English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  January 17/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children
Second Letter to the Corinthians 12/11-16/:"I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works. How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! Here I am, ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, because I do not want what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? Let it be assumed that I did not burden you. Nevertheless (you say) since I was crafty, I took you in by deceit."

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 16-17/2026
Spiritual & Historical Reflections on the Annual Feast of Saint Mar Matanios – The Hermit Mor Mattai/Elias Bejjani/January 17/2026
Two killed in Israeli strikes on Mansouri, Mayfadoun
Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills one: ministry
UNIFIL says Israel dropped grenade near peacekeepers
Aoun presides over security meeting in Baabda
Fast-track support: UNIFIL exit drives urgent push to reinforce Lebanese Army
KSA keen on 'rational' disarmament in Lebanon
Egyptian foreign minister holds phone talks with Salam
Geagea, Aoun discuss Hezbollah disarmament in phone call
World Bank, Lebanon's Public Works Minister discuss infrastructure projects
Finance, energy ministers say World Bank backing boosts Lebanon's power sector reforms
Lebanon's fuel prices rise
First Lady Nehmat Aoun hosts national meeting to back women’s quota law ahead of parliamentary elections
Lebanon charges four with kidnapping retired officer for Israel's Mossad
UN must ‘carefully’ heed Lebanese views as it weighs post-UNIFIL options, peacekeeping chief says/Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/January 17/2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 16-17/2026
Video-Link from DWS News Youtube Platform/Full Q&A: Iran's Exiled Pahlavi Confronts Press on Regime Collapse, Return to Iran & Crisis | AC1E
Trump says ‘thank you’ to Iran for not hanging protesters
Iran’s deadly crackdown appears to quell protests, rights group say
USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, warships ‘streaming toward’ Middle East: Report
Israel weighs strike on Iran as talks with Tehran remain uncertain
Kremlin says Putin is mediating in Iran to normalize situation
US envoy Witkoff hopes for diplomatic resolve with Iran as military strike threat looms
Israel’s Netanyahu urged Trump to hold off on Iran attack, for now: Reports
Trump names Rubio, Blair to Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
Palestinian technocrats who will run Gaza hold their first meeting in Cairo
White House names some leaders with roles in next steps in Gaza, while Palestinian committee meets
Israel operating beyond ceasefire line in Gaza, satellite images suggest
Israeli military kills Palestinian teenager in occupied West Bank
Egypt FM, US envoy Witkoff discuss Gaza deal implementation, regional de-escalation
French publisher recalls dictionary over ‘Jewish settler’ reference
Syria’s Sharaa grants Kurdish Syrians citizenship, language rights for first time, SANA says
Hundreds flee to government-held areas in north Syria ahead of possible offensive
Syria’s leader set to visit Berlin with deportations in focus
US military meets Kurdish forces in Syria’s Deir Hafer in bid to calm tensions with
US military visits contested area in northern Syria to defuse rising tensions
Latest US sanctions target Houthi funding networks, Treasury says
Trump offers to mediate Egypt-Ethiopia dispute on Nile River waters
Yemen prime minister quits, replaced by foreign minister
Machado seeks Pope Leo’s support for Venezuela’s transition during Vatican meeting
Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
Danish general says there are no Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 16-17/2026
Locked and Loaded'?: Is Trump Abandoning the Courageous Iranians – Again?/Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute/January 16, 2026
The geopolitical consequences of Iran protests for South Caucasus/Luke Coffey/Arab News/January 16, 2026
What Syria-Israel talks mean for Turkiye/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/January 16, 2026
Dissonant voices and Saudi Arabia’s stance/Prince Turki al-Faisal/16 January/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 16/2026

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on January 15-16/2026
Spiritual & Historical Reflections on the Annual Feast of Saint Mar Matanios – The Hermit Mor Mattai
Elias Bejjani/January 17/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/151190/
Who Is Saint Mar Matanios?
Saint Mar Matanios, known in the Syriac tradition as Mar Matthew the Hermit (Mor Mattai), is one of the pillars of Eastern monasticism in the fourth Christian century and the founder of the renowned Monastery of Mar Mattai near Nineveh. He is regarded as one of the great ascetics who contributed to strengthening the faith and spreading monastic life in the Church of the East. The Syriac and Maronite Churches commemorate his annual feast on January 17.
Historical Timeline and Biography
Year of birth: approximately the first quarter of the fourth century (c. 300–305 AD)
Place of birth: the city of Amida (Diyarbakir) in Mesopotamia
Social background: from a family of status and influence, in a non-Christian environment
Conversion to Christianity: in his youth, following a profound spiritual experience that led him to faith in Christ
Entrance into monastic life: around 330–335 AD
First place of ascetic life: the mountains and wilderness near Nineveh (present-day Iraq)
Foundation of the monastery: the nucleus of the Monastery of Mar Mattai around 363 AD, which later became a major monastic and spiritual center
Year of death: approximately 410–420 AD
Place of death: in his monastery near Nineveh
Recognition of sainthood (canonization): not by a conciliar decree as in the Latin concept, but by the consensus of the Church and living tradition since the fifth century; his name was included in the Syriac and Maronite Synaxaria
His Ascetic and Monastic Life
Mar Matanios chose the path of total renunciation, living a strict ascetic life of fasting and vigil, constant prayer, inner silence, obedience, and humility, rejecting all worldly glory. Many disciples gathered around him, and his ascetic experience developed into an organized monastic movement that became one of the foundations of Eastern Syriac monasticism.
His Miracles According to Church Tradition
The Synaxaria and spiritual biographies affirm that God glorified His saint through many miracles, most notably the healing of the sick from incurable physical illnesses, the casting out of evil spirits through prayer and the sign of the Cross, the protection of believers and monks during times of persecution and turmoil, and numerous miracles through his intercession after his death, especially for the sick and the weak. These miracles are understood as signs of the saint’s union with God, not as ends in themselves.
His Impact on Church and Monastic Life
Monastic impact:
The establishment of the model of communal monasticism in the East
The formation of generations of monks and bishops
The transformation of the Monastery of Mar Mattai into a spiritual and theological school
Ecclesial impact:
The strengthening of Christian faith in religiously diverse regions
The consolidation of Syriac spiritual and liturgical identity
The offering of a living witness of holiness that drew believers to the Church
What the Maronite Synaxarion Says About the Saint
The Maronite Synaxarion presents Saint Mar Matanios as a holy ascetic monk who abandoned wealth and worldly glory, dwelt in the wilderness out of love for Christ, founded a monastery that became a beacon of holiness, and became renowned for his powerful prayer and miracles. The Church celebrates his feast annually on January 17, highlighting his ascetic virtues and effective intercession.
The Relationship of Saint Mar Matanios with Lebanon
Although the saint’s life unfolded in Mesopotamia, his veneration reached Lebanon through the Syriac–Maronite tradition. This is manifested in churches bearing his name according to local tradition, ancient churches and monasteries dedicated to him in Mount Lebanon and the North, especially in areas influenced by Syriac heritage, as well as altars or side altars dedicated to him in some Maronite churches.
Monasteries:There is a spiritual bond between Maronite monasteries in Lebanon and Syriac monasticism that originated from the School of Mar Mattai. His name is mentioned in liturgical books and monastic biographies circulated in monasteries. It is worth noting that the spread of his name in Lebanon is primarily spiritual and liturgical rather than directly historical.
Asceticism, and love are the true path to the salvation of humanity and of nations
While, Saint Mar Matanios remains a witness that holiness shapes history, and that the ascetic monk can be a father to generations and nations. On his glorious feast, the Church renews her faith that prayer, asceticism, and love are the true path to the salvation of humanity and of nations.
A Prayer to Saint Mar Matanios for Lebanon
O Saint of God, Mar Matanios, you who knew the path of peace in the heart of the desert, and who made prayer a wall and a protection, we ask you today for wounded Lebanon: protect its people from wars and destruction, ward off every occupation, domination, and terrorism, bring an end to violence, killing, and corruption, and deliver it from all the forces of evil that have disfigured its face and suffocated its freedom.
Intercede, O Saint of God, that peace may return to the Land of the Cedars, that the state may rise in truth and justice, and that the Lebanese may live in dignity and security. Amen.
Clarifying Note: This text refers to Saint Mar Matanios (Mar Matthew the Hermit), founder of the Monastery of Mar Mattai near Nineveh in Mesopotamia, and should not be confused with Saint Matanios the Desert Dweller who lived in the Egyptian wilderness, as they are two distinct saints belonging to different ecclesial traditions.
NB: The information in this study is cited from various documented ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Two killed in Israeli strikes on Mansouri, Mayfadoun
Agence France Presse/16 January/2026
An Israeli airstrike targeted Friday a vehicle in the southern town of al-Mansouri in the Tyre district, killing one person, hours after another strike overnight targeted a car in Mayfadoun, also killing a person. On Thursday, the Israeli military said it conducted air strikes against Hezbollah targets shortly after issuing evacuation orders for the village of Sohmor and Machghara in West Bekaa. It later targeted Hermel's outskirts in Bekaa. The strikes come a week after the Lebanese military said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the first phase of a nationwide plan, though Israel has called those efforts insufficient. Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire. On Sunday, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported "a series of violent Israeli strikes" on Jezzine, Mahmoudiyeh and al-Dimasqiyeh, as well as "more than 10 strikes" on al-Bureij, all in southern Lebanon.

Israeli strike in south Lebanon kills one: ministry
AFP/January 16, 2026
BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on south Lebanon killed one person on Friday, the health ministry in Beirut said a day after raids that Israel said had targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, usually saying it is targeting members of the group or its infrastructure. In a statement, the health ministry said an “Israeli enemy strike” on a vehicle in Mansuri in south Lebanon killed one person. It also said that a strike on Mayfadun in south Lebanon the previous night killed one person. Israeli said Thursday’s attack killed a Hezbollah member it alleged “took part in attempts to reestablish Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the Zawtar Al-Sharqiyah area.”The attacks come a week after Lebanon’s military said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River, the first phase of a nationwide plan, although Israel has called those efforts insufficient. On Thursday, Israel carried out several strikes against eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa region, north of the Litani, after issuing warnings to evacuate. United Nations peacekeepers, deployed in the south to separate Lebanon from Israel, said on Friday that an Israeli drone “dropped a grenade” on its troops. On Monday, the peacekeeping force said an Israeli tank fired near its troops, and warned that such incidents were becoming “disturbingly common.”

UNIFIL says Israel dropped grenade near peacekeepers
Naharnet/16 January/2026
An Israeli drone has dropped a grenade near UNIFIL peacekeepers in south Lebanon in the latest such incident, the U.N. force said on Friday. “Yesterday, peacekeepers on a planned patrol near Adeisse were warned by locals about a potential danger at a home, and discovered an explosive device connected to a detonating cord,” UNIFIL said in a statement. “The peacekeepers set up a security cordon and prepared to check another house. Soon after, a drone that had been hovering overhead dropped a grenade about 30 meters from the peacekeepers,” it added. UNIFIL then sent a stop-fire request to the Israeli army. No one was injured. Such Israeli activities on Lebanese territory “put local civilians at risk and are a violation of Security Council resolution 1701,” UNIFIL said, reminding the Israeli army of “its obligation to ensure the safety of peacekeepers and to cease activities that endanger them.”“Any actions that put peacekeepers at risk are serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701, and undermine the stability all of us are working to achieve,” UNIFIL warned.

Aoun presides over security meeting in Baabda
Naharnet/16 January/2026
President Joseph Aoun on Friday presided over a security meeting in Baabda that was attended by Minister of Defense Michel Menassa, Minister of Interior Ahmed al-Hajjar, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, and the heads of the various security agencies. The president praised the ongoing cooperation and coordination between security forces at all levels. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high security readiness, diligent follow-up, and providing the data necessary for the smooth operation of security efforts. He noted that the upcoming phase requires “additional efforts to solidify security and safety across the country.”The president also said that the government is in the process of improving military salaries to bring them in line with those of public sector employees. He requested that Ministers Menassa and al-Hajjar prepare the necessary studies to review military salaries and benefits. He also instructed military and security agencies to prepare detailed reports on their specific needs to be presented to participants at the Paris conference on March 5 that will be dedicated to supporting the Lebanese Army and security agencies.

Fast-track support: UNIFIL exit drives urgent push to reinforce Lebanese Army
LBCI/16 January/2026
The decision to hold an international conference on March 5 to support the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces (ISF) has been hastened by the planned complete withdrawal of the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, from Lebanon by the end of this year. Under scenarios being discussed by Lebanon's international and regional sponsors, the complete withdrawal of UNIFIL would coincide with the conclusion of the weapons-collection process across Lebanese territory and the achievement of a security agreement between Lebanon and Israel. That arrangement would be accompanied by the deployment of a new international force south of the Litani River, composed of European troops. France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain, and Russia have all expressed readiness to contribute forces, according to informed sources. However, Lebanese officials fear that UNIFIL could withdraw without a viable alternative in place, before the disarmament process is completed, a security agreement is finalized, and the Lebanese Army is sufficiently reinforced in personnel and equipment. Such a scenario, they warn, would significantly raise the risk of clashes between the Lebanese and Israeli armies. It could also allow armed groups to reassert themselves in the border area, potentially plunging the region back into instability and triggering Israeli military responses. Concerns have also been raised in international and regional discussions about the Lebanese Army's current capacity to move into a second phase of the weapons-collection plan. With around 10,000 troops already deployed south of the Litani River, questions persist over how the army would secure the manpower needed for subsequent phases: whether by redeploying those forces northward, by pulling units away from the Syrian border, or by reducing deployments tasked with maintaining internal security. These constraints have prompted the countries backing the upcoming support conference to expand its scope to include assistance for Lebanon's ISF, enabling them to assume greater responsibility for domestic security. This, in turn, would allow the army to focus on border duties and the disarmament process, particularly as UNIFIL is expected to begin handing over some of its positions to the Lebanese Army as part of its drawdown. Since November, budget cuts at the United Nations have already led to the departure of about 1,800 UNIFIL troops from various contingents, though no positions have been fully evacuated. Two naval vessels tasked with monitoring Lebanese territorial waters have also withdrawn, prompting the Lebanese navy to step up its operations.

KSA keen on 'rational' disarmament in Lebanon
Naharnet/16 January/2026
Visiting Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan told Lebanese figure whom he met on Thursday that the process of disarming armed groups in Lebanon “will continue until the end and the decision is final,” a media report said. “There is no problem over this issue with any of the Lebanese components and the kingdom is keen for that to take place rationally and without any domestic tensions,” Bin Farhan added, according to al-Akhbar newspaper. Noting that the Lebanese Army enjoys Riyadh’s “support,” the Saudi envoy said KSA “appreciates” the army’s “achievements” although “they have not been sufficient” and “wants them to continue.”“The kingdom wants the best relations with the Lebanese state and it is open to good ties with the various Lebanese forces and components,” Bin Farhan added.

Egyptian foreign minister holds phone talks with Salam
Naharnet/16 January/2026
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, in a phone call with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, affirmed Cairo's “support for Lebanese national institutions in fulfilling their full responsibilities to maintain the security and stability of their country,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. Abdelatty expressed his welcome for Lebanon's announcement regarding the completion of the first phase of the plan to confine weapons to the state south of the Litani River, considered this a step that "reflects a clear commitment to strengthening state sovereignty and consolidating the role of its legitimate institutions." According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty emphasized Cairo's full rejection of any infringement on Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. He stressed the necessity of the "full and non-selective implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 to ensure the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the cessation of all violations of Lebanese sovereignty." During the call, the Egyptian Foreign Minister also expressed absolute rejection of any attempts at military escalation that affect the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.

Geagea, Aoun discuss Hezbollah disarmament in phone call
Naharnet/16 January/2026
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has called President Joseph Aoun and discussed with him the state's monopoly on arms, MTV said. The call took place on Thursday and was "long" and "positive", with relations getting calmer between Geagea and Aoun, according to the Lebanese TV network. In a statement published Friday, Geagea said he told Aoun that his first year in office marked the start of a path toward restoring an actual and capable state, lauding his latest remarks in which he stressed that only the state should have the right to have arms and to take war and peace decisions. Geagea also discussed with Aoun the need to keep Lebanon out from regional conflicts, and the expats' right to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

World Bank, Lebanon's Public Works Minister discuss infrastructure projects
LBCI/16 January/2026
Lebanon's Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny met with a high-level World Bank delegation to review ongoing World Bank–funded projects in the country and explore ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and vital public facilities. The talks focused on enhancing coordination between the ministry and the international financial institution as Lebanon seeks to address pressing infrastructure needs amid a prolonged economic crisis. Discussions also centered on the Lebanon Emergency Assistance Project (LEAP), a $250 million reconstruction loan approved by the World Bank following its legal ratification. The two sides agreed on mechanisms to activate the loan and develop a practical implementation plan in coordination with the ministry and local municipalities. The funding is intended to support Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction efforts and to rebuild infrastructure damaged during the Israeli aggression in 2024, to restore essential services to residents. The visit came as part of an assessment mission to identify the ministry’s needs and priorities for the coming phase, in a bid to bolster sustainable development efforts and support key infrastructure projects across the country. Rasamny underscored the importance of cooperation with the World Bank on projects that directly affect citizens’ daily lives, stressing that the ministry remains committed to working with international partners to achieve balanced development across all regions of Lebanon.

Finance, energy ministers say World Bank backing boosts Lebanon's power sector reforms
LBCI/16 January/2026
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said Lebanon is seeking to cover the budget deficit through long-term loans, highlighting ongoing projects in sectors including water and agriculture, following a meeting with a World Bank delegation. Speaking after the talks, Jaber said a grant provided by the World Bank will help the Ministry of Energy and Electricité du Liban (EDL) move forward with an implementation plan tied to a $250 million loan. He noted that part of the financing will support a power generation project through a solar energy plant. Energy Minister Joe Saddi said confidence is gradually returning to Lebanon’s electricity sector, thanking the World Bank for its continued support.

Lebanon's fuel prices rise
LBCI/16 January/2026
On Friday, January 16, 2026, the price of 95 and 98 octane fuel increased by LBP 12,000, and that of diesel rose by LBP 10,000, while gas remained unchanged.
The current prices for hydrocarbon derivatives are as follows:
- Gasoline 95 octane: LBP 1,324,000
- Gasoline 98 octane: LBP 1,364,000
- Diesel: LBP 1,242,000
- Gas canister: LBP 1,197,000

First Lady Nehmat Aoun hosts national meeting to back women’s quota law ahead of parliamentary elections
LBCI/16 January/2026
Lebanon’s National Commission for Lebanese Women, chaired by First Lady Nehmat Aoun, held a national meeting in support of a proposed women’s quota law ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The meeting aimed to unify the efforts of various stakeholders to enhance women’s participation in decision-making positions and to support a unified draft law ensuring the adoption of a women’s quota in the next parliamentary elections. It falls within the commission’s coordinating role with civil society organizations and its joint efforts to discuss the proposed unified version of the quota law.
In a speech, First Lady Nehmat Aoun stressed that “collaborative work between state institutions, civil society organizations, international organizations, and experts is the only path to achieving tangible progress and turning demands into reality.”She noted that no single party can bring about change on its own, but that unifying efforts can transform policies into laws, and laws into lived reality. “Today, we extend our hand to all national and international partners to rally around the quota law proposal, as a practical and temporary step to remove structural barriers to women’s participation,” Aoun said, adding that it should serve as a foundation for a broader goal: full equality in representation across all decision-making positions. She concluded by saying that “this meeting is not merely a gathering; it marks a new launch in a journey of struggle and advocacy for genuine citizenship and gender equality, and for the Lebanon we aspire to—a just, inclusive state built on partnership between women and men.”

Lebanon charges four with kidnapping retired officer for Israel's Mossad
Agence France Presse/16 January/2026
Four people accused of a kidnapping in Lebanon for Israel's Mossad spy agency last month have been charged, a judicial official said, after a retired security officer whose brother was linked to an Israeli airman's disappearance went missing. Israel has apprehended suspects in Lebanon before and Mossad is accused of regularly attempting to contact Lebanese people to facilitate its operations, while Lebanon has arrested dozens of people on suspicion of collaborating with Israel over the years. Lebanese authorities believe the agency known for espionage operations outside of Israel's borders was behind the disappearance of retired security officer Ahmad Shukr last month. Shukr, whose brother Hassan is suspected of involvement in the 1986 capture of Israeli air force navigator Ron Arad, disappeared in the Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon. Authorities have arrested and charged one Lebanese man and charged three more who remain at large. The four were charged with "communicating with and working for Mossad within Lebanon in exchange for money, and carrying out the kidnapping of Ahmad Shukr", a judicial official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The three are "a Lebanese woman, a Lebanese-French man, and a Syrian-Swedish man," the official said. The Israeli airman Ron Arad, whose plane went down in southern Lebanon during the country's civil war between 1975 and 1990, is now presumed dead and his remains were never returned. Hassan Shukr was killed in 1988 in a battle between Israeli forces and local fighters, including from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, a source close to the family told AFP last month, requesting anonymity.

UN must ‘carefully’ heed Lebanese views as it weighs post-UNIFIL options, peacekeeping chief says
Ephrem Kossaify/Arab News/January 17/2026
NEW YORK CITY: The UN must take its lead from authorities in Lebanon as it weighs its options for international support after the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the country ends, the head of UN peace operations said on Friday. The views of Beirut must be central to any future arrangement, he stressed. “We have to listen carefully to the Lebanese authorities,” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, told Arab News during a virtual press conference from Saudi Arabia, in reference to discussions about what UN support for the country might look like when the UN Interim Force in Lebanon’s peacekeeping mandate ends. He was speaking during a regional tour that has taken him to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel, during which he met senior political and military officials as well as members of the UN peacekeeping force on the ground. UNIFIL will continue to operate in Lebanon until its current mandate expires on Dec. 31 this year, with all forces remaining in place until then, Lacroix said. “There is no predrawdown mandate,” he added. The UN Security Council voted in August last year to grant one final extension to the UNIFIL mandate through the end of 2026, despite Lebanon’s objections. It came as Israel and the US pressed for an end to the decades-old peacekeeping mission, established in 1978, and amid a renewed push to enforce Resolution 1701. The resolution ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. It also underpins their current truce, and calls for the Lebanese state to assert exclusive control over security in the south of the country and to disarm all non-state armed groups. Lacroix said the relationship between UNIFIL and Lebanese authorities was “excellent,” and cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces remained strong. He praised what he described as the political will in Beirut to advance the full implementation of Resolution 1701, citing in particular the recent announcement by Lebanese authorities outlining the first phase of their efforts to establish operational control south of the Litani River. He also acknowledged that significant work remains to be done.
Asked about the disarmament of Hezbollah, Lacroix told Arab News he had heard nothing during his visit that casts doubt on the political will of Lebanese authorities to achieve this, while acknowledging that there are differing assessments among interlocutors about the pace of progress and the risk of rearmament.
“The bottom line for us is that there is momentum,” he said, adding that the UN’s role was to support Lebanese efforts through both its peacekeeping mission and political engagement.
The Security Council has asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present options for post-UNIFIL support for Resolution 1701 by June 1. Work on that is ongoing, he said, and includes consultations with Lebanese and Israeli authorities, as well as members of the Security Council.
While Lebanese leaders have expressed concern about the end of UNIFIL’s mission and interest in maintaining some form of UN presence in the country, Lacroix said any successor arrangement would be decided by the Security Council.
He declined to speculate about the form or size of any future force. Several factors would need to be assessed, he said, including the security environment and the level of international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
However, he repeatedly emphasized the need for greater backing of the Lebanese army from international partners, describing such support as “more important than ever.”Lacroix described the “appalling” widespread destruction he had witnessed during his visit to southern Lebanon along the Blue Line that separates the country from Israel. Many villages had been heavily damaged and Lebanese civilians were still unable to return to their homes, he said, warning that this complicates the prospects for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
He also raised concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers as their operating environment had become increasingly dangerous. While relations with local communities were generally good, he said UNIFIL had faced a growing number of hostile incidents involving the Israeli army.
“The frequency of (Israeli attacks) has been quite high and has been increasing,” he said, warning that some of them could have had “very tragic consequences.”He said he had raised this issue directly with Israeli officials, and called for action to be taken to prevent further incidents, stressing that all parties have a responsibility to ensure the safety of peacekeepers. Turning to Syria, Lacroix said the Israeli military presence in the UN-monitored area of separation has become the main challenge for peacekeepers, as Israeli forces occupy 10 positions in a zone reserved under a 1974 agreement for UN troops only. Daily liaison with Israeli forces had helped limit the effects on civilians, he added. “Our objective remains a return to full implementation of the 1974 agreement,” Lacroix said, and he welcomed US-mediated talks between Israel and Syria. He also addressed the effects of budget cuts on UN peacekeeping missions. Financial shortfalls had forced missions, including UNIFIL, to reduce patrols and prioritize certain areas, he said, limiting their ability to support national forces and protect civilians. Jordanian officials have expressed support for Lebanon’s efforts and are providing assistance, he added, including training for members of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Lacroix said he had yet to meet Saudi officials but expected to discuss Lebanon with them during upcoming talks. He also noted Saudi Arabia’s role in discussions about a possible international conference to support the Lebanese army.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 16-17/2026
Video-Link from DWS News Youtube Platform/Full Q&A: Iran's Exiled Pahlavi Confronts Press on Regime Collapse, Return to Iran & Crisis | AC1E
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/151184/
IRAN STANDS AT A TIPPING POINT
In a rare and explosive full Q&A, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi confronted reporters head-on, speaking candidly about the Islamic Republic’s failings, the escalating crisis across the nation, and his readiness to return and lead Iran toward freedom.
Pahlavi declared without hesitation: “This is occupation, not government. The Islamic Republic will fall.” His comments have reverberated globally, striking a chord among Iranian opposition groups, diaspora communities, and international observers.
During the session, Pahlavi addressed:
The collapse of state legitimacy within Iran
The growing domestic resistance against the regime
His vision for a democratic and unified Iran
How he plans to rally support from within and abroad
Political analysts warn that Pahlavi’s statements could accelerate discussions of leadership change, as he positions himself as a stabilizing force ready to step in if the Iranian people demand it. His Q&A offered a clear window into Iran’s political future, highlighting both the regime’s vulnerabilities and the possibilities of national transformation.

Trump says ‘thank you’ to Iran for not hanging protesters
AFP/16 January/2026
US President Donald Trump thanked Iran’s leadership on Friday after saying Tehran had called off the executions of hundreds of protesters arrested in a brutal crackdown. “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over the past two weeks to help protesters, where rights groups say Iranian forces have killed thousands of people.
But he is now holding off on intervening after saying on Wednesday that he had been told the killings had stopped. Trump also dismissed comments that Arab and Israeli officials led efforts to talk him out of an attack, and said that it was Iran’s actions that swayed him. “Nobody convinced me -- I convinced myself,” Trump told reporters later Friday as he left the White House to head to Florida for the weekend. “They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact.”

Iran’s deadly crackdown appears to quell protests, rights group say
Reuters, Dubai/16 January/2026
Iran’s deadly crackdown appears to have broadly quelled protests ‍for now, according to a rights group and residents, as state media reported more arrests on Friday in the shadow of US threats to intervene if killing continues.After President Donald Trump’s repeated threats ‍of military action against Iran in support of protesters, fears of a US attack have retreated since Wednesday, when Trump said he’d been told killings in the crackdown were easing. US allies including Saudi Arabia and Qatar conducted intense diplomacy with Washington this week to prevent a US strike, warning of consequences for the wider region that would ultimately impact the United States, a Gulf official said. The White House said on Thursday that Trump is closely monitoring the situation on the ground, adding that the president and his team have warned Tehran there would ⁠be “grave consequences” if killings linked to its crackdown continue. Trump understands that 800 scheduled executions were halted, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt added, saying the president was keeping “all of his options on the table”. The protests erupted on December 28 over soaring inflation in Iran, whose economy has been crippled by sanctions, before spiraling into one of the biggest challenges yet to the clerical establishment that has run Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Rights group reports heavy security deployments
With information flows from Iran obstructed by an internet blackout, several residents of Tehran said the capital had been quiet since Sunday. They said drones were flying over the city, where they’d seen no sign of protests on Thursday or Friday. Iranian-Kurdish rights group Hengaw said that there had been no protest gatherings since Sunday, saying “the security environment remains highly restrictive”. “Our independent sources confirm a heavy military and security presence in cities and towns where protests previously took ‍place, as well as in several locations that did not experience major demonstrations,” Norway-based Hengaw said in comments to Reuters. Another resident in a northern city on the Caspian Sea said the streets also appeared calm. The ‍residents declined to be identified for their safety.
Reports of sporadic unrest
There were, however, indications of unrest ⁠in some areas. Hengaw reported that a female nurse was killed by direct gunfire from government forces ‌during protests in Karaj, west of Iran. Reuters was ⁠not able to independently verify the report. The state-affiliated Tasnim news ‍outlet reported that rioters set fire to a local education office in Falavarjan County, in central Isfahan Province, on Thursday. An elderly resident of a town in Iran’s northwestern region, where many Kurdish Iranians ⁠live and which has been the focus for many of the biggest flare-ups, said sporadic protests had continued, though not as intensely. Describing scenes of violence earlier in the protests, she said: “I have not scenes like that ‌before.”The state-owned Press TV cited Iran’s police chief as saying calm had been restored across the country. A death toll reported by US-based rights group HRANA has increased little since Wednesday, currently standing at 2,677 people, including 2,478 protesters and 163 people identified as people affiliated with the government.Reuters has not been able to independently verify the HRANA death toll. An Iranian official told the news agency earlier this week that about 2,000 people had been killed in the unrest. The casualty numbers dwarf the death toll from previous bouts of unrest that ‍have been suppressed by the state. Iranian authorities have described the unrest as the most violent yet, accusing foreign enemies of fomenting it and armed people they have identified as terrorists of targeting security forces and carrying out other attacks.The state-affiliated Tasnim news outlet reported what it described as the arrest of a large number of leaders of recent riots in the western province of Kermanshah. Tasnim also reported the arrest of five people accused of vandalizing a gas station and a base belonging to the Basij - a branch of the security forces often used to quell unrest - in the southeastern city of Kerman. Also on Friday, state television broadcast the ‌funerals of members of the security forces in Semnan, northern Iran, and Semirom, central Iran.

USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, warships ‘streaming toward’ Middle East: Report
Al Arabiya English/16 January/2026
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft and some of its escort warships were heading toward the Middle East from the South China Sea, the New York Times reported on Thursday, amid heightened US tensions with Iran.Citing two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the publication reported that the carrier and its escorts could arrive in the region in about one week. It further quoted the officials as saying that “an array of warplanes, likely to include a combination of fighter jets, attack planes and refueling planes, were expected to start flowing into the region soon.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is also dispatching air defense equipment to the region, including interceptor missiles, for the protection of bases in the Middle East and Gulf, “especially the al-Udaid airbase in Qatar,” the report added. “The two US officials said the surge in weaponry aimed both to deter Iranian authorities from inflicting more violence on the protesters and to provide Mr. Trump with more options in planning for any attack on Iran,” according to the NYT. Iran has been the scene of large anti-government protests for weeks. The Iranian leadership is cracking down on the protests and has shut down the internet for over one week, according to human rights groups. The events have left thousands of people dead with the exact toll still unknown. Trump has repeatedly threatened possible military action should a deadly crackdown on protesters continue.

Israel weighs strike on Iran as talks with Tehran remain uncertain
LBCI/16 January/2026
Israel has not ruled out the possibility of a U.S. strike on Iran, with officials divided between those urging Tel Aviv to take steps that would support the overthrow of the Iranian regime and those who favor waiting for developments in the U.S.-Iran negotiation track. Israel is operating on more than one front. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment on reports of a conversation between Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the need to ensure the success of negotiations with Iran. At the same time, Israeli sources confirmed intensified consultations with the United States. Mossad chief David Barnea has arrived in the United States, where he is expected to hold talks in Miami with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who oversees Washington’s communication channel with Iran. Meanwhile, Israeli Cabinet member and Energy Minister Eli Cohen confirmed that both the military strike option and the negotiation track remain under consideration. The Israeli military continues its preparations amid assessments suggesting that the likelihood of a strike outweighs that of a negotiated outcome. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has intensified training across various units, while the political leadership has sought to reassure the public by stating that Tel Aviv would be informed in advance of any strike against Iran. As Israel maintains a heightened state of emergency, the military establishment has refocused attention on Hezbollah. Israel has stepped up strikes against the group while seeking to leverage negotiations with Iran to press for Hezbollah to be persuaded to relinquish its weapons, a move Israel says would help transform the Lebanese front into a stable zone.

Kremlin says Putin is mediating in Iran to normalize situation
Reuters/January 16, 2026
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin is mediating in the Iran situation to quickly de-escalate tensions, the Kremlin said on Friday, after the Russian leader spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Moscow has condemned US threats of new military strikes after Iran acted against protests that broke out late last month. Putin in ‌his call with Netanyahu expressed Russia’s willingness to “continue its mediation efforts and to promote constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states,” the Kremlin said, adding he had set out his ideas for boosting stability in the Middle East. No further details were given on Putin’s mediation attempt. Putin had then been briefed by Pezeshkian in a separate call on what the Kremlin called Tehran’s “sustained efforts” to normalize the situation inside Iran.“It was noted that Russia and Iran unanimously and consistently support de-escalating the tensions — both surrounding Iran and in the region as a whole — as soon as possible  and resolving any emerging issues through exclusively political and diplomatic ‌means,” the Kremlin said. Putin and Pezeshkian had confirmed their commitment to their countries’ strategic partnership and to implementing joint economic projects, the Kremlin added. Separately, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, China, India, and Iran, among others, said it opposed external interference in Iran and blamed Western sanctions for creating conditions for unrest. “Unilateral sanctions have had a significant negative impact on the economic stability of the state, led to a deterioration in people’s living conditions, and objectively limited the ability of the Government of the Islamic Republic ​of Iran to implement measures to ensure the country’s socio-economic development,” the SCO said in a statement. Protests erupted on Dec. 28 over soaring inflation in Iran, whose economy has been crippled by sanctions. Asked what support Russia could provide to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia is already providing assistance not only to Iran but also to the entire region, and to the cause of regional stability and peace. This is partly thanks to the president’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions.”The US Treasury on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security.

US envoy Witkoff hopes for diplomatic resolve with Iran as military strike threat looms
Al Arabiya English/16 January/2026
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has expressed his hope in reaching a “diplomatic resolution” with Iran amid looming threats of the US taking military action against the Islamic republic. Speaking at the Israeli-American Council conference on Thursday in Miami, Witkoff was asked if he thinks a US military strike on Iran is likely. “I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do,” he responded. The US envoy to the Middle East said there were four issues in the diplomatic agreement with Iran, including nuclear enrichment, Iran having to cut back its missile inventory, the actual nuclear material Iran possesses, and its proxies. “If they want to come back to the League of Nations, we can solve those four problems diplomatically, then that would be a great resolution. The alternative is a bad one,” he added. Until Wednesday, the US was threatening to strike Iran should it carry out the death penalty against people arrested over some of the biggest anti-government protests in the history of the Islamic republic. However, the demonstrations appeared to have diminished in the face of repression and a week-long internet blackout. When asked if he had a message for the people of Iran, Witkoff said, “They’re incredibly courageous people, and we stand with [them].”

Israel’s Netanyahu urged Trump to hold off on Iran attack, for now: Reports
Al Arabiya English/16 January/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump this week to delay any military strike against Iran, according to US officials. A senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday that the Kingdom, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk Trump out of an attack on Iran, fearing “grave blowbacks in the region.”Criticism was quickly levied at the US Gulf allies for pushing de-escalation in their own region. Senator Lindsey Graham, a neoconservative American lawmaker who has long been an advocate for regime change and war, went as far as suggesting there would be “dramatic rethinking” on his part regarding the nature of US alliances with “our so-called Arab allies.” However, a senior US official told the New York Times that Netanyahu asked the American president to postpone plans for such an attack. Other US officials later told the Wall Street Journal that Trump was advised against a large-scale strike because it would be unlikely to make the Iranian regime fall and could lead to a wider conflict. Additionally, the US would need more military assets in the region to be able to fend off any potential response from Iran, including against US forces in the Middle East and Israel itself. The US military, which currently has no aircraft carrier in the region, is deploying one from the South China Sea. Earlier in the week, the US withdrew some of its personnel from the largest American air base in the Middle East, Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base. The State Department has also cautioned citizens to limit non-essential travel to certain parts of the region. While Trump has so far not decided to attack, officials continue to stress that all options remain on the table. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the president had “made ‍it clear all ‍options ‍are on the table to ‍stop the slaughter” in Iran.

Trump names Rubio, Blair to Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
Al Arabiya English/Published: 17 January/2026
US President Donald Trump on Friday tapped Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as founding members of the Gaza “Board of Peace,” the White House said. Trump also named his special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner and World Bank President Ajay Banga among those on the seven-member “founding executive board,” it said in a statement. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, who chaired the US-brokered Lebanon-Israel ceasefire last year, has been appointed as Commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza. The White House said Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum would be senior advisors to the board.With AFP

Palestinian technocrats who will run Gaza hold their first meeting in Cairo
AFP/January 16, 2026
CAIRO: The Palestinian committee that will govern postwar Gaza held its first meeting in Cairo on Friday. Formed on Wednesday as the second phase of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal came into effect, the committee is made up of 15 technocrats charged with administering everyday life in the Palestinian territory.The meeting followed US President Donald Trump’s declaration of the formation of a Gaza “board of peace,” a key phase two element of the US-backed plan to end the war. Members of the board will be announced shortly, Trump said, and he will chair it. “I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place,” he said. The peace plan also calls for the deployment of an International Stabilisation Force to help secure Gaza and train vetted Palestinian police units. “The ball is now in the court of the mediators, the American guarantor and the international community to empower the committee," senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim said. The US-backed Gaza peace plan first came into force on October 10, facilitating the return of all the hostages held by Hamas and an end to the fighting between the Palestinian militant group and Israel in the besieged territory. The plan's second phase is now underway, though clouded by ongoing allegations of aid shortages and violence. Israeli forces have killed 451 Palestinians since the ceasefire began.

White House names some leaders with roles in next steps in Gaza, while Palestinian committee meets
AP/January 17, 2026
CAIRO: The White House released the names of some of the leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza after the Palestinian committee set to govern the territory under US supervision met for the first time Friday in Cairo.
The committee’s leader, Ali Shaath, an engineer and former Palestinian Authority official from Gaza, pledged to get to work quickly to improve conditions. He expects reconstruction and recovery to take about three years and plans to focus first on immediate needs, including shelter. “The Palestinian people were looking forward to this committee, its establishment and its work to rescue them,” Shaath said after the meeting, in a television interview with Egypt’s state-owned Al-Qahera News. US President Donald Trump supports the group’s efforts to govern Gaza after the two-year war between Israel and Hamas. Israeli troops withdrew from parts of Gaza after the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, while thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to what is left of their homes. Now, there will be a number of huge challenges going forward, including the deployment of an international security force to supervise the ceasefire deal and the difficult process of disarming Hamas. Under Trump’s plan, Shaath’s technocratic committee will run day-to-day affairs in Gaza under the oversight of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named. White House names some officials to oversight boards The White House said an executive board will work to carry out the vision of the Board of Peace.The executive board’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel. Nickolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and UN Mideast envoy, is to serve as the executive board’s representative overseeing day-to-day matters.
The White House also announced the members of another board, the “Gaza Executive Board,” which will work with Mladenov, the technocratic committee and the international stabilization force. Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan and Mladenov will also sit on that board. Additional members include: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi; Hassan Rashad, director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Agency; Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy; Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay; and Sigrid Kaag, the Netherlands’ former deputy prime minister and a Mideast expert.
Death of boy mourned in the West Bank
In the West Bank, friends and relatives gathered Friday to mourn the death of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy killed by Israeli forces. The Palestinian Health Ministry, which confirmed his death, said Mohammad Na’san was the first child killed by the army in the occupied West Bank in 2026.
Residents said Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas in an unprovoked attack. Israel’s military said in a statement that the incursion came after Palestinians had hurled rocks at Israelis and set tires aflame. “There was gunfire directed at citizens and farmers, the most dangerous of which occurred during the storming of the village as people were leaving the mosques. The streets were crowded with the elderly, children, women, and elders, and they began firing relentlessly,” said Ameen Abu Aliya, head of the Al-Mughayyir village council. The death was the latest episode of violence to hit Al-Mughayyir, a village east of Ramallah that has become a flashpoint in the West Bank. Much of the community’s agricultural land falls under Israeli military control. Early this year, settlers and Israeli military bulldozers destroyed olive groves in the area, saying they were searching for Palestinian gunmen. A children’s park in Al-Mughayyir was also demolished. In 2025, 240 Palestinians — including 55 children — were killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank, while Palestinians killed 17 Israelis — including one child — in the region, according to the United Nations. Meanwhile, two children were killed Friday in Gaza, a 7-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. They were killed in Beith Lahiya, near the Yellow Line, and their bodies taken to Al-Shifa Hospital, the hospital said. No further details were immediately available.

Israel operating beyond ceasefire line in Gaza, satellite images suggest
Arab News/January 16, 2026
LONDON: Israel has moved the so-called Yellow Line marking the boundary of its area of control within Gaza, satellite images show. A report by the BBC suggests that Israeli personnel have moved blocks denoting the line of control further inside territory ostensibly controlled by Hamas in at least three areas of Gaza. The move endangers Palestinians living nearby who have been left unclear where they can move freely, after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned in October that the military would open fire on anyone crossing the Yellow Line. The line’s markers have been moved further inside Hamas-controlled territory at Beit Lahia, Jabalia and Al-Tuffah, images seen by BBC Verify suggest. In total, 16 markers were moved in the three areas, at an average of 295 meters beyond their original positions.The BBC mapped another 205 Yellow Line markers across Gaza, with more than half of them found to have been placed further inside Hamas territory than previously agreed under the US-backed ceasefire plan. It added that some areas of the Yellow Line — amounting to nearly 10 km in total — remain unmarked almost three months after the ceasefire came into effect, despite Katz’s warning to civilians. A Palestinian told the BBC that in December Israeli troops moved markers around where he lives, leaving him “trapped” on the Israeli side. “We are now living inside the Yellow Line, (but) behind the yellow blocks, with no idea what our fate will be,” said the man, whom the BBC did not name for his safety. “The atmosphere at night is terrifying. We hear shells exploding, soldiers advancing, gunfire, and drones buzzing overhead without pause. We are also being shot at directly.”The BBC said satellite images showed that Israeli vehicles and personnel frequently crossed the Yellow Line despite the ceasefire agreement prohibiting them from doing so. It added that armored vehicles had been spotted at Bani Suhaila roundabout in Khan Younis, 400 meters west of the line, in verified footage, and that tanks and heavy machinery had been identified 260 meters beyond the line in Beit Lahia. The forays into Hamas territory have often been accompanied by demolitions of buildings and infrastructure. At least 69 incidents have been identified by the BBC since the ceasefire came into effect of Israeli troops shooting at Palestinian civilians in the vicinity of the Yellow Line. They include an airstrike on a school building on Dec. 19 in Al-Tuffah, which was 330 meters inside the Yellow Line on the Hamas side, but which was close to a marker denoting the line that had been moved from where it should have been. The strike killed five people, local authorities said. In Jabalia on Dec. 10, 17-year-old Zaher Nasser Shamiya was shot and run over by an Israeli tank on the Hamas side of the Yellow Line, his father said. “The tank turned his body into pieces … It came into the safe area (west of the Yellow Line) and ran over him,” he told the BBC. In November, two children were reportedly killed west of the line while out gathering firewood for their family. Middle East security expert Prof. Andreas Krieg told the BBC: “By keeping the legal line on the map and the physical blocks hundreds of meters apart, Israel preserves the ability to shift where Gazans may live, move and farm without ever formally announcing a change of border.”On Wednesday, Israel is due to begin withdrawing from more parts of Gaza under the terms of the US plan, but no timeline has been put in place as yet. Krieg warned that Israel’s continued moving of the Yellow Line markers and the accompanying destruction would reduce a swath of Gaza to a “sterilized belt.”He told the BBC: “In practice, that means the status of land is less about what the ceasefire map says and more about where concrete blocks sit on a given day.”

Israeli military kills Palestinian teenager in occupied West Bank
AFP/January 16, 2026
AL-MUGHAYYIR: Israeli forces killed a 14-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, while the military said soldiers had responded to stone throwing. The Ramallah-based Health Ministry announced the death of 14-year-old Mohammed Al-Nassan by Israeli fire in Al-Mughayyir in a statement on Friday. Shortly after, Israel’s military said its forces had come to the village after Palestinians “hurled stones toward Israelis, set tires on fire and blocked access routes to the area.”
FASTFACT
The Ramallah-based Health Ministry announced the death of 14-year-old Mohammed Al-Nassan by Israeli fire in Al-Mughayyir in a statement on Friday. The military said dozens of Palestinians were throwing stones upon their arrival, including one who posed “an imminent threat.”“The soldiers responded by firing warning shots into the air, followed by fire to eliminate the terrorist,” the military said, adding it had set up roadblocks in the area to search for another suspect.Amin Abu Aliya, mayor of Al-Mughayyir, said that the army raided the village when people began to exit mosques after Friday prayers.
“This young man (Nassan) was exiting the mosque where he was praying with the people, the military vehicle stopped in front of the mosque, they opened the back door and started shooting at him directly,” Abu Aliya said. Abu Aliya added that following the incident, the army introduced a curfew for the village, closing all shops and setting up a new checkpoint at the village’s entrance. He pointed to the heavy military presence in his village in recent months, which he said often protected Israeli settlers who recently set up nearby outposts and took land from Al-Mughayyir farmers. In September, a settler who the military said was an off-duty soldier shot and killed a 20-year-old who the army said had thrown stones in Al-Mughayyir.Israeli settlers in the West Bank also serve in the army, and sometimes carry their weapons with them when off duty. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.Violence there has soared since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war and has not subsided despite the truce that came into effect in October. Since October 2023, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Health Ministry figures.

Egypt FM, US envoy Witkoff discuss Gaza deal implementation, regional de-escalation
Al Arabiya English/16 January/2026
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the next steps in implementing the Gaza agreement during a phone call with US envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a statement. During the call, the two sides stressed the need to move forward with fulfilling the requirements of the second phase of the Gaza agreement. They also emphasized the importance of the Palestinian technocratic committee beginning its work following its formation, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to monitor the ceasefire, the completion of Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the launch of the early recovery and reconstruction phase. The call further underscored the need to work toward de-escalation and reducing tensions related to the Iranian issue, and to achieve calm in order to prevent the region from sliding into instability and chaos.

French publisher recalls dictionary over ‘Jewish settler’ reference
AFP/January 17/2026
PARSI: French publisher Hachette on Friday said it had recalled a dictionary that described the Israeli victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks as “Jewish settlers” and promised to review all its textbooks and educational materials. The Larousse dictionary for 11- to 15-year-old students contained the same phrase as that discovered by an anti-racism body in three revision books, the company told AFP. The entry in French reads: “In October 2023, following the death of more than 1,200 Jewish settlers in a series of Hamas attacks, Israel decided to tighten its economic blockade and invade a large part of the Gaza Strip, triggering a major humanitarian crisis in the region.”The worst attack in Israeli history saw militants from the Palestinian Islamist group kill around 1,200 people in settlements close to the Gaza Strip and at a music festival. “Jewish settlers” is a term used to describe Israelis living on illegally occupied Palestinian land. The four books, which were immediately withdrawn from sale, are subject to a recall procedure and will be destroyed, Hachette said, promising a “thorough review of its textbooks, educational materials and dictionaries.”France’s leading publishing group, which came under the control of the ultra-conservative Vincent Bollore at the end of 2023, has begun an internal inquiry “to determine how such an error was made.”It promised to put in place “a new, strengthened verification process for all its future publications” in these series. President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said that it was “intolerable” that the revision books for the French school leavers’ exam, the baccalaureat, “falsify the facts” about the “terrorist and antisemitic attacks by Hamas.”“Revisionism has no place in the Republic,” he wrote on X. Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, with 251 people taken hostage, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Authorities in Gaza estimate that more than 70,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces during their bombardment of the territory since, while nearly 80 percent of buildings have been destroyed or damaged, according to UN data.
Israeli forces have killed at least 447 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Syria’s Sharaa grants Kurdish Syrians citizenship, language rights for first time, SANA says
Reuters/January 16, 2026
DAMASCUS: Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa issued a decree affirming the rights of the Kurdish Syrians, formally recognizing their language and restoring citizenship to all Kurdish Syrians, state news agency SANA reported on Friday. Sharaa’s decree came after fierce clashes that broke out last week in the northern city of Aleppo, leaving at least 23 people dead, according to Syria’s health ministry, and forced more than 150,000 to flee the two Kurdish-run pockets of the city. The clashes ended ⁠after Kurdish fighters withdrew. The violence in Aleppo has deepened one of the main faultlines in Syria, where Al-Sharaa’s promise to unify the country under one leadership after 14 years of war has faced resistance from Kurdish forces wary of his Islamist-led government. The decree for ⁠the first time grants Kurdish Syrians rights, including recognition of Kurdish identity as part of Syria’s national fabric. It designates Kurdish as a national language alongside Arabic and allows schools to teach it. It also abolishes measures dating to a 1962 census in Hasaka province that stripped many Kurds of Syrian nationality, granting citizenship to all affected residents, including those previously registered as stateless.
The decree declares Nowruz, the ⁠spring and new year festival, a paid national holiday. It bans ethnic or linguistic discrimination, requires state institutions to adopt inclusive national messaging and sets penalties for incitement to ethnic strife. The Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that controls the country’s northeast, have engaged in months of talks last year to integrate Kurdish-run military and civilian bodies into Syrian state institutions by the end of 2025, but there has been little progress.

Hundreds flee to government-held areas in north Syria ahead of possible offensive
AP/January 16, 2026
DEIR HAFER, Syria: Scores of people carrying their belongings arrived in government-held areas in northern Syria on Friday ahead a possible attack by Syrian troops on territory held by Kurdish-led fighters east of the city of Aleppo. Many of the civilians who fled used side roads to reach government-held areas because the main highway was blocked with barriers at a checkpoint that previously was controlled by the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, Associated Press journalists observed. The Syrian army said late Wednesday that civilians would be able to evacuate through the “humanitarian corridor” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. The announcement appeared to signal plans for an offensive against the SDF in the area east of Aleppo. There were limited exchanges of fire between the two sides. Men, women and children arrived in cars and pickup trucks that were packed with bags of clothes, mattresses and other belongings. They were met by local officials who directed them to shelters. In other areas, people crossed canals on small boats and crossed a heavily damaged pedestrian bridge to reach the side held by government forces. The SDF closed the main highway but about 4,000 people were still able to reach government-held areas on other roads, Syrian state TV reported. A US military convoy arrived in Deir Hafer in the early afternoon but it was not immediately clear whether those personnel will remain. The US has good relations with both sides and has urged calm. Inside Deir Hafer, many shops were closed and people stayed home. “When I saw people leaving I came here,” said Umm Talal, who arrived in the government-held area with her husband and children. She added that the road appeared safe and her husband plans to return to their home. Abu Mohammed said he came from the town of Maskana after hearing the government had opened a safe corridor, “only to be surprised when we arrived at Deir Hafer and found it closed.”SDF fighters were preventing people from crossing through Syria’s main east-west highway and forcing them to take a side road, he said. The tensions in the Deir Hafer area come after several days of intense clashes last week in Aleppo, previously Syria’s largest city and commercial center, that ended with the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from three neighborhoods north of the city that were then taken over by government forces. The fighting broke out as negotiations stalled between Damascus and the SDF over an agreement reached in March to integrate their forces and for the central government to take control of institutions including border crossings and oil fields in the northeast. The US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, posted on X Friday that Washington remains in close contact with all parties in Syria, “working around the clock to lower the temperature, prevent escalation, and return to integration talks between the Syrian government and the SDF.”The SDF for years has been the main US partner in Syria in fighting against the Daesh group, but Turkiye considers the SDF a terrorist organization because of its association with Kurdish separatist insurgents in Turkiye.

Syria’s leader set to visit Berlin with deportations in focus
AFP/January 16, 2026
BERLIN: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is expected in Berlin on Tuesday for talks, as German officials seek to step up deportations of Syrians, despite unease about continued instability in their homeland. Sharaa is scheduled to meet his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German president’s office said. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s office has yet to announce whether he would also hold talks with Sharaa during the visit. Since ousting Syria’s longtime leader Bashar Assad in late 2024, Sharaa has made frequent overseas trips as the former Islamist rebel chief undergoes a rapid reinvention. He has made official visits to the United States and France, and a series of international sanctions on Syria have been lifted. The focus of next week’s visit for the German government will be on stepping up repatriations of Syrians, a priority for Merz’s conservative-led coalition since Assad was toppled. Roughly one million Syrians fled to Germany in recent years, many of them arriving in 2015-16 to escape the civil war.In November Merz, who fears being outflanked by the far-right AfD party on immigration, insisted there was “no longer any reason” for Syrians who fled the war to seek asylum in Germany.“For those who refuse to return to their country, we can of course expel them,” he said.
Dramatic situation’ -
In December, Germany carried out its first deportation of a Syrian since the civil war erupted in 2011, flying a man convicted of crimes to Damascus.
But rights groups have criticized such efforts, citing continued instability in Syria and evidence of rights abuses. Violence between the government and minority groups has repeatedly flared in multi-confessional Syria since Sharaa came to power, including recent clashes between the army and Kurdish forces. Several NGOs, including those representing the Kurdish and Alawite Syrian communities in Germany, have urged Berlin to axe Sharaa’s planned visit, labelling it “totally unacceptable.”“The situation in Syria is dramatic. Civilians are being persecuted solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious affiliation,” they said in a joint statement. “It is incomprehensible to us and legally and morally unacceptable that the German government knowingly intends to receive a person suspected of being responsible for these acts at the chancellery.”The Kurdish Community of Germany, among the signatories of that statement, also filed a complaint with German prosecutors in November, accusing Sharaa of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. There have also been voices urging caution within government. On a trip to Damascus in October, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that the potential for Syrians to return was “very limited” since the war had destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. But his comments triggered a backlash from his own conservative Christian Democratic Union party.

US military meets Kurdish forces in Syria’s Deir Hafer in bid to calm tensions with
Al Arabiya English/16 January/2026
US military forces met with Kurdish partners in Syria’s Deir Hafer on Friday as part of Washington’s efforts to stabilize the area following weeks of clashes between Kurdish forces and the Syrian government. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it was closely monitoring the developments. “US forces recently arrived in Deir Hafer to temporarily assess what is happening on the ground, engage Syrian partners, and help stabilize the situation,” CENTCOM Spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told Al Arabiya English. “A Syria at peace with itself is critical to preserving peace and stability across the region,” Hawkins added. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces told AFP that a meeting took place in Deir Hafer. A Syrian military source had told AFP that a coalition convoy had entered the area.

US military visits contested area in northern Syria to defuse rising tensions
AP/January 16, 2026
DEIR HAFER, Syria: A US military delegation arrived in a contested area of northern Syria on Friday following rising tensions between the Syrian government and a Kurdish-led force that controls much of the northeast. The US has good relations with both sides and has urged calm. A spokesperson for the US military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier in the day, scores of people carrying their belongings arrived in government-held areas in northern Syria ahead of a possible offensive by Syrian troops on territory held by Kurdish-led fighters east of the city of Aleppo.
Many of the civilians who fled were seen using side roads to reach government-held areas because the main highway was blocked by a checkpoint in the town of Deir Hafer normally controlled by the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The Syrian army said late Wednesday that civilians would be able to evacuate through the “humanitarian corridor” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and then extended the evacuation period another day. The announcement appeared to signal plans for an offensive against the SDF in the area.
There have been limited exchanges of fire between the two sides. Men, women and children arrived in cars and pickup trucks that were packed with bags of clothes, mattresses and other belongings. They were met by local officials who directed them to shelters. In other areas, people crossed canals on small boats and crossed a heavily damaged pedestrian bridge to reach the side held by government forces. The SDF closed the main highway but more than 11,000 people were still able to reach government-held areas on other roads, Syrian state TV reported. A US military convoy arrived in Deir Hafer in the early afternoon accompanied by SDF officials. Associated Press journalists saw SDF leaders and American officials enter one of the government buildings, where they met inside for more than an hour before departing the area. Inside Deir Hafer, many shops were closed and people stayed home. “When I saw people leaving I came here,” said Umm Talal, who arrived in the government-held area with her husband and children. She added that the road appeared safe and her husband plans to return to their home. Abu Mohammed said he came from the town of Maskana after hearing the government had opened a safe corridor, “only to be surprised when we arrived at Deir Hafer and found it closed.”SDF fighters were preventing people from crossing through Syria’s main east-west highway and forcing them to take a side road, he said. Kortay Khalil, an SDF official at the Deir Hafer the checkpoint, said they had closed it because the government closed other crossings. “This crossing was periodically closed even before these events, but people are leaving through other routes, and we are not preventing them,” he said. “If we wanted to prevent them, no one would be able to leave the area.”
The tensions in the Deir Hafer area come after several days of intense clashes last week in Aleppo, previously Syria’s largest city and commercial center, that ended with the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from three neighborhoods north of the city that were then taken over by government forces.
The fighting broke out as negotiations stalled between Damascus and the SDF over an agreement reached in March to integrate their forces and for the central government to take control of institutions including border crossings and oil fields in the northeast. The US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, posted on X on Friday that Washington remains in close contact with all parties in Syria, “working around the clock to lower the temperature, prevent escalation, and return to integration talks between the Syrian government and the SDF.”
The SDF for years has been the main US partner in Syria in fighting against the Daesh group, but Turkiye considers the SDF a terrorist organization because of its association with Kurdish separatist insurgents in Turkiye.

Latest US sanctions target Houthi funding networks, Treasury says
Reuters/January 16, 2026
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration issued fresh sanctions on Friday further targeting the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen ​and the transfer of oil products, weapons and other so-called dual-use equipment that it said helped fund the group. The action targets 21 individuals and entities as well as one vessel, including some ‌alleged front ‌companies in Yemen, ‌Oman and ⁠the ​UAE, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement. “The Houthis threaten the United States by committing acts of terror and attacking commercial ⁠vessels transiting the Red Sea,” US Treasury ‌Secretary Scott Bessent said ‍in the statement. The move ‍builds on previous Treasury action ‍to pressure the Houthis “vast revenue generation and smuggling networks, which enable the group to sustain its capability to conduct destabilizing ​regional activities,” including the Red Sea attacks, the department added. Since 2023, ⁠the Houthis have launched numerous assaults on vessels in the Red Sea that they deem to be linked with Israel in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war on Gaza. Tehran’s regional sway has been weakened by Israel’s attacks on its proxies, including on ‌the Houthis in Yemen. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Daphen Psaledakis; Editing ‌by Chizu Nomiyama )

Trump offers to mediate Egypt-Ethiopia dispute on Nile River waters
Reuters/January 17, 2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump offered on Friday to mediate a dispute over Nile River ​waters between Egypt and Ethiopia. “I am ready to restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of ‘The Nile Water Sharing’ once and for all,” he ‌wrote to ‌Egyptian President ‌Abdel ⁠Fattah El-Sisi ​in ‌a letter that also was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account. Addis Ababa’s September 9 inauguration of its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of anger ⁠in Cairo, which is downstream on the ‌Nile.
Ethiopia, the continent’s second-most ‍populous nation ‍with more than 120 million people, ‍sees the $5 billion dam on a tributary of the Nile as central to its economic ambitions. Egypt says ​the dam violates international treaties and could cause both droughts ⁠and flooding, a claim Ethiopia rejects. Trump has praised El-Sisi in the past, including during an October trip to Egypt to sign a deal related to the Gaza conflict. In public comments, Trump has echoed Cairo’s concerns about the water issue.

Yemen prime minister quits, replaced by foreign minister
AFP/January 16, 2026
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The prime minister of Yemen has been replaced by his foreign minister after the premier submitted the government’s resignation, the country’s Saudi-backed presidential body said. Prime Minister Salim Saleh BinBuriek met Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and “submitted the government’s resignation to pave the way for the formation of a new government,” a statement published by official news agency Saba said late Thursday. The presidential council posted on state media that foreign minister “Dr. Shaya Mohsen Zindani is appointed Prime Minister and tasked with forming the government.” The statement published on Saba cited “efforts to restore state institutions, strengthen the unity of sovereign decision-making” and “defeating the coup” as reasons for the premier’s resignation. The current government will continue to manage affairs, excluding appointments and dismissals, until the new government is formed, the presidential council added.

Machado seeks Pope Leo’s support for Venezuela’s transition during Vatican meeting
AP/January 16/2026
ROME: Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado in a private audience at the Vatican on Monday, during which the Venezuelan leader asked him to intercede for the release of hundreds of political prisoners held in the Latin American country.
The meeting, which hadn’t been previously included in the list of Leo’s planned appointments, was later listed by the Vatican in its daily bulletin, without adding details. Machado is touring Europe and the United States after she reemerged in December after 11 months in hiding to accept her Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.“Today I had the blessing and honor of being able to share with His Holiness and express our gratitude for his continued support of what is happening in our country,” Machado said in a statement following the meeting. “I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people who remain steadfast and in prayer for the freedom of Venezuela, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and disappeared,” she added. Machado also held talks with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who was Nuncio in Venezuela from 2009 to 2013.
Pope Leo has called for Venezuela to remain an independent country after US forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro in his compound in Caracas and took him to New York to face federal charges of drug-trafficking. Leo had said he was following the developments in Venezuela with “deep concern,” and urged the protection of human and civil rights in the Latin American country. Venezuela’s opposition, backed by consecutive Republican and Democratic administrations in the US, had vowed for years to immediately replace Maduro with one of their own and restore democracy to the oil-rich country. But US President Donald Trump delivered them a heavy blow by allowing Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control. Meanwhile, most opposition leaders, including Machado, are in exile or prison. After winning the 2025 Nobel Prize for Peace, Machado said she’d like to give it to or share with Trump. Machado dedicated the prize to Trump, along with the people of Venezuela, shortly after it was announced. Trump has coveted and openly campaigned for winning the Nobel Prize himself since his return to office in January 2025. The organization that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize — the Norwegian Nobel Institute — said, however, that once it’s announced, the prize can’t be revoked, transferred or shared with others. “The decision is final and stands for all time,” it said in a short statement last week.

Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
Reuters/January 16, 2026
WASHINGTON: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump on Thursday during a White House meeting, in a bid to influence his efforts to shape her country’s political future. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal. In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!” Machado, who described the meeting as “excellent,” said the gift was in recognition of what she called his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people. The White House later posted a photo of Trump and Machado with the president holding up a large, gold-colored frame displaying the medal. Accompanying text read, “To President Donald J. Trump In Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength,” and labeled the gesture as a “Personal Symbol of Gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan People.”Machado’s attempt to sway Trump came ⁠after he dismissed the idea of installing her as Venezuela’s leader to replace the deposed Nicolas Maduro.
Trump openly campaigned for the prize before Machado was awarded it last month and complained bitterly when he was snubbed. Though Machado gave Trump the gold medal that honorees receive with the prize, the honor remains hers; the Norwegian Nobel Institute has said the prize cannot be transferred, shared or revoked.Asked on Wednesday if he wanted Machado to give him the prize, Trump told Reuters: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”The Republican president has long expressed interest in winning the prize and has at times linked it to diplomatic achievements.
The lunch meeting, which appeared to last slightly over ⁠an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person. Machado then met with more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies. During the visit, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had looked forward to meeting Machado, but stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term. Machado, who fled the South American nation in a daring seaborne escape in December, is competing for Trump’s ear with members of Venezuela’s government and seeking to ensure she has a role in governing the nation going forward. After the United States captured Maduro in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America expressed hope for Venezuela to begin a process of democratization.
HOPES OF A MOVE TO DEMOCRACY
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, one of the senators who met with Machado, said the opposition leader had told senators that repression in Venezuela was no different now ⁠than under Maduro. Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez is a “smooth operator” who was growing more entrenched by the day thanks to Trump’s support, he said. “I hope elections happen, but I’m skeptical,” said Murphy, of Connecticut. Trump has said he is focused on securing US access to the country’s oil and economically rebuilding Venezuela. Trump has on several occasions praised Rodriguez, Maduro’s second-in-command, who became Venezuela’s leader upon his capture. In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Trump said, “She’s been very good to deal with.”Machado was banned from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election by a top court stacked with Maduro allies. Outside observers widely believe Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition figure backed by Machado, won by a substantial margin, but Maduro claimed victory and retained power. While the current government has freed dozens of political prisoners in recent days, outside groups and advocates have said the scale of the releases has been exaggerated by Caracas. In an annual address to lawmakers, Rodriguez called for diplomacy with the United States and said should she need to travel to Washington, she would do so “walking on her feet, not dragged there.”She also said she would propose reforms to her country’s oil industry aimed at increasing access for foreign investors.

Danish general says there are no Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland
Reuters/January 16, 2026
NUUK: The head of Denmark’s military Joint Arctic Command said on Friday that there were no Chinese or Russian ships observed near Greenland, despite repeated claims by US President Donald Trump to the contrary. Trump says Greenland is vital to US security and has not ruled out the use of force to take it. European nations this week sent small numbers of military ⁠personnel to the island at Denmark’s request. “We don’t see any Russian or Chinese vessels around Greenland... there are Chinese and Russian vessels in the Arctic Ocean, but not near Greenland,” Major General Soren Andersen told Reuters. Speaking on board a Danish warship ⁠in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, Andersen said that he had extended an invitation for the United States to join exercises planned on the island this year. “We had a meeting today with a lot of NATO partners including the US and invited them to participate in this exercise,” said Andersen. When asked if the Americans will join, the general replied “I don’t know that yet.” Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command ⁠enforces sovereignty and conducts surveillance, fisheries inspection and search-and-rescue across Greenland and the Faroe Islands, drawing on patrol vessels, aircraft, helicopters and satellite-based monitoring. Headquartered in Nuuk, it also fields Greenland’s Sirius dog-sled patrol for long-range land operations and maintains about 150 staff across command, logistics and fixed Arctic stations. Responding to Trump’s criticism that Denmark does too little to defend Greenland, Copenhagen last year announced a 42 billion Danish crowns ($6.54 billion) Arctic defense package.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 16-17/2026
'Locked and Loaded'?: Is Trump Abandoning the Courageous Iranians – Again?
Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute/January 16, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/151168/
Despite encouraging Iran's protesters to carry on and assuring them that American "help is on its way," Trump has done nothing to compel the regime to permanently stop the killing or its other atrocities. The question becomes: Is Trump actually going to leave these psychopaths in power and effectively thwart the brave, unarmed Iranians from ridding themselves of an armed government that has been suppressing, torturing and slaughtering them in the streets over the past 47 years? For reasons that are entirely unclear, Trump already has a history, unfortunately, of rescuing the Iranian regime -- called by the US State Department 39 years in a row, since 1984 the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Trump first said he did not want regime change in Iran; then posted that he might want regime change if it could "Make Iran Great Again: MIGA!!!", before turning around, yet again, and reimposing the ceasefire. Trump also seems constantly to be "forgetting" that Iran has been attacking the US since 1979...Every US adversary -- from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Chinese President Xi Jinping -- can now assume that the Trump administration, while giving diplomacy so much of a chance that it is effectively no help at all, is primarily just huffing and puffing, while every US ally can now assume that the US no longer can be trusted.
The Trump administration's dawdling appears virtually the same as that of President Joe Biden.... Such acoustics with no follow-up destroy US deterrence and paint the Trump administration as weak and dithering at a time when the future of American preeminence is at stake. That is a terrible look.
Despite encouraging Iran's protesters to carry on and assuring them that American "help is on its way," President Donald Trump has done nothing to compel the regime to permanently stop the killing or its other atrocities.
It has been nearly two weeks since US President Donald J. Trump threatened the Iranian regime with military intervention for killing its demonstrating citizens.
"If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," the president wrote in a post on Truth Social on January 2, about five days into the Iranian protests. "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Since then, according to Iran International, the regime has killed "at least 12,000," and according to CBS News, "possibly as many as 20,000 people." According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), as of January 14, "[at] 617 protest gatherings in 187 cities across the country, the arrest of at least 18,470 people [was reported]."
On January 13, Trump wrote:
"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,"
Despite encouraging Iran's protesters to carry on and assuring them that American "help is on its way," Trump has done nothing to compel the regime to permanently stop the killing or its other atrocities.
On January 15, according to some news reports, Trump informed Tehran that the US would not attack the regime. The report came after Trump said the day before that he had been informed that Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests was subsiding:
"The killing has stopped. The executions have stopped. There's no plan for executions or an execution. I've been told that on good authority. We'll find out about it. I'm sure if it happens, I'll be very upset."
Iran executes its people year-round, even when there are no protests. In 2025, the regime executed at least 1,922 people, more than double the number recorded the previous year and the highest figure documented in over a decade, according to a report by HRANA.
One cannot take any information that comes from the mullah regime as being "on good authority," especially since the Iranian regime will say anything to stay in power and avoid a US attack.
According to a January 15 report in the New York Post:
"The ruthless slaughter of anti-government protesters in Iran appears to have stopped — but only because residents are being held hostage in their homes by machine gun-wielding security forces that have flooded the streets, sources told The Post Thursday."
Iran is also trying to deny that it had scheduled any executions, although White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Iran had scheduled 800. At least one, according to reports, has been "postponed." Oh? Until when?
The question becomes: Is Trump actually going to leave these psychopaths in power and effectively thwart the brave, unarmed Iranians from ridding themselves of an armed government that has been suppressing, torturing and slaughtering them in the streets over the past 47 years?
For reasons that are entirely unclear, Trump already has a history, unfortunately, of rescuing the Iranian regime -- called by the US State Department 39 years in a row, since 1984 the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.
When Israel and the US critically set back the Iranian regime during the 12-day war, Trump stepped in and imposed a ceasefire, thereby preventing Israel from continuing to neutralize threats from Iran's drones, ballistic missiles and other weaponry. Trump even stopped Israel from responding to an Iranian violation of the ceasefire after it went into effect. In doing so, he not only disadvantaged Israel but also subverted the Iranian people, who, after an Israeli airstrike destroyed the gates of the notorious Evin Prison, which represents every evil that the Iranian regime stands for, were hoping for an end to the regime.
Trump first said he did not want regime change in Iran; then posted that he might want regime change if it could "Make Iran Great Again: MIGA!!!", before turning around, yet again, and reimposing the ceasefire.
Trump also seems constantly to be "forgetting" that Iran has been attacking the US since 1979, starting with taking 66 members of the US Embassy staff hostage in 1979, then, in 1983, bombing the US Marines barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 Americans. In just the last four years, Iran has launched 350 attacks on American troops and assets in the Middle East, without America lifting a finger in protest.
If Trump does not care about the lives of Iranian protesters, or that he might inadvertently be condemning them to live under savage rulers they do not want, he does claim to care about US national security -- as he repeatedly mentions when it comes to "running" Venezuela and acquiring Greenland. Threatening military intervention against Iran for two weeks, however, and then doing nothing is probably an extremely counterproductive, horrible precedent to set for US national security deterrence.
Every US adversary -- from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Chinese President Xi Jinping -- can now assume that the Trump administration, while giving diplomacy so much of a chance that it is effectively no help at all, is primarily just huffing and puffing, while every US ally can now assume that the US no longer can be trusted.
The Trump administration's dawdling appears virtually the same as that of President Joe Biden: through passivity, he succeeded only in encouraging America's adversaries to drag out their aggression -- because nobody stopped them. Such acoustics with no follow-up destroy US deterrence and paint the Trump administration as weak and dithering at a time when the future of American preeminence is at stake. That is a terrible look.
*Robert Williams is based in the United States.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22202/abandoning-courageous-iranians
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The geopolitical consequences of Iran protests for South Caucasus
Luke Coffey/Arab News/January 16, 2026
The ongoing mass demonstrations in Iran are the largest protests the country has seen in about half a decade. Although this current round of nationwide demonstrations began as a response to the economic crisis affecting market traders in the bazaars, it rapidly spread across the country as long-standing grievances over the lack of political reform and economic growth boiled over.
It is too early to tell what the outcome of these protests will be. The regime has proved resilient in the past and, although the situation does appear messy, it does not appear close to a total collapse. However, if the protests continue and outside intervention takes place, a wide range of outcomes is possible, from a rapid regime collapse as seen in Libya in 2011 to a gradual erosion of centralized control and de facto partition as seen in Syria.
While many policymakers view Iran primarily through the lens of the Middle East, the country’s northern flank cannot be ignored. The three South Caucasus countries — Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan — will be watching events closely with nervousness and anxiety. Iran has historically viewed the South Caucasus as an area of influence in competition with Turkiye and Russia. The region is geopolitically important, as some of the world’s most critical oil and gas transit pipelines run through it. Any spillover from Iran’s internal turmoil could therefore have broader geopolitical consequences for the South Caucasus.
Although none of the three countries has made public statements regarding the demonstrations, off-the-record conversations with regional officials suggest clear concern. While the three states maintain varying degrees of relations with Tehran, two shared issues stand out.
As neighbors, all three countries engage in trade and economic activity with Iran, albeit to different degrees
The first is the economic impact of sustained unrest inside Iran. As neighbors, all three countries engage in trade and economic activity with Iran, albeit to different degrees. Azerbaijan, as the only country that borders both Russia and Iran, plays a role as a transit country between the two allies and generates revenue from this arrangement. Armenia has often viewed Iran as an economic lifeline since trade with its neighbors Turkiye and Azerbaijan was frozen following the Nagorno-Karabakh War in the 1990s. This remains the case today, with Armenia’s land borders with both Turkiye and Azerbaijan still closed. As a result, Iran continues to serve as one of Yerevan’s most important economic outlets.
Georgia’s trade with Iran is smaller than that of Armenia and Azerbaijan but it has been growing in recent years. As the Georgian government has grown more politically aligned with Moscow and more distant from its traditional European partners, it has increasingly sought economic opportunities elsewhere, including with Tehran. Trade between Georgia and Iran has risen year on year. Notably, Georgia has faced criticism for allowing Russian cargo aircraft to transit its airspace en route to Iran, despite the fact that Russia continues to occupy portions of Georgian territory. This underscores how economic considerations are increasingly overriding long-standing political sensitivities. Another economic factor shaping regional thinking is US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran. While such a measure may not have a dramatic immediate impact on the economies of the South Caucasus, it would still create economic fallout that governments in the region would prefer to avoid, particularly at a time of broader regional uncertainty.
The countries of the South Caucasus could experience an influx of refugees fleeing instability and violence
The second shared concern among the South Caucasus states is the humanitarian impact of a potential refugee crisis. If conditions in Iran deteriorate to levels seen in Libya or Syria in 2011, the countries of the South Caucasus could experience an influx of refugees fleeing instability and violence. Such a development would place serious strain on already-fragile economies and public services, and it is a scenario regional governments are keen to prevent.
For Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two South Caucasus countries that share a land border with Iran, additional concerns are at play. One major issue is the well-being of ethnic minority communities inside Iran. For Armenia, which has historically maintained close relations with Tehran, there is concern that a shift in the internal balance of power could undermine the status of Iran’s ethnic Armenian community. For Azerbaijan, the issue is both more sensitive and more consequential. Since the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828 divided ethnic Azerbaijani lands between the Russian Empire and Persia, a latent grievance has existed in Azerbaijan regarding the treatment of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran. Some estimates place the number of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in northern Iran in the range of 15 million to 25 million. They continue to speak their own language and maintain cultural traditions more closely aligned with modern-day Azerbaijan than with Persian identity. Any major unrest in northern Iran could increase domestic pressure on authorities in Baku to respond, particularly if ethnic Azerbaijani communities are affected.
Another shared concern for Armenia and Azerbaijan is the potential impact of instability in Iran on the fragile peace process between the two countries. Although leaders in Yerevan and Baku pledged last August to ratify a peace agreement in the coming months, progress has been limited. A major crisis in Iran could easily divert political attention and diplomatic momentum away from completing this process. Overall, the countries of the South Caucasus would strongly prefer stability and security over chaos and uncertainty. Yet recent history has shown that mass protests and sudden political shifts can rapidly reshape the region. Only a few weeks into 2026, the year is already shaping up to be one of significant geopolitical consequence. How events in Iran ultimately affect the South Caucasus and the wider region remains to be seen but, at present, the outlook is far from reassuring.
*Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. X: @LukeDCoffey

What Syria-Israel talks mean for Turkiye
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/January 16, 2026
Turkish-Israeli-Syrian relations have long had an important and complex dimension that helps explain the region’s dynamics. In the mid-1990s, Turkiye was concerned that a possible Syria-Israel peace agreement might come at its expense. Although the Syrian-Israeli negotiations focused on issues such as border demarcation, security arrangements, water resources and normalization of relations, they often generated serious anxiety in Turkiye. However, by the end of that decade, Ankara’s perspective had changed significantly due to improvements in its relations with both Israel and Syria. By 2008, Turkiye had even assumed the role of mediator between them. At the core of Ankara’s approach was its desire to maintain stability along its southern border. Over time, Turkiye’s fundamental motivation to see Syria stable has remained the same. What has changed, however, is the regional context, which has seen Israel emerge as an expansionist regional actor. Today, Turkiye perceives Israel as a threat and views Syria as a country Tel Aviv seeks to turn into a battleground against Turkish interests.
The Kurdish dimension has been a central factor in shaping Turkiye’s concerns regarding Syria and Israel, both historically and in the present day. During the Syrian war, the Assad regime supported the likes of the PKK against Turkiye, while in post-Assad Syria, Israel has replaced the regime in this role. Israel’s strikes on Syria are providing fertile ground for the Kurds to delay the integration process with the Syrian army that was agreed last March. From Ankara’s perspective, any form of understanding between Israel and Syria that could halt Israeli attacks on Syrian territory would be seen as a positive development.
What has changed is the regional context, which has seen Israel emerge as an expansionist regional actor. Israel and Syria last week returned to the negotiating table in Paris. The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and intelligence chief Hussein Salameh, with the talks conducted under US coordination and mediation. According to reports, the two sides agreed to establish a joint mechanism — described as a “dedicated communication cell” — designed to facilitate intelligence-sharing and coordinate military de-escalation.
The two countries have had a US-backed security arrangement in place since 1974. After the fall of the Assad regime, however, Israel moved its troops into the demilitarized zone inside Syrian territory. According to reports, Syria’s main goal is to revive the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, pushing for Israel to pull back to the lines that existed before Assad’s fall. The latest round of talks in Paris marked a shift from complete deadlock to cautious, procedural engagement. Rather than a comprehensive peace agreement, the negotiations have focused on managing immediate security concerns. This process is driven less by political reconciliation than by pragmatic de-escalation.
This renewed dialogue came after direct pressure from US President Donald Trump on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, its success will depend on several variables. The main question now is practical. Can the mechanism function under pressure? Will the new mechanism collapse at the first crisis? Will Turkiye accept if Israel fails to comply with the provisions of the mechanism? Any escalation of tensions between Israel and Syria would certainly impact Turkiye’s policy. Therefore, Trump is likely to exert more pressure on Netanyahu to keep this mechanism working. It was Trump’s support — coupled with strong assurances from Ankara — that boosted the Syrian delegation’s confidence in the negotiations. In fact, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also in Paris while senior Israeli and Syrian negotiators were meeting. He met his Syrian counterpart, likely advising the Syrians not to rush into any compromises. Ankara aims to show Israel that it is unlikely to leave the new government in Damascus, which is a close ally of Turkiye, at the risk of Israeli policies. Syria, which sits between Turkiye and Israel, also does not want to become a new battleground between these powers.
The latest round of talks in Paris marked a shift from complete deadlock to cautious, procedural engagement.  For Ankara, Israeli support to PKK affiliates the YPG and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria is a red line. Them coordinating with Israel along the Turkish border would be a grave national security threat for Ankara and it would never tolerate such a scenario. Israel’s relations with the Kurds should be read within the context of America’s role as a backer of the SDF.
So, the critical variable is how the Trump administration will handle tensions between Turkiye and Israel in Syria and shape its policy toward the SDF. On Thursday, US Ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who was with the American delegation attending the Syria-Israel talks in Paris, said that Washington wants Turkiye and Israel to begin rebuilding their relationship. His remarks came the day after Fidan visited Abu Dhabi while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was in town the same day.
In light of the developments in Aleppo, Turkiye’s vision of a unified Syria seems to have achieved tactical success. At the same time, they underscored that Turkish-Israeli competition over Syria, driven by fundamentally divergent perspectives, remains unresolved. The Trump administration emphasizes that it understands Turkiye’s role and position in Syria, but at the same time it does not want the Turkish position to threaten vital Israeli interests.
However, Israel’s policy of using groups that threaten Turkish and Syrian stability is unlikely to maintain Turkish patience. Ankara already has options on the table, which the US is well aware of, and Damascus gets along with it. So, the Trump administration needs to understand that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Washington needs to keep consistent pressure on the Israeli-Syrian track while ensuring that it responds to Turkiye’s concerns as well. Nevertheless, a mechanism that dials back tensions benefits all parties, as well as the broader region.
*Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz

Dissonant voices and Saudi Arabia’s stance
Prince Turki al-Faisal/16 January/2026
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States was crowned with every mark of success. Beyond the agreements he concluded, he succeeded in breaking the constraints that had long bound such agreements on the American side, where Israel’s interests were built into their conditions. He secured a public promise from President Donald Trump that the Kingdom would receive the finest products manufactured by American industry. President Trump also agreed to cooperate with the Crown Prince in establishing a nuclear industry in the Kingdom, given the existence of substantial uranium reserves. As a result, Israel found its preferential status with the US administration diminished, an advantage it had enjoyed for decades. Moreover, Prince Mohammed resisted pressure to normalize relations with Israel and openly insisted that Palestinians must obtain their own state before any normalization can take place. Since then, anyone following events can observe the Zionist mouthpieces aligned with Netanyahu crafting their barking narrative, joined by the buzzing chorus of some Arab friends of Israel, claiming that the Kingdom has begun altering its political course to align with what they call the Islamist extremist path of Qatar, Turkey, and Iran, with some even adding a Muslim Brotherhood orientation to the claim. What bitter irony this noise reveals.
The Kingdom is the one leading the Islamic world toward the correct doctrinal path, and Prince Mohammed in particular, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The Muslim Brotherhood has been classified by Saudi authorities as a terrorist organization since the era of the late King Abdullah. The same applies to what is called ISIS, a group I described as obscene from the moment it first emerged from beneath the filth that spawned it.
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the Kingdom has led the fight against terrorism and extremist ideology. It proposed the creation of a counterterrorism department at the United Nations, established a rehabilitation and counseling center in Riyadh for those who have sincerely repented from extremist thought, and brought Islamic countries together under a single framework known as the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, headquartered in Riyadh. This coalition includes more than forty countries working together through consultation and the exchange of expertise.
Then Netanyahu comes forward with his repulsive approach aimed at destabilizing the geographic cohesion of Arab states, beginning with Syria, where he claims that he seeks to protect minorities among its people, such as Druze and Christians, while waging a genocidal war against the Palestinian people.
This extends to Somalia through his unilateral recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. The separatist ambitions of Aidarus al-Zoubaidi in southern Yemen may be connected to this path, especially after he declared his readiness to cooperate with Israel.
Since its founding by King Abdulaziz, may God rest his soul, the Kingdom has been pelted with malicious accusations by those who resent its prosperity, stability, and the refinement of its principles rooted in the creed of monotheism: “There is no god but God, and Mohammed is the Messenger of God.”
During the height of Nasserism, the Kingdom was accused of reactionism. By those who deviated from Islam, it was accused of secularism. By certain Western circles, it was accused of terrorism. Yet it continues to walk the straight path, neither Eastern nor Western, as Faisal bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, once said. Today, our King and Crown Prince continue to deflect the arrows of enemies without fatigue or weariness, leading the Arab and Islamic world with sound judgment and steadfast resolve.

Selected Face Book & X tweets/ January 16/2026
Lindsey Graham
All the headlines suggesting that our so-called Arab allies have intervened on behalf of Iran to avoid decisive military action by President Trump are beyond disturbing. The ayatollah’s regime has American blood on its hands. They are slaughtering people in the streets. If it is accurate that the Arab response is “action is not necessary against Iran” given this current outrageous slaughter of innocent people, then there will be a dramatic rethinking on my part regarding the nature of the alliances now and in the future. https://x.com/alarabiya_eng//alarabiya_eng/status/2011792901236256919

Nadim Koteich
Epstein 'nurtured' the Abraham Accords? This is peak conspiracy porn: cherry-picking decade-old emails from a dead predator to pretend he masterminded a geopolitical earthquake. Real architects? Heads of states, sitting and former PMs, FMs, chiefs’ of staff, all worked towards a mega geo-strategic architecture, and billions in trade/tech/defense investments.. Backchannels simmered for decades via intel pros, not some sleazy side hustle. This trash is just recycled anti-Accords/UAE propaganda in Epstein drag, desperate to delegitimize a deal bringing stability & prosperity to the region. Pathetic hit job.

Dr Walid Phares
I agree with senator and support his position. If the US stops its backing of the #IranianRevolution2026 under pressure by foreign governments, our foreign policy will be compromised not just in Iran but across the Middle East and Africa.

Mark R. Levin
Qatar is using our base there to actually limit our ability to make independent decisions in our national security interests. We can’t let a terror state with 300,000 people, aligned with Iran, to control what we do. They’re using our base against us.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Usually, the tactic of Islamist Qatar and Turkey—and their media—is to attack Israel while sparing America and portraying themselves as U.S. allies. Occasionally, however, Al Jazeera English reveals that the hatred extends beyond Israel to America and the entire West. Al Jazeera Arabic does this constantly, assuming it can get away with it because the content is in a different language.

Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער
Today at the City of David, we signed a joint statement launching a strategic partnership between Israel and the US, on AI, research and critical technologies, part of the Pax Silica initiative. I thank @UnderSecE Jacob Helberg and Director of the National AI Agency Erez Askal for paving the way. Our technological partnership strengthens US National Security and its economy. Under the leadership of @POTUS Trump and @IsraeliPM Netanyahu, our unbreakable alliance is at historic heights. 🇮🇱🇺🇸

Ambassador Tom Barrack
The United States remains in close contact with all parties in Syria, working around the clock to lower the temperature, prevent escalation, and return to integration talks between the Syrian government and the SDF.

UN Watch
https://x.com/i/status/2011954868794376495
Before the U.N. Security Council, journalist and women's rights activist
@AlinejadMasih
calls out the Islamic Regime in Iran's ambassador — and the U.N.'s Antonio Guterres:
“The United Nations has failed to respond with the urgency this moment demands. The Secretary-General himself has not spoken publicly against the massacre unfolding in Iran — only a written statement through his spokesperson.
Silence at this moment sends a signal. Sends a message to the killers of young protesters alongside their family members. I strongly believe that the regime in Iran heard the clear message from the Secretary-General.
I think the members of this body have forgotten the privilege and responsibility of sitting in this room. Secretary-General, I know you hear me. I want to directly talk to you. Why are you afraid of the Islamic Republic?
Millions of innocent and unarmed protesters have been silenced with bullets, mass arrest, prison and a total communications blackout. I now address the representative of the Islamic Republic directly: You have tried to kill me three times. I have seen my would-be assassin with my own eyes in front of my garden in my home in Brooklyn.
In the United States of America, in the courthouse, I have seen my would-be assassin confessing that they have been hired by the Revolutionary Guards to end my life. My crime? Simply echoing the voice of innocent people that you killed. Let me be very clear: The Islamic Republic behaves like ISIS and the Islamic Republic must be treated like ISIS. This is how you can save lives. Thank you so much.”

Senator Ted Cruz
@SenTedCruz
https://x.com/i/status/2011911390361952453
FREE IRAN.