English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For February 19/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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lccc Site
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Bible Quotations For today
But when you give to the needy, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Matthew 06/01-04: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness
in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from
your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with
trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be
honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees
what is done in secret, will reward you.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
18-19/2026
Elias Bejjani/Text and Video (Arabic & English): Hezbollah is an army of
mercenaries entirely subordinate to the Iranian Mullahs; therefore, negotiations
regarding its weapons and the means to uproot it from Lebanon must be conducted
with Iran under international & Arabic sponsorship.
Fasting is prayer, contemplation, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation
with God/Elias Bejjani
Ash Monday: A Holy Day For Repentance Prayers & Forgiveness/Elias Bejjani/
Report: US, regional actors seeking deal with Lebanon that would freeze
Hezbollah arms
President Aoun briefed by BDL Governor on judicial talks with France over
embezzlement suspicions
Lebanon’s revenue challenge: Can smarter policies replace new taxes?
Iranian Ambassador from Maaysrah: We will stand by the Lebanese people, with no
room for division between us
Finance Minister Jaber reviews digital modernization with World Bank delegation
Report: North Litani disarmament plan already underway
Conflict-weary south Lebanon residents say war with Israel never ended
Hariri says al-Mustaqbal to adhere to father's 'moderation logic' as powers
shift
Parliament committee finalizes draft media law, UNESCO urges swift adoption
Report: Undeclared Lebanon-Israel talks make major progress
Video Link to an interview with Journalist Tony Boulos from Transparency Youtube
Platform
The first miracle of Jesus Christ was the
turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee Town-South
Lebanon/Colonel Charbel Barakat/February 20/2026
US Treasury sanctions Hezbollah front designed to insulate terror group’s gold
reserves/Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi/FDD's Long War Journal/February 18/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on February
18-19/2026
Axios: Trump moves closer to a major war with Iran
Iran still not willing to acknowledge Trump’s ‘red lines,’ Vance says
US to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions ‘one way or the other’: US energy secretary
White House tells Iran to do deal as Trump hints at US strikes
Iran issues NOTAM over planned rocket launches on Thursday, US FAA says
Satellite images show Iran repairing and fortifying sites amid US tensions
US withdrawing all forces from Syria, WSJ reports
Israel conducting 'gradual de facto annexation' of W.Bank: UN official
Top Israeli minister pushes for ‘emigration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians
EU exploring support for new Gaza administration committee, document says
Ramadan begins in Gaza amid ruins of shattered mosques
Eight of nine missing skiers in California avalanche are dead: Police
Denmark’s King Frederik X arrives in Greenland in show of support
Canada eases sanctions on Syria, foreign minister says
Ukraine dissatisfied with ‘difficult’ Russia talks, US sees ‘meaningful
progress’
EU, UK, Canada denounce possible ‘crimes against humanity’ in Sudan
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
18-19/2026
The 'Other Side' Turns Against the Jews/Pierre Rehov/Gatestone
Institute/February 18, 2026
The Gulf’s grand strategy for the next century/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabia
English/February 18/2026
America Through Europe’s Critical Eye/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al-Awsat/February
18/2026
Israel’s Sprint to Annex the West Bank/Dr. Nassif Hitti/Asharq Al-Awsat/February
18/2026
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
18-19/2026
Elias Bejjani/Text and Video
(Arabic & English): Hezbollah is an army of mercenaries entirely subordinate to
the Iranian Mullahs; therefore, negotiations regarding its weapons and the means
to uproot it from Lebanon must be conducted with Iran under international &
Arabic sponsorship.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152238/
February 17/2026
Emphasis on Hezbollah’s Iranian Alignment
In a statement issued byHezbollah on February 16, 1985, it declared that it is
“committed to the commands of a wise and just leadership embodied in the ولاية
الفقيه (Guardianship of the Jurist), represented by Ruhollah Khomeini, the
Ayatollah al-Mousawi, the instigator of the Muslims’ revolution and the reviver
of their glorious renaissance.”
In an interview published in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir in February 1988,
Hassan Nasrallah stated:“Our project, which we have no choice but to adopt as
ideological believers, is the project of an Islamic state and the rule of Islam,
and that Lebanon should not be a single Islamic republic but rather part of the
greater Islamic Republic, ruled by the Awaited Imam and his rightful نائب
(deputy), the Jurist-Guardian, Imam Khomeini.”
Elias Bejjani: Key Points In my Video Commentary
*Legal Necessity: Legally, Lebanon is required to negotiate with Iran—under
Arab, International, and American supervision—regarding the weaponry, existence,
and institutions of Hezbollah, which are subordinate to Iran and act upon its
orders.
*The “Army, People, Resistance” Heresy: This formula is unconstitutional and was
forcibly inserted into ministerial statements. Legislation originates from the
Parliament, not from a ministerial statement, which is merely a proposed action
plan.
*Eternal Enmity: The concept of “eternal enmity” is a sick sectarian ideology
promoted by both Sunni and Shia political Islam to trade in conflict and justify
their continued existence.
*Iranian Command: Hezbollah’s decision-making lies in Iran and is governed by ”
Sharia mandates” (Taklif Shari).
*A Captive Community: The Shia community has been kidnapped and held hostage
since 1982.
*Foreign Identity: Hezbollah is an Iranian army composed of Lebanese
mercenaries.
*Lack of Legitimacy: Hezbollah has never been legitimate, Lebanese, or a
“resistance”; it is a terrorist organization by virtue of its “Mullah-inspired”
composition.
*The Lebanese Army: The Lebanese Army is capable of disarming Hezbollah if the
State officially tasks it with this mission.
*Israeli Actions: Israel has never once committed aggression against Lebanon;
rather, it has always reacted to attacks launched against it from Lebanese
territory by Syrian, Arab, Iranian, Jihadist, and Leftist factions.
*The Liberation Myth: Hezbollah did not liberate the South; it is not part of
the Lebanese social fabric, and it does not represent the Shia. It is a
fully-fledged Iranian army made up of Lebanese mercenaries.
*Ending the “Arena” Status: It is required today, not tomorrow, to close the
“Lebanese Arena,” which has been open since the Cairo Agreement to all those who
trade—with obscenity, hypocrisy, and lies—in the name of “Resistance and the
Liberation of Palestine.”
*The Only Solution: The sole solution is full peace with the State of Israel.
Whoever wishes to fight Israel should do so from their own country.
*Defense vs. Offense: The Lebanese Army is a defensive, not an offensive force.
The majority of Lebanese do not view Israel as an enemy but as a neighbor,
noting that there are no inherent problems between Lebanon and Israel, and
Israel has no ambitions within Lebanese territory.
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
Report: US, regional actors
seeking deal with Lebanon that would freeze Hezbollah arms
Naharnet/18 February/2026
Political negotiations are underway, led by regional actors, with the aim of
reaching a "security agreement with Lebanon," the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar
newspaper quoted informed sources as saying. The Americans are saying that they
are interested in arranging this agreement and Hezbollah is not showing
opposition, the daily said.The sources explained that the discussion centers on
a preliminary idea: the American side seeks guarantees that Hezbollah will not
carry out any act against Israeli settlements, along with a mechanism to ensure
its inability to use its weapons in the future. The proposal also includes a
Lebanese agreement with Hezbollah on a transitional phase for managing the
issue. This phase would partially involve an Israeli commitment, guaranteed by
the U.S., to cease hostilities, withdraw from some occupied points, and release
a number of Lebanese captives. According to the sources, the discussion stems
from an idea previously put forward by Egypt: that disarmament by force is
impossible, and that any clash between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah could
escalate into civil war and chaos in Lebanon. The
proposed alternative is an understanding with Hezbollah on its commitment not to
carry out any military action against Israel, and an understanding with the
Lebanese Army on the management of its weapons depots and stockpiles in the area
north of the Litani River, with the United States guaranteeing Israel's
adherence to the ceasefire.The sources confirmed that the Americans are
demanding that the discussions between Lebanon and Israel move to a new level,
including direct talks on security agreements that go beyond the current
armistice agreement and ceasefire deal, provided that Hezbollah does not oppose
or obstruct these negotiations. This would be in
return for President Joseph Aoun and PM Nawaf Salam agreeing to amending the
composition of the Lebanese delegation, while Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri
is saying that he does not support abandoning the ‘Mechanism’ committee, the
sources added.
President Aoun briefed by BDL Governor on judicial talks
with France over embezzlement suspicions
LBCI/18 February/2026
President Joseph Aoun was briefed by Banque du Liban Governor Karim Souaid on
detailed discussions he held with French judicial authorities, during which
several files were reviewed concerning the possible embezzlement of public and
non-public funds from Banque du Liban. The central bank governor provided
President Aoun with comprehensive details on the matter, stressing “the
importance of cooperation with French and European judicial authorities in this
context.”
Lebanon’s revenue challenge: Can smarter policies replace
new taxes?
LBCI/18 February/2026
Lebanon can increase its revenues without burdening citizens by raising fees on
luxury goods such as imported tobacco and alcohol, strengthening taxation on
coastal properties, combating smuggling to recover customs revenues — estimated
at around $800 million lost to evasion — and by collecting actual taxes instead
of relying on paper declarations. This was emphasized by the National Economy,
Trade, Industry, and Planning Committee, chaired by MP Farid Boustany, following
its latest meeting. The committee stressed that the solution does not lie in new
taxes but in smarter management of existing revenues. Boustany said recent
events are unacceptable and that authorities must take responsibility and define
a clear course of action. If the Lebanese government reverses its recent
decisions — including the 1% VAT increase and the LBP 300,000-per-barrel
gasoline hike — other viable solutions could be implemented without harming
purchasing power or fueling inflation. He also stated
that the committee does not support new taxes. Instead, it proposes improving
the exchange rate to around LBP 60,000, which would increase purchasing power by
roughly 30%. With the central bank holding around $8 billion, Boustany
questioned why part of these funds cannot be used during a transitional phase.
The committee also said that recent financial decisions were made too
quickly and that the economic file needs a more balanced and structured
approach.Ultimately, after all that is happening, the decision lies with
parliament — will it approve the VAT increase and the LBP 300,000 gasoline hike?
Iranian Ambassador from Maaysrah: We will stand by the Lebanese people, with no
room for division between us
LBCI/18 February/2026
The municipal council of the town of Maaysrah in Ftouh Keserwan held a
ceremonial event honoring Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani, attended by
residents of the town and neighboring areas. After the presentation of a gift
from the Iranian people to the residents, the ambassador spoke about the
“importance of solidarity and unity in light of the threats and intimidation
facing the region,” stressing that “the peoples of the region are the sole
guarantors of their countries’ sovereignty.” He paid tribute to those killed in
Lebanon, “foremost among them Hassan Nasrallah,” noting that “during the recent
Israeli aggression against Lebanon, the Iranian people showed great affection
and solidarity with the Lebanese people, and no party will be able to drive a
wedge between the two peoples, nor will any aggression be able to break us.”For
his part, the Mayor highlighted the “historical relationship between the
Lebanese and Iranian peoples,” calling on Lebanese citizens to uphold national
unity and avoid hate speech and divisive rhetoric. He added that “the gift
presented by the Iranian people to the town’s residents will illuminate its main
and side roads, carrying a message of goodwill and connection to all residents
of the area.”
At the conclusion of the event, the Mayor presented Ambassador Amani with a book
on the history of the town. The visit also included a stop at the town’s
memorial cemetery, where prayers were recited for those killed.
Finance Minister Jaber reviews digital modernization with
World Bank delegation
LBCI/18 February/2026
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to advancing
digital modernization and stabilizing its core systems through an institutional
approach that ensures transparency and proper use of resources.
His remarks came during a working meeting with a World Bank delegation
led by Lebanon Country Office Director Enrique Armas, attended by senior
officials from the Ministry of Finance.The meeting focused on the current status
and updates related to stabilizing the land registry and tax systems, as part of
efforts to ensure continuity, improve technical efficiency, and strengthen the
stability of the ministry’s digital systems. This work is supported by a $6.5
million grant allocated for system stabilization and modernization across the
project’s core components. Jaber stressed the need to accelerate the completion
of required technical and administrative procedures to avoid further delays.
Discussions also covered the approved loan for the new Integrated Tax
Administration System (ITAS) and the Public Financial Management System (IFMIS),
and the possibility of integrating the two within a unified reform vision to
enhance financial and tax administration efficiency. Jaber said completing the
gap analysis is a necessary first step before moving to implementation, as it
determines technical needs, human resources, and required organizational and
legal adjustments. He also addressed the need to
strengthen the technical team supporting the ministry’s systems, consider
specialized legal or financial expertise if required, and avoid overlap with
other international technical assistance programs. The meeting concluded with
agreement to continue internal coordination to finalize job descriptions and
designate the relevant coordinating unit.
Report: North Litani disarmament plan already underway
Naharnet/18 February/2026
The Lebanese Army has been searching for weapons and arms depots in the area
north of the Litani River for several months, a media report said.
“Speaking of separation between a first phase and a second phase is not
accurate, because whenever informed of the presence of arms, ammunition or
depots in a certain place, the army heads to it, regardless whether it’s part of
its plan’s first phase or not,” An-Nahar newspaper reported on Wednesday. “The
army is pressing on with the implementation of the plan, and it had started the
second phase before devising a plan, through the containment actions that have
been ongoing for around a year in the North Litani region, where arms, ammo,
depots and warehouses are being confiscated without any confrontations with
Hezbollah,” the daily quoted unnamed sources as saying.
Conflict-weary south Lebanon residents say war with Israel
never ended
Agence France Presse/18 February/2026
School bus driver Ali al-Dorr averts his gaze every time he passes the rubble of
his son's home -- destroyed by an Israeli strike in south Lebanon despite a
year-old ceasefire. Though his son managed to evacuate in time, the attack left
notebooks, papers and furniture strewn among the debris of the apartment
building in Qannarit, overlooking the coastal city of Sidon, the scene of
several strikes in recent weeks that Israel says targeted Hezbollah. Dorr, 62,
said he bought the flat for his son, who lived there with his family until the
Israeli army warned on January 21 of an impending attack."I pass by here every
day to drop off students. I turn my head, so I don't feel the heartbreak," he
told AFP. "At least the family got out alive."Images
of slain Hezbollah members and the movement's yellow flag can be seen at the
entrance to Qannarit, a village surrounded by olive trees about 30 kilometers
from the Israeli border. It was hit by Israeli raids during more than a year of
hostilities with Hezbollah that broke out around the start of the Gaza war. A
November 2024 ceasefire was supposed to end the violence, but Israel has kept up
regular attacks in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting the Iran-backed
group, which it accuses of violating the truce. More than 370 people have been
killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect, per an AFP tally of
Lebanese health ministry figures. Lebanon's government has committed to
disarming Hezbollah, and the army in the coming months is set to do so in the
area that includes Qannarit. Israel, which has also kept troops in five south
Lebanon border areas it deems "strategic", has called the army's efforts
insufficient.
'No safety' -
While the war spared Fatima al-Nassar's home, the ceasefire did not. The walls
of the 52-year-old Palestinian housewife's home were blown off when a strike hit
nearby, rendering it unlivable. Her family garden, where they used to grow
vegetables to sell at the local market, is now littered with rubble and cloaked
in a blanket of grey dust. "We've been here for 25
years... You work so hard -- for all your efforts to disappear in a second," she
said, still in disbelief. "There is no safety" in the south, she said.
Two Israeli strikes on Qannarit on January 21 destroyed 26 homes and
damaged around 350 others, deputy mayor Ibrahim Hamdan told AFP.
The health ministry said 19 people were wounded. Along with the fear of
potential strikes, south Lebanon residents also have to contend with the
frequent, nerve-wracking buzz of Israeli drones. A video circulating on social
media recently, purportedly from Kfar Kila near the border, showed a drone
hovering over and following people as they visited their loved ones' graves.
This month in Qannarit, an Israeli drone hit a bulldozer that was working to
clear the site of last month's strike, wounding one person and destroying the
machine, which now lies among the rubble.
'Will they hit us?' -
Qannarit resident Ahmad al-Awdali, 49, was among those who lost his home. A red
mattress now lies among the destruction of what used to be his son Ali's room.
"Our home wasn't hit during the war, it was hit now," he said. If there
were really a truce, he added, "this wouldn't have happened". He and Ali were
also nearby when the bulldozer was hit, leaving the 10-year-old traumatized. "He
doesn't sleep... During the night he suddenly wakes up scared," said Awdali, who
is also a bus driver. "Every time we go to a house he
asks me, 'Will they hit us?'"The conflict has damaged or destroyed swathes of
the south, with many border towns in ruins and reconstruction yet to begin. The
Qannarit municipality said it was sheltering 55 families who have fled towns and
villages near the frontier, seeking relative safety. Ali Ghaddar, 56, has been
trying to keep his hardware shop going after one of the Israeli strikes that hit
Qannarit on January 21 shattered his glass storefront. Many people lost their
homes and "the area has been killed economically", said Ghaddar, surrounded by
other shops also damaged by the raid, which levelled the building across the
street.
A Hezbollah flag sticks out of the rubble at the stricken site. In the face of
the recent destruction, he said, the ceasefire seemed a distant notion. "For
those who say the war ended, I say no, it's still happening."
Hariri says al-Mustaqbal to adhere to father's 'moderation logic' as powers
shift
Naharnet/18 February/2026
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has affirmed that al-Mustaqbal Movement is
entering a new phase aimed at reaffirming the path of late PM Rafik Hariri —
"one of moderation and dedication to establishing stability in the nation".
Hariri stressed that prosperity in any region of Lebanon will benefit all
Lebanese people, regardless of where they are. "This country is suffering
intensely from assassinations, wars, killings, and political vacuums at various
levels. However, today, fundamental changes have occurred at both the local and
regional levels; therefore, it is essential to adhere to the logic of
moderation, which serves as the nation’s lifeline," he told visitors on Tuesday
evening. On Saturday, Hariri hinted that his al-Mustaqbal Movement might take
part in the upcoming parliamentary elections while stressing that its political
role has not ended, at a mass rally in Beirut's Martyrs Square marking the 21st
anniversary of the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri."I promise you, whenever
the elections are held, I promise you: they will hear our voices, and they will
count our votes!" he vowed.
Parliament committee finalizes draft media law, UNESCO
urges swift adoption
Naharnet/18 February/2026
UNESCO welcomed Wednesday the completion of parliamentary committee
deliberations on Lebanon’s draft Media Law, describing it as a major milestone
in a reform process that has spanned nearly 15 years.The draft law, submitted in
late 2025 by the Minister of Information with sustained technical support from
UNESCO, will now be referred to the General Assembly for debate and adoption.
The Chair of the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee,
George Adwan, announced that the Committee has finalized its review and
amendments to the draft law. He noted that the proposed legislation reflects the
profound transformation of the media landscape and introduces a modern framework
that strengthens protections for freedom of expression and media professionals
while keeping pace with digital developments. The finalized draft introduces
several significant reforms that align with international standards on freedom
of expression and the safety of journalists. Notably, it abolishes the
criminalization, imprisonment, and pretrial detention of media professionals for
publication-related offenses, reinforcing the principle that media-related
matters should not be subject to custodial penalties. The draft also abolishes
the Publications Court and provides for the establishment of an independent,
specialized civil media court, ensuring that journalists and media professionals
are no longer subject to military or criminal courts for their professional
work.
"This reform represents a fundamental step toward strengthening judicial
safeguards and due process in media-related cases," the UNESCO Regional Office
in Beirut said in a statement. "In addition, the draft law strengthens the
freedom and institutional independence of media organizations by explicitly
prohibiting political or security interference in their work. It extends its
provisions to electronic news websites and digital platforms, recognizing the
evolving nature of the media ecosystem and ensuring that the legal framework
keeps pace with digital transformation."
The draft provides for the establishment of an independent National Media
Authority composed of experts, legal professionals, and representatives of trade
unions to regulate and oversee the sector in a transparent and accountable
manner. This body is designed to enhance professional standards, promote
pluralism, and safeguard the independence of media regulation. The finalization
of the draft law represents an important step toward replacing Lebanon’s
outdated media legislation with a modern, rights-based framework, UNESCO said.
"In a rapidly evolving media and digital environment, the adoption of a new
Media Law is essential to safeguard freedom of expression, ensure media
pluralism, enhance access to information, and strengthen the protection and
safety of journalists."In line with its global mandate to promote freedom of
expression, access to information, and the safety of journalists, UNESCO said it
has provided sustained technical expertise throughout the reform process.
Working in close coordination with the Ministry of Information, parliamentary
committees, and national stakeholders, UNESCO contributed comparative legal
analysis and advisory support to help align the draft with international
standards and best practices. UNESCO reiterated its
commitment to continue supporting national partners in advancing media sector
reform and fostering an enabling environment for free, independent, and
pluralistic media. It expressed hope that Parliament will prioritize its debate
and adoption, reaffirming Lebanon’s commitment to democratic governance, media
pluralism, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
Report: Undeclared Lebanon-Israel talks make major progress
Naharnet/18 February/2026
Unannounced, U.S.-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have made
major progress, a senior source said. “These negotiations, led by a high-ranking
Lebanese figure, are based on a mutually agreed-upon framework of concessions,”
the source told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. The source added that these
negotiations, in which the Lebanese side is vehemently demanding that Israel
show flexibility regarding the points it has occupied, are the same factors that
prompted Hezbollah to allow the Cabinet session on weapons to proceed
smoothly.“Escalation at the Cabinet table harms the negotiation process and
undermines the points of compromise on the table,” the source explained.
The source added that Washington, which is overseeing the negotiations,
is acting based on two firm principles: preserving Lebanon's unity and
guaranteeing Israel's security. Under the proposed agreement, Washington would
guarantee Israel's withdrawal from one or two occupied points in south Lebanon,
in exchange for Lebanon “storing” Hezbollah's weapons. “There are negotiations
on placing the weapons in depots, in coordination between the Lebanese Army and
Hezbollah, which would lead to a lengthy period of conflict suspension, during
which Hezbollah would strictly commit to not attacking Israel. With time, this
would turn the weapons into junk, while Washington would guarantee Israel’s
withdrawal from one point after another,” the source said.
According to the source, this complex negotiating framework allows both
Hezbollah and Israel a period for monitoring each other's behavior. It also
provides Lebanon with an opportunity to progress on its path to recovery and
offers the U.S. a guarantee of Israel's security without the need to worry about
Hezbollah's potential actions.
The source attributed the shift in Hezbollah’s stance to four crucial points:
“1. The American siege on Iran’s leadership.
2. The limited room for maneuver domestically.
3. The rejection by the (Shiite) Duo's popular base of engaging in a new war.
4. Hezbollah's limited capacity to wage war, or even to defend itself
effectively.”
The source elaborated on the fourth point, explaining that Hezbollah spent 18
years between the 2006 war and the 2024 war stockpiling weapons, while Israel
pursued its strategic objectives one after another. The result was that the
military machine of Iran and Hezbollah was defeated by Israel's technological,
security, and intelligence capabilities.
Video Link to an interview
with Journalist Tony Boulos from Transparency Youtube Platform
Date: February 18, 2026
Program: Politics and People (Al-Siyasa wal-Nas)
Host: Journalist Patricia Samaha
Guest: Tony Boulos (Journalist)
General Summary
In this explosive interview, journalist Tony Boulos launches a fierce critique
of the Lebanese ruling elite, describing Nawaf Salam’s government as "leftist"
and accusing it of committing "crimes" against the people. He argues that the
government has declared an open war on citizens' pockets and calls for total
civil disobedience. Boulos also addresses regional escalations, the status of
Hezbollah’s weaponry, and the potential for a "Third Independence" for Lebanon.
Key Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] Teaser: Highlights of Tony Boulos’s strongest statements regarding civil
disobedience and the "leftist" government.
[02:15] "A Government Robbing the People": An analysis of tax hikes and the
increase in VAT to fund public sector salaries at the expense of the private
sector.
[04:30] Call for Civil Disobedience: A direct call for a comprehensive
revolution and total civil disobedience against the "blood-sucking" political
class.
[06:50] "A Leftist Government": Why Boulos compares the current Lebanese
administration’s economic approach to North Korea and Venezuela.
[08:45] BDL Salary Scandal: Discussion regarding the salaries of Central Bank
employees and housing loan perks amidst the economic collapse.
[10:12] Sectarianism and Public Office: A critique of how civil and political
rights are stripped from citizens (specifically within the Shia community) if
they do not follow the "Duo" (Hezbollah/Amal).
[12:20] Naim Qassem’s "Innovation": Debunking Sheikh Naim Qassem's claim that
the Taif Agreement legitimized Hezbollah’s weapons.
[14:50] "The World is With Us": Boulos argues that the presence of the U.S.
fleet and regional shifts represent a "golden opportunity" for Lebanese
independence.
[16:40] Shocking Statement on Israel: Boulos discusses whether Israel’s
targeting of Lebanon is a reaction to the land being used as a "rented platform"
for regional projects.
[18:15] The Great War Scenario: What happens if Hezbollah launches missiles from
the South? Boulos warns of the total destruction of Lebanon.
[20:30] Conflict with the Army: Discussion on whether Hezbollah elements would
dare to clash with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), calling any such move
"despicable."
[24:15] The Path to Peace: Boulos questions why PM Nawaf Salam shouldn't
negotiate directly with Netanyahu to reach a comprehensive peace for the sake of
the future.
The first
miracle of Jesus Christ was the turning of water into wine at the wedding in
Cana of Galilee Town-South Lebanon
Colonel Charbel Barakat/February 20/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152294/
The first miracle of Jesus Christ was the turning of water into wine at the
wedding in Cana of Galilee. This marked the beginning of the Gospel, hence its
historical significance and its connection to what is still known today in
southern Lebanon as the land of the Gospel (Blad lbshara). So, where exactly is
the Cana, we are discussing, and why is it confused with Kafr Kanna, located
near Nazareth?
Several historians assert that the Cana mentioned in the Bible, where two
miracles occurred—the first being the turning of water into wine and the second
the healing of the king's official's son—and which is also referred to as the
town of the apostle Nathanael, is located near Tyre and on the road to "Greater
Sidon." This places it in southern Lebanon, not near Nazareth.
Dr. Youssef Hourani confirmed the location of Cana, citing Eusebius of Caesarea
(260-348), who placed it in the tribe of Asher on the road to Greater Sidon
(while Kafr Kana is in the tribe of Ephraim). He states that on a nearby hill
still stands the site of "Galil," to which the village was attributed, perhaps
for distinction, and not in reference to Galilee of the Gentiles, as is commonly
believed. He also adds that Saint Jerome of Stridon acknowledged the location in
his documentation of the geographical places mentioned by Eusebius in his
Onomasticon.
The historian Father Boutros Dao also discussed the subject in his historical
encyclopedia, "History of the Maronites," and emphasized the importance of
measuring the distance between Cana and Capernaum in the miracle of the king's
son.
In 2021, Dr. Naji Karam published a book dedicated to this topic, including a
detailed historical study that mentions all the theories surrounding the subject
of Cana, Kafr Kanna, and Khirbet Qana—three sites with similar names. He relies
on Eusebius, a native of the region and Bishop of Caesarea, who was the first to
write about church history. Eusebius lived through the great persecution during
the reign of Emperor Diocletian (303–313). While his account is considered
reliable, despite occasional criticisms of his Arian leanings, he is not
mistaken geographically or historically. He was considered the architect of the
Christian Empire, commissioned by Emperor Constantine, and was invited to attend
major celebrations and the dedication of cathedrals, as was the case when he was
invited to the dedication of the Basilica of Tyre (326).
Dr. Karam then examines the work of Saint Jerome, who was born in Croatia in 347
and died in Bethlehem in 420, and who comes directly after Eusebius. He studied
in Rome, then became a hermit in the desert of Chalcis in Syria. After his
ordination as a priest in Antioch, he returned to Rome and was appointed
secretary to Pope Damas, who commissioned him to translate the Bible into Latin.
After the Pope's death, he returned to the East and settled in Bethlehem during
a period of increased pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Dr. Karam's research leads us to a seemingly contradictory account in the
writings of St. Jerome, between his letter to Paula, in which he mentions the
site of Cana, known to pilgrims, and what he later established when revising
Eusebius's Onomasticon. He discusses many of the arguments of the biblical
researchers, starting from the pilgrim of Bordeaux to Robinson, Godet, and
Guérin, especially Guérin, who tried to delve deeper into the subject. He
mentioned Antonini, one of the Italian pilgrims in the sixth century, who spoke
about finding in Kafr Kanna two jars that were still from the days of Jesus
Christ. He filled one of them and drank from it, and it turned into wine. Here
Guérin doubts the miracle, but he confirms the location, although he does not
criticize the difference between the jars that were in the days of Christ and
Antonini’s jars. The first are stone jars that hold about eighty liters of water
and cannot be lifted, while the second is a clay jar that holds about fifteen
liters, which can be lifted over his shoulder.
Dr. Karam also mentions Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamin in Cyprus in the fourth
century. Epiphanius, who borne and lived in Judea in the fourth century
(315-403), did not leave his homeland before becoming Bishop of Salamin,
indicating his familiarity with the region's geography. He mentions "the great
city of Cana in Galilee, where the wedding took place and where Christ turned
water into wine."
These are some examples cited in the serious research included in the book, and
we encourage those interested to read it. We can also mention the local
tradition of the Shiite inhabitants of the region, who believe that the shrine
of the Prophet Imran, which they still venerate between the villages of Al-Knaiseh
and Al-Qalila near Cana, belongs to Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary.
Joachim is mentioned in the Quran in Surah Al Imran, which suggests the
proximity between the location inhabited by relatives of the Virgin Mary in Cana
and the site of the shrine named after her father, which the local inhabitants
continue to venerate.
US Treasury sanctions Hezbollah front designed to insulate terror group’s gold
reserves
Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi/FDD's Long War Journal/February 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152287/
Tuesday morning, the US Treasury
Department announced new sanctions against Jood SARL, a gold exchange that Al
Qard al Hassan (AQAH), a Hezbollah financial institution, established last
September. AQAH officially operates as a charitable institution offering loans
to its customers but essentially serves as Hezbollah’s de facto bank.
AQAH has amassed massive quantities of gold taken as
collateral that, given Hezbollah’s present financial difficulties, could be
quickly turned into hard currency. The terrorist group may have viewed creating
Jood SARL, which has no apparent connection to Hezbollah institutions and is
under government regulation and supervision, as the perfect cover to cash in on
the gold Hezbollah salvaged after Israel’s onslaught on AQAH’s branches in
Lebanon during the fall of 2024.
The conversion of gold into cash is also a well-timed move for Hezbollah, as
gold prices have skyrocketed from $2,700 per ounce at the onset of Israel’s
bombing campaign in late September 2024 to over $5,000 earlier this month.
Selling gold would not just alleviate Hezbollah’s cash-strapped position but
also generate a significant revenue for the terrorist group.
The US Treasury moved quickly to frustrate Hezbollah’s efforts to sell gold, but
it did not sanction all of the AQAH personnel involved in the new company.
According to Jood SARL’s corporate papers, the official managers and
shareholders of Jood’s southern branch, located in Nabatiyeh, do not appear to
be the individuals who Treasury sanctioned on Tuesday.
Treasury’s press release named three AQAH senior officials as being in charge of
Jood SARL: Samer Hassan Fawaz, as the official overseeing the project, and
Mohamad Nayef Majid and Ali Karnib, as officials in charge of trading gold in
Lebanon and, as Treasury worries, potentially overseas. Fawaz and Karnib have
already been under US sanctions since July 2025, and Karnib, according to
Treasury, had overseen “the purchase of over a thousand ounces of gold for AQAH”
as of July 2024.
Company records and data sets obtained through the risk intelligence platform
240 Analytics show that when Jood SARL’s southern branch was incorporated in
September 2025, the original shareholders and managers were Hassan Dib Ayoub and
Hassan Loutfi Saad, two lesser-known mid-level AQAH employees. (Note: The author
of this report serves as a senior advisor to 240 Analytics.) Ayoub and Saad’s
double role as managers and shareholders is confirmed by original corporate data
extracted from Lebanon’s commercial registry. As of September 2025, both men
appear on the company papers for the Jood branch in Nabatiyeh, named “Jood South
Sarl” in those corporate records.
These corporate records suggest that, through Jood SARL, AQAH is seeking to
establish a new way to evade sanctions. Treasury notes that Jood SARL has two
corporate ID numbers, which is an anomaly for corporations. Usually, a company
with subsidiary branches, such as a large retail bank, only has one ID for the
main company, not one for each branch. The distinct IDs indicate that the two
identified Jood branches are registered as separate companies (corporate records
for Jood South bear one of the two ID numbers that Treasury identified).
Jood’s two confirmed open branches also bear slightly different company names (Jood
and Jood South), another slight differentiation that suggests they are different
entities, not parts of the same company. These distinct IDs and names may be
deliberate: each new branch could, at least legally, be a separate entity, and
its managers would, presumably, be new AQAH mid-level employees like Ayoub and
Saad, who are not under a US Treasury designation. This setup may be an AQAH
obfuscation mechanism that aims to buy the Hezbollah-affiliated institution more
time in its efforts to avoid US sanctions.
The fact that both Ayoub and Saad work for AQAH is beyond dispute. According to
information obtained through 240 Analytics, which includes AQAH account records
leaked by an anonymous hacker group in December 2020, Saad had, at the time of
the leak, nine AQAH accounts (see image below), and Ayoub had 15. Saad held all
of these accounts at a special branch of AQAH that caters to Hezbollah members.
A list of AQAH accounts held by Hassan Loutfi Saad. (240 Analytics)
Ayoub’s social media posts, including a photo of him attending an AQAH-sponsored
children’s event, a post mourning the passing of AQAH’s founder, Al Haj Hussein
Ali al Shami (who Treasury sanctioned in 2006), and posts commemorating the
death of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, further confirm his
affiliation with both AQAH and Hezbollah. The combined
data from social media and company records leaves no doubt about Ayoub’s and
Saad’s links to AQAH and Hezbollah. It is possible that Jood SARL’s management
will try to deflect sanctions by claiming that Treasury misidentified the
company’s managers. It is also likely that Jood SARL will attempt to open new
branches as independent companies to portray them as not being part of AQAH.
However, the data suggests otherwise.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/02/analysis-us-treasury-sanctions-hezbollah-front-designed-to-insulate-terror-groups-gold-reserves.php
**Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi is a senior research fellow at the Center for Research
on Terror Financing (CENTEF) and a senior advisor to 240 Analytics.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on February
18-19/2026
Axios: Trump moves closer to a major war
with Iran
Naharnet/18
February/2026
The Trump administration is closer to a major war in the Middle East than most
Americans realize. It could begin very soon, U.S. news portal Axios reported on
Wednesday. A U.S. military operation in Iran would likely be a massive,
weeks-long campaign that would look more like full-fledged war than last month's
pinpoint operation in Venezuela, sources told Axios. The sources noted it would
likely be a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that's much broader in scope — and more
existential for the regime — than the Israeli-led 12-day war last June, which
the U.S. eventually joined to take out Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
Such a war would have a dramatic influence on the entire region and major
implications for the remaining three years of the Trump presidency. With the
attention of Congress and the public otherwise occupied, there is little public
debate about what could be the most consequential U.S. military intervention in
the Middle East in at least a decade. Trump came close to striking Iran in early
January over the killing of thousands of protesters by the regime, Axios said.
But when the window of opportunity passed, the administration shifted to a
two-track approach: nuclear talks paired with a massive military build-up. By
delaying and bringing so much force to bear, Trump has raised expectations for
what an operation will look like if a deal can't be reached. And right now, a
deal does not look likely, Axios said. Trump's advisers Jared Kushner and Steve
Witkoff met with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for three hours in
Geneva on Tuesday. While both sides said the talks "made progress," the gaps are
wide and U.S. officials aren't optimistic about closing them.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the talks "went well" in some ways,
but "in other ways it was very clear that the president has set some red lines
that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work
through."Vance made it clear that while Trump wants a deal, he could determine
that diplomacy has "reached its natural end."Trump's armada has grown to include
two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple
air defense systems. Some of that firepower is still on its way. More than 150
U.S. military cargo flights have moved weapons systems and ammunition to the
Middle East. Just in the past 24 hours, another 50 fighter jets — F-35s, F-22s
and F-16s — headed to the region. The standoff with Iran has gone on so long
that many Americans are likely numb to it. War could come sooner, and be much
bigger, than most recognize, sources told Axios. Trump's military and rhetorical
build-ups make it hard for him to back down without major concessions from Iran
on its nuclear program. It's not in Trump's nature, and his advisers don't view
the deployment of all that hardware as a bluff. With Trump, anything can happen.
But all signs point to him pulling the trigger if talks fail. The Israeli
government — which is pushing for a maximalist scenario targeting regime change
as well as Iran's nuclear and missile programs — is preparing for a scenario of
war within days, according to two Israeli officials. Some U.S. sources told
Axios that the U.S. might need more time. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said
strikes could still be weeks away. But others say the timeline could be shorter.
"The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to
war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next
few weeks," one Trump adviser said. U.S. officials said after Tuesday's talks
that Iran needs to come back with a detailed proposal in two weeks. Last June
19, the White House set a two-week window for Trump to decide between further
talks or strikes. Three days later, he launched Operation Midnight Hammer.
"There's no evidence a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is on the horizon. But
there's more and more evidence that a war is imminent," Axios said.
Iran still not willing to acknowledge Trump’s ‘red lines,’ Vance
says
AFP/18 February/2026
Iran has not agreed to all the “red lines” set out by US President Donald Trump
for a diplomatic solution, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday after talks in
Geneva. Vance appeared to indicate that the United
States was still interested in diplomacy, after Trump threatened force if Iran’s
clerical state does not agree on key concerns starting with its nuclear program.
“In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards,” Vance said in a
Fox News interview. “But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has
set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge
and work through,” Vance told “The Story with Martha MacCallum” program. “We’re
going to keep on working it. But of course, the president reserves the ability
to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end,” Vance said.
“We hope we don’t get to that point, but if we do that will be the president’s
call.”
US to stop Iran’s nuclear
ambitions ‘one way or the other’: US energy secretary
AFP/18 February/2026
The United States will deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons “one way or the
other,” US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump “believes firmly we cannot have a nuclear-armed
Iran,” Wright told reporters in Paris on the sidelines of meetings of the
International Energy Agency. “They’ve been very clear about what they would do
with nuclear weapons. It’s entirely unacceptable,” Wright said. “So one way or
the other, we are going to end, deter Iran’s march towards a nuclear weapon,” he
added. US and Iranian officials held talks in Geneva on Tuesday aimed at
averting the possibility of US military intervention to curb Tehran’s nuclear
program. Iran said following the talks that they had agreed on “guiding
principles” for a deal to avoid conflict. US Vice President JD Vance, however,
said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington’s red lines.
White House tells Iran to
do deal as Trump hints at US strikes
AFP/19 February/2026
The White House warned on Wednesday that Iran would be “wise” to do a deal with
the United States as President Donald Trump once again hinted at military
action.
The two sides recently resumed indirect talks, mediated by Oman, after Trump
repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over a deadly crackdown on
protesters last month. A previous attempt at negotiations collapsed when Israel
launched surprise strikes on Iran last June, beginning a 12-day war that
Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites. “Iran would be very
wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration,” White
House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. On Wednesday, Trump again
suggested the United States might strike Iran in a post on his Truth Social
site, with a US military buildup underway in the Middle East. He warned Britain
against giving up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean,
saying that the archipelago’s Diego Garcia airbase might be needed were Iran not
to agree a deal, “in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable
and dangerous regime.”Earlier on Wednesday, Tehran’s top diplomat, Abbas
Araghchi, said Iran was “drafting” a framework for future talks with the US.
Iran and the US held a second round of Oman-mediated negotiations on Tuesday in
Geneva. Araghchi said then that Tehran had agreed with Washington on “guiding
principles,” but US Vice President JD Vance said Iran had not yet acknowledged
all of Washington’s red lines.
‘Do not want war’
Speaking on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted “We do not
want war” but suggested Tehran could not give in to US demands.
“From the day I took office, I have believed that war must be set aside. But if
they are going to try to impose their will on us, humiliate us and demand that
we bow our heads at any cost, should we accept that?” Earlier on Wednesday,
Araghchi held a phone call with Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear
watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. In the call, the Iranian
foreign minister “stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s focus on drafting an
initial and coherent framework to advance future talks,” according to a
statement from his ministry. Tehran has suspended some cooperation with the IAEA
and restricted the watchdog’s inspectors from accessing sites bombed by Israel
and the United States, accusing the UN body of bias and of failing to condemn
the strikes. Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that Washington
would deter Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons “one way or the other.”hey
would do with nuclear weapons. It’s entirely unacceptable,” Wright told
reporters in Paris on the sidelines of meetings of the International Energy
Agency.
Displays of military might
The Omani-mediated talks were aimed at averting the possibility of US military
action, while Tehran is demanding the lifting of US sanctions that are crippling
its economy.
Iran has insisted that the discussions be limited to the nuclear issue, though
Washington has previously pushed for Tehran’s ballistic missiles program and
support for armed groups in the region to be on the table. While talks have
resumed, the US has also been building up its military forces near Iran.
Washington has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the region, with the first,
the USS Abraham Lincoln and its nearly 80 aircraft, positioned about 700
kilometers (435 miles) from the Iranian coast as of Sunday, satellite images
showed. Iran has sought to display its own military might, with its Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) beginning a series of war games on Monday in
the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to block
the strait, a major global conduit for oil and gas. On Tuesday, state TV
reported that Tehran would close parts of the waterway for safety measures
during the drills.
Iran issues NOTAM over planned rocket launches on Thursday,
US FAA says
LBCI/19 February/2026
Iran issued a notice to airmen that it plans rocket launches in areas across its
south on Thursday from 330 GMT to 1330 GMT, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration website showed on Wednesday. Reuters
Iran ‘drafting framework to advance’ future talks with US,
Araghchi tells IAEA chief
AFP/18 February/2026:
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was “drafting”
a framework for future talks with Washington, during a phone call with the UN
nuclear watchdog.In the call with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, Araghchi “stressed
the Islamic Republic of Iran’s focus on drafting an initial and coherent
framework to advance future talks,” according to a statement from the Iranian
foreign ministry. The phone call came a day after a
second round of Oman-mediated negotiations between Iran and the United States in
Geneva. Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran had agreed with Washington on
“guiding principles” for a deal to avoid conflict, but US Vice President JD
Vance said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington’s “red lines.”Also
on Wednesday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that Washington will deter
Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons “one way or the other.”Earlier on
Wednesday, Reza Najafi, Iran’s permanent representative to the IAEA in Vienna,
held a joint meeting with Grossi and the ambassadors of allied countries China
and Russia “to exchange views” on the upcoming session of the agency’s Board of
Governors meetings and “developments related to Iran’s nuclear program,” Iran’s
mission in Vienna said on X. Tehran has suspended some cooperation with the IAEA
and restricted the watchdog’s inspectors from accessing sites bombed by Israel
and the United States during a 12-day war in June, accusing the UN body of bias
and of failing to condemn the strikes. Diplomatic efforts are underway to avert
the possibility of US military intervention in Iran amid Washington’s military
build-up in the region in recent weeks.
Satellite images show Iran repairing and fortifying sites
amid US tensions
Reuters/18 February/2026
Satellite images show that Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new
facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil, experts say,
advancing work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024 amid tensions
with the US. Images also show that Iran has buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear
site bombed by the US during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last year, fortified
tunnel entrances near another, and has repaired missile bases struck in the
conflict. They offer a glimpse of Iranian activities at some of the sites at the
center of tensions with Israel and the US, as Washington seeks to negotiate a
deal with Tehran on its nuclear program while threatening military action if
talks fail.
Parchin military complex
Some 30 km (20 miles) southeast of Tehran, the Parchin complex is one of Iran’s
most sensitive military sites. Western intelligence has suggested Tehran carried
out tests relevant to nuclear bomb detonations there more than two decades ago.
Iran has always denied seeking atomic weapons. Israel reportedly struck Parchin
in October 2024. Satellite imagery taken before and after that attack shows
extensive damage to a rectangular building at Parchin, and apparent
reconstruction in images from November 6, 2024. Imagery from October 12, 2025,
shows development at the site, with the skeleton of a new structure visible and
two smaller structures adjacent to it. Progress is apparent in imagery from
November 14, with what appears to be a metallic roof covering the large
structure. But imagery from December 13 shows the facility partly covered. By
February 16, it cannot be seen at all, hidden by what experts say is a concrete
structure. The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), in a
January 22 analysis of satellite imagery, pointed to progress in the
construction of a “concrete sarcophagus” around a newly built facility at the
site, which it identified as Taleghan 2. A combination picture of satellite
images show the Parchin military complex before the Israeli strikes of October,
2024, in Parchin, Iran in this handout image dated October 20, 2024, (left), and
concrete over the site at the Parchin military complex, in Parchin, Iran in this
handout image dated January, 24, 2026, (right). (Reuters)
A combination picture of satellite images show the Parchin military
complex before the Israeli strikes of October, 2024, in Parchin, Iran in this
handout image dated October 20, 2024, (left), and concrete over the site at the
Parchin military complex, in Parchin, Iran in this handout image dated January,
24, 2026, (right). (Reuters)
ISIS reported in November that imagery showed “ongoing construction and the
presence of what appears to resemble a long, cylindrical chamber, maybe a
high-explosives containment vessel, likely measuring approximately 36 meters
long and 12 meters in diameter placed inside a building.” “High-explosive
containment vessels are critical to the development of nuclear weapons,” ISIS
added, “but can also be used in many other conventional weapons development
processes.”William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground,
said the roof had a similar hue to the surrounding area, adding: “It has most
likely been covered with dirt to obscure the concrete color.” ISIS founder David
Albright wrote on X: “Stalling the negotiations has its benefits: Over the last
two to three weeks, Iran has been busy burying the new Taleghan 2 facility ...
More soil is available and the facility may soon become a fully unrecognizable
bunker, providing significant protection from aerial strikes.”Tunnel entrances
buried at Isfahan nuclear complex. The Isfahan complex
is one of three Iranian uranium-enrichment plants bombed by the United States in
June.In addition to facilities that are part of the nuclear fuel cycle, Isfahan
includes an underground area where diplomats say much of Iran’s enriched uranium
has been stored. Satellite images taken in late January showed new efforts to
bury two tunnel entrances at the complex, ISIS reported on January 29. In a
February 9 update, ISIS said a third entrance had also been backfilled with
soil, meaning all entrances to the tunnel complex were now “completely buried.”
A February 10 image shows all three tunnels buried, Goodhind said.
ISIS reported on February 9 that “backfilling the tunnel entrances would help
dampen any potential airstrike and also make ground access in a special forces
raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be housed inside
difficult.”
Tunnel entrances fortified at complex near Natanz site
I
SIS has reported that satellite images point to ongoing efforts since February
10 to “harden and defensively strengthen” two entrances to a tunnel complex
under a mountain some 2 km (1.2 miles) from Natanz – the site that holds Iran’s
other two uranium enrichment plants. Imagery shows “ongoing activity throughout
the complex related to this effort, involving the movement of numerous vehicles,
including dump trucks, cement mixers, and other heavy equipment,” ISIS wrote.
Iran’s plans for the facility, called Pickaxe Mountain, are unclear, ISIS said.
Shiraz south missile base
About 10 km (6 miles) south of Shiraz in southern Iran, this is one of 25
primary bases capable of launching medium-range ballistic missiles, according to
Alma Research and Education Center, an Israeli organization. Alma assessed the
site had suffered light, above-ground damage in last year’s war. A comparison of
images taken on July 3, 2025 and January 30 shows reconstruction and clearance
efforts at the main logistics and likely command compound at the base, Goodhind
said.
“The key takeaway is that the compound has yet to return to its full operational
capacity from prior to the airstrikes.”
Qom missile base
Some 40 km north of the city of Qom, this base suffered moderate above-ground
damage, according to Alma. A comparison of images taken between July 16, 2025,
and February 1 shows a new roof over a damaged building. The roof repairs appear
to have begun on November 17 and were most likely complete 10 days later,
Goodhind said.
US withdrawing all forces
from Syria, WSJ reports
LBCI/19 February/2026
The United States is in the process of withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000
troops from Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three
U.S. officials.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Last week, the U.S. military
said it completed a withdrawal from a strategic base in Syria, handing it over
to Syrian forces, in the latest sign of strengthening U.S.-Syrian ties that
could enable an even larger American drawdown.The Journal said that troops will
withdraw from the remaining U.S. locations in Syria over the next two
months.Reuters
Israel conducting 'gradual de facto annexation' of W.Bank:
UN official
LBCI/19 February/2026
A top U.N. official warned Wednesday that steps by Israel to tighten control of
areas of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority amount to
"gradual de facto annexation.""We are witnessing the gradual de facto annexation
of the West Bank, as unilateral Israeli steps steadily transform the landscape,"
U.N. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told a meeting of the Security
Council on the Palestinian question. AFP
Top Israeli minister pushes
for ‘emigration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians
AFP/18 February/2026
A senior Israeli far-right minister vowed to encourage “emigration” from the
Palestinian territories, despite mounting criticism of recent measures
tightening Israel’s control over the occupied West Bank. Since last week, Israel
has approved a series of initiatives backed by far-right ministers to
consolidate control over the West Bank, including in areas administered by the
Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, in place since the 1990s. “We will
eliminate the idea of an Arab terror state,” far-right Finance Minister Bezalel
Smotrich said at an event organized by his Religious Zionism Party late on
Tuesday. “We will finally, formally and in practical terms nullify the cursed
Oslo Accords and embark on a path toward sovereignty, while encouraging
emigration from both Gaza and Judea and Samaria,” he said, using the Biblical
term for the West Bank. “There is no other long-term solution,” added Smotrich,
who himself lives in a settlement in the West Bank. Smotrich was speaking at a
vineyard near Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, where he
presented what he called “Colonization 2030,” a campaign initiative ahead of
national elections scheduled for later this year. In
addition to the finance portfolio, Smotrich serves on Israel’s security cabinet,
which takes key decisions regarding the West Bank, making him a central figure
in efforts to expand settlements there. The recently approved measures include
launching a process to register land in the West Bank as “state property” and
allowing Jewish Israelis to purchase land directly. Until now, land acquisitions
for settlers were typically carried out through intermediary companies. The new
measures repeal a decades-old law that barred Jews from directly purchasing land
in the West Bank.
“This will allow Jews to purchase land in Judea and Samaria exactly as they do
in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem,” Smotrich said last week.
Global outrage
The steps are also set to increase Israel’s control in parts of the West Bank
where the Palestinian Authority currently exercises power. Under the Oslo
Accords, the West Bank was divided into areas A, B and C -- under Palestinian,
mixed and Israeli governance respectively. The West Bank would form the largest
part of any future Palestinian state, but many on Israel’s religious right view
it as Israeli land. The Oslo Accords were signed with
the stated aim of paving the way for an independent Palestinian state. Israeli
NGOs have also raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government
which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem’s borders into the
occupied West Bank since 1967.The planned development, announced by Israel’s
Ministry of Construction and Housing, is formally a westward expansion of the
Geva Binyamin, or Adam, settlement situated northeast of Jerusalem in the West
Bank. The new measures have triggered widespread international outrage. On
Tuesday, the UN missions of 85 countries condemned the measures, which critics
say amount to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. “We strongly
condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s
unlawful presence in the West Bank,” they said in a statement. “Such decisions
are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be
immediately reversed.“We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any
form of annexation.”
‘Growing isolation’
Rawhi Fattouh, a top Palestinian official, said such widespread condemnation
showed a “shift in the international community’s approach to its legal and moral
responsibilities” regarding Palestinian rights. “It also represents further
evidence of the growing isolation of the occupying entity, which insists on
defying international will,” the speaker of the Palestinian National Council
said in a statement. He accused Israel of continuing to “pursue policies of
annexation, Judaization ethnic cleansing, illegal colonization and the
imposition of a systematic system of racial discrimination that amounts to the
crime of apartheid”.US President Donald Trump has previously voiced opposition
to annexation of the West Bank, but has stopped short of directly criticizing
the latest Israeli measures.Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than
500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal
under international law.Around three million Palestinians live in the territory,
which Israel has occupied since 1967. The current Israeli government, considered
one of the most right-wing in the country’s history, has fast-tracked settlement
expansion. It has approved a record 54 settlements in 2025, according to Israeli
NGO Peace Now.
EU exploring support for
new Gaza administration committee, document says
Reuters/18 February/2026
The European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established
to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document produced
by the bloc's diplomatic arm and seen by Reuters. “The EU is engaging with the
newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza,” the European
External Action Service wrote in a document circulated to member states on
Tuesday.“The EU is also exploring possible support to the National Committee for
the Administration of Gaza,” it added. European foreign ministers will discuss
the situation in Gaza during a meeting in Brussels on February 23. Most European
governments have chosen not to join the US-led Board of Peace, but a member of
the European Commission is scheduled to travel to Washington for a meeting of
the Board on Thursday. “The decision not to join the Board of Peace (BoP) as a
member does not impact our continued commitment to the success of the Peace
Plan,” the EU document said. European Commissioner for the Mediterranean,
Dubravka Suica, “will participate as an observer” in the Board of Peace meeting
and the EU’s police support mission “will contribute to the International
Stabilization Force (ISF) by training and equipping Palestinian civil police and
criminal justice institutions,” it added.
Ramadan begins in Gaza amid
ruins of shattered mosques
Reuters/18 February/2026
As the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began in Gaza on Wednesday, Palestinians
headed to the shattered ruins of mosques or to makeshift prayer spaces made of
tarpaulins and wood, mourning their dead and their lost places of worship.In
Gaza City, the dome of the now destroyed al-Hassaina mosque rests on top of a
pile of rubble. Its former courtyard, where worshippers once gathered and today
families sleep and cook among the ruins, is criss-crossed with washing lines.
“I can’t bear to look at it,” said Sami al-Hissi, 61, a volunteer at the
mosque in Gaza City, standing on rubble where rows of worshippers once stood
shoulder to shoulder in prayer. “We used to pray comfortably. We used to see our
friends, our loved ones. Now there are no loved ones, no friends, and no
mosque,” he said. Children clamber over the cracked
domes and women collect laundry hung between broken columns. Al-Hissi said the
mosque had drawn worshippers from other neighborhoods including Shejaiya and
Daraj during Ramadan. “It would be filled with thousands,” he said. “But now,
where are they supposed to pray? It’s all rubble and destruction. There’s barely
enough space for a hundred people.”Israel launched its air and ground war in
Gaza after a Hamas-led cross-border attack on October 7, 2023 that killed 1,200
people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s assault has killed 72,000
Palestinians, health authorities say. The Gaza government media office says
Israeli forces have completely destroyed 835 mosques and partially damaged 180.
It added Israel has targeted churches in attacks on multiple occasions, and
destroyed 40 of Gaza’s 60 cemeteries. Israel says it targets militant
infrastructure and accuses Palestinian armed groups of operating in civilian
areas, including mosques, an allegation Hamas denies.
For many residents, the loss is both spiritual and communal. “We wished we could
welcome Ramadan in a different atmosphere,” said Khitam Jabr, displaced and now
staying at the mosque.“We don’t have enough mosques. All of the mosques were
destroyed and there’s nowhere to pray. Now we pray in tents, and the mosques
became centers for the displaced,” she added. Despite the devastation and severe
shortages of materials, people are attempting to rebuild small sections of
mosques and set up makeshift prayer spaces using reused plastic sheeting and
wood, said Amir Abu al-Amrain, director of the religious affairs ministry in
Gaza City. “Four hundred and thirty prayer areas have been rebuilt, some using
plastic sheets from greenhouses, some made of wood, and some constructed with
plastic sheets from tents,” he said.
Eight of nine missing skiers in California avalanche are
dead: Police
LBCI/19 February/2026
Eight of the nine skiers missing in California after an avalanche have been
found dead, and one remains missing, police said Wednesday. Rescuers have been
desperately searching for the group, which was caught in the avalanche early
Tuesday on Castle Peak in the Tahoe area. Earlier, six skiers were found alive,
two of them being taken to the hospital."We are still looking for one of the
members at this time," Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said. AFP
Denmark’s King Frederik X
arrives in Greenland in show of support
AFP/18 February/2026
Denmark’s King Frederik X arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day
visit in a show of support for the autonomous Danish territory coveted by US
President Donald Trump, an AFP journalist reported.
The 57-year-old monarch waved to well-wishers brandishing Greenlandic flags at
Nuuk airport as he was greeted by Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik
Nielsen.Trump’s threats to seize the vast mineral-rich Arctic island, by force
if necessary, have ratcheted up tensions between the United States and Denmark.
In a visit seen as highly symbolic, Frederik was to spend Wednesday in
Greenland’s capital Nuuk, holding talks with Nielsen, touring a high school and
a fisheries company, and taking part in a social coffee break with the general
public at a cultural center. On Thursday he was to head to Maniitsoq, some 150
kilometers (90 miles) north of Nuuk, before visiting a Danish military Arctic
training center in Kangerlussuaq, farther north, on Friday. Despite Denmark’s
past as colonial power over the autonomous territory, the monarchy, including
Frederik, has long enjoyed huge popularity in Greenland. Among the dozen or so
well-wishers braving the cold outside the airport to greet the king was a
44-year-old man who told AFP that “it’s good he’s coming here.”“There should be
no doubt about my love for Greenland,” Frederik said in March 2025. An avid
sportsman who enjoys the outdoors, Frederik took part in a grueling four-month,
3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) ski expedition across Greenland in 2000 as part of
the Danish Navy’s elite Sirius dogsled patrol.The king, who became monarch in
January 2024 after the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe, last visited
the island in April 2025. He also visited in July
2024, with royal commentators noting that three visits in less than two years
was unusual.Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Saturday she believed
US President Donald Trump still desires to own Greenland despite dialing back
his recent threats to seize it by force.Trump insists mineral-rich Greenland is
vital for US and NATO security against Russia and China as a melting Arctic
opens up and the superpowers jostle for strategic advantage. A
US-Denmark-Greenland working group has been established to discuss Washington’s
security concerns in the Arctic, but details have not been made public.
Canada eases sanctions on Syria, foreign minister says
LBCI/19 February/2026
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said on Wednesday that Canada
had amended its economic sanctions on Syria to ease restrictions related to the
import and export of goods, investment activities and the provision of financial
and other services. "The amendments also remove 24 entities and one individual
from the Syria Regulations to reduce barriers to economic activity and to enable
transactions with state-affiliated entities in key sectors critical to Syria’s
recovery," Anand said in a statement. Reuters
Ukraine dissatisfied with ‘difficult’ Russia talks, US sees
‘meaningful progress’
Reuters/19 February/2026
Two days of peace talks in Geneva between Ukraine and Russia ended on Wednesday
without a breakthrough as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was dissatisfied
with the outcome while Washington reported “meaningful progress.”
Officials from Moscow and Kyiv said the discussions in Geneva were
difficult. At the conclusion, the delegations said they would meet again,
without providing a date, while Zelenskyy and the White House suggested
discussions could occur soon.Ukraine has faced sustained pressure from US
President Donald Trump to agree to a deal that could mean painful concessions,
as Russian forces pound its power grid and slowly advance on the
battlefield.Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said: “As of
today, we cannot say that the result is sufficient. “The military discussed
certain issues seriously and substantively. Sensitive political matters,
possible compromises and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been
sufficiently addressed.”He said it was important that European representatives
were present in Geneva and described holding a next round of talks later this
month as appropriate.
In Washington, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said there was
“meaningful progress made” with pledges “to continue to work towards a peace
deal together.”Leavitt suggested there would be another set of talks soon. But
she said Trump viewed the situation, nearly four years into the war, as “very
unfair, not just for Russians and Ukrainians who have lost their lives, but also
for the American people and the American taxpayer who were footing the bill for
this war effort before President Trump put a stop to it.”In Moscow, Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s negotiating team would brief President
Vladimir Putin on the talks and acknowledged the delegation’s leader had called
the discussions “difficult.”As the two sides met for a second day with mediation
by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Zelenskyy wrote
on X that Russia was “trying to drag out negotiations that could already have
reached the final stage.”Moments after his statement, the delegations broke off
the talks.
Difficult, but business-like
Russia’s chief negotiator, former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, described
the talks as “difficult, but business-like.”Medinsky spoke with the Ukrainians
for nearly two hours after formal talks ended, according to a representative of
Kyiv’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov. A spokesperson for Zelenskyy said the
formal part of the talks had addressed territory in Ukraine’s east and the fate
of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, both persistent sticking
points. Moscow wants Ukraine to cede the roughly 20 percent of the eastern
region of Donetsk that Russian forces have been unable to conquer – something
Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Kyiv, meanwhile, wants
Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, to be operated by the US and
Ukraine, which Russia dismisses as unacceptable.
Tuesday will be the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which
has killed hundreds of thousands, driven millions from their homes and ravaged
Ukrainian cities, towns and villages. Russia denies deliberately targeting
civilians. Trump has twice suggested in recent days that Kyiv must make sure a
deal is agreed quickly. He told reporters on Monday: “Ukraine better come to the
table fast. That’s all I’m telling you.”
Zelenskyy: Unfair concessions
In an interview with the US news outlet Axios, Zelenskyy was quoted as saying
that it was “not fair” that Trump kept publicly demanding concessions from
Ukraine, not Russia.Zelenskyy also said any plan requiring Ukraine to give up
territory that Russia had not captured in the east would be rejected if put to a
referendum. Kyiv wants strong US-backed security
guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks in the event of a peace deal. The
Geneva meeting follows two rounds of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi that made no
breakthrough. Both Zelenskyy and Umerov have made a point of repeatedly thanking
the US for its mediation in recent weeks. Zelenskyy
has expressed concern that US congressional elections in November could draw
Washington’s attention away from efforts to end the conflict.
In all, Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine’s national territory,
including Crimea, seized and annexed in 2014. It is advancing slowly along the
roughly 1,200 km (750-mile) front line; analysts say it has gained about 1.5
percent of Ukraine since early 2024. Moscow’s recent airstrikes on energy
infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without heating and
power during an exceptionally harsh winter.
EU, UK, Canada denounce
possible ‘crimes against humanity’ in Sudan
AFP/19 February/2026
Britain, Canada and the European Union on Wednesday denounced possible war
crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan during the nearly three-year war
between the army and paramilitary rivals.The Sudanese army and the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a bitter struggle for control of
the country since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced 11
million and triggered what the UN calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian
crises. Wednesday’s joint statement said the
signatories “condemn the abhorrent violence against civilians, particularly
women and children and all serious violations of international humanitarian law
in the strongest terms.”“These violations may amount to war crimes or crimes
against humanity and must be promptly and impartially investigated, with those
responsible for international crimes brought to justice.”“Sexual and
gender-based violence is rampant, famine is confirmed and severe hunger
continues to spread,” it said.The war has effectively split the country in two,
with the army holding the center, north and east while the RSF controls the west
and, with their allies, parts of the south. With truce talks deadlocked for
months, the UN has repeatedly urged warring parties to respect international
humanitarian law and allow access for aid.
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
18-19/2026
The 'Other Side' Turns Against the Jews
Pierre Rehov/Gatestone
Institute/February 18, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22283/the-other-side-turns-against-the-jews
This chill is often dressed up as "just asking questions" or "anti-globalism".
How come there never seem to be similar "questions" about Qatar, China, Turkey,
Nigeria or Pakistan?
The problem is not about failing to tolerate "free speech." The problem is about
failing to examine what is said with follow-up questions. The great Edward R.
Murrow invited Senator Joseph McCarthy on CBS television's See It Now not to
give him the run of the corral but to challenge his remarks. The problem is a
pattern of tolerating an intolerance that would not be accepted if it were aimed
at any ethnic group other than Jews.
There is a gulf between arguing to cut foreign aid and amplifying blood-libel
smears.
Criticism is not censorship, decency is not "consensus" and the Jewish people
are not "clicks."
Contrast the fringe to actual governance. Under President Donald J. Trump, the
U.S. moved its Embassy to Jerusalem (2018), recognized Israeli sovereignty on
the Golan Heights (2019), and brokered the Abraham Accords — historic
normalization agreements reshaping the strategic map. These facts remain the
gold standard for a pro-ally foreign policy grounded in U.S. interests.
Whenever Washington projected resolve rather than courting applause in European
salons, anti-terror alignment, economic growth and Western values have advanced.
The newly vocal antisemitic "Right" seems to represent regress masquerading as
rebellion. They do not actually speak for the "Right;" they speak for themselves
and for the social media algorithms that reward outrage and sounding outrageous.
Many – maybe most -- prominent members of the "Right" — from Trump to Pastor
John Hagee, Thomas Sowell and Marco Rubio — stand with Israel because they stand
with the West, with victims of jihad, and with a commitment to preserve the
values of individual freedom, economic opportunity, quality education, freedom
of expression and equal justice under the law. The "Right" would do well say so
— clearly, repeatedly, and without apology — and should quarantine the grifters
who would trade civilization for "clicks."
The newly vocal antisemitic "Right" seems to represent regress masquerading as
rebellion. They do not actually speak for the "Right;" they speak for themselves
and for the social media algorithms that reward outrage and sounding outrageous.
It's back. Not the usual anti-Israel vitriol from the so-called "Left" —but a
creeping, winking strain of anti-Jewish hostility rising this time inside the
American "Right." This chill is often dressed up as "just asking questions" or
"anti-globalism". How come there never seem to be similar "questions" about
Qatar, China, Turkey, Nigeria or Pakistan?
There is nothing new about recycling century-old tropes, flirting with blood
libels, or mainstreaming a Holocaust denier because he brings clicks. The
American "Right" — at its best — defends the Judeo-Christian foundations of the
West, and honors facts, allies and moral clarity. This heritage means standing
with Israel and against antisemites, even when the antisemites posture as being
on the side of all that is "good."
Perhaps one can start with those who defended various antisemitic rants (such as
here, here and here). The problem is not about failing to tolerate "free
speech." The problem is about failing to examine what is said with follow-up
questions. The great Edward R. Murrow invited Senator Joseph McCarthy on CBS
television's See It Now not to give him the run of the corral but to challenge
his remarks. The problem is a pattern of tolerating an intolerance that would
not be accepted if it were aimed at any ethnic group other than Jews.
Normalize the slur here, wink at a trope there, then insist that critics are
"overreacting." This is how the ideological poison spreads.
There is a gulf between arguing to cut foreign aid and amplifying blood-libel
smears.
Then came interviews that allowed the Tucker Carlson moment. On his show, on
October 27, 2025, he hosted a Holocaust denier, Nick Fuentes. The interview
featured open antisemitic bile and even bizarre praise of both Hitler and Stalin
to waft by with, at best, anemically gentle pushback.
By late 2024, the watchdog group Stop Antisemitism citing a dossier of repeat
offenses, named Candace Owens its "Antisemite of the Year."
Even The Nation — no MAGA organ — warned that elements of right-wing
anti-Zionism are curdling into open antisemitism and explicitly cites the
Heritage Foundation-Tucker Carlson controversy as symptomatic.
To its credit, the American "Right" has no shortage of adults in the room. Many
intellectuals, Jewish advocates, elected Republicans, and elected Democrats that
you can count on one hand have openly explained that freedom of speech does not
require respectable platforms to feature unreconstructed bigots when they accuse
"the establishment" of "silencing us."
Whenever someone habitually slanders Jews and then complains of being
"silenced," it is important to call it out as the two-faced switch that it is.
Criticism is not censorship, decency is not "consensus" and the Jewish people
are not "clicks."
The fact is that Republican support for Israel remains high. Pew Research this
year found solid GOP confidence in Israel's leadership and warm views of
Israelis. When far-right influencers target Jews, they are out of step with
rank-and-file Republican voters -- and not speaking for them.
Younger voters, subject to China's antisemitic and anti-American influence on
TikTok, are admittedly more skeptical.
Contrast the fringe to actual governance. Under President Donald J. Trump, the
U.S. moved its Embassy to Jerusalem (2018), recognized Israeli sovereignty on
the Golan Heights (2019), and brokered the Abraham Accords — historic
normalization agreements reshaping the strategic map. These facts remain the
gold standard for a pro-ally foreign policy grounded in U.S. interests.
The momentum has continued. Fox News last year reported on efforts to expand the
Abraham Accords — with new international candidates openly discussed — precisely
because strength plus moral clarity wins respect in the region. Whenever
Washington projected resolve rather than courting applause in European salons,
anti-terror alignment, economic growth and Western values have advanced.
Meanwhile, serious national security policy continues confronting jihadist
groups, backing Israel's right to self-defense, and leveraging diplomacy (as
with the Gulf states) to isolate terrorists. This framework does not require
romanticizing any foreign government. It does require rejecting those who would
turn "Zionist" into a slur and "globalist" into a dog whistle for "Jew."
The newly vocal antisemitic "Right" seems to represent regress masquerading as
rebellion. They do not actually speak for the "Right;" they speak for themselves
and for the social media algorithms that reward outrage and sounding outrageous.
Many – maybe most -- prominent members of the "Right" — from Trump to Pastor
John Hagee, Thomas Sowell and Marco Rubio — stand with Israel because they stand
with the West, with victims of jihad, and with a commitment to preserve the
values of individual freedom, economic opportunity, quality education, freedom
of expression and equal justice under the law. The "Right" would do well say so
— clearly, repeatedly, and without apology — and should quarantine the grifters
who would trade civilization for "clicks."
*Pierre Rehov, who holds a law degree from Paris-Assas, is a French reporter,
novelist and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of six novels, including
"Beyond Red Lines", "The Third Testament" and "Red Eden", translated from
French. His latest essay on the aftermath of the October 7 massacre " 7 octobre
- La riposte " became a bestseller in France. As a filmmaker, he has produced
and directed 17 documentaries, many photographed at high risk in Middle Eastern
war zones, and focusing on terrorism, media bias, and the persecution of
Christians. His latest documentary, "Pogrom(s)" highlights the context of
ancient Jew hatred within Muslim civilization as the main force behind the
October 7 massacre.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
The Gulf’s grand strategy for the next century
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabia English/February 18/2026
For countries seeking long-term economic growth in the twenty-first century,
investment in technology, sports, and entertainment is no longer optional. These
sectors increasingly shape global power in ways traditional industries alone
cannot.
The world’s most influential corporations and fastest-growing economies are
rooted in innovation, digital platforms, global sporting events, and
entertainment ecosystems. For Gulf states, this shift presents both a challenge
and an opportunity. Those that position themselves at the center of these
industries will not only diversify their economies but secure a lasting role in
the global system.
Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is foundational to this
transformation. AI is not simply another advancement; it is reshaping
governance, defense, healthcare, finance, transportation, and energy
simultaneously. Countries that lead in AI will command data flows, innovation
networks, and productivity gains that drive economic strength. For Gulf states,
investing in AI offers a pathway beyond natural resource dependence toward a
knowledge-based economy. It supports smart cities, digitized public services,
enhanced security capabilities, and globally competitive domestic industries. In
Saudi Arabia, this pivot is central to Vision 2030. The strategy aims to
transform the Kingdom into a diversified economy powered by innovation and
advanced industries. Investments in digital infrastructure, research
institutions, startup ecosystems, and partnerships with global technology firms
are accelerating this shift. Artificial intelligence is being integrated across
sectors, from energy optimization to urban planning. By cultivating domestic
innovation while attracting foreign expertise, Saudi Arabia seeks to become a
regional hub where technology is created rather than imported. This reflects a
recognition that future prosperity belongs to nations generating ideas, not
simply exporting commodities.
Entertainment has emerged as another key engine of diversification and
influence. For years, limited domestic offerings led to significant outbound
leisure spending. Governments are now building comprehensive entertainment
ecosystems to retain that spending and attract global visitors.
Festivals, film production, music events, theme parks, and cultural districts
generate revenue while supporting small businesses and creative industries. In
Saudi Arabia, large-scale seasonal events, international concerts, and tourism
projects are reshaping the country’s global image. These initiatives encourage
private investment in hospitality, media, design, and event management,
strengthening economic activity beyond oil.
The United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, demonstrates how tourism and
entertainment can transform a regional economy into a global destination.
Through international events and world-class attractions, Dubai positioned
itself as a crossroads of commerce and leisure. Other Gulf states are adapting
similar models, creating a competitive regional environment that amplifies the
Middle East’s global appeal.
Sports form the third pillar of this strategy. Major sporting events attract
worldwide audiences, generate broadcasting and sponsorship revenue, and
stimulate infrastructure development. For Gulf countries, sports investments
promote tourism, engage youth, and enhance national prestige.
Saudi Arabia’s growing role in international sports reflects a deliberate effort
to position the country as a major host of global competitions. Hosting
prestigious events brings sustained media attention and economic spillover
effects across hospitality, transportation, retail, and media.
The impact of investing in technology, entertainment, and sports extends beyond
financial returns. These sectors attract global talent, encourage knowledge
transfer, and reduce vulnerability to oil market fluctuations. As global energy
demand evolves, diversification is essential for long-term stability.
Equally important is perception. A country associated with innovation, cultural
vibrancy, and world-class events strengthens its diplomatic influence and
international partnerships. Reputation becomes a strategic asset.
For a region with a young population, these industries also create pathways for
social development. Technology education prepares youth for high-skill jobs,
entertainment industries offer creative outlets, and sports promote health and
cohesion.
Oil wealth fueled past growth. Innovation and cultural industries will define
the future. Gulf states investing boldly today are positioning themselves not
just to adapt to a post-oil world, but to help shape it.
America
Through Europe’s Critical Eye
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 18/2026
In large swaths of European political culture, and to Europhile American
intellectuals, American affairs often seem incomprehensible, unacceptable, or
irrational, as well as encapsulating a dose of violence that had been assumed
obsolete.
Among many other factors, lies an "aberrational" historical background by
European standards, a background that nonetheless represents a foundational
moment, though many subsequent moments have changed it for better and for worse.
Incoming white settlers took up arms and waged wars on the indigenous population
(“Native Americans”) before there was a state in America. Armament thereby
preceded statehood, and that was before militias, by the late nineteenth
century, played a major role in the beginning of the American Civil War. That is
how broad skepticism of statehood, regulation, and organization took root in the
country, and how freedom came to be associated with colonial settlement and
limitless individual initiative.
For their part, the “Founding Fathers” were selective in their reading of John
Locke, the English philosopher who profoundly influenced their thinking. Locke
did not believe that citizens had a constitutional right to bear in the terms
laid out in the Second Amendment. Rather, he argued that human beings are born
into a “state of nature” and have a natural right to life, liberty, and
property; thus, when there is no common authority to defend these rights, they
are entitled to take up arms to defend themselves against violence and
injustice. Armament and resistance are also justified when a government violates
natural rights and wages war against the people. Bearing arms was, however, a
collective rather than an individual decision in Locke’s view, and arms were
only to be used to resist tyranny. Once a political society is formed,
individuals relinquish their right to bear arms, declare war, and inflict
punishment. The Second Amendment disregards Locke’s restrictions, driven by
tradition of militias, deep suspicions of interventionist central government,
and “life on the frontier,” which renders “Are you with us or against us?” the
ultimate question.
Many, foremost among them the American political sociologist Barrington Moore,
have pointed to another issue that is not any less consequential. The United
States had never known the feudalism seen in Europe, and this has had a strong
impact on its history, as the absence of a hereditary aristocracy endowed with
privileges allowed for the emergence of an early political equality though
limited to the white population. This absence of a feudal class facilitated the
rise of republican ideals and broad political participation- to white settlers.
Most of them had secured the right to vote by the early nineteenth century,
before any country in Europe, making democracy seem almost “natural.” While
European democracy grew from under the weight of peasantry’s struggle against
feudalism and the clash between the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie, American
democracy was distanced from social justice. At the time, it did not look
unfamiliar that all the “Founding Fathers,” with the exception of John Adams,
were slave owners, nor that Jefferson (the most eloquent advocate of democracy
and many other virtues among them) owned six hundred slaves.
The absence of feudalism also meant the American Revolution was more
conservative than the French Revolution that confronted feudalism and the
Church. While the latter would go on to emphasize wealth redistribution, the
former focused on defending property. Despite the injustice, especially racial
injustice, justice did not occupy much space in mainstream American political
thought.
Moreover, ownership of land did not confer social status in the United States in
the way it had in Europe, remaining a mere commodity. This was facilitated by
the vastness of the land, especially after it was seized from indigenous
populations, as well as the lack of restrictions on buying and selling it.
Geographic and social mobility spurred the conviction that individual effort,
not origin, was the only source of success, giving rise to the myth of the
“self-made man.”
Because society had been built around commercial contracts, markets, and the
forms of association (churches, unions, clubs) celebrated by Tocqueville,
individual rights came to outweigh collective rights, and American liberalism
came to be defined by skepticism toward the state and hostility to socialist
traditions (and taxes), which were to promote meddling. The law, as an arm of
the state, was not seen as a constraint on individual initiative in the way it
had been in Europe.
In fact, “the Southern tradition’’ meant exactly that the American south is not
feudal, but an agrarian capitalist system founded on slavery that created
extreme disparities in wealth without giving rise to a peasantry capable of
revolution. After the Civil War, this system was effectively reinstated through
a racial hierarchy that took the place of a feudal hierarchy.
In other words, race trumped the class, or rather, the former subsumed the
latter whereby the social question did not pit peasants against feudal lords but
enslaved Africans and indigenous populations against whites. Here, economic
exploitation is harsher, as the labor market is segregated between white
workers, who are incorporated into the political system and its institutions,
and non-white workers, who are not.
As a result, republican democracy in America proved easier to attain but more
superficial and fragile. Business was the primary source of social values, and
the immigration for which the country has been known, above all, a “chance to
make it.” Moreover, a sharp distinction was drawn between intelligence- useful
and practical- and intellect- abstract and ultimately useless. These and others
are the trends of what American historian Richard Hofstadter called
"Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" in the title of his most famous book.
Israel’s
Sprint to Annex the West Bank
Dr. Nassif Hitti/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 18/2026
Israel is accelerating its effort to “enshrine” its annexation of the West Bank
and East Jerusalem. Some see this effort as part of a gradual process toward the
formalization of full annexation following the decision taken by the
mini-cabinet on February 8. The decision announced, or effectively gave the
green light for changing the status of what the authorities call “public land”
in the West Bank into state land.
Whatever the legal characterization the Israeli government seeks to give to the
occupied West Bank, in principle it remains illegal and illegitimate per
international law. It violates the principles, stipulation, and relevant
resolutions of the United Nations. This land is occupied territory, regardless
of the occupying power’s attempts to reframe the issue as a “property dispute.”
It is worth recalling that the development should come as no surprise in light
of the strategic and religious ideology of Israel, which has been reiterated
daily in statements, declarations, and actions of its top brass, that all
clearly reflect a pursuit of “Greater Israel.”One must also point to the
repeated statements and actions on the ground that encourage, facilitate, and
thus accelerate settlement expansion in the West Bank, to accelerate demographic
change. Fifty-two new settlements have been established in the past year.
Restrictions on land purchase were lifted following the repeal of an old law
that had explicitly prohibited them. The occupation authorities are also
expanding by gnawing at the land, thereby extending into areas that fall under
Palestinian Authority jurisdiction under the Oslo Accords.
What is also underway is a process of “geographic strangulation” of the
Palestinian population on their own land, alongside economic and water
strangulation. The objective, of course, is to create facts on the ground that
push the inhabitants of the West Bank toward displacement in order to tip the
demographic balance in the state of “Greater Israel,” while Gaza is treated as a
security problem for Israel and dealt with from that perspective.
The policy is to escalate the blockade along the expanding “yellow line,” which
could eventually become de facto borders imposed by Israel, coupled with the
threat of resuming hostilities if Hamas is not dealt with on Israeli terms. That
is, Israel is actively seeking to accelerate the “transfer” of the West Bank’s
population, raising serious and grave concerns in Jordan.
Israel has thus moved from a policy of open rejection of a Palestinian state -
effectively rejecting the two-state solution and all diplomatic initiatives in
that direction - to implementation on the ground. While such practices had begun
before, they were not pursued with this intensity. As noted, the goal is
consolidating apartheid under the banner of realizing “Greater Israel” modeled
on the previous regime in South Africa. That system was founded on the split of
areas - the Bantustans - granted special administrative status with only
“municipal” authority and functions. This paves the way for relegating
Palestinians into “second-class citizens” in a West Bank that lies within
“Greater Israel.”
In light of these dangerous developments, not only because of their current
impact but also for their future repercussions, does it suffice to continue to
appeal, condemn, and warn? Has the time not come, despite the obstacles, to
formulate an effective initiative bringing together the relevant Arab and
international parties, especially those engaged in the peace process, to launch
and activate a diplomatic track for a settlement based on the two-state
solution?
Such a diplomatic initiative would entail pressure, facing many obstacles, of
course, but it is not an impossible task once the grave implications become
clear, including the tensions and conflicts likely to erupt regionally, if this
continues. These tensions and conflicts can also easily be exploited within the
framework of the broader regional struggles of others. Breaking the foundations
of the two-state solution does not mean an alternative could provide stability.
If this state of affairs persists, it will amount to investing in further
conflicts, punctuated by fragile and intermittent periods of stability, even if
under different labels.
The region stands before two choices: the two-state solution, whose realization
grows more difficult by the day yet remains the only “realistic” solution, and
the “Greater Israel” solution, which, in practical terms, means saying farewell
to peace, come what may – if we do not, that is, choose to live in a world of
illusions and dreams.
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Selected twittes for 17/2026