English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For February 26/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Parable of the Sower/But that on the good ground are they, which in an
honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit
with patience.
Luke08/04-15/And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him
out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and
as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls
of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung
up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns;
and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground,
and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things,
he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him,
saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they
might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then
cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should
believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive
the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in
time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which,
when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and
pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good
ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep
it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February
25-26/2026
The Madness of Miscalculation: Why Ideologues Never Know When to Win or
When to Surrender/Elias Bejjani/February 26/2025
Hezbollah faces unprecedented pressure as push for disarmament gains momentum
Lebanon wary of fallout from any US-Iran war, seeks to shield infrastructure
Hezbollah official says will not intervene in event of ‘limited’ US strikes on
Iran
Australia tells families of diplomats to leave Israel, Lebanon
Lebanon and Israel reportedly deny possible targeting of Beirut airport
Berri reportedly reassures Aoun that Hezbollah won't join Iran war
Menassa downplays US role at Hamat air base
Germany, Australia warn their citizens in Lebanon; Israel sends mobile bunkers
to border
Gunfire, stun grenades and detonations: Fire did not really cease in border
villages
EU launches 21st edition of Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of Press
To postpone, or not to postpone: that is the question
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on February
25-26/2026
Trump
lays out case for possible attack on Iran, highlights missile threat
Trump says he prefers ‘diplomacy’ but ‘will never allow’ a nuclear armed Iran
US orders diplomats to fight data sovereignty initiativesA general view of a US
State
Countries issue Middle East travel advisories as Iran tensions rise
Iran sees ‘good outlook’ for talks with US as negotiating team heads to Geneva
Netanyahu seeks to bolster alliance with India as Modi visits Israel
Modi tells MPs in Jerusalem that India stands with Israel ‘firmly with full
conviction’
Israeli settlers burn tents, vehicles in West Bank village, say residents
Demonstrators gather in solidarity with journalists killed by Israeli strikes in
the Gaza Strip,
Israel hails, PA slams US offer of consular services in West Bank settlement
Syria confirms mass escape from al-Hol camp for relatives of extremists
EU alarmed at mass escape of relatives of ISIS members from Syrian camp
US-born ISIS recruit says she wants to return to face justice
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during a press conference
in Kabul on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on February
25-26/2026
Fusion
Power Needs to Be American-Born/A fusion-powered America would be permanently
energy independent/Lawrence Kadish/Gatestone Institute/February 25, 2026
Spain's Government: Spinning Out of Control/Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone
Institute/February 25, 2026
Should we fear a new Iran?/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya English/25
February/2026
The holy month and the future of global dialogue/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya
English/25 February/2026
Politics, economics and global migration/Dr. Ibrahim al-Muhanna/Al Arabiya
English/25 February/2026
US and China hold the keys to containing an oil shock from war on Iran/Ron
Bousso is a columnist for Reuter/The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
The Madness of Miscalculation: Why
Ideologues Never Know When to Win or When to Surrender
Elias Bejjani/February 26/2025
The arrogance of Iran's mullah regime and its disregard for its internal reality
and actual military capabilities laid the foundation for the collapse of its
expansionist project.
Instead of reassessing the balance of power and backing down from its suicidal
nuclear ambitions, the regime doubled down on stubbornness and arrogance. It
resorted to threats and loud rhetoric—mainly targeting the United States and
Israel—convinced it possessed the power to deter and challenge the world.
But this hollow arrogance brought about a decisive response from President
Donald Trump, who moved swiftly to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear
infrastructure, isolate the regime diplomatically, and deal a fatal blow to its
unrealistic nuclear dreams—dreams that never matched the true size or capacity
of Iran’s resources.
As for the much-hyped Iranian threats to strike the U.S. and Israel, they are
nothing more than empty soundbites—completely detached from reality. Iran, which
hasn't won a direct military confrontation in over four decades, is incapable of
confronting either the U.S. or Israeli power. All it can do is resort to media
noise and hollow bluster that change nothing in the real balance of power.
Just like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other ideologically driven groups—whether Arab
nationalists, leftists, or Sunni and Shiite political Islamists—Iran’s rulers
have fallen into the trap of fatal miscalculation.
They have completely lost touch with reality, failing to assess their own true
capabilities or those of the so-called “Great Satan” (America) and “Little
Satan” (Israel). Instead, they remain trapped in delusional, pathological
fantasies that they claim are “divinely inspired.”
They have misunderstood their true size and misjudged their enemies. This
chronic mental and ideological dysfunction is what has brought them to the brink
of total collapse—just like all others in history who have failed to understand
their own limits and those of their opponents.
Why Do Ideologues Drag Their Nations into Lost Battles?
Following the political and military developments in the Middle East raises a
simple and urgent question:
Why do ideologically driven leaders—whether religious or political—consistently
drag their countries into doomed wars that only bring destruction, despair, and
ruin?
The answer lies in the widespread disease of strategic miscalculation, one that
afflicts, among many others, the rulers of Tehran and their militant
proxies—particularly Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iraq’s Popular
Mobilization Forces (PMF). Add to them the larger landscape of political Islam
in both its Sunni and Shiite forms, as well as their counterparts in the Arab
and global leftist revolutionary camps.
The Illusion of Power and the Detachment from Reality
These groups suffer from a narcissistic overestimation of their own power,
constantly fueled by closed ideological narratives that claim they possess
absolute truth and divine or historical destiny.
They live inside echo chambers filled with self-affirming beliefs and dogma.
They see themselves as eternally victorious and divinely favored—even as their
reality is one of failure and humiliation. At the same time, they deny or
downplay the strength of their adversaries, leading to decisions based on
fantasy, wishful thinking, and delusion rather than truth and sober analysis.
Psychological Mechanisms Behind Strategic Stupidity
This behavior can be understood through several psychological mechanisms and
cognitive distortions:
Confirmation Bias: Ideologues seek only the information that supports their
beliefs and ignore all contradicting evidence.
Groupthink: These groups turn inward, suppressing dissent and rewarding blind
conformity.
Collective Narcissism: They see themselves as morally and ideologically
superior, incapable of error or defeat.
Identity Anchoring: Their ideology is so deeply tied to their group identity
that admitting defeat would mean personal and collective collapse.
Illusion of Control: They believe they can control outcomes and destiny—despite
reality proving otherwise.
When Defeat Is Rebranded as “Victory”
When these actors suffer catastrophic defeats, they don’t admit failure.
Instead, they resort to pathological justification and redefine their losses as
moral or symbolic victories.
This is precisely what Hamas does: it brought destruction, famine, and
displacement to the people of Gaza, yet still claims it achieved “divine
victory.”
Hezbollah is no different: its fighters are killed daily, its facilities bombed,
its leaders targeted deep inside Beirut, and yet it still clings to its weapons
and boasts about “steadfastness” and “resistance.”
Iran’s Mullahs: Arrogance on the Road to Collapse
The clearest and most dangerous example of strategic blindness caused by
miscalculation is the Iranian regime. Israel, with support from the United
States, has systematically destroyed the military infrastructure that the
mullahs built over 40 years across Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. One by one,
their nuclear facilities and regional influence have been dismantled.
Yet the regime lives in a state of total denial.
It believes that its stubbornness and arrogance will somehow reverse the
strategic tide. It has rejected every diplomatic offramp, believing it can defy
America, Israel, and the international community.
The result? Its capabilities continue to erode. Its commanders are assassinated
with precision, from Yemen to Damascus. Its economy is strangled by sanctions.
And its people suffer from poverty, repression, and hopelessness. Still, the
regime clings to the myth of “resistance” as if it were a viable strategy. In
truth, it is a suicidal illusion.
Collapse Is Inevitable—and the Price Will Be High
What the mullahs and their allies fail to realize is that their ideological
stubbornness will only lead to a devastating collapse—not only of their regimes,
but of thousands of innocent lives that will be caught in the fallout.
Hezbollah, now a burden on Lebanon and its own Shiite community, has no exit
strategy. Its ideology leaves no room for retreat. Hamas, which betrayed Gaza,
has no option but to continue destroying what remains of its people’s lives. As
for the mullahs, they have passed the point of no return. Their regime is
delegitimized, cornered, and running out of time.
Conclusion: When reason is replaced by delusion, hallucination, and the
narcissism of miscalculation and distorted perception of reality. What unites
these actors is that they have all replaced reason with ideology, analysis with
slogans, and truth with delusion. They do not know when to win or when to
surrender, because they are prisoners of ideological narcissism that makes
retreat impossible. For them, miscalculation is not just a strategic flaw—it is
a fatal condition. One that doesn’t merely topple regimes, but devastates
nations and destroys entire peoples.
Hezbollah faces unprecedented pressure as push for disarmament gains momentum
The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
Despite its public displays of defiance, Hezbollah appears weaker than at any
point in recent years, as a growing segment of Lebanese society unites in
opposition to the group maintaining arms outside state control. This month has
seen unprecedented momentum around efforts to disarm Hezbollah, reflecting both
intensified domestic pressure and heightened international focus. Analysts
describe the current wave of attention as historic in scale and scope.
The Lebanese Army’s commander General Rodolphe Haykal recently visited
Washington to discuss strengthening military cooperation, underscoring the
importance of continued US support for the army as it seeks to defend state
sovereignty and advance the disarmament process. Meanwhile, French Foreign
Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited Beirut ahead of the Paris donor conference
scheduled for March to support the Lebanese army, signalling growing
international pressure in the same direction.
The debate over Hezbollah’s arsenal has also reached the United States Congress.
A recent hearing focused exclusively on the topic of disarmament, while
lawmakers Darrell Issa and Darren LaHood introduced a bill proposing sanctions
against any parties obstructing Lebanon’s electoral process. For analysts such
as Rany Ballout, writing in National Interest, this convergence of domestic and
international pressure represents an historic opportunity to reshape Lebanon.
Weakening Hezbollah and disarming the group is seen not only as essential for
restoring state sovereignty and prosperity but also as a cornerstone of US
efforts to secure long-term regional stability and establish durable security
frameworks across the Middle East. Yet Hezbollah remains unwilling to relinquish
its weapons. American support for the Lebanese Army has long been complex, given
Hezbollah’s entrenched presence within state institutions, including security
and military sectors. Nevertheless, the prevailing strategy has relied on a
strong army capable of providing institutional balance against the group’s
influence. Today, the disarmament issue has moved from crisis management toward
a roadmap for Lebanon’s future. On February 16, the army presented its plan for
the second phase of disarmament to the cabinet, requesting an initial four-month
period, extendable up to eight months depending on operational capabilities.
This phase covers the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, approximately 40
kilometres south of Beirut.The army’s comprehensive five-stage plan began with
deployment south of the Litani River, expanding north between the Litani and
Awali, then covering Beirut and its southern suburbs, followed by the Bekaa
Plain and ultimately the rest of Lebanese territory. In January, the army
declared the first phase south of the Litani completed, although Israel
continues to express scepticism about the effectiveness of implementation.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has rejected the proposed timeline,
framing the disarmament focus as serving Israeli interests. This position aligns
with the group’s long-standing argument that the 2024 US-mediated ceasefire with
Israel applies solely to southern Lebanon, while domestically accusing opponents
of colluding with American and Israeli agendas. President Joseph Aoun,
meanwhile, has publicly described Hezbollah’s arsenal as “a burden on Lebanon”
and a violation of state sovereignty. Publicly, Hezbollah justifies its weapons
as necessary to defend Lebanon against Israel, while reports indicate the group
is seeking behind-the-scenes guarantees to preserve its political and security
influence within state institutions. Pro-Hezbollah circles have even promoted
narratives of potential Israeli-Syrian coordination to target the group if Iran
is attacked. Despite its aggressive rhetoric, Hezbollah is unlikely to initiate
a new conflict with Israel unless an American attack on Iran escalates into a
prolonged confrontation. The group faces significant constraints, including
domestic opposition to renewed conflict, declining morale among its base,
weakened military capabilities following Israel’s 2024 campaign, and disrupted
supply lines after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Israel continues
targeted strikes to prevent Hezbollah from reconstituting its capabilities.
Notably, Hezbollah abstained from involvement during the 12-day Israeli-Iranian
war in June 2025, despite intense pressure from Tehran. Internally, Lebanese
officials believe a direct confrontation between the army and Hezbollah during
the second phase remains unlikely, despite previous limited clashes. Historical
episodes, such as the 2023 Kahala incidents and the 2019 protests, have
demonstrated the army’s capacity to act decisively while maintaining
institutional balance.
At the same time, estimates indicate that Hezbollah has repositioned portions of
its arsenal north of the Litani, in the Bekaa Valley and in southern Beirut
suburbs. Reports suggest the group still holds thousands of short- and
medium-range rockets, a limited number of precision missiles, an expanding drone
fleet, and a fighting force of up to 50,000 active and reserve members. Lebanon
now stands at a critical juncture, with regional pressures intertwined with
domestic realities. While preparations for the Paris conference on March 5 aim
to support the army in the second phase of disarmament, escalating US–Iran
tensions heighten the risk of Lebanon being drawn into a wider confrontation. In
this context, President Aoun is actively liaising with international partners,
particularly Washington, to shield Lebanon from escalation and engaging
Hezbollah to prevent it from entering a potential war. The Litani-north phase of
disarmament remains the most sensitive and symbolic stage in the state’s effort
to consolidate authority and monopolise force. Success hinges on sustained
international support and Lebanon’s ability to insulate itself from regional
conflicts. By setting a clear four- to eight-month time-frame, the government
has signalled its commitment to expanding state authority across the entire
country, yet the path remains fraught with challenges amid Lebanon’s internal
complexities and regional entanglements.
Lebanon wary of fallout from any US-Iran war, seeks to shield infrastructure
The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
Israel has warned Lebanon that it would strike the country hard, targeting
civilian infrastructure including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah got
involved in any US-Iran war, senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on
Tuesday.The Lebanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the
Israeli message was delivered indirectly. Lebanon’s foreign minister said
Tuesday his country fears its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if
the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on
Tehran-backed Hezbollah. “There are signs that the Israelis could strike very
hard in the event of an escalation, potentially including strategic
infrastructure such as the airport,” foreign minister Youssef Raggi told
reporters in Geneva. His comments came against the backdrop of a massive US
military build-up in the Middle East that suggests Washington is prepared to
wage a sustained campaign against Iran.“We are currently conducting diplomatic
efforts to request that, even in the event of retaliation, Lebanese civilian
infrastructure not be targeted,” Raggi said. The Lebanese minister stressed that
his country’s leadership had been very clear: “This war does not concern us.”A
Lebanese official who requested anonymity said “what the Lebanese fear is a
chain reaction: an American strike against Iran, an Hezbollah retaliatory strike
against Israel, followed by a massive Israeli response.”In a post on X, Raggi
said he hoped “Hezbollah refrains from entering any new adventure and spares
Lebanon further destruction.
“We have received warnings indicating that any intervention on its part could
prompt Israel to strike infrastructure, and we are working through all means to
prevent that,” he added. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government
has sought the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah since taking office a year
ago, urged the Iran-aligned group not to take Lebanon into “another adventure”,
speaking in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday. Israel dealt heavy blows
to Hezbollah during a war in 2024, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along
with thousands of its fighters and destroying much of its arsenal.
Hezbollah was established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982. Hezbollah’s
new leader Naim Qassem said in a televised address last month that the group was
“not neutral” in the stand-off between Washington and Tehran, and that it was
“targeted by the potential aggression”. “We are determined to defend ourselves.
We will choose in due course how to act, whether to intervene or not,” Qassem
said.
Hezbollah’s last war with Israel began after it opened fire in solidarity with
its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza conflict in 2023, prompting
months of cross-border fighting before Israel mounted its devastating offensive.
“The Gaza adventure imposed a big cost on Lebanon. We hope that we will not be
dragged into another adventure,” Salam told Nida al-Watan newspaper in the
interview published on Tuesday. With tensions high, Lebanon’s army accused the
Israeli military on Tuesday of firing near a position it was setting up in the
country’s south, saying it had instructed troops to return fire. The Lebanese
army said it was “establishing a new observation post on the southern border”
when “the area surrounding the post was subjected to gunfire from the Israeli
side. “The army command issued orders to reinforce the post, remain there, and
return fire.”Israel’s military said it had spotted Lebanese soldiers
establishing the post adjacent to Israeli troops “without prior coordination,”
and requested they stop. “After the request went unanswered, the troops
conducted warning fire in order to halt the work,” the military said in a
statement. Also on Tuesday, a preparatory meeting was held in Cairo ahead of a
conference in Paris next month to back Lebanon’s army, which is facing heavy
pressure from Washington and Israel to disarm Hezbollah. At the meeting,
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for the international community
to better support Lebanon’s armed forces.
The meeting aimed “to enable the Lebanese state to ensure that all weapons are
held exclusively by the state,” Abdelatty added. Meanwhile, the US State
Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible
family members from the US embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official
said on Monday. Since a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in 2024,
Israel has carried out regular strikes against what it has identified as
Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, accusing the group of seeking to rearm. Israeli
strikes have killed around 400 people in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according
to a Lebanese toll. Hezbollah says it has respected the ceasefire in southern
Lebanon. In January, the US-backed Lebanese army said it had established
operational control over the south, in line with the objective of establishing a
monopoly on arms. Israel said the effort was an encouraging beginning but far
from sufficient.
Hezbollah official says will not intervene in event of
‘limited’ US strikes on Iran
AFP/25 February/2026
A Hezbollah official told AFP on Wednesday that the Lebanese movement would not
intervene militarily in the event of “limited” US strikes on its backer Iran,
but would consider any attack against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a
“red line.”The US has repeatedly threatened Iran over its contentious nuclear
program, and Lebanese authorities fear Hezbollah could become involved if a
potential US attack triggered a regional war. But the official told AFP on
condition of anonymity: “In the event of limited US strikes on Iran, Hezbollah’s
position will be to not intervene militarily.”If the group determines, however,
that the United States is trying to “provoke the downfall of the Iranian regime
or to target the supreme leader, Hezbollah will then intervene”, they added. The
official predicted that in a hypothetical scenario where the US attempted to
militarily unseat the Iranian government, US-ally Israel would “inevitably wage
a war against Lebanon.”US President Donald Trump has deployed warships and
fighter jets near Iran to back up his threats of strikes should ongoing
negotiations between the two sides fail to secure a deal. Lebanon’s foreign
minister said Tuesday that the government feared Israeli attacks on civilian
infrastructure if Hezbollah -- which still has an arsenal of ballistic missiles
-- became part of a regional conflict between the US and Iran. “What the
Lebanese fear is a chain reaction: an American strike against Iran, a Hezbollah
retaliatory strike against Israel, followed by a massive Israeli response,” said
a Lebanese official who requested anonymity.Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has
said that his group is in a “defensive position”, but it would consider itself
“targeted” by any US attack on Iran. During the 12-day war between Israel and
Iran last June, which the US later joined, Hezbollah did not intervene.
Hezbollah emerged weakened from over a year of war with Israel that a November
2024 ceasefire sought to halt. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued
striking targets it says are linked to Hezbollah on a near-daily basis, saying
it is enforcing ceasefire provisions against the group rearming. Hezbollah and
the Lebanese government have protested the attacks as ceasefire violations. The
official speaking to AFP stressed that Hezbollah was refraining from responding
to the strikes, but that its restraint “has limits.”“Israeli attacks cannot
continue indefinitely without a response.”
Australia tells families of diplomats to leave Israel,
Lebanon
Reuters/25 February ,2026
The Australian government has told dependents of Australian diplomats in Israel
and Lebanon to leave the two Middle East countries, citing a deteriorating
security situation in the region, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. The
government has also offered voluntary departures to Australian diplomats’
dependents in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, it said on an official
ministry X account. US President Donald Trump laid out his case for a possible
attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying
he would not allow the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear
weapon.Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as
Washington builds up military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened
to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked, but Tehran’s top diplomat
said on Tuesday that a deal with the US was “within reach” if diplomacy is
prioritized. The Australian government continues to advise citizens in Israel
and Lebanon to consider leaving while commercial options are still available,
the foreign ministry said. The announcements were made in a series of posts on
the foreign ministry’s Smartraveller X account.
Lebanon and Israel reportedly deny possible targeting of
Beirut airport
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
An Israeli official has reportedly denied a claim by Lebanese Foreign Minister
Youssef Rajji that Israel would target civilian infrastructure across Lebanon if
Hezbollah decided to support Iran in a possible war, threatened by U.S.
President Donald Trump.The official told Al-Arabiya news channel Tuesday that
targeting Lebanese state institutions is not among Israel's objectives. Rajji
had told journalists in Geneva that Lebanese authorities had appealed to
Hezbollah not to respond in any way that could trigger "bad situations" for
Lebanese civilians. He said Lebanon has received signs that the Israelis could
strike civilian infrastructure and maybe the airport.Presidential sources denied
these claims too. They told local al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published
Wednesday, that Lebanon has not officially received from any mediator or
diplomat such a warning about Israel's intention to strike the airport or any
other infrastructure. The sources said that Rajji had not notified the state,
the president or the speaker about these warnings, adding that such declarations
are not supposed to be communicated via media statements."The Minister bears
full responsibility for his statements," the sources said, dismissing Rajji's
remarks as mere "fearmongering."The Progressive Socialist Party said in a
statement that the blatant contradiction between Rajji's remarks and Israel's
response is "surprising". "The stark contrast raises question marks," the PSP
said.
Berri reportedly reassures Aoun that Hezbollah won't join
Iran war
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
The Lebanese Presidency has not received any warnings suggesting that Israel
will attack Lebanon’s infrastructure if Hezbollah backs Iran militarily, a
minister close to President Joseph Aoun said.“The Lebanese Presidency received
reassurances through Speaker Nabih Berri that Hezbollah will not interfere in
the war,” the minister told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. As for the U.S. Embassy's
decision to evacuate non-essential staff, the minister said that "communication
took place with the embassy in Beirut, and the response was that the decision is
a temporary measure taken as a precaution due to the security situation in the
region, the talk of an imminent strike on Iran and any potential reaction from
Hezbollah in Lebanon."The minister noted that "the U.S. measures in Beirut
included closing the consular section and canceling all visa appointments,"
confirming that "Lebanese authorities have not yet been notified of any
intention by European embassies to take similar steps."
Menassa downplays US role at Hamat air base
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
Defense Minister Michel Menassa on Wednesday clarified that the Hamat Air base
in north Lebanon is “a Lebanese air base belonging to the Lebanese Army Air
Force” and that “no other entity within it has any authority or power above
Lebanese laws.”
"Recently, news, reports, and writings have increased regarding the military
airbase in the Hamat area of the Batroun district in North Lebanon. Some of
these are questions and inquiries, some are speculations and scenarios, and some
are linked to developments and movements in the region and neighboring
countries,” Menassa said.Accordingly, he clarified that “all activities and
missions at the base are conducted under the supervision, approval and
monitoring of the Lebanese Army Command.”“This base, like other military sites
and barracks, hosts foreign training teams operating under the regulations and
instructions of the military establishment, for the benefit of various military
units within the Lebanese Army,” Menassa explained. He said the Hamat airbase,
along with the Beirut airbase within the perimeter of Rafik Hariri International
Airport and the Rayak airbase in the Bekaa Valley, constitutes a point of entry
and receipt for aid to the Lebanese Army. “This aid includes military equipment,
supplies, weapons and ammunition delivered via flights from foreign countries,”
the minister said. Tensions has recently erupted after U.S. forces stationed at
Hamat closed surrounding roads following suspicion that a drone had fallen in
the vicinity, media reports said. The closure reportedly prevented residents
from reaching their homes. Media reports have also
said that Iran might target the base in the event of a future war with the
United States in light of its use by U.S. forces.
Germany, Australia warn their citizens in Lebanon; Israel sends mobile bunkers
to border
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
The Foreign Office in Berlin has warned of a deterioration in the security
situation in Lebanon should a war be waged on Iran, cautioning that “in the
event of further escalation, flight restrictions could occur at any time.”It
advised German nationals to closely follow travel and security advice and to
stock up on food, water and fuel. The Australian government meanwhile told the
families of Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave the two Middle
East countries, citing a deteriorating security situation in the region.
Israel was meanwhile sending mobile bunkers to towns on its northern border with
Lebanon amid fears of a possible escalation, Israeli media reports said.
Gunfire, stun grenades and detonations: Fire did not really
cease in border villages
Agence France Presse/25 February ,2026
The Israeli army dropped overnight into Wednesday stun grenades on the southern
border town of Aita al-Shaab and detonated houses in Marwahin and Odaysseh.
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 was targeting the group. Troops frequently enter into Lebanese
territories on the border and detonate houses there. The Israeli army is also
occupying five hills in south Lebanon. On Tuesday, the Lebanese army said it was
"establishing a new observation post on the southern border" when "the area
surrounding the post was subjected to gunfire from the Israeli side"."The army
command issued orders to reinforce the post, remain there, and return fire."
Israel's military said it had spotted Lebanese soldiers establishing the post
adjacent to Israeli troops "without prior coordination," and requested they
stop. "After the request went unanswered, the troops conducted warning fire in
order to halt the work," the military said in a statement. On Monday, Washington
ordered non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy in Lebanon's capital
Beirut, as anticipation rose of a possible conflict with Iran.
EU launches 21st edition of Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of Press
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
The European Union and Samir Kassir Foundation launched Wednesday the 21st
edition of the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press. The award, which has
been granted by the European Union since 2006, honors the Lebanese journalist
and writer Samir Kassir, who was assassinated in 2005. The competition for the
award has attracted since its creation more than 3,900 candidates from the
Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa and 57 journalists have won the award so
far. Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, stressed: "In
this challenging context, one truth remains clear: press freedom is not
optional." She added: "The European Union remains firmly committed to promoting
and defending press freedom. This commitment lies at the heart of the Samir
Kassir Award, which for over two decades has supported and recognized
journalists who, despite the risks they face, continue to investigate, to
question and to speak the truth."Malek Mrowa, President of the Samir Kassir
Foundation, added: "Journalism requires courage everywhere in the world. In
Lebanon and across the region, however, that courage is needed even more, given
the risks and challenges journalists face. This Award sends a message to all of
them that the Samir Kassir Foundation, with the support of the EU, stands by
them and recognizes their work and commitment." The Samir Kassir Award for
Freedom of the Press is open to professional journalists from North Africa, the
Middle East, and the Gulf. The deadline for sending in contributions is 1 April
2026. Three awards will be granted for the best:
- Opinion Article
- Investigative Article
- Audiovisual News Report
The contributions must be centered on one or more of the following topics: rule
of law, human rights, good governance, fight against corruption, freedom of
expression, democratic development, and citizen participation. The winner of
each of the three categories will receive a prize of €10,000. The jury will be
composed of seven voting members from Arab and European media and one observer
representing the European Union. The names of the winners will be communicated
during the prize-awarding ceremony, which will take place on 3 June 2026 in
Beirut, one day after the 21st anniversary of Samir Kassir’s assassination.
The contest regulations, application forms, rules, and conditions are
available on the Award’s website: www.samirkassiraward.orgز Registration closes
on April 1, 2026.
To postpone, or not to postpone: that is the question
Naharnet/25 February ,2026
As Lebanon prepares for its parliamentary elections, reports say the country is
under pressure to postpone the juncture. A report published Tuesday in
pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said the United States, Saudi Arabia, and
France are pressuring Lebanon to postpone the elections for at least one year.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has repeatedly said that he is against a
postponement, affirming that the elections will be held on time.
He told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that the Quintet is in favor of
postponement. He later told An-Nahar that he thinks "there is no justification"
for postponing such an important juncture. Al-Akhbar reported that a senior
official confirmed Western nations and Saudi Arabia are openly voicing their
lack of enthusiasm for holding elections that would fail to produce genuine
change. He accused these countries of working to "impose" the postponement on
the Lebanese as a fait accompli. Berri has reportedly said that Amal and
Hezbollah do not wish to postpone. They see an interest in holding the elections
on time and are not worried about the outcome of the vote, al-Akhbar quoted him
as saying. "Berri told the foreign ambassadors that
Amal would oppose a postponement," the daily said, adding that Berri discussed
the postponement with the Saudi side and other parties, and stressed that Amal
and Hezbollah will not accept an extension "tailored to the calculations of
Washington and Riyadh" and their allies in Lebanon.
Who else doesn't want to postpone -
Free Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil has accused some parties of wanting to
postpone the elections "at the request of" external or internal actors, likely
hinting at his long-time opponent Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. The LF,
the Kataeb party and some independent and change MPs did not say they want to
postpone the elections but are demanding to amend the current electoral law in
order to allow expats to vote for all 128 MPs. The current law stipulates the
expats vote for six newly-introduced seats reserved for the diaspora, but that
provision was frozen, and now it is unclear how the expats will vote. Hezbollah
MP Hassan Fadlallah said Monday that those who want to postpone are those who
claim to be "pro-sovereignty" and that those are the ones yielding to "foreign
interference." "Foreign countries are attempting to impose a term extension on
Lebanon. These powers have begun lobbying officials to extend the current
Parliament’s mandate for the sake of external considerations that have nothing
to do with our national interests," Fadlallah said.
"Among these calculations is their belief that our support base will weaken
further in a year’s time, that the reconstruction process will be delayed, and
that there is a possibility of a U.S. war against Iran. They think that in a
year from now, conditions will be more favorable for them to produce a
Parliament that reflects a new balance of power following the Israeli war — even
if this comes at the expense of constitutional deadlines, the credibility of the
Presidency, and the government’s ministerial statement."Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam and President Joseph Aoun say they want the elections to be held on time.
"The government is ready to hold elections on time and has completed its
preparations," Salam said Monday. "Parliament is the only entity
constitutionally capable of postponing the election," he added. Regarding the
expats vote and the adoption of a magnetic card, it is also the Parliament's
responsibility to "resolve the ambiguity", he said.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on February
25-26/2026
Trump
lays out case for possible attack on Iran, highlights missile threat
The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
US President Donald Trump briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on
Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying he would
not allow the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon
while presenting Tehran’s ballistic missile programme as a threat to the United
States. Even while assembling a massive military force in the Middle East, Trump
has done little to explain to the American public why he might be leading the US
into its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979
revolution. In his speech, Trump pointed to Tehran’s support for regional
proxies, its killing of protesters and the country’s missile and nuclear
programmes as threats to the region and the United States. “The (Iranian) regime
and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate,”
the Republican president said about 90 minutes into his annual address to a
joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. He accused Iran of
restarting its nuclear programme, working to build missiles that “soon” would be
capable of reaching the United States and of being responsible for roadside
bombings that have killed US service members and civilians. Iranian state media
have claimed that Tehran is developing a missile capable of reaching North
America.
“They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases
overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United
States of America,” Trump said during his State of the Union address. In 2025,
the US Defence Intelligence Agency said Iran could potentially develop a
militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran
decide to pursue the capability,” but did not say if it had made such a
decision. Tehran currently possesses short- and medium-range ballistic missiles
with ranges that top out at about 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometres), according to
the US Congressional Research Service. The continental United States is more
than 6,000 miles from Iran’s western tip. The run-up to Trump’s address was
overshadowed by the build-up of US military forces in the Middle East and
preparations for a possible conflict with Iran that could last for weeks if
Tehran does not reach a deal to solve a long-standing dispute over its nuclear
programme. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with negotiators’ failure
to reach an agreement. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those
secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,’” Trump said in his speech.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a deal with the US
was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority”, days ahead of a
fresh round of talks between the two sides in Geneva. “We have a historic
opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns
and achieves mutual interests,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
Iran says its nuclear research is for civilian energy production but asserts
that it has a sovereign right to nuclear enrichment. Trump also faulted the
government in Tehran for the deaths of thousands of protesters during recent
anti-government demonstrations, although the specific figure he cited, that
32,000 people had been killed, is much higher than most public estimates.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a briefing on Iran hours before the speech
for Congress’ “Gang of Eight”, composed of the leaders of the Senate and House
of Representatives and the two chambers’ intelligence committees.
“First and foremost, if they want to do something in Iran, and who the hell
knows what it is, they should make it public and discuss it with the public and
not keep it in secret. When you do these military operations in secret, it
always causes longer wars, tragedy, more expenses and mistake(s),” Senate
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told a press conference shortly before the
classified session. Advisers had urged Trump to focus on the economy,
immigration and other domestic policy issues, and he devoted the lion’s share of
his nearly two-hour-long speech to such topics. Trump and his fellow Republicans
rose to the top of US politics with the passionate support of a political base
that embraces his “America First” policies and vow to end an era of “forever
wars” like the long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But opinion polls show
the party will struggle to keep control of Congress in November’s midterm
election. Polls also show Americans wary of foreign conflicts. A Reuters/Ipsos
poll from January showed 69 percent of Americans agreed with a statement the US
should only use its military when facing a direct and imminent threat, while 18
percent disagreed and the rest were not sure or did not answer the question.
Trump ordered strikes on Iran last year, claiming in July that they had
“obliterated” the country’s nuclear facilities. His aides have claimed more
recently that Iran is very close to having the ability to make nuclear bombs.
Trump addressed the issue in Tuesday’s speech, saying, “They (Iran’s leaders)
want to start all over again, and are, at this moment again pursuing their
sinister ambitions.” Trump said he preferred to make peace, listing a range of
worldwide conflicts he takes credit for ending, or easing. “As president, I will
make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to
America wherever we must,” Trump said.
Trump says he prefers ‘diplomacy’
but ‘will never allow’ a nuclear armed Iran
Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was willing to solve the
differences between the US and Iran through diplomatic means but would never
allow for the Islamic Republic to acquire nuclear weapons.“My preference is to
solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never
allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a
nuclear weapon,” he said during his State of the Union speech. Trump confirmed
that the US and Iran were in talks, yet the latter had not vowed to renounce
nuclear armament categorically. “We are in negotiations with them, they want to
make a deal but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a
nuclear weapon,’” he added. During his first tenure from 2017 to 2020, Trump had
revoked a nuclear agreement between the US and Iran initiated by his predecessor
Barack Obama and reimposed sanctions on the country. Since late December, Iran
has been the scene of anti-government protests that were violently crushed by
the authorities and, according to Iranian activists abroad, led to the deaths of
tens of thousands.
The US and Iran have as of late held a number of bilateral talks on Iran’s
nuclear program but to no avail.With AFP
US orders diplomats to fight data
sovereignty initiativesA general view of a US State
Reuters/25 February/2026
President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered US diplomats to lobby
against attempts to regulate US tech companies’ handling of foreigners’ data,
saying in an internal diplomatic cable seen by Reuters that such efforts could
interfere with artificial intelligence-related services. Experts say the move
signals the Trump administration is reverting to a more confrontational approach
as some foreign countries seek limits around how Silicon Valley firms process
and store their citizens’ personal information - initiatives often described as
“data sovereignty” or “data localization.”In the State Department cable, dated
February 18 and signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the agency said
such laws would “disrupt global data flows, increase costs and cybersecurity
risks, limit Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud services, and expand
government control in ways that can undermine civil liberties and enable
censorship.”
The cable said the Trump administration was pushing for “a more assertive
international data policy” and that diplomats should “counter unnecessarily
burdensome regulations, such as data localization mandates.”The State Department
did not provide comment on the cable. However, it said the US strongly supports
cross-border data flows that promote growth and innovation while protecting
privacy, safety, and free expression and stands ready to partner with countries
that share those goals. “We seek to counter unnecessarily burdensome
regulations, such as data localization mandates,” it added. Data sovereignty
initiatives have gathered pace, particularly in Europe, as tensions have flared
tensions between the US and the European Union over Washington’s protectionist
trade policies and support for far-right political parties. The dominance of US
artificial intelligence companies - many of which draw on massive stores of
personal data to power their models - has underlined European concerns around
privacy and surveillance. Officials across the continent have increased pressure
on American social media giants, too. Bert Hubert, a Dutch cloud computing
expert and former member of the board that regulates the Dutch intelligence
services, said Europe’s increasing wariness of America’s tech companies may be
spurring Washington to take a more aggressive tack. “Where the previous
administration attempted to woo European customers, the current one is demanding
that Europeans disregard their own data privacy regulations that could hinder
American business,” he said.
‘Unnecessarily burdensome’
Data sovereignty laws vary in scope. Some impose rules around where information
is kept by requiring that data collected from a certain nation only be stored
within that country. Others put restrictions around how data is shared, limiting
its distribution to foreign companies. The European Union’s 2018 General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR), for example, imposed restrictions on transferring
Europeans’ data abroad and has led to a series of stiff fines on American tech
firms. Rubio’s cable cited GDPR as an example of a rule that imposed
“unnecessarily burdensome data processing restrictions and cross-border data
flow requirements.”It also said China was “bundling enticing technology
infrastructure projects with restrictive data policies that expand its global
influence and access to international data for surveillance and strategic
leverage.” The cable did not provide much more detail, but China has over the
past few years tightened regulations over how its companies store and transfer
user data. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said it was not familiar with the
cable but that Beijing “has always attached great importance to cybersecurity
and data security.” The European Commission in Washington did not respond to a
request for comment. The cable, whose headline described it as an “action
request”, tasked American diplomats with tracking the development of proposals
to restrict cross-border data flows and supplied talking points promoting the
Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum, a group established in 2022 by the
United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others “to support the free
flow of data and effective data protection and privacy globally.” The Forum did
not respond to requests for comment. The cable is the latest in a series of
initiatives aimed at thwarting European regulation of the digital sphere. Last
year, Rubio ordered diplomats to whip up opposition to the EU’s Digital Services
Act, which aims to make the internet safer by compelling major social media
firms to remove illegal content, such as extremist or child sexual abuse
material. Last week, Reuters reported that the United States planned to launch
an online portal intended to help Europeans and others bypass the censorship of
material including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda.
Countries issue Middle East travel advisories as Iran tensions rise
Reuters/25 February/2026
countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomatic personnel and
non-essential staff from some locations in the Middle East, or advising citizens
to defer travel to Iran, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Here are some of the moves:Australia: The government has told dependents of
Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave the two countries, citing a
deteriorating security situation in the region. It also offered voluntary
departures to Australian diplomats' dependents in the United Arab Emirates,
Jordan and Qatar. It continues to advise citizens in Israel and Lebanon to
consider leaving while commercial options remain available. Serbia: Serbia has
told its nationals in Iran to leave as soon as possible due to increased
tensions and the risk of a deterioration of the security situation. Poland:
Polish citizens should leave Iran immediately. United States: The US is pulling
non-essential staff and eligible family members from its embassy in Lebanon amid
Iran tensions. Sweden: The Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to avoid all
travel to Iran and leave the country immediately on January 12, 2026. The
Foreign Minister said in February that people who decided to stay should not
expect help from the government to be evacuated. India: The Indian embassy in
Iran advised citizens currently in Iran to leave by available means of
transport, including commercial flights.
Cyprus: Cyprus advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and leave the
country immediately on January 13, 2026.
Singapore: Singapore advised citizens to continue to defer all travel to Iran.
Iran sees ‘good outlook’ for talks with US as negotiating team heads to Geneva
Reuters/25 February/2026
Iran sees the chance of a good outcome from a third round of talks with the
United States, its President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday, as a
delegation left for Geneva for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. A
senior US official said on Monday that US envoy Steve Witkoff and US President
Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are slated to meet with the Iranian
delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva on Thursday. The
two countries resumed negotiations over the long-disputed nuclear program
earlier this month as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle
East ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic. Iran has threatened to
strike US bases in the region if it is attacked. Trump on February 19 said he
was giving Tehran about 10 to 15 days to make a deal. “In relation to the talks,
we see a good outlook, tomorrow in the meeting that Dr. Araghchi will hold in
Geneva... we have tried, with the guidance of the Supreme Leader, to manage this
process to get out of the no war, no peace situation,” Pezeshkian said in
comments carried by state media. Araghchi said on Tuesday that a deal with the
US was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.” The US and
Israel believe Iran aspires to build a nuclear weapon that could threaten
Israel’s existence. Iran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful, even
though it has enriched uranium far beyond the purity needed for power
generation, and close to what is required for a bomb.
Netanyahu seeks to bolster
alliance with India as Modi visits Israel
The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
As India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts a two-day visit to Israel on
Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu eyes bolstering ties with a
“like-minded” nation while regional concerns mount over the risk of military
conflict between the United States and Iran. Modi, an Hindu nationalist, became
the first prime minister in India’s history to visit Israel in 2017, during
which he and Netanyahu took a barefoot stroll on a beach in the northern port
city of Haifa. Both still in power nearly nine years later, the two leaders, who
describe one another as “friends”, are expected to hold talks on artificial
intelligence as well as defence at a time when Israel is seeking to increase its
military exports.An Israeli government official said the visit would “pave the
way for new partnerships and collaborations across many fields.” Bilateral ties
were on the cusp of a significant upgrade, an Israeli foreign ministry official
said.
Modi is expected to deliver remarks to Israel’s Knesset, the parliament, and lay
a wreath at Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial.Modi’s visit comes
as the United States deploys a vast naval force near Iran’s coast ahead of
possible strikes on the Islamic Republic, with the two countries at an impasse
in talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme. The Pentagon has also deployed an
aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, bound for Israel’s coast. A US attack on
Iran could draw Iranian retaliation targeting Israel as well as US military
facilities in Gulf Arab countries, where millions of Indians live and work and
send home billions of dollars of remittances each year.Kabir Taneja, of the
Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think-tank, said that New Delhi did not
want to see conflict in the region. “I’m sure those kind of messages have been
delivered in the past and will be delivered during this visit as well,” he said.
The Israeli foreign ministry official said discussions with a “regional aspect”
would likely take place during the visit. Speaking at a cabinet meeting this
week, Netanyahu described India as being part of a future “axis” of like-minded
nations that see eye-to-eye in confronting “the radical Shia axis” and “the
emerging radical Sunni axis”. Iran is governed by a Shia Muslim theocracy that
is allied with various Shia-dominated militias across the region. By “Sunni
radical axis”, the Israeli premier is referring primarily to Hamas but could
also be including Syria’s radical Sunni Islamists in power. “(Our) cooperation
can yield great results and, of course, ensure our resilience and our future,”
Netanyahu said. Taneja said that, while India was interested in buying Israeli
military equipment, New Delhi would hesitate at joining any formal alliance
given its history of non-alignment in international affairs.
Modi tells MPs in Jerusalem that India stands with Israel ‘firmly with full
conviction’
Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told lawmakers in Jerusalem on Wednesday
that his country stood with Israel “firmly with full conviction” following
Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.“I... carry with me the deepest condolences of
the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was
shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7,” Modi said in
the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. “We feel your pain, we share your grief.
India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond,”
he added. Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at
deepening ties with a key trade and defence partner, a trip that has drawn
criticism at home. It is Modi’s second visit to Israel as prime minister. He is
scheduled to meet his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
“Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership,” Modi said
in a statement before leaving New Delhi, adding that he will address the
Knesset, Israel’s parliament, later on Thursday. “Ties have significantly
strengthened in the last few years.”New Delhi has steadily expanded cooperation
with Israel across the defence, agriculture, technology and cybersecurity
sectors, while balancing diplomatic interests in the Middle East. Talks opened
in New Delhi on Monday for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India’s
government said in a statement, noting that merchandise trade reached $3.62
billion in 2024-2025. Modi said he would hold talks with Netanyahu to “discuss
ways to strengthen cooperation.” Full diplomatic relations between the two
countries were established in 1992. Ties deepened after Hindu-nationalist leader
Modi took office in 2014. Modi first visited Israel as prime minister in 2017,
before Netanyahu made a reciprocal visit to India the following year. Both
right-wing leaders have called each other a “friend.”
‘Shock and horror’
“What happened on October 7 was received in India with shock and horror, and
which is why the support for Israel was quick, instantaneous, and enormous,”
said Ashok Malik, head of New Delhi-based strategic advisory firm The Asia
Group. India-Israel ties, which Modi is “taking forward with this visit,” stem
not only from strategic alignment on issues such as terrorism, he added. “Israel
has a lot to contribute in terms of innovation technology, including
agriculture, technology, and economic partnerships and of course defence... This
is quite independent of the Palestinian issue,” Malik said. Months after his
2017 visit to Israel, Modi travelled to Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian
Authority. His current visit, however, has sparked criticism at home. Senior
Congress party figure Priyanka Gandhi -- sister of opposition leader Rahul --
posted on social media on Wednesday that she hoped Modi would mention the
killing of “thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza” when he
addresses Israel’s parliament. India, the world’s most populous nation with 1.4
billion people, is majority Hindu, but an estimated 220 million Indians are
Muslim. One of India’s largest conglomerates, Adani Group, operates the Israeli
port of Haifa, while Israeli military drone technology played a pivotal role
during India’s May 2025 clash with Pakistan.At the same time, India maintains
strong relations with Gulf nations and Tehran, including developing Iran’s
Chabahar port -- a trade gateway to Afghanistan, where New Delhi has built a
relationship with Taliban authorities.With AFP
Israeli settlers burn tents, vehicles in West Bank village,
say residents
Reuters/25 /2026
Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles and tents in the Palestinian village of
Susiya on Tuesday night, residents said, in the latest incident of settler
violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Videos verified
by Reuters showed a masked group of men, who residents said were Israeli
settlers, approaching the village near the city of Hebron, and later burning
vehicles and Palestinian property. “They attack us almost every day, repeatedly,
because we live near the main road...Last night they burned everywhere,” Halima
Abu Eid, a Susiya resident told Reuters on Wednesday. The Israeli military said
they had dispatched soldiers to deal with reports of “deliberate burnings of
Palestinian property” and had opened an investigation into the incident.
Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has increased
sharply since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with over 800
Palestinians displaced due to settler attacks in 2026 according to United
Nations data. Attacks where masked settlers arrive at night to destroy
Palestinian property or attack residents have become common, as Israeli settlers
seek to control large swathes of land in the West Bank.An Israeli official
previously blamed settler violence on a “fringe minority,” although Reuters
reporting has shown well-organized plans to take Palestinian land in public
settler social media channels. The United Nations has documented at least 86
instances of settler violence from February 3 to 16, leading to the displacement
of 146 Palestinians and the injury of 64. Israeli indictments of settler
violence are rare. At the end of 2025, Israeli monitoring group Yesh Din said of
the hundreds of cases of settler violence it had documented since October 7,
2023, only 2 percent resulted in indictments. Israel’s far-right governing
coalition has enabled the rapid spread of settlements, with some ministers
openly stating they want to “bury” a Palestinian state. Most world powers deem
Israel’s settlements, on land it captured in a 1967 war, illegal, and numerous
UN Security Council resolutions have called on Israel to halt all settlement
activity. Israel disputes the view that its settlements are unlawful and it
cites biblical and historical ties to the land.
Demonstrators gather in
solidarity with journalists killed by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip,
Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the
Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday, blaming Israel for two-thirds
of the deaths. It was the second consecutive annual record for press deaths and
the deadliest year since the CPJ began collecting data more than three decades
ago. “Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to
information is more important than ever,” CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a
statement. “We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the
news.”Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict
settings, the CPJ said in its report. More than 60 percent of the 86 members of
the press killed by Israeli fire in 2025 were Palestinians reporting from Gaza,
it added.The Israeli military maintains that it never deliberately targets
journalists. The number of journalists killed in Ukraine and Sudan also
increased in 2025 compared to a year earlier. The CPJ highlighted a rise in
drones being used, with 39 cases documented, including 28 killings by Israel in
Gaza and five by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. In Ukraine,
four journalists were killed by Russian military drones, the highest annual
number of journalist deaths in the war since 15 were killed in 2022. Journalists
are increasingly vulnerable due to a persistent culture of impunity, the CPJ
said, noting a lack of transparent investigations into killings. In Mexico, six
journalists were killed in 2025 and all the cases remain unsolved. The
Philippines saw three journalists shot dead. Others were killed following their
reporting on corruption, such as a Bangladeshi reporter hacked to death by
suspects linked to a fraud ring, according to the CPJ report. Similar organized
crime-related deaths were recorded in India and Peru. With AFP
Israel hails, PA slams US offer
of consular services in West Bank settlement
AFP/25 February/2026
Israel welcomed Wednesday a decision by the US embassy to offer consular
services in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, while the
Palestinian Authority slammed it as a “violation of international law.”The US
mission in Jerusalem said Tuesday that as part of an initiative to mark the
250th anniversary of US independence, it would provide Americans with “routine
passport services in Efrat on Friday, February 27... for one day only.”Efrat is
a West Bank settlement home to about 12,000 Israelis and is located 12
kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Jerusalem. Israeli settlements in the West Bank,
which Israel occupied in 1967, are illegal under international law. Israeli
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the US move. “We... appreciate the
important decision by the US embassy to extend consular services to Efrat, in
Judea and Samaria,” he said, using the biblical name for the West Bank. “As
America marks 250 years of independence, Israel stands proudly beside it,” he
added at an event marking the occasion. The Palestinian Authority’s Colonization
and Wall Resistance Commission condemned the move, saying in a statement that it
“constitutes a clear violation of international law and a blatant favoring of
the occupation authorities,” referencing Israel. Minister Muayyad Shubban, head
of the commission, called on the US to reverse the decision, and on the
international community to refrain from legitimizing the settlement system. The
Palestinian militant group Hamas also decried the US decision, describing it in
a statement as “a dangerous step that supports (Israel’s) Judaization plans.”
The US embassy in Jerusalem also announced that such pop-up consular services
will be provided in the next couple of months in another Israeli settlement,
Beitar Illit, as well as in the Palestinian city of Ramallah and three cities
inside Israel.
Syria confirms mass escape from al-Hol camp for relatives
of extremists
Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
Syria confirmed on Wednesday the mass escape of relatives of suspected ISIS
group members from the al-Hol camp last month following the withdrawal of
Kurdish forces who had overseen the facility. “When our forces arrived, they
found cases of collective escapes due to the camp having been opened up in a
haphazard manner,” interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba told a press
conference. Al-Hol, the largest camp for relatives of suspected ISIS members in
northeastern Syria, had been under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF). But last month, Syrian troops drove Kurdish forces from
swathes of the north, sparking questions over the fate of the ISIS prisoners and
their families. Under pressure, the SDF withdrew from the camp on January 20,
with Syrian security forces taking control a few hours later.“The SDF withdrew
suddenly, without coordination and without informing” the Syrian authorities
beforehand, al-Baba said. There was a “chaotic situation” after the Kurdish
forces pulled out, he added, and “more than 138 breaches” have been discovered
in the camp’s 17-kilometre (11-mile) perimeter wall that allowed mass escapes.
After the Kurdish forces withdrew, thousands of women and children fled the camp
to parts unknown. Al-Hol housed 23,500 people, mostly Syrian and Iraqis, the
ministry spokesman said. Around 6,500 foreigners of 44 different nationalities
lived in a high-security section of the camp. Last week, Syrian authorities
moved the families still at al-Hol to another site in the country's north.
Before the Kurdish forces withdrew, the United States military had transferred
more than 5,700 detained IS suspects from Syrian prisons to Iraq. The US had
previously announced it would transfer around 7,000 detainees.ISIS swept across
Syria and Iraq in 2014, committing massacres and forcing women and girls into
sexual slavery. Backed by US-led forces, Iraq proclaimed the defeat of ISIS in
the country in 2017, and the SDF ultimately beat back the group in Syria two
years later.
The SDF went on to jail thousands of suspected extremists and detain tens of
thousands of their relatives in camps.With AFP
EU alarmed at mass escape
of relatives of ISIS members from Syrian camp
The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
An EU internal memo has raised security concerns about the escape of thousands
of people from a detention camp holding relatives of suspected Islamic State
(ISIS) fighters in northeastern Syria, suggesting extremist groups could recruit
from them.
The memo, sent from the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union
to member states and dated February 23, said the status of third-country
nationals who had fled the camp at al-Hol remained unclear and that it was
reported that a majority of them had escaped. “This raises concerns about how
terrorist groups might seek to capitalise on the current situation to increase
recruitment efforts among escapees,” said the memo, which was reviewed by
Reuters. Al-Hol, near the Iraqi border, was one of the main detention camps for
relatives of suspected ISIS extremist fighters who were detained during the
US-backed campaign against the jihadist group in Syria. Control of the camp
changed hands in January, when Syrian government forces under President Ahmed
al-Sharaa drove the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from the area.
The SDF had guarded the facility for years.The camp’s population was
23,407 people the day before the government takeover, including 6,280 foreigners
from more than 40 nationalities, according to official data from the camp. The
US military said on February 13 it had completed a mission to transfer 5,700
adult male ISIS fighters from jails in Syria to Iraq. It had originally said up
to 7,000 prisoners could eventually be transferred. The EU memo noted that the
initial target was not met. In a section entitled
“Security concerns stemming from the evolving situation in northeast Syria”, the
EU memo said the “chaotic takeover led to the collapse of security and services
in the al-Hol camp, triggering the escape of a significant portion of its
population”.The UN refugee agency in Syria and the Syrian government “have
confirmed that an uncontrolled exodus has occurred over the past few weeks”, it
added. Damascus has accused the SDF of withdrawing from al-Hol on January 20
without any coordination. The SDF has said its forces had been “compelled” to
withdraw from the camp to areas surrounding cities which it said were under
threat. A Syrian government security source told Reuters last week that the
security authorities, working in cooperation with international partners, had
established a unit to “pursue those who are wanted”.The SDF had guarded prisons
holding thousands of ISIS members in northeast Syria, in addition to al-Hol and
a second camp at Roj, which also holds relatives of suspected jihadists. The EU
memo said the capacity of Damascus “to manage these facilities is assessed as
limited and facing significant operational challenges”. It noted that the
government’s stated intent to gradually phase out al-Hol camp had “been
overtaken by recent events, which raise grave security concerns”. The EU memo
said that al-Hol and Roj camps were hosting around 25,000 people, primarily
women and children, “with many of these being highly radicalised and living in
degrading humanitarian and security conditions”. Roj camp remains under the
control of the SDF for now. Last week, the SDF released 34 Australian nationals
from Roj, only for them to return later. The Australian government has ruled out
helping families of ISIS extremists return home. Roj is also home to
British-born Shamima Begum. The EU memo said there was
“reason for concern regarding the possible escape of families” from Roj once the
Syrian government takes control.
US-born ISIS recruit says she
wants to return to face justice
Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
A US-born woman who says she regrets having joined ISIS tells Al Arabiya that
she wants to come home from a refugee camp in Syria where she lives with her
9-year-old son in Syria. The government has refused to let Hoda Muthana return
to the US, arguing that she is not an American citizen. In an interview with Al
Arabiya, Muthana said she thinks “President Trump did the right thing for
northeast Syria,” adding that “the only solution would be to repatriate and
rehabilitate everybody, including the ones that don't want to go.”The interview
was conducted in northeast Syria at the al-Roj refugee camp, controlled by
Kurdish forces, where Muthana lives with her son Adam. Muthana said it was
“unfair” to the Kurdish and Syrian people “to have unwanted foreigners” living
there without any legal status. “It’s only fair for the people that everyone
would be repatriated face any prosecution If needed, and rehabilitate themselves
afterwards,” she said. The US government has previously repatriated several
American women linked to the group, along with their children, but not Muthana.
Washington has argued she is not a US citizen even though she was born in the US
because she is the daughter of a diplomat serving for the Yemeni government at
the time. The children of US-based foreign diplomats do not qualify for
citizenship by birthright. Muthana married three ISIS fighters, all of whom died
in combat. She took part actively in ISIS propaganda, according to the Counter
Extremism Project. Muthana had urged terrorists in the US to “go on drive-bys,
and spill all of their blood.”She has said she is willing to face the US justice
system if she is allowed to return. “The best thing would be to go back in the
arms of my country and repatriate me that way, and hopefully sit and get due
process. And if there are any thing that I have to sit out, I would be able to
start that process,” she told Al Arabiya.With AFP
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during a press conference
in Kabul on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Yaghoub Fazeli - Al Arabiya
English/25 February/2026
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government said Wednesday it would respond militarily
to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, accusing Islamabad of
targeting civilians and even providing “safe havens” to ISIS militants. Pakistan
carried out overnight airstrikes into Sunday in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar
and southeastern Paktika provinces, which Islamabad said targeted militant
groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The United Nations has reported
civilian casualties from the strikes. “Naturally it would be a military
response, but its details are confidential and I cannot explain further.
Pakistan must receive a response for its shameful act,” Taliban government
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview.
Mujahid accused Pakistan of striking civilian targets rather than militants. In
Nangarhar, he said, a family of 22 people was hit, with 17 killed and five
injured. In Paktika, he said a school for children was struck, injuring one
child and damaging several buildings. “There were no armed individuals there.
Only civilians were injured and killed, and civilian areas were targeted,” he
said.Pakistan has said it targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and
ISIS-linked fighters allegedly operating from Afghan territory – claims Kabul
denies.
Denial of militant presence
Mujahid rejected accusations that Afghanistan allows militant groups to use its
soil against neighboring countries. “Unfortunately, whenever attacks occur
inside Pakistan, they immediately attribute them to Afghanistan without evidence
and accuse us. We reject this. Afghan soil is not allowed to be used against
anyone,” he said. Mujahid said TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, had no
presence in Afghanistan. “These are Pakistan’s internal problems. TTP controls
large areas inside Pakistan itself. They can live there; they do not need Afghan
soil. And we would not allow them to use Afghan soil in the first place,” he
said.Mujahid said Pakistan had not provided evidence supporting its claims.
“Without presenting proof or evidence, they simply make claims, conduct
propaganda, and then take actions that we consider unforgivable.”
Accusations against Pakistan
Mujahid went further, accusing Pakistan of harboring ISIS militants rather than
combating them.“Instead of suppressing ISIS, Pakistan has provided them with
safe havens,” he said, alleging militant presence in parts of Balochistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “In some cases, they have used them against Afghanistan and
sent them to carry out operations and terrorist attacks.” Mujahid accused
Islamabad of pursuing instability and insecurity in the region, saying: “We
believe a particular military circle within Pakistan has been tasked with
destabilizing the region.”He said Taliban authorities had conducted extensive
operations against ISIS inside Afghanistan. “We carried out a very serious
campaign against ISIS in Kabul and other provinces. We eliminated them. They
have no physical presence in Afghanistan.”Relations between Afghanistan and
Pakistan have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021
following the withdrawal of US-led forces.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of failing to curb militants launching attacks
across the border, while Taliban authorities deny harboring such groups and
blame Islamabad’s internal security challenges. Border crossings – vital for
trade and travel – have been largely shut for months following deadly clashes
that killed dozens on both sides.Mujahid blamed Pakistan for failed diplomatic
efforts, saying Islamabad “consistently created excuses that led to
failure.”“This shows they do not favor calm in the region. Rather, they have
objectives aimed at destabilizing it. This is an external mission assigned to
them by major powers to create insecurity and ignite conflict,” he said.
Calls for international pressure
Mujahid urged regional and Muslim-majority countries in particular to condemn
Pakistan’s actions and press Islamabad to change course. “We want all countries
to support the security and stability established in Afghanistan and help
strengthen it so we can move the region toward lasting stability,” he said. “We
want regional and Islamic countries to understand their responsibility and
persuade Pakistan to change its approach. Countries should use their influence
to prevent such incidents from happening again.”Despite the tensions, Mujahid
described Afghanistan and Pakistan as “two very close nations with many shared
interests,” but said Islamabad should address its own security issues without
blaming Kabul. “Security problems inside Pakistan have nothing to do with
Afghanistan. They should address their own issues and not further damage
relations, because that harms both countries and the region.”
The
Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on February
25-26/2026
Fusion Power Needs
to Be American-Born/A fusion-powered America would be permanently energy
independent
Lawrence Kadish/Gatestone Institute/February 25, 2026
President Donald Trump has assumed a quiet but strategic leadership role in
advancing our country's pursuit of fusion energy -- the same process that powers
the sun and one that could literally provide America with unlimited energy far
into the future.
Perhaps not since Teddy Roosevelt have we had a president who thinks as big as
Donald J. Trump. From his projection of military power that protects our
national interests to his understanding of how a complex economy powers the
greatest nation on earth, President Trump has demonstrated a unique appreciation
of what America must do to maintain its global leadership. It is for that reason
that he has assumed a quiet but strategic leadership role in advancing our
country's pursuit of fusion energy -- the same process that powers the sun and
one that could literally provide America with unlimited energy far into the
future.While scientists have been able to create fusion energy in a lab setting,
much work still needs to be done to make it commercially viable. For a president
who has staked his legacy on American greatness, there is no more important
strategic achievement than ensuring that fusion is American-born. Trump has made
this pursuit of energy a national priority — not for ideological reasons, but
for deeply practical ones. The geopolitical stakes could not be higher. China
has dramatically increased its investment in fusion research, committing
billions to state-backed programs with one goal: to beat America in delivering
commercial fusion power to their national electrical grid. The country that
cracks fusion first will not merely solve its own energy needs — it will hold
the keys to powering our world for generations to come. The president knows
allowing China to reach that finish line first would represent one of the
greatest geopolitical surrenders in American history. It is unthinkable.Fusion
energy brings total energy independence. No OPEC with the Middle East holding us
hostage. No hostile regimes choking supply routes for oil and gas. No price
shocks at the pump driven by some terrorist group attacking oil tankers. A
fusion-powered America would be permanently energy independent. Trump has much
on his plate, but fusion energy is the biggest possible bet he can make on
America's future and a legacy that will be chronicled by historians for
generations to come. The race is already underway. Our nation needs to win it.
Fusion energy must be American-born.
**Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Spain's Government: Spinning Out of Control
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/February 25, 2026
Deprived of Marxism, the Spanish left has sought refuge in a disparate
ideological mosaic: radical environmentalism, complicit indulgence toward
political Islam, the dismantling of borders, unconditional support for the
Palestinians against Israel – all stacked together into an improbable and
incoherent magma.
The Sánchez government has another reason for aligning with jihadists: the
corruption scandals that have engulfed even the prime minister's immediate
family.
The high point of the Spanish left's radicalization was reached with a January
2026 decree legalizing between 500,000 and a million illegal immigrants.
Although presented as a humanitarian and economic measure, this slap-happy
decision provoked widespread outrage among Spaniards.
Traumatized by its history, cornered by the judiciary, and deprived of
ideological reference points, the Spanish left appears to be locking itself into
radical dogmas and adopting increasingly divisive policies simply to remain in
power.
Deprived of Marxism, the Spanish left has sought refuge in a disparate
ideological mosaic: radical environmentalism, complicit indulgence toward
political Islam, the dismantling of borders, unconditional support for the
Palestinians against Israel – all stacked together into an improbable and
incoherent magma. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (pictured) has
another reason for aligning with jihadists: the corruption scandals that have
engulfed even the prime minister's immediate family. (Photo by Thomas Coex/AFP
via Getty Images)
Between corruption and radicalization, Spain's government seems to be spinning
out of control. In 1936, Spain plunged into civil war. A proud nation collapsed
into violence, fire, and devastation. The Spanish Civil War, which set a
communist-dominated Republican left against an authoritarian nationalist right,
claimed roughly half a million lives. Priests were dragged through the streets,
beaten, and mutilated — ears, noses, even genitals cut off — before being shot
or having their throats slit. Nuns were raped prior to execution, in cases
documented across several regions. Churches were set ablaze with priests still
inside. In many towns, militiamen forced clergy to drink motor oil or gasoline
before burning them alive. Spain's right wing, not to be outdone, killed just as
many.
Almost a century later, when one might have hoped that these wounds had finally
healed, political and cultural fault lines are reopening. Polarization has
reached levels rarely seen since Spain's transition to democracy.
1. The original trauma of the Spanish left
The Spanish Civil War, in Spain's collective memory, remains an open wound. For
a significant portion of the Spanish "left" -- standing for workers' rights, a
shorter work week, women's and transgender rights, reducing carbon emissions --
the dominant narrative remains that of a revolution betrayed, confiscated by
fascism, and still pending, never repaired. This historical resentment has been
transmitted from generation to generation like an act of faith. Today, under the
government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his coalition, which governs with
the support of the extreme-left, this resentment is resurfacing in the form of
historical revisionism.
By constantly summoning the specters of the past — going so far as to exhume
Francisco Franco's remains, in a direct evocation of civil-war-era practices,
when communists gleefully desecrated the graves of their so-called "class
enemies" — is the left not in danger of reviving the hatreds and violence of the
past?
2. A left without a compass: ideological orphanhood
Spain's left is becoming more radical precisely because it has run out of ideas.
Marxism, long the doctrinal backbone of the global left, lost all credibility
with the implosion of the USSR, amid the stench of cabbage and corpses. Spain is
no exception. Stripped of this ideological foundation, the Spanish left now
finds itself without a compass.
Before the July 2023 elections, Sánchez promised a bold progressive agenda: mass
public housing construction, reducing the working week to 37.5 hours, large
minimum wage hikes, slashing healthcare waiting lists with binding maximum
times, free public transport for youth, and expanded public education.
Critically, delivery on these massive flagship promises has been dismal to date:
virtually no new public housing built, prices soaring, the work-week reduction
defeated in parliament, real wages eroded by inflation, and chronic healthcare
waiting lists unchanged.
Sánchez's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), once anchored in moderate,
reformist social democracy, has gradually shifted toward a strategy of sheer
political survival. To remain in power, it allied itself first with Podemos and
then with Sumar—two extreme left-wing parties obsessed with supporting
Palestinians, against NATO, and soft on Russia — as well as with separatist
movements. In doing so, the PSOE diluted its original moderate reformist vision
through blatant opportunism, sacrificing doctrinal coherence in favor of
questionable alliances.
3. A patchwork of incoherent dogmas
Deprived of Marxism, the Spanish left has sought refuge in a disparate
ideological mosaic: radical environmentalism, complicit indulgence toward
political Islam, the dismantling of borders, unconditional support for the
Palestinians against Israel – all stacked together into an improbable and
incoherent magma. Added to this are recurring undertones of anti-Semitism in
left-wing discourse — one thinks in particular of Yolanda Díaz, seemingly a
figure of clinical hysteria, whose face visibly contorts the moment she
pronounces the word "Israeli."
By radicalizing itself across every issue, the left fuels the anger of the
right, the middle classes, and a growing segment of the population that feels
marginalized, despised, and alienated within its own country.
4. A regime corrupt to the core?
The Sánchez government has another reason for aligning with jihadists: the
corruption scandals that have engulfed even the prime minister's immediate
family.
First comes the Koldo-Ábalos scandal involving irregular public contracts,
illegal commissions, and bribes linked to public-works contracts, totaling
several hundred million euros. Several figures are particularly implicated.
Former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos, a close ally of Sánchez, is in
pre-trial detention for criminal organization, corruption, embezzlement, and
influence peddling.
Koldo García, Ábalos's former adviser, is a central figure in the scheme. He too
is in pre-trial detention and under prosecution. Santos Cerdán, former secretary
of organization of the PSOE and Ábalos's successor, is under investigation and
was detained for corruption in public-works contracts. The Civil Guard is
examining 22 contracts, worth €355 million, that were allegedly manipulated by
favoritism.
Added to this are the cases involving Sánchez's own family. Begoña Gómez, his
wife, was formally charged with influence peddling, corruption in business,
embezzlement of public funds, misappropriation, and illegally practicing a
regulated profession, in a case that was opened in April 2024. In August 2025,
the probe was extended to include her advisor Cristina Álvarez.
The investigation into Gómez has been extended until at least April 2026 and
continues with active measures, including February 2026 requests to the Interior
Ministry for travel records of Gómez and Álvarez since 2018 (covering
destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Congo, Guinea, and Russia), access
to emails, and Civil Guard reports.
David Sánchez, the prime minister's brother, is also being prosecuted, for
influence peddling and malfeasance in connection with his employment at the
Badajoz Provincial Council. "The prime minister faces multiple legal challenges
this year that could lead to the downfall of his family, his party, and his
government," summarizes Spanish daily El Mundo.
5. An ideological junta radicalizing itself to survive
The high point of the Spanish left's radicalization was reached with a January
2026 decree legalizing between 500,000 and a million illegal immigrants.
Although presented as a humanitarian and economic measure, this slap-happy
decision provoked widespread outrage among Spaniards. The Vox party has
identified this as a massive "pull factor" that will inevitably attract millions
of additional illegal immigrants. Public services, already under severe strain,
are on the brink of collapse. Entire swathes of Spanish territory are,
additionally, drifting toward an Islamic cultural environment.
Heading toward the point of no return?
The warning signs are multiplying. Traumatized by its history, cornered by the
judiciary, and deprived of ideological reference points, the Spanish left
appears to be locking itself into radical dogmas and adopting increasingly
divisive policies simply to remain in power.
**Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain),
philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal
theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private
education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green
Reich (2020).
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22293/spain-government-spinning-out-of-control
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Should we fear a new Iran?
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
A new Iran means an Iran different from the one we have known for four decades.
Perhaps a modern civilian system could emerge, or the current system itself but
with different policies, moving toward openness, including toward the West,
ending its status as a “state of war” and engaging in political and economic
competition and new regional alliances.
Is this cause for concern? And why?
Some of those who believe this theory argue that the old, besieged Iran is safer
for its neighbors than an open Iran.
Their view holds that Iran is a major regional state and a dormant economic
giant that has been stifled by ideologically driven clerics. Therefore, openness
would change the equation and make competition difficult for countries such as
the Gulf states, as well as Iraq and Egypt. The situation would become even more
challenging and complex if Iran reconciled with Israel and normalized relations
with it. The region would then have two dominant powers.In my view, this
scenario is very possible. Every cycle has an end, and we are witnessing the
erosion of the old Iranian system, which may collapse on its own or as a result
of the imminent confrontation with the United States and Israel. Another strong
possibility is that the system withstands the military challenge but changes
from within, as happened previously with Russia and China.
Here we assume that change is possible in both cases. Of course, this does not
negate other possibilities, such as the regime surviving and maintaining its old
policies, or partially changing and becoming more extreme and closed. We will
set aside these two possibilities and focus on the likelihood of “change” as a
policy, regardless of whether the ruling system remains or not. Iran has long
been and remains an active regional axis. Since adopting a policy of exporting
revolutions, it has been the primary source of tension, wars, and military
competition. Even those who shared in spreading chaos, such as Saddam Hussein
and Gaddafi, had a lesser impact.
Iran’s policy based on confrontations and military axes worries the region and
drains its resources. US sanctions have weakened its economy without granting
other countries any added advantage. The chaos and destabilization from Iran
have cost the region dearly, driven away international investors, and forced
most governments to focus on entrenchment and counter-alliances.
An open and stable Iran would be a source of revitalization for the region, not
impoverishment, as some fear. There are various models around the world showing
how the rise of one country elevates the region rather than diminishing it.
What about the possibility of a future relationship between Iran and Israel?
This is highly plausible. Contrary to what may appear, Iranian-Israeli tension
since the revolution until today has been the result of competition over
dominance, not deeply rooted hostility, despite the political, religious, and
historical rhetoric of the two systems. Israel did not accept Iran’s regional
dominance because it could threaten it, and Iran was expanding in what it
considered its sphere of influence by seeking control over Lebanon, Syria, Iraq,
and other Levant countries. Had Israel accepted coexistence with Iranian
expansion, the confrontation might not have occurred. This scenario is almost
impossible for the Hebrew state to accept, as it fears expansionist intentions.
Moreover, it would not accept any regional power possessing such enormous
influence, even if it were neutral. The project of the current system in Tehran
was to build an Iranian Islamic empire, just as the Turks once had their vast
state, and the Arabs before them.
The project has collapsed because it is unrealistic in today’s world. Secondly,
although the Iranian regime is capable of manufacturing advanced weapons and
building dangerous regional networks, it is administratively and economically
backward and immersed in a hardline ideology rejected globally, even by
supporting countries such as China and Russia.
A relationship between Tehran and Tel Aviv is possible, perhaps even under the
current regime if its policies change, as Israel has direct and semi-direct
relations with nearly half of the other Arab and regional states. Could the
relationship turn into an alliance? Unlikely, because Iran is currently the camp
against which regional powers align. If it changes, then against whom would
Israel and Iran align? Iran could become a promising market for regional
countries if its approach changes. It might resemble Saudi Arabia, for example,
which is an important contributor to the economies of many Arab and regional
states.
Economic competition with Iran would lift the region to new levels and push
countries to focus on developing their capabilities. It could serve as
inspiration, like Saudi Arabia in its Vision 2030, which outlined a plan to
strengthen multiple income sources instead of dangerous reliance on oil alone.
The old Iran is a burden on the region and a cause of resource depletion. It is
hoped that we will see a new Iran that is successful, prosperous, and stable,
because that would benefit its neighbors. Imagine having South Korea as your
neighbor, which also emerged devastated in the 1950s, as did Singapore and
Ireland, once the poorest in Europe. Successful countries create a positive and
prosperous regional environment.
The holy month and the
future of global dialogue
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
Ramadan stands as one of the most spiritually significant periods for Muslims
around the world, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayer,
charity, and deep reflection on one’s relationship with God and humanity. Beyond
its rituals, Ramadan embodies universal values that resonate across faiths:
compassion for the less fortunate, self-discipline, forgiveness, generosity, and
the renewal of moral purpose. In this sense, Ramadan is not only a personal
spiritual journey but also a social force that strengthens solidarity, empathy,
and communal responsibility.
At a broader level, the holy month creates a powerful opportunity to build
bridges across cultures and religions. Especially in a time marked by
polarization and conflict, the themes of mercy, patience, and reconciliation
that define Ramadan offer a framework for dialogue and healing. The month
reminds humanity that faith, when expressed through humility and compassion, can
become a unifying force rather than a dividing one.
Saudi Arabia’s rising role in promoting interfaith engagement
One prominent country that has increasingly emphasized interfaith outreach is
Saudi Arabia. As the birthplace of Islam and home to its holiest sites, the
Kingdom has expanded its efforts to promote interfaith dialogues and cultures as
part of a broader vision of international cooperation and modernization.
Recognizing that religious influence can be a powerful diplomatic tool, Saudi
Arabia has supported initiatives that bring together leaders from diverse
traditions to discuss coexistence, tolerance, and peacebuilding.
Through various institutions, conferences, and global forums, Saudi Arabia has
sought to present faith as a foundation for dialogue rather than division.
Religious scholars and representatives from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other
communities have been invited to participate in discussions addressing
extremism, mutual respect, and the importance of protecting religious freedom.
These initiatives signal an understanding that stability in the modern world
requires not only political and economic cooperation but also cultural and
spiritual engagement. By positioning itself as a convening power for such
conversations, the Kingdom aims to contribute to a narrative of moderation and
shared responsibility.
Institutions, conferences, and global outreach
The Kingdom has supported and helped establish organizations dedicated to
interreligious and intercultural dialogue, as well as international gatherings
that highlight common ethical values among faith traditions. These platforms
bring together clerics, academics, policymakers, and civil society leaders to
explore ways religion can contribute to peace rather than conflict. Conferences
hosted or supported by the Kingdom have addressed topics such as combating hate
speech, promoting coexistence, and countering extremist ideologies that misuse
religion for political ends.
The significance of these initiatives lies not only in symbolic gestures but
also in practical outcomes. When influential religious figures publicly affirm
respect for other traditions, they help shape attitudes among millions of
followers. Educational programs, joint statements, and collaborative
humanitarian projects often emerge from such gatherings, creating lasting
networks of cooperation.
Why interfaith dialogue matters for peace and stability
Interfaith dialogue plays a crucial role in reducing tensions and preventing
conflicts rooted in misunderstanding. Many global disputes have cultural or
religious dimensions that cannot be resolved through political negotiations
alone. When religious leaders engage constructively, they can calm fears,
challenge extremist rhetoric, and encourage reconciliation at the grassroots
level. Dialogue also humanizes the “other,” replacing stereotypes with personal
relationships and shared experiences.
Moreover, interfaith cooperation strengthens humanitarian responses to crises.
Faith-based organizations are often among the first to provide relief during
disasters and conflicts, and collaboration across religious lines amplifies
their impact. By working together, these groups demonstrate that compassion
transcends boundaries of belief. This approach fosters a sense of global
citizenship grounded in moral responsibility, reminding societies that peace is
not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, dignity, and mutual
respect.
A force for regional and global stability
Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on dialogue and cooperation has contributed to its
portrayal as a force for stability not only in the Middle East but also on the
international stage. By investing in diplomatic initiatives that include
cultural and religious engagement, the Kingdom seeks to address underlying
causes of conflict – such as mistrust, ideological polarization, and social
fragmentation. Stability, in this sense, is understood as more than security; it
involves creating conditions in which diverse communities can coexist peacefully
and prosper together.
This approach aligns with the broader recognition that soft power – education,
culture, humanitarian aid, and religious diplomacy – can be as influential as
traditional political or military strategies. When countries promote
understanding and tolerance, they help build resilient societies capable of
resisting extremism and division. In an era of global uncertainty, such efforts
contribute to a more balanced and cooperative international order.
A model for other nations to consider
As the world navigates complex challenges ranging from geopolitical tensions to
climate crises, the need for models of constructive engagement has never been
greater. Countries seeking to enhance stability and social cohesion can draw
lessons from initiatives that prioritize dialogue, respect, and shared values.
Supporting interfaith programs, encouraging educational exchanges, and
empowering community leaders to collaborate across religious lines are practical
steps that any nation can take.
Ultimately, in highlighting the importance of interfaith dialogue and
cooperation, Ramadan offers a vision of a world in which faith serves as a
bridge across differences. As millions observe this sacred time, the hope is
that its spirit will extend far beyond thirty days, inspiring lasting efforts
toward reconciliation and understanding.
Politics, economics and global migration
Dr. Ibrahim al-Muhanna/Al Arabiya English/25 February/2026
In 2016, Britain decided to leave the European Union. That week, I was in a
discussion panel with a group of British journalists, experts and politicians,
most of whom supported this exit, believing that it might lead to the return of
Britain’s glory and economic strength, or part of it, including freeing it from
being subordinate to Europe and its bitter history with it. But this is what has
actually happened since Britain’s exit from the Union, and the same applies to
many European countries and the United States in terms of the presence of large
numbers of migrants increasing year after year, from communities that are not
welcomed such as Muslims, Africans, Indians, Latinos and others, whether host
countries wish it or not. The dilemma is bigger than that, and the options are
narrowing day after day. This means a major transformation in the international
community that has not occurred before and will have significant future
consequences. It is true that the world, since its inception, has been in
constant human movement. The last major human movement took place in the
seventeenth century from Europe, then the smallest continent in terms of area
and population, where scientific progress, the Industrial Revolution and medical
development led to a large and continuous increase in Europe’s population. With
the expansion of colonialism, Europeans moved to settle in other continents such
as North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand, among others. The
slave trade also led to the transfer of millions of individuals from sub-Saharan
Africa to the Americas to be exploited in agricultural and industrial work.
Other migrations also occurred from various regions of the world in search of
better job opportunities or fleeing conflict zones.
After the Second World War, another wave of migration occurred, this time to
Europe to contribute to reconstruction. Britain created the Commonwealth, which
includes its former colonies, established before the war and developed
afterward, and granted citizens of these countries a special status regarding
migration and work in Britain. Germany, which did not have colonies, brought in
millions of workers, especially from Turkey, to contribute to its economic
growth.
Now we are entering a different and new situation that will likely affect the
overall global system. There are several important aspects to this change, not
necessarily harmonious, and sometimes contradictory, which may lead to several
problems.
The most important change is the continuation of international economic growth
that began in the West at the end of the Second World War, then steadily
expanded from one region to another and from one country to another to include
most stable countries in the world. This growth is expected to continue in the
coming years and decades, which will create more and more job opportunities
within countries and between them, particularly for educated, skilled workers
with strong work ethics. High population numbers have contributed, when properly
utilized, to the growth and development of several countries such as China,
India and Indonesia.
Economic growth has been accompanied by major changes in people’s lives and
wellbeing, including variations in the number of births per woman from one
country to another. In wealthy and advanced countries, birth rates continue to
decline and fall below the average required for population stability and
balance, which is 2.1 percent. In some European countries, the United States,
Japan and Korea, they are much lower. Birth rates stand at 1.4 percent in Europe
and 1.6 percent in North America, which means a significant shortage in the
local workforce and an increased need for labor from abroad, from countries with
high fertility rates. According to one recent report, Nigeria recorded in one
year more births than the entire European continent.
The claim that raising the retirement age, artificial intelligence and robots
will meet this need without relying on external labor is difficult to achieve,
given the nature of the required jobs, especially services, particularly with
the increasing numbers of elderly retirees who need services. This technology
will affect the type of skills required rather than their number. International
conflicts also increase the need for human capacity for military work, even
though there is discomfort about increasing it with non citizens. Germany, for
example, fears an increase in the number of Muslims in the army.
Therefore, global human flows will continue. The number of migrants has doubled
over the past twenty-five years to reach 300 million people and continues to
rise. This has led to the emergence of opposing political and social movements
in most Western countries that fear demographic change in favor of new migrants
and seek to stop it or even expel them. These are known as right wing populist
movements. It is expected that some of these parties may come to power in
countries such as Britain, France and Germany and begin pushing to stop the
arrival of migrants by legal or illegal means. Some also seek to encourage
higher birth rates in various ways to compensate for the need for migrants.
Will these policies succeed? Of course not. Japan, after years and decades of
resistance and restrictions on foreign migration, decided to bring in more than
1.2 million people to work there by 2028.
European countries and North America cannot maintain economic growth, social
welfare and increasing military spending while birth rates decline. Even if some
right-wing populists come to power, their countries will face major medium term
economic difficulties, including the ability to maintain good services and
social welfare, in a world where competition among countries and societies is
intensifying. In contrast, we note that some countries, such as Spain, see that
attracting more migrants contributes to their economic growth and prosperity.
In general, global demographics, particularly in Western countries, are
undergoing major and continuous transformations. We may see new migrants and
their children reaching the highest levels of authority in some Western
countries and becoming recognized business leaders and intellectual figures.
This is a gradual transformation driven by necessity and competence, but its
future impacts may be significant, not only on the composition of society in
some Western countries but also on their foreign relations.
US and China hold the keys to containing an oil shock from
war on Iran
Ron Bousso is a columnist for Reuter/The Arab weekly/February 25/2026.
For now, uncertainty dominates in this protracted stand-off, with US and Iranian
officials continuing to hold indirect talks, as American military forces mass in
the region. What kind of military action Washington might choose, and Tehran’s
potential response, remain open questions. For the US, scenarios range from a
limited, pinpoint strike to weeks of intense bombardment. Iran, for its part,
could opt for a contained and carefully calibrated response, similar to its
well-telegraphed reaction to US strikes on its nuclear sites during the 12-day
Israel-Iran war last June. Alternatively, Iran’s leadership could decide to “set
the region on fire” if it feels the regime faces an existential threat. Such an
extreme scenario could involve attacks on Israel and other US allies in the
region, including Saudi Arabia, strikes on oil and gas fields and the doomsday
scenario blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Around 20 million barrels per day (bpd)
of crude and refined products nearly a fifth of global consumption are
transported through this narrow shipping lane between Iran and Oman. Of course,
if Iran were to disrupt transit through Hormuz, it would also halt its own oil
exports, depriving Tehran of vital revenues. This is likely part of the reason
the Strait has never been fully blocked. Moreover, the US Navy is well prepared
for any interference, suggesting that any disruption would likely be measured in
hours or days rather than weeks.
Furthermore, alternative export routes for a portion of the Gulf’s roughly 15
million bpd of oil shipments exist, including pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, this conflict has the potential to be far
more serious than anything Iran has seen in decades, meaning its past actions
may not be a good indicator of how it could respond this time. The risk of a
serious supply disruption thus cannot be discounted, especially given that the
forecast supply glut in crude markets has yet to materialise. The global oil
market, which is entering a period of oversupply in 2026, would have multiple
options for dealing with this challenge, with two of the most critical running
through the US and China.
Many countries, particularly those heavily dependent on oil imports, could tap
strategic reserves in the event of a supply shock. The International Energy
Agency (IEA) requires its members to hold at least 90 days of net imports of
crude oil and refined products in strategic reserves. IEA members last released
oil from their strategic petroleum reserves in early 2022 following Russia’s
full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That included the largest-ever drawdown from the
US Strategic Petroleum Reserve of around one million bpd over six months. The US
SPR is the world’s largest emergency oil stockpile, with capacity of 714 million
barrels. Although Washington has slowly rebuilt inventories since mid-2023,
stocks stood at around 415 million barrels by mid-February, well below capacity,
according to the US Energy Information Administration.
That is not necessarily a pressing concern for the US, however. The country is
now the world’s largest oil producer, pumping around 13.6 million bpd, making it
far less reliant on imports than in the past. The SPR currently covers roughly
200 days of net crude imports, well above historical norms, according to Reuters
calculations. This gives Washington a substantial buffer in the event of a
supply shock that US President Donald Trump could tap to dampen oil prices.
China’s crude-buying behaviour is also likely to play a central role in any
supply disruption scenario. China, which consumed around 17 million bpd in 2025,
is particularly exposed to Middle East instability. The region accounted for
roughly half of China’s 10.4 million bpd of crude imports last year, according
to analytics firm Kpler. At the same time, China has absorbed a large share of
global excess supply in recent years, adding an estimated 800,000 bpd to storage
in 2025 alone, according to ROI calculations. China does not publish official
data on crude inventories, but analysts estimate stocks could total as much as
1.3 billion barrels, more than four months of imports, with additional storage
capacity still available.
The commercial dynamics behind China’s stockpiling remain opaque, but crude
purchases have historically decelerated during periods of relatively high oil
prices. Beijing is likely to slow its buying in the event of a sharp price
spike, easing pressure on global supplies. China could also opt to release some
inventories to relieve pressure on domestic refiners. It has conducted only one
formal SPR release, in 2022, though the volume was limited.
It is impossible to know exactly how the confrontation between Washington and
Tehran will unfold, but any escalation is likely to push oil prices higher, and
a severe disruption to Middle East oil supplies could trigger one of the biggest
energy crises in decades.
Ultimately, the world’s two largest oil consumers, the US and China, hold the
keys to managing such a shock.
*Ron Bousso is a columnist for Reuters.
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Selected twittes for 26/2026