English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  January 08/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.january08.26.htm
 

News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006 

Click On The Below Link To Join Elias Bejjaninews whatsapp group
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FPF0N7lE5S484LNaSm0MjW
اضغط على الرابط في أعلى للإنضمام لكروب Eliasbejjaninews whatsapp group

Elias Bejjani/Click on the below link to subscribe to my youtube channel
الياس بجاني/اضغط على الرابط في أسفل للإشتراك في موقعي ع اليوتيوب
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOOSioLh1GE3C1hp63Camw

Bible Quotations For today
This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased
“Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 03/13-17: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 07-08/2026
The Imperative of Toppling the Mullahs’ Regime, Dismantling Its Terrorist Arms, and Liberating the Iranian People from the Nightmare of Wilayat al-Faqih/Elias Bejjani/January 08/2026
Biblical and Historical Reflections on the Feast of the Epiphany/Elias Bejjani/January 06/2026
Video-Link to an interview from @khalifa_shrugged Youtube Platform: Extremely Informative and Educational Interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni – An Extensive Explanation of the Evil dangers of Hezbollah Occupation of Lebanon
One killed, another wounded in Israeli drone strike on Jwayya
Israeli strike on Kfar Dounin kills two ahead of truce monitors' meeting
Mechanism discusses Hezbollah disarmament in military meeting in Naqoura
Aoun tells UN's Lacroix army fully implementing disarmament decision
Report: Iran protests may be delaying Israeli attack on Hezbollah
Rajji says army capable of confronting Hezbollah militarily if needed
US welcomes gap law approval, govt. 'reform steps'
Fadlallah slams Rajji as 'militiaman who took part in civil war'
Aoun heads to Cyprus, will hold 'intensive' talks with EU and UN officials
'Neither Gaza nor Lebanon': Iranian unrest is about more than economy
Iran’s foreign minister to visit Lebanon on Thursday
Series of Encroachments on Christian Lands Reaches Marjayoun Region
Consultative Meeting of Oppositional Shiite Forces at the "Lebanese Shiite Gathering" Headquarters: We Have Begun the Path of Coordination and Unification... and Our Meetings Are Open
The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy/We supports the meeting between Israeli PM Netanyahu & evangelical Christian leaders in Florida, & seeks to expound on the ancient ties between Lebanon and Israel going back to the Tenth Century B.C
Quiet Movement in a Delicate Regional Moment and Renewed Israeli Escalation in the South ....Berri’s Visit to Egypt: Between Family Nature and Political Timing Significance/Richard Harfouch/Nidaa Al-Watan/January 07, 2026
What if the State... Decided to Be a State!/Lawyer Jimmy Francis/Nidaa Al-Watan/January 07
Frozen in Place: How Security Thinking Keeps Lebanon in Crisis/Pierre A. Maroun/Face Book/January 07/2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 07-08/2026
US Department Of State/Joint Statement on the Trilateral Meeting Between the Governments of the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Syrian Arab Republic
Iran judiciary chief warns no leniency for protesters ‘helping enemy’
Saudi FM Prince Faisal meets top US officials in Washington
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council dismisses Aden governor
Security situation in Yemen’s Aden is stable: Official
Where is Aidrous al-Zubaidi? Three possible scenarios
Israel is risking global security, warns Somali Information Minister
‘Dire’ financial crisis forces UNRWA to fire 571 Gazan staff
UN warns of intensifying racial discrimination by Israel against Palestinians in occupied West Bank
Israeli airstrike kills two in Gaza, Israel says targeted Hamas militant
Israel issues over 3,000 tenders for E1 settlement in Jerusalem
KSrelief distributes winter clothes, food in Yemen, Gaza
Iraq now largely at peace, UN says, with stronger security and a development drive underway
Syrian government vows to protect Kurds in Aleppo, accuses SDF of planting explosives
Syrian authorities arrest 3 members of pro-Assad armed group in Hama
Clashes in Syria’s Aleppo deepen rift between government, Kurdish forces
Syria to bolster coordination with Israel but worries about ‘expansionist’ mindset
Rubio says will meet with Denmark next week amid tensions over Greenland
Trump says doubts ‘NATO would be there for us’ if needed
Al-Burhan, Saudi deputy foreign minister discuss Saudi peace initiative on Sudan
Venezuela’s decisions to be ‘dictated’ by US, White House says
US immigration officer kills woman in Minneapolis

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 07-08/2026
Washington Should Reassess Its Alliance with Pakistan — and Its Potential Role in Gaza — Amid Tehran Ties/Anna Mahjar-Barducci/Gatestone Institute/January 07/2026
Arab world’s clear warning from Venezuela/Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/January 07, 2026
Resolving the war in Sudan should be a top priority/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/January 07, 2026
Maduro’s Ouster Exposes Deep Global Divisions/Alberto M. Fernandez /National Catholic Registery/January 07/ 2026
Recurring protest movements in Iran and their roots/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya English/January 07/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 05/2026

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 07-08/2026
The Imperative of Toppling the Mullahs’ Regime, Dismantling Its Terrorist Arms, and Liberating the Iranian People from the Nightmare of Wilayat al-Faqih
Elias Bejjani/January 08/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150884/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3kbnJVaYOs
From the very moment Ayatollah Khomeini set foot in Tehran in February 1979—arriving from Paris aboard an Air France flight—the Middle East entered a dark tunnel from which it has yet to emerge. The so-called Iranian “revolution,” driven by an alliance of mullahs and leftist forces against the Shah’s rule, was not merely a domestic popular uprising. Rather, it was the product of strange ideological alliances, international complicity, and covert operations, later exposed in intelligence documents revealing significant U.S. involvement. These dynamics led to the removal of the Shah and the handover of power to an extremist sectarian current bearing a dictatorial, expansionist, imperial, and transnational terrorist project.
The Expansionist Project: An Empire of Militias
From its first day, the mullahs’ regime adopted the doctrine of “exporting the sectarian revolution” under the guise of Wilayat al-Faqih—a concept that recognizes neither national sovereignty nor international borders. This ideology gave rise to armed terrorist proxies fully subordinate to Tehran’s command, transforming Lebanon and several Arab states into arenas of influence and de facto Iranian provinces.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah confiscated the state’s sovereign decision-making, turning the country into a missile platform and a large open-air prison.
In Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, Iranian-backed militias destroyed the social fabric and national institutions, spreading chaos, poverty, devastation, and civil wars.
Contradictory Alliances
The mullahs’ regime did not limit its support to Shiite proxies. It also entered into pragmatic alliances with Sunni political-Islam groups, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots—such as Hamas, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and others—in order to destabilize Arab states and undermine moderate regimes.
A Black Record: Domestic Repression and External Terror
Internally, the mullahs transformed Iran—from a promising nation with a great civilizational heritage—into a vast prison. Since 1979, the regime’s criminal record has been endless:
Mass executions, including the liquidation of thousands of political opponents, most notoriously during the 1988 massacres.
Assassinations, targeting intellectuals and dissidents both inside Iran and abroad.
The Collapse of the State
Today, the Iranian people suffer from water and electricity shortages, collapsing education, the absence of an independent judiciary, and the repression of personal freedoms—while the country’s wealth is squandered on financing foreign wars and missile and nuclear programs.
The Nuclear Threat: A Sword Hanging Over the World
The regime’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities is not peaceful, as it claims, but rather a protective shield for its terrorist project. Granting a regime driven by apocalyptic and destructive messianic ideologies access to nuclear weapons would place the entire world under the threat of nuclear blackmail and constitute a direct danger to global peace.
The Moment of Truth: The Third Revolution and the National Alternative
Today, for the third time, the Iranian people—across all components of society—are rising up, openly rejecting this regime.
Their demands are clear: the return of Iran to the international community and the restoration of its national identity, embodied by Prince Reza Pahlavi as a symbol of historical legitimacy and stability. Accordingly, the international community—Arab and Western alike—must abandon the failed policy of “containment” and move decisively to support the liberation of the Iranian people. A free Iran is a strategic regional and global interest, as it would mean a safer Middle East, the end of political Islam in both its Shiite and Sunni forms, and the cessation of global terrorism financing.
Hezbollah: Iran’s Tool for the Destruction of Lebanon and the Exhaustion of the Region
No assessment of Iranian subversion is complete without confronting the demonic functional role played by Hezbollah in Lebanon. This organization has never been a national project; it is merely a faction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking with a Lebanese accent and operating as mercenaries in every sense of the word. Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into futile and devastating wars in service of Tehran’s agenda—starting with the 2006 war that destroyed infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese to improve Iran’s negotiating position, and culminating in the 2023 war against Israel under the pretext of “supporting Gaza,” a war in which the Lebanese people had no stake. Southern Lebanon was turned into scorched earth, sacrificed on the altar of the mullahs’ nuclear ambitions.
Hezbollah’s terrorism has not been confined to Lebanon. It has functioned as a transnational mercenary army in the service of Tehran:
In Syria, it participated in the slaughter of the Syrian people and supported the collapsing Assad regime, contributing to one of the largest demographic-engineering and forced-displacement operations in modern history. In Yemen and the Gulf, it provided military and technical support to the Houthi militia targeting the security of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while operating espionage and sabotage cells and carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, bombings, and acts of chaos in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The Greatest Crime: Against Lebanese Shiites
Hezbollah’s gravest crime has been committed against the Shiite community in Lebanon itself. The party hijacked its free political will, turning it into a hostage of its project through extremist sectarian indoctrination, brainwashing young people and throwing them into endless wars. It isolated Lebanese Shiites from their national and Arab environment and transformed their towns and villages into weapons depots and missile platforms, sacrificing entire generations for the survival of the Wilayat al-Faqih regime in Tehran.
Liberating Lebanese Shiites from this terrorist ideological grip is the essential gateway to restoring the kidnapped Lebanese state.
Conclusion
All free nations must cooperate to topple the mullahs’ regime and dismantle its terrorist arms. A fundamental structural truth must be acknowledged: Lebanon will not regain its sovereignty and independence, nor will Gaza, Damascus, or Baghdad emerge from chaos and collapse, unless the head of the snake in Tehran is severed.
Hezbollah is nothing more than a sectarian functional tool of the Iranian regime. When the root falls, the branches inevitably collapse. Lebanon’s true liberation and independence begin with the fall of the Wilayat al-Faqih regime—so that the Middle East may once again become a region of construction rather than militias and death.
Elias Bejjani is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Email: phoenicia@hotmail.com
Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Biblical and Historical Reflections on the Feast of the Epiphany
Elias Bejjani/January 06/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150792/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaJeWqVGGJU
On the sixth of January, the Church commemorates the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ at the hands of John the Baptist in the River Jordan. As recorded in the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke (03:15-22): " And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, but Herod the tetrarch,† being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s‡ wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. The sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”
The Mystery of Baptism: Death to the Old Man and Resurrection in Christ
In ecclesiastical and theological understanding, the Sacrament of Baptism is considered the "Gateway to the Mysteries" and the bridge from darkness to light. It is not merely a ritual of purification by water, but an act of total liberation from the dominion of the Old Man—the man of original sin inherited by humanity. By immersion in the waters of Baptism, the "Old Adam," with all his worldly desires and separation from God, is buried, so that a "New Man" may be born from the womb of water and the Spirit—reconciled with the Creator and clothed in the robe of righteousness and holiness. The Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan was not due to a need for repentance, for He is the All-Holy and sinless One; rather, it was the inauguration of this salvific path. His descent into the water was a washing of our human nature, and His ascent was a proclamation of our victory over spiritual death, that all who are baptized in His Name may become partakers of His Divine Sonship and heirs of eternal life.
The Site of Christ’s Baptism
Since the third century, continuous Christian tradition places the site of Christ’s Baptism near the "Lower Ford," five miles from the Dead Sea. Upon this site, the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. John the Baptist was built. The Syriacs call this feast "Denho," which means "The Dawning" or "The Manifestation." Its Greek equivalent is "Epiphany," the name by which the feast is known across European languages. The Arabic term "Ghattas" (Immersion) refers to Christ being immersed in the Jordan River for His Baptism.
John the Baptist Baptizes and Prepares the Way
The Gospel according to St. Mark (1:1-11) "The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophets, “Behold,† I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:* the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ” John came baptizing‡ in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. I baptized you in§ water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Site of "Al-Maghtas"
Recently, significant information has been uncovered regarding the area of "Bethany Beyond the Jordan." Archaeological excavations along Wadi Al-Kharrar since 1996, supported by biblical texts and Byzantine historians, confirm that the site where John preached and baptized—including the Baptism of Christ—is located on the East Bank of the Jordan River. During the 1997 excavations, a series of ancient sites were found along the valley, including a Byzantine monastery at Tell Al-Kharrar. The site features natural springs forming pools that flow into the Jordan, creating a pastoral oasis.
Elijah’s Hill (Tell Mar Elias)
Wadi Al-Kharrar is the modern name for "Saphsaphas," which appears on the Madaba Mosaic Map. Near the monastery complex lies a hill known as Tell Mar Elias, the site from which the Prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Pilgrims have flocked here for centuries; the Russian Abbot Daniel wrote in 1106 AD about the cave where John the Baptist lived and the "beautiful stream of water" that still flows there.
The Baptismal Pools and the Church of St. John
Three pools dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods (3rd to 6th centuries AD) were discovered at Tell Al-Kharrar, designed for pilgrims to descend and be baptized. Archaeologists also uncovered the remains of a Byzantine church built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius, located 300 meters east of the river, marking the traditional spot of the Epiphany.
St. Mary of Egypt
The region is also tied to the legend of St. Mary of Egypt, who left a life of sin in Alexandria to find repentance in Jerusalem. After hearing a voice telling her, "Cross the Jordan and you shall find rest," she spent 47 years in the Jordanian desert in prayer and fasting. She was discovered by the monk Zosimas, who gave her Holy Communion before her passing.
Epiphany Traditions in Lebanon
Epiphany (known as Al-Ghattas) holds a prestigious place in Lebanese customs, traditions, and folkloric practices, as documented extensively in Fuad Afram al-Bustani’s book, The Meaning of Days (Volume I).
The Passing of Christ: "Dayem Dayem"
One of the oldest Lebanese beliefs regarding Epiphany is that Christ passes by at midnight. He blesses the families waiting for Him—those who stay awake until midnight in joy and celebration. As He passes, He says: "Dayem! Dayem!" (meaning: "May your joy and delight be everlasting!").
Families who sleep, lock their doors, or extinguish their lamps do not receive this blessing. Because of this, some Lebanese refer to the Eve of Epiphany as the "Night of Destiny" (Laylat al-Qadr), spending it in continuous supplication and prayer.
Folklore and Nature
In their evening tales, people say that all trees bow to Christ as He passes that night, except for the mulberry tree. For this reason, it is associated with pride and arrogance; people "punish" it by breaking its wood and burning it specifically on that night.
The Blessing of the "Mouneh" (Pantry)
Christ’s blessing also extends to the family’s provisions and stores, ensuring their supplies remain abundant—"Dayem Dayem."
As midnight approaches, mothers rush to the "Beit al-Mouneh" (the pantry). They go to the wheat containers, various grains, jars of oil and olives, vats of wine or Arak, jars of ghee, pots of Qawarma (preserved meat), and baskets of raisins. They stir these contents while repeating "Dayem Dayem," so that blessing overflows and the provisions last throughout the year.
Theological and Historical Aspects of the Baptism
Why was the Sinless Christ Baptized? The Church affirms He was baptized "to fulfill all righteousness." By His baptism, He sanctified the waters of the Jordan, making them capable of granting "New Birth" to humanity. He was not cleansed by the water; rather, the water was cleansed by His touch.
The Manifestation of the Holy Trinity: It is called Theophany because the three Persons were manifested together: the Son in the water, the Holy Spirit as a dove, and the Father’s Voice from the heavens.
The Symbolism of the Jordan: Just as Joshua led Israel across the Jordan to the Promised Land, Jesus (the New Joshua) crosses the water to lead humanity into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Note: The information in this article is compiled from various documented ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references/The Above Editorial & Video are from the 2015 Archive

Video-Link to an interview from @khalifa_shrugged Youtube Platform: Extremely Informative and Educational Interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni – An Extensive Explanation of the Evil dangers of Hezbollah Occupation of Lebanon
Date: January 07, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150895/
Hosts: The interview was conducted by Mr. Mansour Ashkar and Mr. Khalifa Khalifa.
Summary: This is a great interview—extremely informative and educational. It provides a full and extensive explanation of the dangers of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah occupation of Lebanon. It is true that the only solution is a peace treaty with Israel.
Title: The Brave Professor Who Stood Up to Hezbollah – Dr. Charles Chartouni Dr. Charles Chartouni is one of the bravest voices Lebanon has produced in recent years. As a professor, intellectual, and outspoken advocate for peace, Dr. Chartouni was forced to flee Lebanon after facing threats, arrest attempts, and the risk of assassination by Hezbollah. This occurred simply because he chose to speak openly in favor of peace with Israel while Lebanon was under the grip of a Shiite Islamist terror organization.
In this conversation, we discuss:
His escape from Lebanon.
What it means to live under the ideological occupation of Islamist terror.
His analysis of the current situation in Lebanon and Iran.
Why speaking the truth in the Middle East still comes at a very real personal cost.

One killed, another wounded in Israeli drone strike on Jwayya
Naharnet/January 07/2026
One person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike that targeted Wednesday a car in south Lebanon, hours after a meeting of the committee monitoring a year-long ceasefire. Israel has intensified its strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon in recent days, saying it has struck targets from both the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group and its Palestinian ally Hamas. The Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a Hezbollah operative in Jwayya. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel's army has carried out frequent strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is bombing sites and operatives belonging to the militant group, and occasionally Hamas. In a statement Tuesday, President Joseph Aoun said that "Israel's continued attacks aim to thwart all efforts made locally, regionally and internationally to stop the ongoing Israeli escalation, despite the response shown by Lebanon to these efforts at various levels". U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix was meanwhile visiting Lebanon, where he met with Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. On Thursday, Lebanon's cabinet will convene to discuss the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, a plan launched under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday called the disarmament efforts far from sufficient.

Israeli strike on Kfar Dounin kills two ahead of truce monitors' meeting
Agence France Presse/January 07/2026
Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed two people on Tuesday as Israel said it targeted Hezbollah operatives, a day before a new meeting of the committee monitoring a year-long ceasefire. Israel has intensified its strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon in recent days, saying it has struck targets from both the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group and its Palestinian ally Hamas.Lebanon's health ministry said Tuesday's strike on south Lebanon's Kfar Dounin killed two people.The Israeli military said in a statement that it struck two Hezbollah operatives in the area, accusing one of being "an engineering terrorist in a structure that facilitated the organization's reestablishment efforts".Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel's army has carried out frequent strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is bombing sites and operatives belonging to the militant group, and occasionally Hamas. In a statement earlier Tuesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that "Israel's continued attacks aim to thwart all efforts made locally, regionally and internationally to stop the ongoing Israeli escalation, despite the response shown by Lebanon to these efforts at various levels".
A strike early Tuesday targeted Ghazieh, near the southern coastal city of Sidon, destroying a building, damaging its surroundings and causing a fire.
'Dangerous conditions' -
The Israeli military said its strikes in south and east Lebanon on Monday targeted Hezbollah and Hamas infrastructure, including "weapon storage facilities and military structures, both above and below ground". The attacks come as the committee monitoring the ceasefire, which includes representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), prepared to meet on Wednesday. Visiting U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said on X that he met with UNIFIL peacekeepers who are "carrying out their mandated tasks under increasingly difficult and dangerous conditions".
Lacroix is set to meet Lebanese officials on Wednesday.
Later this week, Lebanon's cabinet will convene to discuss the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, a plan launched under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes. The army was expected to complete the disarmament south of the Litani River -- about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border with Israel -- by the end of 2025, before tackling the rest of the country. In his statement, Aoun said the government's plan to "extend its authority over the south of the Litani" has been "implemented by the Lebanese army with professionalism, commitment and precision".
Israel has previously questioned the Lebanese military's effectiveness and has accused Hezbollah of rearming. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday called the disarmament efforts far from sufficient.

Mechanism discusses Hezbollah disarmament in military meeting in Naqoura
Agence France Presse/Associated Press/January 07/2026
The ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), met Wednesday in Naqoura in south Lebanon. The meeting was only military and was not attended by civilian representatives. Last month, Lebanon and Israel appointed the first civilians to lead their delegations to the ceasefire monitoring committee, after a request from the United States. The meeting took place a day ahead of a cabinet session that will discuss the Lebanese army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, a plan launched under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes. In the cabinet meeting Thursday, army commander Rodolphe Haykal will brief the government on its mission of disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani river along the border with Israel. The Lebanese army last year began the disarmament process of Palestinian groups while the government has said that by the end of 2025 all the areas close to the border with Israel — known as the south Litani area — will be clear of Hezbollah’s armed presence. The disarmament of Hezbollah and other Palestinian groups by the Lebanese government came after a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah in which much of the political and military leadership of the Iran-backed group was killed. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion. The war ended in November 2024 with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S.
Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes since then, mainly targeting Hezbollah members but also killing at least 127 civilians, according to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Aoun tells UN's Lacroix army fully implementing disarmament decision
Naharnet/January 07/2026
President Joseph Aoun told visiting U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix that Lebanon welcomes any country wishing to maintain forces in the south after UNIFIL's withdrawal in 2027. "These forces will assist the Lebanese army, which will be increasing its personnel in the coming weeks," Aoun said Wednesday after he met Lacroix. "The Lebanese army is carrying out its duties in full in the South Litani region in implementation of the government's decision. The claims spread by Israel and some local mouthpieces regarding the army’s failure to carry out its assigned tasks are baseless," Aoun told Lacroix. Israel has previously questioned the Lebanese military's effectiveness and has accused Hezbollah of rearming. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday called the disarmament efforts far from sufficient. Lacroix met later on Wednesday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and discussed with him the phase that will follow the end of UNIFIL's mandate. He described the meeting as "positive."On Tuesday, Lacroix met in Naqoura in south Lebanon with UNIFIL peacekeepers who he said are "carrying out their mandated tasks under increasingly difficult and dangerous conditions". "Their daily work to support regional security and stability continues despite ongoing risks to their safety & security," Lacroix wrote on X. He later added that the level of destruction in south Lebanon is "appalling." "Families can't return. The threat from unexploded devices remains extremely high" he said, calling on all parties to respect the 2024 ceasefire agreement, allow civilians to return, and UNIFIL to fulfill its mandate. "Amidst regional tensions, the Blue Line is the common point of reference for Lebanon, Israel & the U.N. Respecting its integrity is key to prevent escalations & enable UNIFIL to implement its mandated tasks, incl. guaranteeing & maintaining the Blue Line & reporting violations."

Report: Iran protests may be delaying Israeli attack on Hezbollah
Naharnet/January 07/2026
After talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior security chiefs to “present the understandings reached in Washington and review intelligence efforts, attack planning, and readiness for a possible strike in Lebanon,” Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper has reported. Netanyahu presented “the understandings and agreements reached in Washington regarding the continued freedom of action for Israel across all arenas: Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Yemen and the West Bank,” it said. However, the protests in Iran “are at this stage the central factor shaping decision-making in Jerusalem,” Yedioth Ahronoth said. “Senior officials note that toppling a regime in a country such as Iran requires multiple components coming together, and that the situation has not yet reached that point. Still, the evolving reality forces Israel to remain prepared for unexpected developments and extreme scenarios,” the newspaper added. “Were it not for the latest developments in Iran, there might have been little hesitation in executing the attack plan against Hezbollah, which has already been prepared and is considered operationally ready. Netanyahu has effectively received a green light from President Trump on the matter, and the IDF (Israeli army) has made clear that from its perspective, the preparations are complete, leaving the decision largely one of timing,” Yedioth Ahronoth said. It added: “As a result, the central question facing decision-makers in Jerusalem is no longer whether to act, but when: whether to wait for further developments in Iran, Hezbollah’s strategic ally, or to exploit the current window of opportunity, potentially continuing a policy of sustained strikes in Lebanon as the organization refrains from responding even to the killing of senior figures in its military leadership.”

Rajji says army capable of confronting Hezbollah militarily if needed
Naharnet/January 07/2026
Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has said that the government’s “top priority” is Hezbollah’s disarmament, noting that the government took six months to reach a firm decision on undertaking this task. “It was late, but the government is committed,” Rajji said in a Zoom interview with The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Some in Lebanon believe the LAF is not progressing quickly enough and attribute the slow pace of the effort to insufficient political will. The LAF has a very difficult task and is facing a shortage of personnel and resources. It cannot simultaneously disarm and dismantle Hezbollah both south and north of the Litani,” Rajji added, according to the Institute’s English-language summary of the minister’s observations. Noting that the 2024 ceasefire agreement “stipulated full disarmament throughout the entirety of Lebanon,” Rajji emphasized that “the texts are very clear” and that “Hezbollah is either lying or doesn’t know how to read.”“Hezbollah is hoping to buy time, reconstitute, and continue its domination of the country … If a democratically elected government moves to disarm an illegal armed organization, it is restoring the principles of the constitution and the Taif Accord, not waging a ‘civil war.’ In any event, the LAF is capable of confronting Hezbollah militarily if necessary,” Rajji added, according to the Institute’s summary. As for possible peace with Israel, the minister said “any discussion of peace or cooperation is premature.”“Normalization comes after peace. Moreover, the issue of normalization remains largely taboo in Lebanon. While some argue that peace should be openly discussed at the official government level and within mainstream political discourse, this view remains marginal. The same holds for economic cooperation, which Israeli officials are currently promoting,” Rajji added.

US welcomes gap law approval, govt. 'reform steps'
Naharnet/January 07/2026
The United States Embassy in Beirut said Wednesday that it welcomes the reform steps undertaken by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government, including the Cabinet’s approval of the gap law. In a statement, the embassy said the gap law would help restore the confidence of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in the Lebanese economy and support its recovery. "These reforms are considered important steps toward restoring confidence in the Lebanese banking system, and positive steps forward that serve Lebanon’s long-term interests, and help attract international investments," the statement said.Cabinet passed last month the long-awaited banking draft bill that would distribute losses from the 2019 economic crisis amid objections from nine ministers and modest protests. The law stipulates that each of the state, the central bank, commercial banks and depositors will share the losses accrued as a result of the financial crisis.Depositors, who lost access to their funds after the crisis, will be able to retrieve all their money, with a limit of $100,000, over the course of four years. The wealthiest depositors will see the remainder of their money compensated by asset-backed securities. The draft law is a key demand from the international community, which has conditioned economic aid to Lebanon on financial reforms.

Fadlallah slams Rajji as 'militiaman who took part in civil war'
Naharnet/January 07/2026
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah on Wednesday lashed out at Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji over the latter’s latest remarks on Hezbollah. “It is clear that as a militiaman who took part in civil war against the Lebanese people, he does not differentiate between his belonging to the (Lebanese Forces’ now-defunct) Military Council and his membership of the Council of Ministers,” Fadlallah said, in response to a reporter’s question. “He is still living the culture of war on which he was raised in his party, whose specialty was to kill our national army members and seize chances to pounce on it and on the state and the Lebanese, but its illusions will once again fail,” Fadlallah added. Rajji has said, in remarks to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, that “there is consensus among the government and people that Hezbollah is an illegal military organization and needs to be not only disarmed, but dismantled.”
“Hezbollah is free to engage in politics, but it is not free to maintain illegal arms,” Rajji added, according to an English-language summary published by the Institute. Accusing Hezbollah of rejecting “the terms of the 2024 ceasefire agreement that stipulated full disarmament throughout the entirety of Lebanon,” Rajji noted that “the texts are very clear” and that “Hezbollah is either lying or doesn’t know how to read.”“Now the group is threatening ‘civil war’ if the LAF (Lebanese Army) proceeds with the process north of the Litani. Iranian leaders are also threatening violence. Warnings of civil war constitute a form of blackmail against the Lebanese government. Hezbollah is hoping to buy time, reconstitute, and continue its domination of the country,” Rajji added. “If a democratically elected government moves to disarm an illegal armed organization, it is restoring the principles of the constitution and the Taif Accord, not waging a ‘civil war.’ In any event, the LAF is capable of confronting Hezbollah militarily if necessary,” he reportedly said.

Aoun heads to Cyprus, will hold 'intensive' talks with EU and UN officials
Naharnet/January 07/2026
President Joseph Aoun and First Lady Nehmat Aoun left Beirut Wednesday for Cyprus to take part in a ceremony marking Nicosia’s assumption of the presidency of the EU for the next six months. The Presidency said the ceremony will be an occasion for a number of meetings with heads of state and participating delegations. The Nidaa al-Watan newspaper has reported that Aoun would “hold a series of intensive meetings with European leaders and U.N. officials focused on means to fend off a possible Israeli war on Lebanon and activate a serious negotiations course for implementing Resolution 1701 and the cessation of hostilities agreement, in an attempt to capitalize on the renewed European drive for the prevention of the Lebanese situation’s descent into an open confrontation.”

'Neither Gaza nor Lebanon': Iranian unrest is about more than economy
Kamran Talattof, University of Arizona/Associated Press/January 07/2026
A familiar slogan has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran."That phrase has been chanted at protests that have sprung up around Iran since Dec. 28, 2025. The spark of the uprising and bazaar strikes has been economic hardship and government mismanagement. But as an expert of Iranian history and culture, I believe the slogan's presence signals that protests go deeper than economic frustration alone. When people in Iran chant "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon," they are, I believe, rejecting the theocratic system in Iran entirely. In other words, the current crisis isn't just about bread and jobs, it's about who decides what Iran stands for.
The origins of the slogan
The phrase "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran" first gained prominence during the 2009 Green Movement, when hundreds of thousands of people protested a disputed presidential election in Iran. It has since appeared in successive major demonstrations, from the 2017-18 economic protests to the 2019 fuel price uprising. It was also prominent during the 2022 "Women, Life, Freedom" movement, sparked by the death of an Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, following her detention by Iran's morality police for not wearing a "proper" hijab. The phrase ties together two key aspects of successive Iranian protest movements: domestic economic, political or social grievances and an explicit rejection of the government's justification for that hardship – namely, that sacrifice at home is necessary to fulfill ideological goals of "resistance" abroad. In particular, the slogan targets the Islamic Republic's decades-long support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Estimates suggest that the regime has channeled between $700 million and $1 billion annually to regional allies since the 1980s – funds that many Iranians argue should instead address domestic infrastructure, health care and education.
From alliance to resentment
Understanding the full meaning of the slogan requires historical context. Under the U.S.-aligned Pahlavi monarchy, which ruled from 1925 to 1979, Iran maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Israel while pursuing modernization. The Shah's opponents, particularly leftist groups, exploited these connections, using slogans like "Iran's become Palestine, why sit still, O people?" to mobilize against the monarchy. Indeed, many of the Islamic revolutionary leaders that ousted the Shah in 1979 had ties with Palestinian groups. After the revolution, the Islamic Republic inverted both its ties to the U.S. and Iran's relationship with Israel, making anti-Israel rhetoric and support for Palestinian causes central to its identity. Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, declared solidarity with oppressed Muslims worldwide, positioning Iran as the vanguard of resistance against what he called "Western imperialism and Zionism."But this ideological commitment came with substantial costs for Iranians. Iran's support for Hezbollah during Lebanon's civil war, its backing of Hamas in the Palestinian group's fight against Israel, and its involvement in Syrian and Iraqi conflicts have contributed to international sanctions, diplomatic isolation and economic pressure on Iran. And these burdens have fallen disproportionately on ordinary citizens rather than the ruling elite.
Economic crisis and political defiance
"Down with the Islamic Republic" is also chanted alongside "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon" in the current uprising – the most serious that the Iranian government has faced in years. But neither lethal force – at least 1,203 arrests and more than two dozen deaths thus far – nor supreme leader Ali Khamenei's Jan. 3 order for a harsher crackdown has quelled the unrest. Instead, protests have expanded to 110 cities and villages. The demonstrations illustrate how economic and political grievances intersect in Iran. When demonstrators chant "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon" while protesting bread prices and unemployment, they are not compartmentalizing issues – they are drawing a direct line between foreign policy choices and domestic suffering.
The slogan makes three simultaneous arguments.
First, it rejects imposed solidarity. Many Iranians, including those sympathetic to Palestinian rights, resent being conscripted into conflicts that are not their own. And the government's insistence that Iranians must make sacrifices for distant causes breeds resentment rather than unity. Take the government's effort to portray the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025 as a moment of national resistance. Rather, many Iranians instead blamed the leadership for either provoking the conflict or failing to meaningfully defend the country from Israeli – or American – bombs. The slogan also demands accountability for resource allocation. When state media broadcasts funerals for fighters killed in Syria or Yemen while Iran's hospitals lack basic supplies, the disconnect between rhetoric and reality becomes glaring. And finally, the protest message reclaims political belonging rooted in Iranian national history – and not just the ideological concerns of the Islamic Republic. By invoking Iran specifically, "I sacrifice my life for Iran," protesters assert that their primary allegiance is to their own country, not to transnational ideological movements, regional proxies or the ruling government's ideology.
The limits of solidarity
For all its longevity, however, the slogan has proven divisive. While some see it as a necessary assertion of self-determination after decades of enforced sacrifice, others – including some Iranian leftist intellectuals and activists – view it as abandoning solidarity with oppressed peoples.
But it doesn't need to be an either/or. Many protesters risking bullets to demand "Iran first" are not expressing indifference to the suffering of Palestinians. Rather, they are insisting that effective solidarity requires a functioning state capable of supporting its own citizens, and that genuine liberation begins at home.
Regardless, the Islamic Republic's response has been to frame criticism as betrayal, suggesting that those who question support for Gaza or Lebanon are complicit with imperialism – a narrative enforced through a mix of rhetoric and coercion. But this framing increasingly fails to persuade a population that has watched living standards decline while billions of dollars flow to foreign conflicts. The effects of sanctions and shrinking foreign-currency revenues have pushed the Iranian state to raise taxes on households while shielding military and ideological spending. Meanwhile, the dollar's daily surge and the rial's rapid collapse have accelerated inflation and eroded purchasing power.
Authoring one's own story
Undoubtedly, economic grievances underpin the current protests in Iran. However, the slogans used in Iranian protests – be they over election disputes, economic crises or women's rights – indicate a broader critique of the Islamic Republic's governing philosophy. In the current wave of protests, demonstrators articulate through slogans both what they reject – "Down with the Islamic Republic" – and what many now seek to happen: "This is the final battle; Pahlavi will return," a reference to the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon" chant asks: What does it mean for a government to prioritize foreign conflicts over domestic welfare? How long can imposed solidarity substitute for actual prosperity? And who has the right to determine which causes are worth sacrifice? Such questions extend beyond Iran. They challenge assumptions about how governments invoke international causes to justify domestic policies and when citizens have the right to say, "Our story comes first."As such, the chant "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran" is, I believe, both protest and reclamation. It rejects the Iranian state's narrative of mandatory sacrifice while asserting the right of people to author a national story focused on Iran's own needs, challenges and aspirations. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/neither-gaza-nor-lebanon-iranian-unrest-is-about-more-than-the-economy-protesters-reject-the-islamic-republics-whole-rationale-265696.

Iran’s foreign minister to visit Lebanon on Thursday
Reuters/January 07, 2026
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Mehr news ​agency he will visit Lebanon on Thursday with an economic delegation. A US-backed ceasefire agreed in November 2024 ended more than ‌a year ‌of ‌fighting ⁠between ​Israel ‌and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but it also required the disarmament of the Iran-aligned group. Lebanon has sought to distance itself ⁠from Iran, with its Foreign ‌Minister Youssef Raji ‍last ‍month declining an ‍invitation to visit Tehran citing “current conditions” as not permitting the visit, and he instead ​invited Araghchi to visit Beirut for talks. “Our relations ⁠are longstanding with all components of the Lebanese state and we are looking to expand these ties... We hope we can return to a very good relation,” ‌Araghchi said.

Series of Encroachments on Christian Lands Reaches Marjayoun Region
Nidaa Al-Watan/January 07/ 2026   (Translated from Arabic)
A political party active in the south is attempting to seize lands belonging to residents of Christian villages—particularly in the towns of Jdeidet Marjayoun, Qlayaa, Bourj el-Moulouk, and others—leveraging its political influence and significant sway over official, judicial, and even military administrations. Through legal manipulation and slander, this entity is targeting the "Mazraat al-Jerein" real estate district in Marjayoun, located on the banks of the Litani River, where the owners possess official documents proving their ownership dating back decades.
Through its influential figures, this party is working to alter facts and forge the geographical reality of this estate, which is considered one of the most important future tourist sites. Using all legal loopholes, fraudulent methods, and political leverage, they are attempting to register the land in the name of their own sect, shifting its identity from Christian to Shiite. Furthermore, they are reportedly Pressuring Minister of Finance Yassin Jaber to dismiss the Head of the Survey Department in Marjayoun-Hasbaya, George Salameh—a native of the Maronite town of Qlayaa—and place him "at the disposal of the ministry" (suspension) so the party can achieve its objectives.
The presence of the local population in Marjayoun is deep-rooted in history, and no one can impose control over them. Land represents identity and existence; the residents will not abandon it regardless of the pressure and will not allow anyone to seize their properties, hoping that the judiciary will be fair and grant everyone their due rights.
Legal Disputes and Political Pressure
Nidaa Al-Watan reviewed this file, where Rabih Rashed, the Mukhtar of Jdeidet Marjayoun and one of the property owners in "Mazraat al-Jerein," confirmed that the local community has known this estate as belonging to the Rashed family for generations. In 2020, when land survey and registration efforts began in the area, lawyer Diaa Zibara—representing the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council—filed an objection against the entire estate. His objection claimed that a large portion of public state property had been surveyed as private property, despite the fact that years ago, the Real Estate Affairs Department identified state-owned properties as four specific plots totaling approximately 350 dunams.
Rashed added: "Due to the political pressure supporting lawyer Zibara, the Real Estate Court Judge in Nabatieh, Ahmad Mezher, was unable to issue a ruling confirming our ownership of this land, even though we possess all legal papers proving our title. We remain committed to our long-standing coexistence in this southern environment, which has not been breached by sectarianism nor torn apart by the occupier's force. We believe in the judiciary, despite the fact that it has not been fair toward our rightful causes."
Mukhtar Rashed concluded by saying: "From this day forward, we will raise our voices against every aggressor. We tell everyone: an estate exceeding four thousand dunams, owned by more than five hundred families, cannot be manipulated by any lawyer in such a brutal and even aggressive manner."
He called for the intervention of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in this file to resolve it, noting that they possess full details on the matter. "The Rashed family holds ownership rulings dating back to 1883, and no lawyer can accuse us of encroaching on state property," he stated.

Consultative Meeting of Oppositional Shiite Forces at the "Lebanese Shiite Gathering" Headquarters: We Have Begun the Path of Coordination and Unification... and Our Meetings Are Open
Al-Markazia/January 07, 2026
(Free translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150871/
Representatives from the "Lebanese Shiite Gathering," "Initiative Towards Salvation," "Free Lebanon Front," "Coalition of Lebanese Democrats," "Union of Baalbek-Hermel Associations," and "Independent Southerners" held a first-of-its-kind consultative meeting at the headquarters of the Lebanese Shiite Gathering. During the meeting, they discussed the general situation in the country, particularly the status of the Shiite community and its national role during this sensitive phase Lebanon is experiencing.
The attendees emphasized that this meeting marks the beginning of an open participatory path aimed at gathering and consolidating the ranks of oppositional Shiite forces within a comprehensive national framework—free from monopoly, guardianship, and attempts to confiscate representation. It was agreed to keep the meetings open to all forces and individuals wishing to contribute to building a national salvation project, and to hold periodic meetings for consultation, coordination, and exchange of views.
Following the discussion, the participants concluded the following:
State Sovereignty: Reaffirming that the Lebanese state is the sole authority for weaponry and for security and military decisions, and the necessity of extending its sovereignty over its entire territory without exception.
Political Pluralism: Rejecting the confinement of the Shiite community’s representation to a single party, and affirming internal pluralism and the right of its members to free expression and political participation.
Financial Reform: Adhering to genuine financial and economic reform that guarantees depositors' rights, and rejecting any discretion in distributing the losses resulting from the financial collapse.
Transparent Aid: Calling for the adoption of transparent and fair mechanisms in distributing aid and development across various regions, and rejecting the logic of quotas, favoritism, and waste associated with councils and funds.
National Identity: Emphasizing commitment to the Constitution and Lebanese identity, and refusing to turn the country into an arena for conflict or a subordinate to regional axes.
Good Governance: Working to establish a culture of citizenship, justice, and equality, and building a modern state based on good governance and effective institutions.
The attendees concluded by issuing an open invitation to all Shiite intellectual, political, and social figures and bodies who believe in Lebanon as a state of sovereignty and law to join this inclusive national path, serving the future of both the community and the nation.

The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy
We supports the meeting between Israeli PM Netanyahu & evangelical Christian leaders in Florida, & seeks to expound on the ancient ties between Lebanon and Israel going back to the Tenth Century B.C
January 06, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150857/
The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy supports the meeting between Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu and evangelical Christian leaders in Florida on January 01 and seeks to expound on the ancient ties between Lebanon and Israel going back three-thousand years to the Tenth Century B.C. We also note Morgan Ortagus’ use of 1 Kings 5: 1-18 in her X profile and praise the understanding behind it.
This biblical passage details the cooperation between the king of Tyre, Hiram I, and King Solomon in the building of the temple in Jerusalem. Soloman’s father, King David, had famously fought and defeated the Philistines, which were a common enemy of the two kingdoms; and due to the receding power of both Egypt and Mesopotamia at this time, cooperation and trade between them flourished. Hiram initiated friendly relations with David by sending cedar timber from Lebanon, skilled carpenters, and stonemasons to construct David’s palace in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1). This marked the beginning of diplomatic and economic ties which later deepened under Solomon.
As Colonel. Charbel Barakat writes: “The Bible recounts the exchanges and cooperation between Hiram and Solomon, which resulted in stability and great prosperity for the whole land. It appears the engineers who built the Temple were from Byblos, as its engineers were the most famous in Phoenicia. The timber, especially cedar and cypress, was cut from the mountains of Byblos, assembled into rafts, and sent by sea to near Jaffa, then transported to Jerusalem.”
Modern historians, drawing on the Hebrew Bible (1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles) and references by ancient historians like Josephus (drawing on Tyrian records) and Menander of Ephesus, note that these accounts align with known Phoenician expansion and trade at that time as well as the strengthening of the kingdom of Israel.
“Solomon considerably expanded his army, and greatly expanded David’s commercial relations with the king of Phoenicia, Hiram of Tyre, effectively establishing a joint venture in which Hiram’s mariners (with a Jewish contingent in one of that extremely talented people’s few ventures into maritime activities) journeyed to Ophir and other exotic places in India or Africa, bringing back gold, silver, sandalwood, pearls, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Hiram handled the transport and Solomon the distribution.
“In no previous era had the Middle East’s status of world crossroads been so diligently exploited, as commercial relations extended through much of the Mediterranean and Black and Red Seas, and East Africa and Arabia and India.”(1)
AMCD praises President Netanyahu’s vision for modern day Lebanon, which will most certainly flourish as a trading center once again once relations with its neighbor to the south are normalized and the threat to Israel from its soil, i.e., Hezbollah, is removed. Peace and trade are the answers to war and strife.
May the ancient past serve as inspiration for the future and may Lebanon flourish once more as a trading center at the “crossroads of the world.”
(1) Conrad Black, The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol I: From Antiquity to the Caesars, 14 A.D., New English Review Press, 2023, p. 45.
Rebecca Bynum
The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy
+1 615-775-6801
rebecca@americanmideast.com

Quiet Movement in a Delicate Regional Moment and Renewed Israeli Escalation in the South ....Berri’s Visit to Egypt: Between Family Nature and Political Timing Significance
Richard Harfouch/Nidaa Al-Watan/January 07, 2026 (Translated from Arabic)
In light of the ongoing political movement, and coinciding with the new Israeli escalation in the south—accompanied by recent strikes targeting Sidon, Jezzine, and southern areas previously spared from attacks—the recent visit of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to Egypt emerges, raising several questions regarding its timing and significance, despite assertions of its non-political nature.
A Private, Not Political, Visit
In this context, political sources told Nidaa Al-Watan that Berri conducted a visit to Egypt described as a family trip. However, some data suggest that high-level political meetings were held by the Speaker during the visit. According to the same sources, "Berri’s visit to Egypt is his first abroad in many years, noting that he had previously received several invitations to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, but those visits did not take place."
Despite assurances from Berri’s sources to Nidaa Al-Watan that "the visit is purely familial and aimed at spending the holiday vacation," its timing carries special significance. It cannot be separated from the political context related to the permanent Egyptian initiative and efforts aimed at sparing Lebanon any escalation or slide toward a major war. According to the sources, "Egypt had previously extended invitations to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to visit the country to discuss the path of the latest Egyptian initiative proposed in Beirut at the end of last year."
Sources report that "a Hezbollah delegation visited Egypt previously away from the media spotlight, despite the party's denial." Furthermore, Speaker Berri’s political aide, Ali Hassan Khalil, visited Cairo and held meetings with Egyptian officials about two weeks ago, prior to Berri’s trip. Some sources believe these meetings focused on all items of the Egyptian initiative, not only regarding the file of weapons outside the authority of the Lebanese state but also through proposing a comprehensive and integrated political settlement formula.
In this context, a "new-old" Egyptian movement is emerging, based on initiatives aimed first at preventing military escalation and working on points leading to a full ceasefire. Egypt considers that the Lebanese portion of the agreement has been implemented and is seeking to implement the Israeli portion—specifically commitment to UN Resolution 1701, which Speaker Berri repeatedly demands.
According to Ain el-Tineh sources (Berri's residence) speaking to Nidaa Al-Watan, Berri considers what is happening in the south to be a one-sided war and Israeli aggression, while Lebanon has remained committed to the international resolution for over a year. He emphasizes that no radical solution can be reached without an Israeli commitment to implementing international resolutions. The sources conclude by stating that "the field reality indicates the absence of any armed resistance south of the Litani River, as stipulated by the international resolution. Approximately 200,000 pieces of military equipment have been handed over to the Lebanese Army, in addition to hundreds of military facilities that Hezbollah relied on within the defense line. These facilities are now in the custody of the Lebanese Army command and under the protection of its soldiers and officers."
In summary, Speaker Berri’s visit to Egypt acquires special importance at this delicate time, given its synchronization with a dangerous field escalation in the south and regional movements aimed at containing tension, making this visit a milestone with implications that transcend its announced framework.

What if the State... Decided to Be a State!
Lawyer Jimmy Francis/Nidaa Al-Watan/January 07, 2026 (Translated from Arabic)
There is no longer room in Lebanon for evasion or ambiguity. The issue is no longer a political dispute or a debate over national priorities; it has become a direct question about the very existence of the state, its role, and the limits of its authority. How can a state exercise its sovereignty while Hezbollah continues to refuse to hand over its weapons or obstructs the process of "restricting arms to the state" which began on August 5, 2025?
This behavior cannot be treated as a mere "point of view" or political stance. What if the state assumed its responsibility and considered the Party’s actions a full-fledged rebellion against legitimate authority? The Lebanese Constitution is clear, and the Taif Agreement is even clearer: weapons belong exclusively to the state, and executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers collectively. Any party that refuses to implement the decisions of this authority, relying on its own military force, automatically places itself outside legitimacy and is officially classified as a "rebel force."
Here, the issue is no longer linked to the history of "resistance" or narratives of conflict, but to a simple and clear legal reality: "an armed organization confronting the state," imposing a balance of power and preventing the state from performing its basic functions. Initiating the path of restricting weapons does not mean going to civil war or an absurd confrontation. When a state decides to be a state, it does not act impulsively but methodically. Therefore, the Lebanese Army's option to freeze illegal weapons—by preventing their transport, disrupting supply lines, and paralyzing their movement—is a smart and deliberate first step.
Weapons that are neither transported nor used, but merely brandished day and night, turn from a tool of imposition into a "ridiculous joke" and a political and security burden on those who carry them.
However, the state cannot demand obedience while it continues to fund defiance. It is a glaring paradox that the public treasury, or international loans, continues to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into institutions and funds dominated by a party confronting the state—specifically the transfer of about $90 million to the "South Fund" and the vote on a $250 million loan for reconstruction. In light of the Party's refusal to comply with state decisions, this scene can only be read as indirect funding for a parallel military-political concept that strikes at the concept of state sovereignty.
In the moment of confrontation, stopping the funding of reconstruction and freezing all loans and transfers associated with this system becomes an obvious sovereign measure. Public money should not be used to strengthen those who reject the authority and sovereignty of the state.
Beyond domestic funds, foreign funding remains the backbone of any armed organization. Overlooking Iranian funding for Hezbollah in the context of an open confrontation with the Lebanese state is no longer just weakness; it is implicit complicity. The state must move from a policy of denial to a policy of action. It must tighten financial oversight, activate laws related to the funding of armed organizations, cooperate fully with specialized international bodies, and place all financial networks associated with the Party under the microscope. Experience has proven that weapons that are financially besieged wither before they are militarily defeated.
When the Party and its leadership insist on defiance, it is no longer acceptable to keep the judiciary hostage to political calculations. Declaring the rebellion of leaders who oppose Council of Ministers' decisions must be accompanied by serious judicial prosecutions and the opening of all files previously frozen under the pressure of the status quo—from political assassinations to bombings and attacks on state institutions. Delayed justice is not justice, and a state that fears holding those who threaten it accountable is effectively declaring bankruptcy.
Furthermore, light must be shed on the role of legitimate security and military forces. Despite recent reshuffles, observers feel they have not yet kept pace with the scale of internal and regional shifts. This deficiency, if true, inevitably affects the state's ability to implement its decisions. If this reality remains an obstacle, nothing prevents new reshuffles that reflect current developments and realign military and security institutions with actual challenges.
If the confrontation reaches limits that prevent the state from fully imposing its sovereignty internally, internationalizing the issue becomes a legitimate—even mandatory—option. Resorting to the Security Council is not seeking external help against fellow citizens; it is reclaiming the international legitimacy to which Lebanon has been committed since its inception. A UN member state cannot accept a parallel army that decides on war and peace without a popular or constitutional mandate. At that point, Hezbollah would be re-characterized internationally as a non-state armed group confronting a legitimate state, with all the resulting measures, pressures, and sanctions.
In conclusion, while we await what may happen in Iran regarding the potential fall of the Wilayat al-Faqih system—which might render some of these measures unnecessary—the internal reality today places us at a turning point in Lebanon's modern history. The start of the arms restriction process on August 5, 2025, is not an administrative detail but a final test for the idea of the state itself. Either the steps are completed to the end, with all the political, financial, and perhaps security costs, or it must be explicitly admitted that Lebanon is no longer a state, but an open arena ruled by balances of power. At this moment, there is no neutrality or grey settlements: either one state with one decision and one weapon, or a "mini-state" that swallows the remains of the entity. Just as it was previously ruled by Syrian and Iranian tutelage, history will repeat itself, and it will be ruled again by their enemies. In all those cases... we will not have a state!

Frozen in Place: How Security Thinking Keeps Lebanon in Crisis
Pierre A. Maroun/Face Book/January 07/2026
Lebanon is often described as a country that refuses to change. Corruption, sectarianism, armed groups, and foreign interference are cited again and again to explain why collapse seems permanent. But this familiar story misses something crucial: Lebanon is not only failing internally—it is also being managed externally in a way that makes recovery unlikely.
For years, Lebanon has been subjected to growing pressure without a serious political path forward. Sanctions expand. Financial restrictions tighten. Warnings multiply. Yet no reconstruction strategy ever follows. The result is a country trapped in crisis, neither allowed to fall completely nor helped to stand again.
This is not accidental. It is the product of a security mindset that prioritizes control over resolution.
For decades, U.S. foreign policy has been organized around identifying threats and containing them. During the Cold War, that threat was communism. After September 11, it became radical Islamist movements. Although these enemies were very different, the response logic remained the same: extraordinary measures, long-term pressure, and the acceptance of instability as the cost of security.
Over time, that logic hardened. By the 2020s, policymakers no longer treated threats as separate problems. Iran, Hezbollah, sanctioned economies, money-laundering networks, and fragile states began to appear as parts of a single hostile system. In this framework, instability is no longer a failure—it is something to be managed.
Lebanon sits squarely inside this picture.
Lebanon is rarely labeled an enemy. Instead, it is framed as a space where a dangerous actor—Hezbollah—operates freely. That framing reshapes everything. Once Hezbollah is treated primarily as part of a global threat network, Lebanon itself becomes suspect. Its banks are viewed as risks. Its institutions are treated as compromised. Its economy becomes a battlefield.
State weakness stops being a reason for support and becomes a reason for punishment.
Sanctions expand. Financial compliance becomes suffocating. Aid becomes conditional and cautious. Ordinary economic activity turns into a liability. Yet none of this is paired with a serious effort to rebuild the state or resolve internal political deadlock.
Lebanon is not pushed toward war—but it is also not helped toward recovery.
Instead, it is held in place.
What Lebanon is experiencing is strategic freezing: a condition where collapse is contained but not reversed, pressure is sustained without an exit, and politics is replaced by security management. From the outside, this may look like restraint. From the inside, it feels like slow suffocation.
Economic collapse becomes normal. Emigration becomes an acceptable outcome. Institutions decay without urgency. Society absorbs the cost while international actors claim patience.
This approach does not weaken armed groups. It weakens society.
To be clear, this is not an argument that Lebanon’s problems are purely external. Corruption is real. Political elites have failed. Armed power outside the state distorts sovereignty. These realities cannot be denied.
But acknowledging them does not require accepting a security logic that treats Lebanon as permanently disposable. Pressure without a political vision does not produce reform—it produces paralysis. It does not empower citizens—it exhausts them.
There is a deep paradox at the heart of Lebanon’s treatment. Policies meant to weaken threats often reproduce the conditions that allow those threats to survive. A society under constant pressure, without credible paths to recovery, becomes fertile ground for dependency, despair, and radicalization.
When politics is replaced by security management, reform becomes impossible. When collapse is tolerated, instability becomes permanent.
This dynamic is visible not only in sanctions policy but in development outcomes. The World Bank has described Lebanon’s economic collapse as a “deliberate depression,” a term that reflects not merely economic mismanagement but the absence of any political or international pathway for recovery despite the scale of humanitarian need. It is less an economic diagnosis than a political one.
The same paralysis can be seen in the repeated stalling of limited, technically viable projects—such as the U.S.-backed plan to route electricity from Jordan and gas from Egypt through Syria to Lebanon. What is frozen in these cases is not feasibility, but permission.
None of this minimizes the real danger posed by Hezbollah’s armed power or Iran’s sustained interference in Lebanese affairs. These are not imagined threats, and they impose severe constraints on Lebanese sovereignty and political life. But acknowledging that reality does not justify policies that conflate weakening armed actors with exhausting the society around them.
Experience suggests the opposite: when basic services collapse and the state loses all functional capacity, non-state actors with external backing adapt faster than civilians or institutions ever can. Treating humanitarian collapse as acceptable collateral damage does not contain Iranian influence—it creates the very conditions in which parallel systems, dependency networks, and coercive authority expand.
A strategy that claims to oppose Hezbollah while steadily eroding the state and society it operates within risks reproducing the problem it seeks to solve.
The greatest danger Lebanon faces today is not one party, one weapon, or one foreign power. It is a security framework that treats the country as a permanent pressure zone rather than a political community capable of recovery.
If the goal is stability rather than managed decay, then the current approach must be questioned honestly. Conditioning basic humanitarian and infrastructure support on comprehensive political transformation is not leverage—it is a category error. A hollowed-out state under financial siege cannot deliver the reforms demanded of it, and collapsing core services does not weaken entrenched power structures; it weakens society while those structures adapt.
A first step toward unfreezing Lebanon would therefore require a deliberate break with all-or-nothing conditionality: decoupling electricity, water, healthcare, and basic infrastructure support from maximalist political demands that no fragile state could meet under pressure. This is not a concession to armed actors or corrupt elites. It is an acknowledgment that collective punishment is neither an effective reform strategy nor a sustainable security policy.
For U.S. policymakers—especially those shaping sanctions, aid, and compliance regimes—the question is no longer whether pressure can be increased, but whether it is producing the outcomes it claims to seek. A strategy that normalizes collapse while waiting for political capitulation is not containment; it is paralysis by design.
Lebanon will not recover as long as it remains frozen inside a security narrative built to manage threats rather than rebuild societies. Recovery will begin only when policy shifts from enforcing exhaustion to enabling political possibility—and when Lebanon is treated not as a permanent liability, but as a society whose stability is inseparable from dignity, functionality, and a future.
Author
Pierre A. Maroun
Former Legislative Assistant to Congressman Phil English (Capitol Hill)
President, SOUL
SOUL for Lebanon

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 07-08/2026
US Department Of State/Joint Statement on the Trilateral Meeting Between the Governments of the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Syrian Arab Republic
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
January 6, 2026
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Syrian Arab Republic.
Under the auspices of the United States, senior Israeli and Syrian officials met in Paris. President Donald J. Trump’s leadership in the Middle East enabled productive discussions, centered on respect for Syria’s sovereignty and stability, Israel’s security, and prosperity for both countries. The State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic (the “Sides”) have reached the following understandings:
The Sides reaffirm their commitment to strive toward achieving lasting security and stability arrangements for both countries. Both Sides have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism—a dedicated communication cell—to facilitate immediate and ongoing coordination on their intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement, and commercial opportunities under the supervision of the United States.This mechanism will serve as a platform to address any disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings. The United States commends these positive steps and remains committed to supporting the implementation of these understandings, as part of broader efforts to achieve enduring peace in the Middle East. When sovereign nations cooperate in a respectful and productive way, prosperity will be unleashed.
This joint statement reflects the spirit of today’s great meeting and the Sides’ determination to turn a new page in their relations for the benefit of future generations.

Iran judiciary chief warns no leniency for protesters ‘helping enemy’
Al Arabiya English/07 January/2026
Iran’s top judge warned protesters on Wednesday there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic,” while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country. Tehran remains under international pressure with US President Donald Trump threatening to come to the aid of protesters if security forces fire on them, seven months after Israeli and US forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed not to “yield to the enemy.”The current protests, the biggest wave of dissent in three years, began last month in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar by shopkeepers condemning the currency’s free fall. Unrest has since spread nationwide amid deepening distress over economic hardships, including rocketing inflation driven by mismanagement and Western sanctions, and curbs on political and social freedoms.
“Following announcements by Israel and the US president, there is no excuse for those coming to the streets for riots and unrest,” Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary, was quoted as saying by state media. “From now on, there will be no leniency for whoever helps the enemy against the Islamic Republic and the calm of the people,” Ejei said. At least 27 people have been killed and more than 1,500 arrested in Iran in the first 10 days of protests, with the west of the country seeing the highest number of casualties according to Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw. HRANA, a network of human rights activists, has reported a higher death toll of at least 36 people as well as the arrest of at least 2,076 people. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the numbers of casualties or details of disturbances reported by Iranian media and rights groups. Iranian authorities have not given a death toll for protesters, but have said at least two members of the security services have died and more than a dozen have been injured.
Most killings in six western provinces
Iran’s western provinces – which are economically marginalized and are heavily policed due to past outbreaks of unrest and their strategic location for national defense – have witnessed the most violent protests and repression lately. Demonstrators took to the streets again overnight in the western province of Ilam and disturbances erupted, Hengaw said. It has counted at least 20 demonstrators killed since late December in the provinces of Ilam, Lorestan, Kermanshah, Fars, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Hamedan. “During the funeral of two people in Malekshahi on Tuesday, a number of attendees began chanting harsh, anti-system slogans,” said Fars, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After the funeral, Fars said, “about 100 mourners went into the city and trashed three banks ... Some started shooting at the police trying to disperse them.” In Abdanan, a city in southwestern Ilam province, a large crowd gathered late on Tuesday and chanted slogans against Khamenei that could be heard in a video shared on a Telegram channel called Nistemanijoan with over 180,000 followers. The semi-official Mehr news agency said protesters had stormed a food store and emptied bags of rice, which has been affected by galloping inflation that has made ordinary staples increasingly unaffordable for many Iranians.With Reuters

Saudi FM Prince Faisal meets top US officials in Washington
Al Arabiya English/07 January ,2026
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with top lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday ahead of his scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.The top Saudi diplomat had a sit-down with House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Brian Mast and the ranking member, Gregory Meeks. “During the meeting, they reviewed the historical relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them to serve their common interests. They also discussed regional and international developments and ongoing efforts in this regard,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said. Prince Faisal and Rubio are set for talks to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council dismisses Aden governor
Al Arabiya English/07 January/2026
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council on Wednesday announced the dismissal of the governor of Aden from his post and referred him for investigation. The council also decided to appoint Abdulrahman Sheikh al-Yafei as minister of state and governor of Aden. Earlier on Wednesday, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported that, based on directives from Abdulrahman al-Muharrami, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, an official circular was issued in the evening imposing a curfew across Aden. The directive, addressed to all military and security units in the city, stated that the curfew would be in effect from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., with the aim of strengthening security measures and ensuring stability in Aden. The circular specified exemptions for emergency cases, security and military personnel, as well as medical and service teams, provided they carry official permits authorizing movement during curfew hours. It also tasked the relevant security authorities with the immediate enforcement of the curfew, the arrest of all violators, and the taking of legal action against them without exception, to ensure full compliance with the decision. The directive concluded by stressing that the decision would take effect immediately upon issuance, and called on all relevant bodies to adhere strictly to its provisions and cooperate fully to safeguard public order. Meanwhile, Aden Deputy Governor Adnan al-Kaf said the security situation in the city was stable, noting that Aden was enjoying calm and safety. Speaking to Al Arabiya, al-Kaf urged residents to protect public and private property and to cooperate with the authorities in ways that support stability and security in the city. Earlier, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported that the Giants Brigades had taken control of state institutions and al-Maashiq Palace in Aden, adding that the forces had secured all entrances to the city.The correspondent said the Giants Brigades were also securing the neighborhoods of Tawahi, al-Mualla, and Crater in Aden.
Al-Zubaidi flees
Southern Transitional Council leader Aidrous al-Zubaidi fled overnight to an unknown location after sending large military reinforcements into Aden and distributing weapons and ammunition to dozens of fighters inside the city, under the leadership of Mumin al-Saqqaf and Mukhtar al-Noubi, with the aim of creating unrest and destabilizing the city. He also ordered the movement of large forces, including armored vehicles, combat vehicles, heavy and light weapons, and ammunition, from the Hadid and al-Sulban camps toward al-Dhalea around midnight. In response, the Saudi-led coalition, in coordination with the Homeland Shield Forces, carried out several pre-emptive strikes to disable al-Zubaidi’s forces and prevent a security breakdown. Later, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council announced that al-Zubaidi had been referred to the public prosecutor and would face trial on charges of high treason.

Security situation in Yemen’s Aden is stable: Official
Al Arabiya English/07 January/2026
Under-Secretary of the Governorate of Aden Adnan al-Kaf told Al Arabiya on Wednesday that the security situation in Yemen’s city of Aden was stable. Al-Kaf called on residents to preserve public and private property and to cooperate with the authorities to solidify stability and security.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Southern Giants Brigades secured the entrances of Aden, states institutions and al-Maashiq presidential palace, Al Arabiya’s correspondent reported. A curfew has also been imposed in Aden from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Wednesday that Southern Transitional Council (STC) leader Aidrous al-Zubaidi had fled to an unknown location, after failing to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at de-escalating recent violence in Yemen. The coalition also said that al-Zubaidi had distributed weapons and ammunition to dozens of fighters inside Aden, with the aim of creating unrest in the city in the coming hours, adding that it coordinated with Homeland Shield Forces and requested that Presidential Leadership Council Vice President Abdulrahman al-Muharrami (Abu Zaraa) impose security measures in Aden to prevent clashes and protect civilians and property.

Where is Aidrous al-Zubaidi? Three possible scenarios
Al Arabiya English/07 January/2026
Three scenarios have emerged after questions were raised on Wednesday on the whereabouts of Aidrous al-Zubaidi, who fled to an unknown location. Earlier in the morning, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said that al-Zubaidi, who had led the Southern Transitional Council (STC), had fled to an unknown place and failed to make it to the flight carrying other STC members for talks in Riyadh on the Yemeni situation. It remained unclear where al-Zubaidi is exactly, but according to the advisor of the president of Yemen’s leadership council on local administration, Badr Basalmah, there are three scenarios. The first scenario is that it is possible that al-Zubaidi stayed in Aden. As for the second possibility, he could have left along with his forces to al-Dhalea, a trip that can take between four to five hours. The third possibility is that al-Zubaidi made it to Aden and then left to Somalia via a small boat since it’s the nearest option and especially since small boats are difficult to detect from the air, Basalmah explained. He added that the distance to Somalia also takes only a “few hours.”Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council had issued a decision to dismiss al-Zubaidi from the council saying he committed “high treason” after his actions.

Israel is risking global security, warns Somali Information Minister
Lama Alhamawi/Arab News/January 07, 2026
RIYADH: Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and its presence in the region risks inflaming the situation there, allowing terrorist groups to undermine regional security and stability, according to Somali Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Daud Aweis Jama. In a special interview with Arab News, Jama insisted that Israel’s unprecedented Dec. 26 move to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state represents a major setback for Mogadishu’s fight against terrorist organizations like Al-Shabab and Daesh. The presence of Israel will be used by the terrorist groups to expand their operations in the region. (They will) have a pretext to spread their ideologies in the region,” he said. “That is another factor that is also risking global security and regional stability, because we have been in the last stage of overcoming the challenges of the terrorist groups Al-Shabab and ISIS,” he added, using another term for Daesh.
Jama added: “We have been putting all our resources and all our time into making sure that we finalize the final stages of the fight against Al-Shabab. So, if something else interrupts us, that means that we are not going to focus fully on the operations against Al-Shabab. And that means we are giving more opportunities to Al-Shabab or other organizations.”The consequences of this hit to Somalia’s ability to fight terror will not be restricted to the country’s borders, according to Jama, but will spread across the region and beyond. “This might invite other, external terrorist groups to the region, because they will take advantage of this crisis and will make sure that they take over all the areas that have been defeated before,” the minister said.
“We believe this has come at a time that is going to affect our security as a Somali government, the security of the Horn of Africa, the security of the Gulf of Aden, the security of the Red Sea, the security of the Middle East and global stability. This is a very important location that holds the trade of the world.”
The minister underlined that Israel’s recognition and larger presence in the region are leading to more challenges, “putting more fuel on the ongoing challenges that exist in the region, especially in Somalia.” He added: “And at this time, it is not only limited to Somalia, but it’s going to be a challenge that is going to spread like a fire all over the region and all over the world.” Jama told Arab News that Israel has other strategic motives for its recognition of Somaliland — including the forced resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza. “According to reliable sources that our intelligence gathered, one of the conditions that Israel put forward (for recognizing Somaliland) was to have a place that they can settle the people from Gaza,” he said. “We find that it is a violation also of the people of Palestine, because we believe that the people of Palestine have the right to self-determination. The two-state solution that has been the call of the international community has to be adhered to and implemented.”
Israel’s coalition government, the most right-wing ‌and religiously conservative in its history, includes far-right politicians who advocate the ‍annexation of both Gaza and the West ‍Bank and encouraging Palestinians to leave their homeland. Somalia’s UN Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said ‍Security Council members Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.”Israel last month became the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent nation. In the three-plus decades since its self-declaration of independence in 1991, no state had recognized the northwestern territory as being separate from Somalia. Mogadishu immediately rejected the Israeli move, alongside countries all over the world. Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of Somalia. It also affirmed its support for the legitimate institutions of the Somali state and its keenness to preserve the stability of Somalia and its people. A group of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries, alongside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, also firmly rejected Israel’s announcement. In a joint statement, the ministers warned that the move carries “serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region” and undermines international peace and security.
The 22-member Arab League rejected “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases,” the organization’s UN Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz told the UN Security Council. In the most recent development in Israel-Somaliland relations, less than two weeks after Tel Aviv’s recognition, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited the region on Tuesday to publicly formalize diplomatic relations. “It was a blatant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty that Israel recognized a region within the Somali Federal Republic as an independent state,” Jama underlined. “That was a total violation of international laws. It was a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia. “From the beginning, our path was to follow diplomatic efforts. And we kind of started with a successful UN Security Council meeting that supported Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. (This was) followed by other international actors like the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and regional bodies like the East African Community and IGAD. “Also, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union has reiterated the importance of supporting Somali sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

‘Dire’ financial crisis forces UNRWA to fire 571 Gazan staff
AFP/07 January/2026
The UN’s beleaguered agency for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that a “dire” financial crisis had this week forced it to fire hundreds of Gazan staff who had left the territory. “On Tuesday, 571 local UNRWA staff, outside Gaza, were informed that they were being separated from the agency with immediate effect,” a spokesperson told AFP in an email. For more than seven decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has provided aid and assistance to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. But the agency has seen the voluntary contributions it relies on dwindle as it has become the focus of increasingly harsh Israeli criticism and attacks, causing what the spokesperson called an “unprecedented financial crisis.”While the work UNRWA was mandated to do cost around $880 million in 2025, the agency received only around $570 million in contributions, the spokesperson said. “As things stand, we expect a substantial shortfall in 2026,” they added. All of the staff affected by this week’s announcement had originally worked in the Gaza Strip, but had managed to leave early in the war sparked by Hamas’s deadly attacks inside Israel on October 7, 2023.
‘Intense defamation’
Most had been unable to carry out their duties remotely since leaving Gaza, but had remained on UNRWA’s payroll until last March, when they were placed on exceptional unpaid leave, the spokesperson said. “The affected staff have been without pay for over 10 months, and it is impossible to foresee when or if they could resume their duties due to circumstances entirely beyond UNRWA’s control,” the spokesperson said. “Recognizing that UNRWA’s financial situation remains dire, the agency took a decision which at least allows them to access financial resources rapidly, including separation indemnities.”The spokesperson stressed that UNRWA, which has seen more than 300 of its employees killed in Gaza since the start of the war, still had around 12,000 staff working inside the Palestinian territory. Israel has barred UNRWA from operating on its soil, accusing the agency of providing cover for Hamas militants, and claiming that some of the agency’s employees took part in the October 7 attack. A series of investigations found some “neutrality-related issues” at UNRWA, but stressed that Israel had not provided conclusive evidence for its headline allegation.
Tuesday’s decision was “extremely difficult and (came) as a result of an extremely challenging financial outlook, as well as intense defamation campaigns to undermine UNRWA and deter its donors,” the spokesperson said.

UN warns of intensifying racial discrimination by Israel against Palestinians in occupied West Bank
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/January 07, 2026
NEW YORK CITY: A report by the UN Human Rights Office published on Wednesday details the “asphyxiating impact” of Israeli laws, policies and practices on nearly every aspect of Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It warns that Israel is violating obligations under international law that require states to prohibit and eradicate racial segregation and apartheid. The report describes systemic discrimination against Palestinians in the territory as a “long-standing concern,” but notes that the conditions have sharply deteriorated since at least December 2022. It presents extensive examples showing how the daily lives of Palestinians have become increasingly constrained and insecure.“Israeli authorities treat Israeli settlers and Palestinians residing in the West Bank under two distinct bodies of law and policies, resulting in unequal treatment on a range of critical issues, including movement and access to resources such as land and water,” it states.“Palestinians continue to be subjected to large-scale confiscation of land and deprivation of access to resources. This has had the effect of dispossessing them of their lands and homes, alongside other forms of systemic discrimination, including criminal prosecution in military courts during which their due process and fair trial rights are systematically violated.”The report concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli policies of separation, segregation and subordination are designed to maintain the oppression and domination of Palestinians, and intended to be permanent. “Acts committed with the intention to maintain such a policy amount to a violation of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prohibits racial segregation and apartheid,” it warns.
“Since Oct. 7, 2023, the government of Israel further expanded the use of unlawful force, arbitrary detention and torture, repression of civil society and undue restrictions on media freedoms, severe movement restrictions, settlement expansion and related violations in the occupied West Bank, which has marked an unprecedented deterioration of the human rights situation there.”
The report adds that this deterioration is compounded by the continuation and escalation of settler violence, which is often carried out with the “acquiescence, support and participation” of Israeli security forces. The system of military justice applied to Palestinians provides little or no human rights protections, in stark contrast to Israeli civil law, which affords far greater protections to settlers. “The military legal system is a significant tool in controlling Palestinians in the occupied West Bank,” according to the report. It documents patterns of “unlawful killings” and other forms of “state and setter violence,” citing numerous cases in which lethal force was deliberately used when unwarranted, in a discriminatory manner and with apparent intent to kill. On Jan. 28, 2025, security forces shot 10-year-old Saddam Hussein Rajab in the abdomen. He died from his injuries on Feb. 7. Video footage showed the boy standing empty-handed at the entrance of a building in Tulkarem when he was shot. Israeli forces initially claimed the boy “was messing with the ground” in a suspicious manner, before announcing an investigation. On Feb. 9, 2025, security forces killed 23-year-old Sondos Shalabi, who was eight months pregnant. They said she had been shot because she was “looking suspiciously at the ground” but acknowledged she was unarmed and no explosive devices were found nearby. The UN report adds that “discriminatory movement restrictions” severely undermine the human rights of Palestinians by infringing on the right to work, blocking access to land, and causing widespread financial hardship.
It also notes that roads built exclusively for Israeli settlers, connecting settlements, have resulted in the fragmentation of Palestinian communities.
In addition, thousands of Palestinians have been evicted from their homes across the West Bank. The report said this might amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime. Palestinians are further deprived of their natural resources. The report describes how Israeli authorities confiscate and demolish Palestinian water infrastructure while diverting flows to settlements. This forces the Palestinian Authority to purchase large quantities of water from an Israeli government company that extracts water from the occupied West Bank. “There is a systematic asphyxiation of the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank,” said the UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk. “Whether accessing water, school, rushing to hospital, visiting family or friends, or harvesting olives, every aspect of life for Palestinians in the West Bank is controlled and curtailed by Israel’s discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
“This is a particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation that resembles the kind of apartheid system we have seen before. “Every negative trend documented in the report has not only continued but accelerated. And every day this is allowed to continue, the consequences worsen for Palestinians.”Impunity for violations remains widespread, the report found, including violence committed by Israeli security forces and settlers. Of more than 1,500 killings of Palestinians recorded between Jan. 1, 2017, and Sep. 30, 2025, Israeli authorities opened just 112 investigations, resulting in only one conviction. Meanwhile thousands of Palestinians remain arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities, most of them under “administrative detention” without charge or trial. Illegal settlement expansions continue unabated; Israeli authorities and settlers have appropriated tens of thousands of hectares of Palestinian land, largely for settlements and outposts that are deemed illegal under international law. The report cites the recent approval by Israel’s Security Cabinet of 19 new settlements, a move that Israeli officials have said is intended to block the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. “The Israeli authorities must repeal all laws, policies and practices that perpetuate systemic discrimination against Palestinians based on race, religion or ethnic origin,” Turk said. He called on Israel to end its unlawful presence in occupied Palestinian territory, dismantle all settlements, evacuate settlers, and respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Israeli airstrike kills two in Gaza, Israel says targeted Hamas militant
Reuters/08 January/2026
An Israeli airstrike killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, local health ‍authorities said, in what the military said was a retaliatory attack on a ‍Hamas militant that was launched after its troops had come under fire.
Medical officials did not immediately identify the people killed. They said several people were also wounded in the airstrike, which struck a house in Gaza City. ⁠There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The Israeli military said that Hamas militants had shot at soldiers earlier on Wednesday and that the airstrike targeted a senior Hamas militant who had directed attacks on its troops. The military did not say whether it had suffered any casualties. Separately on Wednesday, in the southern Gaza area of Rafah, an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia said ‍that it had killed two Hamas men, marking a renewed challenge to the militant group. Nearly all ‍of Gaza’s 2 ‍million people live in ⁠Hamas-held areas, where the group has ‌been reestablishing its grip ⁠and where four Hamas sources ‍said it continues to command thousands of men despite suffering heavy blows during the ⁠war. But Israel still holds well over half of Gaza – areas where Hamas’ foes operate beyond ‌its reach. With US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza moving slowly, there is no immediate prospect of further Israeli withdrawals. Fighting has greatly abated since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October after two ‍years of war, but it has not stopped entirely. Both sides have accused each other of violations of the ceasefire. More than 400 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to Gaza health officials, have been killed since the truce began, as well as three Israeli

Israel issues over 3,000 tenders for E1 settlement in Jerusalem
Arab News/January 07, 2026
LONDON: Israeli authorities have issued tenders for the construction of 3,401 settlement units in the area known as E1, east of Jerusalem. Muayyad Shaban, head of the Commission against the Wall and Settlements, said Israeli authorities had transitioned from planning and approval to implementation of the E1 plan. The settlement, if developed, would divide the occupied West Bank, hindering the establishment of a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state. After nearly 30 years of delay under intense international opposition to the plan, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved plans for 3,400 homes in E1 last August.Shaban said E1 constituted “a highly dangerous escalation in the repercussions of the accelerated assault on Palestinian lands through colonial settlement plans.”The plan would separate Jerusalem from surrounding Palestinian areas and connect the Maale Adumim settlement to the city, undermining the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, he added. In 2025, Israeli authorities issued plans for 10,098 new settlement units, marking an unprecedented increase in settlement tenders.Over 7,000 units were allocated to Maale Adumim, along with 900 units for Efrat in Bethlehem and 700 for Ariel in Salfit, reflecting a push to deepen colonial control over Palestinian land, the Commission against the Wall and Settlements reported.

KSrelief distributes winter clothes, food in Yemen, Gaza
Arab News/January 07, 2026
LONDON: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed winter clothing to families in Yemen and provided food parcels to displaced Palestinians living in tents in the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian effort comes amid a cold snap and heavy rain in the two regions. In Yemen, mostly in the Hadramout valley area, the agency handed out more than 2,000 items of winter clothing. Since the start of the war in late 2023, KSrelief has dispatched 78 planes and eight ships carrying almost 7,700 tonnes of food, medical supplies and shelter materials to Gaza. More than 900 Saudi trucks have also delivered food and medical equipment to the region. The agency has delivered 20 ambulances to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and signed agreements totaling $90 million for relief projects in Gaza. It has also carried out airdrops in partnership with the Jordanian Armed Forces.

Iraq now largely at peace, UN says, with stronger security and a development drive underway
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/January 07, 2026
NEW YORK CITY: The UN’s role in Iraq is shifting from a political mission to a development-focused partnership, the organization’s top official in the country said on Wednesday. The move reflects what it sees as major improvements in security, governance and economic conditions in the nation after two decades of international engagement. Ghulam Isaczai, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that Iraq was now “a country at peace, with increased security and a clear determination to win the battle of development.” This echoed remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a recent visit to the country. Isaczai said Iraq had undergone a “remarkable transformation” over the past 20 years, with growing confidence in state institutions, improved standing in the region, and steady movement toward stability. Poverty declined from about 20.5 percent in 2018 to lower levels in 2024 (17.5 percent) and 2025, he added, and Iraq’s Human Development Index might have reached a level that qualifies as high human development for the first time in four decades.
A nationwide census conducted last year put Iraq’s population at 46 million, about 60 percent of whom are under the age of 25. The collected data also revealed an increasing trend toward urbanization, which Isaczai said was putting greater pressure on city services but would allow the UN and other partners to better target development assistance. Improved security conditions have enabled about 5 million internally displaced people to return to their homes, he added. However, about 100,000 remain displaced, most of them in camps in the Kurdistan Region, primarily as a result of housing shortages.
About 90,000 of those remaining in camps are Yazidis, largely from the Sinjar area, where unresolved security, administrative and political issues continue to hamper returns. Isaczai told Arab News that progress depends in part on the full implementation of the Sinjar agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as greater financial support for housing and compensation. He also highlighted Iraq’s role in the repatriation of its citizens from northeastern Syria, describing it as a difficult but commendable decision. About 23,000 Iraqis, mostly women and the children of former Daesh fighters, have been returned so far, with UN support, mainly from Al-Hol camp. Most of the returnees are now undergoing reintegration processes, he said, and an estimated 3,000 Iraqis remain in Syria On the political front, Isaczai noted that Iraq successfully held the first stage of its sixth parliamentary elections in November last year, with voter turnout rising to 36 percent, up 12 percentage points from the previous election in 2021. About a third of the candidates were women and they secured 97 of the 329 parliamentary seats, he said. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq formally concluded its mandate on Dec. 31, 2025, marking the end of a mission-led phase that began after the 2003 US-led invasion. Isaczai said the UN was not leaving the country but instead shifting the focus of its presence toward developmental support through 25 UN agencies that operate under the resident coordinator system.
The UN and the Iraqi government recently signed a five-year cooperation framework, costed at more than $1 billion, that will focus on four priority areas: economic reform; social protection and service delivery; the environment and climate change; and governance, human rights and the rule of law.
Despite operating within a constrained global funding environment, Iraq has indicated it will contribute financially to the implementation of the framework, Isaczai said, signaling a growing sense of national ownership and a shift from being a long-term recipient of aid to becoming a partner in development. The UN plans to establish a joint partnership fund with the Iraqi government to support the framework.
Asked by Arab News about the challenges that remain, Isaczai identified climate change and water scarcity as among the most critical, particularly in southern Iraq. He said some projections suggest temperatures in the country could rise by around 3 degrees Celsius, underscoring the need for adaptation, mitigation and more efficient water management. Economic diversification is another major challenge, he added, noting that about 90 percent of Iraq’s state revenue comes from oil. Transitioning to a non-oil economy will take time, he said, but the government’s “Vision 2050” aims to boost agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Infrastructure projects linking Iraq with Europe, along with incentives for non-oil exports, could also help create jobs and diversify trade. Reform of the public sector remains difficult, Isaczai said, because a large share of the population depends on the government wages, pensions and subsidies that consume much of the national budget.
Regarding security concerns, Isaczai said the Iraqi government had taken positive steps to bring all weapons under state control through dialogue with armed groups, though progress could slow during the formation of a new government.
He acknowledged that Daesh cells continue to pose a threat but said Iraqi security forces and their partners had become increasingly capable and confident in carrying out counterterrorism operations. Reflecting on the legacy of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, Isaczai said one of its key achievements was the support it had provided for the country’s democratic institutions, including elections that Iraqi officials said could not have been conducted independently a decade ago. The UN will continue to advocate for the voluntary, dignified return of all displaced Iraqis, he added, while acknowledging that bureaucratic and compensation-related hurdles still need to be addressed.

Syrian government vows to protect Kurds in Aleppo, accuses SDF of planting explosives
Arab News/January 07, 2026
LONDON: The Syrian government on Wednesday affirmed its commitment to protect all citizens, including Kurds, as armed tensions in Aleppo between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces continued for a fourth day. The Ministry of Defense accused the SDF of planting explosives on roads and setting booby traps in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, and bombarding them with mortar shells and heavy machine gun fire. The army designated the two neighborhoods a “closed military zone” after the Syrian Arab Red Crescent evacuated 850 civilians from the area. The government said in a statement that the SDF played no role in the city’s security and military affairs. “This confirms that the exclusive responsibility for maintaining security and protecting residents falls upon the Syrian state and its legitimate institutions, in accordance with the constitution and applicable laws,” it said.
Protecting all citizens, including Kurds, was a non-negotiable responsibility upheld without discrimination based on ethnicity or affiliation, it said. It also rejected any portrayal of its security measures as targeting a specific community, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency. “The authorities concerned stress that those displaced from areas of tension are exclusively civilians, all of them Kurdish citizens who left their neighborhoods out of fear of escalation,” the statement said. “They sought refuge in areas under the control of the state and its official institutions, which clearly demonstrates the trust of Kurdish citizens in the Syrian state and its ability to provide them with protection and security and refutes claims alleging that they face threats or targeted actions.”The government called for the withdrawal of armed groups from Aleppo.At least three civilians and a Syrian soldier have been killed and dozens more injured in Aleppo since Tuesday. Authorities have accused the SDF of targeting medical and educational facilities. The escalation in violence has dealt a blow to an agreement between the two sides that was meant to be implemented by the end of last year.The Syrian government reached an agreement with the SDF in March that included plans to integrate the group’s military, territory and natural resources, including oil fields, into the new government in Damascus.

Syrian authorities arrest 3 members of pro-Assad armed group in Hama
Arab News/January 07, 2026
LONDON: Syrian authorities in Hama have arrested three people accused of involvement in an armed group linked to remnants of the deposed regime of the former president, Bashar Assad. The Internal Security Command in Al-Ghab, central Syria, said on Wednesday that the group had engaged in incitement against the state with the aim of undermining security and stability. Brig. Gen. Mulham Al-Shantout, commander of internal security in Hama, said the operation that led to the arrests was carried out in coordination with counterterrorism authorities. About 30 people were targeted as part of a separate operation in Tartus, the Internal Security Command said, including what it described as remnants of the Assad regime, instigators and outlaws. One individual was killed during armed clashes with members of the security forces, three of whom were injured, and a cache of weapons and ammunition was seized in the coastal city. Authorities said they remain strongly committed to protecting citizens, maintaining civil peace and enforcing the law against anyone who jeopardizes the security and stability of the country, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

Clashes in Syria’s Aleppo deepen rift between government, Kurdish forces
Reuters/07 January/2026
Fierce fighting in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo between government forces and Kurdish fighters drove thousands of civilians from their homes on Wednesday, with Washington reported to be mediating a de-escalation. The violence, and statements trading blame over who started it, signaled that a stalemate between Damascus and Kurdish authorities that have resisted integrating into the central government was deepening and growing deadlier. Deadly clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government troops and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). After relative calm overnight, shelling resumed on Wednesday and intensified in the afternoon, Reuters reporters in the city said. A spokesperson for Aleppo’s health directorate told Reuters that four civilians had been killed on Tuesday and more than two dozen wounded on Tuesday and Wednesday. Security sources separately told Reuters that two fighters had also been killed. The health directorate said there were no civilian fatalities on Wednesday, and that it was not authorized to comment on deaths among fighters. By Wednesday evening, fighting had subsided, the Reuters reporters said. Ilham Ahmed, who heads the foreign affairs department of the Kurdish administration, told Reuters that international mediation efforts were underway to de-escalate. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters the US was mediating.
Thousands of civilians flee
The directorate for social affairs said on Wednesday night that more than 45,000 people had been displaced from Aleppo city, most of them heading northwest towards the enclave of Afrin. The Syrian army announced that military positions in the Kurdish-held neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah were “legitimate military targets.” Two Syrian security officials told Reuters that they expected a significant military operation in the city. The government opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee flashpoint neighborhoods, ferrying them out on city buses. “We move them safely to the places they want to go to according to their desire or to displaced shelters,” said Faisal Mohammad Ali, operations chief of the civil defense force in Aleppo. The latest fighting has disrupted civilian life in what is a leading Syrian city, closing the airport and a highway to Turkey, halting operations at factories in an industrial zone and paralyzing major roads into the city center. The Damascus government said its forces were responding to rocket fire, drone attacks and shelling from Kurdish-held neighborhoods. Kurdish forces said they held Damascus “fully and directly responsible for ... the dangerous escalation that threatens the lives of thousands of civilians and undermines stability in the city.”During Syria’s 14-year civil war, Kurdish authorities began running a semi-autonomous zone in northeast Syria, as well as in parts of Aleppo city. They have been reluctant to give up those zones and integrate fully into the new government that took over after ex-president Bashar al-Assad’s ousting in late 2024. Last year, the Damascus government reached a deal with the SDF that envisaged a full integration by the end of 2025, but the two sides have made little progress, each accusing the other of stalling or acting in bad faith. The US has stepped in as a mediator, holding meetings as recently as Sunday to try to nudge the process forward. Sunday’s meetings ended with no tangible progress. Failure to integrate the SDF into Syria’s army risks further violence and could potentially draw in Turkey, which has threatened an incursion against Kurdish fighters it views as terrorists.

Syria to bolster coordination with Israel but worries about ‘expansionist’ mindset
The Arab Weekly/January 07/2026
Syria’s Islamist government and Israel will set up a joint group under US supervision to share intelligence and seek military de-escalation on the ground, it was announced Tuesday after talks held in Paris. The Syrian foreign minister travelled to Paris in his country’s first known meeting in months with Israel, which has pounded its historic adversary despite US unease over the pressure on the fragile government. A joint statement issued by the US State Department after the talks in the French capital said that Syria and Israel were committed to “achieving lasting security and stability arrangements for both countries.”“Both sides have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism, a dedicated communication cell, to facilitate immediate and ongoing coordination on their intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities under the supervision of the United States,” the statement said.
“This mechanism will serve as a platform to address any disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings.”But in a statement to Reuters, a Syrian official said it would not be possible to move forward on “strategic files” in talks with Israel without a binding, clear timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal from Syrian territory seized after the late 2024 toppling of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian official accused Israel of stalling by using technicalities in the talks, and said it should abandon its “expansionist mentality” so that the talks could proceed. The Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the latest round of talks with Israel in Paris, which took place on Monday and Tuesday, concluded with an initiative to suspend all Israeli military activities against Syria.
There was no immediate statement from Israel on whether or not it had agreed to suspend all such activities. The Israeli prime minister’s office said Israel had focused on security issues as well as Israel-Syria economic cooperation during the talks. Syria is seeking an Israeli withdrawal to positions held before Assad was toppled, and wants a reciprocal security framework guaranteeing its sovereignty and preventing interference in its internal affairs. The US statement did not say whether Israel would refrain from further strikes or restore the 1974 agreement that was previously in place. Israel has no diplomatic relations with Syria, which during the half-century of rule by the Assad family publicly championed the Palestinian cause and was the Arab world’s key ally of Iran’s clerical state, Israel’s arch-enemy. Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a lightning offensive in December 2024 by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist, after more than a decade of brutal civil war. President Donald Trump has met and praised Sharaa, now the interim president and an ally of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, brushing aside Israeli scepticism. The talks in Paris wre mediated by Tom Barrack, who is US ambassador to Turkey and an outspoken advocate of supporting Sharaa. A Syrian delegation including Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani took part in the new round of negotiations along with Syria’s intelligence chief.
According to Axios, the Israeli negotiating team was headed by Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, a close confidant of Binjamin Netanyahu, and included the Israeli premier’s military adviser General Roman Gofman, who has been nominated to lead the Mossad spy agency, along with Netanyahu’s acting national security adviser Gill Reich. The United States recently fully removed remaining sanctions on Syria, hoping to give the country a chance to integrate into the global economy. Since Assad’s fall, Israel sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that had separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel, saying there was a power vacuum, also unilaterally declared void a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria that had kept in effect a ceasefire and held on to positions it described as strategic in Syria.
Sharaa has sought to restore the agreement and avoid wider conflict with Israel, but he has also opposed Israel’s insistence on maintaining a demilitarised zone in southern Syria. Netanyahu’s office called for economic cooperation with Syria and “regional stability and security.”“It was agreed to continue the dialogue to advance shared objectives and safeguard the security of the Druze minority in Syria,” it said. Israel has cited violence against the Druze, who also have a presence inside Israel, as a reason to intervene in Syria. Its proclaimed patronage of the Druze was vehemently rejected by Damascus as an infringement of Syrian sovereignty. Israel in July launched massive air strikes, including hitting the defence ministry in Damascus, leading some analysts to believe it was hoping to degrade military capacities of Syria while it was at a weak point.

Rubio says will meet with Denmark next week amid tensions over Greenland
Agencies/07 January/2026
US Secretary of ‍State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said ‍that he would meet with Denmark next week, as US President Donald Trump has ⁠repeated in recent days that he wants to gain control of Greenland. “If the president identifies a threat to the national security of the ‍United States, every President retains the option ‍to address ‍it through ⁠military ‌means. As a ⁠diplomat, which is ‍what I am now, and ⁠what we work on, we always ‌prefer to settle it in different ways - that included in Venezuela,” Rubio told reporters when ‍asked if the US was willing to potentially risk the NATO alliance by moving ahead with ‌a military option. Meanwhile, Trump has “actively discussed” the purchase of Greenland from Denmark with his team, the White House said Wednesday, but refused to rule out possible military action. “That’s something that’s currently being actively discussed by the president and his national security team,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing when asked about a possible US offer to buy the self-governing territory. Asked why Trump would not rule out military action against a fellow NATO member, Leavitt replied: “That’s not something this president does. All options are always on the table for President Trump.”

Trump says doubts ‘NATO would be there for us’ if needed
AFP/ 07 January/2026
US President Donald Trump, whose renewed threats to seize Greenland from NATO member Denmark have rattled the transatlantic alliance, said Wednesday he doubted allies would “be there for us if we really needed them.”“We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, a day after the White House said it was not ruling out military intervention to acquire Greenland. In his post, Trump repeated his frequent assertion that many members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had failed to meet military spending commitments until he intervened. “The USA was, foolishly, paying for them! I, respectfully, got them to 5% GDP, AND THEY PAY, immediately,” he wrote. But the US leader added that the NATO member countries are “all my friends.”Trump, who has cast himself as a global peacemaker, also touched on a personal grievance. “I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize,” he said, misspelling the name of the prestigious award that instead went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Trump concluded by saying that Russia and China have “zero fear of NATO” without the United States as part of the alliance. “The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A.” he said, referring to himself by his initials. Trump’s designs on the mineral-rich, self-governing Danish territory of Greenland has set off alarm bells among European NATO members, who see such a move as an existential threat to the alliance.

Al-Burhan, Saudi deputy foreign minister discuss Saudi peace initiative on Sudan
Al Arabiya English/07 January/2026
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khuraiji in Port Sudan on Wednesday to discuss Saudi Arabia’s peace initiative aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan. The initiative, sponsored by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump, seeks to address the root causes of the Sudanese crisis. Al-Burhan has previously described the plan as providing a roadmap toward peace in the country. The meeting also reviewed preparations for convening the Saudi-Sudanese Strategic Coordination Council, which is intended to strengthen bilateral relations across a range of fields. During the talks, al-Burhan praised Trump’s interest in the Sudan conflict and his efforts to help end the war and establish peace. In November, Trump said he had begun working to bring an end to the war in Sudan, noting that the effort was launched at the personal request of the Saudi Crown Prince during their meeting at the White House that same month.

Venezuela’s decisions to be ‘dictated’ by US, White House says
AFP/07 January/2026
has “maximum leverage” over Venezuela’s interim authorities following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and will dictate decisions they make, the White House said Wednesday. President Donald Trump will meanwhile meet with US oil executives on Friday to discuss plans for Venezuela’s oil sector, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, days after the raid that toppled Maduro. “We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now,” Leavitt told a briefing. “We’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities, and their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America.”Trump has repeatedly said that the United States will “run” Venezuela following the capture of Maduro, despite having no forces on the ground there. In reality, Washington appears to be relying on a naval blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, and the threat of potential further force, to ensure the cooperation of interim president Delcy Rodriguez. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted separately Wednesday, after criticism from lawmakers, that the United States did have a plan after overthrowing Venezuela’s leader. “The bottom line is, we’ve gone into great detail with them about the planning. We’ve described it to them. In fact, it’s not just winging it,” he told reporters after meeting lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The US plan so far includes what Trump said on Tuesday was an agreement – not confirmed by Caracas – for Venezuela to hand over between 30 and 50 million of barrels of oil to the United States. He has also said US oil companies will invest in Venezuela’s crumbling facilities, though no company has yet made such pledges. “The meeting is on Friday, and it’s just a meeting to discuss, obviously, the immense opportunity that is before these oil companies right now,” Leavitt told reporters.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier that Washington will control sales of Venezuelan oil “indefinitely.”The United States is enforcing what it says is an blockade of Venezuela to stop any unauthorized oil exports, seizing an oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela. Leavitt insisted the oil tanker, which had claimed to be Russian-flagged, had been “deemed stateless after flying a false flag.”“This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil,” she said, adding that the crew would be “subject to prosecution.”Moscow condemned the operation.

US immigration officer kills woman in Minneapolis
AFP/07 January/2026
An officer in Minneapolis shot dead a woman Wednesday who US officials accused of trying to ram federal immigration agents with her vehicle, a claim forcefully rejected by the city’s mayor. Jacob Frey, the mayor, called the federal government’s claim that agents were acting in self-defense “bullshit” and called on ICE officers conducting raids to get out of Minneapolis. A video of the incident, which has not been verified by AFP, shows a Honda SUV apparently blocking unmarked law enforcement vehicles as they attempt to drive down a snow-covered street. The driver, who the mayor said was a 37-year-old woman, attempted to drive off as officers walked over and tried to open the door, with one agent firing three times with a handgun as the vehicle pulled away from him. The incident occurred during protest action against an apparent immigration enforcement activity in the south of the city in Minnesota, local media reported. “Attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them – an act of domestic terrorism,” the Department of Homeland Security, which runs ICE, said on X.“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. “The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.” Minneapolis Mayor Frey said “we’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis.” The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension would be involved in the investigation into the shooting, as would the FBI, officials said. Large crowds chanting anti-ICE slogans formed near the scene of the shooting, local news outlets showed.
Anti-ICE protests
There have been passionate protests in some cities against the immigration enforcement operations of the Trump administration, which has vowed to arrest and deport what it says are “millions” of undocumented migrants. The DHS called the violence a “direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers.”The shooting reportedly occurred at 34th Street and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. Nearby, ICE officers were seen pepper-spraying and shoving protesters during immigration enforcement operations in South Minneapolis, footage broadcast by local CBS affiliate WCCO showed. Dozens of protesters and bystanders were seen on the scene after the incident. “There’s no way whatever this person did that they deserved to be killed for it,” one bystander told the broadcaster. Trump has made preventing unlawful immigration and expelling undocumented migrants top priorities during his second term, and has tightened conditions for entering the United States and obtaining visas. During his campaign, Trump likened undocumented migrants to “animals,” frequently linking them, without evidence, to criminal behavior. ICE – which critics accuse of transforming into a paramilitary force under Trump – has been tasked with deporting an unprecedented number of undocumented migrants during the Republican’s second term. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged for the public to “remain calm” as his team gathered information on the shooting. Trump’s White House called Minneapolis Mayor Frey a “scumbag” for comments after the shooting in which he accused ICE of “causing chaos and distrust.”

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 07-08/2026
Washington Should Reassess Its Alliance with Pakistan — and Its Potential Role in Gaza — Amid Tehran Ties
Anna Mahjar-Barducci/Gatestone Institute/January 07/2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22179/reassess-alliance-with-pakistan
Pakistan has repeatedly demonstrated its unreliability as a strategic partner.
Pakistan's leadership unfortunately prefers Iran to the United States — not to mention Israel. Unfortunately, the US cannot trust Pakistan — especially in Gaza.
Pakistan has, to this day, never recognized Israel. Pakistan was also the first country to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established it in 1979. Iran had been the first country to recognize Pakistan upon its founding in 1947.
The most recent example of Pakistan's close alliance with Iran emerged during the June 2025 Twelve-Day War — a direct armed conflict between Iran and a coalition of Israel and the United States. Throughout the hostilities, Pakistan aligned firmly with Iran, publicly expressing unqualified solidarity with Tehran.
As a recipient of Major Non-NATO Ally privileges, Pakistan should not be regarded as a dependable ally, but as an extremely problematic partner whose privileged status warrants serious reconsideration.
Pakistan's leadership unfortunately prefers Iran to the United States, and has repeatedly demonstrated Pakistan's unreliability as a strategic partner.
Pakistan's leadership unfortunately prefers Iran to the United States — not to mention Israel. Unfortunately, the US cannot trust Pakistan — especially in Gaza.
Pakistan has, to this day, never recognized Israel. Pakistan was also the first country to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established it in 1979. Iran had been the first country to recognize Pakistan upon its founding in 1947. Bilateral trade between the neighboring countries "stands at around US$ 2.8 billion."
Pakistan holds Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the United States, a designation that grants it privileged access to military cooperation and equipment. Nevertheless, Pakistan has repeatedly demonstrated its unreliability as a strategic partner.
Pakistan officially portrays its relationship with Iran as one of fraternity and shared regional interests, and there is indeed significant convergence in their policy priorities:
Balochistan
Convergence is their shared approach toward Balochistan, where both governments perceive Baloch political activism as a direct threat to territorial integrity and state authority. In November 2024, the late Major General Hossein Salami, then commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), met with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, who oversees operations of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The two pledged enhanced cooperation against Baloch independence movements.
China
This alignment is further reinforced by shared economic interests with China. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) constitutes one of the flagship components of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Iran wants integration into BRI and CPEC. China's Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, said in August 2025 that the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) "would continue to be the 'backbone' of Pakistan's geo-economic transformation," mentioning that Pakistan can extend this corridor to Iran and beyond.
Officials from Iran and Pakistan have held talks about connecting CPEC to Iranian territory. One senior Iranian economic official said that "the establishment of a joint free trade zone and linking the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through Iran to Russia and Europe could be put on the agenda of Tehran-Islamabad trade relations."
Iranian diplomats have publicly framed cooperation with Pakistan (and implicitly with Chinese connectivity frameworks) as part of a new "geo-economic order."
In October 2025, Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, mentioned that Pakistan and Iran occupy a central position in the emerging geo-economic order. Delivering the keynote address at a forum titled "Pakistan-Iran Connectivity: For Two Countries and Two Continents," the ambassador said that Iran and Pakistan are "natural partners" in promoting regional integration.
Kashmir
Indian Major (ret.) Gaurav Arya stated in May 2025 about Pakistan-Iran relations:
"In 2017, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has on multiple occasions called for Islamic solidarity and support for Muslims in Kashmir, criticizing India and backing Pakistan's policies.
"Press TV, which is an Iranian television channel, and other Iranian state outlets routinely publish anti-India and Pro-Pakistan narratives on Kashmir. These narratives are very common in Iranian media.
"In fact, Press TV recalled that Imam Khomeini had a deep and personal affiliation with Kashmir. 'The unshakeable allegiance of Kashmiris to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution has to be seen in the context of the advocacy of their longstanding political struggle by both Imam Khomeini and his worthy successor, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,' Press TV stressed in a 2022 article, titled 'How Iran's Islamic revolution gained foothold in Kashmir.'"
Afghanistan
In 2014, Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security accused Pakistan's ISI and Iran's IRGC of jointly orchestrating clashes in Helmand province to advance their mutual interests, exploiting Afghanistan's post-election political instability. The agencies were described as "working together" to turn the area into a war zone, with Pakistan's ISI provoking violence in multiple provinces and the IRGC aligning to pursue border-related goals.
While not a direct IRGC-ISI partnership, both agencies supported the same proxy (the Taliban) as part of separate strategies to counter the pre-withdrawal U.S. presence in Afghanistan — effectively creating parallel alignments with similar effects on Afghan security dynamics. The IRGC-Quds Force provided weapons, training, and safe passage to Taliban fighters post-2001 as part of an effort to reduce U.S. regional influence. ISI provided sanctuary, logistics, training, and strategy to the Taliban insurgency during the U.S. deployment.
Twelve-Day War
The most recent example of Pakistan's close alliance with Iran emerged during the June 2025 Twelve-Day War — a direct armed conflict between Iran and a coalition of Israel and the United States. Throughout the hostilities, Pakistan aligned firmly with Iran, publicly expressing unqualified solidarity with Tehran.
During the war, IRGC General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of the National Security Council, announced that Pakistan had informed Iran it would retaliate with nuclear weapons against Israel if the latter were to use them against Iran. "Pakistan has stated that if Israel drops a nuclear bomb on Iran, it will drop a nuclear bomb of its own on Israel," Rezaei stated. The claim was later denied by Pakistan, but it shows how Iran feels close to Pakistan.
The supportive stance expanded to include Pakistan's Senate, which unanimously passed a resolution aimed at providing support to Iran. On June 13, 2025 — the day the war began — the Senate unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning Israel's actions.
On June 14, 2025, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Sharif strongly condemned Israel's attacks as unprovoked aggression violating Iran's sovereignty, and reaffirmed Pakistan's "unwavering" and "resolute solidarity" with the Iranian government. Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its support, particularly at the UN Security Council, and highlighted the "brotherly" relations between the two countries.
Around June 22–23, 2025, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Sharif again telephoned Pezeshkian to convey condolences for losses, condemn the U.S. actions as violations of international law, and reiterate Pakistan's solidarity.
On June 30, 2025, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, received a call from Iran's top military commander, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, thanking him for his support during the war. Mousavi praised Islamabad's "courageous stance" during the crisis and thanked the people of Pakistan for their "bold positions" in condemning "what he called" unprovoked attacks by the "Zionist regime." Mousavi said that U.S. President Donald Trump "spared no effort in assisting the Zionist regime" by attacking Iran's civilian nuclear facilities. Munir told his counterpart that Pakistan valued its enduring ties with Iran.Throughout the hostilities, Pakistan aligned firmly with Iran, publicly expressing unqualified solidarity with Tehran. This alignment continued and intensified in the aftermath of the conflict. Pezeshkian visited Pakistan on August 2-3, 2025 — his first official foreign trip after the war. Officials, think tanks and media in both countries widely hailed the visit as a major success, highlighting ambitions to raise annual bilateral trade.
The streets of Islamabad were festooned with Pakistani and Iranian flags, along with large posters celebrating the friendship between the two nations. Prominent displays featuring portraits of Sharif, Pezeshkian, Khamenei and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari filled the cityscape. One notable poster on a main road carried the slogan: "Long live Pak-Iran friendship and brotherhood." Along the highway from the airport to the capital, banners welcomed the Iranian president.
During his visit, Pezeshkian repeatedly thanked Pakistan for its "firm," "heartening," and "unwavering" support throughout the conflict, describing it as evidence of the "deep bond" and "brotherly" relations between the two nations. Iranian state media amplified this gratitude, framing Pakistan's diplomatic stance as principled solidarity.Pezeshkian and his delegation met Pakistan's top civilian and military leaders. During bilateral meetings, Iranian and Pakistani representatives reviewed multiple aspects of their relations, including "brotherly ties" as well as religious and cultural links, and engaged in wide-ranging discussions to further strengthen cooperation.According to an official statement, Sharif said the two sides expressed a strong desire to raise bilateral trade to $10 billion at the earliest. The announcement coincided with the signing of 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding for various sectors, including technology and innovation.Addressing a joint press briefing, Sharif condemned Israel's June 13 attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, stating:
"Israel, without any rhyme or reason, unleashed aggression against Iran, which was not only strongly condemned by the government of Pakistan but by the entire 240 million Pakistani people, as there was no reason for Israel to stoke war."
Sharif also expressed condolences over the "martyrdom" of Iranian generals and scientists. He praised the Iranian leadership for their "courage" and "wisdom" in responding to Israeli "aggression," noting that Iranian forces "successfully" challenged Israel's defense systems. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's principled support for Iran's "right" to pursue a nuclear program. According to a statement from the Zardari's office, Pakistan and Iran "reaffirmed their commitment to further broaden bilateral cooperation in diverse fields" and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties across mutually beneficial areas. Zardari highlighted the "brotherly" relations between the two countries, rooted in shared religion, culture, and mutual respect. He then condemned the "Israeli aggression" against Iran and lauded the "bravery" of Iran during the recent 12-day war. Zardari expressed hope that Pezeshkian's visit would further solidify "brotherly ties" between Pakistan and Iran.Zardari also thanked Khamenei for his "consistent support" for Pakistan regarding the Kashmir issue and its stance toward India.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Islamabad's commitment to maintaining "brotherly ties" with Iran, while Commerce Minister Jam Kamal emphasized the need to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors. Further underscoring Islamabad's position, Kamal described Iran's performance in the war as a "triumph" over Israel and the United States, declaring that Iran stood as the "crown of the Islamic Ummah" and that its actions were a source of immense pride for Muslims worldwide.
Notably, Pezeshkian met with Field Marshal Munir, a central figure in the country's leadership. The two had previously met in May during a Pakistani state visit to Tehran, where Munir also held talks with senior Iranian military officials.
These developments, coming just weeks after a conflict in which the United States and Israel directly attacked Iranian targets, highlight Pakistan's consistent pattern of prioritizing regional and ideological ties with Tehran over its strategic commitments to Washington. As a recipient of MNNA privileges, Pakistan should not be regarded as a dependable ally, but as an extremely problematic partner whose privileged status warrants serious reconsideration.
© 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.

Arab world’s clear warning from Venezuela
Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/January 07, 2026
What unfolded in Venezuela over the weekend is not an isolated incident, nor should it be treated as such. It is a clear signal, one that deserves careful reading, not emotional reaction, and is a defining moment that exposes the fragile reality of the international order we inhabit today. On Saturday, the US carried out a direct military operation on Venezuelan soil, resulting in the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to America to face criminal charges. This was not the result of a multilateral decision, nor the conclusion of an international judicial process. It was a unilateral act, executed by force. The message is unmistakable: there are no absolute guarantees and state sovereignty is conditional when it clashes with the interests of powerful states. If the accusations against Maduro were legal in nature, a simple question must be asked: Why was the International Criminal Court not used? Why were formal complaints not submitted, evidence examined and due process followed? By bypassing international legal institutions, the US has effectively taken international justice into its own hands. In doing so, it has not only weakened Venezuela’s sovereignty but also undermined the very system it claims to uphold. This sets a dangerous precedent. If one power can ignore international mechanisms without consequence, what prevents others from doing the same? The US is not the only global power. China, Russia, India, Pakistan and others all possess military strength and nuclear capability. If unilateral action becomes an accepted norm, who will restrain the next intervention carried out under the banner of “security” or “justice?” This is why Venezuela matters. Not because of sympathy for a regime or a leader but because the rules themselves are being rewritten.
The UN met. Statements were delivered. Concerns were voiced. But beyond words, there was little action. This familiar pattern sends a clear message to the world: power overrides principle and accountability is selective. When international institutions fail to act decisively, they do not preserve stability; they erode it.Even warnings from UN bodies that such actions make the world less safe were met with indifference. This silence is not neutral; it is consequential. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland is vital to US national security. If security interests justify unilateral action, it is reasonable to ask: Should the world expect similar logic to be applied elsewhere?This is not alarmism. It is the logical outcome of a world in which power replaces law. The uncomfortable question we must ask, honestly and without illusion, is this: Who is safe today?
Despite this reality, we must be clear about one thing: we are not powerless. The Arab world possesses immense human capital; scientists, innovators, thinkers and leaders, many of whom have contributed significantly to global progress when given the opportunity. Our challenge has never been a lack of talent. There has been a lack of consistent structures that protect, empower and retain that talent. Our most successful Arab economies were not built through dependence. They were built on our land, by our people, through vision, discipline and long-term planning. This is not theory; it is lived experience. True independence does not come from slogans. It comes from knowledge, institutions and the ability to make sovereign decisions without fear. So, what must be done? First, strengthen the Arab League in practice, not form. The Arab League must move beyond symbolism. It must evolve into a credible political, economic and security framework capable of protecting its members and deterring external pressure. A bloc that cannot protect its own sovereignty will not be respected by others. Second, keep Arab capital and strategic assets within the region. Recent global events have once again proven a simple truth: assets held abroad are vulnerable. The freezing and seizure of Russian private assets in Europe stand as a clear reminder that political decisions can freeze, seize or restrict access to foreign-held wealth overnight, regardless of legal ownership or prior assurances.
The message is unmistakable: there are no absolute guarantees and state sovereignty is conditional.
Economic sovereignty begins at home — through regional investment in food security, energy, industry and technology. This is not isolationism; it is prudence. Third, unity, vigilance and trusted leadership circles. Unity is not an emotional concept; it is a strategic necessity. Arab states must coordinate policies, close ranks and reinforce internal cohesion. At the same time, it is imperative to examine carefully those closest to decision-makers, retaining only those whose loyalty to national interests is unquestionable. History teaches us that internal weaknesses are often more destructive than external threats. Venezuela is not an exception. It is a warning. We are entering an era where international guarantees are fragile, institutions are weakened and power speaks louder than principle. Awareness today is not a luxury; it is a requirement for survival. Those who understand the direction of the world and prepare wisely will endure. Those who rely on assumptions that no longer hold may not be given another opportunity.The lesson is clear. The time to act is now.
**Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor is a prominent UAE businessman and chairman of the Al-Habtoor Group and Dubai National Insurance and Reinsurance Company. X: @KhalafAlHabtoor

Resolving the war in Sudan should be a top priority
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/January 07, 2026
Sudan is approaching the end of the third year of its devastating and bloody civil war. The Sudanese conflict can be characterized not only as one of the most severe crises facing the international community, but also one of the most neglected. What began as a power struggle between rival military elites could lead to a comprehensive collapse of political authority, social cohesion and economic life. In addition, the war has become a regional destabilizer and latent global risk.If the international community continues to disregard the Sudan war or not view it as a priority, the risk of the country becoming a permanently fractured state grows, with consequences that will reverberate across Africa, the Middle East and beyond. And because of the scale, duration and systemic nature of the conflict, it demands a far more robust international response and sustained humanitarian engagement. The humanitarian consequences of the war have reached new levels. Large segments of the population face chronic insecurity, not only due to violence but also the collapse of the basic systems required for survival. Food production and distribution networks have been shattered, which has led to widespread hunger and the emergence of famine-like conditions in multiple regions. In addition, healthcare infrastructure has been destroyed or rendered inaccessible. This has turned illnesses that are normally treatable into life-threatening conditions and enabled the spread of communicable diseases. Furthermore, education systems have all but ceased to function in many areas. This has deprived an entire generation of children of schooling, which is most likely going to embed long-term developmental damage into the future of Sudan.
But we should also look beyond the material damage and deprivation. The war has eroded the social fabric itself. We can witness how displacement, ethnic targeting and widespread and pervasive insecurity have weakened communal trust and undermined traditional coping mechanisms. The longer these conditions persist, the more difficult it will be to secure a resolution to the war, as well as hampering postconflict recovery, as human capital is lost and social bonds are irreparably damaged.Meanwhile, the regional consequences of Sudan’s war should not be disregarded, as they are equally severe and increasingly tangible.
Neighboring states have absorbed massive refugee flows, often in situations already characterized by economic fragility and political instability. Sudden influxes of displaced populations place immense pressure on host communities because they strain public services, create social tensions and increase competition for scarce resources. At the same time, we should pay attention to the proliferation of weapons and armed actors linked to the Sudanese conflict. This proliferation ratchets up insecurity across borders, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. In other words, these dynamics can entrench cycles of violence that extend far beyond Sudan’s territory. Instability in Sudan has strategic implications for Red Sea security, Nile Basin politics and regional trade routes. This links the conflict to broader geopolitical concerns involving the Middle East and global maritime commerce. So, Sudan’s war should not be viewed as an isolated civil conflict.Unfortunately, despite these escalating consequences, international engagement has remained inadequate and fragmented. There is a need for a structured and sustained framework to exert meaningful pressure on the warring actors. The framework should also offer a credible pathway toward de-escalation. One significant dimension of international engagement has been the sustained diplomatic role played by Saudi Arabia, which remains one of the few states to have consistently invested political capital in seeking a resolution to the Sudan war. In coordination with the US, the Kingdom last month presented the Sudanese army chief with a structured diplomatic initiative. The initiative proposes a three-point framework designed to halt hostilities, enable unimpeded humanitarian access and initiate a credible transition toward civilian governance. This effort reflects not only Riyadh’s regional influence but also its willingness to engage directly with the key actors in pursuit of de-escalation, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s vital role as a central mediator in any viable peace process. A coordinated approach involving the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE also offers a viable foundation for such a framework. Each of these actors brings distinct forms of leverage and legitimacy. The Kingdom holds regional economic and political weight, while Cairo has direct security and strategic stakes in Sudan’s stability, with African leadership essential for regional legitimacy and long-term sustainability. By working together, these states can align incentives by imposing coordinated pressure and supporting a negotiated process that moves beyond symbolic ceasefires toward a political resolution.Instability in Sudan has strategic implications for Red Sea security, Nile Basin politics and regional trade routes. The humanitarian dimension of the crisis should also not be forgotten, as it demands urgent and continued attention. Unfortunately, humanitarian assistance in Sudan has been restricted and constrained not only by funding shortfalls but by insecurity and access restrictions. In a nutshell, resolving the war in Sudan should be at the top of the international community’s agenda for 2026. Continued international neglect risks entrenching a condition of irreversible state failure, with consequences extending far beyond Sudan’s borders. We should pay more attention to the mass humanitarian suffering, institutional collapse and cross-border destabilization.
The sustained diplomatic involvement of Saudi Arabia demonstrates that purposeful external action remains both possible and consequential. The advancement of a structured framework aimed at halting hostilities, enabling humanitarian access and initiating a transition toward civilian governance is critical.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadehs

Maduro’s Ouster Exposes Deep Global Divisions
Alberto M. Fernandez /National Catholic Registery/January 07/ 2026
COMMENTARY: The U.S. action has triggered praise and protest — underscoring how fractured global views on Venezuela remain.
To say that the bold U.S. military operation that snatched Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Jan. 3 ignited controversy is an understatement.
Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Republicans approved of it, while the overwhelming majority of Democrats condemned it.
In Europe, the EU’s “foreign minister” Kaja Kallas from Estonia, appeared to criticize the United States’ action, speaking on Jan. 4 of the need to uphold the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. U.N. Security Council members — which would include the United States — “have a particular responsibility to uphold those principles.” In contrast, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, did not criticize the United States at all, either directly or indirectly, in his statement. Condemning the Trump administration most vociferously were Venezuela’s allies in Russia, China, Iran and Cuba. The action seemed to have particularly enraged the Islamist Houthi military regime in Yemen. There were also fissures in the Catholic Church. Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, condemned the “surprise attack on Venezuela” and what he called the Trump administration’s “pursuit of its own ill-defined goals and with reckless disregard for human life and rule of law.” Both Pope Leo XIV and the Conference of Venezuelan Bishops (CEV) were much more measured in their responses.
The Venezuelan bishops called for rejecting any type of violence and urged that any further decisions “be always for the well-being of our people.” Both the bishops and the Pope appealed to the patroness of Venezuela, Our Lady of Coromoto, a title drawn from a Marian apparition in 1652. The Vatican knows the situation in Venezuela well. Not only did Pope Leo spend many years in South America, but the current secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, served as apostolic nuncio — the Vatican’s ambassador — in Venezuela from 2009 to 2013. Cardinal Parolin’s deputy, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, is himself Venezuelan.
There was also the bizarre juxtaposition of Venezuelan exiles — more than 8 million Venezuelans have fled their homeland — celebrating Maduro’s ouster, while foreigners, often members of leftist political parties, protested it. Spanish-language social media is rife with clips of heated arguments between exiled Venezuelans and anti-American protesters. In Spain, the contrast was particularly sharp, with leftist political parties — long accused of having been on Maduro’s payroll — calling for isolating the United States and even breaking relations with Washington. Meanwhile, COPE, the official media outlet of the Spanish bishops’ conference, featured a careful explanation of why the arrest of Maduro and his wife was entirely legal.
Latin Americans, in general, seem to be much more favorable toward the operation than observers elsewhere. A poll carried out by Altica Research immediately after the operation found large majorities in Colombia — which borders Venezuela and hosts the greatest number of Venezuelan refugees — Costa Rica, Chile, Panama, Peru and Argentina strongly in favor of Maduro’s removal. In Mexico, 43% were in favor while 42% opposed the American action.
The contradictions surrounding Venezuela do not seem limited to the initial operation that removed the Maduro couple, both wanted in U.S. courts for drug trafficking. The controversy has now shifted to the situation on the ground inside the country.
The Trump administration, at least initially, has decided to work with remaining officials in the Maduro regime to avoid an Iraq-like situation in which the U.S. would have had to send tens of thousands of soldiers to occupy and administer the country. Whether or not the Americans will be able to effect change, and especially a transition to democracy, while working with Maduro’s own brutal henchmen remains an open question. But this approach certainly does conform much more with the calls from both the Venezuelan bishops and the Holy See to avoid violence.
Many are calling on the United States to impose on Venezuela the ticket of Edmundo González and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, who by most accounts overwhelmingly won the July 2024 presidential elections. So far, the American administration has kept its distance from them.
On Jan. 4, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the administration’s point man on Caracas, expressed great admiration for Machado and González on Face the Nation. But according to other media accounts, U.S. officials concluded that the winners of the 2024 Venezuelan election had very little clout or influence over the Venezuelan military.
If the military had supported them last year, González and Machado would already be in office. But many who were silent on Venezuela before now expect the Americans to fix everything immediately.
There is understandable anger in the Venezuelan diaspora at the world’s reaction. The sense is that much of the world did not care that nearly one-third of the country’s population was driven into exile; that the country — once the wealthiest in Latin America — was looted and impoverished; that the Maduro regime has killed 10,000 people over the past decade. People were reduced to slaughtering zoo animals to feed themselves in the country with the largest oil reserves in the world.  Now everyone is an expert on Venezuela. Now they care — mostly as a tool to either criticize or praise (but, to be frank, mostly to criticize) President Trump and the United States.
The Venezuelans are right to be indignant, and there is no doubt that the removal of the narcodictador from power will unleash processes and consequences that no one — neither American nor Venezuelan — fully understands today. Things can always get worse, although with 86% of the country already living in poverty, and with corruption and crime rampant, it would not take much change to improve the situation for most people.
Venezuela was not ruined in a day; the current regime has been in power for more than a quarter-century. It is always easier to break countries than to mend them. And mending can be painful.
*Alberto M. Fernandez Alberto M. Fernandez is a former U.S. diplomat and a contributor at EWTN News.

Recurring protest movements in Iran and their roots
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya English/January 07/2026
Once again, protests have erupted across Iran, reminding both the government and the outside world that the country’s underlying problems have never been resolved – only postponed, suppressed, and allowed to deepen. Over the past decade, Iran has experienced repeated waves of unrest, each triggered by different immediate causes but rooted in the same structural failures. Some of these protests were explicitly political, such as the 2009 Green Movement that followed disputed presidential election results and questioned the legitimacy of the system itself. Others were driven primarily by rights – based grievances, most notably the protests following the killing of Mahsa Amini, which centered on women’s rights, personal freedoms, and state violence. The current round of protests, however, is distinct in one important way: It is primarily economic in origin, even though it inevitably intersects with political and social issues. Economic distress has reached such an acute level that it now affects nearly every household, every shopkeeper, and every worker, regardless of ideology. While demands for rights and political change are present – as they always are in Iran – this wave began with something far more basic: People can no longer afford to live.
A decade of recurrent unrest
Iran’s protests do not appear suddenly or randomly. They arrive in cycles, each one appear more intense than the last, reflecting accumulated grievances rather than isolated incidents. Over the past ten years, Iranians have repeatedly taken to the streets in response to worsening living conditions, corruption, repression, and economic mismanagement. Each cycle reveals the same pattern: temporary crackdowns, short – lived promises of reform, and then a return to the status quo. What distinguishes today’s protests is the breadth of participation. Economic pain cuts across social classes. It is not limited to students, activists, or political dissidents; it includes shopkeepers, truck drivers, factory workers, teachers, pensioners, and even segments of the traditional merchant class that historically formed a pillar of government stability. When protests reach this level of social penetration, they signal something deeper than episodic anger – they signal a system under strain.
The currency collapse: The rial’s long decline
At the heart of Iran’s economic crisis lies the steady collapse of its national currency. The Iranian rial has been weakening for years, but the pace of decline in recent years has been devastating. A currency is not merely a medium of exchange; it represents trust – trust in a government’s economic management, fiscal discipline, and political stability. When a currency collapses, it reflects a collapse of confidence. Over the past few years, the rial has lost a staggering portion of its value against the US dollar. What once required a few hundred thousand rials now requires well over a million. This is not a technical issue confined to financial markets – it is a daily reality that affects every purchase, every salary, and every business decision. The collapse of the rial means that imported goods, raw materials, spare parts, medicine, and even basic food items become prohibitively expensive.
For shopkeepers and small business owners, this is catastrophic. Many depend on imported goods or imported components. Each drop in the rial’s value raises their costs overnight. Prices must be changed constantly, sometimes daily, making normal business planning impossible. Profit margins evaporate, debts accumulate, and closures become inevitable. It is no coincidence that shopkeepers were among the first to protest; they are often the first to feel economic collapse in real time.
The human meaning of currency devaluation
Currency collapse translates directly into the erosion of purchasing power – the ability of ordinary people to buy the goods they need to survive. Purchasing power is not an abstract economic concept; it determines whether a family can afford bread, rice, meat, medicine, heating fuel, or school supplies for their children. As the rial loses value, wages fail to keep pace. Salaries are paid in rials, but prices increasingly reflect dollar – based costs. This gap widens relentlessly. A paycheck that once covered a month’s expenses now lasts a week or less. Families cut back on protein, delay medical treatment, and reduce heating or cooling to save money. Over time, these coping mechanisms become normalized, creating a sense of permanent scarcity. This is why images and slogans about empty refrigerators resonate so deeply. They symbolize not only hunger, but dignity lost. When people can no longer provide basic necessities for their families despite working full – time, frustration turns into anger, and anger eventually spills into the streets.
Inflation: A daily shock to survival
Closely linked to currency collapse is Iran’s chronic and extreme inflation. In stable economies, inflation is gradual and predictable. In Iran, inflation is sudden, volatile, and relentless. Prices rise not annually, but monthly, weekly, and sometimes daily. People wake up to find that the cost of food, transportation, or rent has increased overnight. Inflation at levels exceeding 40 or 50 percent fundamentally alters social behavior. Long – term planning becomes meaningless. Saving money makes no sense when its value evaporates. People rush to convert cash into goods, foreign currency, or anything tangible, further fueling price increases. This creates a vicious cycle in which inflation feeds on itself.Ordinary people describe a sense of permanent anxiety: nothing is stable, nothing is reliable. Even basic budgeting becomes impossible. This psychological toll is as significant as the economic one. When people feel constantly ambushed by price hikes, trust in institutions collapses, and social cohesion erodes.
Unemployment and a lost generation
Iran’s economic crisis is especially devastating because it coincides with a large and relatively young population. Youth unemployment remains persistently high, and even those who find work often face insecure, low – paying jobs with no prospects for advancement. Unlike some regional states that invested heavily in infrastructure, construction, and diversification to absorb young workers, Iran has failed to create sufficient employment opportunities. There is no clear national economic vision capable of mobilizing society around growth and opportunity. Instead, young Iranians face years of education followed by underemployment or joblessness. This gap between expectations and reality breeds resentment and disillusionment. The consequences are profound. Young adults delay marriage, postpone having children, and abandon hopes of home ownership. Many see emigration as the only viable path forward. Those who remain feel trapped in a system that offers sacrifice without reward.
Housing, wages, and the collapse of the middle class
One of the clearest indicators of Iran’s economic breakdown is the relationship between wages and housing costs. For many Iranians, owning a home is no longer a realistic goal. Even renting consumes an overwhelming portion of monthly income. In some cases, rent alone absorbs half or more of a worker’s salary, leaving little for food, transportation, or healthcare. This imbalance destroys the middle class – the backbone of any stable society. When educated professionals cannot afford housing or savings, downward mobility becomes the norm. The sense of decline is deeply destabilizing, especially in a society where education was once seen as a pathway to security.
Why the bazaar matters
Historically, Iran’s bazaar merchants played a crucial role in social stability and even in the 1979 revolution. When the bazaar shuts down in protest, it signals a severe crisis. Shop closures are not merely economic actions; they are political statements born of desperation. The participation of merchants in protests underscores how far the crisis has spread. These are not radical activists by nature. They protest when the economic system itself becomes unworkable – when survival is threatened.
Beyond economics: Rights and political discontent
While economics lit the fuse, broader grievances quickly followed. Protesters demanding relief from inflation and unemployment often find themselves confronting deeper questions about governance, accountability, and freedom. Economic collapse exposes political failure. When people see resources diverted, corruption unpunished, and repression prioritized over reform, economic anger becomes political anger. Thus, alongside economic slogans, calls for greater rights and systemic change emerge. This convergence makes each protest wave more dangerous for the government than the last. In conclusion, Iran’s protests are not anomalies. They are symptoms of unresolved structural crises. As long as the currency continues to collapse, inflation erodes livelihoods, unemployment remains high, and political grievances go unaddressed, unrest will keep resurfacing. Force and repression may silence the streets temporarily, but it cannot refill empty refrigerators, create jobs, or restore purchasing power. Without meaningful economic reform and political accountability, Iran’s cycles of protest will not end – they will only return with greater intensity, broader participation, and deeper consequences.

Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 05/2026
Mark Carney
Canada and Denmark are Allies and partners in our shared responsibility for the security and resilience of the Arctic. As I reaffirmed to PM Frederiksen today, Canada will always support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark, including Greenland. Together, we’ll keep working to secure peace in Ukraine and across Europe.

Senator Lindsey Graham:
https://x.com/i/status/2008791474717290764
To the Ayatollahs: you need to understand, if you keep killing your people who are demanding a better life, Donald J. Trump is going to kill you. Change is coming to Iran. It'll be the biggest change in the history of the Mideast to get rid of this Nazi regime. To the people of Iran, help is on the way.


Office of the President of Israel
welcomed to Jerusalem the largest-ever delegation of Japanese MPs to visit Israel.
During their meeting, President Herzog emphasized the importance of strengthening Israel-Japan ties in innovation, technology, science, security, tourism and many other fields.

Michael Young
The U.S. proposes that Israel and Syria establish a "joint economic zone", as a first step toward normalization. Familiar? It's the same blueprint for what the U.S. is trying to do between Lebanon and Israel. "This economic zone will include wind farms, agriculture, the best ski mountain in the Middle East and the Druze community that is the best at hospitality," a U.S. official said.

Michel Hajji Georgiou
For nearly a decade, the war in Yemen has been analyzed through a relatively stable prism: that of a confrontation between a fragile state and a Houthi uprising backed by the Iranian axis, on the basis of a military intervention led by an Arab coalition dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE united. This reading has been operative for a long time, considering the expansionist project that Tehran has been leading for nearly two decades. But after the severe uppercut aged to Iranian imperialism on the day after October 7, however, it does not allow to grasp the dynamics of the work anymore (... )
My analysis of the current situation in Yemen (if anyone is interested is here - in five languages.
https://levanttime.com/.../f2bf357b-e1db-49be-95a2...

Natalia ܢܐܬܐܠܝܐ
In parts of the world where some still can’t accept women in politics, they attack her personal life and weaponize rumors to silence her.
When a woman threatens the status quo, they don’t debate her work, they attack her morals. This has targeted Lebanese women in politics for years, so seeing it used now against Morgan Ortagus is no surprise. From woman to woman: @MorganOrtagus
stand firm. Your work speaks louder than their lies. Keep going.
#NataliaInMotion