force or to the growing Turkish military
presence in Syria. According to a report by journalist Shay Levi on the Israeli
website "Mako," airstrikes targeted the airport at around 4:00 AM. Israel has
not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, and the final toll of
damage or casualties remains unclear. In contrast, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria
Tom Barak held Israel responsible for the attack, expressing concern over the
strike and describing it as an "unnecessary escalation."According to data in the
report, there are currently no warplanes or helicopters at the base, and the
targeting focused on the runway and airport infrastructure. The significance of
this lies in the fact that Abu al-Duhur has been an inactive base for years
after suffering severe damage during the Syrian war, raising questions about why
it was chosen as a target at this particular time.
The airport is located in Idlib governorate, about 100 kilometers from the
Turkish border and roughly 300 kilometers from the Israeli border. It previously
hosted MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighter jets.
The targeting coincides with Israeli reports speaking of Syrian efforts to
rebuild the air force, including the recruitment of pilots and technical crews,
conducting training, and carrying out maneuvers involving Sukhoi aircraft in the
northern part of the country. Israeli assessments suggest that rebuilding Syrian
air capabilities could eventually alter part of the air power equation in the
region, especially as Damascus gradually restores some of its military
capabilities. From this perspective, the possibility arises that the strike
targeted the airport's infrastructure before it could be rehabilitated and
turned into an operational base once again. Israeli concern does not stop at the
rebuilding of Syrian capabilities; Israel is also monitoring the possibility of
an expanded Turkish military presence inside Syria. Reports have circulated
regarding Ankara's intention to use Syrian bases and deploy air capabilities and
air defense systems, which could add a new factor to the Israeli air force's
calculations in the Syrian arena. According to Israeli estimates, the
combination of a recovering Syrian air force and an advanced Turkish military
presence could narrow the margin of Israeli freedom of movement in Syrian
airspace.
If Israeli responsibility is proven, a scenario emerges that the strike was
preemptive—meaning it targeted facilities and runways that could later become
part of an active military structure, rather than targeting existing air
capabilities already inside the airport. However, this possibility remains
within the realm of estimates, and there is still no decisive data proving that
Abu al-Duhur was on the verge of returning to service or that the strike was
directly linked to the Turkish military presence.
Ultimately, targeting a semi-dormant military base raises a question larger than
the scale of the damage: Is Israel trying to prevent a new military reality from
forming in northern Syria before it becomes a fait accompli, whether through the
rebuilding of the Syrian air force or the expansion of the Turkish role? If this
assessment is correct, Abu al-Duhur may be a preemptive message to both Damascus
and Ankara, rather than just a raid on an inactive base.
Barak: Working on a Mechanism to Avoid Clashes Between Turkey, Israel, and Syria
Riyadh — Al Arabiya.net / August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barak announced on Tuesday that his country is
working on establishing a de-confliction mechanism between Israel, Turkey, and
Syria, following Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian airbase near the Turkish border.
Barak, who also serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, added that Ankara had
not received prior notification of the Israeli strike, "and consequently spotted
the aircraft heading north toward its territory and could logically have
prepared to take its own response," hinting at a potential Turkish military
response. He further told Reuters in a telephone interview: "Fortunately, cooler
heads prevailed to prevent the situation from deteriorating further."
He went on to say that the Israeli strikes on the Syrian airbase "reflected a
perception, whether right or wrong, that Turkey might enhance its presence at
that base in the near future." He continued, "This highlights the need for a
de-confliction mechanism between Israel, Syria, and Turkey, and we are working
hard to establish one to prevent any future misunderstandings... The priority
now is to de-escalate and make room for a more balanced approach." A
de-confliction mechanism is a communication channel "aimed at preventing
misunderstandings or unintended clashes between military or political parties,"
according to Reuters. In the first official comment on the raids, Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "Israel and Syria
agreed to maintain the status quo on security issues, which Syria was about to
violate by allowing the deployment of Turkish forces at an airbase near Aleppo,"
according to the statement. Netanyahu's office added that "Israel has repeatedly
warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security,
yet Syria chose to ignore these warnings." It concluded by stressing that
"Israel will not tolerate any threat to its security and will welcome a return
to the status quo." In contrast, the Communications Directorate of the Turkish
Presidency stated that "the false allegations presented by the office of Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aim to legitimize illegal Israeli airstrikes
targeting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
For its part, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli attacks,
stating they violate Syria's unity and sovereignty. It added in a statement: "We
call on the international community to take a firmer stance to halt the
escalating Israeli aggression against Syria."
Meanwhile, Syria sent letters to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and
Security Council President Christina Lassen condemning the Israeli airstrikes on
the Abu al-Duhur Military Airport in Idlib, affirming that they are "a flagrant
violation of its sovereignty and an escalation that threatens regional
stability." Damascus held Israel responsible for undermining its efforts to
establish security, recovery, and the return of refugees, demanding that the
international community and the Security Council condemn the repeated Israeli
attacks, compel Israel to halt them, and withdraw from the Syrian territories it
has intruded upon.
Earlier on Tuesday, Syria deemed the raids it accused Israel of launching on the
Abu al-Duhur Military Airport in the country's northwest as "unjustified
aggression," calling on the international community to take a firm stance
against the repeated "violations" of its sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign
Ministry stressed in a statement that "the state is committed to self-restraint,
working to establish stability and avoid escalation," calling on the Security
Council to "clearly condemn the aggression and take a firm stance toward
Israel's repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty."
This came after a Syrian military source confirmed that 8 Israeli airstrikes
targeted the airport on Tuesday morning. It also followed revelations by Israeli
sources last week that Washington had rejected an Israeli request to strike
targets inside Syrian territory, without specifying the nature of the targets
requested for attack, according to Israel's Channel 13 at the time. Southern
Syrian regions have witnessed frequent Israeli incursions since the fall of the
former regime led by Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, accompanied by the
establishment of military checkpoints, the inspection of passersby and homes,
and the detention of civilians, amid Israeli allegations of security threats in
the area. Previous rounds of meetings between the Syrian and Israeli sides in
various countries over the past months have not yet resulted in a security
agreement.
Syria Accuses Israel of Striking Military Airfield
Asharq Al Awsat/August 18/2026
Syria accused Israel of striking a military airfield in the country's northwest
on Tuesday, after a security source told AFP the out-of-service military
facility had been hit. Israel has been carrying out incursions into Syrian
territory since the December 2024 overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad,
including sending troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separated Israeli
and Syrian forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974. It has also
hit key military sites including several airfields, according to a Syria war
monitor. "Israeli occupation aircraft early this morning targeted the runway of
the Abu Duhur military airport... with eight strikes," Syrian state television
quoted an unidentified military source as saying. It added that "the attack
resulted in material damage to the airport's infrastructure, without causing
casualties". Israeli officials have said they intend to keep forces in a
"security zone" in southern Syria, where they seek a broader demilitarized zone.
Damascus has repeatedly condemned incursions in the country's south. During a
joint press conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Damascus
last month, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for an "active French role"
to halt Israeli escalations in his country.
'Violations' -
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also last month condemned "the
continuation of Israeli military actions" and warned that "the unlawful
occupation of our land beyond the 1974 line is a direct threat to the security
of the region". He demanded an "immediate and unconditional withdrawal". But
last week Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that his country planned to
keep troops in Syria. Israel captured most of the Golan from Syria in the 1967
Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the areas under its control, in a move not
recognized by most of the international community. The incursions have been
condemned by the United Nations chief as "violations of Syria's sovereignty and
territorial integrity". Despite tensions between the neighbors, Israel and
Syria's new authorities have held several rounds of direct talks and have agreed
to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa
in June denied that his country sought to intervene militarily in Lebanon where
Israel and Hezbollah are at war, after US President Donald Trump suggested
Damascus could get involved. Hezbollah fought alongside Assad in the country's
civil war, making Sharaa and the new authorities who toppled the former leader
in 2024 deeply hostile to the group. Syria's war shattered the country's
infrastructure and pushed millions of people to flee internally and abroad.
IAEA chief says found 'tons of nuclear materials' in Syria
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
U.N. nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said Tuesday that his agency had found
several tons of nuclear materials at a previously undeclared site dating from
the rule of Syria's previous authorities.
"After your courageous decision to inform us that there was another place,
another site where nuclear material had been stored, we were able to access this
place... we are talking about a few tons of nuclear material that could be put
to bad use," Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, told a
news conference in Damascus.
Syria state media says 3 dead in blast at coastal power plant
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Syrian state media said three people were killed on Tuesday in an explosion of
unknown origin at a power plant on the country's Mediterranean coast. News
agency SANA reported "an explosion in the thermal power plant in Banias", with
the cause under investigation. It cited a regional health official as saying the
blast resulted in three deaths.
Syrian Official: Trials of Assad Regime Figures Are Fair
and Dedicated to War Crimes
Riyadh — Al Arabiya.net / August 18, 2026
Radif Mustafa, Director of the Accountability and Justice Department at the
Syrian National Commission for Transitional Justice, affirmed that the trial of
figures from the Assad regime represents the first step in the transitional
justice process. He emphasized that these trials aim to hold accountable those
involved in war crimes and genocide, and are not retaliatory measures.In an
interview with Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Tuesday evening, Mustafa stated, "The
trials are fair, not retaliatory, and are dedicated to the war crimes and acts
of genocide committed by figures of the former regime." He also clarified that
"the path of justice is not tied to any specific component or sect."These
statements came after the Damascus Criminal Court held a session earlier on
Tuesday to deliver its verdict in the case of the accused Wassef [Waseem]
al-Assad. During the reading of the verdict, Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Alyan
stressed that al-Assad committed crimes against civilians in Eastern Ghota, some
of which were driven by sectarian motives. The court also announced that the
detainee participated in the killing and torture of civilians in Jaramana and
committed crimes against humanity.
After reading all the evidence and the charges brought against him, the judge
sentenced the defendant to death for "the felony of premeditated murder, the
felony of intentional homicide of more than one person, and intentional homicide
accompanied by acts of torture and savagery against persons, classifying them as
crimes against humanity and war crimes." The ruling is expected to proceed to
the Court of Cassation for the final word on the case. During the previous
session—the third in his trial—the Public Prosecution in Damascus had demanded
the death penalty for al-Assad, as part of a series of trials for defendants
accused of committing crimes during the era of the former regime.Waseem
al-Assad, 46, a cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, first
appeared before the Syrian judiciary on June 24 of last year. He faced charges
related to "managing and forming irregular armed groups upon the instructions of
Brigadier General Ghayath Dalla, commander of a brigade in the 4th Division of
the former regime led by Maher al-Assad since early 2011, and participating in
wide-scale military operations targeting civilian areas in Eastern Ghota—particularly
the town of Mleiha—which resulted in the deaths of a large number of
civilians."Waseem al-Assad was known as one of the most prominent figures
accused of trafficking and smuggling Captagon narcotics to neighboring countries
during the former regime's era, and he is subject to U.S. and European
sanctions. Syrian authorities had arrested him on June 21, 2025, as part of
campaigns to pursue individuals accused of committing crimes during the former
regime's era. It is worth noting that the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus
issued a ruling last Tuesday sentencing the fugitive former regime leader Bashar
al-Assad to death, along with Atef Najib (in attendance), and other fugitives
including Maher Hafez al-Assad, Fahd Jassim al-Freij, Louay Ali al-Ali, Qusay
Ibrahim Mihoub, Wafiq Saleh Nasser, and Talal Fares al-Aysami, after convicting
them of murder, torture, deprivation of liberty, crimes against humanity, and
war crimes. Meanwhile, the public prosecution case against the defendant
Mohammed Ayman Ayyoush was dismissed due to his death.
Tehran to Washington: We Want to End the War… No
Concessions Under Pressure
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi affirmed on Tuesday that his country has
informed mediators of the necessity to work towards a complete end to the war,
not merely a temporary ceasefire. For his part, Iranian Parliament Speaker
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that intensifying US pressure on Tehran will not
lead to concessions that were never part of the agreement. Ghalibaf wrote in a
post on the X platform that the Americans believe that "increasing pressure on
Iran" will push it to make concessions not included in the agreement, while
simultaneously criticizing US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisnett and Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth. Ghalibaf also called on Washington to stop waiting for a
"miracle" from US officials and instead work on "fixing the mess they created."
Tehran's statements come amidst escalating tensions between Tehran and
Washington over the nuclear issue and US sanctions imposed on Iran. US President
Donald Trump reiterated that his administration will not currently hold any
negotiations or talks with Iran. Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social
account on Tuesday, "There are no talks or negotiations taking place or planned
with the Islamic Republic of Iran." He added that the naval blockade on Iranian
ports would remain in full force and effect. Since the outbreak of the war,
Iranian threats against ships have paralyzed navigation in this vital strait.
Tehran has required ships wishing to transit the strait to obtain prior
permission and has sought to impose "service fees," which Washington and other
regional actors have rejected. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a naval
blockade on all Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving, thanks
to the deployment of US aircraft carriers in the region. It is worth noting that
the two sides were supposed to reach a more comprehensive agreement on several
complex issues, primarily the Iranian nuclear program and the management of the
Strait of Hormuz, within 60 days of signing the memorandum of understanding
between them last June. However, the talks stalled before they even began on
July 7th, and the deadline expired yesterday without any progress, while
statements and a war of words have escalated between Tehran and Washington.
Mojtaba's Absence Continues: His Brothers Appear at Ali
Khamenei's 40th-Day Commemoration
Al-Arabiya.net - Masoud Al-Zahed / August 18, 2026 (Google
translation from Arabic)
Videos and photos published on Tuesday showed the presence of Mustafa and Masoud
Khamenei, sons of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, at the 40th-day
commemoration of his death, held at the Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran.
Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was later chosen to succeed his father as
Supreme Leader, remains out of the public eye. The appearance of Mustafa and
Masoud is particularly significant given Mojtaba's conspicuous absence from his
father's funeral and burial. While Ali Khamenei's other sons participated in
various stages of the funeral, Mojtaba did not appear at any of the public
ceremonies held for his father's funeral and burial. Ali Khamenei was buried in
Mashhad on July 9, 2026, following a series of funeral processions that began in
Tehran, moved to Qom, then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before concluding in
Mashhad. During the funeral prayers and burial, Mostafa Khamenei led the prayers
over his father's body, while Mojtaba was absent. Ali Khamenei had been killed
on February 28, 2026, during the Israeli and American attack on Iran, and his
body remained in the state of the Iranian army for more than four months before
the funeral and burial ceremonies could be held. Days after his death, Mojtaba
Khamenei was chosen as the new Supreme Leader, but he has not appeared in public
since the attack that killed his father. The official announcement of the
40th-day memorial service offers no explanation for Mojtaba Khamenei's absence,
and no detailed official information has yet been released to explain his
failure to appear at his father's funeral and burial. Media reports had linked
his continued absence since the attack to security concerns, while other reports
suggested he may have been injured during the attack, though no official public
confirmation of these accounts has been issued. Therefore, the presence of
Mostafa and Massoud at today's ceremony is not merely a public appearance by
members of the former Supreme Leader's family, but also a renewed focus on the
continued absence of the individual who has become Iran's new Supreme Leader.
These developments come at a sensitive transitional period as the Iranian
leadership attempts to consolidate the new Supreme Leader's position and
demonstrate the continuity of the regime's institutions following the death of
Ali Khamenei, especially given that Mojtaba had appointed and confirmed several
commanders in the armed forces earlier this month.
Trump suspends talks with Iran... and moves to increase
economic pressure
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
US officials revealed that President Donald Trump has instructed his negotiating
team to halt talks with Iran for the time being, despite what they described as
"positive discussions" with Tehran recently. Officials explained that Trump
remains dissatisfied with Iran's refusal to respond to his demands and prefers
to wait for new indications of the Iranian leadership's willingness to reach an
agreement before resuming communication, according to CNN on Tuesday. They also
indicated that Washington is currently moving towards increasing economic
pressure on Iran, based on the administration's conviction that tightening
sanctions and economic isolation may ultimately push Tehran to accept American
terms to end the confrontation. "No talks are underway or planned, and the
blockade remains in place." Trump had announced earlier on Tuesday that "there
are no talks or negotiations underway or planned with Iran." He also added in a
post on his Truth Social account that the naval blockade on Iranian ports will
remain in full force and effect. As for the Strait of Hormuz, he stated that it
is "open and operating normally, and all sea mines have been removed or
detonated," as he put it. In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad
Bagher Ghalibaf declared in a televised address that "the Strait of Hormuz will
not be reopened unless the United States fulfills its commitments under the
interim memorandum of understanding, including lifting the blockade, releasing
frozen Iranian assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military
operations on all fronts, and all other conditions pledged by Washington."
Ghalibaf later asserted in a post on the "X" platform that increased US pressure
on Tehran would not yield concessions that were never part of the agreement. It
is worth noting that since the outbreak of the war, Iranian threats against
shipping have paralyzed navigation in the vital Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has
required ships wishing to transit the strait to obtain prior authorization and
has sought to impose "service fees," a demand rejected by Washington and other
regional actors. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on
all Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving, thanks to the
deployment of US aircraft carriers in the region. It should be noted that the
two sides were supposed to reach a more comprehensive agreement on several
complex issues, primarily the Iranian nuclear program and the management of the
Strait of Hormuz, within 60 days of signing the memorandum of understanding
between them last June. However, the talks stalled before they even began on
July 7th, and the deadline expired on Monday without any progress, while
statements and a war of words escalated between Tehran and Washington.
Khatami: Squandering the Memorandum of Understanding with
America Will Cost Iran Dearly
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami stressed on Tuesday that the
Memorandum of Understanding with the United States represents an "exceptional
opportunity" for Tehran, warning that squandering it would lead to major
problems for the country. Khatami described the memorandum as "unprecedented,"
stating that "since World War II, no document signed by an American president
has granted this level of concessions to the other party." In a video message,
he affirmed his support for any step that would end the war, lift the
restrictions imposed on Iran, and pave the way for a better future for the
country. Regarding the internal situation during the war, he said that "popular
support is gradually declining due to propaganda and false slogans." Earlier on
Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that "there are no talks or
negotiations currently underway or planned with Iran." Trump also added in a
post on his Truth Social account that the naval blockade on Iranian ports would
remain in full force and effect. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he indicated
that it is "open and operating normally, and all sea mines have been removed or
detonated," as he put it. In contrast, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad
Bagher Ghalibaf declared in a televised address that "the Strait of Hormuz will
not be opened unless the United States fulfills its commitments under the
interim memorandum of understanding, including lifting the blockade, releasing
frozen Iranian funds, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military
operations on all fronts, and all other conditions pledged by Washington."
Ghalibaf later asserted in a post on the X platform that intensifying US
pressure on Tehran will not yield concessions that were never part of the
agreement in the first place. It is worth noting that since the outbreak of the
war, Iranian threats against ships have paralyzed navigation in the vital Strait
of Hormuz. Tehran has required ships wishing to transit the strait to obtain
prior permission and has sought to impose a "service fee," a demand rejected by
Washington and other regional actors. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a
naval blockade on all Iranian ports, preventing ships from entering or leaving,
thanks to the deployment of US aircraft carriers in the region. The two sides
were supposed to reach a more comprehensive agreement on several complex issues,
primarily the Iranian nuclear program and the management of the Strait of
Hormuz, within 60 days of signing the memorandum of understanding last June.
However, talks stalled before they even began on July 7th, and the deadline
expired on Monday without any progress, while statements and a war of words
escalated between Tehran and Washington.
Following repeated Iranian attacks, Abu Dhabi suspends
financial transactions with Tehran.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies all claims
regarding the status of economic relations with the Iranian regime.
Riyadh: Al-Arabiya.net / August 18, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
In light of repeated Iranian attacks against the UAE, Abu Dhabi has decided to
suspend all trade activities, exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran
until further notice. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied all claims
regarding the status of economic relations with Iran and reaffirmed its
unwavering commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and regional integration as
essential means to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. It
emphasized that the UAE remains firmly committed to upholding the integrity of
the international financial system, in accordance with international law and the
highest global standards. The UAE Ministry of Defense had detected two ballistic
missiles launched from Iran towards the country. The first missile landed
outside UAE territorial waters, while the second landed within them. The UAE
Ministry of Defense announced that assessments revealed the two ballistic
missiles, which were detected coming from Iran, were targeting maritime
navigation and landed in the sea.
Trump says no talks taking place or planned with Iran
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Tehran are under way
or planned and insisted the blockade of Iran’s ports remains in force. "There
are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic
of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect," Trump wrote on
his Truth Social network. "The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water
mines have been removed or detonated." Earlier Tuesday, Trump posted a map on
Truth Social showing the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW U.S. Territory," pressing his
threat to claim sovereignty over the vital waterway.
Iran has effectively shut down the chokepoint, through which a fifth of the
world's oil transits, in retaliation for the war Trump started along with Israel
in late February. The US leader revisited the idea again Monday in comments to
reporters in the Oval Office, suggesting it would be a good idea.
Iran negotiator Ghalibaf says Hormuz will not open until US meets demands
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that the
strategic Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the United States meets
Tehran's demands, including lifting a naval blockade.
"I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the
American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding... are
implemented," Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television. He listed
the removal of the blockade, the lifting of oil sanctions and unfreezing of
Iran's assets abroad among the demands.
Iran condemns 'suspicious' drone attack on Iraqi Kurdistan
PM's office
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned a drone attack that
targeted the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister's office, state media reported.
Baqaei denounced the attack, "describing it as a highly suspicious development
that requires vigilance and careful attention", according to a statement carried
by state news agency IRNA. Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered a probe
into the drone attack, his office said on Monday. Zaidi "directed the formation
of an investigative committee tasked with identifying the sources and launching
points of the attack that targeted the office of" Kurdistan['s Prime Minister
Masrour Barzani, according to the statement.
UAE Accuses Iran of Firing Ballistic Missiles at Its
Territory
/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday accused Iran of firing two ballistic
missiles at its territory, marking the first time the defense ministry detected
a barrage aimed at the country in months. "UAE air defenses detected two
ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, with the first falling
outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the
territorial waters," said a statement posted by the defense ministry on X. The
statement came nearly two hours after a brief phone alert warned UAE residents
of a "potential missile threat". "Due to the current situation, potential
missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building,"
the interior ministry said in the phone alert, which was lifted shortly after.
It was the first such alert since a false alarm in June and an alert in July for
an attack that ultimately did not enter UAE territory. Before that, the last
missile warning came in early May. Tankers belonging to state-owned oil company
ADNOC have been repeatedly targeted in the past few weeks. When the Middle East
war began on February 28, the UAE bore the brunt of Iran's attacks, with nearly
3,000 missiles and drones directed at the country -- more than anywhere else in
the region.
After a memorandum of understanding came into effect in June between the two
parties, which has since collapsed, the UAE reported no attacks.
Houthis Fire 5 Ballistic Missiles at Bab el-Mandeb
Aden: Asharq Al Awsat/August 18/2026
The Iran-backed Houthi group fired on Monday five ballistic missiles at the Bab
el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, days after their attacks on Yemen’s Mokha all
but left it destroyed, taking it out of service.Legitimate government media said
that the Houthis fired two ballistic missiles near the al-Hamza camp in the Ibb
provinces and three east of Taiz city.The Houthis also continued their attacks
on Mokha city, in the Taiz province, using rockets and drones.The government
forces continued to counter the Houthi attacks on several fronts. In Mokha,
dozens of sailors staged a protest against the Houthi attacks, calling on the
international community to intervene urgently to stop them. They urged the need
to provide effective protection to marine waterways and to workers in the marine
sector. Mokha Port head Abdul Malik Al-Sharabi said the Houthi attacks in recent
days left four security forces and three port staff dead. The militants fired
over 25 missiles at the facility, leaving extensive damage throughout, including
vessels, the pier, and vital infrastructure, he revealed. Sailors stage a
protest against Houthi attacks on Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea. (AP) He warned
of the humanitarian and economic repercussions of the halt in navigation at the
port, saying that some 1,300 workers have lost their sources of income.
Meanwhile, in Taiz, government forces repelled Houthi advances north of the
city. A statement from the armed forces, said the troops clashed with the
Houthis, leaving casualties in their ranks.Houth artillery strikes on
northwestern Taiz left material damage, said military sources. No casualties
were reported. The national resistance retaliated to the attacks.The Yemeni
Network for Victims Associations documented the killing and injury of 18
civilians in Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on Taiz, Marib, Hodeidah
and Dhale between August 4 and 15.During a press conference, the association
said the attacks targeted homes, displacement camps and civilian infrastructure.
It called on the United Nations, its Security Council and the international
community to take measures to protect civilians and hold the perpetrators
accountable.
It also called for an independent international probe into the violations
related to the use of ballistic missiles and drones.
Houthis target refinery in southern Saudi Arabia
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis targeted an oil refinery on Saudi Arabia's southern
Red Sea coast on Tuesday, rebel media reported, as the rebels ramp up attacks on
the kingdom. The Houthis "targeted the Aramco refinery in Jazan with a number of
drones... in response to airspace violations over the governorates of Saada and
Hajjah" in Yemen, Houthi news agency Saba said, citing a military source.
Ship hit on way through Strait of Hormuz
Associated Press/August 18/2026
A ship was hit by a projectile early Tuesday as it was sailing out of the Strait
of Hormuz, according to the British military's UK Maritime Trade Operations
center. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack highlights
the ongoing danger of attempting to transit the waterway as Iran continues to
throttle shipping traffic, even as it finalizes negotiations with Oman on a plan
to manage the critical passage. An unidentified projectile damaged the engine
room of a ship and "resulted in a crew casualty" early Tuesday morning as the
vessel was trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, the
UKMTO said, citing a report from the company's security office. The maritime
monitoring agency did not release any details about the ship or its cargo, and
it was not clear whether the crew member was killed in the attack or wounded. It
said the Omani Coast Guard was assisting other crew members and that authorities
were investigating. There has been growing concern about oil spilling into the
Persian Gulf and other area waters from vessels damaged as they have attempted
to transit the strait, but the UKMTO said no environmental damage had been
reported in the latest attack. Iran effectively closed the strait — through
which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed before the war
— after Israel and the U.S. attacked the country on Feb. 28. The U.S. also is
currently blockading all Iranian shipping traffic through the strait. With
negotiations between the U.S. and Iran stalled, Iran has been holding separate
talks with Oman on a plan to manage ships transiting the strait, and said Monday
it was in the process of finalizing details for a joint statement. U.S.
President Donald Trump reacted angrily, reportedly threatening to Fox News
reporter Trey Yingst in a telephone interview that the U.S. would bomb Oman if
it "gets in the way."
Turkey urges Trump to seek diplomatic solution to war
Associated Press/August 18/2026
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged U.S. President Donald Trump in
a telephone call to continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict with
Iran. The call between the two presidents came late Monday as the 60-day
negotiating period to find a peace deal between the United States and Iran was
expiring, with no word of an extension and both sides seemingly as far apart as
they were at the start. “President Erdogan said it is important to make maximum
use of diplomacy amid tensions between Iran and the United States, expressed our
hope that talks will continue, and noted that Turkey will keep supporting
efforts toward peace,” according to a statement from the Turkish presidential
communications office. Erdogan also expressed concerns over intensified Israeli
actions targeting Palestinians at a time when efforts are underway to move to
the second phase of the Gaza agreement, the statement said.
Turkey, a NATO member that borders Iran, earlier this month signed a joint
defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which stipulates “that any
armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack
against them all.”Trump praised the agreement, saying in a social media post
that “it shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will
finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way.” During their
conversation, Erdogan told Trump the deal reflected “a strong stance to ensure
regional stability and security.”
Iran Parliament Speaker to Visit Iraq on Wednesday
Baghdad: Asharq Al Awsat/August 18/2026
Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will travel to Iraq on
Wednesday at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation to hold talks on
regional developments. Iran’s IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday that Ghalibaf
will depart on Wednesday morning for Iraq to discuss regional developments, ways
to boost strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, and joint mechanisms
to help consolidate stability and security in West Asia. Ghalibaf's visit comes
amid discussions within Iraq's ruling coalition about the fate of the weapons of
pro-Iran armed factions following the planned withdrawal of US forces on
September 30. Tensions are mounting in Iraq after the arrest of a leader in the
pro-Iran Al-Nujaba Movement. Ghalibaf is scheduled to meet with several senior
Iraqi officials to discuss developing bilateral relations, border security,
countering terrorism, expanding economic cooperation, and implementing joint
agreements between the two countries, said IRNA. Iraq is under pressure from
Washington to disarm powerful Iran-backed armed factions that have gained
significant political and financial influence in the country. Ghalibaf's visit
comes two days after the office of the Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan
Region, Masrour Barzani, and the residence of the local intelligence director in
Erbil were targeted by two drones that Erbil said were launched from Iran.
Barzani slammed the "reckless and unacceptable" attacks that are a "dangerous
escalation and a direct threat to the region's security and stability." Iraqi
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered a probe into the attacks on Monday. In a
statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi informed his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, that "he
does not possess information indicating the attacks originated from Iranian
territory," and that "there is no justification for such actions." He
underscored "the positive and solid relations between the Iranian government
with the Kurdistan Regional Government, particularly with the two main parties
in the region". "Kurdish friends must exercise caution regarding false flag
ploys aimed at sowing discord between neighbors," he warned.
Iraq to Probe Drone Attack on Kurdistan PM’s Office
Asharq Al Awsat/August 18/2026
Iraq said on Monday it would launch an investigation into an overnight drone
attack on the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister's office, as Iran portrayed the
incident as a ploy to undermine bilateral relations. Kurdistan's authorities had
earlier blamed the attack -- which also targeted the home of the autonomous
region's intelligence chief -- on Tehran, saying the two drones had been
launched from Iranian territory. Since the start of the Middle East war, the
Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil firms as well as rebels
exiled from Iran, has been targeted with more than 1,000 attacks by Tehran and
pro-Iran armed groups inside Iraq. Drones have repeatedly been intercepted over
Kurdistan's capital Erbil, while others have struck the rebels and US interests.
The office of Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said he had "directed the
formation of an investigative committee tasked with identifying the sources and
launching points of the attack that targeted the office of" Kurdistan's Prime
Minister Masrour Barzani. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei
condemned the attack, "describing it as a highly suspicious development that
requires vigilance and careful attention", according to a statement carried by
state news agency IRNA. Iran's foreign ministry said its top diplomat Abbas
Araghchi held a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart on Monday. "Nothing
justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani's office. Kurdish friends should be
vigilant against false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbors," Araghchi
said on X. US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, said
"we strongly condemn the attack on our friend and valued Kurdish partner"
Barzani, adding that the aggression was "unacceptable and a direct threat to
regional stability". Separately, an explosion at a petroleum products depot in
eastern Iraqi Kurdistan injured 18 people, Kurdish media outlet Rudaw reported,
without specifying the cause of the blast. Hirsh Salim, deputy director general
of health in Sulaimaniyah governorate, told the outlet that there were no
fatalities. Under pressure from the United States, Iraq has given pro-Iran armed
groups in the country until September 30 to disarm, coinciding with the end of
the US-led anti-ISIS coalition's mission. Iraq is home to several powerful
Iran-backed armed factions, which have seen their political and financial clout
increase over the years. Many emerged in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion of
Iraq and gained further power and prominence during the fight against the ISIS
group from 2014 onwards.They have long called for the withdrawal of American
troops deployed within the coalition, and they have frequently hit bases hosting
US troops. While some armed groups announced they will cooperate to hand over
weapons to the state, others remain adamant that the issue should not be
discussed under US pressure.
'Dangerous escalation' -
Kurdish authorities said earlier on Monday that two Iranian drones had targeted
Barzani's office and the home of the autonomous region's intelligence chief.
"Following an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit, my personal
office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were
targeted by Iranian drone attacks earlier today," Barzani said in a post on
X."This is a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and
stability of the Kurdistan region."The regional Counter-Terrorism Directorate
said there were no casualties in the attack.
"Two Hadid-110 type explosive-laden drones were launched from across the Iranian
border toward the private office of the Kurdistan region prime minister and the
residence of the Parastin Agency director," it said. Tehran accuses the exiled
Kurdish opposition groups of serving Western and Israeli interests, and
continued to launch strikes against them even during a regional ceasefire
announced in April, which eventually broke down. The groups have mostly
evacuated their bases and camps in Kurdistan since the war began.
Iraq Tests Limits of State Power in Push to Rein in Armed Factions
London: Asharq Al Awsat/August 18/2026
The Iraqi government appeared to test how far it could push efforts to bring
weapons under state control by arresting a senior al-Nujaba Movement figure,
then handing him over to the security arm of the Popular Mobilization Forces — a
move that may have been designed to prevent a broader clash with armed factions.
Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service arrested Abbas Hussein al-Yaqoubi, al-Nujaba's
intelligence chief and a PMF official, in the Dhi Qar province on Monday under a
judicial warrant over suspected involvement in attacks targeting the US presence
and interests in Iraq.
Judicial authorities have not said why al-Yaqoubi was arrested or what charges
he faces. Hours later, the PMF said it had taken custody of him. Its media
official, Muhannad al-Aqabi, said al-Yaqoubi had been handed to the PMF's
General Directorate of Security "to follow up on legal proceedings with the
judiciary," without giving further details.The transfer suggested that the
government, after showing it was prepared to deploy state security agencies
against a prominent figure in a major armed faction, chose to contain the
confrontation before it escalated, particularly after threats were directed at
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.Local reports say al-Yaqoubi oversees security in
areas of Baghdad's southern belt. The al-Nujaba Movement is aligned with Iran
and continues to reject the Iraqi government's plan to bring weapons under state
control by September 30. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said al-Yaqoubi's
arrest was carried out under a judicial order and that the government would deal
according to law with anyone refusing to place weapons under state authority,
according to remarks carried by Iraqi media.
The message was clear: the state claims authority over arms.
Test of strength
The arrest marked the clearest test yet of al-Zaidi's attempt to enforce state
control over weapons, one of Iraq's most sensitive issues. Several armed
factions are tied to powerful political forces and retain military capabilities
beyond the country's traditional security institutions, making any attempt to
curb their autonomy, politically and militarily, fraught. An official in the al-Nujaba
Movement called the arrest a “dangerous escalation” by al-Zaidi and said the
group would announce its position within hours. The warning came after another
pro-Iran group, Kataib Hezbollah, threatened al-Zaidi, prompting Badr
Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri to call for calm between the government and
the “resistance factions.”Al-Amiri warned against “hasty, ill-considered or
provocative moves” and urged all sides to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and
miscalculations. Kataib Hezbollah security official Abu Mujahed al-Assaf
escalated the rhetoric further on Tuesday, issuing a strongly worded warning to
al-Zaidi and accusing him of “terrorizing the families of the mujahideen”
through raids on homes under direct US supervision. He set three conditions for
defusing the crisis: “the complete and genuine departure of the Americans, the
removal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq and the dissolution of the
Peshmerga forces belonging to the Kurdistan Region.” He described those demands
as the basis for resolving what he called “the bravado of this young man” and
for any future rapprochement or framework for dealing with the government. Iraqi
reports also said an extraordinary session between al-Zaidi and lawmakers on the
Security and Defense Committee over legislation to bring weapons under state
control was marked by objections, defenses of the factions and questions over
what would happen to their weapons, fighters and families. The reaction
underscored the government's narrow room for maneuver. Any attempt to impose a
full state monopoly over weapons could quickly shift from a legal measure into a
wider political and security crisis.
‘Iraq’s isolation’
Al-Aboudi said the government was trying to spare Iraq further consequences,
saying the country had come close to isolation because of the weapons issue.
That may explain the government's balancing act: show that judicial orders can
be enforced even against a senior figure in an armed faction, then contain the
fallout before the confrontation spreads. The timing is particularly sensitive
as the international coalition's mission in Iraq approaches its end. Al-Aboudi
said the coalition was accelerating steps to conclude its mission by the end of
September, while al-Zaidi was giving particular attention to strengthening
Iraq's air defense capabilities.
Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas
disarming
Naharnet /August 18/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Monday with U.S. envoy Jared
Kushner that a U.S. general should supervise Hamas' disarmament and said Israel
would not pull troops from Gaza until then, an Israeli official told AFP. The
two sides "agreed that the first step toward the demilitarization of the Strip
would be to require Hamas to hand over its weapons for decommissioning under the
supervision of an American general," the Israeli official said. Kushner said
Monday that progress towards disarming Hamas and moving forward with a Gaza
peace plan could begin within a month.
Hamas says committed to Gaza deal after Kushner talks in
Israel
Agence France Presse/August 18/2026
Hamas said Tuesday it remained committed to a Gaza peace deal backed by the
United States after envoy Jared Kushner spoke to Israel about pressuring the
group on disarmament."Hamas is committed to this agreed-upon process. It is
clear that, so far, the Israeli side has not given the mediators clear approval
of the roadmap," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP.Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on Monday with U.S. envoy Jared Kushner that a U.S.
general should supervise Hamas' disarmament and said Israel would not pull
troops from Gaza until then, an Israeli official told AFP. The two sides "agreed
that the first step toward the demilitarization of the Strip would be to require
Hamas to hand over its weapons for decommissioning under the supervision of an
American general," the Israeli official said.
Israel Demands Gaza Disarmament Begins October 7
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Sources told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Tuesday that Israel has demanded the
disarmament of Gaza begin on October 7. The sources added that US President
Donald Trump's remarks about disarming Hamas came after polls in Israel showed
opposition to withdrawal. For his part, an official at the Peace Council said
that the political future of Hamas leaders in a new Palestinian government is
contingent on disarmament. The official added that the Peace Council's envoy,
Nikolay Mladenov, informed Hamas that nothing can be negotiated while weapons
remain everywhere. Earlier on Tuesday, a Hamas spokesperson confirmed the
movement's commitment to the Washington-backed Gaza agreement, following talks
between US envoy Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
aimed at pressuring Hamas to disarm. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP that
"Hamas is committed to this agreed-upon path," adding that it is clear Israel
has not yet given "clear approval to the mediators for the roadmap." These
statements came after Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday before
traveling to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu, who recently announced his
rejection of the plan. The Israeli prime minister demands that Hamas disarm
completely. According to an Israeli official, the two sides agreed with Kushner
that an American officer would oversee the weapons handover. The "Peace
Council," headed by the US president and tasked with implementing the agreement,
also informed Netanyahu that Israel is not required to begin withdrawing from
Gaza before Hamas is completely disarmed, as part of the second phase of the
ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2015.
Palestinian American returns to besieged West Bank home but Israeli settlers
remain
Associated Press/August 18/2026
The Palestinian American whose home in the occupied West Bank has been besieged
for more than a week confronted Israeli settlers on his property Tuesday and
demanded Israeli forces remove them from the area. But on his first day back at
his home in the village of Qusra, Loui Ridi was ultimately told to go inside
because the area was a closed military zone. Israeli soldiers asked the settlers
to leave the area as well, but Ridi said he saw at least three settlers close
enough to return and threaten his family if the army leaves. "If I need to walk
outside of my house, I'm not able. I have to get a permission and coordination
and it's going to take hours if it's even possible to leave," Ridi said. Ridi
yelled at one of the settlers to get off his property, saying he wasn't allowed
to be there and calling him a terrorist, according to video he shared with The
Associated Press. Ridi pled with the soldiers to remove the settlers. They told
him to get back inside his home, while also pleading with settlers to leave
peacefully. For Ridi, the exchange extinguished any sense of victory remaining
after he managed, with the aid of a military escort, to enter his home. He said
the encounter epitomized how the army has been unable or unwilling to clear the
area of settlers. "As soon as (Israeli soldiers) leave — like if they leave
today — probably on the same day or a couple hours later, the settlers may come
back and build the same tent in front of my house," he said.
Qusra standoff is the latest violence in the West Bank
Emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government,
extremist settlers have routinely attacked villages and set homes, cars and
mosques ablaze in the occupied West Bank this year. Few episodes garner as much
international attention as the siege in Qusra. However, settlers have staged
takeovers of other Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. In the
neighboring village of Jalud, settlers surrounded homes and prevented
Palestinians from entering or exiting until they decide to escape and not come
back. Palestinian officials report 87 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli
settlers or soldiers this year. Three Israelis have been killed including two in
nearby clashes last month. Much like in Qusra, violent settlers rarely face
arrest by Israeli police or prosecution in Israeli courts. Ridi, a 46-year-old
who lives with his family in Ohio but owns a second home in the Qusra, arrived
on Monday, climbing his stairs and raising an American flag on his roof. The
United States — Israel's closest ally — has condemned the ongoing siege in Qusra,
now in its tenth day. President Donald Trump has said he opposes Israeli efforts
to annex the West Bank but has signaled broad acceptance of settlements and, at
the start of his second term, lifted sanctions on settlers accused of violence.
Ridi said he can't buy groceries without permission and has asked U.S. officials
to help guarantee he can bring his own food and supplies back to his home, which
is in an area that Israel declared a closed military zone last week to restore
order. Settlers being able to besiege a Palestinian American's home for more
than a week was terrifying to other Palestinians as violence soars in the
broader West Bank, Ridi said. Video shows settlers demanding homeowner stay
inside . Ridi said he slept for four hours in a room where he kept the shutters
closed because settlers had previously thrown rocks toward the windows. When he
woke up Tuesday and went outside to confront the settlers and soldiers, one
settler demanded in Hebrew that the soldiers make him go back inside, saying
Ridi's yard belonged to them. "Take them to their home. You said it's a closed
military zone," the settler told an Israeli soldier, according to Ridi's video.
The soldiers told everyone to leave and said, "We don't need this commotion."
Soldiers have repeatedly dismantled their tents and shades in the area only to
have the settlers return to area on the outskirts of a village 10 miles (16
kilometers) from the Palestinian city of Nablus. One settler was detained last
week but Israeli police have not reported any arrests. Ridi fears settlers could
ramp up attacks on his home moments after Israeli soldiers leave, much like
other areas where settlers have staged takeovers of Palestinian homes. Ridi said
his two daughters in Ohio have stayed up past their bedtimes worried for his
safety, texting that they miss him and asking if he is all right.
"I have to lie and say, 'No, I'm safe. I'm OK. It's safe here,' because I want
her to sleep," he said.
Sudanese Defense Minister: Rapid Support Forces Were
Never Part of the Army
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Sudanese Defense Minister Hassan Daoud Kabroun emphasized that the army "did not
create the Rapid Support Forces, and they were never part of the armed forces,"
asserting that the army is advancing on all fronts and "victorious in the
current battle." In statements to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Tuesday, Kabroun said
that "treating the army and the Rapid Support Forces as equal parties is a
political ploy." He added that "any amendments to the Juba Peace Agreement will
be aimed at preserving the unity of Sudan." He further emphasized, "We will hold
accountable anyone who engages in illegal recruitment," adding that "no parallel
forces or militias affiliated with any party will be permitted after the war
ends." On another note, he warned that any threat to the Red Sea directly
impacts Sudan's security, indicating that his country is working to establish a
Sudanese coast guard force. On Saturday, the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council
and commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, emphasized
that the armed forces are a national institution that does not belong to any
particular tribe or region, but rather represents all Sudanese people. In a
speech delivered during the 72nd anniversary celebrations of the army in
Khartoum State, al-Burhan stated, "The army does not belong to any specific
tribe or region; it is a national army." He added that the capital, Khartoum, is
now safe and stable, affirming the commitment to continuing the army's
development and equipping it with the necessary weapons and capabilities to
protect Sudan. On Friday, al-Burhan announced the commencement of a dialogue
with Sudanese national forces aimed at including them in the institutions of
government, stressing that the dialogue would be independent and free from any
interference in its agenda. In a televised address marking the 72nd anniversary
of the army, he added that participants in the national dialogue would receive
temporary immunity and would not face any legal prosecution for the opinions and
positions they express during the dialogue. However, he stressed that "the
country will not accept a flawed peace that returns the Rapid Support Forces to
power," emphasizing the necessity of addressing the issue of weapons as a
fundamental step towards ending the war. It is worth noting that since April
2023, a war has been raging in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support
Forces, resulting in the deaths of more than 200,000 people, according to
estimates by aid workers, and the displacement of more than 12 million Sudanese,
in what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Khartoum has been under the control of the army since March 2025, after it
recaptured the city from the Rapid Support Forces in a large-scale military
operation. Despite being targeted by drone strikes, the city has witnessed a
gradual return to normalcy in recent months, with the return of 2.3 million
displaced people, the commencement of reconstruction efforts, and the resumption
of activity in markets. Fighting between the two sides intensified after the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) consolidated their control over the vast Darfur
region in western Sudan last year, before escalating their attacks to seize
areas in South Kordofan state along the southeastern border with Ethiopia,
according to AFP. Meanwhile, the army controlled the central, eastern, and
northern parts of the country, achieving a major victory last month by pushing
the RSF westward and securing the highway linking Omdurman and El Obeid, the
largest city in the Kordofan region, which the RSF had been attempting to
completely encircle for months.
U.S. Escalates Against the ICC and Sanctions Its
President Tomoko Akane
Riyadh — Al Arabiya.net / August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday against Japanese judge and
International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and another high-ranking
official, according to the U.S. Treasury Department's website. U.S. Secretary of
State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the United States imposed sanctions
on both Akane and the court's senior trial lawyer, Senegalese national Abdou
Dialy Kébé [Abdullah Si], under Executive Order 14203. Rubio accused both Akane
and Abdallah Si of "directly participating" in the court's efforts to
investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from governments that have
not consented to the ICC's jurisdiction. Rubio also described the court as
"fatally corrupt and politicized," accusing it of abusing its power and
"bad-faith overreach of its mandate," stressing that Washington "will not
tolerate its encroachment on state sovereignty." The U.S. Secretary of State
stated that the court has "repeatedly" attempted to assert its authority over
citizens of the United States and other countries that have not consented to its
jurisdiction or ratified the Rome Statute, considering this to be a "dangerous
precedent for all nations."
Furthermore, Rubio affirmed that the U.S. campaign against the International
Criminal Court will encompass various branches of government, expecting other
countries to join U.S. efforts by halting funding and participation in the
court. He stressed the need to end the court's ability to target U.S. citizens
and citizens of non-party states to the Rome Statute. The Trump administration
also vowed to take "additional measures" when necessary, aiming at what Rubio
described as "systematically undermining the International Criminal Court" until
it is rendered incapable of threatening American sovereignty.
For its part, the International Criminal Court stated that the sanctions will
not deter it and that it stands firmly by its staff. It added that actions taken
by states to target judges, prosecutors, and personnel working to carry out the
court's mandate "undermine the rule of law," according to Reuters.
Akane has served as President of the International Criminal Court since March
2024, after being elected as a judge in 2017 with her judicial term beginning in
March 2018. Akane has a long career in criminal justice and judiciary in Japan,
having served as a public prosecutor for about 35 years, holding various
positions in the Ministry of Justice, and serving as Japan's Ambassador for
International Judicial Cooperation before moving to the ICC. Akane's name came
into sharp focus amid the pressures facing the ICC over its investigations and
decisions regarding several international files, including the war in Gaza. She
was previously targeted by punitive measures from Russia over the arrest warrant
issued by the court against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. The new
U.S. sanctions against Akane come within the context of President Donald Trump's
administration escalating against the ICC and its officials due to Washington's
objection to the court's actions against Israeli and American officials, and its
rejection of the court's jurisdiction in cases that the United States views as
exceeding its jurisdiction.
Baghdad: Targeting Barzani's Office Hinders Peace
Efforts and Threatens Our Security
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/August 18, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The Iraqi National Security Advisory condemned on Tuesday the targeting of the
Kurdistan Region and the bombing of the office of the region's Prime Minister,
Masrour Barzani, warning that such actions would hinder peace efforts and
complicate the security situation in the country. In a statement, the Advisory
said that targeting the region and bombing the Prime Minister's office
"obstructs peace efforts and impedes the Iraqi government's efforts to expel
foreign forces," and also presents Iraq with "difficult security challenges." It
also affirmed its categorical rejection of any attack from any party, warning
that such actions could push the country into "a dangerous escalation." The
Advisory stressed that Iraq "will not allow such actions that take us back to
the stages we have left behind," affirming its commitment to working towards
building a lasting peace for the Iraqi people and the country. On Monday, Iraqi
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi decided to form an investigative committee to
uncover the sources and motives behind the attack that targeted Masrour
Barzani's office and the residence of the region's intelligence agency director
in Erbil. A statement from the Iraqi government indicated that al-Zaidi directed
that "the results of the investigation be announced to the public as soon as
possible, and that all the circumstances of the attack and the parties behind it
be revealed." This came after two Iranian drones carrying explosives targeted
the private office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in
Erbil, and the residence of the Director of the Intelligence Agency. Masrour
Barzani condemned the attacks "in the strongest terms" in a post on Twitter,
describing them as "reckless, unacceptable, a dangerous escalation, and a direct
threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region," emphasizing that
the region "has never been a party to these wars and tensions in the region."
The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, also stated on Monday
that the attack constituted "a dangerous escalation," calling on the federal
government to "exercise its responsibilities and constitutional obligations in
protecting the security and stability of the country" and to take the necessary
measures "to ensure that such attacks are not repeated." Since the outbreak of
the Middle East conflict at the end of February with the US-Israeli attack on
Iran, the region has been bombed more than a thousand times, according to local
authorities. The attacks were divided between those claimed by Iraqi armed
factions against American interests and those carried out by Iran against
positions held by Iranian Kurdish armed opposition groups that have been based
for years in northern Iraq. These attacks come at a time of increasing American
pressure on Baghdad to rein in the weapons of pro-Iranian factions, a pledge
made by al-Zaidi upon assuming office in mid-May. Al-Zaidi gave the factions
until September 30 to relinquish their weapons, coinciding with the end of the
US-led international coalition's mission against ISIS, the presence of which
some factions cite in northern Iraq to justify their continued possession of
arms. However, some still refuse to cooperate in this matter.
The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published
on August 18-19/2026
The newly adopted strategy of the Israeli
army in its operations in Southern Lebanon reflects a clear tactical evolution.
Colonel Charbel Barakat/August 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/08/156763/
On the day the late Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened, on February 16, 2016, to
blow up the ammonium nitrate depot in Haifa to kill and displace more than
800,000 Israelis, the Israelis did not sleep until they secured a way to
transfer these materials and store them in places that posed no threat to
civilians. Meanwhile, the report presented to the Sayyed regarding the danger of
these materials—stored since 2013 in Hangar 12 at the Port of Beirut, amounting
to 2,750 tons of this substance—represented a genuine danger to the Lebanese
people. He was told at the time that it was capable of blowing up all of Beirut,
yet he did nothing except threaten the Israelis. Neither he, nor the leadership
of the Lebanese Army, nor the rest of the agencies tasked with citizen security
realized that what he was saying about Haifa could actually happen in Beirut.
And in the end... it happened.
We recall this incident here to point out that when Mr. Netanyahu spoke about
the tunnels being dug in Southern Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan and his circle began
mocking Netanyahu and his fear of the digging process and the tunnels—to the
extent that he joked in one of his interviews, describing the panic among
Israelis whenever they heard the sound of a "hammer."
It is true that the Israelis are serious when it comes to the lives of their
people, whether in villages near the border or among the personnel of the
Defense Forces. They are protective of every human being who might be reached by
any impact from the enemy, whoever that enemy may be. Therefore, they consider
precaution to be a constant duty, and planning to avoid falling into peril
essential, whatever the cost. From here, we saw how they drew lessons from the
2006 war and the engagements that took place during it. From here, too, we
understand why they prolonged the time before attacking and occupying these
areas this time around, and why they adopted all this destruction—which is
undoubtedly deplored, if not rejected, by unarmed civilians who have no dog in
this fight, as a lifetime of hard work vanished in a single strike. However,
when we understand the plans of the Party and its masters, and what they did by
digging beneath people's homes, in public places, and under churches, mosques,
and archaeological sites—everywhere without distinction—we understand that it
was the duty of the Israelis to take that into account and show no leniency.
From here, we comprehend why houses were destroyed in Debel, Al-Qawzah, and
elsewhere, or why the people of Al-Qlaiaa, Ain Ebel, and Alma El-Chaeb were
killed, even though the residents of these towns were not collaborators with the
Party.
Hezbollah had planned for a long, grueling battle with Israel to prevent it from
entering Lebanese territory, according to its own narrative, by confronting any
advance toward the villages and cities. The battle was supposed to take place
among the houses, where the enemy would be lured into prepared ambushes, out of
which fighters would eemerge from underground tunnels—capable of remaining
hidden for long periods and moving between positions safely and securely,
lacking neither ammunition, gear, nor supplies, having prepared the necessary
resources for this battle long ago, with their ultimate wish being that the
enemy would come so they could fight them.
Hence, the Israelis had to change their plans:
· Tactical Maneuvering: First, in terms of advance axes, and then in
maneuvering—that is, advancing and retreating to test the waters and conduct
reconnaissance, thereby deceiving the enemy by feigning an advance from one axis
before changing course.
· Controlled Encirclement: Even regarding the encirclement of positions, in many
cases they left exit and entry routes open that enemy fighters might use for an
ulterior motive—perhaps to draw in larger numbers of them, or so they could
abandon positions without a fight.
· Intelligence Operations: What happened in Khiam and Bint Jbeil are clear
examples of this that will later be taught in military academies; a battle
lasting six months in which the Israeli side suffered only a few casualties that
do not exceed the fingers of one hand—despite the existence of such
preparations, tunnels, stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, and trained
personnel—is undoubtedly astounding.
The area fell completely within a timeframe that could have been three days for
the army to reach Nabatieh. But what comes after entry? Engagements during
movement, withdrawals, or even advancing to new positions would have been
extremely costly given all these fortifications, tunnels, weapons, ammunition,
and numbers of fighters. However, Israeli intelligence was capable of
penetrating the enemy's leadership and knowing its plans, thereby countering
them in the manner that occurred. Because of this, even now, the Party does not
know, for instance, the number of its fallen members or those captured by the
enemy. It was unable to deploy the "lone wolf" strategy that many of its members
were prepared to execute; it could not hold out in the fortified command posts
where it had entrenched itself with full gear and personnel; and it did not use
many of its depots that it may have been keeping to pursue the enemy during a
withdrawal, despite the presence of Revolutionary Guard officers and members of
all its branches in these locations.
The fortified villages and tunnels that start in Bint Jbeil and Khiam and do not
end in Majdal Zoun or Zibqine, nor in Al-Taybe or Al-Qantara, nor in Wadi
Al-Salouqi or Zautar Al-Gharbiya, nor in Kfar Tibnit or Arnoun—and will
certainly not end at Nabi Taher, even if it is among the fortified command
posts—the entirety of Jabal Al-Rihan, from Sojod to Jargjou, Jabal Safi, and
Brikat Jabbour toward Mashghara, Sohmor, and Yohmor, are all equipped and must
be cleared. The Israelis will not advance toward them until what can be cleared
has been cleared. Will the Party ultimately be unable to secure all these sites,
and consequently hand them over to the state or to Israel?
To this day, Shiite citizens have paid the price for every bill advanced to them
over the years during which Iran showered them with free aid, knowing full well
that none of it compensates for what they would pay during confrontations.
Today, they do not know what to say or how to act. Some still believe that the
Party and its masters will return to control the country, while others believe
they have lost the gamble but do not yet dare to confront it, as there is no one
to protect them. But most importantly, the state—which is supposed to be the
protector of all and
possess enough foresight and relations to ensure a clear vision for shaping the
future—still does not know what to say or how to act. Many of its leaders have
been accustomed since the Syrian occupation to focusing solely on their selfish
interests so as not to disturb the occupier. They treat Hezbollah's group as an
Iranian occupation that cannot be stood up to; hence, they find it easy to humor
it, and even accept financial aid from its circle, to the point that many of
them have ended up on the payrolls and allowances of the Revolutionary Guard.
How then could they oppose it, or imagine its fall or confrontation? From here
begins the catastrophe of the citizens within the so-called "environment,"
because their children are paid, and the leaders who ought to guide them are
themselves paid—and herein lies the dilemma.
Israel is executing its plans to defend its people and borders for the long
term, while Lebanon groans under the weight of treason among its leaders and
citizens, with no one asking how to break free from this burden. From here, it
appears that the majority of the Party's group and those revolving in their
orbit are a hopeless cause that cannot evolve toward revolting against reality
and attempting change. Will change then come by force from the outside, by
imposing a new leadership that contributes to saving Lebanon from its
predicament—with the blessing of the United States and coordination with Israel,
in a way that avoids further disasters? Or will the actual occupation of the
land, which might be accompanied by a form of Jewish settlement in it, be the
temporary or long-term solution to avoid further war on the northern front?
We hope that the Lebanese people will rise up, stop dreaming, and take the
initiative to rid their homeland of the scourge of Iranian occupation and its
parasitic henchmen who live on hatred, receiving orders and money without caring
for their people's interest or fate. Our hope is that our people will stand up
and regain the initiative to make our Israeli neighbors understand that Lebanon
wants nothing more than peace and cross-border cooperation, and will spare no
effort to get rid of the remnants of mercenaries who destroyed the future,
demolished the present, and spread terror among the people. Will anyone answer
the call?
The Helmet That Protects Everyone
Mamoun Fandy/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
Societies, like human beings, need to protect their heads from the possibility
of a fall and a concussion, especially when they are moving quickly toward the
future. The greater the speed, the greater the need for protection, because
there are bumps, obstacles, and sudden turns. The question is not how to stop
the vehicle, but how to protect those inside it if the road shakes or a
collision occurs.
And when some societies pass in a few decades through what Europe passed through
over centuries, the possibility of social concussion becomes understandable.
Change may outpace the ability of consciousness to absorb it, and the new
reality sometimes arrives before the psychological, social, and cultural tools
required to deal with it are fully formed. The question, then, is not how to
stop change. That is impossible and undesirable to begin with. The more
important question is: what is the helmet that protects a society's head during
its rush toward the future?
That helmet is what might be called the social infrastructure of modernization:
the institutions, spaces, and practices that stand between the speed of
transformation and the individual, softening the shock, translating what is new,
and giving people the time, language, and means to live with it. In the European
experience, despite the differences among its paths, the transition from
traditional society to modernity stretched across long periods. In societies
such as Saudi Arabia, by contrast, history has been compressed into a few
decades. The premodern, the modern, and the postmodern can coexist under the
roof of a single house. In two or three generations, the house and the street
have changed, as have the position of women, the relationship between
generations, patterns of work and leisure, and the image a person has of
himself. This is not merely a process of modernization; it is an acceleration of
social time.
The problem with speed is that different parts of society do not arrive at the
future at the same time. Technology may change in months, while patterns of
authority within the family, conceptions of status and identity, and what people
consider natural or acceptable move at a slower pace. This is where the gap
opens: a person sees a new world in front of him but enters it with
psychological and social tools shaped in an earlier one. This gap can be
understood, in short, through Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus: that
accumulated store of habits, dispositions, and expectations through which we
learn how to behave without thinking through every step. The difficulty is that
habitus is formed slowly, while the world may change quickly. When the two
speeds diverge, the individual feels that the rules of the game he was raised
with no longer match the field on which he stands.
But people do not reshape this store through sermons and decisions alone. Here,
the work of Erving Goffman and Michel de Certeau helps us understand the role of
everyday life. For Goffman, a person learns society through thousands of small
situations: at the university, at work, in the restaurant, on the street, at the
theater, in the way he presents himself to others and reads their signals. The
new becomes less of a shock when it turns into repeated practice.
De Certeau, for his part, reminds us that people do not receive change
passively. They make use of new spaces in their own way and invest them with
their own meanings. Modernization is not complete when a theater, cinema, or
public park opens, but when people enter these places and turn them into part of
their lives. Hence the importance of culture and entertainment. They are not
ornaments appended to development once it is complete; they are among its most
important laboratories of adaptation. The novel, theater, cinema, and music
allow people to see different roles and different lives, and to test the new in
their imagination before confronting it in reality. Concerts, festivals, sports,
and public spaces do something simpler and deeper: they make the unfamiliar
familiar.
And this is the point that so often goes missing from discussions of
modernization. Societies change not only because they have been persuaded of new
ideas, but because they have grown accustomed to them. Habituation itself is a
social mechanism for reshaping the human being. When these mediating
institutions are absent, or are weaker than the speed of transformation,
concussion may turn into anxiety, and anxiety into a search for solid certainty.
Here, extremism becomes one possible symptom. Extremist ideology offers a simple
world: us and them, purity and corruption, the permitted and the forbidden. And
it does not sell ideas alone; it sells a sense of stability in a world that is
moving fast.
The success of modernization should therefore not be measured by the roads,
buildings, and projects we can see. The deeper question is whether the
psychological, social, and cultural structure that allows people to absorb this
speed is growing alongside them. When extremism turns into violence, the
security approach becomes necessary, but prevention begins long before that:
with building the helmet before the accident occurs. The real question is not
only how we stop the extremist from becoming extreme.
It is this: how do we make a society capable of absorbing the shocks of the
future without sustaining a concussion? The future waits for no one. And the
difference between a society that arrives there standing and one that arrives
dizzy may be that the first did not only build the road to the future, but also
built the human being capable of walking it with confidence, without stumbling
over the first obstacle in its path.
Makkah Agreement Aims to Thwart Wars before They Erupt
Ahmad Mahmoud Ajaj/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
The primary mission of military alliances is to provide a security umbrella or a
deterrent factor, ensuring a potential aggressor realizes that the costs of
aggression outweigh its benefits. Alliances are not strictly bound by
friendship; rather, they represent a reciprocal trade-off through which each
nation achieves its objectives, as politics is driven by interests rather than
charity.
The agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye targets these presumed
mutual interests. Achieving these goals strengthens the pact and encourages
other nations to join, which aligns with the signatories' declarations that the
alliance remains open to other states and does not serve as a substitute for any
existing coalition.
Looking at the Middle East, two nations seek dominance and influence, armed with
an expansionist ideology while disregarding international law and good
neighborliness. The first is Israel, which is committing atrocities in Gaza that
amount to "genocide," occupies territories in Lebanon and Syria, and whose
aggression has not even spared Qatar. The second is an ideologized Iran, which,
through its armed militias, targets the Gulf states under the pretext of
fighting America. It is no wonder, then, that attention is focused on their
actions, raising the question: how can deterrence be achieved?
Through this agreement, Saudi Arabia is seeking to achieve regional peace by
restoring the balance of power, building its defense framework, and focusing on
its major economic vision. Meanwhile, Türkiye is aiming to secure a larger
regional role, enhance its security in the Red Sea, and develop its industries
through financial investments that involve a willingness to transfer technology
to its investing partner, while also promoting its goods in the region's vast
market. As for Pakistan, already an ally of the Kingdom, joining forces with
Türkiye will grant it broader cooperation in military industries and economic
support, alongside political leverage in a strategic region that will earn it
the respect of major powers like the US and China.
This alliance will change the face of the region, providing powerful deterrents
if the US evades its commitments. This alignment of interests prompted the
signatories of the agreement to declare: "Any aggression against one state will
be deemed an aggression against the others." This text mirrors Article 5 of the
NATO alliance, which stipulates that a country has the right to take "such
action as it deems necessary," meaning there is no immediate military
obligation. Since the details of the trilateral agreement remain unknown, this
condition may not exist; however, if it does, it serves the purpose of highly
beneficial strategic ambiguity, granting the signatories a degree of
independence while confounding the calculations of an aggressor state due to the
uncertainty surrounding the nature of the response.
Since Iran and Israel are the destabilizing forces in the region, their
responses to the agreement differed in form but aligned in substance. Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi considered the agreement beneficial for the
unity of Islamic countries and a gateway paving the way for the exit of
outsiders (the US) from the region, whereas Iranian hardliners classified it as
a direct threat to their revolutionary republic. Meanwhile, Israel viewed it as
a danger to itself and its interests in the region. Regardless of their
responses, both recognize that the alliance narrows their military options.
The agreement may lead to counter-alliances in the region, but that will not
impact the strategic goal of achieving a balance of power. Contrary to popular
belief, opposing alliances reduce wars and open horizons for cooperation between
adversaries. At the height of the Cold War, General Secretary of the Communist
Party Leonid Brezhnev launched the theory of peaceful coexistence with
capitalist America. This theory did not emerge from a vacuum; rather, it stemmed
from the collective awareness that war is costly for everyone, and that
coexistence is preferable to conflict.
The reality remains that the regional balance of power is skewed in favor of
Iran and Israel. American intervention has neither deterred Iran nor halted
Israeli incursions, and this vital region cannot endure asymmetrical wars.
Consequently, this alliance represents a significant first step toward restoring
balance, following apparent American hesitation, Chinese absence, and Russian
withdrawal from the region.
Furthermore, the alliance members' connections with both friendly and
adversarial nations serve them diplomatically and politically. For instance,
Saudi Arabia maintains strong relations with India, Pakistan's rival, while
Türkiye and Pakistan share ties with Iran and the US. This provides a platform
for diplomatic dialogue and trade relations, helping defuse potential aggression
and reducing the chances of military confrontation.
Thus, the Kingdom could act as a mediator between India and Pakistan, Pakistan
could mediate between Iran and the Gulf countries, and Türkiye could serve as a
bulwark against Israeli threats in Lebanon or Syria. Additionally, the pact's
member states are capable of exerting pressure on the US to compel Israel to
accept a just settlement for the Palestinian cause, as well as prompting China -
and even Russia - and others to join a settlement that restores balance to the
Middle East.
**The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement represents a qualitative leap, acting - as
the Roman historian Flavius Renatus suggested - to win the war before fighting
it. This is because an aggressor will realize theoretically that its opponents
are more prepared and deterrent, and will discover practically, should it
venture out, what surprises await.
The ‘Virtue of Stability’ Guides Saudi Policy
Yousef Al-Dayni/Asharq Al-Awsat/August 18/2026
In the volatile Middle East, a region drained by wars, restraint is frequently
misunderstood as an ineffective strategy, while reckless ventures and gambles
that produce decades of chaos are often marketed as success. However, an
analysis of reality and outcomes reveals the opposite; igniting the fuse of war
is far easier than extinguishing its fires. Furthermore, rushing to respond
without a clear strategy and deep consideration of the consequences means that
crisis-makers have succeeded in dragging stable countries into the furnace of
chaos, dictating the timing of the confrontation, and imposing the battle upon
them.
From this perspective, the Saudi policy of "restraint" can be understood as an
effective strategy employed to protect a sustainable project focused on the
state, development, and stability. The virtue of stability is the key to
understanding Saudi traditions in handling crises. Consequently, Riyadh remains
keen on managing security challenges within the framework of its overarching
national project, recognizing that external targeting aims to obstruct the very
concept of stability - along with the subsequent economic activity, development,
and investor confidence. Most importantly, the attacks aim to disrupt the peace
of mind of citizens and residents, who live as though the surrounding conflicts
are occurring in a remote region.
The Saudi challenge, which time has proven Riyadh capable of managing with great
success, lies in addressing a highly complex dilemma: how to deter militias and
their backers without granting them the very chaos they require as fuel for
their existence and survival? It is widely understood that these entities, which
fall short of state logic, derive their legitimacy from perpetual conflict,
reinvesting their failures into imagined and illusory victories simply because
they possess no viable project outside the brackets of war.
Consequently, a state of stability returns them to the cycle of failure and
exposes their inability to transition from mobilizing supporters and justifying
weaponry to assuming governance responsibilities and meeting the needs of their
societies. This leaves them exposed before their own citizens, a reality clear
to anyone observing how populations living under these failed states interact -
they are no longer concerned with slogans as much as they care about security,
development, and their future.
This dynamic applies not only to sub-state entities, such as militias and
proxies operating for foreign interests, but also to Iran itself. It is evident
that the Tehran regime shifts toward a strategy of domestic mobilization
whenever external confrontations intensify, as war has allowed it to postpone
questions regarding the economy, the daily lives of its citizens, and the cost
of its expansionist project. As a result, any cessation of conflict will
inevitably bring domestic crisis questions back to the forefront. Along with
these questions, it will become impossible to address the deep gap between the
resources drained by escalation and proxy funding abroad, and the development
and stability expected by the Iranian citizen.
Saudi Arabia's resort to and necessity for limited strikes in Iraq, for
instance, might raise questions regarding its relationship with the policy of
"restraint" and wisdom in handling crises. However, an astute reading confirms
that these "exceptional" operations fall within the exact same strategy. They
aimed to prevent Iran and its proxies from miscalculating the Saudi stance, and
to re-establish deterrence by targeting the sources of threat without expanding
the scope of confrontation. This keeps the use of force and its timing linked to
the overarching political goal: protecting the "virtue of stability."
This is precisely what Saudi Arabia has been keen to emphasize in all its
statements, which explicitly affirmed the right to respond at the appropriate
time and place, linking its actions to international legitimacy, law, and the
right to self-defense. Here lies the difference between the logic of a state and
the logic of a militia; a state restricts force by interest, legitimacy, and the
calculation of outcomes, whereas unstable states employing militias resort to
creating environments of chaos to justify their survival.
Anyone observing Saudi strategy in handling crises over the decades clearly
recognizes that calculating outcomes is not a makeshift approach, but a
well-established tradition. This was evident during the occupation of Kuwait,
when the Kingdom contributed to building a broad Arab and international
legitimacy to liberate it. It was later repeated in Yemen by combining the
confrontation of the coup with the preservation of the state. It also appeared
clearly during the turmoil of the so-called "Arab Spring," when Riyadh realized
early on that toppling institutions is far easier than rebuilding them after a
state collapse, and that any vacuum created following the fall of regimes - even
weak ones - is often filled by extremist organizations and militias. We saw how
this Saudi approach was consolidated in post-Assad Syria, where Saudi Arabia
wagered, and continues to wager, on the unity and stability of the state.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan,
alongside the maritime alliance in the Red Sea, is nothing but an extension of
this proactive strategy. This is especially true given the policies of
retrenchment and the decline of major powers from direct engagement in Middle
East crises. Riyadh has been keen on building a regional deterrence that raises
the cost of aggression, while simultaneously opening the door for other
countries to join that share an interest in protecting stability and
international waterways.
The strategy of the "virtue of stability" will remain key to understanding Saudi
policy, even if it remains incomprehensible to the proponents of chaotic
projects. This is because it stems from the wisdom of a state that combines
deterrent power with an astute calculation of outcomes, placing the nation, the
sustainability of its development, and the preservation of its achievements at
the forefront of its priorities.
American missionary abducted in Niger freed after nearly 10
months of captivity
Caleb Weiss/Long War Journal-FDD/August 18/2026
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/08/american-missionary-abducted-in-niger-freed-after-nearly-10-months-of-captivity.php
A screenshot from abducted American missionary Kevin Rideout’s video statement
after his release and arrival in eastern Libya.
On Aug. 14, Serving in Mission International, a Christian organization based in
North Carolina, announced that its employee, Kevin Rideout, was finally released
after spending nearly 10 months in captivity in the Sahel. Rideout, an American
missionary pilot, was abducted by gunmen from his home, just 100 yards from the
presidential palace in Niamey, Niger, last October. He was then transported to
northern Mali, where he was held by the local Islamic State wing.
No group ever officially claimed credit for Rideout’s abduction. However,
Rideout has confirmed he was held by the Islamic State’s Sahel Province, which
is based in northern Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It is unclear if militants
belonging to the Islamic State actually abducted Rideout or if he was later sold
to the group by other militants. Few details have been reported about how
Rideout was released, and it is unclear whether a ransom was paid. However,
Rideout and Libyan officials confirmed that officials in the Libyan National
Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, played a significant role in the missionary’s
release.
In his brief statement after arriving in Libya, Rideout personally thanked
Saddam Haftar, the son of Khalifa and the LNA’s chief of staff, for his role in
securing his release. The exact nature of this role is publicly unknown at the
time of publication.
“I want to express my gratefulness … my thank you to General Saddam Haftar, the
Libyan army and the special forces, and everybody who was involved in securing
my release and involved in arranging all the logistics for me to be released and
to be brought to Libya safely,” Rideout said.
Reuters, citing unnamed Libyan officials, reported that some Libyan authorities
said that a “deal” was brokered with the Islamic State, while another told the
outlet a ransom was paid. Yet another official told Reuters that the LNA
conducted a military operation in northern Mali and physically freed Rideout.
The exact story has not been confirmed. Both the Islamic State’s Sahel Province
and its rival, Al Qaeda’s Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), have
historically abducted Westerners and other foreign nationals across the Sahel to
obtain ransom payments that finance their operations. For instance, the most
recent report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring
Team stated that a $50 million ransom paid to JNIM by the United Arab Emirates
last year helped finance JNIM’s offensive across Mali in April 2026.
**Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD’s Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the
Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in
Central Africa.
Open-Source Intel Makes U.S. Troops an Easier Target for
Iran
Ari Ben Am/The Cipher Brief/August 18/2026
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/08/17/open-source-intel-makes-u-s-troops-an-easier-target-for-iran/
Iran is reading American service members’ social media feeds to deadly effect.
The fact is that not all intelligence must be gleaned from secret, closed
sources for it to be effective, and Tehran has made use of public and
open-source data to target U.S. forces with psychological and kinetic attacks.
Until the Pentagon updates and enforces its policies on social media posting and
personal device security, American servicemembers will be sitting ducks.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, warned in a letter last month to
U.S. forces that Iran is using social media posts from personnel, such as
footage of U.S. bases, to improve its lethality. For example, a video of
soldiers running for shelter during Iranian strikes helped Iran perform a battle
damage assessment of their strikes, including their precision, and understand
base layout for future attacks.
Iran has long exploited open-source data to target U.S. forces and allies. Two
years ago, Iran doxxed 2,200 Israel Defense Forces personnel relying exclusively
on open-source data. In April 2026, the Department of the Navy warned service
members that unnamed cyber adversaries (obviously referring to Iran) are
reaching out on social media and conducting phishing attacks, urging sailors to
turn on privacy settings and refrain from posting on social media. The same
month, Iranian hacker group Handala sent threatening WhatsApp messages to U.S.
troops and published the supposed personal information of 2,300 U.S. service
members stationed in the Persian Gulf.
Open-source data is broader than just Instagram and Facebook. Iran exploits data
breaches to collect information and identify and send text messages to former
Israeli defense personnel to threaten them and to attempt to recruit them for
espionage purposes.
Iran is exploiting Signaling System 7 (SS7), an older telecom protocol for
roaming, to identify devices with U.S. SIM cards, according to threat
intelligence platform Mobile Surveillance Monitor. Using SS7, Iran was
reportedly able to pinpoint hotels that housed U.S. personnel and contractors.
Iran can also simply buy data for its malicious campaigns. CENTCOM stated in a
letter to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) that it has been warned that Iran may have used
commercially available location data used by digital advertisers to “target and
surveil” U.S. personnel. While the phone numbers behind advertising IDs are
anonymized, Iran could use them to track devices in specific areas such as
military bases. The Pentagon conceded that these IDs are not yet disabled by
default on government-issued phones.
None of these vulnerabilities should be a surprise to defense officials. A U.S.
Government Accountability Office report from October 2025 found that social
media posts from service members and their families or friends provide
adversaries with names, ranks, and locations that can be pieced together to
reveal information about U.S. force formations and operations. Wyden and his
Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House and Senate sent a letter to
the Pentagon’s chief information officer in May 2026 urging more secure personal
data practices and blaming current vulnerabilities on the department’s “failure
to prioritize this threat and implement common sense cyber defenses recommended
by federal cybersecurity experts.” The House version of the annual defense bill,
meanwhile, calls for the department to better understand and train personnel
about how adversaries can exploit commercial technologies to identify and
monitor U.S. personnel.
To curb adversarial intelligence collection opportunities, the Department of
Defense (DoD) should expand operational security requirements across the force.
First, the DoD should harden government and personal devices by requiring
removal of all Mobile Advertising IDs (MAIDs) on personal and DoD-distributed
devices for personnel in sensitive areas. Without IDs, the locations and
metadata cannot be tracked or associated with individual users and sold to
adversaries posing as commercial buyers.
Next, the DoD should create and enforce stringent policies for social media
posting. Personnel should be prohibited from uploading unofficial photos and
videos of military facilities or that otherwise relate to their roles and should
limit the amount of information they post about their roles on platforms like
LinkedIn. Government devices should have their cameras disabled or removed
unless required for specific purposes, and GPS should be disabled by default.
DoD should also consider providing troops with alternative devices for personal
use with GPS disabled and the cameras removed.
Additionally, the DoD should monitor breached data to understand what is
publicly available about all its personnel. Knowing when data is exposed will
allow the DoD to identify potential threats before Iran acts and begin fixing
the issue as soon as it occurs. The department can also use this information to
enable mandatory password and credential rotation when information is exposed.
The Pentagon should also consider encouraging or requiring additional methods of
authentication, such as passkeys and biometrics, for all devices and accounts
Finally, Congress should pass regulatory reforms to transition from SS7 to new
signaling technology. SS7 is an outdated system and cannot guarantee secure
communications, even if new updates were to be completed. Changing the system
will allow service members abroad to communicate with loved ones without leading
adversaries to their location.
These measures will limit the open-source data that, at present, is readily
available to Iran and other adversaries. If the DoD continues to permit
unrestricted use of personal devices abroad, Iran and other adversaries will
continue exploiting their vulnerabilities to locate, study, and threaten
American forces.
**Ari Ben Am is an adjunct fellow at FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology
Innovation. His research focuses on emerging threats, influence and information
operations, cyber operations, and hybrid warfare. Ari is an open-source
intelligence analyst by trade.
Nicaragua’s War on the Catholic Church
Samuel Ben-Ur, and Connor Pfeiffer/National Interest/August 18/2026
To solidify her position ahead of her succession, Co-President Rosario Murillo
has intensified persecution of the regime’s favorite scapegoat.
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/nicaraguas-war-on-the-catholic-church
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has declared Nicaragua will hold “no more
elections,” locking the opposition out of power, if he gets his way.
Though the 80-year-old gave the speech, the fingerprints of his wife and
co-president, Rosario Murillo, are clearly visible on it. Since he first came to
power in 1979 with the help of Cuba, Nicaragua’s Sandinista “El Comandante” has
repeatedly usurped elections and would likely have little trouble doing so
again. But with Murillo even less popular than the
revolutionary-turned-dictator, Ortega is dispensing with made-for-show elections
to lay the groundwork for her formal succession. One way Murillo, 75, has
positioned herself for power is by spearheading a signature element of the
regime’s repression: targeting the Catholic Church.
Murillo is not simply Ortega’s co-president or chief propagandist. For nearly a
decade, she has been the ideological engine behind and now the public face of
Nicaragua’s campaign against its Catholics. With Ortega’s health in decline and
Murillo in the driver’s seat of Managua’s authoritarian apparatus, the coming
succession could escalate Christian persecution in the country and further
entrench an anti-American regime in the United States’ backyard.
Nicaragua’s current campaign against the Catholic Church is often portrayed as
Ortega’s revenge against the clergy who provided sanctuary to protesters during
the country’s 2018 demonstrations. But it has evolved into part of the regime’s
succession strategy. Lacking Ortega’s cult of personality, Murillo is leveraging
religious persecution to eliminate rival sources of moral and political
authority while Ortega is still alive. The Murillo-Ortega regime didn’t always
antagonize the Church. Ortega courted Catholic leaders after his third straight
election defeat in 2001. He mended fences with one of his fiercest critics,
Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, who famously gave a homily alluding to Ortega as
a “dying viper” in 1996. Obando even officiated Ortega and Murillo’s Catholic
marriage in 2006, allowing Ortega to run that year what some called a
“Catholic-Providentialist” campaign.
Before the 2018 protests, Ortega and the Church coexisted politically, as Ortega
needed the legitimacy the rapprochement provided. When protests erupted in 2018,
partially over the regime’s mishandling of the massive Indio Maiz forest fire,
Ortega asked the Catholic Church to help mediate talks after a deadly crackdown
by the government. The Church initially agreed and hosted discussions between
Ortega, Murillo, and protest leaders. When the government refused to compromise,
the mediating bishops suspended their participation. The Murillo-Ortega regime
subsequently accused the bishops of aiding the protests and began a systematic
persecution of the Church.
Murillo has branded the Church as “malevolent,” “ridiculous devils,” and
“greedy” and accused clergy of “criminal terrorism.” When she talks about the
2018 protests, Murillo says Catholic bishops were “fake shepherds,” conducting
“satanic rites” and “witchcraft” to bring down her regime.
Despite the hardline, fanatical rhetoric, Murillo often couches her attacks
against Catholics in Christian language. In 2023, she said of her regime’s
crackdown on the protests: “It was necessary to perform the exorcism for those
who in all of Nicaragua had worked with Christian love, with Christian fervor,
with faith and hope.” The state killed over 350 and injured thousands in 2018.
Her claims of “Christian love” fall flat.
The Murillo-Ortega regime has since attempted to strip the Catholic Church of
its institutional power, launching a coordinated campaign of church closures,
confiscations, ministerial expulsions, and public worship repression that
sharply escalated in 2022. By 2026, the regime had prohibited Holy Week
processions for four consecutive years. Through February 2026, Murillo and
Ortega have carried out 1,070 attacks against Christians, banned 27,286
processions, confiscated 43 Church properties, and exiled more than 300 priests
and nuns.
While Murillo has not personally signed every anti-Church order, she is the
regime’s ideologue, co-ruler, and soon, likely, the sole ruler of the state
apparatus carrying out its repression.
Amid this escalating crackdown, Murillo and Ortega formalized their succession
plan. A January 2025 constitutional reform abolished the single presidency,
created the co-presidency, and provided that should one co-president die or
resign, the other completes the term. According to Confidencial, a Nicaraguan
diaspora newspaper, Ortega is “absent and isolated…without real decision-making
power,” receding from view.
But legal succession does not grant the political mantle of the former
officeholder. Murillo may be able to inherit Ortega’s office by dictatorial
means, but his coalition is another matter. Since becoming co-president, Murillo
has attempted a “political decapitation” of the regime’s old guard, purging and
imprisoning Sandinista commanders and army officers suspected of loyalty to
Ortega rather than to herself.
That is where the Church becomes so dangerous to her, and useful. It is not an
opposition party she can deregister or an NGO she can dissolve. It is older than
the Sandinismo political movement, deeper than the state, and harder to erase
from national life. But if Murillo can recast the Church as an enemy, just as
Cuba and other authoritarian regimes in the region did in the Cold War, it might
unify propagandized Nicaraguans behind it.
Washington should see Managua’s anti-Church campaign as a key element of
Murillo’s consolidation. In addition to expanding sanctions on perpetrators of
religious persecution within the regime, Managua must face stronger economic
pressure. Despite a Section 301 investigation that found significant human
rights violations and the regime’s deliberate targeting of US companies, the US
Trade Representative (USTR) declined to suspend Nicaragua’s benefits under the
Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The Trump
Administration must revisit this decision and work with regional partners and
the European Union to impose costs for the regime’s repression and democratic
destruction.
The more Murillo succeeds in destroying Nicaragua’s last independent moral
authority, the easier it becomes for her to inherit Ortega’s dictatorship.
Innocent Christians will pay the price for her succession.
**About the Authors: Connor Pfeiffer
Connor Pfeiffer serves as senior director of government relations at FDD Action.
He previously served as a policy advisor to US Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA),
advising him on foreign policy and national security issues. Connor led the
Senator’s legislative and policy initiatives on US foreign policy in the Western
Hemisphere, international assistance and development finance, and trade policy.
Pfeiffer’s writing on US foreign policy has been published in The Wall Street
Journal, The New York Post, National Review, Foreign Policy, and other
publications.
**Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on the Middle East at the
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Before joining FDD, he interned at
the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), an Israeli
cybersecurity startup, and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He holds
dual BAs in political science and history from Tufts University, where he
founded the Tufts Tribune, a campus newspaper focused on free speech and
politically balanced reporting.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on August 19/2026
Donald J. Trump Posts from Truth Social
There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic
Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The
Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or
detonated. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.
TRUMP
Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו
The ICC has become a kangaroo court that cloaks its abuse of power in the
language of international law while undermining the very principles of justice.
I commend Secretary of State Marco Rubio for leading the Trump Administration's
determined efforts against the ICC's illegitimate overreach, and for making
clear that the corrupt officials who lead the ICC will face consequences.
Quote
Secretary Marco Rubio
Last month, I launched a diplomatic campaign to dismantle the ICC’s threat to
our national sovereignty. The Trump Administration is sanctioning ICC President
Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye in our unwavering mission to
protect Americans from this sham of a
David Wurmser
Erdogan is feeling his oats and is developing an inflated sense of historical
importance and mission. He is ascending the path Nasser traveled, and will find
the summit is also a precipice for quite a fall.
David Wurmser
@Wurmserscribit
Viscerally, many would react to what appears to be retreat. They shouldn’t. It
is actually a wise force posture given the changing realities.
Moreover, and this is the key, it allows to put more assets into offensive
capabilities, namely to surge our energy into the tip of the spear of American
power rather than sinking immense resources, assets and effort in just hunkering
down safely in a defensive, protective crouch.
We can act at standoff ranges with immense offensive power. We are better than
that, and have long range capabilities that are not rivaled by any other of the
globe’s power. We do not need to act in a compromised defensive posture when too
close.
In short, our offensive capability, our strategic arm, is longer than anyone
else’s. We can punch mercilessly while they can’t touch. The great technological
leap in sea power was the ability of the dreadnaught battleships, the first of
which actually was the USS Michigan and not the HMS Dreadnaught, to shoot
accurately at materially greater ranges than other ships, while also maintaining
an advantage of speed. That put the enemy in range for constant pounding while
our ships never were even within their range. This was not a retreat of naval
power, but a leveraging of British and American shipbuilding superiority and
creativity to create, at least for a while, an untouchable weapon. That is the
nature of victory in war. A western tank in the 1960s to now can shoot with its
main cannon depressed so low, that it can hide behind a ridge and shoot at
east-bloc tanks who cannot hit back. (The Western tank had low profile, so the
east-bloc tank could essentially just hit the ridge in front of the tank
Again, this was not a retreat of armored power; it was the key is to maintaining
offensive capability while remaining invulnerable. We should imagine our
deployment at distance from the primary threats in the Middle East the same way:
we are not retreating; we are deploying to strike at will while remaining
largely invulnerable. The Defense Department is assessing whether to pull back
troops from the Persian Gulf, where America’s large overseas military bases have
been battered by months of Iranian strikes, two people familiar
Jason Brodsky
A senior member of the Iranian regime has been deported from Canada after a
judge dismissed his last-minute appeal, Global News has learned. The Canada
Border Services Agency said it had removed Syed Salman Samani, #Iran’s former
deputy interior minister and official spokesperson.
Israel in Canada
Statement by Ambassador Iddo Moed:
“I want to be absolutely clear: Israel is ready to support our partners in any
way required. This is a moment that demands action, and Israel will do its
part.”The recent Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences (CASE) report on
campus antisemitism is an urgent wake-up call. the levels of harassment and
targeting of Jewish students, coupled with the fact that all Jewish students
have experienced antisemitism on campus, confirm that we are facing a real
crisis, exactly as PM carney warned.
such results reinforce both the senate and house reports, which documented a
historic surge in antisemitism nationwide and recommended strong action. these
recurring acknowledgements show that the situation is worsening, not
stabilizing. With the new academic year approaching, governments and
universities must act immediately and comprehensively to ensure Jewish students
return to campuses that are safe, inclusive, and free from intimidation.
علي العامري@DrAliAlameri
Why Is the UAE Being Targeted? Debunking Four Misleading Narratives
For years, the United Arab Emirates has been subjected to systematic media
campaigns led by platforms affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and those who
support or align themselves with it. These campaigns rely on repeatedly
circulating ready-made accusations without objective evidence, in an attempt to
tarnish the image of a country that, since its founding, has chosen the path of
a modern nation-state rather than an ideological state. These campaigns can be
examined through four recurring narratives.
First: The accusation of the UAE’s “Zionization”
The UAE’s relations with Israel are portrayed as a dangerous exception, when in
fact the UAE is not the only Arab country to have established diplomatic
relations with Israel. Egypt and Jordan did so before it, followed by other Arab
states. Israel also maintains both public and discreet relations with major
Muslim countries, including Türkiye, where Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated media
outlets operate freely.
The logical question is: Why is the UAE alone demonized? The answer is not
political but ideological. The UAE opposes the Muslim Brotherhood’s project, and
that is precisely why it is targeted.
Second: The allegation of Emirati interference in Sudan
The UAE is part of international efforts calling for an end to the war and
participates in a quadrilateral diplomatic track focused on achieving a
political solution and addressing the humanitarian crisis. It is also among the
largest supporters of humanitarian organizations, has welcomed refugees, and has
provided medical and food assistance.
Meanwhile, Sudan has witnessed multiple forms of regional intervention involving
countries such as Türkiye, Iran, Eritrea, and some Gulf states. Some of these
actors have intervened militarily or supplied weapons to one of the warring
parties. Yet Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated media outlets completely ignore these
interventions and focus exclusively on the UAE. This blatant selectivity reveals
the nature of their discourse rather than the truthfulness of their claims.
Third: Claims of Emirati interference in Somalia
The UAE’s relationship with Somalia—including both the Federal Republic of
Somalia and Somaliland—is primarily commercial and logistical, focusing on port
management and investment in infrastructure.
Somaliland has been relatively stable for decades and has its own institutions
and elections. Nevertheless, the UAE has not officially recognized it to date.
The UAE maintains neither military bases nor even a consulate there, while other
countries have a clear political and military presence. Yet Muslim
Brotherhood-affiliated media outlets rarely mention them.
Why? Because the objective is to drag the UAE’s name into the controversy, not
to uncover the truth.
Fourth: The Yemen file
The UAE entered Yemen as part of an Arab coalition and at the request of Yemen’s
internationally recognized government. It succeeded in driving the Houthis out
of the south before shifting its focus toward humanitarian and development
efforts.
The UAE announced a reduction of its military presence in 2019 and subsequently
withdrew from active involvement in the conflict. Despite this, Muslim
Brotherhood-affiliated media outlets continue to repeat the same accusations as
though time had stood still—because preserving the narrative matters more to
them than acknowledging the facts.
In conclusion, these narratives are not political criticism as much as they are
part of an ideological campaign against a successful Emirati model: a stable and
open nation that combats extremism and places the interests of its people above
the illusions and ambitions of ideological movements.
Those who are unable to confront the success of this model resort instead to
distorting its image.
Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
The Deadline Has Passed, but Hormuz Remains Iran’s Leverage
The 60-day period set by the memorandum between Iran and the United States has
ended without a final agreement, but Tehran still views the Strait of Hormuz as
its main source of leverage. Iran’s commitment to ensure toll-free commercial
passage was limited to the interim period, meaning Tehran can now seek to impose
new conditions on shipping without formally closing the strait. Talks with Oman
have also yet to produce a comprehensive arrangement. Behind the negotiations
over shipping lanes lies a broader question: can Iran turn its de facto leverage
over Hormuz into recognized regional influence?
Meanwhile, the gap at home continues to widen. The regime is trying to portray
the memorandum as an achievement, but for ordinary Iranians, the real test is
far more immediate: the cost of food, fuel and medicine — and the ability to
make ends meet.
Catherine Perez-Shakdam
An Iranian opposition leader is reportedly fighting for his life after an
assassination attempt in Los Angeles.Fouad Pashaei, Secretary-General of the
Constitutionalist Party of Iran, was attacked on Monday evening and is now in
intensive care. That should concentrate minds.
Iranian dissidents have been warning for years that exile does not guarantee
safety. The Islamic Republic has built a system of intimidation that reaches far
beyond Iran’s borders, targeting critics, activists, journalists and opposition
figures abroad. We do not yet know who ordered this attack. That must be
established. But Western governments should stop treating transnational
repression as somebody else’s problem. If dissidents can be hunted in Los
Angeles, threatened in London and intimidated across Europe, then the issue is
no longer simply Iran’s internal repression. It is a direct challenge to the
sovereignty and security of the countries giving those dissidents refuge.
Ivonne A Baki
I am humbled and honored to announce that I am now an official candidate for the
Office of Secretary-General of the United Nations. My formal nomination was
submitted to the UN General Assembly by the Kingdom of Tonga, and I wish to
express my deep, heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty King Tupou VI; Prime
Minister Lord Fakafānua; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala;
and Tonga's UN Permanent Representative Vaʼinga Tōnē for their nomination and
for believing in a vision of peace and institutional renewal. I have lived
through the ravages of war. As the only candidate whose heritage bridges Latin
America and the Middle East, and the only nominee to have helped broker a peace
agreement between two sovereign UN member states, I stand ready to help renew
the UN Charter’s foundational promise: to save succeeding generations from the
scourge of war in a world where conflict continues to grow. As an experienced
Cabinet Minister, President of the Andean Parliament, and Ecuadorian Ambassador
who has served across four continents, I stand ready to bring outside
perspectives, fresh ideas, new talent, and an unyielding commitment to shift the
world body away from a focus on process and move instead toward achieving real,
measurable results for the UN’s 193 member states and the eight billion people
the world body serves.
I look forward to engaging with member states to earn their support,
participating in dialogues with the General Assembly and Security Council, and
working together to build a UN that delivers for everyone.
I invite all to read my vision statement and share our journey as I launch my
candidacy to serve as the UN's 10th Secretary-General: https://ivonne-a-baki.org
Israel in the UAE
The Embassy of Israel strongly urges all Israeli citizens residing in or
visiting the UAE to strictly adhere to local laws regarding the recording or
sharing of imagery related to sensitive incidents or security operations. Under
UAE legislation, photographing, filming, or publishing content from affected
areas or interception sites without authorization is strictly prohibited and
subject to legal enforcement.
We remind everyone to exercise utmost discretion, respect local regulations, and
rely solely on official UAE and Embassy communications for reliable, verified
information.