English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  January 10/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
I know what kind of people you are, and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts
John 05/30-47: “I can do nothing on my own authority; I judge only as God tells me, so my judgment is right, because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants. “If I testify on my own behalf, what I say is not to be accepted as real proof. But there is someone else who testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true. John is the one to whom you sent your messengers, and he spoke on behalf of the truth. It is not that I must have a human witness; I say this only in order that you may be saved. John was like a lamp, burning and shining, and you were willing for a while to enjoy his light. But I have a witness on my behalf which is even greater than the witness that John gave: what I do, that is, the deeds my Father gave me to do, these speak on my behalf and show that the Father has sent me. And the Father, who sent me, also testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his face, and you do not keep his message in your hearts, for you do not believe in the one whom he sent. You study the Scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life. And these very Scriptures speak about me! Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life. “I am not looking for human praise. But I know what kind of people you are, and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. I have come with my Father’s authority, but you have not received me; when, however, someone comes with his own authority, you will receive him. You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me? Do not think, however, that I am the one who will accuse you to my Father. Moses, in whom you have put your hope, is the very one who will accuse you. If you had really believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say?”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 09-10/2026
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: A sovereign and independent interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni via Transparency News/
Israelis carry out more than 20 raids in south Lebanon, Bekaa region
While the era of "crisis containment" has ended for Israel and the era of uprooting and decisiveness has begun, Lebanon appears as a state in a state of political and military unconsciousness./Julie Abu Arraj/January 09/ 2026
Who Is Inviting Israel to Take the South?/Alfred Mady/January 09/2026
Trump comments on disarmament of Hamas and Hezbollah
Fresh Israeli airstrikes target south and east Lebanon
Israel seen as giving Lebanon a chance after arms monopoly announcement
Qassem says Hezbollah to continue 'cooperation' with Lebanese state and army
Berri dubs Trump 'emperor' who wants to control the world
Macron lauds Lebanon's arms monopoly statements, says plan's 2nd phase decisive
EU chief calls from Baabda for 'full' Hezbollah disarmament
Iran’s foreign minister accuses U.S., Israel of fueling protests
From heated statements to friendly smiles: Araghchi and Rajji meet in Beirut
Geagea: Hezbollah does not have the ability to confront anyone
Salam: Resistance role ended in 2000, only state and army can protect Lebanon today
Lebanon signs gas exploration deal with French, Qatari and Italian firms
France welcomes Lebanon progress in disarming Hezbollah
Lebanese pop star turned militant Fadel Shaker tells court he is innocent
Lebanon's financial recovery will rest on security and political reforms, minister says

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 09-10/2026
Khamenei calls protesters 'saboteurs', says 'arrogant' Trump will be 'overthrown'
Iran's rulers face legitimacy crisis amid spreading unrest
Iran is in big trouble’: US President Donald Trump
Nationwide internet shutdown' in Iran has now lasted 24 hours: Monitor
Defiant Khamenei insists ‘won’t back down’ in face of Iran protests
EU top diplomat says Iran authorities ‘afraid of own people’
France, UK, Germany condemn ‘killing of protestors’ in Iran
Iranians Are Protesting. The Pahlavi Pretender Can’t Save Them.
What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East
Netanyahu says wants Israel to cope without US aid within decade
Ceasefire quickly unravels after days of clashes between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters
Syria not expecting to join Abraham Accords, citing continued Israeli occupation: Minister
Syria’s information minister says SDF not taking tangible steps toward integration
Syria army warns will strike Kurdish district of Aleppo
Yemen’s STC dissolves itself, says group didn’t achieve intended aims
Yemen’s southern cause has ‘genuine path’ forward after STC dissolution: Saudi minister
Italy's Meloni rules out US military move on Greenland and urges stronger NATO role in Arctic
Syria not expecting to join Abraham Accords, citing continued Israeli occupation: Minister
Syria’s information minister says SDF not taking tangible steps toward integration
Syria army warns will strike Kurdish district of Aleppo
Yemen’s STC dissolves itself, says group didn’t achieve intended aims
Yemen’s southern cause has ‘genuine path’ forward after STC dissolution: Saudi minister
Venezuela looks to rebuild diplomatic ties with US
US says it seized another tanker that tried to break Venezuela blockade
China, Russia and Iran join South Africa for naval drills as tensions run high
Ukrainian nationals aboard seized tanker Bella-1, ambassador says

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 09-10/2026
Hamas, Red Cross search for last Gaza hostage’s body, IDF reports 14 ceasefire violations from December 19 to January 8/Samuel Ben-Ur & Aaron Goren/ FDD's Long War Journal/January 09/2026
New Activity at Iranian Nuclear Site Shows Determination To Rebuild Program/
Andrea Stricker/FDD- Policy Brief/January 09/2026
Question: What are appropriate reasons for missing church?/GotQuestions.org/January 09/2026
The Digital Services Act: A Mechanism of Mass Censorship/Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/January 09/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 09/2026

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 09-10/2026
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: A sovereign and independent interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni via Transparency News/Lebanon: Confrontation is being provoked, solutions are rejected, the state is stalling, and the decision has already been made.
Is Lebanon approaching a comprehensive settlement or an imminent military explosion?
Elias Bejjani: As always, the brilliant Dr. Charles Chartouni calls things by their names, based on a sovereign and national cultural background deeply rooted in his conscience, thought, practice, and testimony to the truth. With courage, he hits the nail on the head and exposes the cowardice and dhimmitude (subservience) of officials and rulers without equivocation.
Transparency News/January 09, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150937/
Are we facing new rounds of violence that will change the face of the Middle East? Has the expiration date of the Iranian regime and its regional proxies finally passed? In a fiery episode of the program "Politics and People" with journalist Patricia Samaha, Dr. Charles Chartouni joins from Washington to deliver a series of shocking stances. Chartouni analyzes the report of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, considering that the "mission is not accomplished" south of the Litani River as long as Hezbollah’s weapons remain. He also addresses the dramatic developments in Iran, Venezuela, and Syria, revealing an international dynamic led by the Trump administration to end what he calls "coupist regimes." Is Lebanon approaching a comprehensive settlement or an imminent military explosion? And what is the story of "Abu Omar" that sparked ridicule on the Lebanese street?
Episode Highlights by Timestamp:
00:00 Episode Introduction: Lebanon and the region on the brink of a volcano.
01:22 The legal pursuit of Charles Chartouni: A political accusation or a legal justification?
03:10 The Army Commander’s report: Why did it not satisfy the Israelis?
04:41 "The Fatal Illusion": Chartouni discusses the necessity of a military defeat for Hezbollah.
07:54 The collapse of the Iranian regime: Has zero hour begun in Tehran?
10:56 Surprise: "As an opposition, we will announce normalization with Israel."
14:40 The revolution inside Iran: Reza Pahlavi and the awaited democratic alternative.
26:37 From Venezuela to Beirut: How is Trump dragging "criminals" by their necks?
35:10 The future of Syria: Will "Al-Sharaa" succeed in building his legitimacy, or is partition coming?
40:40 The "Abu Omar" scandal: A reflection of the corruption within the Lebanese political class.

Israelis carry out more than 20 raids in south Lebanon, Bekaa region
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/January 09, 2026
BEIRUT: Israeli warplanes on Friday carried out more than 20 raids across Lebanon, targeting sites in the south and Northern Bekaa. Tel Aviv said the attacks were a response to an ongoing breach of the ceasefire agreement, and claimed “Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities in violation of the agreements between Lebanon and Israel.”The raids targeted the valleys between Houmin in Nabatieh and Deir Al-Zahrani north of the Litani River, in addition to Al-Aaishiyah, Al-Zagharin, Iklim Al-Tuffah, Kfarkila, Ain Qana, the Sajd Heights and Al-Rayhan. In addition, the Israeli army targeted the town of Al-Baissariyeh in Saida. Repeated airstrikes shook the eastern mountain range without prior warnings, targeting the upper parts of the Brital highlands in the Baalbek district of Northern Bekaa, and the Al-Jbour area in Western Bekaa. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused Iran-backed Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities, claiming the Israeli army attacked the group’s “targets and raided a manufacturing site, weapon depots and missile-launching pads used by Hezbollah.”In a post on social media, Adraee vowed that “the Israeli army will continue to work on removing any threat.”As part of Israel’s campaign — albeit at a reduced pace — an Israeli force penetrated the border village of Yaroun and destroyed a building in the Al-Bayader neighborhood before withdrawing, according to a Lebanese military source. An Israeli raid on Thursday targeted a car on the road between Zaita and Bnaafoul, resulting in one fatality. The latest incidents came as the Lebanese Army Command announced on Thursday the completion of the first phase of a plan to restrict weapons to state hands south of the Litani River. A plan to restrict weapons north of the river is set to be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet next month, as the military moves to contain weapons and prevent their smuggling, transfer, or use.
Iranian foreign minister
Amid the Israeli strikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is currently in Beirut, has held a series of meetings with Lebanese officials. Araghchi affirmed that Iran “supports Lebanon’s independence, unity and sovereignty,” and added that “defending the country is the Lebanese government’s responsibility.”He said: “Iran supports Hezbollah as a resistance group, but it does not interfere at all in its affairs, and any decision related to Lebanon is left to the party itself.” He described his visit to Lebanon as part of “strengthening and developing relationships between both countries.”Araghchi — who is visiting Beirut amid mass protests at home over government spending during a cost-of-living crisis — met Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, who had declined to receive him on a previous visit. He told him that “his country seeks to build a relationship with Lebanon based on amicability and mutual respect, within the framework of the two governments, with all their institutions and components.”He said that “a joint confrontation of challenges and risks requires continued dialogue and consultation despite differences in approaches to certain files,” stressing that “the unity of Lebanon’s sects under the authority of the Lebanese government would protect Lebanon and achieve its stability.”According to his media office, Rajji reaffirmed that “defending Lebanon is the (sole) responsibility of the Lebanese state.”He added: “When the state possesses its strategic decision-making power, holds the decision of war and peace, and confines weapons to its own hands, it can then request assistance from countries, including Iran.”Rajji also emphasized that “building a state capable of defending its land and its people cannot happen while there is an armed organization outside its authority.”
He addressed Araghchi by asking whether Tehran “would accept the presence of an illegal armed organization on its own territory.”Rajji called on Iran to engage in talks with Lebanon to find “a new approach to the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, drawing on Iran’s relationship with the party, so that these weapons do not become a pretext for weakening Lebanon.” He pointed out that “the Shiite community is not being targeted, and the only sustainable guarantee for it, and for the other communities, is unity, and being under the authority of the state and the rule of law.”He added: “Experience has shown that weapons have not been able to defend the Shiite community, or Lebanon and all its components.”Rajji urged his Iranian counterpart to “put a stop to the statements and stances of some Iranian officials, which are considered a blatant interference in Lebanese affairs.”
The European Council
The Israeli actions coincided with the arrival in Beirut of a delegation from the European Council headed by its President Antonio Costa, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was accompanied by an EU delegation. In remarks made while meeting Lebanese officials, Costa welcomed “the Lebanese army’s announcement that it has completed the first phase of the plan to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River.”During his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Costa reaffirmed “the commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” stressing that “there is no room for armed militias that undermine stability.”

While the era of "crisis containment" has ended for Israel and the era of uprooting and decisiveness has begun, Lebanon appears as a state in a state of political and military unconsciousness.
Julie Abu Arraj/January 09/ 2026
(Free Translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The Middle East is currently witnessing the birth of a new reality—one that does not recognize half-measures or accept fragile de-escalation policies. The primary driver of this transformation is the profound realization that post-October 7th Israel is fundamentally different from what preceded it; the era of "crisis containment" is over, replaced by an era of uprooting and strategic decisiveness. Israel has learned from the harsh lessons of the past that the policy of "patience" and accepting intermittent border skirmishes was a strategic loophole for which Israelis paid a heavy price in blood. That old doctrine jeopardized the state’s existence and allowed adversaries to build arsenals that threatened national security. Today, however, Israel is like a "lion awakened" from its slumber, shaking off the dust of hesitation and replacing skirmishes with decisive operations aimed at permanently shifting the balance of power.
In contrast, Lebanon emerges as a state that is politically and militarily unconscious. The Lebanese state is in a historical predicament: it is neither capable of confronting the formidable Israeli military machine—which is determined to eliminate northern threats—nor is it able to meet the stringent conditions imposed by the Trump administration to protect what remains of its sovereignty, chief among them being the "monopoly of arms" in the hands of official state institutions. It appears the world, with Israel at the forefront, has grown weary of a "patient" suffering from an immunity and decision-making deficiency—one who can neither recover independently nor accept international remedies to end the dominance of illegal weapons.
What are the features of this new reality in Lebanon?
The Expiration of Grace Periods: The deadlines granted to the Lebanese state to dismantle Hezbollah's arsenal and centralize arms have expired to no avail. This has left the Lebanese arena completely exposed to the option of Israeli military decisiveness.
Living in the Shadow of War: Lebanon cannot endure for long while breathing the dust of perpetual conflict. Deep divisions have rendered the state a paralyzed entity that refuses to see that the world has changed and that the old rules of the game were buried on October 7th.
The Israeli Resurgence: While Lebanon sinks into its divisions, Israel moves forward with a clear vision: there is no security as long as weapons exist outside the state's framework on its borders, and there will be no return to the failed policy of "containment."
The events of October 7th triggered a structural shift in the Israeli security doctrine, moving from a strategy of "conflict management" and "mowing the grass" to a strategy of "eradication" and reshaping the geopolitical landscape. This shift is no longer a temporary military reaction but a doctrine that views coexistence with border threats as an existential danger that can no longer be ignored.
In this landscape, the Lebanese state emerges as the weakest link; it is unable to exercise its sovereignty and, at the same time, refuses to adapt to the new international realities dictated by the Trump administration—most notably, ending the duality between legitimate state arms and militia weaponry. The absence of a national Lebanese decision has left the arena vulnerable to decisive options that no longer wait for internal consensus to mature, but are instead imposed as a fait accompli by the new balance of power.

Who Is Inviting Israel to Take the South?
Alfred Mady/January 09/2026
(Free Translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/150955/
Who, exactly, is extending an invitation to Israel to seize southern Lebanon?
Is it Hezbollah, which categorically refuses to relinquish its weapons while continuing to promise the “liberation of Jerusalem”—a promise that remains, at best, rhetorical?
Is it Iran, which dispatched Its FM Arakji who himself is burdened by a faltering regime back home—to reassure us that Tehran supports Hezbollah while allegedly refraining from interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs? A claim so implausible it borders on mockery.
Or is it the Lebanese government itself, which has opted to postpone the issue of disarmament for yet another month, as though time alone could resolve a question that has paralyzed the state for decades?
Yesterday, the Prime Minister Nawaf Salam introduced a new theory into this already fragile equation: the “restriction” of weapons to the South and the “absorption” of weapons in the North. Yet both concepts—restriction and absorption alike—were promptly and explicitly rejected by the United States and Israel, as stated by more than one official.
Despite this, the outcome is presented as though it were accidental: an unintentional “invitation” for Israel to take the South—without anyone having truly intended it.
But in reality, nothing here is accidental.
The game of nations has begun.
And it is being played, as always, by men who claim they did not know the rules.

Trump comments on disarmament of Hamas and Hezbollah
Naharnet/January 09/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced fresh remarks about the prospects of disarming Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. “They’ve made an agreement that they’re gonna disarm. We’re gonna have to assume that they’re going to, but you know it’s not their nature to disarm, it’s not exactly their nature,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News. “Hezbollah has been very bad in Lebanon, but overall I mean we have an amazing situation compared to how it was and we really do have peace in the Middle East,” Trump added.

Fresh Israeli airstrikes target south and east Lebanon
Agence France Presse/January 09/2026
Israeli airstrikes on Friday targeted several areas in south and east Lebanon, with the Israeli army claiming that they struck alleged Hezbollah sites, a day after the Lebanese Army said it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm the group in the south.
In the south, the strikes hit open areas near Kfarfila, Sujud, Houmine al-Fawqa and Deir al-Zahrani in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region and the al-Bissariyeh area near Sidon. The raids also targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa and the al-Jabbour hills in west Bekaa. The Israeli army said the strikes targeted “weapons depots and a weapons production site used by Hezbollah to rebuild and rearm its capabilities” as well as “launching sites and rocket launchers along with additional military buildings used by Hezbollah to advance terrorist plots against the IDF (Israeli army) and the State of Israel.” According to Al-Arabiya television, 30 airstrikes were carried out by Israel in total.
No casualties were immediately reported.
Under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel including two months of all-out war that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic, accusing the group of rearming.
Lebanon's army said Thursday it had "achieved the objectives of the first phase" of its plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area south of the Litani River -- around 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border -- with the intention to extend it to the rest of the country. Israel said the efforts were encouraging but not enough.
"The ceasefire agreement... states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed," the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. "Efforts made toward this end by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient," it added. Lebanese official media said a strike on Thursday killed one person near the southern city of Sidon, as Israel's army said it targeted a Hezbollah operative. Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River and have its military infrastructure dismantled in the evacuated areas.

Israel seen as giving Lebanon a chance after arms monopoly announcement
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Israel on Thursday called off a meeting for its security cabinet that was supposed to discuss a possible Israeli operation against Hezbollah, in a “notable development,” a media report said. “This is a meaningful signal that indicates an Israeli inclination to show patience in dealing with Lebanon and abide by the directions of President Donald Trump,” who had asked Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in their Florida meeting to “wait for what the Lebanese government will do” before waging any new operation in Lebanon, informed sources told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal.
Israel said Thursday that Lebanon's efforts to disarm Hezbollah were encouraging but "far from sufficient," after the Lebanese Army announced it had completed the first phase of disarming armed groups in the country. "The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Lebanon states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed," Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. "Efforts made toward this end by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient, as evidenced by Hezbollah's efforts to rearm and rebuild its terror infrastructure with Iranian support," it added. Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said after a Cabinet meeting that the army will start working on a plan for disarmament north of the Litani river that will be discussed by the government in February. He added that the army will also continue the process of weapons “containment” in other parts of Lebanon, meaning that they will not be allowed to be used or moved. The Lebanese military has been clearing tunnels, rocket-launching positions, and other structures since its disarmament proposal was approved by the government and went into effect in September. The government had set a deadline of the end of 2025 to clear the area south of the Litani River of non-state weapons. “The army confirms that its plan to restrict weapons has entered an advanced stage, after achieving the goals of the first phase effectively and tangibly on the ground,” the military statement read. “Work in the sector is ongoing until the unexploded ordnance and tunnels are cleared ... with the aim of preventing armed groups from irreversibly rebuilding their capabilities.”Officials have said the next stage of the disarmament plan is in segments of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the Awali rivers, which include Lebanon’s port city of Sidon, but they have not set a timeline for that phase.
Israel continues to strike Lebanon near daily and occupies five strategic hilltop points along the border, the only areas south of the Litani where the military said it has yet to control. Regular meetings have taken place between the Lebanese and the Israelis alongside the United States, France, and the U.N. peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, to monitor developments after the ceasefire. Lebanon’s cash-strapped military has since been gradually dispersing across wide areas of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the U.N.-demarcated “Blue Line” that separates the tiny country from Israel. The military has also been slowly confiscating weapons from armed Palestinian factions in refugee camps. Israel accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its battered military capacity and has said that the Lebanese military’s efforts are not sufficient, raising fears of a new escalation. Lebanon, meanwhile, said Israel's strikes and control of the hilltops were an obstacle to the efforts. Lebanon also hopes that disarming Hezbollah and other non-state groups will help to bring in money needed for reconstruction after the 2024 war. Hezbollah says it has been cooperative with the army in the south but will not discuss disarming elsewhere before Israel stops its strikes and withdraws from Lebanese territory.

Qassem says Hezbollah to continue 'cooperation' with Lebanese state and army
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has been visiting Lebanon since Thursday, Hezbollah said. The two men discussed “the events in the region and the world and their repercussions and impact on all of the region’s countries,” Hezbollah’s Media Relations Department said in a statement. Qassem talked about “the continuation of the American-Israel aggression and the Israeli enemy’s failure to abide by the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2024 despite Lebanon’s commitment and its implementation of its obligations south of te Litani River, which confirms the aggression’s expansionist intentions that were mentioned by (Israeli PM Benjamin) Netanyahu in his remarks about Greater Israel,” the statement said. “The Israeli enemy will not achieve its objectives from the continuation of the aggression amid the presence of this popular and resistant coherence, which is insisting on liberating the land and returning to the southern villages and towns,” Qassem said during the meeting. “We will continue to cooperate with the state and the army to expel occupation, halt the aggression, liberate the captives and achieve reconstruction and state building,” Qassem added. Araghchi for his part said that Iran “wants to strengthen the relation with Lebanon” and that it will remain “resilient” in the face of the current challenges despite “the siege and the sanctions.”

Berri dubs Trump 'emperor' who wants to control the world
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has accused the U.S. of sidelining France from the ceasefire monitoring committee in order to monopolize the entire decision-making in the committee alongside Israel.The U.S.-led committee monitoring the ceasefire, which includes representatives from the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), had met this Wednesday. The meeting in Naqoura in south Lebanon did not include civilians, which Speaker Berri described as a result of the American attempt to monopolize the decisions of the committee. Berri described U.S. President Donald Trump as an "emperor". He told Asas Media, in remarks published Friday, that "in the world today, there is only one state and only one Emperor." "We live in a world ruled by Julius Caesar." Last month, a high-level U.N. Security Council delegation visited Lebanon and met with Berri. Berri said all the ambassadors of the delegation, except the American Ambassador, supported him when he explained Lebanon's commitment to the ceasefire agreement. Berri, who said the world was ruled by a "Caesar", linked the Israeli near daily attacks to the U.S.' wish to dominate the world and control energy, especially after the United States' seizure of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and its quest for Venezuela, Canada and Russia's oil.

Macron lauds Lebanon's arms monopoly statements, says plan's 2nd phase decisive
Naharnet/January 09/2026
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he welcomes “the encouraging announcements by the Lebanese authorities to restore the State’s monopoly on weapons,” a day after the Lebanese Army announced the completion of the first phase of its arms monopolization plan. “This process must be pursued resolutely. The second phase of the plan will be a decisive step,” Macron said in a post on X. “The ceasefire agreement must be strictly respected by all parties. Lebanon’s sovereignty must be fully restored,” Macron added, noting that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have his “full support” and that the Lebanese people “can count” on France “Alongside its partners, France will remain fully engaged in support of Lebanon and its Armed Forces. An international conference will soon be held in Paris to provide them with the concrete means to guarantee this sovereignty,” the French president added.

EU chief calls from Baabda for 'full' Hezbollah disarmament
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Top officials from the European Union will visit Lebanon Friday, where the army a day earlier announced it had completed the first stage of a plan to remove weapons from nonstate groups, including Hezbollah. The visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council António Costa was part of a regional tour. Von der Leyen called for the full disarmament of Hezbollah and called on Lebanon and Israel to respect the ceasefire deal. "It is crucial that the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is fully respected by all parties," she said after meeting Aoun in Baabda. The delegation was Thursday in Jordan and met Friday in Syria with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Iran’s foreign minister accuses U.S., Israel of fueling protests
Dalal Saoud/United Press International/January 9, 2026
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel on Friday of "direct involvement" in his country's ongoing anti-government street protests and of attempting to turn them violent, while dismissing their military intervention as "a weak possibility."Speaking during a news conference after meeting with Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri, Araghchi said the current wave of demonstrations in Iran was similar, "to a large extent," to the popular protests that broke out in Lebanon in 2019, when the collapse of the national currency and rising prices of hard currencies triggered widespread unrest. He said the government in Tehran was seeking to "avoid this problem" and resolve it through dialogue. "What differs this time are statements by American and Israeli officials indicating their direct involvement and interference in the disturbances in Iran," he said. "They are trying hard to turn these peaceful protests into violence." He cited, as an example, Mike Pompeo, the former U.S. CIA director and secretary of state, who addressed Iranian protesters in a post on X on Jan., saying: "Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them ...." According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights non-governmental organization, at least 51 protesters, including nine children under 18, have been killed, hundreds injured, and more than 2,200 detained in the latest round of nationwide protests in Iran.The unrest, which began Dec. 28 in Tehran's bazaar over poor economic conditions, quickly spread to other parts of the country. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran and "come to the rescue" of protesters if they are harmed by security forces. Araghchi dismissed as "slim and weak" the possibility of U.S.-Israeli military intervention in his country, saying they had tried before -- referring to the 12-day war in June 2025 -- and that "it was a total failure." He added that if they were to repeat it, "the results would be the same."The visiting foreign minister, who met with several Lebanese officials, said his two-day visit to Beirut was meant to consolidate bilateral political, economic and cultural ties and discuss how to confront mounting Israeli threats that "menace all the people of the region.""We are trying to open a new page in our relations ... one that would serve and respect our mutual interests," Araghchi said, expressing hope that his visit would mark the start of a new chapter and a "launching point" for Iran-Lebanon ties.
Lebanon's new leaders, who have been in power for a year, have adopted bold decisions concerning Hezbollah, the country's most powerful militant group, which has been financed and armed by Iran for more than four decades. Chief among these was a decision to assert the country's sovereignty and contain weapons --meaning disarming Hezbollah -- in line with the Nov. 27, 2024, cease-fire agreement brokered by the United States and France to end 14 months of war with Israel. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji went a step further by asking Araghchi during their meeting early Friday whether Tehran "accepts the presence of an illegal armed organization on its territory" -- similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Rajji said defending Lebanon is the responsibility of the Lebanese state, but this cannot happen in the presence of "an armed organization outside its authority."He called on Iran to discuss with Lebanon "a new approach regarding Hezbollah's weapons," so that they do not become "a pretext to weaken Lebanon."Araghchi replied that Iran supports Hezbollah "as a resistance group, but it does not interfere in its affairs, and any decision concerning Lebanon is left to the party itself."He added, however, that dialogue between the two countries is necessary to confront "challenges and risks" arising from differences in their approach "to certain issues."Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized, in separate statements after talks with the visiting Iranian official, the importance of establishing sound relations with Iran, based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.Araghchi, who also met with Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem, dismissed threats to "deprive his country of its right to peaceful nuclear energy or to develop defensive capabilities" -- conditions set by the United States and Israel to prevent an attack on Iran. He confirmed that Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi is scheduled to visit Tehran on Saturday and, when asked by a reporter whether he would bring a new U.S. proposal for negotiations, said he was "waiting to see whether he is carrying any letter or proposal from any party."On Syria, Araghchi said Iran supports its sovereignty and unity and rejects any measures aimed at partitioning the country or occupying its territories. "Syria's stability is important for all countries in the region," he added, noting that the Syrian authorities should understand that any rapprochement with the "Israeli Zionist" entity is not in Damascus' interest and that normalization would lead to "Zionist conspiracies" against the Arab nation. Over the past year, Syria and Israel have held intermittent negotiations aimed at reaching a security agreement to stabilize their shared border, prevent repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and potentially pave the way for future diplomatic normalization.

From heated statements to friendly smiles: Araghchi and Rajji meet in Beirut
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived Thursday in Beirut at a crucial time, met Friday with President Joseph Aoun and his counterpart Youssef Rajji. Araghchi's visit comes as Lebanon's army announced it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani river. He said the "primary objective" of his two-day trip was to consult with officials about the "serious challenges and threats" facing the region "by the Zionist regime", referring to Israel. He called Rajji "my brother and counterpart", in an apparent attempt to extend an olive branch to Rajji who had in December refused Araghchi's invitation to visit Iran, and said he'd rather meet with him in a "neutral" third country. In response Rajji called Araghchi a "friend" despite differences in viewpoints. Rajji and Araghchi agreed during the meeting that protecting Lebanon is the state's responsibility, with Rajji urging Araghchi to only support the state and calling on Iranian officials to stop voicing statements that show a flagrant interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs. The Lebanese foreign minister asked his counterpart if Iran would accept an illegal armed organization in its territories, while Araghchi said that Iran supports Hezbollah as a resistance but does not interfere in its decisions. Rajji called on Iran to engage in talks with Lebanon to find "a new approach to the issue of Hezbollah's weapons, drawing on Iran's relationship with the party, so that these weapons do not become a pretext for weakening Lebanon". Aoun who later met Araghchi said Lebanon looks forward to economic cooperation with Iran. After arriving on Thursday, Araghchi visited the mausoleum of former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a massive Israeli air strike on south Beirut in September 2024. Iran has long wielded substantial influence in Lebanon by funding and arming Hezbollah, but as the balance of power shifted since the recent conflict, officials have been more critical towards Tehran. Last August, Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, with the prime minister saying Beirut would "tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat" after Tehran voiced opposition to plans to disarm Hezbollah. Araghchi also meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and will meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut. After meeting Berri, the Iranian minister said his country wishes to open a new page of relations with Lebanon across various fields, in a way that serves the mutual interests of both countries.

Geagea: Hezbollah does not have the ability to confront anyone
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that, based on his talks with American officials, he can tell that what the U.S. wants for Lebanon is the establishment of an actual state that will sign a peace agreement with Israel. Geagea told Sky News Arabia, in an interview published Thursday, that an actual state cannot be built unless Hezbollah is disarmed, and that Hezbollah can be disarmed without resorting to force, because the group is currently weakened and "does not have the ability to confront anyone".He added that he supports President Joseph Aoun's approach. "I support the president's approach that force should only be the last resort," he said.

Salam: Resistance role ended in 2000, only state and army can protect Lebanon today
Naharnet/January 09/2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated overnight that the role of the Resistance (Hezbollah) had ended in 2000 with the liberation of south Lebanon from Israeli occupation, asserting that "what protects Lebanon today is the State and the Lebanese Army.”“We want one state for all Lebanese; the decision of war and peace must be in the hands of the State alone, and the exclusivity of arms must serve all citizens and not be directed against anyone," Salam added, in an interview on MTV. Salam clarified: "We did not invent the issue of the ‘exclusivity of arms’ in this government; it is mentioned in the Taif Agreement under the phrase ‘the State extending its authority over all Lebanese territories by means of its own forces.’" He added: "The government has achieved a lot in administration through appointments and regulatory bodies, as well as regarding the exclusivity of arms and reclaiming the decision of war and peace. This was evident in today’s cabinet session, as for the first time, the army has full authority south of the Litani River."Salam continued by saying that the State is “working on organizing a conference to support the army in Paris this February, which is vital to enhancing its capabilities through support from brotherly and friendly nations.”“In light of these resources, the army will be able to move forward with its plan to restrict arms,” the premier added.

Lebanon signs gas exploration deal with French, Qatari and Italian firms
Associated Press/January 09/2026
A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Italy’s Eni on Friday signed with Lebanonj an agreement for gas exploration in Block 8 off the Lebanese coast. The ceremony took place this morning at the Grand Serail. The agreement was signed on the Lebanese side by Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi. "We return today to sign the Exploration and Production Agreement for Block 8. Under this agreement, the consortium will conduct a 3D seismic survey covering 1,200 km² in this block. This will pave the way for drilling an exploratory well during the second exploration period, based on the results of the data analysis," said Gaby Daaboul, the head of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration. Daabul emphasized that Lebanon aims to continue its exploration journey by promoting unlicensed blocks to achieve a commercial discovery that would bolster the national economy. He noted that the Ministry and the LPA are working internally to modernize the rules and conditions for granting exclusive petroleum licenses in offshore waters, while also working with parliament on legislation for onshore exploration. Following the signing, Minister Saddi addressed reporters by saying: "This step reaffirms the consortium's commitment to continuing exploration activities in Lebanon despite all challenges, reflecting continued confidence in Lebanon’s offshore petroleum potential."He continued: "We look forward to the consortium preparing and executing the 3D seismic survey as soon as possible to enhance our geological knowledge of Block 8. Meanwhile, we are working on preparing the fourth licensing round and updating the tender specifications to attract more international companies."
Responding to a question regarding the results of previous activities, Saddi clarified: "Regarding Block 9, Lebanon has received an official technical report. Oil companies do not spend tens of millions of dollars wishing to find nothing; it is in their interest to find resources. It happened that the specific spot drilled in Block 9 did not yield oil, but the detailed report exists, and a summary is available via the LPA website."
He concluded by noting that the LPA will present proposed amendments to the tender documents in about a month to increase the number of bidding companies, adding that "stability in Lebanon and the region" remains a crucial factor for success.
Cash-strapped Lebanon hopes that future gas discoveries will help the small Mideast nation pull itself out of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. In 2017, Lebanon approved licenses for France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s ENI and Russia’s Novatek to move forward with offshore oil and gas development for two of 10 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea, including one that was at the time in a disputed part with neighboring Israel. The companies did not find viable amounts of oil and gas in one of the blocks north of Beirut, and drilling in another in the south was repeatedly postponed because of the maritime border dispute with Israel. Lebanon and Israel later signed a deal over their maritime border in 2022. In August 2023, an offshore drilling rig began operations in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon’s coast. That did not give positive results, but Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said in a statement that they will keep trying in other areas. “We remain committed to pursue our exploration activities in Lebanon,” said Pouyanné. "We will now focus our efforts on Block 8, together with our partners Eni and QatarEnergy and in close cooperation with Lebanese authorities.” In January 2023, Lebanon, ENI, TotalEnergies and state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy signed an agreement in which the Qatari firm replaced Novatek. Under the deal, Qatar Energy takes Novatek’s 20% stake in addition to 5% each from ENI and TotalEnergies, leaving the Arab company with a total stake of 30%. TotalEnergies and ENI will each have 35% stakes.

France welcomes Lebanon progress in disarming Hezbollah
Naharnet/January 09/2026
France has welcomed Lebanon's announcement that the first phase of the army's plan to disarm Hezbollah in south Lebanon has been completed. On Thursday, after the army leadership briefed the cabinet on progress on the disarmament plan, Information Minister Paul Morcos said the government emphasized the need to continue implementing the plan "as quickly as possible". He said a plan for the disarmament north of the Litani is to be presented to cabinet in February. "This step marks a significant step in the restoration of the sovereignty of the Lebanese State over its entire territory and shows the Lebanese authorities' compliance with the commitments made," the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement. France urged the Lebanese authorities to move to the second phase of the plan and called on Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could lead to an escalation. Lebanon's army had said it had "achieved the objectives of the first phase" of its plan, covering the area south of the Litani River with the intention to extend it to the rest of the country. In a statement, it noted "the exception of territory and positions still occupied by Israel" near the border. Under heavy U.S. pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was badly weakened after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems "strategic", accusing the group of rearming. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Thursday in response to the Lebanese army statement that the ceasefire "states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed" and that the efforts by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are "an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient." The French foreign ministry reaffirmed in its statement France's constant support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and its willingness to organize an international conference in support of the Lebanese army. The second phase of the army's plan is to cover the rest of the country's south up to the Awali river, near Sidon. President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressed Thursday their "full support" for the army's announcement, with Aoun urging the international community to assist Lebanon in implementing the ceasefire deal and hasten support for the Lebanese army.Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, said on X that the army's announcement was "undeniable progress".

Lebanese pop star turned militant Fadel Shaker tells court he is innocent
Associated Press/January 09/2026
A Lebanese pop star turned Islamic militant told a military court Thursday that he is innocent and did not take part in battles against the Lebanese army or fund a radical cleric, judicial officials said. Fadel Shaker handed himself over to the country's military intelligence service in early October, 12 years after going on the run and hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the port city of Sidon. Shaker made his first appearance at Beirut's Military Tribunal Thursday and was questioned over cases including funding armed groups, statements critical of the army that he allegedly made to an Arabic-language newspaper, and whether he played a role in 2013 clashes in south Lebanon that killed 18 soldiers, five judicial officials said. Shaker said during his trial that he only got close to radical Sunni Muslim cleric Ahmad al-Assir after receiving threats from the militant Hezbollah group and supporters of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. Shaker added that his house was set on fire and his money stolen, forcing him to flee to Ein el-Hilweh for safety, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the ongoing trial to the media. Shaker also said that there were disagreements between him and al-Assir before the 2013 clashes broke out in Sidon. Shaker had been on the run since the bloody street clashes between Sunni Muslim militants loyal to al-Assir and the Lebanese army in June 2013. He was tried in absentia and sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2020 for providing support to a "terrorist group."He is on trial again because authorities dropped the sentences he received previously after his surrender.
Shaker had repeatedly denied playing any role in the clashes in Sidon and said he never advocated bloodshed. The 2013 shootout deepened sectarian tensions in Lebanon between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. In a video uploaded to YouTube during those clashes, a bearded Shaker called his enemies pigs and dogs and taunted the military, saying "we have two rotting corpses that we snatched from you yesterday." Shaker was referring to two pro-Hezbollah fighters who were killed in the clashes. Shaker became a pop star throughout the Arab world in 2002 with a smash hit. Almost 10 years later, he fell under the influence of al-Assir and shocked fans by turning up next to the hard-line cleric at rallies. He later said that he was giving up singing to become closer to God.In July, Shaker, along with his son Mohammad, released a new song that went viral throughout the Arab world and got over 166 million views of YouTube.

Lebanon's financial recovery will rest on security and political reforms, minister says
Associated Press/January 09/2026
Lebanon's moves to remove weapons from all non-state groups and assert full state control are as important as financial reforms if the economy is to recover after years of crisis, the economy minister said Thursday. "You need economic reforms, but you also need security and political reforms," Amer Bisat told The Associated Press after a cabinet session in which the Lebanese military reported progress on a plan to disarm Hezbollah and non-state groups and expand deployment in southern Lebanon. "We're moving, and we're moving fairly decisively and clearly in that direction," he said, adding that asserting full sovereignty to boost investor confidence goes beyond disarmament and military deployment in the south. "(It) is also the control of the borders, control of the airport, control over smuggling, money-laundering, terrorist activities," said Bisat. Lebanon's military said Thursday it has completed the first phase of the plan, though Israel maintains that Hezbollah is still present and rearming in areas the army said it now fully controls. Israel and Hezbollah's monthslong war in 2024 battered large swaths of the country and set it back the further economically after years of crisis. The World Bank estimates $11 billion in damages and economic losses from the conflict. The country fell into a protracted financial crisis in 2019 after decades of corruption and mismanagement. Bisat is a member of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's reformist government which was appointed last year with a mandate to reform the country's banks and make the country's crippled economy viable again. For years, the government has stalled on making wide-reaching reforms that could implicate the country's wide network of cronies. However, western countries and wealthy Gulf Arab monarchies that once poured large sums of money into the country, say that investment and substantial help won't come without economic and security reforms. Years of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout have failed to produce a deal. "We have a credibility gap, we need an international framework to help us solve our problems," Bisat said. "The days in which people help us without us doing our homework are gone."
Bisat is among a slim majority of cabinet ministers, alongside Salam, who last month endorsed a draft fiscal gap law to determine the extent of losses — estimated to be tens of billions of dollars — suffered by Lebanese banks during the country's financial meltdown in 2019 and provide a mechanism to return depositors' funds that were wiped out at the time. The draft law has been criticized from all sides and it is unclear whether it will be passed by the parliament. "This is an extremely important piece of legislation, without which this economy just will not be able to take off," said Bisat, who insisted that the law is not "Biblical" but a framework to start serious discussions. "This problem is extremely complicated financially. The size of the gap is very large."
Bisat sees economic opportunities globally, especially with Gulf countries that are slowly rebuilding ties with Beirut after previously cutting them to push back against Hezbollah's influence in the country. He also cites regional changes, notably the downfall of the Assad dynasty in Syria, and wealthy Gulf states' appetite in boosting international investments as they diversify their economies, as further incentive for Lebanon to accelerate reforms. But none of these opportunities will materialize without reforms to restructure the banks and tackle corruption. "Waiting is not an option. Precisely because time is not our friend," the minister said.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 09-10/2026
Khamenei calls protesters 'saboteurs', says 'arrogant' Trump will be 'overthrown'
Agence France Presse/January 09/2026
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted that the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of protesters who he called "vandals" and "saboteurs", in a speech broadcast on state TV. Speaking to supporters in his first comments on the escalating protests since January 3, Khamenei said U.S. President Donald Trump's hands "are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians" and predicted the "arrogant" U.S. leader would be "overthrown" like the imperial dynasty that ruled Iran up to the 1979 revolution.

Iran's rulers face legitimacy crisis amid spreading unrest
Parisa Hafezi/Reuters/January 09/2026
DUBAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - With Iran's anti-government unrest evolving rapidly and foreign pressure mounting, the clerical establishment appears unable, for now, to tackle what has become a crisis of legitimacy at the heart of the Islamic Republic. The demonstrations, which began in Tehran last month, have spread to all of Iran's 31 provinces but have yet to reach the scale of the 2022-3 unrest sparked by ​the death of Mahsa Amini while in detention for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes. Starting in Tehran with shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar angered by a sharp slide in the rial currency, the latest protests now involve ‌others - mainly young men rather than the women and girls who played a key role at the Amini protests. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), has reported at least 34 protesters and four security personnel killed, and 2,200 arrested during the unrest, which analysts say highlights a deeper disillusionment ‌with the Shi'ite status quo. Iran suffered a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday, which internet monitoring group NetBlocks said extended into Friday. It coincided with calls from abroad for more protests from Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last shah who was toppled in the 1979 Islamic revolution. "The collapse is not just of the rial, but of trust," said Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. Authorities have tried to maintain a dual approach to the unrest, saying protests over the economy are legitimate and will be met by dialogue, while meeting some demonstrations with tear gas amid violent street confrontations.Nearly five decades after the Islamic Revolution, Iran's religious rulers are struggling to bridge the gap between their priorities and the expectations of ⁠a young society. "I just want to live a peaceful, normal life … Instead, they (the rulers) ‌insist on a nuclear program, supporting armed groups in the region, and maintaining hostility toward the United States," Mina, 25, told Reuters by phone from Kuhdasht in the western Lorestan province."Those policies may have made sense in 1979, but not today. The world has changed,” said the jobless university graduate. A former senior official from the establishment's reformist wing said the ‍Islamic Republic's core ideological pillars — from enforced dress codes to foreign policy choices - did not resonate with those under 30 - nearly half the population. "The younger generation no longer believes in revolutionary slogans — it wants to live freely," he said. The hijab, a flashpoint during the Amini protests, is now being enforced selectively. Many Iranian women now openly refuse to wear it in public places - breaking with a tradition which has long defined the Islamic Republic. In the ongoing protests, many protesters are venting anger over Tehran's support for militants in the region, ​chanting slogans such as "Not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran," signalling frustration at the establishment's priorities. Tehran's regional sway has been weakened by Israel's attacks on its proxies - from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in ‌Yemen and militias in Iraq - as well as by the ousting of Iran's close ally, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In a video shared on X and verified by Reuters, protesters in the second-most-populated city of Mashhad, in the northeast, were seen bringing a large Iranian flag down from a pole and tearing it up.
People clashed with security forces in Tehran's Grand Bazaar and cheering protesters marched through Abdanan, a city in southwestern Ilam province, other videos verified by Reuters this week showed. In a video from the northeastern city of Gonabad, which Reuters was unable to verify, young men were seen rushing out of a seminary mosque to join a large crowd of protesters cheering them on in an apparent revolt against the clergy.
NO EASY WAY OUT FOR IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER
Vatanka from the Washington-based Middle East Institute said the Iranian clerical system had survived repeated protest cycles by repression and tactical concessions but the strategy was reaching its limits. "Change now looks inevitable; regime collapse is possible ⁠but not guaranteed," he said.In other countries in the region such as Syria, Libya and Iraq, longtime leaders only fell after a combination ​of protests and military intervention. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he might come to the aid of Iranian protesters if security forces fire on ​them. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go," he posted, without elaborating, on January 2, seven months after Israeli and U.S. forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, facing one of the most precarious moments of his decades-long rule, responded by vowing Iran "will not yield to the enemy."
The former Iranian official said there is no easy way out ‍for the 86-year-old leader, whose decades-old policies of building proxies, evading ⁠sanctions and advancing nuclear and missile programs appear to be unravelling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the protests, calling them "a decisive moment in which the Iranian people take their futures into their hands".Inside Iran, opinions are divided on whether foreign military intervention is imminent or possible and even firm government critics question whether it is desirable. "Enough is enough. For 50 years this regime has been ruling my country. Look at the result. ⁠We are poor, isolated and frustrated," said a 31-year-old man in the central city of Isfahan on condition of anonymity. Asked whether he supported foreign intervention, he replied: "No. I don't want my country to suffer military strikes again. Our people have endured enough. We want peace and friendship with the ‌world — without the Islamic Republic."Exiled opponents of the Islamic Republic, themselves deeply divided, think their moment to bring down the establishment may be close at hand and have called for more protests. But how ‌far they enjoy any support inside the country is uncertain.
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Michael Perry)

Iran is in big trouble’: US President Donald Trump
Al Arabiya English/10 January/2026
US President Donald Trump said Friday that “Iran is in big trouble” after anti-government protests rocked the country for consecutive days. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump told reporters after meeting US oil company executives. Trump reiterated previous threats to the Iranian authorities not to shoot at protesters. He said the US was watching the situation very carefully, warning, “We will get involved. We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts.”But he quickly added that that didn’t mean boots on the ground. Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Friday insisted the Islamic Republic would “not back down” in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two-week movement that has shaken the clerical authorities. Chanting slogans including “death to the dictator” and setting fire to official buildings, crowds of people opposed to the leadership have marched through major cities. Trump called the protests “pretty incredible” and an “amazing thing to watch.”

Nationwide internet shutdown' in Iran has now lasted 24 hours: Monitor
AFP, Paris/09 January/2026
An internet blackout implemented by the Iranian authorities during major protests has now lasted 24 hours, internet freedom monitor Netblocks said on Friday. “It has now been 24 hours since Iran implemented a nationwide internet shutdown, with connectivity flatlining at 1 percent of ordinary levels,” the organization said in a post on X. Meanwhile, a rights group said more than 50 protesters have been killed in nearly two weeks of demonstrations in Iran sparked by anger over the rising cost of living. “At least 51 protesters, including nine children under the age of 18, have been killed and hundreds more injured in the first thirteen days of the new round of nationwide protests in Iran,” said the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, raising a previous toll of 45 issued the day earlier.

Defiant Khamenei insists ‘won’t back down’ in face of Iran protests
AFP/09 January/2026
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic Republic would “not back down” in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two-week movement that has shaken the clerical authorities. Chanting slogans including “death to the dictator” and setting fire to official buildings, crowds of people opposed to the leadership marched through major cities late Thursday. Internet monitor Netblocks said authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout and added early Friday that the country has “now been offline for 12 hours... in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests.”The demonstrations represent one of the biggest challenges yet to the Islamic Republic in its over four-and-a-half decades of existence, with protesters openly calling for an end to its theocratic rule. But Khamenei struck a defiant tone in his first comments on the protests that have been escalating since January 3, calling the demonstrators “vandals” and “saboteurs,” in a speech broadcast on state TV. Khamenei said US President Donald Trump’s hands “are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians,” in apparent reference to Israel’s June war against the Islamic Republic which the US supported and joined with strikes of its own. He predicted the “arrogant” US leader would be “overthrown” like the imperial dynasty that ruled Iran up to the 1979 revolution. “Last night in Tehran, a bunch of vandals came and destroyed a building that belongs to them to please the US president,” he said in an address to supporters, as men and women in the audience chanted the mantra of “death to America.” “Everyone knows the Islamic republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, it will not back down in the face of saboteurs.”Trump said late Thursday that “enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible” and warned that if the Iranian authorities responded by killing protesters, “we’re going to hit them very hard. We’re ready to do it.”In the Fox News interview, Trump went as far as to suggest 86-year-old Khamenei may be looking to leave Iran. “He’s looking to go someplace,” he said.
‘Red line’
The son of the shah of Iran ousted by the 1979 Islamic Revolution, US-based Reza Pahlavi, said the rallies showed how “a massive crowd forces the repressive forces to retreat” and called for even bigger protests Friday evening. But judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned that punishment of “rioters” would be “decisive, the maximum and without any legal leniency.”Quoted by state TV, he said a district prosecutor in the town of Esfarayen in eastern Iran and several members of security forces had been killed late Thursday in the protests. The intelligence branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the security force entrusted with ensuring the preservation of the Islamic Republic, said the “continuation of this situation is unacceptable” and protecting the revolution was its “red line.” AFP verified videos showing crowds of people filling a part of the Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard late on Thursday. The crowd could be heard chanting “death to the dictator” in reference to Khamenei, who has ruled the Islamic Republic since 1989. Other videos showed significant protests in other cities, including Tabriz in the north and the holy city of Mashhad in the east, as well as the Kurdish-populated west of the country, including the regional hub Kermanshah. Several videos showed protesters setting fire to the entrance to the regional branch of state television in the central city of Isfahan. It was not immediately possible to verify the images. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV on Friday broadcast images of thousands of people attending counter-protests and brandishing slogans in favor of the authorities in some Iranian cities.
‘Entrenched as state policy’
The protests late Thursday were the biggest in Iran since 2022-2023 rallies nationwide sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Rights groups have accused authorities of firing on protesters in the current demonstrations, killing at least 45 people according to Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR). The Haalvsh rights group, which focuses on the Baluch Sunni minority in the southeast, said security forces fired on protesters in Zahedan, the main city of Sistan-Baluchistan province, after Friday prayers, causing an unspecified number of casualties. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint statement that since the start of the protests on December 28, security forces “have unlawfully used rifles, shotguns loaded with metal pellets, water cannon, tear gas and beatings to disperse, intimidate and punish largely peaceful protesters.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “shutting down the internet while violently suppressing protests exposes a regime afraid of its own people.”

EU top diplomat says Iran authorities ‘afraid of own people’
AFP, Brussels/09 January/2026
The European Union’s top diplomat on Friday condemned the “heavy-handed” response by Iranian authorities to protests, as Brussels demanded internet access be restored in the country. “The Iranian people are fighting for their future. By ignoring their rightful demands, the regime shows its true colors,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X. “Images from Tehran reveal a disproportionate and heavy-handed response by the security forces.”She said that “any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.”“Shutting down the internet while violently suppressing protests exposes a regime afraid of its own people,” Kallas wrote. Earlier an EU spokesman had called on the authorities to “uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and to restore access to the internet for all.”Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic Republic’s authorities would “not back down” in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two-week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living. Internet monitor Netblocks said authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout and added early Friday that the country has “now been offline for 12 hours... in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests.”

France, UK, Germany condemn ‘killing of protestors’ in Iran
AFP/09 January/2026
The leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Germany on Friday condemned what they described as the “killing of protestors” in Iran, urging the authorities to “exercise restraint.”“We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protestors,” French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a joint statement.

Iranians Are Protesting. The Pahlavi Pretender Can’t Save Them.
Bobby Ghosh/Times/January 9, 2026
For 12 days now, protests fueled by a deepening economic crises have convulsed Iran. Demonstrators have filled the streets in Tehran, the capital, but also in smaller cities and towns far from the political and economic centers. The sites of protest include small cities such as Abadan and the Kurdish-majority Malekshahi in the southwestern Ilam province, where economic grievances, unemployment, and state neglect are stark. In eight provinces, at least 28 protesters have been killed by Iranian forces, according to estimates by Amnesty International. Iranian government has blocked access to internet and doubled down on repressive measures against protesters. Far from the desperate, ignored towns and cities of Iran, a familiar delusion has gripped Western observers: Perhaps Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed shah of Iran, who presents himself as the crown prince in exile, can lead Iran’s democratic transition if the Islamic Republic falls. The Pahlavi pretender himself certainly thinks so. After waiting for the protests to achieve international headlines, he has begun issuing statements and giving interviews. He has called for coordinated demonstrations, promised a smooth transition, and assured Iranians that he is ready to lead. His message is clear: I am your man.
The Chalabi template
Twenty-three years ago, another exiled pretender was being groomed by Western powers to lead a Middle Eastern nation into democracy: Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi banker-turned-opposition-leader, had everything the Pahlavi pretender lacks—and still failed spectacularly. The comparison isn’t just instructive; it’s essential for anyone tempted to pin their hopes on the shah’s son. Chalabi arrived at regime change with sterling credentials—at least on paper. The Iraqi National Congress (INC) he led united Kurds, Sunnis, and Shias under one umbrella. He commanded serious financial resources, receiving over $100 million from the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1990s alone and another $97 million after Congress passed the Iraq Liberation Act in 1998. His Rolodex was the envy of any exile politician: Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney. He had the ear of The New York Times. He had boots on the ground in northern Iraq’s Kurdish regions, where INC forces operated for years. Most importantly, Chalabi had what Pahlavi can only dream of: the full backing of an American invasion force prepared to topple the regime and install him in power. And yet, when Iraqis finally got to vote in 2005, Chalabi’s party won less than 0.5% of votes, and failed to win a single seat in parliament. The man once dubbed “the George Washington of Iraq” by neoconservative admirers ended his political career widely regarded as the least trustworthy figure in Iraqi politics—a remarkable achievement in a crowded field.
The Pahlavi deficit
Now consider what Reza Pahlavi brings to Iran’s moment of upheaval. He has no meaningful organization inside Iran. A Brookings Institution report in 2009 put it bluntly that Pahlavi lacked an "organized following" because there was no serious "monarchist movement" in the country. That assessment remains valid. His Phoenix Project and Munich Convergence Summit amount to theater of exiles—impressive press conferences that command no street-level organization where it matters. Pahlavi has no substantial funding and operates on donations from diaspora Iranians. There’s no equivalent of the Iraq Liberation Act shoveling money his way. He and his supporters claim he has established a secure platform, where 50,000 Iranian officials have registered to defect and coordinate the toppling of the Islamic Republic. The claims, unverifiable and frankly implausible, echo Chalabi’s fantastical assertions about Iraqi army units ready to desert Saddam. He has no ground game. Chalabi at least had Kurdish peshmerga willing to work with his forces. Pahlavi has been outside Iran for 48 years—longer than the Islamic Republic has existed. He has lived in the United States since he was 17. He is a stranger in his own country. And crucially, he has no invasion force ready to install him. Whatever President Trump’s threats, American boots aren’t coming to Iran’s rescue. If anything, the U.S. involvement would be the kiss of death for any opposition figure. The most damning similarity between Chalabi and Pahlavi is the legitimacy deficit. Chalabi failed not because he lacked American support but because Iraqis didn’t want him. He was seen, correctly, as an American creation—a man who had spent decades outside Iraq, spoke Arabic with an American accent, and embodied foreign interference rather than indigenous resistance.
Pahlavi faces the same problem squared. The Pahlavi dynasty left Iranians with bitter memories: the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored the shah to power; the brutal SAVAK secret police; the Rastakhiz Party that antagonized formerly apolitical Iranians with compulsory membership and heavy-handed interference in daily life; the corruption and inequality that sparked the 1979 revolution. While most Iranians are too young to remember these horrors firsthand, a substantial proportion—those over 50—lived through them. They remember the torture chambers, the disappeared dissidents, the rampant corruption, the grotesque inequality. They participated in, or supported, the revolution that overthrew the monarchy. Their children have grown up on the stories.
When protesters chant “Death to the dictator,” they are not pining for the return of a monarchy that many of them, or their parents, helped overthrow. The appearance of pro-Pahlavi slogans at some protests doesn’t indicate widespread monarchist sentiment; it reflects nostalgia for pre-revolutionary stability, artificially amplified by what researchers describe as social media campaigns using fake accounts and AI-generated content. Indeed, the emergence of “Neither Shah nor clergy” chants suggests that many Iranians reject both the Islamic Republic and Pahlavi restoration.
The Islamic Republic couldn’t ask for a better foil than Pahlavi. His visibility allows the regime to portray protesters as tools of foreign powers and the discredited monarchy—precisely what Pahlavi’s meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu accomplished in 2023. Every photo-op in Washington, every meeting with Israeli officials, every call for international intervention reinforces the regime’s narrative and undermines the legitimacy of the protests. Iran’s leading opposition figures understand that, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has described Pahlavi’s movement as, “the opposition against the opposition.”
And Pahlavi’s inability—or unwillingness—to control supporters who attack non-monarchist dissidents has fractured what should be a united front.
A vulnerable and formidable regime
The Islamic Republic is more vulnerable today than at any point since the Green Movement protests in 2009. The currency collapse, the insane inflation, water bankruptcy, and energy crisis have created conditions for sustained unrest. The regime’s regional proxies have been devastated. Its nuclear program has been set back by Israeli strikes. Supreme Leader Khamenei is 86 and ailing. But vulnerability isn’t the same as defeat. The regime still controls a formidable repressive apparatus. It has weathered protests before by deploying overwhelming force—killing more than 500 people during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in 2022 and 2023. In the past two weeks, it has already killed scores, arrested more than 2,000 people, and has reportedly imported Iraqi Shia militias to supplement its security forces. Those who have spent time in Iran know that for all the regime’s unpopularity, most Iranians fear chaos more than they crave freedom. Iranians have watched Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen descend into chaos and terrible violence. They know regime collapse doesn’t guarantee democracy—it can just as easily produce prolonged violence and disintegration.
If the Islamic Republic falls, it will be because Iranians inside the country organize, mobilize, and ultimately compel elements of the security apparatus to switch sides—not because an politician in exile promises a smooth transition. The 1979 revolution in Iran succeeded because Ayatollah Khomeini co-opted sections of the armed forces. No comparable split is yet evident. Iran doesn’t a pretender in exile making promises he can’t keep. It needs international solidarity with protesters, targeted sanctions against regime officials, support for independent media, and diplomatic pressure for human rights. Iran needs the world to stop pretending that one man—any man—can deliver 85 million Iranians from dictatorship. Iran doesn’t a pretender in exile making promises he can’t keep. It needs international solidarity with protesters, targeted sanctions against regime officials, support for independent media, and diplomatic pressure for human rights. Iran needs the world to stop pretending that one man—any man—can deliver 85 million Iranians from dictatorship. The Chalabi disaster taught us that regime change might be easy but the human costs it exacts are terrifying and building democracy is hard. Installing exiles with no domestic base is a recipe for failure. Banking on pretenders instead of people is a mistake the U.S. can’t afford to repeat. Iranians deserve better than the Pahlavi pretender. They deserve the chance to determine their own future—without the burden of other people’s delusions.
*Contact us at letters@time.com.

What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East
Avi Benlolo/National Post/January 09/2026
What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East
It appears Iranians have had enough of the terrorist regime that rules their lives. After nearly two consecutive weeks of protests, and the murder of over 30 people by the Mullah’s henchmen, videos circulating widely on X show that Iranians are still marching in the streets, more intent and with vigour. By the time this article finds its way to print, the Ayatollah may be in Moscow having Turkish coffee with Bashar Assad.
Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad wrote that despite bullets, tear gas and brutal repression, “people are still in the streets across Iran. The protests are growing. Their resistance sends a clear message to the world: Iranians reject this child-killing terrorist regime. They don’t want those killers.”
Caution to the wise. There have been many protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The last major series that took place from 2022 to 2023 were also serious enough for optimists to believe that this evil regime would fall. They began when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being taken into custody after removing her headscarf — shirking the mandatory hijab rules. “Women, Life, Freedom” became these protesters’ rallying cry to resist the oppression. But that was then. This is now. Layer after layer of frustration with this brutal regime has since mounted. The doubling of executions in Iran in 2025 to 1,500 people showcases the fear and fragility of a regime that is near its end. Continuing to sow fear and despair among its population, Iran said it executed an alleged Israeli spy this week. That fear is evident even now as Iran’s top judge is said to have warned protesters there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic.” Even Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed not to “yield to the enemy.” Rather than admitting economic, military and social defeat, the regime is now accusing Israel and the United States of colluding to disrupt the country.
In 1979, an Islamic regime came to power by force, turning a promising country of smart, educated people into one of the most despised nations on earth. Its radical religious leaders rejected western influence and collaboration, and instead, turned to becoming the leading state sponsor of terror. One of its first international acts of terrorism was the 1992 bombing of an Israeli embassy and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre, both in Buenos Aires. The Iranian people have had enough, and they are marching relentlessly. Israel’s 12-day war against Iran this summer exposed the Islamic Republic as a paper tiger. Its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and threats to wipe Israel off the face of the map, and its financing of terror proxies including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and of course, Hamas, have not only sapped Iran financially, inviting sanctions and making its currency worthless, but it has alienated what was once a proud nation, turning it into a pariah state.It must be frustrating for Khamenei and friends to watch their planned Islamic takeover of the world go up in smoke. Most of their allies are gone, including Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Just a few days ago, Khamenei felt compelled to remind his followers on X about his planned world domination: “The issue is confronting the unjust order of the domination system in today’s world, and turning toward a just Islamic national and international order. This is the great claim whose banner the Islamic Iran has raised, and this has enraged corrupt and corrupting coercive powers.” But now he is reportedly planning to flee to Moscow if Iranians sufficiently demonstrate that they’ve had enough of his brutality. Who will fill the vacuum in Iran? Let’s hope it is someone like Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran who says he wants peace with Israel and America. He says Iran faces a historic moment: “In all these years, I’ve never seen an opportunity as we see today in Iran. Iranian people are more than ever committed to bringing an end to this regime, as the world has witnessed the last few days. The levels of demonstrations are unprecedented in Iran — over 100 cities, millions of people in the streets chanting ‘death to the dictator’ and ‘end to this regime.’ By God, it is about time that Iran gets its opportunity to free itself from a tyrannical regime.” What happens next in Iran could change the face of the Middle East. I pray and hope the day that regime change finally comes, its new leaders choose the path of peace with Israel and America, so we can focus on advancing humanity together.
A*vi Abraham Benlolo is the chairman and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative. Derek Finkle: Toronto woman's death told us everything we need to know about safe injection sites
**Jesse Kline: The Arctic cold war depends on Greenland — and Trump knows it.

Netanyahu says wants Israel to cope without US aid within decade
AFP/10 January/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants Israel to be able to cope without US military aid within a decade, he said in an interview published on Friday. Washington has approved the sale of tens of millions of dollars in military equipment to aid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, and the close defense ties between the countries date back decades. “In my visit to President Trump, I said we deeply appreciate the military aid that America has given us over the years,” he told The Economist. “But we too have come of age, we’ve developed incredible capacities and our economy will soon within a decade reach $1 trillion. “So I want to taper off the military aid within the next ten years.”Israel receives approximately $3.8 billion in annual financial aid from the United States for arms purchases under an agreement signed in 2016, which entered into force in 2019 and is valid until 2028.US Senator Lindsey Graham quickly took to X to say that he will look to expedite terminating US military assistance. According to the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, Israel has received more than $300 billion in military and economic aid since its founding in 1948, adjusted for inflation. In May, as relations between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared strained, the Israeli premier suggested that Israel would eventually have to “wean itself off” American military aid, without providing further explanation. In a controversial speech in September, Netanyahu also said Israel was becoming increasingly isolated and had to adopt a “super-Sparta” approach. Following a backlash after the remark, the Israeli leader later said he was referring to the defense industry, and that the country had to become more self-reliant to avoid potential supply bottlenecks.

Ceasefire quickly unravels after days of clashes between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters
Omar Albam And Ghaith Alsayed/AP/January 09/2026
Syria's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire Friday after three days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Aleppo that displaced over 140,000 people, but fighting resumed in the evening. There was no public response from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to the ceasefire announcement, while a local Kurdish council rejected calls for the evacuation of fighters. The Defense Ministry statement said the ceasefire became effective at 3 a.m. in the three city neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid and gave armed groups six hours to leave the area. It said departing militants would be allowed to carry their “personal light weapons” and would be provided with an escort to the country's northeast, which is controlled by the SDF.Aleppo 's Gov. Azzam al-Gharib toured the contested neighborhoods with an escort of security forces overnight. However, in the hours after the announcement no fighters departed. Buses lined up to evacuate militants remained empty hours after the deadline. Associated Press journalists at the scene said a burst of machine-gun fire targeted the location the buses had entered from, and an artillery shell landed on the road, but calm quickly returned. A local council representing the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods issued a statement saying, “We will not accept the pressures imposed on us and the calls for surrender.”“We do not trust the Damascus government to entrust our security to us, and we have decided to remain in our neighborhoods and defend them,” it said. Friday evening, the Syrian army announced Sheikh Maqsoud to be a “closed military zone" and launched what it described as a “clearing operation.”Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria, welcomed the ceasefire announcement and extended “profound gratitude to all parties — the Syrian government, the Syrian Democratic Forces, local authorities, and community leaders — for the restraint and goodwill that made this vital pause possible Barrack's statement on X said the U.S. was working with the parties to extend the ceasefire beyond the six-hour deadline. U.S. President Donald Trump later told Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw that “I want to see peace" between the two sides.“The Kurds and the Syrian government — we get along with both, as you know very well. They have been natural enemies over the years, but we get along with both," he said.
'A good step'
An estimated 142,000 people have been displaced by the fighting that broke out Tuesday with exchanges of shelling and drone strikes. Each side has accused the other of starting the violence and of deliberately targeting civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure, including ambulance crews and hospitals. Kurdish forces said at least 12 civilians were killed in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, while government officials reported at least nine civilians were killed in the surrounding government-controlled areas in the fighting. Dozens more on both sides have been wounded. It was not clear how many fighters were killed on each side. Residents of the contested areas were hoping that the ceasefire would take hold Friday. Ahmed Hajjar, a tailor in Achrafieh, said the ceasefire announcement was “a good step” but called for the removal of army checkpoints around the neighborhood. “I can’t work now, the workers aren’t able to come, and I can’t send any products outside,” he said. "If I want to bring in textiles I get stuck at the checkpoint for an hour and a half or two or three hours.”The Syrian military accused the SDF of violating the ceasefire Friday, saying it "targeted buses three times, shelled army positions, and attacked soldiers, resulting in the martyrdom of three soldiers and injuries to more than twelve others."The SDF-affiliated Internal Security Forces, meanwhile, said government forces had struck a hospital in Sheikh Maqsoud where civilians had taken refuge and put it out of service.
SDF links to PKK
The clashes come amid an impasse in political negotiations between the central state and the SDF. The leadership in Damascus under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa had signed a deal in March last year with the SDF, which controls much of the northeast, for it to merge with the Syrian army by the end of 2025. There have been disagreements on how it would happen. Some of the factions that make up the new Syrian army, formed after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a rebel offensive in December 2024, were previously Turkey-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces. The SDF has for years been the main U.S. partner in Syria in fighting against the Islamic State group, but Turkey considers the SDF a terrorist organization because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a long-running insurgency in Turkey. A peace process is now underway. Despite the long-running U.S. support for the SDF, the Trump administration has also developed close ties with al-Sharaa’s government and has pushed the Kurds to implement the March deal. Al-Sharaa spoke by phone Friday with Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party -- the dominant Kurdish party in neighboring Iraq -- both officials said in statements. The KDP has friendly relations with Turkey and has historically been at odds with the SDF and other groups aligned with the PKK, but over the past year they have taken steps to mend ties.
**Omar Albam And Ghaith Alsayed, The Associated Press

Syria not expecting to join Abraham Accords, citing continued Israeli occupation: Minister
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Syria’s information minister told Al Arabiya English on Friday that Damascus does not expect to join the Abraham Accords in the near future, citing Israel’s continued occupation of Syrian territory, including the Golan Heights. The minister pointed to comments previously made by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who said the timing was too early to discuss negotiations to normalize ties with Israel. “Syria cannot be a part of the Abraham Accords because Israel is occupying our land, especially in the Golan Heights. And as the president mentioned, the Abraham Accords is an accord between a state that Israel is not occupying its land,” he said in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English. “And we are not expecting to be part of the Abraham Accord, at least in the short and mid-term,” he added.

Syria’s information minister says SDF not taking tangible steps toward integration
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Syria’s information minister told Al Arabiya English on Friday that US-backed Kurdish forces in the country “only theoretically” say they want to integrate into the Syrian state, but lamented the lack of solid steps.Speaking about two separate dialogue tracks between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the minister said the March 10 agreement brokered by the United States was still on. “However, another track, the 1st of April Agreement, is dedicated only to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution in the two neighborhoods in Aleppo city,” Hamza al-Mustafa said. Mustafa said Kurdish fighters, including the SDF, were supposed to withdraw from Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. “And we are now more than 10 months, the SDF has violated the agreement more than 300 times.”He also said the SDF was “increasingly” using the tactic of “targeting civilians and the Syrian army” to affect the talks over integration into the state.
Iran protests
Asked about recent Israeli reports that Iran was looking to assassinate Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, al-Mustafa cited a majority of Syrians having a “long history” in fighting Iranian militias inside the country. “I think that the Iranian leaders have bad intentions, not only for the Syrian leader, but for their people as well,” he said. “However, it's a different path. The Syrian state is now trying to build its intelligence institutions in order to protect all of its people, including the president.”Turning to the nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, al-Mustafa said he was not surprised, given decades of authoritarianism and military interference in other countries, rather than focusing on the economic development and interests of the Iranian people. “I think that the Iranian people have reached a point where they are not asking for a reform. I think they are asking for more than political reform. However, Syria is eager not to interfere in any country,” he said, adding that Damascus stood with all who were demanding freedom.

Syria army warns will strike Kurdish district of Aleppo
AFP, Aleppo/09 January/2026
Syria’s army warned on Friday it would renew attacks against a Kurdish-majority district of Aleppo and urged residents to evacuate, state media reported, hours after a ceasefire was announced. The army said it would target military sites used by Kurdish fighters in the Sheikh Maqsud district, in statements published by state news agency SANA accompanied by maps showing the areas, after Kurdish fighters rejected a call to leave. It also announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor from 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) to 6:00 p.m. for civilians to leave and called on Kurdish fighters to lay down their arms. An AFP correspondent near Sheikh Maqsud said residents were fleeing the neighborhood. In a statement, Kurdish security forces in Aleppo said that “armed factions affiliated with the Damascus government... carried out two attempted incursions” into Sheikh Maqsud “with direct support from tanks and heavy weapons.”
It said its forces repelled the attack, adding that the district “continues to be subjected to ongoing artillery shelling for the fourth consecutive day.”The government and Kurdish forces have traded blame over who started the fighting on Tuesday, which came as they struggled to implement a deal reached last March to merge the Kurds’ administration and military into the country’s new government.Tens of thousands have fled the fighting, which has killed at least 21 people.

Yemen’s STC dissolves itself, says group didn’t achieve intended aims
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Members and affiliated bodies of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council said on Friday they decided to dissolve the council. Members of the group said in a statement that they did not participate in the decision regarding the group’s recent military operation in Hadramout and al-Mahra, adding that this operation “harmed the southern cause. They added that the council has not “achieved its intended aims.”The statement also voiced hope that the Riyadh conference “will lead to a vision to resolve the southern cause,” and thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting the upcoming talks.

Yemen’s southern cause has ‘genuine path’ forward after STC dissolution: Saudi minister
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Saudi Arabia’s defense minister said the southern cause in Yemen now has a “genuine path” forward, backed by the Kingdom and supported by the international community through the upcoming Riyadh Conference, following the decision by southern leaders to dissolve the Southern Transitional Council (STC). In a series of statements posted on his official X page, Prince Khalid bin Salman said the conference aims to bring together southern figures to develop a comprehensive vision for just solutions that reflect their will and aspirations. He said Saudi Arabia will form a preparatory committee, in consultation with southern figures, to organize the conference. Representatives from all southern governorates will participate “without exclusion or discrimination,” he added. The Kingdom will support the outcomes of the conference, which will be presented as part of efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, according to the minister. Prince Khalid also welcomed the decision by southern figures and leaders to dissolve the STC, describing it as a courageous step that demonstrates commitment to the future of the southern cause. He said the move would encourage broader participation by southerners in the Riyadh Conference and help serve their cause. Members and affiliated bodies of the STC said on Friday they decided to disband the council. Members of the group said in a statement that they did not participate in the decision regarding the group’s recent military operation in Hadramout and al-Mahra, adding that this operation “harmed the southern cause.”

Italy's Meloni rules out US military move on Greenland and urges stronger NATO role in Arctic
Giada Zampano/AP/ January 09/2026
ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she didn’t believe the United States would resort to military force to seize control of Greenland, urging a stronger role for NATO in the Arctic region to address U.S. security concerns. Speaking during a traditional New Year press conference, Meloni said the use of military action in Greenland would not be in anyone’s interest and would have serious consequences for NATO. “I still don’t believe in the possibility of the U.S. initiating military action to take control of Greenland,” Meloni noted, stressing that Italy wouldn’t support such a move. The White House said Tuesday the U.S. administration is weighing “ options ” that could include military action to take control of the strategically located and mineral-rich island, which is a semi-autonomous region that is part of NATO ally Denmark. “I think the Trump administration, with its somewhat assertive methods, is primarily focusing attention on the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic region for its security,” Meloni said. “It’s an area where many foreign actors operate, and I continue to believe the message from the U.S. is that it will not accept actions by foreign powers.”The Italian conservative premier stressed that a reinforced NATO presence in the region would help smooth U.S. worries about rival actors gaining influence in the area, even with hostile intentions. Meloni is considered one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Europe, trying to act as a mediator between the often conflicting interests of the U.S. and the European Union. The Italian leader said it was “clear to everyone” that any U.S. military move on Greenland would have a significant impact on NATO. Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. But, after last weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain have defended the sovereignty of Greenland, along with Denmark, whose right to the island was recognized by the U.S. government at the beginning of the 20th century. “I think international law must be fully defended,” Meloni said. “But I don’t understand what you’re asking when you say Italy must distance itself from the United States,” she added responding to a question about Trump’s aggressive policies. Meloni stressed that Italy’s foreign policy is based on two pillars: Europe and the Atlantic Alliance. “Of course, I don’t always agree with everything my allies say. The interests of nations don’t always perfectly overlap,” she added.
Giada Zampano, The Associated Press

Syria not expecting to join Abraham Accords, citing continued Israeli occupation: Minister
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Syria’s information minister told Al Arabiya English on Friday that Damascus does not expect to join the Abraham Accords in the near future, citing Israel’s continued occupation of Syrian territory, including the Golan Heights. The minister pointed to comments previously made by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who said the timing was too early to discuss negotiations to normalize ties with Israel. “Syria cannot be a part of the Abraham Accords because Israel is occupying our land, especially in the Golan Heights. And as the president mentioned, the Abraham Accords is an accord between a state that Israel is not occupying its land,” he said in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English. “And we are not expecting to be part of the Abraham Accord, at least in the short and mid-term,” he added.

Syria’s information minister says SDF not taking tangible steps toward integration
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Syria’s information minister told Al Arabiya English on Friday that US-backed Kurdish forces in the country “only theoretically” say they want to integrate into the Syrian state, but lamented the lack of solid steps.Speaking about two separate dialogue tracks between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the minister said the March 10 agreement brokered by the United States was still on. “However, another track, the 1st of April Agreement, is dedicated only to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution in the two neighborhoods in Aleppo city,” Hamza al-Mustafa said. Mustafa said Kurdish fighters, including the SDF, were supposed to withdraw from Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. “And we are now more than 10 months, the SDF has violated the agreement more than 300 times.”He also said the SDF was “increasingly” using the tactic of “targeting civilians and the Syrian army” to affect the talks over integration into the state.
Iran protests
Asked about recent Israeli reports that Iran was looking to assassinate Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, al-Mustafa cited a majority of Syrians having a “long history” in fighting Iranian militias inside the country. “I think that the Iranian leaders have bad intentions, not only for the Syrian leader, but for their people as well,” he said. “However, it's a different path. The Syrian state is now trying to build its intelligence institutions in order to protect all of its people, including the president.”Turning to the nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, al-Mustafa said he was not surprised, given decades of authoritarianism and military interference in other countries, rather than focusing on the economic development and interests of the Iranian people. “I think that the Iranian people have reached a point where they are not asking for a reform. I think they are asking for more than political reform. However, Syria is eager not to interfere in any country,” he said, adding that Damascus stood with all who were demanding freedom.

Syria army warns will strike Kurdish district of Aleppo
AFP, Aleppo/09 January/2026
Syria’s army warned on Friday it would renew attacks against a Kurdish-majority district of Aleppo and urged residents to evacuate, state media reported, hours after a ceasefire was announced. The army said it would target military sites used by Kurdish fighters in the Sheikh Maqsud district, in statements published by state news agency SANA accompanied by maps showing the areas, after Kurdish fighters rejected a call to leave. It also announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor from 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) to 6:00 p.m. for civilians to leave and called on Kurdish fighters to lay down their arms. An AFP correspondent near Sheikh Maqsud said residents were fleeing the neighborhood. In a statement, Kurdish security forces in Aleppo said that “armed factions affiliated with the Damascus government... carried out two attempted incursions” into Sheikh Maqsud “with direct support from tanks and heavy weapons.”
It said its forces repelled the attack, adding that the district “continues to be subjected to ongoing artillery shelling for the fourth consecutive day.”The government and Kurdish forces have traded blame over who started the fighting on Tuesday, which came as they struggled to implement a deal reached last March to merge the Kurds’ administration and military into the country’s new government.Tens of thousands have fled the fighting, which has killed at least 21 people.

Yemen’s STC dissolves itself, says group didn’t achieve intended aims
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Members and affiliated bodies of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council said on Friday they decided to dissolve the council. Members of the group said in a statement that they did not participate in the decision regarding the group’s recent military operation in Hadramout and al-Mahra, adding that this operation “harmed the southern cause. They added that the council has not “achieved its intended aims.”The statement also voiced hope that the Riyadh conference “will lead to a vision to resolve the southern cause,” and thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting the upcoming talks.

Yemen’s southern cause has ‘genuine path’ forward after STC dissolution: Saudi minister
Al Arabiya English/09 January/2026
Saudi Arabia’s defense minister said the southern cause in Yemen now has a “genuine path” forward, backed by the Kingdom and supported by the international community through the upcoming Riyadh Conference, following the decision by southern leaders to dissolve the Southern Transitional Council (STC). In a series of statements posted on his official X page, Prince Khalid bin Salman said the conference aims to bring together southern figures to develop a comprehensive vision for just solutions that reflect their will and aspirations. He said Saudi Arabia will form a preparatory committee, in consultation with southern figures, to organize the conference. Representatives from all southern governorates will participate “without exclusion or discrimination,” he added. The Kingdom will support the outcomes of the conference, which will be presented as part of efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, according to the minister. Prince Khalid also welcomed the decision by southern figures and leaders to dissolve the STC, describing it as a courageous step that demonstrates commitment to the future of the southern cause. He said the move would encourage broader participation by southerners in the Riyadh Conference and help serve their cause. Members and affiliated bodies of the STC said on Friday they decided to disband the council. Members of the group said in a statement that they did not participate in the decision regarding the group’s recent military operation in Hadramout and al-Mahra, adding that this operation “harmed the southern cause.”

Venezuela looks to rebuild diplomatic ties with US
Reuters/09 January/2026
Venezuela’s government ‍has begun exploring the potential to expand diplomatic ties ‍with the United States, with US State Department officials traveling to Caracas for technical and logistical assessments, it said in a statement on ⁠Friday. The State Department separately said the US officials were assessing a “potential phased resumption” of embassy operations in the South American country. Washington and Caracas have signaled they are seeking cooperation since last week’s dramatic US military operation that resulted in ‍the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. His vice president Delcy Rodriguez ‍took ‍over as interim ⁠leader. “The government of ‌Venezuela has decided ⁠to initiate an exploratory ‍diplomatic process with the US government, with a view ⁠to reestablishing the diplomatic missions in both countries,” the Venezuelan ‌government said in a statement. A Venezuelan delegation will also be sent to the US to carry out assessments, it said. Earlier on Friday, ‍US President Donald Trump said the release of political prisoners in Venezuela was a sign of “seeking peace” and that he had canceled a planned second wave of ‌attacks.

US says it seized another tanker that tried to break Venezuela blockade
AFP/January 09, 2026
WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it seized another tanker that tried to break an American naval blockade aimed at preventing sanctioned vessels from going to or departing Venezuela, the fifth ship apprehended in recent weeks.Washington has deployed a huge naval force in the Caribbean, striking boats it says were used for drug trafficking, seizing tankers and carrying out a stunning operation to seize Venezuela’s leftist leader. The latest vessel seized was the Olina, which US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said was “another ‘ghost fleet’ tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil” that “departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces.” “The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem wrote on X, saying the Coast Guard carried out the seizure. US Southern Command (Southcom), which is responsible for the country’s forces in the region, said US Marines and Navy personnel also took part in the operation, launching from the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. “Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: ‘There is no safe haven for criminals,’” Southcom said in a post on X that included a video clip showing US forces roping down from a helicopter and taking control of the ship. President Donald Trump later said the seizure was carried out in coordination with interim authorities in Venezuela after the ship departed the country without US approval. “This tanker is now on its way back to Venezuela, and the oil will be sold,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Trump said last month that he had ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil vessels heading to and from Venezuela, and American forces have taken control of five ships since then, including three this week. Among them was a Russia-linked vessel that was seized in the North Atlantic on Wednesday in an operation condemned by Moscow, after being pursued by the United States from off the coast of Venezuela. Trump told Fox News on Thursday that the tanker seized the previous day was being escorted by a Russian submarine and a destroyer. “They both left very quickly when we arrived and we took over the ship,” the US president said, declining to specify if his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called him after the seizure.

China, Russia and Iran join South Africa for naval drills as tensions run high
GERALD IMRAY/Associated Press/January 09/2026
Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships launched a week of naval drills with host South Africa off the Cape Town coast Friday as geopolitical tensions run high over the United States' intervention in Venezuela and its move to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.The Chinese-led drills were organized last year under the BRICS bloc of developing nations and South Africa's armed forces said the maneuvers will practice maritime safety and anti-piracy operations and “deepen cooperation.”China, Russia and South Africa are longtime members of BRICS, while Iran joined the group in 2024. The Iranian navy was taking part in the drills while protests grow back home against the Islamic Republic's leadership.
It was not immediately clear if other countries from the BRICS group — which also includes Brazil, India and the United Arab Emirates among others — would take part in the drills. A spokesperson for the South African armed forces said he wasn't yet able to confirm all the countries participating in the drills, which are due to run until next Friday. Chinese, Russian and Iranian ships were seen moving in and out of the harbor that serves South Africa's top naval base in Simon's Town, south of Cape Town, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. China's ships include the Tangshan, a 161-meter (528-foot) -long destroyer class vessel. Russia's Baltic Fleet said it sent a smaller warship, the Stoikiy, and a replenishment tanker to South Africa. The latest drills were meant to happen in late November but were delayed for diplomatic reasons because South Africa hosted Western and other world leaders for the Group of 20 summit around the same time. The drills are bound to further strain ties between the U.S. and South Africa, which is the most advanced economy in Africa and a leading voice for the continent but has been especially targeted for criticism by the Trump administration. U.S. President Donald Trump said in an executive order in February that South Africa supports "bad actors on the world stage" and singled out its ties with Iran as one of the reasons for the U.S. cutting funding to the country. China and Russia have often used BRICS forums to launch criticism of the U.S. and the West. South Africa has long claimed it follows a nonaligned foreign policy and remains neutral, but Russian presence on the southern tip of Africa has strained its relationship with the U.S. before. The Biden administration accused South Africa in 2023 of allowing a sanctioned Russian ship to dock at the Simon's Town naval base and load weapons to be taken to Russia for the war in Ukraine. South Africa denied the allegation. South Africa's willingness to host Russian and Iranian warships has also been criticized inside the country. The Democratic Alliance, the second biggest political party in the coalition government, said it was opposed to hosting drills that included “heavily sanctioned” Russia and Iran. “Calling these drills ‘BRICS cooperation’ is a political trick to soften what is really happening: Government is choosing closer military ties with rogue and sanctioned states such as Russia and Iran,” the Democratic Alliance said.

Ukrainian nationals aboard seized tanker Bella-1, ambassador says
Reuters/January 09, 2026
WASHINGTON: Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States was quoted as saying on Friday that Ukrainian nationals were among members of the crew of the Russian-flagged tanker Bella-1, seized this week by US forces.
Olha Stefanishyna, quoted by the Interfax Ukraine news agency, said Ukrainian diplomats were in contact with US authorities to ensure consular access ⁠to the crew members. “The embassy has the situation under control and is using all necessary means to maintain contact with the Ukrainian citizens,” Stefanishyna was quoted as saying.The Bella-1, recently ⁠renamed the Marinera and registered as a Russian vessel, was seized in the North Atlantic this week. The US has seized five ships in recent weeks as part of efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports. The Olina was seized in the Caribbean on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said ⁠on Friday that the United States had released two Russian crew members from the Marinera, expressed gratitude to Washington for the decision and pledged to ensure the return home of crew members. Russia’s Transport Ministry said on Wednesday it had lost contact with the Marinera after US naval forces boarded it near Iceland.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 09-10/2026
Hamas, Red Cross search for last Gaza hostage’s body, IDF reports 14 ceasefire violations from December 19 to January 8
Samuel Ben-Ur & Aaron Goren/ FDD's Long War Journal/January 09/2026
Palestinian terrorists violated the ceasefire in Gaza 14 times between December 19 and January 8, and 78 times since its implementation on October 10, 2025, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reports.
Hamas reportedly resumed searches on January 7 for the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza. The searches by the Iran-backed terrorist organization were the first since December. Israeli media reported that the Red Cross is offering assistance. The search began in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, under close supervision by IDF troops near the “Yellow Line,” which delineates Hamas-held territory from areas held by Israel.
Saudi media reported in December that the IDF had detained a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist as part of the military’s mission to locate Gvili’s body. At the time, the report claimed that “the operation included the abduction of a field operative from the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a resident of the Zeitoun neighborhood, in an area near Palestine Square in Gaza City.”
Gvili, who was a sergeant first class in Israel’s border police, was killed during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, after traveling to fight back the invasion in the southern Israeli community of Kibbutz Alumim. According to reports, PIJ had held his body initially before transferring the remains to Hamas terrorists in Gaza City. Hamas reportedly then held Gvili’s body in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City for months before the ceasefire, which went into effect on October 10, 2025.
According to the US-crafted peace plan, Hamas was given 72 hours from the ceasefire’s implementation to return all hostages, both living and deceased. Nearly three months have gone by, and the group has yet to do so.
Amidst the searches for Gvili’s body, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists continue to violate phase one of the truce. Below is a list of all violations of the ceasefire by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups between December 19 and January 7, according to IDF reports:
On December 19, the IDF reported that “combat team forces of a Southern Brigade operating in the center of the Gaza Strip identified a terrorist who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The individual was eliminated by the Israeli Air Force, guided by ground troops.
On December 20, the IDF stated that “combat team forces of the Jerusalem Brigade (16) operating in the northern Gaza Strip identified two terrorists who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The two individuals were killed by the Israeli Air Force.
On December 21, the IDF reported that forces had “identified several suspects who gathered near the yellow line and carried out warning fire to drive them away. After warning fire was carried out, three terrorists crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The IDF said that the Israeli Air Force struck the terrorists, though it was unclear whether they were eliminated.
Later on December 21, in two other incidents, the IDF reported that troops had identified two terrorists who had crossed the yellow line “and approached them in a manner that posed a threat.” During these two incidents, the Israeli Air Force also struck the terrorists, but the IDF again did not specify their fate.
On December 24, the IDF reported that a “charge was detonated on an armored vehicle during an operation to clear the Rafah area of terrorist infrastructure.” An Israeli soldier was lightly wounded in the attack and evacuated.
On December 25, the IDF stated that “combat team forces of a northern brigade operating in the northern Gaza Strip identified a terrorist who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The soldiers eliminated the individuals.
Later on December 25, the IDF reported that “combat team forces of the 7th Brigade operating in [the] southern Gaza Strip identified two terrorists who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The Israeli Air Force eliminated the individuals.
On January 2, the IDF stated that “combat team forces of the 188th Brigade operating in the southern Gaza Strip identified a terrorist who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The terrorist was killed by Israeli forces.
On January 3, the IDF said that it had “destroyed […] a shaft containing a loaded rocket launcher ready to fire toward southern Israel” in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the report, “The rocket launcher was deployed and armed by the terror organization Hamas after the ceasefire went into effect, an action that constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
On January 5, the IDF stated that “combat team forces of the 188th Brigade operating in the southern Gaza Strip identified a terrorist who crossed the yellow line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” The individual was eliminated by the Israeli Air Force, according to the report.
On January 7, the IDF reported that Hamas terrorists had fired “into an area where IDF forces were operating in the northern Gaza Strip,” noting that the action constituted a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.” In response, the IDF said it struck “a senior Hamas terrorist who advanced terror plots against” Israeli forces in Gaza.
On January 8, the IDF reported that it had identified a “failed launch that was carried out from the area of Gaza City toward Israel.” The projectile fell near a hospital, according to the Israeli military, and “the IDF struck the launch point in a targeted manner.”
**Samuel Ben-Ur and Aaron Goren are research analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow Aaron Goren on X @realaarongoren.

New Activity at Iranian Nuclear Site Shows Determination To Rebuild Program
Andrea Stricker/FDD- Policy Brief/January 09/2026
The United States and Israel may need to strike Iran again to keep nuclear weapons out of Tehran’s grasp. Construction is nearing the final stages at a former nuclear weapons site destroyed by Israel in October 2024, according to new satellite imagery. While the intended use of the rebuilt site remains unclear, Iran previously used the site — known as Taleghan 2 within the Parchin military complex — to conduct experiments relevant to nuclear weapons. Israel’s strike reportedly disrupted this work. The United States and Israel damaged or destroyed numerous other Iranian nuclear sites with air strikes in June 2025.
The new construction at Taleghan 2, along with Iran’s activities over the past two months at other current and former nuclear sites, underscores that Tehran intends to rebuild its program despite the 12 days of airstrikes that took place in June.
Building Nearing Completion at Taleghan 2
On January 6, the Institute for Science and International Security published new imagery of ongoing construction at Taleghan 2. Based on images dated December 25 — along with earlier imagery — Iran is reconstructing a large cylindrical chamber, which is likely a high explosives containment vessel. That would replace a similar structure destroyed by Israel. Prior to 2004, Iran used the containment vessel and specialized equipment at Taleghan 2 for nuclear weapons experiments, specifically related to preparing the center of the core of Iran’s nuclear weapon design, known as a neutron initiator. It began to limit such work following international discovery of its illicit nuclear activities in 2002. U.S. and Israeli intelligence reportedly observed renewed Iranian work at the site in 2023, this time related to manufacturing plastic explosives used in nuclear detonations, prompting the October 2024 Israeli strike.
Tehran is now hardening the structure with a concrete sarcophagus to protect against future strikes. The institute assesses that Iran restarted construction around May 2025 and that it is nearing completion. However, it is not certain the site will be used for nuclear weapons development, as containment vessels can also serve in the development of conventional weapons systems.
Construction and Excavation Proceed at Additional Nuclear Sites
Iran is also conducting excavation work at the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, destroyed by the United States and Israel in June. According to the institute and imagery dated December 13, the regime has erected a privacy cover over the bombed facility, likely to assess whether key assets — such as limited stocks of highly enriched uranium — survived the strikes.
The institute also reported in November 2025 that Tehran is fortifying and continuing construction on a deeply buried facility at Pickaxe Mountain near the Natanz complex — a site not targeted by Washington or Jerusalem. Western intelligence agencies worry that this site could host a secret enrichment plant even harder to destroy than the Fordow enrichment plant.
At the Esfahan tunnel complex, bombed by the United States (where Tehran was developing another enrichment plant and may have stored HEU), the regime has been clearing debris from and fortifying the tunnel entrances.
Additionally, the institute’s assessments indicate limited but ongoing activity at damaged or destroyed weaponization facilities, where Iran appears to be removing rubble and potentially salvaging equipment.
New Strikes May Be Necessary
Iran is pursuing limited but increasing efforts to determine if nuclear assets survived the U.S. and Israeli strikes, while advancing facilities that could, for the purposes of nuclear weaponization, facilitate high explosives tests or produce weapons-grade uranium from any remaining HEU stocks or imported materials.
Though Tehran likely remains far from reconstituting a functional nuclear weapons program, the United States and Israel must stay vigilant, monitoring Iran’s efforts closely and watching for any foreign assistance that could accelerate rebuilding.
Eventually, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may need to follow through on their threats to strike any resumption of Iranian nuclear activities.
**Andrea Stricker is a research fellow and deputy director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from the author and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Andrea on X @StrickerNonpro. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.

Question: What are appropriate reasons for missing church?
GotQuestions.org/January 09/2026
Answer: Many people have an improper or unbiblical understanding of church attendance. Some people’s feeling about church attendance borders on legalism—they must attend every time there is any kind of service or meeting, or they risk God’s wrath. Some people experience guilty feelings whenever they miss a Sunday morning service for any reason. Sadly, some churches encourage this guilt by putting excessive pressure on people. While indifference toward church or a willful avoidance of church may indicate a problem in one’s spiritual health, it is important to understand that the quality of a person’s relationship with God is not determined by how often he/she is in church. God’s love for His children is not based on the number of times they attend formal services.
There is no doubt that Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, should attend church. It should be the desire of every Christian to worship corporately (Ephesians 5:19–20), to fellowship with and encourage other Christians (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to be taught God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Hearing the Word is what produces faith (Romans 10:17). And gathering with other believers is a command (Hebrews 10:24–25); we really do need each other. Just as God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), so He is pleased with a genuinely cheerful church attendee.
Church attendance should be one of the priorities in the Christian life. Being committed to one’s local church is important. What then are appropriate reasons for missing church? It’s impossible to give a list that will work for everyone. Of course, it’s acceptable to miss church when one is ill. But, in other areas, the issue comes down to your attitude and motivation. If one’s motivation for missing church is to better serve the Lord elsewhere, to meet genuine needs, or to fulfill a God-ordained responsibility, then there is nothing wrong with missing a church service. An on-call policeman, for example, cannot be expected to ignore a call in order to take his place in the pew. But if one’s motivation for missing church is to fulfill the lust of the flesh, to pursue selfish ends, or to simply avoid Christian fellowship, then there is a problem.
Each situation must be evaluated personally and honestly. Is it ever acceptable to miss church to attend a sporting event? Yes, depending on one’s motivation and attitude. What about missing church while on vacation? Again, it depends on one’s motivation and attitude. We want to avoid legalism; we are not saved by church attendance but by grace. At the same time, a Christian should desire to attend church to learn about the greatness of God’s gift of salvation, to learn how to become more like Christ, and to have opportunities to minister to others.
In examining our motives for missing church, we should also examine our motives for attending church. Do we attend church to make ourselves appear spiritual? To interact with possible business contacts? Or do we attend because of the legalistic notion that says the more frequently we walk through the doors of a church, the more God is pleased with us? It’s true that there are many people who attend church regularly yet do not have a good relationship with the Lord. If your church attendance involves nothing more than sitting bored and inattentive through the singing and sermon, and then leaving immediately after the service ends, then you might as well have missed church, as you did not gain anything from it and you contributed nothing to it.
We should want to attend church so we can fellowship with others who have also experienced the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. We should avoid missing church, whenever possible, because we recognize the importance of hearing God’s Word, applying it to our lives, and sharing it with others. We should attend church, not to collect spiritual bonus points, but because we love God, love His people, and love His Word. Every Christian should attempt to attend church regularly. At the same time, missing church for a good reason is in no sense a sin or something that should cause feelings of guilt.
When you miss (do not attend) church, do you miss (have a longing for) church? If so, that’s a sign you have a good connection with church. If not, that is a sign you need to re-evaluate your choice of church and/or participation in church. God knows our hearts. God is not impressed by a person simply because he attends every service. God’s desire is to build us up in Christ, and His method in this age involves the local church.

The Digital Services Act: A Mechanism of Mass Censorship
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/January 09/2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22180/digital-services-act-censorship
According to critics, this framework [the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA)] effectively forces American platforms to act as "speech police" on behalf of the EU, under the constant threat of severe sanctions. In doing so, the DSA produces extraterritorial effects that extend well beyond Europe. This point is crucial: any American user of X, for instance, can be sanctioned by X for expressing opinions on the platform. In practice, the DSA is thus applied to all Americans. This requirement constitutes a clear instance of the normative imperialism that has characterized the EU for the past 20 years.
The only conceivable technical alternative would be the creation of separate platforms — an X-USA and an X-EU — which would amount to a denial of the very idea of a global network and of the internet itself.
The US House Judiciary Committee has denounced this system as one of "organized censorship," in which the EU effectively "arms" NGOs to compel American technology companies to remove content that is lawful in the United States but deemed "problematic" in Europe.
Fines could reach up to 6% of a company's global turnover, amounting to potentially billions of euros for firms such as Meta or Google. In cases of non-cooperation, platforms even face the possibility of a temporary ban within the EU.
This environment of stringent enforcement strongly encourages platforms to over-moderate content in order to minimize regulatory risk, leading to the removal of content that is perfectly legal. We are speaking here of approximately eight million posts deleted per month in the European Union, not including complete bans, such as those imposed on Russian media outlets.
Illegal content is treated as the top priority. Defined by the EU and national legislation, it includes hate speech (such as incitement to violence based on race or religion), terrorist content, child sexual exploitation material, counterfeit goods, and dangerous products.... Yet the central problem remains: "hate" itself is never defined in law.It must be stressed that disinformation itself is not illegal. The DSA therefore mandates the active censorship of content that is lawful -- but merely displeasing to the European Princes and their legions of censors.
American freedom of speech cannot survive a "Big Brother" DSA.
According to critics, the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) effectively forces American platforms to act as "speech police" on behalf of the EU, under the constant threat of severe sanctions. In doing so, the DSA produces extraterritorial effects that extend well beyond Europe. This point is crucial: any American user of X, for instance, can be sanctioned by X for expressing opinions on the platform. The Digital Services Act (DSA), adopted by the European Union in 2022 and fully applicable since February 2024 to "very large online platforms" (VLOPs) such as X, Facebook, TikTok, and Google, is not officially presented as an instrument of "organized censorship." Formally, it is purported to be a regulatory framework intended to govern digital services in order to protect users from illegal content, systemic risks, and opaque platform practices.
However, a growing number of critics — particularly in the United States, including Elon Musk and several Republican members of Congress — describe the DSA as a mechanism of mass censorship. In their view, it imposes heavy bureaucratic oversight on freedom of expression and enables selective repression of dissenting opinions.From the outset, it must be emphasized that the DSA applies to all digital intermediaries (platforms, hosting providers, and related services), albeit with obligations that intensify significantly for VLOPs, which are defined as platforms with more than 45 million monthly users in the EU.
Who censors? (The actors involved)
Censorship—rebranded as "moderation" — is not exercised first by the European Union or by national governments. Instead, it is delegated to the platforms themselves, under strict regulatory supervision from national administrative authorities. The result is a decentralized but highly regulated system, which critics describe as a bureaucratic "industrialization of moderation."Digital platforms constitute the primary enforcers. They are required to actively moderate content and, for VLOPs formally designated by the European Commission, the obligations are particularly onerous. These platforms must conduct assessments of "systemic risks," such as the dissemination of disinformation -- and implement proactive measures, including detection algorithms and large teams of human moderators. Platforms with fewer than 45 million monthly users in the EU are subject to lighter requirements, but must nonetheless respond to users' reports.
According to critics, this framework effectively forces American platforms to act as "speech police" on behalf of the EU, under the constant threat of severe sanctions. In doing so, the DSA produces extraterritorial effects that extend well beyond Europe. This point is crucial: any American user of X, for instance, can be sanctioned by X for expressing opinions on the platform. In practice, the DSA is thus applied to all Americans. This requirement constitutes a clear instance of the normative imperialism that has characterized the EU for the past 20 years.
The only conceivable technical alternative would be the creation of separate platforms — an X-USA and an X-EU — which would amount to a denial of the very idea of a global network and of the internet itself. As a result, platforms are structurally compelled to apply the DSA not only to European users, but also to Americans and, ultimately, to users worldwide.
The European Commission acts as the central supervisor for VLOPs. It ensures compliance by launching investigations, demanding access to data, and imposing fines. In December 2025, for example, it imposed a €120 million fine on X for an alleged lack of transparency in moderation practices, particularly concerning "blue checkmarks" -- alleged verifications of authenticity -- which were accused of potentially promoting disinformation. This enforcement model raises serious concerns regarding the separation of powers: the European Commission designs and enacts the DSA, and then proceeds to enforce it itself.
In addition, the EU designates "trusted flaggers" — typically NGOs — whose alerts must be treated as a priority by platforms. The official list of trusted flaggers includes organizations identified as left-wing or far-left, such as HateAid in Germany and UNIA in Belgium.
Each EU member state also appoints a national Digital Services Coordinator (DSC)—for example, ARCOM in France or BNetzA in Germany — to supervise non-VLOP platforms and coordinate with the EU. These authorities handle local complaints and impose sanctions. The result is a decentralized enforcement network in which the most restrictive countries, notably Germany and France, exert disproportionate influence through their radical national laws on "hate speech." This dynamic leads to a downward harmonization of freedom of expression across the entire European Union: content flagged in one country is effectively flagged for the entire EU. Finally, any individual may report content through the "notice-and-action" mechanism. Trusted flaggers, accredited by the DSCs, enjoy privileged status: their reports are prioritized and frequently result in rapid removals of any content they deem questionable or inaccurate. Recently, the United States went so far as to ban entry into the country for five Europeans—including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton and several activists — for their role in exerting pressure on American online platforms.
In short, American social media platforms form the first line of censorship, but they operate within a clear chain of command emanating from the EU and European national governments, which impose transparency quotas, audits, and permanent oversight.
The US House Judiciary Committee has denounced this system as one of "organized censorship," in which the EU effectively "arms" NGOs to compel American technology companies to remove content that is lawful in the United States but deemed "problematic" in Europe.
How does it work? (The mechanisms)
The DSA establishes a highly structured process that its critics describe as industrial in nature, mass-producing content moderation in the manner of a bureaucratic assembly line. First, the notice-and-action mechanism allows any individual to report allegedly illegal content. Platforms are required to review such reports "promptly," often within 24 to 48 hours in emergency situations. If the content is deemed illegal, removal is mandatory. For VLOPs, automated tools — artificial intelligence and algorithmic detection systems — are also used to scan content.
Second, VLOPs are subject to mandatory systemic risk assessments. These platforms must conduct annual audits addressing risks such as misinformation, harm to mental health or threats to democratic processes, and must propose mitigation measures, such as deprioritizing suspect viral posts. For example, TikTok, after a DSA investigation into risks posed to minors, was required to remove features considered "addictive." The European Commission may at any time demand access to internal data and launch formal investigations, as it has done with X regarding advertising practices and the presence of bots.
Third, platforms are subject to extensive transparency obligations. They must provide a statement of reasons for every content removal (Article 17 of the DSA), publish semi-annual moderation reports — such as the figure of 41.4 million pieces of content removed in Europe between January and June 2025 — and offer internal and external mechanisms for appeals, including mediation and judicial review. In practice, however, these reports are opaque and appeal procedures are slow, which strongly incentivizes preventive censorship.
The EU and national DSCs also conduct investigations, including techniques such as "mystery shopping" to test compliance, as in the case of alleged sales of illegal products on e-commerce platforms such as Temu. Fines could reach up to 6% of a company's global turnover, amounting to potentially billions of euros for firms such as Meta or Google. In cases of non-cooperation, platforms even face the possibility of a temporary ban within the EU.
This environment of stringent enforcement strongly encourages platforms to over-moderate content in order to minimize regulatory risk, leading to the removal of content that is perfectly legal. We are speaking here of approximately eight million posts deleted per month in the European Union, not including complete bans, such as those imposed on Russian media outlets.
Based on what criteria? (The foundations of "moderation")
The criteria underpinning content moderation are neither uniform nor clearly defined. Instead, they rely on existing EU and national laws, rendering the system vague and highly susceptible to abuse. Terms such as "hate" are never precisely defined, allowing for expansive and discretionary interpretation.
Illegal content is treated as the top priority. Defined by the EU and national legislation, it includes hate speech (such as incitement to violence based on race or religion), terrorist content, child sexual exploitation material, counterfeit goods, and dangerous products. For example, investigations have targeted Temu for selling toxic toys or so-called "pedophile dolls."
Yet the central problem remains: "hate" itself is never defined in law. Labeling a politician as a right-wing extremist, for instance, could arguably be considered hateful, yet such expressions are never targeted by the DSA or its enforcement apparatus. By contrast, establishing potential links between Islamic immigration and anti-Semitism or political violence is routinely classified as "hateful."
In reality, "hate" has no coherent legal meaning and serves primarily as a pretext for censoring opinions that deviate from left-wing orthodoxy. In the United States, "A state may not forbid speech advocating the use of force or unlawful conduct unless this advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action." Speech is protected by the First Amendment.
A second category concerns "systemic risks," applicable only to VLOPs. This is the most elastic and dangerous category, encompassing harm to minors through addictive or violent content, and what is broadly labeled as "disinformation." Examples of disinformation include allegedly false information about elections or public health, and algorithmic manipulation. Such content is not necessarily illegal but is considered "harmful" if amplified, leading to measures such as deprioritization of posts about COVID-19 or vaccines deemed false.
It must be stressed that disinformation itself is not illegal. The DSA therefore mandates the active censorship of content that is lawful -- but merely displeasing to the European Princes and their legions of censors.
In 2025, one hundred free speech experts warned that the DSA would lead to a "dislocation" of global free speech.
American freedom of speech cannot survive a "Big Brother" DSA.
*Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain), philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green Reich (2020).
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Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 09/2026
Michel Hajji Georgiou
Not wanting to be controversial, and out of the passionate field, a question about the background around all this controversy about a religious concert that is currently breaking the chronicle in Lebanon:
If what disturbs is the use of electronic music based on the fact that it represents an element of modernity incompatible with "true" faith, a rigorous pseudo "ascension" - then why publicise religion on social media?
Isn't this the most patented sign of modernity driving everything and anything?
Why have you allowed radio and television to play a role at this level in the past? American evangelicals on Nour TV?
Simpler yet... why go to church with the best clothes on Sunday, where all that is required is humility and simplicity?
The answer is clear - because religion is, in principle, a matter of individual belief, and therefore, of responsibility and personal freedom, before serving a community in search of a Gregorian identity to differentiate and secure.
Religion is one of the sources of modern music. For those who don't know it - and they seem to be many - much of modern music was born from spiritual negroes and blues. Christian Religious Rock Exists. Christian religious hard rock exists.
Do we have to give to gemonies, for example, this Italian sister who participated (and danced) a decade ago, in The Voice Italy to promote the message of the Gospel, covering Cindy Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun? And who had received Pope Francis' encouragement?
Modernity, everyone does what they want. Some use it to destroy, some to build.
Here - like religion, everything else.
To the good one, hello. How unfortunate it is to be writing all this in 2026...

Roger Bejjani
Out of pure demagogy and intellectual cowardice, the various Christian leaderships refrain from taking a stand with the fantastic Father Guilherme.
Leadership is meant to lead the way and not follow the stupid fundamentalist currents

Charles Elias Chartouni
Tim Walz is a corrupt governor and a liar who is trying to cover up the monumental robbery conducted jointly with the Somali Mafia led by Ilhan Omar in Minnesota.