English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For February 17/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty
phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of
their many words. Do not be like them.
Matthew 06/05-15/"Whenever you pray, do not be like the
hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street
corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have
received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the
door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you. ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as
the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many
words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask
him. ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your
kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For
if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses."
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
16-17/2026
Fasting is prayer, contemplation, repentance, forgiveness, and
reconciliation with God/Elias Bejjani
Ash Monday: A Holy Day For Repentance Prayers & Forgiveness/Elias Bejjani
Former Minister Youssef Salamé to House Speaker Nabih Berri: “Withdraw quietly,
and you will gain the afterlife.
Drone strike kills 1 in South after 3 Islamic Jihad members killed near al-Masnaa
German president pledges post-UNIFIL support for Lebanon
At the Bishopric of Antelias: A Dialogue Meeting with Hezbollah to Strengthen
Partnership and Confirm "No Rupture with Bkerke"
Lebanon Cabinet Weighs Army Plan to Limit Weapons North of Litani
Israeli Report: Damascus Does Not Rule Out Military Action Against Hezbollah
Lebanon braces for UNIFIL exit as Germany signals continued role amid shifting
security landscape
21 Tripoli buildings evacuated as Lebanon ramps up social and health support for
families
Lebanon's election battle deepens: Expat district or 128 seats?
Berri says elections on time, even 'technical' delay not possible
Aoun says Lebanon insists on 'absolute peace' but wants its rights
German president urges Israel and Hezbollah to adhere to ceasefire agreement
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Does Not Seek Wars, but Ready to Defend Lebanon,
Battlefield Will Tell
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on February
16-17/2026
Video link and transcript (English-Arabic) of Senator Lindsey Graham’s press
conference and remarks to the media in Tel Aviv on the eve of renewed US-Iranian
negotiations
Video-Link Middle East Forum to a report title: "Is Erdogan’s Turkey Becoming
Iran 2.0?" with Abdullah Bozkurt
Iran Court Sentences 14 Protesters to Death in Online Proceedings
Iran says US stance on nuclear issue 'more realistic'
Iran FM in Geneva for US talks, as Guards begin drills in Hormuz Strait
Anti-Khamenei rebels with a cause
US military airlifts a nuclear reactor across three states after Trump pushes
for more of the energy source
US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran
India seizes three Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers, source says
Ukraine makes fastest battlefield gain in 2.5 years
3 killed, including suspect, in shooting during Rhode Island youth hockey game
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
16-17/2026
The Palestinian 'Constitution' to Destroy Israel/Bassam Tawil/Gatestone
Institute
A Visit That Failed to Reassure an Anxious Netanyahu/Sam Menassa/Asharq Al-Awsa
Trump and Returning Iran to Iran/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat
Palestine… The Growing Gap Between the Palestinian Authority and the People Must
close/Nabil Amr/Asharq Al-Awsat
X Platform Selected twittes for 14/2026
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
16-17/2026
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
Former Minister Youssef Salamé to House Speaker Nabih Berri: “Withdraw
quietly, and you will gain the afterlife.
Allow us to dream of building a state of modernity and transparency and of
saving Lebanon. Thank you.
February 16, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152222/
The head of the “Identity and
Sovereignty Gathering” issued a statement in two separate tweets, saying:
Since the formation of the government, it has become clear that His Excellency
chose to limit his term to dismantling the “corporate state” only, without
striving to build a model state that integrates with the uniqueness and role of
the “Nation-Message,” as he promised in his inaugural address. Based on the
above, we conclude that resolving the deposit crisis awaits the rebuilding of
the state, and rebuilding the state awaits the emergence of a courageous
authority that openly declares and signs peace. At the same time, we see Prime
Minister Berri objecting to a judicial ruling that stipulated expatriates should
vote each in their own district—despite being known for “rounding corners,”
having gained a reputation for bending the law to suit his political interests
and those of the ruling establishment, adhering to the text at times and
bypassing it at others.
In this capacity, he has remained at the helm of Parliament since 1992 to this
day, personally overseeing and sponsoring the system that has controlled the
country for four decades and caused the financial collapse and the
disintegration of the state. House Speaker, Mr. Nabih Berri, please Withdraw
quietly, and you will gain the afterlife and allow us to dream of building a
state of modernity and transparency and of saving Lebanon. Thank you.
Drone strike kills 1 in
South after 3 Islamic Jihad members killed near al-Masnaa
Agence France Presse/February 16/2026
One person was killed Monday in an Israeli drone strike on a van and an SUV in
the southern town of Hanine. The Israeli army claimed that the targeted person
was a Hezbollah operative who was working on rebuilding military infrastructure
for the group in south Lebanon. An Israeli strike near the Syrian border in
Lebanon's east had overnight 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. Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath
channel said the car was carrying three Palestinians and a Syrian driver. 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.
German president pledges post-UNIFIL
support for Lebanon
Dalal Saoud/BEIRUT/UPI/Lebanon/February
16/2026
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Monday his country will continue
to support Lebanon and its army to strengthen state authority, even after the
U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon completes its mandate in 2027 and
German troops withdraw.Steinmeier said after talks with Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun that the end of the UNIFIL mission "does not mean the end of our
support for Lebanon," noting the importance of Lebanon being sovereign and
stable, "for its own sake and for the stability of the region." He added,
however, that Lebanon would need to make significant efforts to achieve that
goal, emphasizing the need to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces, which have
been tasked with disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah after its recent conflict
with Israel. "The Lebanese armed forces are indeed the backbone of stability in
Lebanon, and after the end of the UNIFIL mission, we must decide how to
strengthen this backbone and lifeline," Steinmeier said during a joint news
conference with Aoun at the Presidential Palace. Steinmeier said German naval
forces are training the Lebanese navy and providing it with equipment, along
with surveillance and monitoring capabilities, to help it strengthen its
capacities after the UNIFIL mission ends.Last August, the U.N. Security Council
voted unanimously to terminate the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL,
which was established in March 1978 after Israel's first invasion of southern
Lebanon to maintain peace and stability in the embattled region.The United
States, which had pushed for the multinational peacekeepers to end their mission
within six months in line with the demands of close ally Israel, then agreed to
a 16-month extension to last until the end of December. After that, UNIFIL will
begin a "safe and orderly" withdrawal, to be completed within one year.The force
grew significantly in size and scope after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war,
counting 10,500 peacekeepers from 47 to 50 troop-contributing countries. As of
this month, UNIFIL's force consists of 7,538 peacekeepers from 48
troop-contributing countries, with Germany maintaining a contingent of 179
soldiers.Aoun, whose country had expressed concerns over the vacuum UNIFIL's
departure could create, said that the presence of German forces alongside other
European forces in southern Lebanon, after the peacekeeping force completes its
mandate, would help strengthen security in the region. He noted that
consultations would be held with European countries that wish to retain part of
their forces in the south to establish an appropriate framework for doing so.
Steinmeier said the Nov. 27, 2024, cease-fire agreement, brokered by the United
States and France to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel -- which began on
Nov. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah opened a support front for Gaza -- was "an
opportunity" to achieve stability in the region. He said his visit to Beirut was
intended to ask both sides to commit to the agreement, emphasizing that
Hezbollah must be disarmed to meet the other conditions for the withdrawal of
Israeli forces from the areas they still occupy in southern Lebanon.
At the Bishopric of Antelias: A Dialogue Meeting with Hezbollah to Strengthen
Partnership and Confirm "No Rupture with Bkerke"
Al-Markazia/Februar y 16/2026
Based on an invitation from the Archbishop of the Maronite Archdiocese of
Antelias, Bishop Antoine Bou Najem, a dialogue meeting was held bringing
together the Patriarchal Committee for National Reconciliations and a delegation
from Hezbollah. The meeting was attended by Bishop Boulos Matar, Bishop Michel
Aoun (Pastor of the Jbeil Diocese), and Bishop Mounir Khairallah. The Hezbollah
delegation consisted of MP Ali Fayyad, the official for Christian relations Hajj
Muhammad Said al-Khansa, his assistant Dr. Abdullah Zayour, and Hajj Ghalib Abu
Zeinab.
The meeting was dedicated to discussing the relationship between Lebanese
components in light of current political and security developments. The
discussion began with a review of the history of the relationship between
Christians and Shiites in Lebanon, emphasizing that it was never based on
existential enmity but rather experienced varying political phases within the
framework of coexistence. Participants stressed that Lebanon cannot tolerate
further divisions and that political differences must be addressed through
dialogue and institutions, rather than through media escalation or the streets.
This meeting comes in the context of diligent ecclesiastical and political
efforts to contain internal political shifts resulting from the regional and
international complexities buffeting Lebanon and the region. The goal is to
re-establish rules of national understanding between essential components amid
major transformations. The bishops confirmed that the discussion stemmed from an
objective historical reading, asserting that the relationship was never built on
structural hostility, but on long-standing coexistence interspersed with
political differences at certain stages without turning into a conflict of
identity. They stressed that the homeland has room for everyone and what is
required today is to consolidate the logic of partnership and resort to dialogue
as the only path.
For his part, Hajj Muhammad Said al-Khansa explained that openness to Christian
spiritual authorities is an extension of Hezbollah’s consistent approach based
on the priority of internal dialogue. He stressed that the conflict in Lebanon
is political in nature, not an existential struggle, and that continuous
communication with Christian figures, forces, and spiritual authorities in all
regions aims to consecrate the dialogue that preserves Lebanon's globally unique
formula.
The attendees also addressed current issues, starting with the situation in the
South and the necessity of implementing Resolution 1701—which Lebanon and the
Resistance have committed to while Israel has failed to implement any of its
provisions—reaching as far as the economic and social crises, the files of
prisoners, and reconstruction, with an emphasis on the need to regulate public
discourse and respect sanctities.
In the interest of maintaining this communication, an agreement was reached on a
follow-up mechanism through periodic meetings held by a committee emanating from
the Patriarchate (including Bishops Bou Najem, Matar, and Khairallah) to discuss
sensitive files with frankness and responsibility. They issued a firm
confirmation that there is no rupture between Bkerke and Hezbollah, but rather
permanent communication—some of which may remain out of the spotlight—based on
the belief that dialogue is the fundamental and only option to produce true
national understanding.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Bishop Matar handed a copy of his message to
the Shiite community to the delegation, emphasizing that national partnership is
not reduced to a transient political dispute. He noted that the Maronite Church
views the relationship with the Shiites as a fundamental pillar in the equation
of coexistence. The meeting appeared to be a foundational workshop for a new
political and spiritual climate titled "Managing Difference Under the Roof of
the State" and protecting Lebanon from the winds of division.
Lebanon Cabinet Weighs Army
Plan to Limit Weapons North of Litani
This is Beirut/February 16, 2026
The Lebanese Cabinet met on Monday at the Baabda Palace to deliberate an army
plan to restrict weapons north of the Litani River, according to Nidaa al-Watan,
directly addressing Hezbollah’s stockpile. General Rodolphe Haykal, head of the
Lebanese Armed Forces, stated that this phase of Hezbollah disarmament will last
roughly four to eight months. Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam
expressed his openness to expanding the Lebanese state’s role regarding the
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire mechanism, referring to the second phase of disarmament
beyond the Litani, to oversee disarmament.In January, Salam claimed that the
region south of the Litani is under the Lebanese state’s full and operational
control, despite the presence of some remaining weapons linked to Hezbollah. As
part of the second phase of the November 2024 ceasefire, Lebanese officials
propose expanding disarmament processes beyond the country’s far south. As
Lebanon prepares for the upcoming French-Saudi-led conference on March 5 in
Paris, it would be in a position to secure more enthusiastic support for the
state and the army should the country demonstrate progress on arms control.
Lebanon is in a critical period, in discussions with several countries and
international organizations regarding the status of its trajectory. Last week, a
delegation from the IMF visited Lebanon to assess their progress with fiscal
reforms, and the head of the Lebanese army Rodolphe Haykal made visits to the
U.S. and Saudi Arabia to discuss financial and military support amid efforts to
expand operational capacity in Lebanon. However, Lebanese officials walk a tight
line in maintaining its international partnerships without sowing further
domestic divisions. U.S. officials, for example, have grown more broadly
impatient of Lebanese hedging on the disarmament issue, exemplified by Senator
Lindsay Graham’s frustration with Haykal’s hesitance to label Hezbollah as a
terrorist organization. The U.S. also began enacting more targeted sanctions
against Hezbollah institutions, such as the al-Qard al-Hassan gold exchange, and
individuals who may obstruct the 2026 parliamentary elections in Lebanon. These
developments indicate the growing impatience international partners such as the
U.S. have towards a more cautious Lebanese approach towards disarmament and
reforms. Hezbollah faces pressure regarding the meeting of cabinet members. They
would appear weak to their base if they too quickly accept disarmament. However,
the organization contends with active U.S.-Iran nuclear talks taking place this
week in Geneva, and Iran would have to green-light an escalatory response to a
disarmament measure north of the Litani which would jeopardize talks with the
U.S. As questions linger on whether Hezbollah is in a position to take up arms,
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated that the group does not want a
war with Israel but will remain ready to defend itself, which may result in some
resistance against disarmament north of the Litani. Qassem stated on Monday that
efforts to disarm Hezbollah would be a “grave mistake.”According to Nidaa al-Watan,
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri holds an important role in a cabinet decision
on disarmament. As Hezbollah has seen growing isolation, including a growing
rift between it and Berri’s Amal party, he sees reason for the Lebanese state to
act, with delays possibly triggering international backlash or risk renewed
Israeli escalation. Acting on this pressure, Berri stated today that the 2026
parliamentary elections must be held on time and without technical delay.
Israeli Report: Damascus Does Not Rule Out Military Action
Against Hezbollah
This is Beirut/February 16, 2026
Israel’s Kan News reported that the Syrian government, led by President Ahmad
al-Sharaa, is not ruling out potential military action against Hezbollah, as
tensions escalate between the two sides despite a relative improvement in
official relations between Damascus and Beirut. The report cited a Syrian
security source as saying that “the situation with Hezbollah remains open,” and
that Damascus is working to prevent any attempt by the group to entrench itself
inside Syrian territory. According to the report, Syrian authorities are
currently prioritizing the dismantling of infrastructure established by
Hezbollah on the Syrian side of the border, while not ruling out the possibility
of targeting its positions along the frontier, particularly in Lebanon’s Bekaa
region. The report also claimed, citing a source close to the Syrian government,
that Hezbollah fighters entered the town of al-Qusayr in the Homs countryside
two days before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, confiscated large
quantities of weapons, and transferred them into Lebanese territory. It further
stated that relations between al-Sharaa’s leadership and the Lebanese government
have improved in recent weeks, however, this improvement does not extend to
Hezbollah, which the Syrian government accuses of being involved in the recent
launch of rockets toward the Mezzeh district in western Damascus. The report
added that Damascus attempted, through intermediaries, to recover missiles that
Hezbollah had transferred to warehouses in the Bekaa region prior to Assad’s
fall, but these efforts were unsuccessful. According to the Israeli account,
this prompted the Syrian government to inform the U.S. administration and
regional parties that it may be forced to resolve the matter on its own. The
report concluded by warning that this escalation could shift tensions from the
level of political and security messaging to direct field confrontation along
the Syrian-Lebanese border, potentially opening a new front in an already
increasingly tense regional landscape.
Lebanon braces for UNIFIL exit as Germany signals continued
role amid shifting security landscape
LBCI/February 16, 2026
Eight years after his first visit, Germany’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
returns to a changed Beirut as southern Lebanon faces a new security reality. At
Baabda Palace, Steinmeier was received with official honors before holding talks
with President Joseph Aoun. The discussions come as Lebanon approaches a pivotal
phase: the end of UNIFIL's mandate at the end of this year and the start of a
phased withdrawal the following year. At a joint news conference, Steinmeier
delivered a direct political message, saying that after the end of UNIFIL’s
mission, Germany would remain at Lebanon’s side to help strengthen the Lebanese
state’s monopoly over the use of force through the army and armed forces.
Sources at Baabda Palace told LBCI that no specific mechanism was discussed
regarding how Germany might continue to participate after its troops complete
their mission under UNIFIL. Other countries, including France and Italy, have
expressed a desire to remain in Lebanon, a matter that will be discussed soon,
according to the sources. Behind the official language lies a more complex
reality: a fragile ceasefire and field violations that the United Nations says
endanger its troops and violate U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. In that
context, Steinmeier reiterated his call for adherence to the ceasefire agreement
between Israel and Hezbollah, stressing the need for the group’s disarmament and
the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Berlin’s position on
Germany’s presence in the south, disarmament, and Israeli withdrawal was also
conveyed during Steinmeier’s meetings with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. He later visited the Port of Beirut, where he met
with the German naval contingent operating under UNIFIL, before heading on
Wednesday to Jordan as part of his Middle East tour. In Beirut, a key question
remains: Who will fill the vacuum in the south after UNIFIL? The emerging answer
points to the Lebanese army, but under two conditions — genuine international
support and a ceasefire that is respected on the ground. Steinmeier’s visit
carries more than one message. Security in the south is not solely a Lebanese
issue; it is also a test for the state, for the international community, and for
the fragile truce along the border.
21 Tripoli buildings evacuated as Lebanon ramps up social
and health support for families
LBCI/February 16, 2026
The media office of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement that, in line
with Salam’s directives, field and administrative measures are ongoing under a
comprehensive plan aimed at safeguarding public safety and ensuring the
necessary social, health, and engineering response. As of Feb. 16, authorities
have evacuated 21 structurally damaged buildings in Tripoli, with families
leaving the affected properties. Temporary shelter has been secured for all
families who requested it, totaling 64 families. Reinforcement work has also
begun on nine buildings deemed structurally repairable, in accordance with
technical reports. The statement added that all affected families have been
enrolled in the Aman program at the Ministry of Social Affairs to ensure
continued social support, as well as in the health coverage program at the
Ministry of Public Health. It said all relevant authorities are maintaining
daily follow-up to ensure the swift and accurate implementation of these
measures.
Lebanon's election battle deepens: Expat district or 128
seats?
LBCI/February 16, 2026
Lebanon's political and constitutional tensions over parliamentary elections are
escalating, as officials remain divided over how to apply the country's election
law and whether overseas Lebanese should vote for all 128 lawmakers or for a
separate expatriate district. At the presidential palace in Baabda and at the
government headquarters, there has been no objection to an advisory opinion
issued by the Justice Ministry's Legislation and Consultations Commission, which
allows Lebanese voters registered abroad to cast ballots from their countries of
residence for all 128 seats. However, a clear objection has emerged from Ain el-Tineh,
where Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is opposing the approach, heightening
political tension around the election file. According to sources, the fate of
holding elections, or failing to hold them, has become tied to one of two steps.
The first is for parliament to convene and amend the current election law. The
second is for the government to issue the implementing decrees needed for the
so-called 16th electoral district, which allocates six seats specifically for
Lebanese living abroad. If parliament does not convene to approve any amendment
to the law, the election process would remain effectively stalled, putting the
scheduled vote in doubt.At the same time, if the government does not issue the
implementing decrees for the expatriate district, elections cannot be organized
under the existing law, which would also disrupt the electoral deadline. The
situation has created a growing political and legal deadlock. Keeping the law
unchanged while also failing to issue the necessary decrees would leave the
electoral process trapped in a procedural impasse. If the government decides to
follow the advisory opinion and organize elections as it did in 2022—allowing
expatriates to vote for all 128 MPs—it could trigger a political confrontation
with parties that oppose this interpretation, including Hezbollah, the Amal
Movement, and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), increasing the risk of
disruption. On the other hand, issuing the implementing decrees for the 16th
district could spark a different confrontation with parties that insist
expatriates should vote for all 128 seats, including the Lebanese Forces, the
Kataeb Party, and the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP). The dispute leaves the
government facing delicate political calculations over which side it is prepared
to confront. Therefore, any delay in parliament convening or in issuing the
implementing decrees will not bring Lebanon closer to a solution. Instead, it is
likely to deepen the political and legal complexity and further cast doubt on
the holding of parliamentary elections. The possibility of extending
parliament's term remains on the table, though such a move would also require a
legislative session, one that could quickly become a new arena for political
confrontation among rival blocs.
Berri says elections on
time, even 'technical' delay not possible
Naharnet/February 16, 2026
Speaker Nabih Berri stressed Monday that the May parliamentary elections will be
held on time and that even a “technical” delay is not possible.“There is a law
that is in force,” Berri said of the electoral law.“There will be no
postponement, neither a technical one nor for other reasons,” Berri told
reporters in Ain el-Tineh. In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published
earlier in the day, Berri had accused a “certain party” of seeking to force the
postponement of the elections, after the Ministry of Justice's Legislation and
Consultations Authority answered Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar's question
regarding the right of expats residing abroad to vote from their place of
residence for the 128 parliamentary seats. "This is the first time we have heard
of a judge suspending the implementation of the law instead of ensuring its
application. It cannot be circumvented with a non-binding consultation. The
Authority's response indicates a plan to prevent the parliamentary elections
from being held on time, and its issuance was at the behest of a certain party,"
Berri said. "It didn't come out of the air, nor is it based on mere speculation.
Rather, it came at the behest of a party that is planning in advance to halt the
elections and prevent them from being held on time,” Berri added. He pointed out
that he has personally launched his candidacy for the parliamentary elections
out of his conviction of "the necessity of blocking all the talk and rumors that
I favor extending the parliament's term, under the pretext that the Amal
Movement is losing popularity and that it is not in our interest to hold
elections.”“However, we decided to resort to the ballot boxes, as they alone
provide the answer to all these claims and desires," he added. Meanwhile,
although Minister Hajjar has received the Committee's response to his inquiry,
he is hesitant to take a final stance on it, according to sources close to him
who spoke to Asharq al-Awsat. He prefers to consult with President Joseph Aoun
and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam regarding whether to include it on the Cabinet's
agenda at a later session, or to raise it separately during Monday's session,
which is dedicated to reviewing the details of the second phase of the plan
prepared by the Army Command to complete the implementation of the state's
monopoly on weapons, extending from north of the Litani River to the Awali
River.
Aoun says Lebanon insists
on 'absolute peace' but wants its rights
Naharnet/February 16, 2026
President Joseph Aoun stressed Monday that Lebanon is “no longer able to bear
anyone's conflicts, nor anyone's burdens.”“We desire nothing but the well-being
of our people, the prosperity of our nation and the lives of our children,” Aoun
said during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank-Walter
Steinmeier at the Baabda Palace. “We insist … on absolute peace and we reject
any conditions for it, except for right and goodness,” the president added. “We
will learn from our experiences … so that we may achieve the best interests of
Lebanon first, for the good of its people and the peace of its region. This will
be achieved through our liberation from all occupation and tutelage, solely by
our Lebanese armed forces, and through rebuilding all that has been destroyed,
with our own will, capabilities and the support of our friends,” Aoun went on to
say.
German president urges
Israel and Hezbollah to adhere to ceasefire agreement
Associated Press/February 16, 2026
Germany moved to assure Lebanon on Monday that it will support the Lebanese
government even after pulling out German troops deployed as part of U.N.
peacekeepers along the Lebanon-Israel border when their mission ends later this
year. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made the announcement during a
joint news conference with President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in
Baabda. Germany's navy, he said, is already training Lebanese troops as they
boost their presence in the country's south following the 14-month war between
Israel and Hezbollah. The mission of the multinational U.N. peacekeeping force
in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, concludes at the end of 2026, nearly five
decades after it was deployed. The force has played a significant role in
monitoring the security situation in the region, including during the
Israel-Hezbollah war last year. Over the past months, Beirut has said that
Lebanon will need a follow-up force to fill the vacuum in southern Lebanon once
the U.N. peacekeepers leave. "After the end of UNIFIL's mission, Germany will
stay by the side of your country to boost state authority," Steinmeier said,
without elaborating. It remains unlikely German troops — tasked with preventing
arms smuggling by sea and helping the Lebanese Army monitor the country's sea
border — would remain in Lebanon. UNIFIL currently numbers about 7,500
peacekeepers, including 179 Germans. "The Lebanese Armed Forces are, of course,
the backbone of stability in Lebanon and this means that after UNIFIL's mission
we have to think how to strengthen" the army, Steinmeier said. Steinmeier added
that the process of disarming Hezbollah — which was part of a November 2024
U.S.-brokered ceasefire that halted the fighting — should move ahead and that
Israel should fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. President Joseph Aoun said
Lebanon paid a high price for the Hezbollah-Israel war. The Israel-Hezbollah
conflict killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of
civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion in damage and destruction,
according to the World Bank. "We were forced to live through violent conflicts
we did not choose and we bore their burdens. We are no longer able to do so,"
Aoun said of the Israel-Hezbollah war. Aoun also said he had asked Steinmeier to
have Germany assume a "main role" after UNIFL, without elaborating what that
would entail, and to also ask Israel to abide by the ceasefire and withdraw from
Lebanon. He made no mention of Hezbollah's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Does Not Seek Wars, but Ready to
Defend Lebanon, Battlefield Will Tell
Al-Manar English Website/February 16, 2026
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered on Monday a key speech,
which marks the anniversary of the martyred leaders–Sheikh Ragheb Harb, Sayyed
Abbas Al-Moussawi, and Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, underscoring the pursuance of the
resistance path. Sheikh Qassem said, “We are a national, patriotic, Islamic, and
humanitarian resistance movement, and ‘Israel’ is an expansionist entity that
plans to occupy all of Palestine and the entire region.”The Israeli enemy
disregards all the agreements it signs, according to Sheikh Qassem who recalled
“Oslo” and “Madrid” in this regard.Sheikh Qassem warned against underestimating
what the Israeli enemy is committing Gaza, where it directly occupies 60% of the
Strip and attacks the remaining part on a daily basis. The Israeli annexation of
the West Bank must not be underestimated as well, his eminence added. The US
administration is a full complicit in the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and Trump
solicits the Arabs, but completely backs the Israeli crimes, he noted. In this
regard, Hezbollah Secretary General raised the following questions:
Have not you heard about the Zionist settlers who came to plant trees in Yarin,
archeologists who inspected Shamaa castle during 2024 war and soldiers who
carried out the kidnap operation in Hebbariyeh?
Have not you detected the Israeli intention to commit a genocide behind its
crime of targeting a vehicle in Al-Masnaa area?
Sheikh Qassem warned that the Israeli enemy intends to kill humans and destroy
stones, power and life, affirming that the resistance has a deeply-rooted faith
and a martyrdom-based performance.
Lebanese Government
Hezbollah leader indicated that the Lebanese government is fully responsible for
confronting the Israeli aggression and protecting the Lebanese sovereignty.
Sheikh Qassem affirmed that the concessions made by the government
comprise a grave sin and encourage the enemy to be more greedy. His eminence
wondered why the Lebanese government accepts the conditional aids, saying, “You
have to reject the demands of the foreign envoys as long as the Israeli enemy
rejects compliance with ceasefire concluded in 2024.”The Israeli enemy is
exerting the maximum pressure to gain politically what it failed to obtain
during the war, Sheikh Qassem maintained.Sheikh Qassem underlined, ” Hezbollah
does not seek war, but it is ready to defend Lebanon in face of any Israeli
war.”15 months of Israeli aggression failed in face of the steadfastness of the
resistance which is capable of harming the enemy, his eminence added.
Sheikh Qassem stressed that Hezbollah supports the national unity in Lebanon,
holding the government responsible for the implementation of the
ceasefire.Sheikh Qassem called for supporting the Lebanese Army, warning against
the US-Arab tutelage.Currently, Hezbollah is showing patience, but the
battlefield will tell how and when this stage will be over, Sheikh Qassem
warned. Finally, Sheikh Qassem called on the Lebanese
government to stop all the discussions about the arms exclusiveness in Lebanon.
“Why does not the Lebanese government convene periodically to discuss the
national defense instead of making concessions?” Sheikh Qassem asked.
Occasion
Sheikh Qassem started his speech by affirming that martyred resistance leader
Sheikh Ragheb Harb worked in his village and in all the surrounding villages,
and even reached all of Lebanon through his confrontation with the enemy.
“Sheikh Ragheb presented a pioneering model of the martyred leader.”Sayyed Abbas
Al-Moussawi (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) was present with his car at all
the jihadi sites and across all of Lebanon; his life was resistance and his
spirit was resistance, Sheikh Qassem said. “Hajj Imad Mughniyeh was one of the
fundamental pillars who worked along this jihadi path since its beginning. He
was the maker of the two victories in the years 2000 and 2006. He was also a
creative and giving commander.”The three martyred leaders are different models
in some of their great qualities, yet they share common traits, including a
clear mission in their way of life, having devoted themselves to Islam and
adherence to the rules of Sharia, his eminence said.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on February
16-17/2026
Video link and transcript (English-Arabic) of Senator Lindsey Graham’s press
conference and remarks to the media in Tel Aviv on the eve of renewed US-Iranian
negotiations
February 16, 2026/Video from DRAM News
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152226/
Transcription, summarization, and translation by Elias Bejjani, publisher of the
Coordination website
Key points include:
U.S. priorities in upcoming talks
Security concerns and regional stability
Diplomatic strategy for engaging Iran
February 16/2026
“FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: US Senator Says Iran Regime At Weakest Point Since
1979,” provides a more extensive look at Senator Lindsey Graham’s briefing in
Tel Aviv.
The opening statement and the key portions of the Q&A session based on this full
press conference.
Senator Lindsey Graham’s Opening Statement
“Thank you all for being here. I’ve just finished a series of very productive
meetings with the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the head of the
Mossad. I’m here today because we are at a critical juncture in the history of
the Middle East, and specifically, in our relationship with the Iranian regime.
It is my assessment, based on the intelligence I’ve seen and the briefings I’ve
received, that the Iranian regime is at its weakest point since the 1979
revolution. Their economy is in shambles, their proxies are under immense
pressure, and their people are yearning for freedom. This is not the time for
the United States to throw them a lifeline.
As negotiations are set to begin, my message to the Biden administration is
clear: Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. We cannot accept a deal that
merely buys time. We need a deal that permanently ends the nuclear threat, stops
the development of ballistic missiles, and halts the export of terrorism.
We must also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Israel. They are on
the front lines of this fight. If the world allows Iran to obtain a nuclear
weapon, it will trigger a nuclear arms race in this region that will be
impossible to contain. We must maintain ‘maximum pressure’ until the regime
fundamentally changes its course. The goal is peace through strength, not peace
through appeasement.” [00:15]
ُExerpts from the Questions & Answers (Q&A)
Q: Senator, you mentioned the regime is at its weakest. How should that
influence our negotiating tactics specifically?
Graham: “When your opponent is on the ropes, you don’t give them a break. You
demand more. Our tactics should reflect the reality that they need a deal more
than we do. We should be demanding a full dismantling of their enrichment
capabilities and unfettered access for inspectors. Anything less is a retreat.”
[06:40]
Q: There are reports of a potential ‘interim’ deal. Would you support a ‘less
for less’ approach to stabilize the situation?
Graham: “Absolutely not. A ‘less for less’ deal is a ‘lose-lose’ for the West.
It gives them the sanctions relief they desperately need to stabilize their
internal situation while allowing them to keep their nuclear infrastructure
intact. It’s a sham. We need a ‘more for more’ or ‘nothing at all’ approach. We
must stay the course.” [12:15]
Q: What role does the ‘Abraham Accords’ play in your strategy for dealing with
Iran?
Graham: “The Abraham Accords are the biggest breakthrough for peace in decades.
They represent a regional realization that Iran is the common enemy. By
strengthening these ties—specifically by bringing Saudi Arabia into the fold—we
create a regional security architecture that can contain Iran without the need
for constant U.S. intervention. That is the path to long-term stability.”
[18:50]
Q: If the talks fail, what is the ‘Plan B’?
Graham: “Plan B is a combined U.S.-Israeli effort to ensure that Iran’s nuclear
ambitions are ended by other means. We have the capability, and Israel certainly
has the will. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but the regime needs to know that
the clock is ticking and our patience is not infinite.” [23:10]
Video-Link Middle East Forum to a
report title: "Is Erdogan’s Turkey Becoming Iran 2.0?" with Abdullah Bozkurt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZGG53A7raQ
February 16, 2026
As Turkey positions itself as a NATO ally while deepening ties with Iran and
Islamist movements, Western policymakers face a growing strategic contradiction.
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, Lauri Regan speaks with
Abdullah Bozkurt, a Swedish-based investigative journalist and analyst, about
Turkey’s transformation under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and whether Ankara
has effectively become “Iran 2.0” in the region. Bozkurt draws on confidential
judicial investigations to explain how figures once linked to Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps operations now occupy senior positions in Turkey’s
intelligence, foreign policy, and education systems. He examines Turkey’s
growing alignment with Iran and Hamas, including the presence of Hamas
operatives inside Turkey, fundraising networks operating through Turkish
financial institutions, and Ankara’s tolerance of sanctioned actors. The
discussion also explores how anti-Israel and antisemitic narratives have become
embedded in Turkish state institutions and public education.
Bozkurt assesses what this shift means for NATO, Israel, and regional stability,
arguing that the ideological transformation of the Turkish state may outlast
Erdoğan himself. In the audience Q&A, he addresses Turkey’s democratic collapse,
the imprisonment of political rivals, brain drain, NATO membership, and the
risks posed by Turkey’s evolving foreign policy.
Speaker: Abdullah Bozkurt, Investigative Journalist and Analyst
Host:Lauri Regan, Middle East Forum
Iran Court Sentences 14
Protesters to Death in Online Proceedings
This is Beirut/February 16, 2026
According to sources who spoke to Iran International, an Iranian court has
handed down death sentences to 14 individuals accused of participating in last
month’s anti-government protests in proceedings conducted online. The virtual
hearings were overseen by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, head of Branch 15 of Iran’s
Revolutionary Court, a tribunal long associated with high-profile political
cases. According to the sources, Salavati heard the cases in grouped sessions,
with 14 defendants tried simultaneously via remote proceedings. Details of the
specific charges were not immediately made public. The reported rulings come
amid a sweeping crackdown following weeks of nationwide unrest sparked by
economic grievances but which rapidly evolved into broader anti-government
demonstrations. Iranian authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000
people were killed during the unrest, including security personnel and
civilians, while independent rights organizations have reported significantly
higher figures. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Iran’s use of
Revolutionary Courts in protest-related cases, arguing that defendants are often
denied due process, adequate legal representation, and transparent trials. The
reported use of online group proceedings in capital cases is likely to intensify
scrutiny over judicial standards and defendants’ rights.
Escalating Tensions Beyond Iran’s Borders
The death sentences were announced as political tensions extended beyond Iran’s
borders. In Tehran, lawmaker Javad Hosseinikia on Monday urged the Foreign
Ministry to expel Germany’s ambassador in response to a massive rally held in
Munich, where hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered to protest the Islamic
Republic during an international security conference. “Expel the German
ambassador and chargé d’affaires so they do not repeat such mistakes next time,”
Hosseinikia said during a parliamentary session, also calling for action against
other European states that permitted similar demonstrations. The Munich rally,
one of the largest diaspora mobilizations in recent years, coincided with a
high-level global security forum attended by Western leaders. Iranian
authorities have accused foreign governments of enabling unrest, repeatedly
describing protests inside and outside the country as externally instigated.
Judicial Pressure and Diplomatic Fallout
The dual developments, capital sentences issued at home, and calls for
diplomatic retaliation abroad, highlight the increasingly confrontational
posture adopted by Tehran as it seeks to contain both domestic dissent and
international pressure. The Revolutionary Court’s rulings signal a continuation
of the judiciary’s hardline response to protest activity. At the same time,
parliamentary calls to expel foreign diplomats reflect a broader strategy of
pushing back against European criticism and diaspora activism. With thousands
reportedly arrested in the wake of the unrest and additional cases still under
review, legal observers warn that further severe sentences could follow.
International reaction is expected, particularly from European governments
already at odds with Tehran over human rights concerns and nuclear diplomacy.
Iran says US stance on
nuclear issue 'more realistic'
Agence France Presse/February 16, 2026
Iran said Monday that the U.S. position on Tehran's nuclear program "has moved
towards a more realistic one" ahead of a second round of talks. "A cautious
assessment is that, from the discussions that have taken place in Muscat to
date, at least what we have been told is that the U.S. position on the Iranian
nuclear issue has moved towards a more realistic one," foreign ministry
spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to the official IRNA news agency. He
added that Iran's "inalienable rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
were recognized", referring to the "peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including
enrichment". Tehran and Washington are due on Tuesday to hold a second round of
negotiations -- which began this month -- after earlier talks collapsed during
last year's Iran-Israel war.In June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing
campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war during which Israel and the
United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities. Ahead of the latest talks,
Baqaei said Iran would press for the lifting of long-standing US sanctions that
have deepened the country's economic crisis. "Time is of the essence for us. Our
people are under the pressure of oppressive sanctions, and reason and logic
demand that we lift these sanctions as soon as possible," he said. Key sticking
points include Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which had reached 60
percent purity before the war and which Washington has repeatedly called on
Tehran to reduce to zero. On Sunday, Israel also called for Iran to have "no
enrichment capability" and for all of its enriched material to be transferred
abroad. Considerable uncertainty surrounds the fate of Iran's stockpile of more
than 400 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium that was last seen by watchdog
inspectors in June before the war. Iran has said its enriched material remains
under the rubble of nuclear sites struck during the conflict. Tehran insists on
its right to enrichment but has said it is prepared to dilute its highly
enriched uranium if all sanctions are lifted. Dilution involves blending
enriched uranium with other material to lower its concentration below a
specified threshold.
The latest talks come amid heightened tensions after Washington deployed an
aircraft carrier group to the Gulf following Iran's deadly crackdown last month
on anti-government protests, which were triggered by economic hardship.
Iran FM in Geneva for US talks, as Guards begin drills in
Hormuz Strait
Agence France Presse/February 16, 2026
Iran's foreign minister arrived in Geneva ahead of a second round of
negotiations with the United States, as the Revolutionary Guards on Monday begin
military drills in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to Tehran,
"indirect" Iran–U.S. nuclear talks mediated by Oman will be held on Tuesday,
although Washington has previously pushed for other topics to be discussed
including Iran's ballistic missiles and support for regional proxies. The war
games in the Strait of Hormuz, the duration of which was not specified, aim to
prepare the Guards for "potential security and military threats" in the strait,
state TV said. Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to block the
strait, a strategic waterway through which about 20 percent of global oil
passes, as both sides ramp up pressure with talks continuing. Tehran and
Washington restarted negotiations this month after previous talks collapsed when
Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June. U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday "we're hopeful there's a
deal". "The president always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes
to things." Considerable uncertainty surrounds the fate of Iran's stockpile of
more than 400 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium that was last seen by
nuclear watchdog inspectors in June."The foreign minister has arrived in Geneva
at the head of a diplomatic and expert delegation to take part in the second
round of nuclear negotiation," Iran's state-run IRIB wrote on its Telegram
channel. The top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, wrote on X that he was meeting in
Geneva with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi,
"for deep technical discussion".Grossi later confirmed the meeting on X, calling
the conversation with Araghchi "in-depth" ahead of Tuesday's "important
negotiations".
Protest crackdown
Araghchi is also set to hold talks with his Swiss and Omani counterparts as well
as other international officials, Iran's foreign ministry said. "I am in Geneva
with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal. What is not on the table:
submission before threats," Araghchi added on X. Washington has dispatched
Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared
Kushner, the White House confirmed on Sunday. The latest talks follow repeated
threats from Trump of military action against Tehran, first over Iran's deadly
crackdown on anti-government protests, and then more recently over the country's
nuclear program. The West fears the program is aimed at making a bomb, which
Tehran denies. On Friday, Trump said 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. His remarks came as demonstrations
outside Iran against its clerical authorities swept a number of cities including
in the US over the weekend. Iranians inside the country have also defied the
deadly crackdown on protests last month and have continued to shout slogans
against the authorities out of their windows.
'Viable' deal
Iran's deputy foreign minister told the BBC that Tehran would consider
compromises on its uranium stockpile if Washington lifts sanctions that have
crippled the country's economy. "If we see the sincerity on their (American)
part, I am sure we will be on a road to have an agreement," said Majid
Takht-Ravanchi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that
any deal must involve the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran as well as
Tehran's ability to enrich more. On February 6, Araghchi led the Iranian
delegation in indirect talks with Witkoff and Kushner in Muscat. Switzerland has
played a key role in Tehran-Washington diplomacy, representing US interests in
Iran since Washington broke off relations after the 1980 hostage crisis, a year
after the Iranian revolution. Iranian deputy foreign minister for economic
diplomacy Hamid Ghanbari said Tehran was seeking a deal with the United States
that would generate economic benefits for both countries, particularly in
sectors such as aviation, mining and oil and gas, the Fars news agency reported.
"For the agreement to be viable, it is essential that the United States also be
able to benefit from it in areas with strong and rapid economic return
potential," he was quoted as saying.
EDITORIAL: Anti-Khamenei
rebels with a cause
Postmedia News/Toronto Sun/February 16, 2026
In two extraordinary protests in Canada in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands
of demonstrators have rallied against the murderous Islamist dictatorship of
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. These massive shows of support
for the brutalized people of Iran — 350,000 demonstrators on Saturday in
Toronto, following an earlier protest of 150,000 on Feb. 1 — were impressive not
only because of the numbers, but because of the peaceful conduct of the
protesters. As a result, only two arrests were made — of individuals police said
had threatened the demonstrators during the most recent march.
These protests were also in sharp contrast to “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations
ever since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023; many degenerated
into vandalism and antisemitism.
Just cause that Canadians should support
The cause of these Iranian demonstrators is just.
It deserves the support of all Canadians for reasons of enlightened
self-interest.
Iran is a state sponsor of global terrorism that funds Hamas, Hezbollah,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its
offshoot, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force — all classified as
terrorist organizations by Canada. In addition to murdering, torturing and
imprisoning thousands of human rights protesters in Iran, the IRGC was
responsible for the deaths of 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and
138 civilians, all with ties to Canada, when it shot down Ukraine International
Airlines Flight PS752 over Iran’s capital city of Tehran on Jan. 8, 2020,
killing all 176 passengers on board. Canada’s foreign interference inquiry
identified Iran as a security threat to Canadians.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Iran perpetrating transnational repression
The federal government classifies it as a perpetrator of transnational
repression, in which “Iranian intelligence services act indirectly through
agents, contacts and sympathizers, including individuals in Canada associated
with organized crime groups.”
US military airlifts a nuclear reactor across three states
after Trump pushes for more of the energy source
Brendan Rascius/The Independent/February 16, 2026
The U.S. military has successfully transported a small nuclear reactor by air,
advancing the Trump administration’s plan to deploy the energy source across the
nation. The “next-generation” Valar Atomics Ward 250 nuclear reactor —
comparable in size to a large truck — was loaded onto a C-17 transport plane at
the March Air Reserve Base in California on Sunday. It was then flown about 700
miles to the Hill Air Force Base in Utah. It will eventually be sent to an
energy lab in the state for evaluation and testing, the Pentagon announced. The
compact, 5-megawatt reactor could potentially power up to 5,000 homes or ensure
reliable and secure energy for a military base. The reactor’s flight aligns with
President Donald Trump's plan to modernize America's nuclear power
infrastructure — a goal bolstered by a series of executive orders he signed in
May. “It is the policy of the United States to expedite and promote to the
fullest possible extent the production and operation of nuclear energy to
provide affordable, reliable, safe, and secure energy to the American people,”
one of the orders states. Michael Duffy, the undersecretary of defense for
acquisition and sustainment, lauded the operation — which was jointly carried
out by the Defense and Energy Departments. “Powering next generation warfare
will require us to move faster than our adversaries, to build a system that
doesn't just equip our warfighters to fight, but equips them to win at
extraordinary speed,” Duffey said. “Today is a monumental step toward building
that system. By supporting the industrial base and its capacity to innovate, we
accelerate the delivery of resilient power to where it's needed.”Secretary of
Energy Chris Wright added that the administration’s goal is to have a trio of
small reactors online by July 4. "The American nuclear renaissance is to get
that ball moving again, fast, carefully, but with private capital, American
innovation and determination," Wright said. Currently, there are 94 operable
nuclear reactors in the U.S., which generate about 20 percent of the country’s
electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association. Polls show that the
American public is broadly on board with nuclear power in spite of several major
accidents throughout the past decades. According to a Gallup survey conducted
last year, 61 percent of Americans favor using nuclear energy, marking a
near-record high. Republicans were significantly more likely to support nuclear
energy than Democrats.
US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran
Richard Irvine-Brown; Alex Murray/BBC/February 16, 2026
BBC Verify has confirmed the location of US aircraft carrier the USS Abraham
Lincoln near Iran using satellite imagery, as Washington continues to put
pressure on the country over its military program and recent deadly crackdown on
protesters. US and Iranian officials are set to meet in Swizerland on Tuesday
for a second round of talks. Iran says the meeting will focus on its nuclear
programme and the potential lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the US.
Washington has previously indicated it wants to discuss other issues as well.
The Abraham Lincoln, which leads a strike group with three guided missile
destroyers, carries 90 aircraft including F35 fighters, and 5,680 crew, was
reportedly deployed to the Gulf region in late January but has not been seen in
satellite imagery until now. It has been located off the coast of Oman, around
700km from Iran. The US has also reportedly sent the USS Gerald R Ford, the
world's largest warship, to the Middle East, which could arrive in the region
within the next three weeks.The Abraham Lincoln's arrival adds to what we know
about the current US military build-up in the Middle East over the past few
weeks, where BBC Verify has tracked an increase of US destroyers, combat ships
and fighter jets in the region.
What military assets has the US moved into the Middle East?
Publicly available images from the European Sentinel-2 satellites show Abraham
Lincoln in the Arabian Sea around 150 miles (240km) off the coast of Oman. It
had not been seen since it reportedly entered the region in January but it had
been crossing the open sea where satellite coverage is limited. Military assets
on land are more visible and frequently captured on satellite. It means we have
now tracked 12 US ships in the Middle East through satellite imagery: the
Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, which together with
three Arleigh Burke class destroyers forms a carrier strike group; plus two
destroyers capable of carrying out long-range missile strikes and three
specialist ships for combat near to the shore that are currently positioned at
Bahrain naval station in the Gulf. Two other destroyers have been seen in the
eastern Mediterranean near the Souda Bay US base, and one more in the Red Sea.
We have also been following the movements of US aircraft in the region, where we
have seen an increase of F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets stationed in Muwaffaq Salti
military base in Jordan, and an increase in US cargo planes and refuelling and
communications aircraft moving towards the Middle East from the US and Europe.
How has Iran responded?
The US Central Command released images of the Abraham Lincoln flanked by
destroyers, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and coastguard vessels in the
Arabian Sea in an apparent show of military prowess on 6 February, which Iran
has met with its own show of force.
On Monday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a maritime drill
in the Strait of Hormuz, located in the Gulf between Oman and Iran. The drill
saw IRGC Commander‑in‑Chief Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour inspecting naval vessels at
a harbour before missiles are seen launching from a ship, the IRCG-linked Tasnim
News Agency reported. The Strait is considered one of the world's most important
shipping routes and a vital oil transit choke point. Around a fifth of the
world's oil and gas flows through the Strait, including from Kharg Island,
Iran's main oil export terminal. Pakpour was seen flying over the island in a
helicopter in the report showing Iran's latest military manoeuvres. How does it
compare with Venezuela and Operation Midnight Hammer?
Military intelligence expert Justin Crump told BBC Verify that the current US
military preparations in the Middle East show "more depth and sustainability"
than its manoeuvres ahead of the seizure of former Venezuelan president Nicholas
Maduro in January, or the operation carrying out air strikes on Iran's nuclear
facilities last June. They all feature a carrier strike group and several
destroyers operating independently. However, the US deployed its assets in
Venezuela and Iran last year under quite different circumstances. The US
deployed the Gerald R Ford to the Caribbean ahead of its strikes on Venezuela,
one of eight warships we tracked in the region at the time, though it used fewer
aircraft as it could easily send jets from surrounding US bases on America's
mainland or from its base in Puerto Rico instead. The US also deployed
amphibious assault ships within the Caribbean, which can be used as launch
platforms for helicopter operations as was seen with the capture of Maduro. But
Venezuela's military is generally seen as less capable of defending itself or
retaliating against the US. When the US struck Iran last year in Operation
Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, it was attacking a
country with a much more powerful military than Venezuela. Iran's military is
capable of hitting US bases across the Middle East. During Midnight Hammer the
US had two aircraft carrier strike groups in the region, five destroyers placed
in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and three combat ships in the Gulf. It had
also moved squadrons of fighter jets and refuelling aircraft from the US to
Europe, but the B2 stealth bomber flights that were used to hit the Fordo,
Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites actually took off from US bases in Missouri.
Crump, chief executive of risk and intelligence company Sibylline, said the
build-up of US warships and aircraft, as well as eight existing airbases in the
region would allow it to conduct a "fairly intensive and sustained strike rate"
of about 800 sorties a day, with the aim of rendering any Iranian responses
"ineffective". "What we are seeing isn't just strike preparation, but rather a
broader deterrent deployment capable of being scaled up or down," he said. "This
means it has more depth and sustainability than the force packages arranged for
either Venezuela or Midnight Hammer last year. It's designed to sustain an
engagement and counter all potential responses against US assets in the region
and, of course, Israel."
Additional reporting by Barbara Metzler, Ghoncheh Habibiazad, Thomas Copeland,
Yi Ma
India seizes three Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers,
source says
Saurabh Sharma/(Reuters/February 16/2026
NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - India has seized three U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers
linked to Iran this month and stepped up surveillance in its maritime zone to
curb illicit trade, a source said on Monday, confirming a post on X by Indian
authorities earlier in February that had been deleted. India aims to prevent
its waters from being used for ship-to-ship transfers that obscure the origin
of oil cargoes, the source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The
seizures and heightened surveillance follow an improvement in U.S.-India
relations. Washington earlier this month announced it will cut import tariffs on
Indian goods to 18% from 50%, after New Delhi agreed to stop Russian oil
imports. The three sanctioned vessels - Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al
Jafzia - frequently changed their identities to evade law enforcement by coastal
states, the source said, adding that their owners were based overseas.
VESSELS SEIZED OFFSHORE MUMBAI
Iranian state media cited the National Iranian Oil Company as saying that the
three tankers seized by India had no connection to the company. It said that
neither the cargoes nor the vessels were linked to the company. Indian
authorities had said in a post on X on February 6 that they intercepted three
vessels about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after detecting suspicious
activity involving a tanker in India's exclusive economic zone. The post was
later deleted, but the source confirmed that the vessels had been escorted to
Mumbai for further investigation. The Indian Coast Guard has since deployed
about 55 ships and between 10 and 12 aircraft for round-the-clock surveillance
in its maritime zones, according to the source. The U.S. Office of Foreign
Assets Control said last year it had sanctioned three vessels, called Global
Peace, Chil 1, and Glory Star 1, with IMO numbers identical to the ships
lately captured by India. Sanctioned oil and fuel are often sold at deep
discounts due to the risks involved, with intermediaries moving cargo through
complex ownership structures, false documentation and mid-sea transfers that
complicate enforcement.
Ukraine makes fastest
battlefield gain in 2.5 years
France 24/February 16, 2026
Ukraine recaptured 201 square kilometres (78 square miles) from Russia between
Wednesday and Sunday last week, taking advantage of a Starlink shutdown for
Russian forces, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the
Study of War (ISW). The recaptured area is almost equivalent to the Russian
gains for the entire month of December and is the most land retaken by Kyiv's
forces in such a short period since a June 2023 counter-offensive. "These
Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian
forces' access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers (military bloggers) have
claimed is causing communications and command and control issues on the
battlefield," the ISW, which collaborates with the Critical Threats Project,
another US think-tank, stated. On February 5, military observers noted
disruption of the Starlink antennas used by Moscow on the front lines, following
announcements by Elon Musk of "measures" to end the Kremlin's use of this
technology. Kyiv claimed that Russian drones were using them, in particular, to
circumvent electronic jamming systems and strike their targets with
precision.Without the use of Starlink, Russian forces only advanced on February
9, with Kyiv gaining ground on the other days. The recaptured land is
concentrated mainly around 80 kilometres east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, in an
area where Russian troops have made significant progress since the summer of
2025. Moscow controlled 19.5 percent of Ukrainian territory, either fully or
partially, in mid-February, compared with 18.6 percent a year earlier.
Approximately 7 percent – Crimea and part of the Donbas – was already under
Russian control before the invasion launched in February 2022. (FRANCE 24 with
AFP)
3 killed, including
suspect, in shooting during Rhode Island youth hockey game
KIMBERLEE KRUESI
Updated Mon, February 16, 2026
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) — Three people, including the suspect, were fatally shot
during a Rhode Island youth hockey game Monday, authorities said. Pawtucket
Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters that three other victims are
hospitalized in critical condition. “It appears that this was a targeted event,
that it may be a family dispute,” she said. Goncalves did not provide details
about the suspect or the ages of those who were killed, though she said it
appeared that both victims were adults. She said investigators are trying to
piece together what happened and speak with witnesses of the shooting inside
Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, a few miles outside Providence. They are
also reviewing video taken from the hockey game. Unverified footage circulating
on social media shows players diving for cover and fans fleeing their seats
after popping sounds are heard. Outside the arena, tearful families and high
school hockey players still in uniform could be seen hugging before they boarded
a bus to leave the area. Roads surrounding the arena were shut down as a heavy
police presence remained and helicopters flew overhead. Monday's shooting comes
nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a separate gun violence
tragedy at Brown University, where a gunman killed two students and injured nine
others. That shooter went on to also fatally shoot a Massachusetts Institute of
Technology professor. Authorities later found Claudio Neves Valente, 48, dead
from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a New Hampshire storage facility.
Fortunately, the two incidents are not related, but it is very tragic,” said
Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien. “These are high school kids, they were doing an
event, they were playing with fans watching and it turned into this.”Pawtucket
is nestled just north of Providence and right under the Massachusetts state
border. A city of just under 80,000, Pawtucket had up until recently been known
as the home to Hasbro’s headquarters.
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
16-17/2026
The Palestinian 'Constitution' to Destroy
Israel
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute/February 16, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22280/palestinian-constitution
The 162-article draft "constitution," however, shows that, if and when the
Palestinians have a state of their own, it would actually not be different from
the two mini-states they have had for the past two decades: the Hamas regime in
the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.
Both Palestinian regimes have miserably failed their people, mainly by depriving
them of international aid, democracy, opportunity, free elections, and freedom
of speech.
Notably, the new "constitution" repeats and reaffirms the long-standing and
familiar positions and policies of the PA and Hamas, especially towards Israel
and Jews. These include the "right of return" for Palestinian refugees and their
descendants to their former, mostly no-longer-existent homes inside Israel; the
continuation of stipends paid to Palestinian terrorists -- a program also known
as "Pay-for-Slay," and the perpetual denial of the Jews' far-reaching history
and religious roots in Jerusalem.
The new "constitution" is actually saying that the Palestinians want their own
state, but they also want to move millions of their own people to the sovereign
territory of the neighboring state. The message is still, "My marbles are mine
and your marbles are mine."
By omitting Jewish ties to Jerusalem, the Palestinians are saying that there
will be no Jews in a future Palestinian state.
This slammed door should be no surprise to anyone: hundreds of thousands of Jews
who used to live in Arab countries, including Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Libya, were
long ago subjected to ethnic cleansing and expulsion....
It is worth noting that while the Palestinians do not recognize Jewish ties to
the land and want a Jew-free state, there are more than two million Muslim Arabs
living peacefully and safely inside Israel as full citizens with equal rights.
[A]ny Palestinian who murders or wounds a Jew will be protected by the
Palestinian constitution, which will guarantee him or her and the family
stipends as high as $3,000 a month -- in a region where the average salary is
about $1,000 a month.
The new Palestinian "constitution" shows why the idea of creating another
Islamist country at Israel's doorstep is both dangerous and delusional. This
"constitution" demonstrates that the Palestinians still have not come to terms
with Israel's right to exist, still have not abandoned their dream of destroying
Israel, and are still as committed as ever to encouraging terrorists to murder
more Jews.
As part of an attempt to persuade the United States and the rest of the
international community that the Palestinians are seeking to create a democratic
state "based on the rule of law and human dignity," the Palestinian Authority
(PA) leadership last week published a draft of the Palestinians' temporary
"constitution." This "constitution" demonstrates that the Palestinians still
have not come to terms with Israel's right to exist, still have not abandoned
their dream of destroying Israel, and are still as committed as ever to
encouraging terrorists to murder more Jews. Pictured: PA President Mahmoud Abbas
speaks at the Fatah youth conference in Ramallah on November 27, 2025. (Photo by
Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP via Getty Images)
As part of an attempt to persuade the United States and the rest of the
international community that the Palestinians are seeking to create a democratic
state "based on the rule of law and human dignity," the Palestinian Authority
leadership last week published a draft of the Palestinians' temporary
"constitution."
The 162-article draft "constitution," however, shows that, if and when the
Palestinians have a state of their own, it would actually not be different from
the two mini-states they have had for the past two decades: the Hamas regime in
the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.
Both Palestinian regimes have miserably failed their people, mainly by depriving
them of international aid, democracy, opportunity, free elections, and freedom
of speech.
Notably, the new "constitution" repeats and reaffirms the long-standing and
familiar positions and policies of the PA and Hamas, especially towards Israel
and Jews. These include the "right of return" for Palestinian refugees and their
descendants to their former, mostly no-longer-existent homes inside Israel; the
continuation of stipends paid to Palestinian terrorists -- a program also known
as "Pay-for-Slay," and the perpetual denial of the Jews' far-reaching history
and religious roots in Jerusalem.
Article 12 of the "constitution" endorses the "right of return" – which means
flooding Israel with millions of Palestinians so that Jews would become a
minority in their own country and Israel would cease to exist as a Jewish state:
"The State of Palestine works toward the unity of the land and the people in the
homeland and the diaspora and is committed to achieving independence and ending
the occupation and ensuring the right of return for refugees according to
international legitimacy resolutions."
The new "constitution" is actually saying that the Palestinians want their own
state, but they also want to move millions of their own people to the sovereign
territory of the neighboring state. The message is still, "My marbles are mine
and your marbles are mine."
Article 3, titled "Jerusalem, religious nature, historical identity," states
that the city is the eternal capital of the state, and that religions and their
sanctities are protected there:
"Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, and its political,
spiritual, cultural, and educational center, as well as its national symbol. The
[Palestinian] state is committed to preserving its religious character and
protecting its Islamic and Christian sanctities, as well as its legal,
political, and historical status."
Notice something missing?
The Palestinian "constitution" ferociously ignores Judaism and its link to
Jerusalem. In the eyes of the Palestinians, only Islam and Christianity have
sanctities in Jerusalem. This should not surprise those familiar with what the
Palestinians have been falsely claiming for many years, that the Western Wall --
a retaining wall, all that is left of the Second Temple that was destroyed by
the Roman Empire in 70 CE -- is not sacred to Jews because it is just another
wall of the adjacent Al-Aqsa Mosque (built in 1035 CE).
By omitting Jewish ties to Jerusalem, the Palestinians are saying that there
will be no Jews in a future Palestinian state.
This slammed door should be no surprise to anyone: hundreds of thousands of Jews
who used to live in Arab countries, including Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Libya, were
long ago subjected to ethnic cleansing and expulsion to avenge the creation of
Israel.
It is worth noting that while the Palestinians do not recognize Jewish ties to
the land and want a Jew-free state, there are more than two million Muslim Arabs
living peacefully and safely inside Israel as full citizens with equal rights.
Moreover, the new "constitution" designates the official religion of a
Palestinian state as Islam, with Sharia law to be the "primary source for
legislation," while also protecting Christianity as having a special status.
Still no mention of Judaism or protecting the rights of its followers. For the
Palestinians, the Jews simply do not exist.
Another disturbing piece of information from the Palestinians' constitution: The
"Pay-for Slay" program, which rewards Palestinian terrorists and their families
in accordance with the number of Jews they murdered and the time spent in
Israeli prisons, will continue. This stipulation means that the livelihood of
any Palestinian who murders or wounds a Jew will be protected by the Palestinian
constitution, which will guarantee him or her and the family stipends as high as
$3,000 a month -- in a region where the average salary is about $1,000 a month.
Here is what Article 24, titled "Families of martyrs, victims of genocide":
"The State of Palestine and the relevant national institutions work to provide
protection and care for the families of martyrs and the wounded and prisoners
and those released from the occupation prisons and the victims of genocide and
to pursue the perpetrators of these crimes before the judiciary."
Article 44, titled "Martyrs, wounded, prisoners," states:
"The law organizes the provision of comprehensive care for the families of
martyrs, the wounded, and prisoners, and those released, in preservation of
their national dignity and their humanitarian and living needs."
First, this is contrary to claims that the Palestinian leadership had decided to
end its "Pay-for-Slay" program. The program was never canceled. The only change
was how the payments are recorded in the Palestinian Authority budget. Instead
of listing the recipients as prisoners or "martyrs," they have relabeled the
terrorists (including those from Hamas) as civil servants, security force
personnel, and pensioners, so that they continue to benefit from the
"Pay-for-Slay," funding as a legal right (soon to be called a "constitutional
right").
Finally, another piece of information for the "pro-Palestinian" and LGBTQ+
community worldwide: in a future Palestinian state, according to the draft
"constitution," members of the LGBTQ+ community have no rights. Article 59
states that marriage is solely between a man and a woman. This section means
that in a State of Palestine, members of this community will continue to be
thrown from rooftops, beaten and expelled from their towns and villages.
The new Palestinian "constitution" shows why the idea of creating another
Islamist country at Israel's doorstep is both dangerous and delusional. This
"constitution" demonstrates that the Palestinians still have not come to terms
with Israel's right to exist, still have not abandoned their dream of destroying
Israel, and are still as committed as ever to encouraging terrorists to murder
more Jews.
**Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
A Visit That Failed to Reassure an Anxious Netanyahu
Sam Menassa/Asharq Al-Awsat/February
16/2026
We cannot determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last week
was a success without knowing the details of his conversation with President
Donald Trump. It would also be naive to believe that their divergences, however
deep they are in reality, could undermine the solid relationship between the two
sides. That does not mean Israel is not growing increasingly anxious about the
ongoing negotiations with Iran. The negotiations are not shocking as such, but
the regional and international context renders the talks unfavorable. At a
moment when Israel feels that its ability to impose its unilateral security
approach is eroding, it faces the prospect of a return to diplomacy between the
United States and Iran with regional backing. Israel is not focused solely on
the substance of a potential agreement; it also worries about the two sides
holding talks as such. For years, Israel’s security doctrine has been founded on
preventing Iran from becoming a latent nuclear power or a “threshold state,” and
on perpetuating the perception of Iran as an existential threat that justifies
maximal deterrence. Any negotiation track that gradually reintegrates Iran into
the international system is seen as a direct blow to this doctrine, even if it
includes constraints on the nuclear program. The experience of the 2015 nuclear
agreement very much remains in the Israeli political consciousness. For Tel
Aviv, the agreement did not end the threat but merely postponed it, allowing
Iran to catch its economic and political breath without addressing its regional
behavior or its missile program. Today, Israel fears a repeat that would ease
economic pressure on Iran and allow it to rebuild its influence in the region as
the US pursues a deal that would lower tensions and avoid open military
confrontation.
Israel’s anxiety does end with Iran; it is also concerned about the shift in the
American approach itself. The negotiations reflect a broader tendency in
Washington, which is increasingly seeking to manage conflicts rather than to
resolve them, preferring compromise settlements over open-ended confrontation.
This logic runs counter to Israel’s strategy of continuous pressure, military
deterrence, and preventing the adversary from recovering. In Tel Aviv, any
rapprochement between the US and Iran signals American reluctance to adopt
Israel’s red lines as its benchmark.
Added to this is the divergences of Arab states’ positions. Many of them do not
share Israel’s level of anxiety regarding the negotiations. A number of them see
the talks as a means of lowering regional tensions rather than a direct threat
to their security and stability, especially as they increasingly focus on
economic stability, drawing investment, and managing risks.
With an American approach that does account for Israel’s concerns, and in light
of normalization not automatically translating into solid and consistent
strategic alliances, Israel’s anxiety runs deeper than the content of the
negotiations. It also worries about its own place in the regional and
international equation. Accustomed to being a decisive actor in matters of
security and deterrence, Tel Aviv now finds itself constrainded by balances it
does not control alone. It is being confronted with negotiations being held
without it invovlement and whose pace it does not control. Indeed, much of this
anxiety often seems to reflect fears of losing control. As political and social
polarization deepens, Israeli domestic politics becomes a crucial factor in
explaining this anxiety around the negotiations. These fears have come to
reflect a domestic crisis just as much as they reflect security concerns. In
this context, Netanyahu’s government uses the “Iranian threat” to ensure a
minimal degree of consensus and to postpone disputes over leadership and the
future of the political system. This approach reveals an impasse for the
government, which is happy to manage a climate of anxiety and fuel it rather
than develop a long-term strategic vision for addressing regional shifts.Does
Israel have real policy alternatives to apprehension and escalation? Its options
appear limited: war, Netanyahu’s preference, carries a high cost and seems
unlikely; political pressure on Washington has its limits, and the prospect of a
unified regional front is eroding. Nonetheless, limited alternatives will not
change Netanyahu’s policy, which rests on a simple equation: either settlements
on his time that are tailored to his political and personal considerations, or a
grey-zone that allows for wearing down Hamas without eliminating it, undermining
Hezbollah’s capabilities while leaving capable of destabilizing Lebanon, and
clipping Iran’s wings without removing it from the regional equation. In light
of these parameters, Netanyahu could seek to push Washington to the middle
ground: an agreement focused on Iran’s nuclear program that grants Trump the win
he seeks while allowing him to avoid war, in exchange for more military freedom
of action against the Iranian ballistic missile program and Iran’s proxies. Such
a temporary deal would satisfy both sides, but it kicks the can down the road
rather than resolving the problem.
In sum, anxiety is a defensive mindset that can be exploited politically, but it
does not constitute a policy or an alternative strategy that keeps up with rapid
shifts. The solution that could assuage this anxiety is the outcome Israel
rejects: engagement in talks for a comprehensive and durable regional peace
settlement by which Israel agrees to live alongside an independent Palestinian
entity that grants the Palestinians some of their rights.
Trump and Returning Iran to Iran
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat/February
16/2026
Marco Rubio has said that a meeting between President Donald Trump and Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can be held as soon as tomorrow if the latter
agrees. However, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for this
meeting to actually happen. A meeting between these two men is like the one in
1972 between Mao Zedong and Richard Nixon, with Henry Kissinger in attendance.
The differences are vast. Iran is not China and Khamenei is not Mao. The
leadership of the supreme leader is completely different than that of the
Chinese captain. Moreover, Mao agreed to hold that meeting to settle scores with
the Soviet Union. In all likelihood, Iranian officials never expected the
situation to turn into what it is today. The scene is unprecedented in the
relationship between revolutionary Iran and the “Great Satan”. The truth is that
Trump is not just a surprise to Iran, but the entire world. Never has an
American president shaken the world order like him. He has changed the rules of
the game, the rhetoric, the tools of applying pressure and the threats. He is a
president who acts without fear of backlash on the internal scene despite the
many critics. He is not afraid of the world that has grown accustomed to defying
the hesitant or retreating America.
What Trump is asking of Iran is nothing simple. He is demanding that it return
to its own borders after decades of weaving its influence in the region. He is
demanding that it abandon its nuclear dream, reminding it that Saddam Hussein,
the Assad regime and Moammar al-Gaddafi had all harbored such ambitions. Israel
ended the Iraqi and Syrian dreams, while George Bush ended the Libyan one when
he tasked late Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika with relaying a threat to
the Libyan leader.
Trump is also demanding that Iran curb its missile program, which Tehran views
as its source of strength. Setting limits to the missiles is like setting limits
to Iran’s role in the region given that Trump is also demanding that it stop
sending weapons and funds to its regional proxies.
It is obvious that Iran had in the recent decades waged a systematic coup
against the United States’ influence in the Middle East. General Qasem Soleimani
never shied away from saying to his inner circle that he believes America is
protecting the stability of regimes that are allied to Washington. He believed
that changing the shape of the region could happen by cutting the thread that
ties the US to these regimes. Soleimani then acted accordingly by exhausting the
American military presence in Iraq after the collapse of Saddam’s regime.
For decades, Iran achieved two major goals. It steered the battle away from its
territories and towards other countries where the fight was fought by proxies,
so it never really engaged in a direct conflict. The situation today is very
different, especially after the Israeli war on Iran last June that concluded
with America pounding Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran is no longer capable of
waging the battle in other countries, but rather a direct clash with America is
now in the cards.
Over the decades, the US had never addressed Iran the way it is doing now. Trump
is offering it a deal, while also saying that his finger is on the trigger. He
is not speaking of regime change, but at the same time, when he senses that Iran
is taking a hard line, he shifts course and says regime change could be the best
thing that can happen.
Trump is demanding that Iran return to Iran. He is effectively demanding that it
no longer have the final say in Beirut and relinquish its ability to overrule
decisions taken by the Lebanese authorities. He is demanding that it return from
Beirut after it lost Damascus. He is also demanding that it abandon its right to
run the government formation process in Baghdad, which explains his position on
Nouri al-Maliki's nomination.
Experience has shown that the Iranian negotiator is skilled and arms himself
with patience to wear down the other party. This is all true, but does Iran
currently hold any serious cards to pressure the US? In past decades, it was
able to use “unknown” groups to bomb an American embassy or kidnap an American
citizen. Such practices are no longer possible and out of the question. Trump’s
America can take the game to Iran, settle scores and see them through to the
end.
A new round of Iranian-American negotiations will be held amid these
circumstances. They will be held amid a “diplomacy of fleets” whose massive
might Trump is hoping to avoid resorting to. The fleets are accompanied with
economic pressure and threats to escalate measures against Iran’s oil exports to
China.
Trump is making difficult asks of Khamenei. Iran can come up with flexible
wording related to its nuclear file, but it will be difficult for it to put the
issue of its missile arsenal and armed proxies on the negotiating table. Trump
is not calling for superficial fixes, but demanding that Iran change its
regional and international approach and abandon an article in its constitution
that views the exporting of the revolution as a fundamental part of its policy.
Amid this major crisis in the region, the majority of the major countries are
acting with a deep sense of responsibility to avert a new war in the Middle
East. Only Benjamin Netanyahu is dreaming of conflict because he fears that an
“incomplete” deal could be struck that appeases the master of the White House,
but does nothing to address Israel’s concerns. The question is, will Iran accept
that the Middle East has changed and that it should embark on the process of
returning to its own borders to become a major country in the region that
concerns itself with rebuilding its economy, improving the lives of its people
and taking part in arrangements to establish permanent stability in the region?
Palestine… The Growing Gap Between the Palestinian Authority and the People Must
close
Nabil Amr/Asharq Al-Awsat/February
16/2026
If you were to sit with a Palestinian Authority official, whether a low-ranking
employee in its ministries, its soldiers and officers, its so-called top brass
of officials, or members of the government... you would find absolute consensus.
They are all disgruntled with the PA and critical of its performance. This
climate makes it easier for Israel to manipulate things in its favor. Israel is
fundamentally opposed to the very existence of the Authority, not critical of
its performance. This climate also serves to justify calls (whether
well-intentioned or malicious) for “reform” to be a prerequisite for political
engagement with the PA.
This broad discontent with the Authority, which is reaching alarming levels
within the PA and beyond, has emerged as Israel’s efforts to liquidate
Palestinians’ rights peak. Coupled with the calamitous split that has separated
the West Bank and Gaza into two regimes incapable of unifying the nation- indeed
incapable of meeting their respective responsibilities- has deepened divisions
on the ground.
In fact, these failings have provided the supposed common enemy with a rare
opportunity to tighten control not only over the Palestinian Authority and its
narrow presence in the West Bank, but also to impose direct control over Gaza.
Israel calls the shots: from determining how many people enter and exit through
the Rafah crossing to micromanaging the West Bank and its people.
It is noticeable that the Palestinian cause now has far stronger regional and
international standing than it does domestically, which will remain almost
catastrophic so long as the split between those who rule the West Bank and those
who rule remains of Gaza persists, and so long as neither side take even minimal
steps to end this division and unify the homeland and its people under a single
representative qualified to speak on behalf of all Palestinians.
This split has exhausted the world after nearly twenty years of efforts to
address it. Rather, it has only grown and deepened despite the catastrophic
conditions imposed on the Palestinian people, and we are now seeing each party
seek to resolve its own particular problems. There is no link between the two
sides beyond the measures Israel imposes on both, and all they can do is shout
and complain, for fear of losing what they still have in the West Bank and Gaza.
I do not like to place the blame for its plans and actions solely on Israel.
While it is indeed broadly influential and has done a lot to shape all
Palestinian trajectories, as well as regional and international action, the
oneness is first on what the Palestinian political class ought to have done and
failed to do. This follows a simple principle: if Israel worked to produce and
sustain the divisions, then it was incumbent upon the Palestinian leadership
forces to end it.
Time has been a crucial factor here from the very beginning. Failing to nip this
division in the bud allowed the catastrophic repercussions to accumulate. These
ramifications are not limited to human and political losses over these long
years; it has placed Palestinian achievements attained with immense hardship and
the enormity of sacrifices at the mercy of the winds. We need no evidence to
substantiate this.
After all that has happened, and whose catastrophic repercussions have not
ceased to this day, Palestinians ask: what is to be done? And how can they
emerge from this condition, if not to achieve the major objectives, then at
least to protect rights from disintegration and keep the cause alive?
Through Arab, regional, and international actors, the global arena has rallied
around achieving the most difficult but most substantial objective: the
establishment of a Palestinian state in the territories that had been occupied
in 1967, including East Jerusalem. The progress that they have made goes beyond
mere acknowledgments of this national right to full and explicit recognition of
the state.
What seems incomprehensible, however, is the chasm between the comprehensive
international push for inevitable statehood and the Palestinian leadership’s
complacent approach to putting their internal house in order and unifying it,
especially in unifying representation. Another absurdity is the widening gap
between the Palestinian people and those who are supposed to be their leaders.
The Palestinian people have given everything required of them to protect their
rights. Through miraculous steadfastness and commitment to their land, they have
endured what no human being should be expected to endure. Forced displacement,
which lies at the heart of the Israeli program, is no longer merely unacceptable
but no longer even tenable, and the country is no longer an easy morsel for the
occupier to swallow simply by issuing decisions to that effect.
The widening gap between the strong people and the Palestinian Authority must be
closed. Israel’s lethal weapons, which have not ceased to attack Palestinian
bodies since the beginning of the last century up to our present day, have
failed to crush, despite Israel’s wager on destroying the Palestinian struggle
from within. In reality, Palestinians’ domestic conditions are the locus. They
determine our position in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the place
of the Palestinian cause within it. All the credit, so far, belongs to the
strength of the people and their grassroots initiatives in defense of their
rights and hopes.
X Platform
Selected twittes for 14/2026
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
On Sky News Arabia with Michella Haddad:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1211855071009795
No indications that the Islamist Iran regime is offering the concessions that
America expects on nuclear or ballistic missile programs. The regime says it
will cap enrichment at 1.5 percent and will never negotiate ballistic missiles.
Both are serious threats to America. If this Iranian posture persists, a U.S.
military strike becomes inevitable (and Israel won’t join). If the U.S. folds,
Israel taking out Iranian ballistic missiles becomes certain.