English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For February 16/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Cana Wedding Miracle
John/02/01-11: On the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of
Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to
the marriage. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no
wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My
hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to
you, do it.” Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’
way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece. Jesus said to them,
“Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim. He said to
them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took
it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t
know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the
ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Everyone serves the
good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is
worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of his signs Jesus
did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in
him.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
15-16/2026
Fasting is prayer, contemplation, repentance, forgiveness, and
reconciliation with God/Elias Bejjani
Ash Monday: A Holy Day For Repentance
Prayers & Forgiveness/Elias
Bejjani
Elias Bejjani/Link to the video and text of my interview with the Transparency
YouTube platform: A Constitutional Exposure and Explanation of the Heresies
Imposed by Hezbollah on Lebanon
Video Link to an interview with Father Tony Khadra: Tony Khadra
Lebanon says 4 dead in strike as Israel says targeted Palestinian group
Israeli airstrikes target Iqlim al-Tuffah region
IMF Mission in Lebanon Discussed Improving Draft Funding Shortfall Law
Lebanon Marks 21st Anniversary of Rafik Hariri Assassination
Lebanon’s Berri insists elections must be held on schedule
Quintet Committee holds preparatory meeting for February 24 Lebanese Army
conference: Sources to LBCI
Securing the Litani: Lebanese Army outlines weapons control achievements and
next steps
Lebanon’s Cabinet faces crunch decision on public sector pay raises
Iraqi President receives credentials of new Lebanese ambassador to Baghdad
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on February
15-16/2026
Video Link and Transcript of the Prime Minister's Speech in Arabic and
English: Delivered Today at the Annual Conference of Presidents, Addressing
Gaza, Iran, and Israel's Security.
Son of Iran's last shah urges US action as supporters rally in Munich
Report: Trump, Netanyahu Agreed US Should Press Iran to Cut Oil Sales to China
Iran’s Top Diplomat to Attend ‘Indirect’ Talks with US in Geneva
Israeli FM Saar to Attend Trump’s First Board of Peace Meeting on Thursday,
Officials Say
Netanyahu Says US Deal with Iran Must Dismantle Nuclear Infrastructure
EU top diplomat rejects Europe 'bashing' by US
Iran Open to Compromises to Reach Nuclear Deal with US, Says Minister
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Several in Gaza
Indonesia Says 8,000 Troops Ready for Possible Peacekeeping Mission in Gaza by
June
Israel Resumes Contentious West Bank Land Registration in New Step to Deepen
Control
Trump Tells Hamas to Proceed with ‘Full and Immediate’ Disarmament
Romanian president to attend Washington ‘Board of Peace’ meeting as observer
Syria Says Has Taken Over Another Base from US Forces
Rubio: US Satisfied with Overall ‘Trajectory’ in Syria
UN Says Al-Hol Camp Population Has Dropped Sharply as Syria Moves to Relocate
Remaining Families
Syrian foreign minister: National interest and the welfare of the people top
priority
At Least 6,000 Killed Over 3 Days During RSF Attack on Sudan’s El-Fasher, UN
Says
Tripoli deserves better than its current leaders/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab
News
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
15-16/2026
Pro-Hamas Islamist Countries, Such as Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan, Have No Place
on Trump's Board of Peace/Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute
Unity of Arenas/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat
Jordan’s growing role in Turkish foreign policy/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News
Iran’s concessions in the balance: Either the cup of poison or suicide/Raghida
Dergham/Arabiya English
Climate progress requires realism, not hysteria/Arnab Neil Sengupta/Arab News
X Platform Selected twittes for 14/2026
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
15-16/2026
Fasting is prayer, contemplation, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation
with God
Elias Bejjani/February 16/2025
The Lenten (Fasting) period begins with the Holy Miracle at the Wedding of Cana
and culminates in the glorious celebration of Easter. In the Maronite Church,
Lent starts on Ash Monday, with the preceding Sunday known as Al-Marfah Sunday (أحد
المرفع) or Forgiveness Sunday (أحد الغفران).
Lent is a sacred season meant to be dedicated to deep contemplation,
self-humility, repentance, penance, forgiveness, prayer, and reconciliation with
oneself and others. It is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage toward Jesus,
the fountain of all love, mercy, and salvation. During this spiritual journey,
Christ Himself accompanies us through the desert of our human frailty,
sustaining us as we move toward the profound joy of Easter.
Lent is a spiritual battle, a conscious choice to resist bodily desires and
earthly temptations, striving instead for purity in thought and deed. It is a
time to fortify our faith and hope, resisting the snares of Satan and keeping
far from the despair and corruption of sin. Through prayer and contemplation, we
affirm that Almighty God is our protector, guiding our steps throughout this
sacred period.
By fasting and praying, we carve out time for God, embracing His eternal truth:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Mark
13:31). In this sacred practice, we enter into profound communion with Jesus,
ensuring that no force can shake our faith and hope.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline through which we seek to emulate Christ, who,
during His time of fasting in the wilderness, overcame Satan’s temptations.
Inspired by His victory, we endeavor to purify our hearts, minds, and souls,
striving for holiness and unwavering devotion.
With trust in the Lord as our Shepherd, we hold firm to the words of Psalm
23:4:"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me."
Reading the Holy Bible and engaging in deep prayer immerse us in the divine Word
of God, strengthening our souls and minds with His truth. By meditating on His
teachings and listening attentively to His voice, we nourish the faith that was
instilled in us at Baptism.
Through fasting and prayer, we gain a renewed understanding of time, redirecting
our steps toward boundless hope, divine joy, and eternal salvation.
Ash Monday: A Holy Day For
Repentance Prayers & Forgiveness
Elias Bejjani/February 16/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/72716/
Before Christianity, The Jews used to scatter ashes on their heads and bodies
while weeping and wailing over their sins, in order to purify their bodies from
sins, and to remind themselves that they came from dust and to dust they will
return.
The Jews used to practice this ritual before starting any fasting, in a bid to
atone for their sins. Christians kept on performing this ritual, but the ashes
used were taken from the olive branches burned on the Palm Sunday.
These ashes were used the next year on the first lent Monday to wipe the
foreheads of the repentant fasting believers, with a cross symbol so that they
begin the lent forty period with true repentance befitting their Christian faith
..."Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return (genesis03/19)".
Ash Monday is the first day of Lent ,and It is a moveable feast, falling on a
different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It
derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of
adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. On The Ash Monday the
priest ceremonially marks with wet ashes on the worshippers' foreheads a visible
cross while saying: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return
(genesis03/19)".
Worshippers are reminded of their sinfulness and mortality and thus, implicitly,
of their need to repent in time.
Ash Monday (Greek: Καθαρά Δευτέρα), is also known as Clean and Pure Monday. The
common term for this day, refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and
non-fasting foods.
Our Maronite Catholic Church is notable amongst the Eastern rites employing the
use of ashes on this day.
(In the Western Catholic Churches this day falls on Wednesday and accordingly it
is called the "Ash Wednesday").
Ash Monday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, contemplating of
transgressions and repentance. It is a reminder that we should begin Lent with
good intentions, and a desire to clean our spiritual house. It is a day of
strict fasting including abstinence, not only from meat, but from eggs and dairy
products as well.Liturgically, Ash Monday—and thus Lent itself—begins on the
preceding (Sunday) night, at a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which
culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, at which all present will
bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In this way, the faithful begin
Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love.
The entire first week of Great Lent is often referred to as "Clean Week", and it
is customary to go to Confession during this week, and to clean the house
thoroughly. The Holy Bible stresses the conduct of humility and not bragging for
not only during the fasting period, but every day and around the clock.
It is worth mentioning that Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief.
When Tamar was raped by her half-brother, "she sprinkled ashes on her head, tore
her robe, and with her face buried in her hands went away crying" (2 Samuel
13:19).
Examples of the Ash practices among Jews are found in several other books of the
Bible, including Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Book of Esther 4:1, and Hebrews
9:13.
Jesus is quoted as speaking of the Ash practice in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13:
"If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
NB: This piece was first published in 2000, Republished today with numerous
changes
Elias Bejjani/Link to the video and text of my interview with the
Transparency YouTube platform: A Constitutional Exposure and Explanation of the
Heresies Imposed by Hezbollah on Lebanon
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152078/
An Affirmation of the Heroism and
Patriotism of Our People Refuged in Israel, Demanding Their Return with Honor
and Dignity, Led by the Honorable, Clean-Handed Leader and Distinguished
Resistance Figure, Etienne Sakr (Abu Arz).
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152078/
A constitutional explanation of the reality of the formation of the
Mullah-aligned, terrorist, and jihadist Hezbollah in Lebanon: An illegal
organization, a gang of villains, and a mercenary army that is ideologically,
financially, and culturally subordinate to the Mullah rulers of Iran—relying on
them for its decisions, authority, and lifestyle. This is accompanied by an
emphasis on the necessity of Lebanese negotiations with Iran, under Arab,
international, and American supervision, to withdraw this gang, its members, and
its weapons from Lebanon. It further calls for the dismantling of all its
military, media, and educational institutions to liberate the Shiite community
and, with it, all of Lebanon.
Elias Bejjani/Selected headlines from my interview from Transparency youtube
platform
February 12/2026
Literally, this is what Hassan Nasrallah said: “Our project, which we have no
choice but to adopt as ideological believers, is the project of an Islamic state
and Islamic rule, and for Lebanon not to be a single Islamic republic but rather
part of the greater Islamic Republic, ruled by the Imam of the Age and his
rightful deputy, the Supreme Jurist, Imam Khomeini.”
*Legally, Lebanon must negotiate with Iran, under Arab, international, and U.S.
supervision, regarding Hezbollah’s weapons, presence, and institutions that are
subordinate to and take orders from Tehran.
*The “Army, People, Resistance” formula is unconstitutional and was imposed in
ministerial statements by force. Legislation comes from Parliament, not from a
ministerial statement, which is merely a proposed action plan.
*Perpetual hostility is a sick sectarian ideology promoted by Sunni and Shiite
political Islam to justify their continued existence.
*Hezbollah’s decision-making lies in Iran, with religious authorization.
*The Shiite community has been kidnapped and held hostage since 1982.
*Hezbollah is an Iranian army composed of Lebanese mercenaries.
*Hezbollah has never been legitimate, Lebanese, or a resistance movement; it is
terrorist in its clerical ideological structure.
*The Lebanese Army is capable of disarming Hezbollah if mandated by the state.
*Israel has not attacked Lebanon even once; rather, it has always responded to
attacks launched against it from Lebanon by Syrian, Arab, Iranian, jihadist, and
leftist actors.
*There are no real parties in Lebanon, but rather party-companies, foreign
agencies, and fundamentalists from Sunni and Shiite political Islam.
*Christians are caught between a criminal leader, a corrupt one, and a
Pharisaic, Judas-like figure, alongside a political class incubated by
occupations.
*true measure of any leader’s credibility and patriotism appears when he gains
money and power.
*Those who abandoned expatriates were not Hezbollah or Berri, but the Lebanese
Forces and Michel Aoun’s movement in 2016 when they celebrated the current
hybrid electoral law tailored to Hezbollah, originally proposed under the Syrian
occupation.
*There can be no genuine political work under occupation. Anyone operating under
occupation has no choice but to become its tool and cover. The options under
occupation are: armed resistance, steadfast political opposition, civil
disobedience, or working through influential states to compel the occupier to
withdraw.
*The South Lebanon Army were heroes and should return with heads held high and
be apologized to, especially their distinguished leader Etienne Saqr (Abu Arz).
*Hezbollah did not liberate the South, is not part of the Lebanese fabric, and
does not represent the Shiites; it is a fully-fledged Iranian army composed of
Lebanese mercenaries.
*The Lebanese Constitution does not mention Israel as an enemy. Rather, it
contains provisions that define the concept of the enemy and others that apply
to those who collaborate with the enemy. These criteria do not apply to Israel,
but rather to the three occupations that have devastated Lebanon since the
imposition of the Cairo Agreement: the Baathist Syrian regime, Palestinian
terrorist organizations, and Iran’s terrorist army — namely, Hezbollah.
*Any elections held under occupation are null and illegitimate.
*Governance in Lebanon to this day remains hostage to Hezbollah.
*What is required today, not tomorrow, is to close Lebanon as an open arena —
since the Cairo Agreement — for those who trade in what they falsely call
“resistance” and “liberation of Palestine.”
*The only solution is full peace with the State of Israel; whoever wishes to
fight it should do so from his own country.
*The Lebanese Army is defensive, not offensive, and the majority of Lebanese do
not see Israel as an enemy but as a neighbor. There are no existing problems
between Lebanon and Israel, and Israel has no ambitions in Lebanon.
Video Link to an interview
with Father Tony Khadra: Tony Khadra
Remove the Mosque and the Church and Abolish Sectarianism... The Christian feels
the state is not his. The Church is falling short, and Christian ministers do
not know. We have become a Shiite state."
February 15/2027
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152193/
(Summarized, transcribed, edited, and translated into English freely by Elias
Bejjani)
Summary of the Interview Main Headlines and Key Points
Father Tony Khadra spoke with deep sorrow regarding the reality of Christians in
the Lebanese state, highlighting several fundamental points that reflect the
"injustice" and marginalization they face:
A State with a "Shiite Face": Father Khadra explicitly stated that Lebanon has
currently become a "state with a Shiite face" in terms of administration and
dominance over public sector jobs, noting the marginalization of other
components (Christians, Sunnis, and Druze) in favor of a single sect.
The Destruction of Partnership and Parity: He stressed that the national
partnership is broken in 90% of state administrations. He explained that
"parity" (Al-Munassafa) is not just numbers but the "spirit of Lebanon," warning
that excluding Christians from state institutions—especially the Army and
security forces—poses an existential threat to the Lebanese entity.
Exclusion of Christians from Public Office: He presented alarming figures,
including the decline of Christians in "Grade One" positions (Directors General)
from 145 down to only 105. He also pointed to the "hijacking" of certain
ministries where all general directors have been replaced by individuals from a
single sect.
Inaction and Selfishness of Christian Leadership: He launched a sharp attack on
Christian political leaders, accusing them of being immersed in narrow partisan
interests and elections while deliberately failing to protect Christian
positions within the state. He noted that some justified their negligence by
claiming they would "change reality with the stroke of a pen" once they reached
power—which never happened.
The Church’s Shortcomings: He did not spare the Church from criticism,
considering that what it is doing to manage the crisis is "absolutely not
enough." He called on the Church to utilize its endowments (waqf) to serve the
youth and provide job opportunities instead of leaving them as neglected lands.
The Danger of Migration and Despair: He mentioned that Christian youth no longer
feel the state represents or protects them, leading to a severe "bleeding" of
emigration. He revealed painful cases of youth and military personnel leaving
institutions due to the absence of justice and equality in salaries and
meritocracy.
Abolishing Political Sectarianism: In his conclusion, he called for "abolishing
sectarianism" and removing "the Mosque and the Church" from the details of
public office, relying solely on competence and integrity to build a real state.
Lebanon says 4 dead in
strike as Israel says targeted Palestinian group
AFP/February 15, 2026
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon said an Israeli strike on Sunday near the Syrian border
in the country’s east killed four people, as Israel said it had targeted
operatives from Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. Despite a November
2024 truce that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and
Hezbollah, Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is
targeting the Iran-backed group but occasionally also targeting its Palestinian
ally Hamas. It appeared to be the first strike Israel has claimed in Lebanon
against Islamic Jihad, which is also allied with Hezbollah, since the truce. An
Israeli drone “targeted a car on the Lebanese-Syrian border,” the state-run
National News Agency said, adding that “four bodies” were inside the vehicle.
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed the toll in a statement.The Israeli military
in a statement said it “struck Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the
Majdal Anjar area.”Fighters from Islamic Jihad were among those killed in
Lebanon during hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted in
October 2023 over the Gaza war.The Palestinian group and Hamas both claimed some
attacks and infiltration attempts from Lebanon during the hostilities. More than
370 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire,
according to an AFP tally of health ministry reports.In line with the 2024
truce, the Lebanese army announced in January that it had completed the first
phase of a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area near the
Israeli border. As part of the Lebanese government’s push to disarm non-state
groups, some Palestinian factions in Lebanon handed over weapons in several
refugee camps last year to the Lebanese authorities. Hamas and its Islamic Jihad
ally have not announced plans to disarm in Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes target Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Naharnet/February 15/2026
Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted open areas in the southern region of Iqlim
al-Tuffah. The Israeli army said claimed the strikes hit Hezbollah
infrastructure including warehouses used to store weapons and missile
launchers.Despite a November 2024 truce that sought to end more than a year of
hostilities including two months of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah,
Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon and has maintained troops in five
areas it deems "strategic". In January, Lebanon's army said it had completed the
first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area south of the
Litani river, around 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. Lebanon's government
is set to meet on Monday to discuss updates on the army's disarmament
plan.Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of rearming, has criticized the Lebanese
army's progress as insufficient, while Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender
its weapons.
IMF Mission in Lebanon Discussed Improving Draft Funding
Shortfall Law
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
An International Monetary Fund mission to Lebanon this week discussed
improvements needed to a draft law aimed at addressing huge losses in the
country's financial system to align it with international principles, the IMF
said. The law aims to address a vast funding shortfall resulting from the
collapse of the financial system in 2019 - estimated at $70 billion in 2022
but now believed to be higher. The collapse froze depositors out of their
bank accounts, sank the Lebanese currency, and led the state to default on
sovereign debt, Reuters reported. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the
international institution welcomed recent progress but deemed it insufficient to
finalize an agreement until the legislation is enacted in its final form.In a
statement, the head of the IMF mission Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said the law
recently approved by cabinet was "a first step toward rehabilitating the banking
sector and giving depositors gradual access to their deposits". The
Cabinet-approved Financial Stability and Depositors’ Rights Recovery Law was
described as an initial step toward banking sector reform and restoring gradual
access to deposits. Officials pledged to fast-track the bill’s approval in
parliament by the end of next month.
Lebanon Marks 21st Anniversary of Rafik Hariri
Assassination
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Lebanon commemorated on Saturday the 21st anniversary of the assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, with a popular rally and pointed political
statements highlighting questions of sovereignty, state authority, and upcoming
elections. Speaking to supporters in Downtown Beirut, his son, former PM and
leader of the Future Movement Saad Hariri said Lebanese citizens “have the
right, after years of wars, to have one country, one army, and one weapon.”He
added that when parliamentary elections are held, “they will hear our voices.”
The elections are set for May.
Supporters of the Future Movement gathered in Downtown Beirut amid tight
security, waving party and Lebanese flags as anthems played. Political,
diplomatic, and religious figures, along with parliamentary and party
delegations, visited Rafik Hariri’s grave to pay their respects. Ahead of the
commemoration, President Joseph Aoun wrote that the country “misses a man who
devoted his life to the project of the state, to rebuilding Lebanon, and to
strengthening its Arab and international standing.”He said Rafik Hariri believed
in the state and its institutions, coexistence, and that true recovery begins
with investment in people, education, and the economy, describing his
assassination as a turning point in Lebanon’s history. Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam stated that Rafik Hariri was a national figure with a clear vision who led
reconstruction efforts after years of war and worked to preserve civil peace
through implementation of the Taif Accord. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
described Rafik Hariri as a statesman, advocate of unity, and proponent of
moderation, calling for adherence to those principles to safeguard Lebanon. The
US Embassy in Beirut said Ambassador Michel Issa laid a wreath at Hariri’s
grave, noting that his legacy of peace-building and prosperity remains relevant
as Lebanon stands at a critical crossroads, and stressing the need for justice
and accountability.
Taif Accord and Arab relations
Addressing supporters in Martyrs’ Square, Saad Hariri said the Future Movement’s
project is “one Lebanon, Lebanon first,” rejecting any return to sectarian
strife. He stressed that full implementation of the Taif Accord means allowing
the state to have monopoly over weapons, administrative decentralization,
abolition of political sectarianism, creation of a senate, and full commitment
to ceasefire arrangements. He reaffirmed the Future Movement’s commitment to
Arab unity, saying it has always sought to build bridges, not walls, and to
support Arab rapprochement. Hariri added that the movement wants the best
relations with all Arab states, starting with Syria, voicing support for
reconstruction and stability efforts led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. On
the upcoming elections, Hariri recalled that he had promised the Future Movement
would be the voice of its supporters in national milestones, foremost among them
the elections. “Tell me when the elections are, and I will tell you what the
Future Movement will do,” he declared. He pledged that when elections take
place, their voices would be heard and counted, adding that unity would remain
their source of strength, “in good times and bad.”
Lebanon’s Berri insists elections must be held on schedule
LBCI/February 15/2026
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri said there appears to be a plan to prevent
parliamentary elections from being held on time, criticizing a recent opinion
issued by the Legislation and Consultations Authority. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat,
Berri said the authority’s response suggests the existence of a scheme aimed at
blocking the vote and that it was issued at the behest of an unnamed party. “It
is the first time we hear that a judge suspends the implementation of a law
instead of ensuring its enforcement,” Berri said, adding that the law cannot be
bypassed through a nonbinding advisory opinion.
Berri reiterated that he has always insisted on holding parliamentary elections
on schedule and called on all parties to assume their responsibilities by
facilitating the process rather than placing obstacles in its way.
Quintet Committee holds preparatory meeting for February 24
Lebanese Army conference: Sources to LBCI
LBCI/February 15/2026
Members of Quintet Committee have held a preparatory meeting for the upcoming
conference in support of the Lebanese Army, set to take place on February 24 in
Cairo, sources told LBCI.
Securing the Litani: Lebanese Army outlines weapons control
achievements and next steps
LBCI/February 15/2026
On Monday, the Lebanese Cabinet session at Baabda Palace is scheduled to include
a presentation by the Army command on its monthly report regarding the weapons
control plan in Lebanese regions. The Army chief will present the report on the
plan’s implementation south of the Litani River and outline the approach for the
northern Litani, following his recent visit to the United States and ahead of
the upcoming conference in support of the Army, scheduled next month in Paris.
Ahead of the session, diplomats inquired whether the cabinet would approve a new
plan for northern Litani.
Sources told LBCI that the plan has already been approved in all its phases by
the government and that the Army command will present the monthly report
detailing the plan and its stages. Information indicates that the Army chief
will highlight the main points of the first phase south of the Litani, where the
army extended its control without obstacles or clashes, except for Israeli
occupation of five positions and the buffer zones imposed as a de facto reality,
which prevented full implementation of the plan south of the river. France backs
Lebanon army support conference, pushes reforms and state control of weapons.
The success of the southern Litani operation was tied to political and security
conditions that must now be applied to the northern region. The Army remains
committed to extending state authority and controlling weapons without internal
clashes. The weapons control plan in northern Litani has already begun through
measures to prevent arms transfers and close gaps and crossings along the
riverbanks. The approach emphasizes no fixed timelines, avoiding the use of
weapons in confrontation, and focusing on the army’s operational needs north of
the river, while leveraging the plan to secure support at the Paris Conference.
Regarding Hezbollah, the party maintains its position of not making concessions
without achieving gains from Israel. Any free concession, it argues, could
become a new source of pressure and internal complications. In discussions with
local actors, Hezbollah notes that the cooperative approach applied south of the
Litani, where it offered full support, differs from the approach in its northern
areas. Sources monitoring the situation said they understand Hezbollah’s public
stance, which balances Iran’s influence with Lebanon’s upcoming elections. They
also noted that any major escalation by the Israeli occupation is unlikely to
yield practical results, while the continued international support for the
Lebanese Army remains crucial for implementing the weapons control plan, which
has already achieved significant results.
Lebanon’s Cabinet faces crunch decision on public sector
pay raises
LBCI/February 15/2026
The government is set to decide at Monday’s Cabinet session whether to approve
salary increases for public sector employees who have been demanding them for
years to offset inflation and the losses they have suffered, based on studies
conducted by Lebanon’s Finance Ministry. After approving the budget last January
without granting salary increases — despite protests near Parliament — the
government requested time to study wage adjustments. That deadline has expired,
and the issue has returned to the Cabinet. Sources told LBCI that the finance
minister and his team will present three financial scenarios developed after
meetings and studies with the central bank, the Civil Service Board, and the
Defense and Interior ministries. Each scenario includes a proposed increase, its
estimated cost to the state, and suggested funding sources. The Finance Ministry
has declined to disclose the figures before they are discussed, but confirmed
that the aim is to approve an increase before the end of the month. The final
decision rests with the Cabinet. The main reason for caution is the high cost.
The number of public sector employees, both active and retired, is close to
330,000. Any increase of $100 per month per employee would amount to roughly
$400 million annually — a significant figure for a budget already under strain.
The government says any unfunded increase would negatively affect everyone,
either through new taxes and fees or through pressure on the Lebanese lira and
rising inflation, which would quickly erode the value of the raise. It therefore
stresses, in coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the need
to secure clear funding sources before taking any decision to preserve fiscal
stability. Meanwhile, public sector employees are awaiting the outcome of the
Cabinet session and will link any action to the results of the discussions.
Iraqi President receives credentials of new Lebanese
ambassador to Baghdad
LBCI/February 15/2026
Iraqi President Jamal Rashid on Sunday received the credentials of Khalil
Abdullah Mohammad as ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to Iraq during a
ceremony at Baghdad Palace. During the ceremony, President Rashid reaffirmed
Iraq’s commitment to strengthening relations with Lebanon in a way that enhances
partnership and expands areas of cooperation, serving the shared interests of
both brotherly peoples. He wished the ambassador success in his duties in Iraq.
For his part, Ambassador Mohammad underscored Lebanon’s desire to develop its
relations with Iraq and elevate the level of bilateral cooperation, in line with
the deep fraternal ties between the two countries and in support of broader
coordination efforts.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on February
14-15/2026
Video Link and Transcript of the Prime Minister's Speech in Arabic and English:
Delivered Today at the Annual Conference of Presidents, Addressing Gaza, Iran,
and Israel's Security.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152183/
February 15, 2026.
DWS News.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a forceful address at the
Jerusalem Summit 2026 outlining strict conditions for any deal with Iran,
demanding the removal of enriched material and full inspections. He also vows to
dismantle Hamas’s military power in Gaza while highlighting Israel’s economic
resilience and global alliances.
Below is the full transcript of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at
the 51st Annual Conference of Presidents Leadership Mission (Jerusalem Summit),
delivered on
FULL SPEECH: Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Fiery Address on Iran, Gaza & Security at
Jerusalem Summit |AC1E
February 15, 2026.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqA6psl2vrc
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
Thank you. Thank you Betsy, William, Malcolm "the Eternal." Well, it’s that time
of the year again and we meet here annually. Things obviously change, and mostly
for the better, but we still have challenges. I just came back from the United
States for a very important meeting with President Trump. Obviously, the focus
was on Iran. The President is determined to exhaust the possibilities of
achieving a deal which he believes can be achieved now because of the
circumstances that have been created—the force projection and the fact that, as
he says, Iran must surely understand that they missed out last time, and he
thinks there’s a serious probability that they won’t miss out this time.
I will not hide from you that I expressed my skepticism of any deal with Iran
because, frankly, Iran is reliable on one thing: they lie and they cheat. But I
said that if a deal is to be reached, it should have several components—several
components that we believe are important not only for the security of Israel,
but for the security of the United States, the region, and the world.
The first is that all enriched material has to leave Iran. The second is that
there shall be no enrichment capability—not just stopping the enrichment
process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to
enrich in the first place. And the third is to deal also with the questions of
ballistic missiles. There’s an MTCR limitation of 300 kilometers, and Iran is
supposed to adhere to it—of course, it doesn’t, as the "Rising Lion" operation
by itself manifested. Everybody knows that.
The fourth is to dismantle the axis of terror that Iran has built. It’s been
smashed, but it’s still there; it’s trying to recover as Iran itself is trying
to do. And the last thing is: remember Ronald Reagan’s dictum vis-à-vis the
Soviet Union—"Trust, but verify." Distrust, distrust, and always verify. So
there has to be real inspections, substantive inspections—no lead-time
inspections, but effective inspections for all of the above. These are the
elements that we believe are important for the achievement of a deal, and I
presented our position very clearly.
We also spoke about Gaza. I think we set out—after we were massacred on October
7th—we set up three goals vis-à-vis Gaza. The first one was to return all the
hostages. The second was to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities. And the
third is to dismantle Hamas’s governing capabilities. The first has been
achieved with the help of the United States and, first of all, with the help of
our brave soldiers, our incomparably courageous soldiers.
The support that we got from President Trump and his team, the support we got
from you and so many around the world, and the decisions that we made not to
cower and not to submit to the pressures that were put on us from outside and
from inside—we stood our ground. We got every single one of these people out,
including the last hero, Rani Villi. Incredible hero. But there are so many
others.
We stood our ground there. We also stand our ground on the other two things that
have to happen under President Trump’s 20-point plan. When we move to "Phase B,"
what has to happen is that Hamas must first be disarmed and then Gaza must be
demilitarized. Disarmed means that it must give up its weapons. People ask "what
weapons?" Some said "heavy weapons"—there are practically no heavy weapons in
Gaza; there's no artillery, there are no tanks. The heavy weapon, the one that
does the most damage, is called an AK-47. That’s how they execute people, that’s
how they shoot our people. That’s what they used in the massacre of October 7th.
They did the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust with
AK-47s—60,000 of them. They have to go. Obviously RPGs, rockets and so on, but
that’s the main weapon.
So, first: disarm Hamas. Second: demilitarize Gaza. What does that mean? They
still have tunnels there. We dismantled about 150 kilometers of 500 kilometers
of tunnels. We have to complete the job. That means also that you can’t hide
weapons labs or other facilities that they use to rearm themselves, regroup, and
reform—which they’re trying to do. We’re giving the President’s plan a chance,
and he put it very succinctly. He said, "It can be done the easy way or it can
be done the hard way." We hope that it’ll be done the easy way because we know
the ravages of war; we know the human cost. But that goal has to be achieved one
way or the other, and one way or the other, it will be achieved.
In the meantime, when there’s a ceasefire, it doesn’t mean that we can’t do
anything. They attack us, including yesterday and today—we killed 13 terrorists.
We act in response. We don’t wait. They don’t have free reign. But we are giving
the ISF (International Security Force) and the President’s Board of Peace the
opportunity to try to do it the easy way. Gaza will not pose a threat ever again
to the State of Israel.
Now obviously, we have other fronts, and the most important one is the front of
vilification to the Jewish State and the rampant anti-Semitism. I want to bring
to your attention what is happening, because you will not know it if you turn on
certain television stations. The most important thing that is happening is that
nations, companies, and enormous economic powers are coming to us. Israel has
been ranked by The Economist—not a particular fan of mine or the State of Israel
in recent years—among the three most vibrant economies in the world just now.
This comes after two years of war—our longest war, even longer than the War of
Independence.
Our economy is growing rapidly. Our stock market is at an all-time high. The
shekel versus the dollar is at almost a 30-year high. Inflation is going down.
Interest rates are at 4% now and will go down further. Investments in Israel are
huge. Why? One, because we run the economy responsibly. Two, because the war
showed the prowess and enormous capacities here—the high-tech and deep-tech
capabilities that astonished the world.
The Chancellor of Germany was here; they want to invest a very large amount of
money in our defense industry. Who’s coming here next week? Narendra Modi. A
tremendous alliance between Israel and India. India is a country of 1.5 billion
people, and in India, Israel is enormously popular. There’s been a change in
Latin America—Argentina is a tremendous friend under Milei. There are others:
Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Panama, Honduras. They’re coming because Israel is a
juggernaut of innovation. 10 years ago, I said Israel would be a top three cyber
power. I was wrong—it's number two. Tiny Israel receives more foreign investment
in cyber tech than any other country except the U.S.. We are going to do the
same thing in AI and Quantum.
The United States just issued a memorandum describing Israel as the "Model
Ally"—an ally that believes in democratic principles but is willing to fight for
itself. We don’t ask for American boots on the ground. We develop our own arms
industry. I said to President Trump: when I was first elected in 1996, I said we
have come of age economically. Our GDP per capita then was $17,000; now it’s
going to be $65,000, and in 10 years we’ll have a $1 trillion economy.
So, we can afford to phase out the financial component of the military aid we
receive. I proposed a 10-year drawdown to zero. We want to move with the United
States from "Aid to Partnership." We want joint investment where we put in one
part, they put in an equal part, and we share the fruits. Our goal is to build
an independent arms industry in Israel.
Finally, regarding the waves of anti-Semitism sweeping free societies—the U.S.,
Europe, Australia—it is shocking, but not necessarily surprising if you see the
cycles of history. Anti-Semitism had a brief respite after the Holocaust, but it
has returned. Throughout history, once we were scattered, we were "ready prey".
These attacks were always preceded by vilification—slanders that we "poison the
wells" or "slaughter children."
The great change in Jewish history, which Herzl saw, was that when Jews have
their own independent state, they have the power to roll back physical attacks.
During the Diaspora, we were at once "prominent and weak," which invites envy.
With the rise of Israel, we are prominent but no longer weak. On October 7th,
they thought they could do a Holocaust on us. But we rolled them back. We lost
1,200 people—if October 7th happened every day, it would be the Holocaust 5,000
times over. But we can fight back.
I say to you in front of these vilifications: Do not cower. Do not bend. Do not
bow your head. Fight back. People respect those who respect themselves. Silence
will not help. I tell young Jewish students: fight back. There is a media war
and a digital war. To defeat anti-Semitism, you must fight anti-Semitism. We do
so on the battlefield against those who want to slaughter us, and we must do it
on the information level as well. If we do, the Jewish state will have a
remarkable future.
Thank you, and we’ll see you next year in Jerusalem.
Son of Iran's last shah
urges US action as supporters rally in Munich
Agence France Presse/February 15/2026
The exiled son of Iran's last shah said he was ready to lead the country to a
"secular democratic future" at a rally in Munich on Saturday, after U.S.
President Donald Trump said a change of power would be the "best thing". It came
as Washington continued to engage diplomatically with Tehran's government, with
Switzerland on Saturday confirming that mediator Oman would host a fresh round
of talks in Geneva next week. U.S.-based Reza Pahlavi, who has not returned to
Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, told the
crowd of around 200,000 people of his supporters that he could lead a
transition. "I am here to guarantee a transition to a secular democratic
future," he said. "I am committed to be the leader of transition for you so we
can one day have the final opportunity to decide the fate of our country through
a democratic, transparent process to the ballot box.""Javid shah" (long live the
shah)," the crowd chanted as they waved green-white-and-red flags with a lion
and a sun -- the emblem of the toppled monarchy. "The Iranian regime is a dead
regime," a 62-year-old protester originally from Iran who gave his name only as
Said told AFP. "It must be game over."Pahlavi has urged Iranians at home and
abroad to continue demonstrating, calling on them to chant slogans from their
homes and rooftops at 8:00 pm (1630 GMT) Saturday and Sunday, to coincide with
protests in Germany and elsewhere. Thousands of protesters in various
demonstrations from downtown Los Angeles to the National Mall in Washington
marched in solidarity Saturday with anti-government protests in Iran. "Trump act
now!" demonstrators chanted in Toronto. Trump had said on Friday that a change
of government in Iran would be the "best thing that could happen", as he sent a
second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to ratchet up military pressure on
Tehran.He had earlier threatened military intervention to support a wave of
protests in Iran that peaked in January and were met by a violent crackdown that
rights groups say killed thousands. "To President Trump... The Iranian people
heard you say help is on the way, and they have faith in you. Help them,"
Pahlavi had earlier told reporters gathered at the Munich Security Conference.
"It is time to end the Islamic republic," he said.
- Iranian opposition divided -
When Iran began its crackdown, Trump initially said the United States was
"locked and loaded" to help demonstrators. But he has more recently focused his
military threats on Tehran's nuclear programme, which U.S. forces struck last
June during Israel's unprecedented 12-day war with Iran. Representatives of Iran
and the United States, which have had no diplomatic relations since shortly
after the 1979 revolution, held talks on the nuclear programme last week in
Oman. On Sunday, a Swiss foreign ministry spokesman told AFP that Oman would
host talks in Geneva next week, without providing further details.Videos
verified by AFP showed people in Iran this week chanting anti-government slogans
despite the ongoing crackdown, as the clerical leadership celebrated the
anniversary of the Islamic revolution. According to U.S.-based Human Rights
Activists News Agency, at least 7,010 people, mostly protesters, were killed in
the crackdown, though they and other rights groups warn the toll is likely far
higher. More than 53,845 people have been arrested, it added. Pahlavi had
encouraged Iranians to join the wave of protests, which Iranian authorities have
said were hijacked by "terrorists" fuelled by their sworn enemies, the United
States and Israel. Many protest chants had called for the monarchy's return, and
Pahlavi, 65, has said he is ready to lead a democratic transition. The Iranian
opposition remains divided and Pahlavi has faced criticism for his support for
Israel, making a highly publicised visit in 2023 that fractured an attempt to
unify opposition camps. He has also never distanced himself from his father's
autocratic rule. Trump declined on Friday to say who he would want to take over
in Iran from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but he added that "there are
people".
Report: Trump, Netanyahu Agreed US Should Press Iran to Cut
Oil Sales to China
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed at a
White House meeting on Wednesday that the US would work to reduce Iran's oil
exports to China, Axios reported, citing two US officials briefed on the issue.
"We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran,
for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China," Axios reported on Saturday,
quoting a senior US official. China's foreign ministry did not immediately
respond to a request for comment on Sunday, the first day of a national
holiday for the Lunar New Year. China accounts for more than 80% of Iran's oil
exports. Any reduction in that trade would mean lower oil revenue for Iran. US
and Iranian diplomats held nuclear talks through Omani mediators last week in
an effort to revive diplomacy, after the US president positioned a naval
flotilla in the region as the American military prepares for the possibility of
sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran.
Iran’s Top Diplomat to Attend ‘Indirect’ Talks with US in
Geneva
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Iran’s top diplomat was traveling from Tehran on Sunday to Geneva where the
second round of nuclear negotiations with the US will take place, Iranian state
media reported. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation left for the
Swiss city after the first round of indirect talks took place in Oman last week.
Oman will mediate the talks in Geneva, the IRNA state-run news agency reported
on its Telegram channel. Similar talks last year broke down after Israel
launched what became a 12-day war on Iran, that included the US bombing Iranian
nuclear sites. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force
to compel Iran to agree to constrain its nuclear program. Iran has said it would
respond with an attack of its own. Trump has also threatened Iran over its
deadly crackdown on recent nationwide protests. Regional countries have warned
that any attack could spiral into another regional conflict. The Trump
administration has maintained that Iran can have no uranium enrichment under any
detail, which Tehran says it will not agree to. Iran continues to insist that
its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but officials however have
increasingly threatened to pursue a nuclear weapon. Before the war in June, Iran
has been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, just a short technical step away
from weapons-grade levels.Araghchi is also expected to meet with his Swiss and
Omani counterparts, as well as the director general of the UN’s atomic watchdog,
the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Israeli FM Saar to Attend Trump’s First Board of Peace Meeting on Thursday,
Officials Say
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will attend U.S. President Donald Trump's
first formal Board of Peace meeting on February 19, two Israeli officials said
on Saturday. US officials told Reuters this week that Trump will announce a
multi-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and detail plans for a
UN-authorized stabilization force for the Palestinian enclave at the meeting in
Washington. Delegations from at least 20 countries, including heads of state,
are expected to attend the meeting of the board whose creation was endorsed by
a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump's plan to end
the Gaza war. Regional powers, including Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar,
as well as major emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board. The
US officials said the meeting will focus on Gaza, where two years of war have
left much of the Palestinian enclave in ruins. Israel and Palestinian group
Hamas agreed to Trump's plan last year with a ceasefire taking effect in
October. More than 590 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and four Israeli
soldiers have been killed in rounds of violence that have erupted since. Both
sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, even as Trump's
administration has pressed for progress to the next steps envisaged in the
plan. One of those is the deployment of the International Stabilization Force,
as Israeli troops further withdraw and Hamas disarms. The US officials said
Trump will announce that several countries plan to provide several thousand
troops to the stabilization force that is expected to deploy in Gaza in the
months ahead. Hamas has so far rejected demands to lay down its weapons and
Israel has said that if the group does not disarm peacefully, Israel will have
to force it to do so.
Netanyahu Says US Deal with Iran Must Dismantle Nuclear
Infrastructure
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he told US President
Donald Trump last week that any US deal with Iran must include the dismantling
of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, not just stopping the enrichment process.
Speaking at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations, Netanyahu also said Israel still needs to "complete the job" of
destroying all tunnels in Gaza. Israel, he said, has already dismantled 150 km
(93 miles) of an estimated 500 km. A second round of talks between the US and
Iran are slated for this week. Iran is pursuing a nuclear agreement with the
US that delivers economic benefits for both sides, an Iranian diplomat was
reported as saying on Sunday. Netanyahu said he is skeptical of a deal, but it
must include enriched material leaving Iran. "There shall be no enrichment
capability - not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment
and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place," he said.
Iran and the US renewed negotiations earlier this month to tackle their
decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear program and avert a new military
confrontation. The US has dispatched a second aircraft carrier to the region and
is preparing for the possibility of a sustained military campaign if the talks
do not succeed, US officials have told Reuters. Netanyahu also said that he
aimed to end US military aid to Israel within the next 10 years, after the
current 10-year deal of receiving $3.8 billion a year - which is largely spent
in the United States on equipment - ends in 2028. Due to a thriving economy, "we
can afford to phase out the financial component of the military aid that we're
receiving, and I propose a 10-year draw down to zero. Now, in the three years
that remain in the present memorandum of understanding and another seven years
draw it down to zero," Netanyahu said. "We want to move with the United States
from aid to partnership," he said.
EU top diplomat rejects Europe 'bashing' by US
Naharnet/February 15/2026
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back Sunday against Europe "bashing" by the
United States, as she said Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to
end the Ukraine war. "Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is
not facing civilisational erasure," Kallas said on the last day of the Munich
Security Conference. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday
reassured allies by saying Washington and Europe "belong together" -- but
insisted the continent must defend against mass migration to protect its "civilization"."The
message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in
the past and will be in the future. I think this is important," Kallas said. "It
is also clear that we don't see eye to eye in all the issues, and this will
remain the case," she said. The gathering in Munich has seen European officials
insist the continent must take the lead on its defense in the face of an
aggressive Russia and doubts over the reliability of the United States as
President Donald Trump upends ties. "There is an urgent need to reclaim European
agency," Kallas said. She said European defence "starts in Ukraine" and depends
on how Russia's war ends as the United States pushes efforts to stop the
fighting. "Let's be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower," Kallas
said, insisting the country was "broken"."The greatest threat Russia presents
right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on
the battlefield." The EU top diplomat called for the size of Russia's military
to be capped, said Moscow must pay for damages caused, and be held accountable
for war crimes. France's Europe minister Benjamin Haddad backed up the calls for
Europe to pay less attention to what the U.S. says and focus on bolstering its
own capabilities. "I think the worst lesson we could draw from this weekend is
to say, well, I can cling to some love words that I heard in part of his speech
and push the snooze button," Haddad said of Rubio's address. "Focus on what we
can control, focus on our rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat
that Russia poses to all of our democracies."
Iran Open to Compromises to Reach Nuclear Deal with US,
Says Minister
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Iran is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the United
States if Washington is willing to discuss lifting sanctions, Iran's Deputy
Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC in an interview published on
Sunday. Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in
return for the lifting of sanctions, but has repeatedly ruled out linking the
issue to other questions including missiles.Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that a
second round of nuclear talks would take place on Tuesday in Geneva, after
Tehran and Washington resumed discussions in Oman earlier this month."(Initial
talks went) more or less in a positive direction, but it is too early to judge,"
Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC. A US delegation, including envoys Steve Witkoff and
Jared Kushner, will meet with the Iranians on Tuesday morning, a source had
told Reuters on Friday, with Omani representatives mediating the US-Iran
contacts. Iran's atomic chief said on Monday the country could agree to dilute
its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for all financial sanctions being
lifted. Takht-Ravanchi used this example in the BBC interview to highlight
Iran's flexibility. The senior diplomat reiterated Tehran's stance that it
would not accept zero uranium enrichment, which had been a key impediment to
reaching a deal last year, with the US viewing enrichment inside Iran as a
pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking such nuclear weapons.During his
first term in office, Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 Iran nuclear agreement,
known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the signature foreign policy
achievement of former Democratic President Barack Obama. The deal eased
sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program to prevent
it from being able to make an atomic bomb.
Israeli Airstrikes Kill
Several in Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Israel fired airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least 11
Palestinians, Palestinian officials said, in what the military called a response
to ceasefire violations by Palestinian group Hamas. Gaza medics said an Israeli
airstrike on a tent encampment housing displaced families killed at least four
people, while health officials said another strike killed five in Khan Younis in
the south and another person was shot dead in the north. Airstrikes also
targeted what was thought to be a commander of the Islamic Jihad group, an ally
of Hamas, in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City.
Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, accused Israel of committing a new
"massacre" against displaced Palestinians, calling it a serious breach of the
ceasefire days before the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board
of Peace. An Israeli military official called Sunday's strikes "precise" and in
line with international law, and said the Palestinian militant group had
repeatedly violated an October ceasefire. Israel and Hamas have repeatedly
traded blame for violations of the ceasefire deal, a key element of Trump's plan
to end the Gaza war, the deadliest and most destructive in the generations-old
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war started with the October 7, 2023 Hamas
attack on southern Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, according to
Israeli tallies. Israel's air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than
72,000 people since then, according to Palestinian health ministry data.
Indonesia Says 8,000 Troops Ready for Possible Peacekeeping Mission in Gaza by
June
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Indonesia's military said Sunday that up to 8,000 troops are expected to be
ready by the end of June for a potential deployment to Gaza as part of a
humanitarian and peace mission, the first firm commitment to a critical element
of US President Donald Trump’s postwar reconstruction plan. The Indonesian
National Armed Forces, known as TNI, has finalized its proposed troop structure
and a timeline for their movement to Gaza, even as the government has yet to
decide when the deployment will take place, army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Donny
Pramono said. “In principle, we are ready to be assigned anywhere,” Pramono told
The Associated Press, “Our troops are fully prepared and can be dispatched at
short notice once the government gives formal approval.”Pramono said the
military prepared a composite brigade of 8,000 personnel, based on decisions
made during a Feb. 12 meeting for the mission. Under the schedule, troops will
undergo health checks and paperwork throughout February, followed by a force
readiness review at the end of the month, Pramono said. He also revealed that
about 1,000 personnel are expected to be ready to deploy as an advance team by
April, followed with the rest by June. Pramono said that being ready does not
mean the troops will depart. The deployment still requires a political decision
and depends on international mechanisms, he said. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry
has repeatedly said any Indonesian role in Gaza will be strictly humanitarian.
Indonesia’s contribution would focus on civilian protection, medical services,
reconstruction, and its troops would not take part in any combat operations or
actions that could lead to direct confrontation with armed groups. Indonesia
would be the first country to formally commit troops to the security mission
created under Trump’s Board of Peace initiative for Gaza, where a fragile
ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has held since Oct. 10 following
two years of devastating war. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim
majority nation, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and has
long been a strong supporter of a two-state solution. It has been deeply
involved in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, including funding a hospital.
Indonesian officials have justified joining the Board of Peace by saying it was
necessary to defend Palestinian interests from within, since Israel is included
on the board but there is no Palestinian representation. The Southeast Asian
country has experience in peacekeeping operations as one of the top 10
contributors to United Nations missions, including in Lebanon.
Israel Resumes Contentious West Bank Land Registration in
New Step to Deepen Control
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Israel will begin a contentious land regulation process in a large part of the
occupied West Bank, which could result in Israel gaining control over wide
swaths of the area for future development, according to a government decision on
Sunday. The decision paves the way for the resumption of “settlement of land
title” processes, which had been frozen in the West Bank since the Middle East
War in 1967. It means that when Israel begins the land registration process for
a certain area, anyone with a claim to the land must submit documents proving
ownership.“This move is very dramatic and allows the state to gain control of
almost all of Area C,” said Hagit Ofran, the director of Israeli anti-settlement
watchdog group Peace Now. Area C refers to the 60% of the West Bank that is
under full Israeli military control, according to agreements reached in the
1990s with the Palestinians. The decision is the latest step to deepen Israeli
control over the West Bank. In recent months, Israel has greatly expanded
construction in Jewish settlements, legalized outposts and made significant
bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory to strengthen its hold and
weaken the Palestinian Authority. Sunday's decision was first announced last May
but required further development before it was approved in this week’s Cabinet
meeting. Under the decision, Israeli authorities will announce certain areas to
undergo registration, which will force anyone who has a claim to the land to
prove their ownership.Ofran said the process for proving ownership can be
“draconian” and is rarely transparent, meaning any land that undergoes the
registration process in areas currently owned by Palestinians is likely to
revert to Israeli state control. “Palestinians will be sent to prove ownership
in a way that they will never be able to do,” Ofran told The Associated Press.
"And this way Israel might take over 83% of the Area C, which is about half of
the West Bank.”The registration process could start as soon as this year, she
said. The proposal had been put forward by some of Israel’s far-right members of
the ruling coalition, including the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin. “The
government of Israel is committed to strengthening its grip on all its parts,
and this decision is an expression of that commitment,” he said.
A ‘dangerous escalation’
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ office in a statement called the
decision “a grave escalation and a flagrant violation of international law,”
which amounts to “de facto annexation.” It called on the international
community, especially the UN Security Council and the United States, to
intervene immediately.Previous US administrations have sharply condemned an
expansion of Israeli activity and control in the West Bank, but Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has a particularly close relationship with President Donald
Trump. The two met last week in Washington, their seventh meeting in the past
year. And yet Trump has opposed annexation, Ofran noted. Palestinians are not
permitted to sell land privately to Israelis, though measures announced last
week aim to nullify this. Currently, settlers can buy homes on land controlled
by Israel’s government. Last week's decision also aimed to expand Israeli
enforcement of several aspects of in the West Bank, including environmental and
archaeological matters in Palestinian-administered areas. More than 700,000
Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured
by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement
construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace. Jordan's
Foreign Ministry in a statement called on the international community to “assume
its legal and moral responsibilities, and to compel Israel, the occupying power,
to stop its dangerous escalation.”Over 300,000 Palestinians are estimated to
live in Area C of the West Bank, with many more in surrounding communities
dependent on its agricultural and grazing lands, including plots for which
families retain land deeds or tax records dating back decades.
Trump Tells Hamas to Proceed with ‘Full and Immediate’
Disarmament
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Hamas to move forward with disarmament
under his plan for postwar Gaza. "Very importantly, Hamas must uphold its
commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization," Trump said in a post on his
Truth Social platform, ahead of a February 19 meeting of his newly formed Board
of Peace in Washington. Trump said members of the board have pledged $5 billion
toward rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza and will commit thousands of personnel to
international stabilization and police forces for the territory. The pledges
will be formally announced on Thursday for their first meeting, he said. “The
Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in
History, and it is my honor to serve as its Chairman,” Trump said in a social
media posting announcing the pledges. He did not detail which member nations
were making the pledges for reconstruction or would contribute personnel to the
stabilization force. But Indonesia’s military said Sunday that up to 8,000 of
its troops are expected to be ready by the end of June for a potential
deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian and peace mission. It's the first
firm commitment that the Republican president has received. Rebuilding the
Palestinian territory will be a daunting endeavor. The United Nations, World
Bank and European Union estimate that reconstruction of the territory will cost
$70 billion. Few places in the Gaza Strip were left unscathed by more than two
years of Israeli bombardment. The ceasefire deal calls for an armed
international stabilization force to keep security and ensure the disarming of
the Hamas group, a key demand of Israel. Thus far, few countries have expressed
interest in taking part in the proposed force. The Oct. 10 US-brokered ceasefire
deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas. While
the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated
airstrikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones. It is
not clear how many of the more than 20 members of the Board of Peace will attend
the first meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who held White
House talks with Trump last week, is not expected to be there, but Foreign
Minister Gideon Saar is. Trump’s new board was first seen as a mechanism focused
on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. But it has taken shape with his ambition
for a far broader mandate of resolving global crises and appears to be the
latest US effort to sidestep the United Nations as Trump aims to reset the
post-World War II international order.
Romanian president to attend Washington ‘Board of Peace’
meeting as observer
AFP/February 15, 2026
BUCHAREST: Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced on Sunday that he would
attend as observer the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of
Peace.”“Next week I will take part in the first meeting of the Board of Peace in
Washington, responding to the invitation addressed by the President of the
United States of America, Donald Trump,” Dan wrote on X, after having recently
said that his country was still considering whether to join the body, of which
Trump is the chairman. The board, originally intended to oversee the rebuilding
of the Gaza Strip after two years of the Israel-Hamas war, is set to have its
first meeting on February 19 in Washington. Its permanent members must pay $1
billion to join, which lead to criticisms that the board could become a
“pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council. “Romania will have observer
status and I will reaffirm our strong support for international peace efforts
and our willingness to participate in the reconstruction process in the Gaza
Strip,” Dan added on X on Sunday. Earlier this week, the Romanian president told
reporters that Romania is interested in taking part in the Washington talks as
the country “has traditional relations with both Israel and the Arab countries
in the region,” adding that “the situation in Gaza is important for
Europe.”Since Trump launched his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in
Davos in January, at least 19 countries have signed its founding charter. Some
countries, including Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand and Norway, have
declined to join, while others like Romania have said they could only consider
doing so if its charter were changed.
Syria Says Has Taken Over Another Base from US Forces
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
Syria's defense ministry said on Sunday it had taken over the Al-Shaddadi base
in the northeast from US forces, days after assuming control of a facility near
the Jordan-Iraq borders. "The forces of the Syrian Arab Army have taken over the
Al-Shaddadi military base in the Hasakeh countryside following coordination with
the American side," a ministry statement said. US forces operating as part of
the international coalition against the ISIS group had been stationed at the
base outside the town of the same name. The town housed a prison where Kurdish
forces detained members of the extremist organization, before government forces
advanced into the area last month. Sunday's announcement follows US confirmation
on Thursday that its forces had vacated Al-Tanf base near Syria's borders with
Jordan and Iraq. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were a major
partner of the US-led international coalition against ISIS, and were
instrumental in the group's territorial defeat in Syria in 2019. But following
the fall in December 2024 of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, the United States
has drawn closer to the new government in Damascus, recently declaring that the
need for its alliance with the Kurds had largely passed. Despite ISIS's
territorial defeat, the group remains active, however. On Saturday, the US
Central Command said its forces had struck more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria
this month. A CENTCOM statement said the air strikes between February 3 and 12
hit ISIS "infrastructure and weapons storage targets".
Rubio: US Satisfied with Overall ‘Trajectory’ in Syria
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Washington is pleased with
the "trajectory" in Syria, which has launched talks with Kurdish minority
groups, despite troubles. "There's been some days that have been very
concerning, but we like the trajectory," Rubio said on a brief visit to
Bratislava. "We have to keep it on that trajectory. We've got good agreements in
place."Rubio added, however, that a deal between Syrian authorities and the
Kurdish minority must now be implemented. "That's not going to be easy and there
other such agreements that they need to reach with the Druze, with the Bedouins,
with the Alawites -- with all the elements of a very diverse society in Syria,"
Rubio said. Syrian leaders in Damascus and Kurdish officials announced in
January, after months of deadlock and armed clashes, that they had reached an
agreement to integrate Kurdish forces and autonomous areas of Syria into the
Syrian state.A de facto separate Kurdish state was established in northeast of
the country during Syria's civil war (2011-2024). The United States had
supported Kurdish forces in their fight against the ISIS group starting in 2014.
But after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, the President
Donald Trump's administration backed Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa -- whose
opposition forces drove Assad from power -- in his bid to impose authority over
the entire country. Rubio on Sunday defended the administration's embrace of
Sharaa -- even against the former Kurdish allies -- by arguing that Washington
faced a difficult decision in Syria. The process, "as difficult as it's been, is
far better than a Syria that would've been broken up into eight pieces with all
kinds of fighting going on, all kinds of mass migration," Rubio said. "So we
were very positive about that."
UN Says Al-Hol Camp Population Has Dropped Sharply as Syria
Moves to Relocate Remaining Families
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
The UN refugee agency said Sunday that a large number of residents of a camp
housing family members of suspected ISIS group militants have left and the
Syrian government plans to relocate those who remain. Gonzalo Vargas Llosa,
UNHCR's representative in Syria, said in a statement that the agency “has
observed a significant decrease in the number of residents in al-Hol camp in
recent weeks."“Syrian authorities have informed UNHCR of their plan to relocate
the remaining families to Akhtarin camp in Aleppo Governorate (province) and
have requested UNHCR’s support to assist the population in the new camp, which
we stand ready to provide,” he said. He added that UNHCR “will continue to
support the return and reintegration of Syrians who have departed al-Hol, as
well as those who remain.” The statement did not say how residents had left the
camp or how many remain. Many families are believed to have escaped either
during the chaos when government forces captured the camp from the Kurdish-led
Syrian Democratic Forces last month or afterward. There was no immediate
statement from the Syrian government and a government spokesperson did not
respond to a request for comment. At its peak after the defeat of ISIS in Syria
in 2019, around 73,000 people were living at al-Hol. Since then, the number has
declined with some countries repatriating their citizens. The camp’s residents
are mostly children and women, including many wives or widows of ISIS members.
The camp’s residents are not technically prisoners and most have not been
accused of crimes, but they have been held in de facto detention at the heavily
guarded facility. Forces of Syria’s central government captured the al-Hol camp
on Jan. 21 during a weekslong offensive against the SDF, which had been running
the camp near the border with Iraq for a decade. A ceasefire deal has since
ended the fighting. Separately, thousands of accused ISIS militants who were
held in detention centers in northeastern Syria have been transferred to Iraq to
stand trial under an agreement with the US. The US military said Friday that it
had completed the transfer of more than 5,700 adult male ISIS suspects from
detention facilities in Syria to Iraqi custody. Iraq’s National Center for
International Judicial Cooperation said a total of 5,704 suspects from 61
countries who were affiliated with ISIS — most of them Syrian and Iraqi — were
transferred from prisons in Syria. They are now being interrogated in Iraq.
Syrian foreign minister: National interest and the welfare
of the people top priority
Arab News/February 15, 2026
MUNICH: The Syrian Arab Republic Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani spoke
on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference about the country’s ongoing
recovery, internal reforms, and the impact of Israeli military actions. “We are
satisfied with the achievements we have made, but we continue striving to
deliver the best for our people,” Al-Shaibani said. “We will not tire or give up
and will work day and night to build the Syria we aspire to, together with our
citizens.”In the Syrian Arab News Agency report the minister stressed that the
Syrian state had not shirked its responsibility for what happened in Sweida and
other areas, noting that “the national interest and the welfare of the people
have always been our top priority.”He emphasized that the diversity in Syria is
a source of strength. We live in a country exhausted by war and by the
mismanagement inherited from the deposed regime.
“We share national interests, including the unity and territorial integrity of
the country, and we operate within the framework of the law,” he added. Al-Shaibani
highlighted progress in rebuilding state institutions and restoring trust
between the government and the public. “We live in a country exhausted by war
and by the mismanagement inherited from the deposed regime,” he said. “Syrian
society remains fragmented, both inside the country and abroad, and continues to
face humanitarian and infrastructure challenges.”He emphasized that efforts to
unify the country include consolidating state control over weapons, a principle
established after the revolution’s victory. The minister also highlighted the
role of Syrian citizens in the recovery process. “What we rely on is our people,
who possess determination and ambition,” he said, adding that “lifting sanctions
is the key to reconstruction.”He noted that there are still displacement camps
in the country and that many refugees continue to live abroad. Turning to
external issues, he expressed concern over Israeli military activity. “Since
Dec. 8, 2024, Syria has faced more than 1,000 airstrikes, the occupation of new
areas in southern Syria, and over 500 ground incursions,” he said, adding that
the Syrian state has pursued a realistic approach toward Israel, prioritizing
reconstruction and national recovery. He noted, however, that the policy might
not have been acceptable to Israel, which “continues to seek regional
conflicts.”Al-Shaibani emphasized that negotiations should result in Israel
withdrawing from the areas it occupied after Dec. 8, respecting Syrian
sovereignty and airspace. Syria’s deputy interior minister met with Germany’s
interior minister on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. They
discussed security developments and prospects for cooperation, according to a
statement from the interior ministry. Maj. Gen. Abdulkader Al-Tahhan held talks
with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt during the annual conference.
The Syrian Interior Ministry said the meeting included a review of current
developments in Syria and their impact on security and humanitarian issues.
It added that both sides stressed the importance of coordination and
information-sharing in support of regional and international stability. The
statement said the officials also discussed possible cooperation between the two
interior ministries, including training, capacity-building and the exchange of
expertise.
At Least 6,000 Killed Over 3 Days During RSF Attack on Sudan’s El-Fasher, UN
Says
Asharq Al Awsat/February 15/2026
More than 6,000 people were killed in over three days when a Sudanese
paramilitary group unleashed “a wave of intense violence ... shocking in its
scale and brutality” in Sudan's Darfur region in late October, according to the
United Nations. The Rapid Support Forces' offensive to capture the city of el-Fasher
included widespread atrocities that amount to war crimes and possible crimes
against humanity, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report released on
Friday. “The wanton violations that were perpetrated by the RSF and allied
militia in the final offensive on el-Fasher underscore that persistent impunity
fuels continued cycles of violence,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Volker Türk. The RSF and their allied militias, known as Janjaweed, overran el-Fasher,
the Sudanese army’s only remaining stronghold in Darfur, on Oct. 26 and rampaged
through the city and its surroundings after more than 18 months of siege.The
29-page UN report detailed a set of atrocities that ranged from mass killings
and summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture and
ill-treatment to detention and disappearances. In many cases, the attacks were
ethnicity-motivated, it said. The RSF did not respond to an e-mailed request for
comment. The paramilitaries' Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo has previously
acknowledged abuses by his fighters, but disputed the scale of atrocities.
‘Like a scene out of a horror movie’
The alleged atrocities in el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur,
mirror a pattern of RSF conduct in its war against the Sudanese miliary. The war
began in April 2023 when a power struggle between the two sides exploded into
open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere across the country. The
conflict created the world's largest humanitarian crisis with parts of the
country pushed into famine. It has also been marked by heinous atrocities which
the International Criminal Court said it was investigating as war crimes and
crimes against humanity. The RSF was also accused by the Biden administration of
carrying out genocide in the ongoing war. The UN Human Rights Office said it
documented the killing of at least 4,400 people inside el-Fasher between Oct. 25
and Oct. 27, while more than 1,600 others were killed as they were trying to
flee the RSF rampage. The report said it drew its toll from interviews with 140
victims and witnesses, which were “are consistent with independent analysis of
contemporaneous satellite imagery and video footage.”In one case, RSF fighters
opened fire from heavy weapons on a crowd of 1,000 people sheltering in the
Rashid dormitory in el-Fasher university on Oct. 26, killing around 500 people,
the report said. One witness was quoted as saying that he saw bodies thrown into
the air, “like a scene out of a horror movie,” according to the report. In
another case, around 600 people, including 50 children, were executed on Oct. 26
while taking shelter in the university facilities, the report said. The report,
however, warned that the actual scale of the death toll of the week-long
offensive in el-Fasher was “undoubtedly significantly higher.”The toll does not
include at least 460 people who were killed by the RSF on Oct. 28 when they
stormed the Saudi Maternity hospital, according to the World Health
Organization. Around 300 people were also killed in RSF shelling and drone
attacks between Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 in the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people,
2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) northwest of el-Fasher, the UN Human Rights Office’
report said.
Woman and girls sexually assaulted
Sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was apparently widespread during
el-Fasher offensive, with RSF fighters and their allied militias targeting women
and girls from the African Zaghawa tribes over allegations of having links or
supporting the miliary, the report said. Türk, who visited Sudan last month,
said survivors of sexual violence recounted testimonies that showed how the
practice “was systematically used as a weapon of war.”The paramilitaries also
abducted many people while attempting to flee the city, before releasing them
after paying ramson. Thousands have been held in at least 10 detention centers —
including the city’s Children Hospital which was turned into a detention
facility — run by the RSF in el-Fasher, the report said. The UN Human Rights
Office also said it documented 10 detention facilities used by the
paramilitaries in el-Fasher, including the Children’s Hospital which was turned
into a detention center. Several thousands of people remain missing and
unaccounted for, the report said. The pattern of the RSF offensive on el-Fasher
was a mirror of other attacks by the paramilitaries and their allies on the
Zamzam camp for displaced people, 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of the city, and
on West Darfur’s city of Geneina and the nearby town of Ardamata in 2023, the UN
Human Rights Office said.Türk said there were “reasonable grounds” that RSF and
their allied militias committed war crimes, and that their acts also amount to
crimes against humanity. He called for holding those responsible — including
commanders — accountable, warning that “persistent impunity fuels continued
cycles of violence.”
Tripoli deserves better than its
current leaders
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/February
15, 2026
A building collapse in Tripoli, Lebanon, last week killed 14 people. The
building was in Bab Al-Tabbaneh, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Tripoli,
which is in turn one of the poorest cities in Lebanon and even in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
The fall of the building makes us ask the question: Why did this happen to these
people? Many do not know the rich history of the precious city. Tripoli was once
a capital of trade, culture, and art in the Ottoman Empire. Why this
degeneration? And who is responsible?
The building collapse in Tripoli was not an accident, nor was it the first
tragedy this year to take innocent lives. It was the predictable outcome of
years of neglect by local authorities and successive governments. The dangers
posed by these buildings are widely known, yet no preventive action has been
taken. Lebanon has a proven record of corruption. Lebanese officials have always
acted with impunity. Relying on the blind allegiance of their constituencies,
the welfare of the people has never been their primary concern.
According to Raymond Mitri, an activist who heads Lebanon’s anticorruption task
force: “The justice system also bears primary responsibility, as those in power
have grown accustomed to acting with impunity.” He added: “This culture of no
accountability has enabled repeated failures and avoidable deaths.”It is time
for the prosecutor general to open a thorough investigation and hold the heads
of the relevant authorities accountable for this week’s tragic incident. Without
real consequences, this tragic pattern will continue and more lives will be
lost.
The collapse of the building in Tripoli is the result of decades of negligence.
It is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the city’s problems. I went to
Tripoli a few years ago and I was shocked by the poverty, lack of
infrastructure, and lack of employment. The city’s inhabitants face huge health
risks because of unregulated trash dumps that also pollute the Mediterranean
Sea. Tripoli mirrors the problems of Lebanon. In Tripoli, however, they are more
concentrated and more severe.
Historically, the city has not been lucky with its leadership. In fact, Lebanon
as a whole has not been lucky with its political class, but Tripoli has suffered
particularly badly. During the civil war, various Islamist factions coalesced
and created Harakat Al-Tawhid (the Islamic Unity Movement), which controlled the
city. The state has been barely present. Each neighborhood has a “kabaday”
(strongman) running the show. There is no real law enforcement in the city.
The building collapse was the predictable outcome of years of neglect by local
authorities and successive governments.
According to a lawyer friend of mine, the city is run by mafia-like
organizations. The most important people are those who control the power
generators. The generators’ owners divide the areas among themselves. Citizens
of each neighborhood are thus compelled to buy electricity from the designated
generator owner for that specific area. It is sad to see this historic city
languishing. It is sad to see its historic monuments unattended. It is sad to
see the kind, generous, and skilled people of Tripoli struggle with poverty and
a lack of opportunity.
The irony is that Tripoli is home to some of the wealthiest people in Lebanon
and even the entire Arab world. The political class is rich and prosperous and
it surrounds itself with fences to protect itself from the ire of the people
that it controls. According to Amine Bashir, a lawyer and political activist
from Tripoli, members of the city’s traditional political class do not care
about the people. On the contrary, it is in their interest to keep the people
poor. The poorer they are, the cheaper it will be to buy their vote on election
day. They use the people as an “election reservoir.”At the end of the day, it is
not only Tripoli in this situation. Unfortunately, the Lebanese political elite
looks at the people as a means to control the country and its resources. The
people are a ladder that will allow them to reach the summit of power. Following
last week’s building collapse, the state sent the army to Tripoli to protect the
politicians from the wrath of the people. This situation made me ask myself:
When will the state use its capabilities to protect the people from the
corruption of the political class?
Tripoli has suffered from negligence and impunity — this week’s tragedy is a
warning that this needs to stop. The people in power need to be held
accountable. The people of Tripoli deserve that. They need to rise and the
system governing the city needs to fall. If the system does not fall, more
buildings like the one in Bab Al-Tabbaneh will do so instead.
• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on
lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace
Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
14-15/2026
Pro-Hamas Islamist Countries, Such as Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan, Have No
Place on Trump's Board of Peace
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/February 15/2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22278/pro-hamas-islamist-countries
As commendable as it may be that US President Donald J. Trump is apparently
hoping that he can turn "swords into ploughshares," the inclusion of avowedly
pro-Islamist, pro-terrorist countries such as Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan in his
so-called "Board of Peace" has all the potential thoroughly to undermine the
American leader's peace initiative in Gaza.
The presence of so many Islamist and terror-supporting countries on Trump's Gaza
Board, though, has prompted concerns that they will attempt to stymie the Trump
administration's disarmament demand and seek to find a compromise agreement
whereby Hamas terrorists are allowed to continue holding weapons to be used
later to continue attacking Israel, especially after Trump is a lame duck after
the US midterm elections this year or no longer holds office
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan still refuse formal diplomatic relations with
Israel.
Qatar also has a documented history of funding virtually every Islamist terror
group then, when conflicts flare up, offering to serve as the supposedly
"impartial" mediator.
"Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism worldwide, even more than Iran." --
former senior official of Israel's Mossad spy agency who dealt with economic
warfare against terrorist organisations, YNet, April 18, 2024.
Turkey, meanwhile, has taken the perverse decision to intensify its support for
Hamas in the wake of the October 7 attacks....
The fact, therefore, that so many Hamas-supporting countries have signed up to
participate in Trump's board raises serious questions about their true motives
in joining the enterprise. Are they genuinely committed to supporting the Trump
administration's ambitious plan to end hostilities in Gaza?
Or are they, as all the evidence seems to suggest, simply joining the board so
that they can protect the interests of Hamas terrorists and frustrate Trump's
ambitions of bringing peace to the war-ravaged area?
The inclusion of avowedly pro-Islamist, pro-terrorist countries such as Turkey,
Qatar and Pakistan in US President Donald J. Trump's so-called "Board of Peace"
has all the potential thoroughly to undermine the American leader's peace
initiative in Gaza. Pictured: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on April 14, 2016 in Istanbul.
(Photo by Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/AFP via Getty Images)
As commendable as it may be that US President Donald J. Trump is apparently
hoping that he can turn "swords into ploughshares," the inclusion of avowedly
pro-Islamist, pro-terrorist countries such as Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan in his
so-called "Board of Peace" has all the potential thoroughly to undermine the
American leader's peace initiative in Gaza.
With Trump's 20-point peace plan for ending the Gaza conflict entering a new
stage, the American president is insisting that the Hamas terrorist organisation
surrender all its weapons within the next two months.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast this month, Trump insisted that, with
the war in Gaza ended, Hamas should give up its weapons.
"Now they have to disarm," Trump said. "Some people say they won't, but they
will, and if they don't, they're gonna not be around any longer."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a similar message to US
Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff during a stopover in Jerusalem
while travelling for talks with Iran over its nuclear programme. Netanyahu has
repeatedly said that Hamas's disarmament is a precondition of Gaza's
reconstruction under Phase 2 of the Trump administration's peace plan.
Disarming Hamas, a key component of Trump's initial 20-point peace plan for
ending the Gaza conflict, was due to take place after the first stage of the
ceasefire deal, whereby all the remaining Israeli hostages were released in
return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners being freed.
Even though this first stage has now been completed, with the Israeli military
recovering the body of the last remaining Israeli hostage in January.
Hamas's terrorist leadership has shown no sign of fulfilling its part of the
bargain.
On the contrary, Khaled Mashaal, the terror organisation's political leader, has
rejected calls to disarm Palestinian factions in Gaza, arguing that stripping
weapons from them would turn them into "an easy victim to be eliminated".
Speaking on the second day of a conference hosted by the Gulf state of Qatar
this month, Mashaal described the discussion around Hamas handing over its
weapons as a continuation of a century-long effort to neutralise Palestinian
armed "resistance."
"In the context that our people are still under occupation, talking about
disarmament is an attempt to make our people an easy victim to be eliminated and
easily exterminated by Israel, which is armed with all international weaponry,"
he said.
The prospects of Hamas responding positively to Trump's demand to disarm now
faces the serious prospect of being undermined by the presence of so many
pro-Islamist countries on his Board of Peace, the body that has been set up to
oversee Gaza's transition from being a war-ravaged area to a peaceful,
demilitarised zone.
To date, nine countries from the Middle East and Asia have announced plans to
join Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" in the Gaza Strip, and have stressed the
need to secure a "permanent ceasefire" in Gaza.
After a number of Arab countries -- most prominently Jordan -- proved reluctant
to join Trump's proposed "International Stabilization Force" for Gaza on the
grounds that they did not want to become involved in military action against
Hamas, many have now relented and joined the Board of Peace. Pakistan, Egypt,
Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have
all issued a joint statement declaring that they would be joining the Trump-led
board.
"The Ministers reiterate their countries' support for the peace efforts led by
President Trump," the statement said.
It added that the Board's mission is aimed at "consolidating a permanent
ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing a just and
lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and
statehood in accordance with international law, thereby paving the way for
security and stability for all countries and peoples of the region". The
presence of so many Islamist and terror-supporting countries on Trump's Gaza
Board, though, has prompted concerns that they will attempt to stymie the Trump
administration's disarmament demand and seek to find a compromise agreement
whereby Hamas terrorists are allowed to continue holding weapons to be used
later to continue attacking Israel, especially after Trump is a lame duck after
the US midterm elections this year or no longer holds office
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan still refuse formal diplomatic relations with
Israel.
Both Qatar and Turkey, which support hardline Islamist groups such as the Muslim
Brotherhood, have a long history of backing Hamas. Qatar, in particular,
provided much of the funds that enabled Hamas to build the terrorist
infrastructure used for carrying out the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel, the
worst terrorist attack in Israel's history. One report claimed Qatar had
transferred $1.8 billion to Hamas in the decade preceding the atrocity. Qatar
also has a documented history of funding virtually every Islamist terror group
(such as here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) then, when conflicts
flare up, offering to serve as the supposedly "impartial" mediator.
"Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism worldwide, even more than Iran,"
according to Udi Levy, a former senior official of Israel's Mossad spy agency
who dealt with economic warfare against terrorist organisations.
Turkey, meanwhile, has taken the perverse decision to intensify its support for
Hamas in the wake of the October 7 attacks, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan making a series of inflammatory anti-Israeli statements, including
comparing Israel to the Nazis and repeatedly calling Israel's self-defence
"genocide" – while Turkey bombs the Kurds.
Erdogan has even warned that Turkey could find itself in a regional war against
Israel, and threatened Israel that it would pay a "heavy price" if it renewed
hostilities with Hamas.
Pakistan, another pro-Islamist country that has signed up to Trump's board, has
also attracted criticism for its pro-Hamas stance, with reports that Islamabad
is allowing Hamas terrorists to operate freely on Pakistani soil.
A detailed report published in September by the Middle East Media Research
Institute (MEMRI) found that:
"Pakistan is allowing Hamas representatives on their soil to operate freely,
participate in public events, and forge alliances with local militant outfits.
This behaviour undermines Western efforts to isolate Hamas and puts under
question whether the US should keep on considering Pakistan as a 'major non-Nato
ally.'"
Unsurprisingly, the Pakistanis have made it clear that they have no intention of
taking part in any effort to disarm Hamas terrorists when their troops are
deployed to the Gaza enclave. The fact, therefore, that so many Hamas-supporting
countries have signed up to participate in Trump's board raises serious
questions about their true motives in joining the enterprise. Are they genuinely
committed to supporting the Trump administration's ambitious plan to end
hostilities in Gaza?
Or are they, as all the evidence seems to suggest, simply joining the board so
that they can protect the interests of Hamas terrorists and frustrate Trump's
ambitions of bringing peace to the war-ravaged area? Con Coughlin is the
Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a Distinguished Senior Fellow
at Gatestone Institute.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Unity of Arenas
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 15/2026
Lebanon enjoys many advantages that other countries are deprived of, most
important of which is that it is the country with the greatest number of
political crimes, especially those in which the perpetrator remains unknown.
Like everything else, the victims were from all sects, beliefs, and levels of
importance. If one sect's share happened to be greater than another's, it was a
matter of coincidence, not deliberate. For example, Sunnis have presented the
largest number of martyrs, most notably Rafik al-Hariri and Rashid Karami. The
number of ministers killed is countless. The Druze presented the most important
figure in their history. The Maronites are not ashamed to give and take. The
press too was not spared assassinations. Saturday marked 21 years since Hariri's
assassination, whose reverberations were felt across the globe. Due to fear of
naming the local killer, the case was referred to international justice, which
was even more fearful. Twenty-two people were killed with Hariri, hundreds were
injured, and the truth was sentenced to death. The number of killings of top
tier politicians in half a century is estimated at about 300. The number of
those who died with them is not known, nor is it known whether the crime was
committed for Lebanese, fraternal or nationalist reasons, or the one time when
150,000 lives were claimed and hastily buried without a backward glance.
Individual and general assassinations took place on Lebanese soil with complete
disregard of the authority of the state. Not to mention the Israeli crimes that
take place every day. People have grown accustomed to crimes that go unresolved
and unpunished. The only serious development in Lebanon's Arab relations is that
Damascus and Beirut have agreed to exchange prisoners and convicts, and all
those associated with relations of brotherhood, justice, and joint revival for
greater, more important, and more comprehensive aims.
Jordan’s growing role in Turkish foreign policy
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/February 15/2026
Turkiye and Jordan were significantly affected by the Syrian civil war that
lasted more than a decade. Now, with the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in
December 2024, a new dynamic has emerged along Turkiye’s southern and Jordan’s
northern borders — one that calls for closer coordination between the two
states.
Jordan, a relatively small state known for its neutral regional policy, has not
traditionally occupied a prominent place in Turkish foreign policy. But its
geopolitical importance is far too significant to neglect. It has crucial
potential when it comes to countering shared regional security challenges.
Recent high-level meetings between Ankara and Amman, therefore, merit a closer
look to better understand the possibility for Turkish-Jordanian cooperation.
Jordan’s King Abdullah paid an official visit to Turkiye last week at the
invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who received him at the Dolmabahce
Palace in Istanbul. King Abdullah’s last visit to Turkiye took place in February
2019. Back then, the regional picture looked very different. Now, the region has
been reshaped by a series of major events — from the Oct. 7 attacks to the
Iran-Israel war and the fall of the Assad regime — that have fundamentally
shifted the political and security dynamics surrounding these two countries.
With the fall of the Assad regime, Jordan has emerged as a key partner in
Turkiye’s regional policy, particularly regarding Syria and Gaza. For Turkiye,
Jordan represents both a stabilizing actor on its southern periphery and a
practical partner in managing the post-Assad regional order.
Amman and Ankara have found themselves on the same page in regard to regional
crises. Jordan therefore became part of a regional cooperation mechanism
established between Turkiye, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, which is aimed at
coordinating responses to shared security challenges. Amman has hosted
high-level regional security meetings led by Turkiye, bringing together foreign
ministers, defense ministers and intelligence chiefs to discuss counterterrorism
efforts and broader regional threats. It was through Jordanian-Turkish
cooperation that a joint mission to support Syria’s fight against terrorist
organizations, particularly Daesh, was established. At the request of the new
leadership in Syria, this joint mission was set up to operate in Damascus,
marking a concrete step toward institutionalized regional security cooperation.
Jordan and Turkiye are also part of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace,
further highlighting their shared role in the Gaza peace process. In their joint
statement, King Abdullah and Erdogan underscored the importance of preserving
the territorial integrity, sovereignty and national unity of all regional
states. This emphasis reflects a shared outlook. Jordan has long pursued a
status quo-oriented foreign policy, prioritizing stability along its borders.
Turkiye’s support for a centralized and territorially unified Syria closely
aligns with Jordanian interests in this regard. Both countries view
fragmentation and instability in Syria as a direct threat to their security,
making their policy convergence not only strategic but also necessary.Amman not
only occupies a key position in terms of security cooperation, but also in
economic coordination. Jordan was also chosen to host NATO’s first liaison
office in the Middle East. This opened last September, underscoring the
country’s geopolitical importance. Jordan has been a member of NATO’s
Mediterranean Dialogue since 1995. As a NATO partner, Turkiye views the
alliance’s cooperation with Amman as increasingly significant, as its presence
in the country will help strengthen the regional security architecture.Amman not
only occupies a key position in terms of security cooperation, but also in
economic coordination. Jordan and Turkiye, along with Syria, are working on a
joint initiative to restore the historic Hejaz railway, focusing on the segment
linking the three countries as part of efforts to rebuild regional transport and
trade networks disrupted by years of conflict and border closures. Officials
from the three countries have agreed on preliminary terms to draft a memorandum
of understanding covering the restoration of damaged railway lines.
At one time, the railway was referred to as the “Iron Silk Road” due to its
economic, social and political importance. The railway is “a relic of the bygone
dream of regional unity before wars, borders and more advanced modes of
transportation rendered its services obsolete.” Today, the three nations see its
revival as both symbolic and strategic to restore regional connectivity, boost
trade and contribute to postwar reconstruction.
Another key cooperation between Ankara and Amman involves boosting the overland
freight route from Jordan’s Aqaba Port to Turkiye and onward to Eastern Europe
through trilateral cooperation agreements. Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat
noted that Turkish contractors were invited to participate in Jordan’s $15
billion development and infrastructure projects. Moreover, in 2011, Jordan
signed an agreement with Turkiye on cooperating to develop nuclear energy,
paving the way for closer ties between the two countries. This week, the Saudi
Cabinet was authorized to negotiate and sign draft agreements on peaceful
nuclear and atomic energy cooperation with the governments of Jordan and Turkiye.
Turkiye and Jordan are also collaborating on a road corridor that will allow
Turkish trucks to reach Jordan and the Gulf countries via Syria. The corridor is
expected to become fully operational next year, once remaining issues in Syria
are resolved, and it is projected to significantly boost regional trade. Bolat
emphasized the importance of this route, stating: “Once we revive these roads
and railways as they existed before 2010, trade and people’s prosperity will
rapidly increase.” His reference to the pre-2010 period is particularly
significant. Ankara views coordination with regional states as a crucial element
of its regional policy and, within this context, Jordan appears to be a key
potential partner in Turkiye’s regional outlook.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s
relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
Iran’s concessions in the balance: Either the cup of poison or suicide
Raghida Dergham/Arabiya English/February 15/2026
If Iranian concessions are to meet the expectations of US President Donald
Trump, they will require Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to craft a narrative
capable of persuading his base that he has been compelled to drink the “cup of
poison” in order to save the Islamic Republic — much as Ruhollah Khomeini did
when he reluctantly accepted the ceasefire with Iraq. The concessions would have
to be pivotal, substantive, and profound, beginning with the nuclear file in a
genuinely structural — not cosmetic — manner. The missile program would not
escape the reckoning. Nor would Iran’s regional proxies. Tehran would be
compelled, at least temporarily, to relinquish aspects of its proxy architecture
in order to save the proxies themselves. The alternative, particularly in
Lebanon, would be that Hezbollah faces military crushing by Israel should
understandings fail to materialize.
President Trump operates with a Plan A — negotiation — and a Plan B — military
action. Israel, for its part, is preparing its own Plan B, complete with
operational scenarios aimed at Iran, while US forces simultaneously reinforce
their regional posture. This is coordination, not subordination.
Should an American–Iranian deal become attainable, the difficult bargain would
begin with Iran abandoning its insistence on the sunset clause governing the
duration of its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Tehran would demand that
Washington relinquish the snapback mechanism — the automatic reimposition of
sanctions. This would be accompanied by resolving differences over enrichment
levels and transparency concerning stockpiles of enriched uranium and related
arrangements.
What will not happen is that Donald Trump falls into an Iranian trap and becomes
another Barack Obama. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to
Washington, he carried detailed intelligence intended to persuade the American
president that a military strike should be launched now, at a moment when
Iranian leadership appears shaken and anxious. He also brought Israeli arguments
insisting that ballistic missiles and Revolutionary Guard proxies represent
direct threats to Israeli national security. Netanyahu’s portfolio included maps
identifying vital institutions and nerve centers of the regime in Tehran. He
presented deep intelligence assessments of the Iranian interior, aiming to calm
American fears of chaos and its repercussions, and to reassure Trump that US
ground forces would not be required. Israel does not subscribe to the notion
that there is no alternative to the regime in Tehran and therefore that its fall
must be avoided. Intelligence circles in Washington and Tel Aviv do not focus
exclusively on symbolic figures such as the Shah’s son, recognizing that regime
collapse would exceed his capacity — and perhaps that of Iranian society itself
— to manage. The calculation instead centers on the conventional military
establishment — the Iranian army — and the possibility that it could assume
control should disorder erupt. This could occur through institutional cohesion,
or through a faction aligned with civilian leadership that emerged from
successive waves of protest, capable of stabilizing the state during a critical
transition. US Vice President JD Vance has stressed that the nuclear issue is
the priority. He offered what might be described as a political sweetener when
he declared that Iran’s internal affairs belong to the Iranian people — implying
that the administration is not seeking regime change in exchange for nuclear
concessions. This is political inducement, not binding doctrine. The vice
president’s positioning prepares but does not constrain the president. It leaves
Trump ample room for maneuver, and perhaps for strategic ambiguity, at a moment
when a countdown has effectively begun between diplomatic talks and military
operations. The camp led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio is explicit in
favoring military action sooner rather than later, lest the American president
acquire a reputation for retreat or duplicity. In this view — shared by a
significant number of military and intelligence officials — missing the present
window would amount to strategic folly.
That camp does not confine itself to the nuclear dossier. It insists on missile
constraints, proxy curtailment, security guarantees for Israel, and an end to
repression inside Iran. At a deeper strategic level, oil calculations remain
central to US dominance over global energy markets and the implications for the
economic leverage of China. On the question of proxies, Iranian concessions
would necessarily extend to them, beginning in Lebanon. Tehran faces two
options: Preserve the regime and Hezbollah through negotiated understandings, or
risk sacrificing Hezbollah to military destruction should it refuse to
compromise. Iranian leaders know that the fate of their proxies is endangered
either way. A partial and managed retreat could therefore be framed domestically
as a painful but necessary act of preservation — another version of drinking
from the poisoned chalice.
In Iraq, the US administration has been unequivocal in opposing the return of
Nouri al-Maliki to the premiership. Political engineering is underway to ensure
internal Iraqi arrangements that prevent confrontation with Washington under the
banner of his candidacy. The broader objective is to sever Iranian leverage in
Iraq through the battle over leadership. In Yemen, the equation blends military
preparation with diplomatic pressure. The Trump administration intends to
curtail Houthi capabilities in Yemen and along critical waterways including
Hormuz and the Red Sea. This too provides space for Khamenei to justify
concessions under the rubric of national preservation. As for Hamas, the file
has effectively slipped from Tehran’s operational control and no longer
constitutes a strategic priority, notwithstanding rhetorical commitments to
Palestine. We are therefore at a crossroads between a language of concessions
that would spare Iran war and a language of self-destruction should Iranian
intransigence invite an American–Israeli strike. Concessions could preserve
regime continuity if Khamenei follows Khomeini’s precedent, drinking the cup of
poison and presenting it as a sacrifice for Iran — not merely for the regime —
in exchange for economic relief that would allow the Iranian people to recover.
If, however, the Iranian leadership persists in strategic delay or tactical
procrastination, using negotiations as a tool to erode Trump’s leverage,
military action becomes not only possible but imminent — potentially within the
timeframe of weeks, perhaps even days. Trump has little tolerance for open-ended
diplomacy, particularly as domestic electoral dynamics approach. He seeks
closure and demonstrable results. Iran has the opportunity to demonstrate
seriousness. Should Trump conclude that delay is the governing strategy, a
strike would likely follow — perhaps even sooner than publicly anticipated,
since surprise remains an essential element of war. There may well be a
distribution-of-roles dynamic between Trump and Netanyahu. The American
president benefited from Netanyahu’s visit and departure without securing an
immediate strike. He received a comprehensive intelligence briefing, submitted
it to US agencies for assessment, and bought time — using his refusal of an
urgent strike to cultivate Iranian goodwill, all while retaining full military
readiness and integrating Israeli intelligence into American planning.
The current moment is defined by ebb and flow between the military and
diplomatic tracks, with a countdown underway toward the military option for
which plans are already in place. States across the Middle East and the Gulf
have urged caution, warning against the repercussions of either a failed or even
a successful strike. Their concern today is that the Islamic Republic could
emerge emboldened — like a peacock fanning its feathers — should Trump retreat
without extracting decisive Iranian concessions.
Climate progress requires realism, not hysteria
Arnab Neil Sengupta/Arab News/February 15, 2026
More than a year into US President Donald Trump’s second term, one of the most
noticeable shifts in political discourse is the disappearance of the words
“climate change” from the news cycle. Just a few years ago, headlines were
dominated by dire climate predictions and calls to immediate action. Today’s
changed media environment does not mean that the Earth’s atmosphere is suddenly
healthier or that greenhouse gases have mysteriously diminished. The physical
reality of our planet — its biochemical composition and position in the solar
system — has not changed with the international political calendar. Scientists
still agree that greenhouse gas concentrations, such as carbon dioxide, have
risen substantially since pre-industrial times. Global levels of CO2, measured
in parts per million, have crossed the 422-424 ppm mark, up from about 280 ppm
before the Industrial Revolution. Studies indicate that these concentrations are
rising by roughly 2-3 ppm per year and are at levels not seen for hundreds of
thousands of years. In other words, climate change has not suddenly ceased to be
a challenge. What has changed is the belated realization that progress must be
achieved with a sense of proportion, one that does not set back broader human
development or exaggerate the chances of climate catastrophe. Until recently,
the “endangered planet” narrative had drowned out constructive conversation on
the subject of climate challenge. In the US and Europe, much of the public
discourse became so tightly linked to ideology, anxiety, and even identity that
it seemed at times that hard evidence and rational policy discussion no longer
mattered.This combination of discourse politicization and media alarmism, in
turn, generated pressure on developing nations to devote precious financial
resources toward imported “green technologies,” often at prohibitive costs. For
countries weighed down by poverty, food insecurity, inadequate infrastructure,
and lack of fiscal transparency, such diversion was both economically harmful
and politically destabilizing. A more pragmatic strategy to tackle climate
change would have recognized that development and clean energy goals need not be
in conflict. In fact, greater wealth enables societies to invest more in cleaner
technologies, better environmental regulation, and innovation that ultimately
benefits both people and the planet. The good news is that real progress is
being made, quietly. For example, electric vehicle adoption is expanding rapidly
worldwide, driven by a combination of cost reductions, improved range and
consumer demand. Transportation accounts for about 16 percent of global
greenhouse-gas emissions and roughly one-quarter of energy-related CO2
emissions, so electrification makes a difference, both economically and
environmentally.
Policy ought to be founded on pragmatic solutions.
Adoption of renewable energy sources — namely, wind, solar, and hydroelectric —
continues to grow faster than conventional fuels in many regions, especially
when supported by market forces as opposed to top-down mandates. In many
industrial countries, UN demographic projections show population growth slowing
or stabilizing, which is likely to lower future energy demand and carbon
emissions. These trends show that reductions in emissions are perhaps better
achieved through innovation, incentives, and evolving consumer preferences.
Among those advocating for this type of “climate realism” is Danish statistician
and policy analyst Bjorn Lomborg, who has long argued that while global warming
is real, man made, and an important problem, it is not the “end of the world.”
He insists that “we need to evaluate climate policy in the same way that we
evaluate every other policy: in terms of costs and benefits.”Lomborg’s emphasis
on cost-benefit analysis and prioritizing policies with the highest humanitarian
and environmental returns strike a chord with policymakers who believe that
fear-based messaging from left-liberal Western politicians, think tanks, and
media commentators has proved counterproductive.
Again, this is not a call to ignore climate science. The evidence that human
emissions contribute to warming is far too well established to dispute at this
stage. The scientific consensus, including reports by the UN’s Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, confirms that human activity, particularly fossil fuel
burning, has raised global temperatures and influenced extreme weather patterns.
But recognizing the significance of the threat does not mean abandoning common
sense. Looking back, climate policy was thrust on an unprepared world almost as
a moral and existential imperative. That approach took precedence over more
cost-effective options advocated by saner voices such as technological
innovation, investments in carbon-removal methods, and adaptation efforts that
protect vulnerable populations from heat stress, flooding, and drought. What the
story of the lost decades teaches us is that climate policy ought to be founded
on pragmatic solutions, not dramatic speeches at UN-led conferences and
NGO-organized summits. People respond positively to clarity, markets respond
best to incentives, and innovation responds quickly to opportunity. Humanity’s
common focus ought to be on making real progress instead of checking boxes.
Policies must strike a balance between environmental commitment and economic
resilience, particularly in developing countries where affordable energy remains
essential to achieving a better quality of life. In practical terms, this means
governments must encourage innovation in energy technology, including grid
storage, nuclear power, hydrogen and next-generation renewables. National
climate strategies have to support market-friendly policies that reduce
emissions while preserving economic growth and political stability.
The focus should be on adaptation and resilience in the Middle East, North
Africa, and South Asia, where climate impacts are already being felt in the form
of heat waves and water scarcity. Finally, industrial economies like China, the
US, Germany, Japan, and South Korea must help developing nations invest in
energy security, technological advancement and climate responsibility, instead
of pressuring them to make economically damaging trade-offs. The world never
needed alarmism to motivate climate action. Depoliticization of public discourse
coupled with realism might be the most effective way to tackle climate change
and support global development.
• Arnab Neil Sengupta is a senior editor at Arab News.
X Platform
Selected twittes for 14/2026
Michel Hajji Georgiou
The closure of the Zouqaq Theater is a patented sign of a continuing cultural
decline.
It may be time for a community effort to save the iconic places that have
created fractures in the rampant wave of mediocrity ravaging the country.
Anyway, thank you Lamia Abi Azar for being the person you are, against and
against everything: a selfless warrior for a more authentic, more human and,
above all, less stupid Lebanon.We need you more than ever - so hang in there.
*La fermeture du théâtre Zouqaq constitue un signe patenté d’un déclin culturel
continu.
Il serait peut-être temps qu’il y ait une communauté d’efforts pour sauver les
lieux emblématiques qui ont permis de créer des anfractuosités dans la houle de
médiocrité rampante qui ravage le pays. En tout cas, merci Lamia Abi Azar d’être
la personne que tu es, envers et contre tout : une guerrière altruiste pour un
Liban plus authentique, plus humain et, surtout, moins con. On a plus que jamais
besoin de toi - alors, il faut tenir bon.