English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For February 22/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Healing Of The Leper Sunday
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 01/35-45/In
the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a
deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for
him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He
answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the
message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout
Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. A
leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you
can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched
him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left
him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once,
saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the
priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to
them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word,
so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the
country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
21-22/2026
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.
Aoun strongly condemns Israeli strikes on Bekaa and Sidon, urges int'l action
Lebanon Says 12 Dead in Israeli Strikes on East, South
Hezbollah vows resistance after deadly Israeli strike
Hezbollah MP Urges Lebanese State to Rethink Security Approach After Deadly
Israeli Strikes
Hezbollah Intensifies Internal Military Meetings as Fears of Regional Escalation
Grow
Parliamentary Elections Preparations Kick off in Lebanon Despite Doubts They
Will Be Held
Beatification announced for Lebanese priest Father Bechara Abou Mrad
Bekaa under fire: Israeli airstrikes broaden across Lebanon
Avoiding VAT in daily life: What can and cannot be exempted
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on February
21-22/2026
Israeli
Druze Leader Says Syrian Community 'Besieged' Months after Clashes
US and Iran slide towards conflict as military buildup eclipses nuclear talks
Trump, once unstoppable, hits snag after snag ahead of major US address
US aircraft carrier enters Mediterranean as Trump mulls Iran strikes
Pezeshkian says Iran will not bow to pressure amid US nuclear talks
Iranian Students Chant Anti-Government Slogans, as US Threats Loom
Serbia, Sweden Urge Citizens to Quit Iran as Trump Mulls Strike
Hamas says open to Gaza peacekeeping force, but rejects interference
Trump to travel to China next month, with US tariffs in focus
Trump to Remove Vietnam from Restricted Tech List
Trump Says He Will Raise US Global Tariff Rate from 10% to 15%
Ukraine Strikes Ballistic Missile Producer Deep Inside Russia, Kyiv Says
US Makes Plans to Reopen Embassy in Syria after 14 Years
Board of Peace Pledges on Gaza Face Test of Implementation on the Ground
Macron Urges 'Calm' ahead of Tense Rally for Slain Far-right Activist
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
21-22/2026
The
Worst Possible Gift: A Dangerous Lifeline Deal to Iran's Regime/Dr. Majid
Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/February 21, 2026
Question: What is the meaning of Lent?/GotQuestions.org/February 21/2026
Washington and Tehran: Diplomacy and Force Converge/Hassan Al Mustafa/Asharq Al
Awsat/February 21/2026
Munich and the fracturing West: Can Europe carry its own defense?/Cornelia
Meyer/Al Arabiya English/February 21/2026
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
21-22/2026
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.
Aoun strongly condemns Israeli strikes on Bekaa and Sidon, urges int'l action
Agence France Presse/February 2117/2026
President Joseph Aoun on Saturday strongly condemned deadly
Israeli attacks on the Bekaa and the Ain al-Helweh camp carried out a day prior,
the latest despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah.In a statement, Aoun called the
attacks "a blatant act of aggression aimed at thwarting diplomatic efforts" by
the United States and other nations to establish stability.
He also urged "the nations sponsoring stability in the region" to work on
halting the attacks immediately and to press for respecting U.N. resolutions.
A lawmaker from Hezbollah called on Beirut to suspend meetings of a
multinational committee tasked with monitoring the truce. Washington is one of
five members on the committee overseeing the ceasefire implemented in November
2024, with the body scheduled to meet again next week. Israel has repeatedly
bombed Lebanon despite the ceasefire, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah
but occasionally also the group's Palestinian ally Hamas. The Friday attacks on
southern and eastern Lebanon killed 12 people, according to the health ministry,
10 of them in the east of the country. Israel's military said it struck "several
terrorists of Hezbollah's missile array in three different command centers in
the Baalbek area". Hezbollah said a commander was killed in the raids. Its
lawmaker Rami Abu Hamdan said on Saturday the group "will not accept the
authorities acting as mere political analysts, dismissing these as Israeli
strikes we have grown accustomed to before every meeting of the committee." He
called on Beirut to "suspend the committee's meetings until the enemy ceases its
attacks." Hezbollah, while weakened following war with Israel, remains a strong
political force in Lebanon represented in parliament. Lebanon's government last
year committed to disarming the group, with the army saying last month it had
completed the first phase of the plan covering the area near the Israeli border.
Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of rearming since the war, has called the
Lebanese army's progress on disarming the militant group insufficient.
Lebanon Says 12 Dead in Israeli Strikes on East, South
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Lebanon said Israeli strikes on the country's east and south killed 12 people on
Friday, with Israel's army saying it targeted Hezbollah and its Palestinian ally
Hamas.
A statement from Hezbollah in the eastern Bekaa Valley said a "commander" from
the Iran-backed group had been killed in the raids there. Israel has kept up
regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt
more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, usually saying it is targeting
the group but occasionally also Hamas members. "Israeli enemy strikes" on
several locations in the Bekaa Valley "killed 10 people and wounded 24",
Lebanon's health ministry said, adding that three children were among the
wounded. The state-run National News Agency had earlier reported six dead and 25
wounded after "heavy strikes" hit the region. Israel's army said in a statement
that it hit "Hezbollah command centers". The raids came hours after an Israeli
strike on the country's largest Palestinian refugee camp killed two people,
according to the health ministry, with Israel's army saying it had targeted
Hamas. The NNA said "an Israeli drone" targeted a neighborhood of the Ain al-Hilweh
camp, which is located on the outskirts of the southern city of Sidon. An AFP
correspondent saw smoke rising from a building in the densely populated camp as
ambulances headed to the scene.
Hamas -
The Israeli army said in a statement that its forces "struck a Hamas command
center from which terrorists operated" in the Ain al-Hilweh area. The Israeli
military "is operating against the entrenchment" of the Palestinian group in
Lebanon and will "continue to act decisively against Hamas terrorists wherever
they operate", it added. Hamas in a statement condemned the attack, which it
said led to "civilian" casualties. It rejected Israel's allegations as "flimsy
pretexts", saying the targeted building "belongs to the joint security force
charged with maintaining security and stability in the camp".
A raid on Ain al-Hilweh last November that Israel said targeted a Hamas training
compound killed 13 people. The UN rights office had said 11 children were killed
in that strike, while Hamas denied it had military installations in Palestinian
camps in Lebanon. In October 2023, Hezbollah began launching rockets at Israel
in support of Hamas at the outset of the Gaza war, triggering hostilities that
culminated in two months of all-out war between Israel and the group. Lebanon's
government last year committed to disarming Hezbollah and the army said last
month that it had completed the first phase of the plan, covering the area near
the Israeli border. Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of rearming, has criticized
the army's progress as insufficient.
Hezbollah vows resistance after deadly Israeli strike
AFP/February 21/2026
Hezbollah warned Saturday that it would have no choice but to fight on after an
Israeli strike on targets in Lebanon killed eight of its operatives. Lebanon’s
government has vowed to disarm Hezbollah, but Israel insists it retains the
right to defend itself by striking the Iran-backed militant group. On Friday,
the Israeli military said it had hit Hezbollah command centers in eastern
Lebanon and targets linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in the south.
Hezbollah said Saturday that eight of its fighters had been killed, after
Lebanon’s health ministry said 10 people died in the east and two in the south.
“What happened yesterday in the Bekaa is a new massacre and a new aggression,”
Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati said, in a speech broadcast by the al-Manar
network.“What option do we have left to defend ourselves and our country? What
option do we have other than resistance? We no longer have any option.”
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun also condemned the attacks, which came just days
after the government said the army will start implementing the second phase of
its plan to disarm Hezbollah in the south of the country. The strikes came as
tensions were also building between the United States and Iran, with US
President Donald Trump threatening military action over the Islamic Republic’s
nuclear program. Iran backs several armed groups in the region, including
Hezbollah and Hamas. In Lebanon’s eastern city of Baalbek, a mass funeral was
held for commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi and one of the fighters, with hundreds
of people gathered, waving Hezbollah flags and chanting support. A Hezbollah
official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP all eight members of the
group were attending a meeting in the eastern Bekaa region when a strike killed
them. The Israeli military said it had targeted “several terrorists of
Hezbollah’s missile array in three different command centers in the Baalbek
area.”An AFP correspondent in eastern Lebanon saw a bulldozer clearing debris
following the strike on Bednayel, and a heavily damaged building between Riyak
and Ali al-Nahri, where the Hezbollah official said the members were meeting.
The raids were against targets in residential areas, according to the
correspondent.They came hours after an Israeli strike on the country’s largest
Palestinian refugee camp in the south killed two people, according to the health
ministry, with Israel’s army saying it had targeted Hamas. In a statement, Hamas
condemned the attack, which it said led to civilian casualties as the targeted
building “belongs to the joint security force charged with maintaining security
and stability in the camp.”
‘Act of aggression’
Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire
that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, usually
saying it is targeting the group, but occasionally also Hamas militants. Aoun
called Friday’s attacks “a blatant act of aggression aimed at thwarting
diplomatic efforts” by the United States and other nations to establish
stability. Washington is one of five members of a multinational committee
overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with the body scheduled
to meet again next week. Hezbollah lawmaker Rami Abu Hamdan said the group “will
not accept the authorities acting as mere political analysts, dismissing these
as Israeli strikes we have grown accustomed to before every meeting of the
committee.”He called on Beirut to “suspend the committee’s meetings until the
enemy ceases its attacks.”Lebanon’s government last year committed to disarming
the group, with the army saying last month it had completed the first phase of
the plan covering the area near the Israeli border. Israel, which accuses
Hezbollah of rearming since the war, has called the Lebanese army’s progress on
disarming the militant group insufficient.Against the backdrop of the tensions
between Washington and Iran, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said last month that
any attack on the group’s backer would also be an attack on the militants.
Hezbollah MP Urges Lebanese State to Rethink Security
Approach After Deadly Israeli Strikes
This is Beirut/February 21/2026
Lebanon’s fragile security situation came back into sharp focus Saturday after
Israeli air and naval strikes killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens of
others in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, prompting renewed condemnation and
government criticism from Hezbollah MPs. Rami Abu Hamdan, a member of parliament
affiliated with Hezbollah, said the Lebanese authorities must “fundamentally
change” their approach to defending the country, arguing that official
condemnations were no longer sufficient in the face of repeated Israeli attacks.
Abu Hamdan said responsibility now lay with the Lebanese state to ensure
civilian safety and national sovereignty. He urged the government to take
practical steps rather than limit itself to diplomatic protests, suggesting that
continued political maneuvering without tangible action was costing lives. His
comments came amid mounting pressure on Beirut to prevent Lebanon from being
drawn deeper into the widening regional confrontation tied to escalating
tensions between Israel and Iran. President Aoun condemns strikes, cites
sovereignty violations. President Joseph Aoun denounced the attacks, describing
them as a clear violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international
commitments. In a statement, Aoun said the strikes undermined Lebanon’s
diplomatic efforts, particularly with the United States and other international
partners, to stabilize the situation and halt hostilities. He also accused
Israel of disregarding UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006
war and governs the current ceasefire framework.Aoun called on countries
involved in maintaining regional stability to intervene urgently to stop the
attacks and prevent further escalation.
Growing fears of broader conflict
The violence unfolded as Lebanese officials intensified contacts with
international partners and Hezbollah leadership in an effort to keep the country
out of a potential wider war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Political sources cited by Lebanese media warned that military readiness on both
the Israeli and U.S. sides appears near completion, raising concerns that
February may mark the final window for diplomacy before more decisive action in
March. Despite public calls for restraint, Lebanon remains vulnerable to
spillover from regional power struggles, with mounting casualties highlighting
the risks of being pulled further into a conflict largely shaped beyond its
borders.
A fragile ceasefire
The wave of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley this week
was described as one of the most serious escalations since the November 2024
ceasefire. Israel’s military said the facilities struck in Baalbek were
Hezbollah headquarters used to plan and carry out attacks against Israel,
accusing the group of systematically repositioning military assets among
civilian areas. Israeli daily Maariv reported that the strikes specifically
targeted long-range Hezbollah missiles fitted with warheads and prepared for
immediate operational deployment.
Hezbollah Intensifies Internal Military Meetings as Fears
of Regional Escalation Grow
This is Beirut/February 21/2026
Hezbollah has significantly stepped up internal military and security meetings
in recent days, amid mounting expectations of a broader regional confrontation
involving Iran, Israel, and potentially the United States, according to sources
cited by Al Arabiya.
The reported preparations come as Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa
Valley late Friday raised concerns that Lebanon could once again become a
frontline theater, alongside any potential military action against Iran. Sources
familiar with Hezbollah’s internal operations told the outlet that the group is
currently accelerating organizational and battlefield planning in anticipation
of a possible Israeli campaign. According to these sources, the process is being
overseen not by Lebanese Hezbollah leadership but by officers from Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), some of whom were already present in
Lebanon, while others reportedly arrived recently as speculation intensified
over a possible U.S. strike on Iran. The same sources said IRGC officers are
directly supervising operational planning and holding closed-door meetings with
Hezbollah cadres across several regions. These reportedly include sessions with
missile unit commanders, one of which was targeted during Israeli strikes in the
Bekaa on Friday night. Beyond coordinating military readiness, the officers are
also said to be involved in efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s capabilities
following months of sustained Israeli pressure. Sources described the current
posture as one of full operational alert, adding that a new Israeli military
round against Hezbollah is viewed internally as inevitable, with timing being
the only remaining variable.
Israeli strikes and political alarm in Beirut
Israel confirmed carrying out what it described as “exceptional” strikes in
eastern Lebanon, targeting facilities linked to Hezbollah’s missile units. The
Israeli military said the operation hit three separate sites in the Bekaa region
and resulted in the deaths of multiple members of Hezbollah’s rocket forces,
whom it accused of accelerating military preparations for attacks on Israel. An
Israeli army spokesperson later stated that naval assets were also used in the
operation, calling it a message to Iran-aligned groups that maritime strikes
would continue if air operations were constrained. Israel’s Maariv newspaper
reported that the attacks destroyed long-range missiles equipped with warheads
that were allegedly prepared for immediate deployment. According to Nidaa Al-Watan,
presidential contacts intensified sharply on Friday as officials warned of a
looming regional explosion. Beirut was reportedly advised by international
interlocutors to avoid involvement in any conflict, with warnings that the cost
would be severe. Lebanon caught between diplomacy and confrontation. While
diplomatic channels remain active, including U.S.-led efforts to contain wider
conflict, military movements on the ground suggest preparations are advancing
faster than political solutions. The developments underscore Lebanon’s
increasingly precarious position as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran,
with Hezbollah deeply embedded in the regional confrontation.
Parliamentary Elections Preparations Kick off in Lebanon Despite Doubts They
Will Be Held
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Political forces in Lebanon have kicked off their preparations for the upcoming
parliamentary elections in May despite doubts that they may not be held. No more
than ten candidates have so far submitted their nominations as the political
powers work on postponing the elections while still preparing to run in them.
Shiite duo
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has repeatedly said that the elections will be
held on time. He received on Friday a delegation from Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the
Resistance bloc headed by MP Mohammed Raad. Talks focused on political
developments and the elections. Berri’s Amal movement and Hezbollah are allies
that form the so-called “Shiite duo”. Following the meeting, Raad said both
sides share the same views and that their alliance still stands. “Together, they
will form national unity against all challenges,” he declared. “We will run in
the elections together.”It remains to be seen what other alliances the Shiite
duo will manage to forge. The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), headed by MP Jebran
Bassil, had previously ended its alliance with Hezbollah, but reports have said
the two sides may hold negotiations related to the elections.
Geagea: Elections are critical
Samir Geagea’s Lebanese Forces launched on Friday the party’s electoral campaign
from Bcharre, announcing the nomination of MP Setrida Tawk Geagea and former MP
Joseph Ishak, who will both run in the province. More candidates will be
announced within a week, leading LF sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. Samir Geagea
described the elections as a “pivotal juncture in reclaiming the state and
consolidating its sovereignty,” calling for a large turnout. Sources from the LF
acknowledged that the elections may be postponed, but until that happens, the
party will operate as though they are going to be held on time. The FPM had last
week cited “negative” signals that may impede the elections given the ongoing
dispute over the voting of expatriates and other differences. The LF sources
told Asharq Al-Awsat that preparations for the elections are taking place “on
all levels” and “covering all of their aspects.” The remaining candidates will
be announced within days, they revealed.
“For us, the main question is why and how will the current parliament’s term be
extended and who will dare to even suggest it?” they said. “We are therefore
convinced that the elections will be held. We are making our preparations based
on the firm conviction that the elections need to be held. There really is no
reason to delay them, and we will stand against anyone who tries to do so,” they
added.
The Interior Ministry had announced that candidates have between February 10 and
March 10 to submit their nominations.
Beatification announced for Lebanese priest Father
Bechara Abou Mrad
LBCI/February 21/2026
The Lebanese Salvatorian Order has announced to the public the beatification of
Lebanese priest Father Bechara Abou Mrad, marking a significant milestone for
the Catholic Church in Lebanon. In a statement, the order said the decision
formally recognizes Father Abou Mrad's virtuous life and spiritual legacy,
paving the way for his elevation to the ranks of the blessed. The beatification
highlights his religious devotion, pastoral service, and commitment to the
Church's mission.
Bekaa under fire: Israeli airstrikes broaden across Lebanon
LBCI/February 21/2026
The Israeli army escalated its attacks on Friday evening, carrying out
airstrikes on three residential buildings in the eastern Bekaa towns of Tamnine,
Bednayel, and Ali El Nahri. Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center
said in an official toll that 10 people were killed and 24 others wounded in the
strikes. Hezbollah confirmed that eight of its members were among the dead,
including commander Hussein Yaghi, who was killed in the raids. The Israeli army
claimed it had targeted three Hezbollah facilities and said those killed
belonged to the group's rocket unit. It is alleged that they had been
accelerating weapons development and planning operations. However, residents in
the affected areas described a different account, pointing to widespread
destruction in residential buildings and vehicles and the presence of civilian
casualties. Strikes in the Bekaa are not new, but observers described Friday's
attacks as among the most intense since the ceasefire agreement, particularly
given that the targets were located between densely populated residential
neighborhoods. The escalation began earlier Friday with an Israeli strike on an
office used by Hamas as a joint security force center, killing two people whom
Hamas later identified as members. The strike on Hamas in Ain al-Hilweh was the
second of its kind in the past three months. In November, young men were
targeted at a playground inside the camp, resulting in multiple fatalities. The
Israeli attacks have extended beyond Lebanon's preparations for the second phase
of its plan to consolidate weapons north of the Litani River, reaching from the
south to the Bekaa. About a week ago, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle
between Masnaa and Jdaidit Yabws. The Israeli army claimed the strike killed
four members of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine. The latest escalation
underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the risk of further spillover
across multiple regions of Lebanon.
Avoiding VAT in daily life: What can and cannot be exempted
LBC/February 21/2026
Can consumers continue spending without paying value-added tax? The short answer
is yes—and no. In a previous report, we outlined which goods are subject to
value-added tax (VAT). The question now is whether consumers can avoid products
that fall under the tax in everyday life.The answer depends largely on how
products are purchased and prepared. In general, items bought in their natural,
unprocessed form are not subject to VAT. Once they are manufactured or processed
and additional ingredients are added, they typically become taxable—except for
regular bread, which remains exempt.
For example, a simple dish such as foul moudammas. A ready-to-eat canned version
purchased at a supermarket is subject to VAT, but buying raw fava beans and
chickpeas and preparing the dish at home largely avoids the tax, since the core
ingredients—chickpeas, lemon, salt, and olive oil—are not subject to VAT in
their basic form. The same principle applies to traditional Lebanese meals. When
cooked at home using primary ingredients, they are generally exempt. The
conclusion is straightforward: cooking at home can significantly reduce VAT
exposure.
However, the situation changes with sweets and snack foods. Most commercially
prepared desserts and packaged snacks are subject to VAT. Avoiding the tax in
this category is possible only by preparing them at home with basic exempt
ingredients such as flour, eggs, milk, sugar, regular butter, and raw nuts.
Electricity, telecommunications, and transportation pose different challenges.
There is virtually no way to avoid VAT on these services. Households that rely
on private diesel generators may bypass some public utility charges, but
generator maintenance and spare parts are themselves subject to VAT. Solar
energy systems offer an alternative power source, yet the equipment required for
installation is also subject to tax.Ultimately, while VAT excludes many
essential raw goods, modern life has turned several taxed services and processed
products into necessities. For consumers, avoiding VAT entirely is nearly
impossible, but understanding how it applies can help reduce its impact on
household spending.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on February 21-22/2026
Israeli Druze Leader Says Syrian Community
'Besieged' Months after Clashes
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Seven months after deadly clashes between Syria's Druze minority and
government-backed forces, the spiritual leader of Druze in neighboring Israel
said members of the community across the border remained in peril. "They're
still besieged -- completely encircled. They aren't allowed to bring in any
humanitarian aid, including the aid we're trying to deliver," Sheikh Mowafaq
Tarif told AFP in an interview this week. The cleric spoke in Julis, a quiet
Druze village in northern Israel, where the community has set up an "emergency
room" to coordinate aid efforts for Druze in Syria.
Israeli and Druze flags hang on the walls of the room, alongside posters in
Hebrew and Arabic calling for an end to the killing of Syrian Druze. The Druze
spread across parts of Syria, Israel, Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights. Clashes erupted last July in southern Syria between Druze fighters and
Bedouin tribes. The Syrian authorities said their forces intervened to stop the
clashes. Israel bombed Syria during the violence, saying it was acting to defend
the minority group. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
estimated that some 187,000 people were displaced by the violence.
'Why not let them return?' -
"There are still more than 120,000 people displaced from their homes," Sheikh
Tarif said."Thirty-eight villages have been captured, and residents aren't
allowed to return. There are more than 300 captives, including children and
women."
AFP was unable to verify those claims. Although a ceasefire was reached in July,
access to Sweida remains difficult. Residents accuse the government of imposing
a blockade on the province, which Damascus denies. Several aid convoys have
entered since then. "Why not let them return to their villages? We're in the
depths of winter and that is a mountainous area. It's very cold," Tarif said.
With Syria's government and Kurdish-led forces agreeing last month to integrate
Kurdish fighters and civil institutions into state structures, Sweida is the
last major area outside Damascus's control. Tarif said the community did not
need government security forces in the region. "The Druze have forces capable of
defending themselves and maintaining order," he said. Nevertheless, Israel and
Syria, which have no official diplomatic ties, have held several rounds of
direct talks in recent months. Following negotiations in January, and under US
pressure, both sides agreed to set up an intelligence-sharing mechanism as they
moved toward a security agreement. One issue under discussion is the possibility
of Syrian Druze working in Israel. Sheikh Tarif confirmed "that is something we
have heard" and added that he wished any Syrian could come to work as a daily
laborer "because the (economic) situation in Syria is very difficult".He also
called for Druze across the Middle East to be able to visit their religious
sites in neighboring countries, "just as our Christian and Muslim brothers visit
their holy places" in states with which they may not have diplomatic relations.
"The Druze also deserve to access and pray at our holy sites in Syria and
Lebanon and for them to come visit our holy places" in Israel, he said.
US and Iran slide towards
conflict as military buildup eclipses nuclear talks
Reuters/February 21, 2026
Iran and the United States are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as
hopes fade for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear
program, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe say.
Iran’s Gulf neighbors and its enemy Israel now consider a conflict to be more
likely than a settlement, these sources say, with Washington building up one of
its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in
2003. Israel’s government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and
is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United
States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an
operation, said a source familiar with the planning. It would be the second time
the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following US and
Israeli airstrikes against military and nuclear facilities last June.
Regional officials say oil-producing Gulf countries are preparing for a possible
military confrontation that they fear could spin out of control and destabilize
the Middle East. Two Israeli officials told Reuters they believe the gaps
between Washington and Tehran are unbridgeable and that the chances of a
near‑term military escalation are high. Some regional officials say Tehran is
dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, with US President
Donald Trump boxed in by his own military buildup - unable to scale it back
without losing face if there is no firm commitment from Iran to abandon its
nuclear weapons ambitions. “Both sides are sticking to their guns,” said Alan
Eyre, a former US diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that nothing meaningful
can emerge “unless the US and Iran walk back from their red lines - which I
don’t think they will.”“What Trump can’t do is assemble all this military, and
then come back with a ‘so‑so’ deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks
he’ll lose face,” he said. “If he attacks, it’s going to get ugly quickly.”Two
rounds of Iran-US talks have stalled on core issues, from uranium enrichment to
missiles and sanctions relief. When Omani mediators delivered an envelope from
the US side containing missile‑related proposals, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi refused even to open it and returned it, a source familiar with the
talks said. After talks in Geneva on Tuesday, Araghchi said the sides had agreed
on “guiding principles,” but the White House said there was still distance
between them.
Iran is expected to submit a written proposal in the coming days, a US official
said, and Araghchi said on Friday he expected to have a draft counterproposal
ready within days. But Trump, who has sent aircraft carriers, warships and jets
to the Middle East, warned Iran on Thursday it must make a deal over its nuclear
program or “really bad things” will happen. He appeared to set a deadline of 10
to 15 days, drawing a threat from Tehran to retaliate against US bases in the
region if attacked. The rising tensions have pushed up oil prices. US officials
say Trump has yet to make up his mind about using military force although he
acknowledged on Friday that he could order a limited strike to try to force Iran
into a deal. “I guess I can say I am considering that,” he told reporters. The
possible timing of an attack is unclear. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is
due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28 to discuss
Iran. A senior US official said it would be mid-March before all US forces were
in place.
Trump, once unstoppable,
hits snag after snag ahead of major US address
Agence France Presse//February 21/2026
For a year, Donald Trump has governed the United States with little standing in
his way.
Now, as the president prepares for his State of the Union address on Tuesday,
he's weighed down with Supreme Court reversals on tariffs, souring public
opinion on his immigration crackdown and mounting economic concerns. Trump is
unlikely to back down in his speech, a primetime American political institution
where the president is invited by Congress to present his accomplishments and
lay out his agenda. But his boasts will have less sting on Democrats -- and
world leaders -- who have up to this point been bulldozed by his agenda. On
Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a sharp rebuke of his use of tariffs, which
he slapped on countries often arbitrarily via a simple order on social media in
an effort to gain leverage over diplomatic matters sometimes wholly unrelated to
trade.The same day, the government data showed the US economy expanded at a 1.4
percent annual rate in the October to December period -- significantly below the
2.5 percent pace that analysts had forecasted for the quarter. Polls meanwhile
show growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living as well as Trump's
crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
Cost-of-living concerns -
Trump's strategy so far on inflation has been to cede no ground. "I've won
affordability," Trump said during a speech in the southeastern state of Georgia
on Thursday. But "you cannot out-message the economy. People know what they are
spending," Todd Belt, a political science professor at George Washington
University, told AFP. "People become very resentful when being told something
they know is not true," he said -- which applies to both the cost of living but
also the crackdown on immigrants, which many Americans had falsely believed
would focus on deporting violent criminals.
American voters have proven extremely sensitive to economic issues, which in
part sunk Trump's predecessor Joe Biden but now threaten Republicans. As
midterms approach in November, the House of Representatives and a third of the
Senate will be up for grabs. Trump has already warned that if Democrats take
control they could try to impeach him.
Backing down? -
Even the normally bombastic Trump has been cowed in recent days, including when
a racist video of Barack Obama -- the country's first Black president -- was
posted onto his Truth Social account. The White House tried to brush off the
issue before claiming that an unnamed aide posted it, as even loyal members of
Congress broke ranks to criticize the president. After federal immigration
agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens during their wide-sweeping operations
in Minneapolis, the administration announced it was scaling back the deployment
in the city, which was the scene of mass protests. On the international scene, a
U.S.-Denmark-Greenland working group has been established to discuss
Washington's security concerns in the Arctic, but Trump has had to dial back his
threats to seize Greenland. He has imposed an across-the-board 10 percent tariff
on imports into the United States after the Supreme Court rebuffed his previous
tariffs Friday -- but that still means some nations are now trading at reduced
rates than they had agreed to under his previous levies. The administration has
vowed to find other ways to implement tariffs as it decried the court's "lawlessness."In
the meantime, challenges to Trump's policies are slowly winding their way
through the courts. But while Trump has been chastened, the House and the Senate
still remain in Republican control -- for now. And Trump himself will be in the
White House until 2029.
US aircraft carrier enters
Mediterranean as Trump mulls Iran strikes
Agence France Presse/February 21/2026
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier was seen entering the Mediterranean Sea
on Friday, where it was ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of a
massive military buildup in the Middle East. The carrier was seen transiting the
Strait of Gibraltar -- which links the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean -- in
a photo taken from the Gibraltar side of the strait.Trump -- who had previously
sent another carrier to the Middle East -- said Friday he is "considering" a
limited strike on Iran if negotiations fail to yield a replacement for the
nuclear deal with Tehran that he tore up during his first term in office.
Pezeshkian says Iran will
not bow to pressure amid US nuclear talks
LBCI/February 21/2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would not
bow its head to pressure from world powers amid nuclear talks with the United
States.
"World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads... but we will not bow
our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us," Pezeshkian
said in a speech carried live by state TV.
Iranian Students Chant Anti-Government Slogans, as US
Threats Loom
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Iranian students chanted anti-government slogans and scuffled with
counter-protesters on Saturday in the latest display of anger at the country's
clerical leaders, who also face a US military build-up aimed at pressuring them
into a nuclear deal.
The gatherings at universities, which were reported by both local and diaspora
media outlets, followed a mass protest movement that was met with a government
crackdown last month that left thousands dead. The crackdown had prompted US
President Donald Trump to threaten to intervene militarily, though the focus of
his threats eventually shifted to Iran's nuclear program, which Western
governments fear is aimed at producing a bomb. The US and Iran recently resumed
Oman-mediated talks aimed at securing a deal, but Washington has simultaneously
increased its military presence in the region, dispatching two aircraft
carriers, jets and weaponry to back its warnings. Videos geolocated by AFP to
Tehran's top engineering university showed fights breaking out in a crowd on
Saturday as people shouted "bi sharaf", or "disgraceful" in Farsi. Footage
posted by the Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based
outside the country, also showed a large crowd chanting anti-government slogans
at Sharif University of Technology. Iranians had reprised their protest slogans
earlier this week to mark the 40th day since thousands of people were killed as
a wave of demonstrations was peaking on January 8 and 9.
They gathered again at several universities in the capital on Saturday, local
media reported.The unrest first broke out in December over prolonged financial
strain, but exploded into mass anti-government demonstrations that were
suppressed in a violent crackdown by security forces. The clerical authorities
acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by
"terrorist acts" fueled by Iran's enemies. The US-based Human Rights Activists
News Agency (HRANA), however, has recorded more than 7,000 killings in the
crackdown, the vast majority protesters, though the toll may be far higher.
Iranian authorities had initially acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters'
economic demands, but as the movement took on an overtly anti-government tone,
they accused archenemies the United States and Israel of whipping up "riots".Local
news outlet Fars said that what was supposed to be a "silent and peaceful
sit-in" on Saturday of students commemorating those killed was disrupted by
people chanting slogans including "death to the dictator" -- a reference to
Iran's supreme leader. A video posted by Fars showed a group chanting and waving
Iranian flags facing off with a crowd wearing masks and being held back by men
in suits. Both groups were holding what appeared to be memorial photographs.
Talks and threats
Ever since the initial wave of protests, the United States and Iran have been
trading threats of military action. Trump sent the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln to the region, accompanied by a flotilla of 12 support ships, while a
second carrier group attached to the USS Gerald R Ford is en route to the area
via the Mediterranean. The US has also redeployed dozens of other warplanes to
the Middle East -- where it maintains several bases -- while boosting its
land-based air defenses. The build-up is aimed at pressuring Iran's authorities
to cut a deal on the country's nuclear program, even as the two sides have
pursued talks on the subject. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told US
media this week that following the latest round of negotiations in Geneva, Iran
would be submitting a draft proposal for an agreement, saying "in the next two,
three days, that would be ready".
Araghchi also said the "US side has not asked for zero enrichment" of uranium,
contradicting statements from American officials. Trump had suggested on
Thursday that "bad things" would happen if Tehran did not strike a deal within
10 days, a period which he subsequently extended to 15. Iran denies it is trying
to produce nuclear weapons and says its program is peaceful, but insists on its
right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. The US media outlet Axios
reported this week, citing an unnamed senior US official, that the US was
prepared to consider a proposed deal that only permitted "small, token
enrichment". A previous round of nuclear diplomacy between the US and Iran last
year was interrupted by Israel's surprise bombing campaign against country. The
United States ultimately joined its ally, striking key nuclear facilities before
declaring a ceasefire.
Serbia, Sweden Urge Citizens to Quit Iran as Trump Mulls
Strike
Asharq Al-Awsat/February 21/2026
Serbia and Sweden have urged their citizens in Iran to leave the country after
US President Donald Trump threatened military action over the country's nuclear
program. The Balkan nation had already invited Serbian nationals in mid-January
to leave Iran and not to travel there, as the country's clerical authorities
launched a bloody crackdown on a mass protest movement. "Due to the
deteriorating security situation, citizens of the Republic of Serbia are not
recommended to travel to Iran in the coming period," the foreign ministry said
in a statement on its website published overnight Friday to Saturday.
"All those who are in Iran are recommended to leave the country as soon as
possible." Separately, Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard noted
on X her "strong appeal addressed to Swedish citizens who are in Iran to leave".
Iran said on Friday that it was hoping for a quick deal with the United States
on Tehran's nuclear program, long a source of discord between the two foes. But
Trump, after ordering a major naval build-up in the Middle East aimed at heaping
pressure on Tehran, said on Friday that he was "considering" a limited military
strike if the negotiations proved unfruitful.
Hamas says open to Gaza
peacekeeping force, but rejects interference
Al Arabiya English/February 21/2026
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP on Friday that the Palestinian group was
open to international peacekeeping forces in Gaza, but rejected any interference
in the territory’s “internal affairs.”At the inaugural meeting of US President
Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in Washington on Thursday, it was announced that
a handful of countries would commit troops to a nascent International
Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza. Morocco announced it was ready to send
police as well as soldiers to the ISF, while the force’s American commander,
Major General Jasper Jeffers, said that Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and
Kosovo were also committing troops.“Our position on international forces is
clear,” Hamas spokesman Qassem told AFP. “We want peacekeeping forces that
monitor the ceasefire, ensure its implementation, and act as a buffer between
the occupation army and our people in the Gaza Strip, without interfering in
Gaza’s internal affairs.”The ISF aims to have 20,000 soldiers, as well as a new
police force. Indonesia has said it is ready to send up to 8,000 troops.
Nickolay Mladenov, named high representative for Gaza by the United States,
announced at the Board of Peace meeting the beginning of recruitment for a
post-Hamas police force in Gaza.“Training Palestinian police forces within their
national framework is not a problem if it is aimed at maintaining internal
security in the Strip and confronting the chaos that the occupation and its
militias seek to create,” Qassem added. The Board of Peace was established after
the Trump administration, with longtime mediators Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a
ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating war between Israel and
Hamas in Gaza. With AFP
Trump to travel to China
next month, with US tariffs in focus
LBCI/February 21/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for a
highly anticipated meeting between the leaders of the world's two biggest
economies, a trip announced as the Supreme Court overturned Trump's sweeping
tariffs on imported goods.
A White House official confirmed the trip on Friday, just before the highest
U.S. court dealt Trump a stinging defeat by striking down many of the tariffs he
has used in a global trade war, including some against rival China.Trump's talks
with Chinese President Xi Jinping on an extended visit to Beijing had been
expected to revolve around extending a trade truce that kept both countries from
further hiking tariffs.Reuters
Trump to Remove Vietnam from Restricted Tech List
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
US President Donald Trump told Vietnam's top leader To Lam he would "instruct
the relevant agencies" to remove the country from a list restricted from
accessing advanced US technologies, Vietnam's government announced Saturday. The
two leaders met in person for the first time at the White House on Friday, after
Lam attended the inaugural meeting of Trump's "Board of Peace" in Washington,
said AFP. "Donald Trump said he would instruct the relevant agencies to soon
remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list," Hanoi's Government News
website said.The two countries were locked in protracted trade negotiations when
the US Supreme Court ruled many of Trump's sweeping tariffs were illegal. Three
Vietnamese airlines announced nearly $37 billion in purchases this week, in a
series of contracts signed with US aerospace companies.Fledgling airline Sun
PhuQuoc Airways placed an order for 40 of Boeing's 787 Dreamliners, a long-haul
aircraft, with an estimated total value of $22.5 billion, while national carrier
Vietnam Airlines placed an $8.1 billion order for around 50 Boeing 737-8
aircraft. When Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs in April, Vietnam
had the third-largest trade surplus with the US of any country after China and
Mexico, and was targeted with one of the highest rates in Trump's tariff blitz.
But in July, Hanoi secured a minimum 20 percent tariff with Washington, down
from more than 40 percent, in return for opening its market to US products
including cars. Trump signed off on a global 10-percent tariff on Friday on all
countries hours after the Supreme Court ruled many of his levies on imports were
illegal.
Trump Says He Will Raise US Global Tariff Rate from 10% to
15%
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
President Donald Trump said on Saturday he will raise temporary tariffs on
almost all US imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum level allowed under the law,
after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program as invalid.
Trump had immediately announced a 10% across-the-board tariff on Friday after
the court's decision, which found the president had exceeded his authority
when he imposed an array of higher rates under an economic emergency law. The
new levies are grounded in a separate law, known as Section 122, that allows
tariffs up to 15% but requires congressional approval to extend them after 150
days. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said he would use that period
to work on issuing other "legally permissible" tariffs. The administration
intends to rely on two other statutes that permit import taxes on specific
products or countries based on investigations into national security or unfair
trade practices."I, as President of the United States of America, will be,
effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of
which have been 'ripping' the US off for decades, without retribution (until I
came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," he wrote in
a Truth Social post. Trump has shown little sign of backing off his global trade
war in the hours since the court's 6-3 decision, attacking individual justices
in personal terms and insisting he retained the power to impose tariffs as he
sees fit.
Ukraine Strikes Ballistic Missile Producer Deep Inside Russia, Kyiv Says
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Ukraine hit a Russian plant manufacturing ballistic missiles in a missile strike
in the remote Udmurtia region, the Ukrainian General Staff said on
Saturday.Ukraine said its forces attacked the plant manufacturing Russian
missiles, including the short-range Iskander and intercontinental Topol-M, in
Votkinsk, east of Moscow and about 1,400 km (800 miles) from Ukraine. It said in
a statement on the Telegram messaging app that the Ukrainian forces used
domestically produced ground-launched Flamingo cruise missiles. The attack
caused a fire on the site, the Ukrainian military said. Alexander Brechalov,
the governor of the Udmurtia region in Russia, had earlier said a site there had
been attacked overnight with drones. "There has been damage and injuries as a
result," Brechalov said in a video posted on the Telegram app. He provided no
other details. The airport in Udmurtia's main city, Izhevsk, and those in
cities in nearby regions suspended operations, the civil aviation authority
Rosaviatsiya said. The unofficial Russian Telegram channel SHOT, which often
quotes contacts in the security services, said residents in Votkinsk reported
hearing at least three explosions and the humming of drones. Russia uses its
ballistic missiles to reinforce its drone attacks on the Ukrainian energy
infrastructure, knocking out electricity and heating supplies for millions
across Ukraine during the cold winter months. Ukraine is increasingly targeting
military and energy infrastructure deep inside Russia. Kyiv says that hitting
the weapons producers and the energy system that fuels Russia's military is the
best way to gain leverage over its bigger enemy as the war enters its fifth year
next week. The Ukrainian military said it also hit a gas processing plant in the
Russian Samara region. Russian officials in the Samara region issued no report
of such an attack.
US Makes Plans to Reopen Embassy in Syria after 14 Years
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
The Trump administration has informed Congress that it intends to proceed with
planning for a potential re-opening of the US Embassy in Damascus, Syria, which
was shuttered in 2012 during the country’s civil war. A notice to congressional
committees earlier this month, which was obtained by The Associated Press,
informed lawmakers of the State Department’s “intent to implement a phased
approach to potentially resume embassy operations in Syria.”The Feb. 10
notification said that spending on the plans would begin in 15 days, or next
week, although there was no timeline offered for when they would be complete or
when US personnel might return to Damascus on a full-time basis. The
administration has been considering re-opening the embassy since last year,
shortly after longtime strongman Bashar Assad was ousted in December 2024, and
it has been a priority for President Donald Trump's ambassador to Türkiye and
special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack. Barrack has pushed for a deep
rapprochement with Syria and its new leadership under Ahmad al-Sharaa and has
successfully advocated for the lifting of US sanctions and a reintegration of
Syria into the regional and international communities. Last May, Barrack visited
Damascus and raised the US flag at the embassy compound, although the embassy
was not yet re-opened. The same day the congressional notification was sent,
Barrack lauded Syria's decision to participate in the coalition that is
combating the ISIS militant group, even as the US military has withdrawn from a
small, but important, base in the southeast and there remain significant issues
between the government and the Kurdish minority.“Regional solutions, shared
responsibility. Syria’s participation in the D-ISIS Coalition meeting in Riyadh
marks a new chapter in collective security,” Barrack said.
The embassy re-opening plans are classified and the State Department declined to
comment on details beyond confirming that the congressional notification was
sent. However, the department has taken a similar “phased” approach in its plans
to re-open the US Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, following the US military
operation that ousted former President Nicolás Maduro in January, with the
deployment of temporary staffers who would live in and work out of interim
facilities.
Board of Peace Pledges on Gaza Face Test of Implementation on the Ground
Cairo: Mohamed Mahmoud/Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
The first meeting of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump
and attended by Arab and Israeli representatives in the absence of the
Palestinian Authority, set out ambitious goals but left key issues unresolved.
Washington distilled its priorities into two tracks: funding the reconstruction
of Gaza and disarming Hamas. Arab participants, however, tied their demands to
full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, deployment of an international
stabilization force, and enabling the technocrats’ committee to operate across
the enclave without obstruction from Tel Aviv. The meeting, which drew
representatives from more than 40 countries and observers from 12 others, may
struggle to translate pledges into practice, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat. They
pointed to formidable hurdles, foremost Israel’s continued deployment in Gaza
and the absence of clear understandings on Hamas disarmament, warning that these
issues could stall or even freeze the agreement.
Concerns
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urged caution against efforts that could
derail the peace process in Gaza, Germany’s dpa news agency reported, citing
Indonesia’s Antara News on Friday. Trump announced that the United States would
contribute $10 billion to the board, saying Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and
Kuwait had pledged more than $7 billion to the Gaza relief package. He pressed
hard on Hamas disarmament, saying the group would hand over its weapons as
promised and warning of a harsh response if it did not. Israel’s Foreign
Minister Gideon Saar struck the same note in his address to the board, voicing
support for disarming Hamas and other factions. Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu had already set the tone ahead of the meeting, declaring that there
would be no reconstruction before Gaza is disarmed.
General Jasper Jeffers, commander of the newly formed International
Stabilization Force, said Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania
had pledged troops. Egypt and Jordan, which border Gaza, agreed to train police
and security forces.Egypt, in remarks delivered by Prime Minister Mostafa
Madbouly, underscored the need to preserve the link between the West Bank and
Gaza to allow the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in the
enclave.
He called for empowering Palestinians to manage their own affairs and for the
technocrats’ committee to begin work from inside Gaza and across all its areas.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani pledged $1 billion from Doha to back the board’s push for a final
settlement, saying the Board of Peace under Trump’s leadership would drive full
implementation of the 20-point plan without delay. Saeed Okasha, an Israeli
affairs analyst at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said
the proposals unveiled by the Board of Peace lack operational clarity and risk
creating confusion in implementation, potentially leading to paralysis.
Trump, he said, rushed to launch the board without first resolving core
obstacles or forging solid understandings. Palestinian political analyst Nizar
Nazzal shared that view, arguing that the board’s pledges could falter because
they emphasize economic measures, such as reconstruction funding, without a
clear roadmap, and security measures, such as disarming Hamas, without
addressing Israeli withdrawal or the group’s future.“This sidestepping of
political commitments will collide with security complexities and delay
implementation of contentious provisions such as deploying stabilization forces,
Israeli withdrawal, or empowering the technocrats’ committee,” he said.
Hamas
Hamas, for its part, has avoided direct confrontation with Trump’s recent calls
for its disarmament. In a statement on Thursday, it said any arrangements in
Gaza must begin with a “complete halt to the Israeli aggression.”In another
statement later that evening, the group said any political track or arrangements
discussed regarding the Gaza Strip and the future of our Palestinian people must
start with a complete cessation of the aggression, lifting the siege, and
guaranteeing our people’s legitimate national rights, foremost among them the
right to freedom and self-determination.
US mediator Bishara Bahbah said on Thursday that Hamas disarmament hinges on
guarantees and protection for its members. Okasha said an end to the offensive
in Gaza, as Hamas demands, is unlikely so long as disarmament remains
unresolved, pointing to US and Israeli statements. The course Hamas appears to
be charting, he said, suggests it wants to remain in place, a stance that could
block implementation of the agreement and even pave the way for a return to war,
especially as Washington has yet to clarify the mandate and timeline for
deploying the stabilization force.
Nazzal said negotiating with Hamas over ending its existence is unrealistic. Its
future must be addressed through serious, genuine understandings rather than a
continuation of transactional trade-offs, he said.
Macron Urges 'Calm' ahead of Tense Rally for Slain
Far-right Activist
Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
French President Emmanuel Macron appealed on Saturday for cooler heads to
prevail ahead of a rally for a far-right activist whose killing, blamed on the
hard left, has put the country on edge. Macron also said his government would
hold a meeting next week to discuss "violent action groups" in the wake of the
fatal beating of Quentin Deranque, which has ignited tensions between the left
and right ahead of the 2027 presidential vote.The 23-year-old died from head
injuries following clashes between radical left and far-right supporters on the
sidelines of a demonstration against a politician from the left-wing France
Unbowed (LFI) party in the southeastern city of Lyon last week.A rally, widely
publicized online by ultra-nationalist and far-right groups, is expected to be
attended by 2,000 to 3,000 people, with the authorities fearing further clashes
with left-wing protesters. Speaking at a farming trade fair in Paris, Macron
urged "everyone to remain" calm ahead of the rally for Deranque in Lyon, which
is set to go ahead under high security later on Saturday despite Lyon's
left-wing green mayor asking the state to ban it. "In the Republic, no violence
is legitimate," said Macron, who will be unable to contest next year's election
after hitting the two-term limit. "There is no place for militias, no matter
where they come from."
'Over 1,000 neo-Nazis' -
Ahead of the Lyon rally, some residents living near the march's planned route
had barricaded the ground floor windows of their apartments, fearing unrest.
"At my age, I'm not going to play the tough guy. If I have to go out somewhere,
I'll avoid the places where they're marching," said Lyon local Jean Echeverria,
87.
"They'll just keep fighting each other, it'll never end. Between the extreme of
this and the extreme of that, it's non-stop," he added. Two friends of
Deranque's were behind the official call to march in his honor. But according to
the Deranque family's lawyer, Fabien Rajon, his parents will not take part in
the rally, which they have urged to go ahead "without violence" and "without
political statements".
Several ultra-right-wing groups, including Deranque's nationalist Allobroges
Bourgoin faction, have nonetheless heavily publicized the march on social media.
The authorities fear that far-right and hard-left activists from elsewhere in
Europe might travel to France for the event, stoking concerns of further unrest.
Jordan Bardella, the head of the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) party --
which senses its best chance ever of scoring the presidency in next year's vote
-- has urged supporters not to go. "We ask you, except in very specific and
strictly supervised local situations not to attend these gatherings nor to
associate the National Rally with them," he wrote in a message sent to party
officials and seen by AFP.
LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard backed the Lyon mayor's call for a ban, warning
on X that the march would be a "fascist demonstration" which "over 1,000
neo-Nazis from all over Europe" were expected to attend.
But Interior Minister Laurent Nunez declined to ban the rally, arguing that he
had to "strike a balance between maintaining public order and freedom of
expression" and pledging an "extremely large police deployment".
'Wound' -
Deranque's death has provoked a reaction from US President Donald Trump's
administration, with state department official Sarah Rogers on Friday branding
the killing "terrorism" and claiming that "violent radical leftism is on the
rise".
Likewise, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday called Deranque's
death "a wound for all Europe", prompting Macron to urge the far-right leader to
stay out of French matters.Six men suspected of involvement in the fatal assault
have been charged over the killing, while a parliamentary assistant to a radical
left-wing MP has also been charged with complicity. A far-right collective
called Nemesis, which claims to "defend Western women" from the violence
allegedly wrought by immigrants, said Deranque had been at the protest in Lyon
to protect its members when he was assaulted by "anti-fascist" activists.Having
urged both the far right and hard left to clean up their acts, Macron said his
administration would hold a meeting next week "take stock of violent action
groups which are active and have links with political parties of any
description".
The
Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on February 21-22/2026
The Worst Possible Gift: A Dangerous Lifeline Deal to Iran's Regime
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute/February 21, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/02/152400/
A deal would also buy Iran time to rebuild and expand its military capabilities,
particularly its drone and ballistic missile program — the largest in the Middle
East. "Iran's drones and ballistic missiles can finish 40,000 US troops," US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the US Senate.... Survival today means
strength tomorrow.
Any deal that allows the mullahs to survive to torture their citizens another
day would be looked on by both the international community and history as the
pinnacle of American hypocrisy: a permanent stain on the values that the United
States and the Free World purport to uphold. America's stature as the world's
guarantor of freedom and humanitarian values would be demolished overnight.
Conversely, if Trump would just do what he promised -- "Help is on the way" --
his place in history, as one of the greatest leaders for freedom, as in tearing
down the Berlin Wall, would be forever assured. It would place him forever in a
league with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Ronald
Reagan. Let us hope he will join these winners and Make Persia Great Again.
A deal would also buy Iran time to rebuild and expand its military capabilities,
particularly its drone and ballistic missile program — the largest in the Middle
East. "Iran's drones and ballistic missiles can finish 40,000 US troops," US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the US Senate.... Survival today means
strength tomorrow.
There is one thing the Iranian regime needs now more than anything else —
something upon which its survival may depend. That lifeline is a deal.
Precisely for that reason, at this moment of maximum pressure, President Donald
J. Trump's offering Tehran an agreement — especially one that provides sanctions
relief, legitimacy, or breathing room — could become the single most
consequential mistake of the century.
The regime needs a deal because it needs a breath of relief. It is under
pressure from several directions simultaneously. Internally, Iran has recently
witnessed incessant waves of unrest, protests, and uprisings that cut across
class, ethnic, and generational lines, with many Iranians calling for regime
change -- despite openly being gunned in the streets.
A deal would allow the authorities to intensify repression with fewer external
consequences. Security forces could move more aggressively against activists,
journalists, and opposition networks, confident that diplomatic engagement would
temper foreign criticism. In this sense, a deal might consolidate the regime's
control internally by removing the leverage that international pressure has
currently been providing to Iran's civil society.
Morally, the Iranians risking their lives to protest the system look to the
outside world for solidarity. A sweeping agreement that rehabilitates the regime
without addressing human rights will be perceived, not just by them but by
history, as abandonment. Any deal that allows the mullahs to survive to torture
their citizens another day would be looked on by both the international
community and history as the pinnacle of American hypocrisy: a permanent stain
on the values that the United States and the Free World purport to uphold.
America's stature as the world's guarantor of freedom and humanitarian values
would be demolished overnight. It would signal that geopolitical considerations
outweigh aspirations for freedom and that in such a quest, America could no
longer be counted on to be your greatest ally. Any reach for freedom or
challenging authoritarian rule from within -- as seen tragically in the retreat
from Afghanistan -- would from now on be seen as a fatal waste of time and the
United States as basically no different from any other weak, spoiled state.
Second, the regime faces acute regional pressure. Over recent years, Iran's
network of proxies — long the backbone of its regional strategy — has been
weakened, degraded, or constrained. Israeli military operations have targeted
Iranian assets and affiliated groups across the region, while the Trump
administration's pressure campaigns have sought to disrupt funding channels and
logistics. Tehran, once confident in its arc of influence stretching from
Lebanon to Yemen, now confronts pushback on multiple fronts. A deal with
Washington would break this isolation, reduce the risk of confrontation, and
allow Iran to rebuild its regional posture under the cover of diplomacy.
Third, Iran desperately needs sanctions relief, which is what its rulers want
most, right after the survival of their regime. Sanctions have battered the
economy, restricted oil exports, limited access to international banking, and
fueled inflation that has eroded living standards. A deal that lifts sanctions
or reintegrates Iran into the global financial system would most likely unlock
billions of dollars in frozen assets and enable increased oil revenues.
Such financial relief would not merely stabilize the domestic economy — it would
strengthen the state apparatus. With renewed resources, the regime could better
fund security forces, patronage networks and foreign operations, and restore its
war machine. Groups aligned with Tehran — such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the
Houthis — would receive expanded funding and weapon flows, exacerbating regional
instability rather than reducing it.
A deal would also buy Iran time to rebuild and expand its military capabilities,
particularly its drone and ballistic missile program — the largest in the Middle
East. "Iran's drones and ballistic missiles can finish 40,000 US troops,"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed the US Senate. Tehran has long invested
in drones and missiles as a deterrent and a tool of asymmetric warfare. Iran
could also accelerate the transfer of missiles and missile technology to its
regional proxies, multiplying the threat environment. Survival today means
strength tomorrow.
Equally concerning is the nuclear dimension. Any agreement that relaxes pressure
risks giving Iran the space to rebuild its nuclear capabilities. Even if Iran
were not distinguished for lying and cheating under inspections, the opacity of
underground facilities and covert procurement networks makes monitoring and
verification extraordinarily difficult. Iran's rulers most likely have concluded
that nuclear capability is essential to regime survival, so they can pursue that
objective regardless of formal commitments. A deal could therefore function less
as a barrier and more as a shield behind which nuclear progress continues,
shortening the path to a weapon.
The Iranian leadership has learned that diplomacy can be used to outlast
adversaries. The regime operates on a long timeline, measuring success not in
election cycles but in decades. Having survived wars, sanctions, and internal
unrest for nearly half a century, it calculates that patience can defeat even
the most determined external pressure. It may therefore seek a deal not as an
end in itself but as a means to wait out a particularly hostile U.S.
administration, anticipating that future leaders might adopt a more
accommodating approach.
Timing matters. Promising the Iranian people -- who have literally been risking
everything --- that "help is on the way" only to withdraw that would be a
betrayal of historic enormity. Any deal that merely stabilizes the regime
without fundamentally altering its behavior will only postpone the conflict to a
time when Iran is militarily stronger and even more difficult to defeat – not
resolve the conflict. The US would simply be passing on an unspeakable horror of
governance -- where the rulers are waging war on their own people -- to the next
generation and, God forbid, to the one after that.
The most dangerous gift to the Iranian regime today would be the one it seeks
most urgently: a deal that grants relief, resources, legitimacy, and time.
Such an agreement would empower the regime, revitalize its regional network,
accelerate military development, and destroy not only internal opposition but
America's and Trump's credibility worldwide
Conversely, if Trump would just do what he promised -- "Help is on the way" --
his place in history, as one of the greatest leaders for freedom, as in tearing
down the Berlin Wall, would be forever assured. It would place him forever in a
league with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Ronald
Reagan. Let us hope he will join these winners and Make Persia Great Again.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22287/iran-lifeline-deal
© 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.
Question: What is the meaning of Lent?
GotQuestions.org/February 21/2026
Answer: Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally
observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins with Ash
Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. The length of the Lenten fast was
established in the fourth century as 46 days (40 days, not counting Sundays).
During Lent, participants eat sparingly or give up a particular food or habit.
It’s not uncommon for people to give up smoking during Lent, or to swear off
watching television or eating candy or telling lies. It’s six weeks of
self-discipline.
Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves of the value of
repentance. The austerity of the Lenten season was seen as similar to how people
in the Old Testament fasted and repented in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-3;
Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3).
However, over the centuries Lenten observances have developed a much more
“sacramental” value. Many Catholics believe that giving something up for Lent is
a way to attain God’s blessing. But the Bible teaches that grace cannot be
earned; grace is, by definition, a gift. Also, Jesus taught that fasting should
be done discreetly: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for
they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you,
they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head
and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are
fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16–18a). Jesus’
command to “wash your face” seems to conflict with the practice of rubbing ashes
on one’s face on Ash Wednesday. Fasting can be a good thing, and God is pleased
when we repent of sinful habits. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting
aside some time to focus on Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, repenting of
sin is something we should be doing every day of the year, not just for the 46
days of Lent. If a Christian wishes to observe Lent, he or she is free to do so.
The key is to focus on repenting of sin and consecrating oneself to God. Lent
should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn God’s
favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater than it
already is.
Washington and Tehran: Diplomacy and Force Converge
Hassan Al Mustafa/Asharq Al Awsat/February 21/2026
Everyone is doing their part to ensure a “political solution.” The United States
and Iran are moving along two parallel tracks, with the trajectories of
diplomacy and military force progressing simultaneously. Indeed, the two sides
have divergent objectives: Washington seeks to prevent Tehran from acquiring a
nuclear weapon, while the latter wants economic sanctions lifted, and
intertwined disagreements have complicated the task of the Omani mediator.In the
second round of US–Iranian talks held in Geneva on February 17, the two parties
agreed to a “guiding framework,” paving the way for a move to more tangible
issues in about two weeks. This next round will be more decisive, leading to
either another round of talk or toward military escalation.
The statements of officials from both countries have simultaneously emphasized
both “diplomacy” and “deterrence.” President Donald Trump said that the talks
are “ongoing” while pointing to the deployment of major naval assets.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on the same day of the “negotiations,” raised the
tone and directly threatened the American fleet: “The army that thinks it is the
strongest in the world might receive a slap that puts it down and leaves it
unable to get back up.”
The simultaneity of compromising and belligerent rhetoric creates an unusual
closed-door “bargaining” climate. Both sides are signaling that the costs of
failure will be high, even as they point to the prospects of success in an
attempt to recalibrate the balance of risks in its own favor. In this context,
the function of Khamenei’s rhetoric becomes clear. It put a ceiling on Iranian
flexibility. Although it sends signals that some may view as “negative,” it
could also grant Iranian negotiators more room for maneuver. The regime is fond
of “brinkmanship,” an approach that, though it had been somewhat successful with
previous US administrations, carries immense risks with Trump.
The Iranians hope that this posture will allow them to reject the demand for
“zero enrichment,” deeming it “irrational” and asserting their right to
enrichment at levels approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
As for other concessions Iran could offer, they are contained within a phased
technical package: its stockpile of highly enriched uranium through dilution or
conversion or monitoring arrangements through international supervision, an
expansion of inspection and verification measures and the drafting of a
timetable for corresponding sanction relief. Nevertheless, there remains a chasm
between the United States and Iran. Vice President JD Vance told the Wall Street
Journal that Iran had yet to respond to a key demand on enrichment, and he
warned that it did not have much time to submit proposals to narrow the gaps.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears fully aware of the challenge. “No one has
ever been able to do a successful deal with Iran, but we're going to try,” he
recently said.
Rubio’s remarks suggest that the administration is open to the possibility,
albeit marginal, that it could conclude an interim arrangement whereby
restrictions and monitoring of the nuclear program are granted for a gradual
easing of sanctions, deferring other issues to a later date without giving Iran
carte blanche.
The Omani mediators are working with the space between the two ceilings. In a
statement by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted Minister Badr al-Busaidi’s
affirmation that “serious efforts to define a number of guiding principles for a
final deal.” He added that “much work is yet to be done, and the parties are
left with clear next steps before the next meeting.” In the Arabic version of
the statement, it is clear that the “principles” do not constitute a
fully-fledged political agreement but rather a bridge toward technical
formulations that can be tested.
The implications for the region hang in a delicate balance. Success in the next
round, through clear technical steps, would reduce risks in the Gulf and contain
threats to maritime trade, allowing for more progress toward de-escalation. A
collapse would raise the likelihood of hard tools, with repercussions for
maritime security, energy prices, and the investment climate. Some newspapers
described the round as having produced no breakthrough, with only “modest
progress.” This characterization seems accurate, as deals are made through
agreements on the details.
The next round seems like it will be a more concrete test. Will Tehran present
technical proposals that Washington deems verifiable? A package that regulates
high-enriched stockpiles, expands verification, and couples this with phased
sanctions relief would make a deal more likely. An agreement will be less likely
if “zero enrichment” is demanded and the mechanisms for lifting sanctions remain
vague, or if military threats undermine mediators’ efforts. In any case,
negotiations progress under the shadow of fleets, and this is by design.
Munich and the fracturing West: Can Europe carry its own
defense?
Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/February 21/2026
The Munich security Conference is one of the world’s most important gatherings
on defense and security and regularly attended by heads of government, ministers
and top-level experts.
The transatlantic alliance was the main focus this year. In 2025 the speech of
US Vice President JD Vance rattled delegates. He sharply criticized Europe for
its liberal immigration policies, exclusion of far-right parties from mainstream
political discourse. He also demanded that Europe foot more of its defense bill.
Vance’s speech was followed by an onslaught of tariffs, disagreements over
supporting the Ukraine and President Trump’s quest of annexing Greenland – a
semi-autonomous territory of Denmark - a long-standing NATO ally.
Concern over transatlantic alliance became a key topic in Europe’s capitals. All
eyes were therefore set on this year’s speech by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He highlighted commonalities between Europe and the US in culture and history.
However, he criticized Europe’s immigration policies, its climate goals and
attacked the United Nations and the multilateral system. He emphasized the need
of Europe to pay its fair share for its defense. The speech can be likened to
the proverbial steel fist in a velvet glove.
The current state of transatlantic alliance
The United States pays less attention to the alliance. This did not, however,
start with Donald Trump. Barak Obama tweaked his foreign policy pivot towards
Asia, reflecting that the US has an Atlantic and a Pacific coast. The first
Trump administration defined China as a major threat. The enmity continued under
President Joe Biden and was further deepened in this Trump administration. The
new National Security Strategy further emphasized a newfound focus on the United
States’s Southern neighbors in Latin America, as evidenced by the intervention
in Venezuela. The US had asked Europe to contribute 2 percent of its GDP to its
own defense since the fall of the Berlin Wall – alas to little avail. Trump’s
shock therapy and the war in the Ukraine finally got many European nations to
pledge 5 percent to defense and to look at stronger cooperation within Europe,
but there are stress points:
European unity: In the 1990s the Franco- German relationship served as an
anchor. This alliance is much weaker now. France holds Presidential elections
next year with a possibility of the far-right National Front winning. There is
the so-called E3: Germany France and the UK – alas Sir Keir Starmer’s government
could also be more stable.
There is also the necessity of streamlining operating systems within Europe.
Experts come up with different numbers when comparing US and Europe, but the
ratio remains around 1:5. This complicates coordinated approaches. The talk of
Europe creating its own nuclear shield runs into barriers of cost and treaty
violations – should countries develop their own arsenals.
Affordability: Budgets are stretched and debt capacity is limited: According to
EU statistics, the debt to GDP ratio in 2025 stood at 88 percent at the EU
level, 114 percent in France, 138 percent in Italy and 62 percent in Germany and
94 percent in the UK.
Constrained ability raises debt results in increased contributions by the
taxpayer. Hard choices between legacy social security systems and defense needs
will have to be made, but election cycles are short and populists, who perceive
threats differently, nip at many governments’ heels. Defense spending requires
strong economies. Before the Ukraine war countries like Germany, the erstwhile
economic locomotive of Europe, used to benefit from highly skilled, expensive
labor, low energy costs and a free trade regime. By now energy prices have
soared and new tariff regimes do not help the competitiveness of export-oriented
economies, resulting in anemic growth rates. While the goal of European
cooperation and increased spending in defense is laudable, the obstacles are
manifold.
Lastly, while the Munich conference was very Europe centric, the world has
significantly changed since 1949 when NATO was founded. The global population
has grown more than threefold and many countries in the Global South gained
statehood. The population ratio between the Global South and the Global North
stands at approximately 7:1. This is reflected in shifting priorities. The
African Union Summit took place during the same weekend as the conference in
Munich and received little media coverage. We must pay more attention to what
happens in the populous Global South. The countries of GCC, especially Saudi
Arabia can play a vital role in bridging that gap between North and South.
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Selected twittes for 21/2026