English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For July 01/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.july01.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
Healing Miracle of the Canaanite Daughter
Matthew 15/21-28: “Jesus left that place and went away to the
district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came
out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is
tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came
and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’He
answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’But she
came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’He answered, ‘It is not fair
to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet
even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’Then Jesus
answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’
And her daughter was healed instantly.”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published on 30 June-01 July/2026
A Prayer for the Deliverance of Lebanon from Mercenaries/Elias Bejjani/June
30/ 2026
Hezbollah is the problem. It always was/Nadim Koteich/ X platform/June 30/2026
A video link and full transcript of an interview with Dr. Charles Chertouni,
academic and political writer,
A video link and full Arabic transcript of a highly important interview with the
head of the Other Option Movement, Engineer Alfred Madi, and the head of the
Research and Consulting Center, Hassan Qutub,
In south Lebanon, Netanyahu says Israel will stay as long as Hezbollah
'threatens' it
US and GCC sanction Hezbollah 'financial institutions and senior officials'
Israel reviews Hezbollah tunnel threat, pushes to reduce reliance on US arms
Aoun meets Haykal, defends army against 'campaigns of doubt and slander'
Berri vows tough opposition to framework deal, urges Salam to pull out
US military to have 'direct role' in monitoring actions by Lebanese and Israeli
armies
Israeli strike hits Deir Seryan
More than tourism: What the UAE's Lebanon travel decision means
UAE lifts war-related ban on travel to Lebanon
Bassil meets Berri, agrees with him on fighting strife, supporting army
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese head home as fighting eases, many still
stranded
Geagea: We are not demonizing Islamabad's path; it is Iran's role in Lebanon
that is being demonized.
Dialogue, peace, and hope for negotiations between the Pope and Patriarch Al-Rahi
Palestinian women in Lebanon find identity and resilience in embroidery
HAPPY CANADA DAY/Edmond El-Chidiac/Face Book
Facts can change opinions. Opinions cannot change facts/Roger Bejjani/June
30/2026
Discussing the content of the framework agreement reached between the Lebanese
and Israeli sides under American auspices/Mohammad Fran/Facebook/June 30, 2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 30 June-01
July/2026
A link to an important and informative video
interview about Lebanon, the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement, and the
mistakes of American presidents with Professor Dan Schueftan from Israel Update
channel.
Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of understanding
Iran couldn’t export ‘single barrel of oil’ during US blockade, Ghalibaf says
Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of understanding
Indirect US-Iran talks in Qatar on Wednesday: Al Arabiya sources
U.S. envoys arrive in Qatar for meetings on Iran
Chinese FM urges US-Iran talks to continue in meeting with Saudi counterpart
Hormuz disruption may have lasting impact on vulnerable economies, UN trade
agency says
Israeli fighter jets scrambled after airliner accidentally reports hijacking
Two IRGC members shot dead in Iran: State media
Uncertainty looms over US-Iran deal as US envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Doha
US Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to limit birthright citizenship
Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes kill five
Death toll from Venezuela quakes rises to 1,943: Official
Venezuela quake survivors seek food, shelter as toll rises to nearly 2,000
UAE exports record oil volumes after OPEC exit, ship-tracking data shows
Cuba says US pressuring UN member states to put off trade embargo debate
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published on 30 June-01 July/2026
14 Points on the 14 Points: Assessing the
Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement/Robert Satloff/The Washington Institute/Jun
29, 2026
Why Siccing Syria’s Army on Hezbollah Is So Dangerous/David Schenker//The
Washington Institute/Jun 28, 2026
Moscow And The Middle East/THE CHALLENGE OF PUTIN'S RUSSIA/Anna Borshchevskaya/State
Craft and Strategy/Summer 2026
Neo-Marxism and the Muslim Brotherhood in New York!/Bandar Al-Doushi/Al-Arabiya/June
30, 2026
Iran Tries to Curb al-Zaidi's "Sovereignty" Approach... and Fails?/Laura Yamin/Al-Markazia/June
30, 2026
“Lebanon First” and the Collapse of the Iranian Hezbolla's (Party)
Narrative/Ahmed Al-Ayoubi/Nidaa Al-Watan/June 30, 2026
No constitutional violation in the framework agreement, and it has not yet been
officially ratified/Lawyer Michel Qlimos/Al-Markazia/June 30, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 30 June/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on 30 June-01 July/2026
A Prayer for the Deliverance of
Lebanon from Mercenaries
Elias Bejjani/June 30/ 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155672/
Lord, enough is enough. Lebanon and the Lebanese people have suffered for
decades because of the cowardice, corruption, treachery, and moral bankruptcy of
those who have sold their loyalty to foreign regimes and ideologies. Grant our
homeland deliverance from the mercenaries who have polluted Lebanon’s identity
and from all the merchants of the false “resistance” narrative who have
transformed our country into a battlefield for others.
Free Lebanon from those who have willingly subordinated its sovereignty to the
Iranian regime and its expansionist project, and from every politician who has
bartered the nation’s independence for power, personal gain, or sectarian
interests. The Lebanese people’s true enemies are not only those who carry
weapons against the state, but also the political class that has enabled them,
protected them, and legitimized their domination.
Among those who bear historical responsibility are Michel Aoun, his son-in-law
Gebran Bassil—sanctioned for corruption—Nabih Berri, Walid Jumblatt, and the
entire leadership and apparatus of Hezbollah, which serves as the armed arm of
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the interests of Lebanon.
They are joined by the remnants of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the
Baathists, the heirs of the failed Arab nationalist movements inspired by Gamal
Abdel Nasser, Muammar Gaddafi, and Yasser Arafat, along with segments of the
radical left and Islamist movements that have consistently placed foreign
agendas above Lebanon’s sovereignty and the welfare of its people.
The list is long, but the truth is simple: no nation can survive when its
identity is replaced by imported ideologies, when its institutions are held
hostage by illegal weapons, and when loyalty to foreign powers supersedes
loyalty to the homeland.
May God restore Lebanon’s freedom, sovereignty, neutrality, and constitutional
order. May He give courage to those who still believe in the Lebanon of
coexistence, liberty, and the rule of law, and may He liberate our beloved
country from every occupier, every mercenary, every corrupt leader, and every
ideology that seeks to erase its unique identity.
May Lebanon once again belong only to the Lebanese people.
Hezbollah is the problem. It always was.
Nadim Koteich/ X platform/June 30/2026
In 17 years, 2006-2023, Israel almost didn't kill a single Lebanese civilian,
while Hezbollah killed more than 800 of its own people. Read that twice.
Israel is not in the business of killing Lebanese for the sake of killing
Lebanese.
Between the end of the 2006 war and October 7, 2023, while Hezbollah held its
fire on that front, 20 to 30 Lebanese died from leftover cluster duds, in
addition to 3 soldiers and 1 journalist in a single unnecessary boarder incident
between LAF and IDF.
17 years, and Israel barely touched a Lebanese civilian.
Then Hezbollah broke its own restraint on October 8, 2023, dragging the country
into a war nobody voted for, and the doors of hell opened. Everything that
followed traces back to that single unilateral decision, including the latest
deaths.
Tragically, the 17 years restraint was never Hezbollah protecting Lebanon from
Israel. It was Hezbollah occupied elsewhere, killing Lebanese for their own
ideological and strategic reasons.
In those same 17 years of calm on the Israeli front, Hezbollah killed more than
800 Lebanese civilians at home, through assassinations, car bomb attacks, and
engineered clashes in Tripoli, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the northern towns and
villages of Akkar. I’m counting only civilians, and I’m not including the
hundreds who were killed in the explosion of Beirut Port in Aug, 2020.
Israel held its fire for seventeen years and Hezbollah still managed to kill its
own people at 25 to 30 times the rate. Hezbollah's weapons have killed Lebanese
twice over. Once when they dragged the country into wars with Israel it never
chose, and once when they turned those same weapons inward to impose civil war
and political bloodshed on their own people.
Precision matters as much as grief, especially when grief gets weaponized into a
casus belli.
Lebanon and Lebanese need to stop grieving in the dark and start looking at the
numbers, because the math is not complicated.
Hezbollah is the problem. It always was.
A video link and full transcript of an interview with
Dr. Charles Chertouni, academic and political writer,
Dr Chartouni explained the background, implications,
constitutionality, and consequences of the Lebanese-Israeli Framework Agreement,
as well as the repercussions of non-compliance in Lebanon. He also exposes the
mercenary positions of its opponents, such as Berri, Jumblatt, and Hezbollah. In
addition, he addresses various important current issues, including the file of
political prosecutions in Lebanon.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155698/
The interview was conducted via Zoom by journalist Patricia Samaha from the
Transparency website on YouTube.
June 30, 2026
Transcription, editing, and summarization of texts, titles, and titles were done
with complete freedom by the publisher of the Coordination website (LCCC) and
expatriate activist Elias Bejjani.
Interview Summary:
The meeting focused on the dimensions and constitutionality of the
Lebanese-Israeli “Framework Agreement.” Dr. Charles Chertouni emphasized its
full constitutional legitimacy and its status as a “necessity agreement” to save
Lebanon from total collapse and end the armed conflict. He leveled sharp
criticism at Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Hezbollah, considering their
positions an attempt to circumvent legitimacy and prioritize Iranian interests
over Lebanese civil peace. The meeting also addressed the Lebanese military
establishment, with him warning of the infiltration of partisan influence within
it and hinting at anticipated US sanctions against some officers. On the
international front, he praised the decisive role of US Secretary of State Marco
Rubio in separating the Lebanese track from the US-Iranian negotiations. The
interview concluded with an analysis of the recent judicial rulings and
political prosecutions in Lebanon, describing them as "revenge justice"
practiced by the ruling system to intimidate its opponents.
A video link and full Arabic transcript of a highly
important interview with the head of the Other Option Movement, Engineer Alfred
Madi, and the head of the Research and Consulting Center, Hassan Qutub, from MTV
Lebanon, focusing on the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
June 30, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155686/
The interview was conducted by journalist Fadi Shahwan from MTV Lebanon.
Transcription, editing, and summarization were carried out with complete freedom
by Elias Bejjani, publisher of the Coordination Committee website (LCCC) and
expatriate activist.
Interview Summary: In this episode of "Beirut Today," journalist Fadi Shahwan
discussed the repercussions of the signing of the security framework agreement
between Lebanon and Israel, sponsored by the United States. He and his guests,
Alfred Madi, head of the Other Option Movement, and Hassan Qutub, head of the
Research and Consulting Center, discussed the behind-the-scenes negotiations and
the disagreements that arose between the Lebanese military and political
delegations prior to the signing, as well as the intervention of the President
of the Republic to resolve them. The discussion also touched upon the extent of
the losses in southern Lebanon, the decline of Iran's role in the Lebanese
arena, the future of Hezbollah's weapons, and the options available to the
Lebanese state and army for implementing the terms of the agreement and avoiding
dire scenarios such as resorting to Chapter VII of the UN Charter or facing
internal chaos and assassinations.
In south Lebanon, Netanyahu says Israel will stay as
long as Hezbollah 'threatens' it
Agence France Presse/June 30/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in southern Lebanon on
Tuesday, vowing that the Israeli army would stay in the area as long as
Hezbollah remained a "threat". His comments came after Lebanon and Israel signed
a framework agreement under U.S. sponsorship last week to supposedly pave the
way for peace between them and disarm Hezbollah. The deal makes any Israeli
withdrawal from occupied Lebanese land conditional on Beirut disarming Hezbollah
by creating "pilot zones" that the Lebanese military will take over. "Our
position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has
disappeared. And as long as Hezbollah, armed, is here and threatening us, we
will stay here," Netanyahu said according to a statement from his office.
He added that "we say to Iran and to Hezbollah: leave this place, you no longer
belong here... There are two sovereign states that want to live in peace."
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at
Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion.
Israeli troops are operating in a self-declared "security zone" stretching
around 10 kilometers (six miles) deep inside Lebanese territory along the
border. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks since the war began on March 2
have killed more than 4,200 people. In the same period, the Israeli military has
reported 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed.
US and GCC sanction Hezbollah 'financial institutions and
senior officials'
Naharnet/June 30/2026
The member states of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC)
on Tuesday announced joint designations targeting "multiple key components of
Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, including five entities and 16
individuals," the U.S. Treasury said. The TFTC comprises all six Gulf
Cooperation Council countries -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and
the UAE -- and the United States. The targets include major Hezbollah
institutions Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH) and Bayt al-Mal, as well as their senior
leaders. "These coordinated actions underscore TFTC members’ shared commitment
to disrupting Hezbollah’s ability to exploit the international financial system.
All targets announced today were previously designated by the United States,"
the Treasury said in a statement. The TFTC conducts joint actions, such as
sanctions designations, exchanges actionable information on "terrorist financing
networks," and builds member capacity to counter "terrorist networks that
threaten security and stability." "The networks designated by TFTC today
threaten regional stability, international security, mutual interests, and
global trade. By restricting Hezbollah’s access to funding, TFTC members are
working to protect the integrity of the international financial system, support
the Lebanese people, and counter terror networks," the statement said. This
marks the third TFTC designation action under the current U.S. administration
and the ninth since the center was created under U.S. President Donald Trump in
May 2017. The statement said Al-Qard Al-Hassan "masquerades as a
non-governmental organization (NGO) under the cover of a Ministry of
Interior-granted NGO license.""However, it provides financial services similar
to a bank, far beyond anything disclosed in its original registration documents,
and in practice illicitly moves funds through shell accounts and facilitators.
Hezbollah uses AQAH to facilitate its destabilizing militant activities,
undermining the Lebanese people’s ability to rebuild while enabling the group’s
own interests," the statement said. "By hoarding hard currency that is
desperately needed by the Lebanese economy, AQAH allows Hezbollah to build its
own support base and compromise the stability of the Lebanese state," it added.
Bayt al-Mal meanwhile functions as "Hezbollah’s unofficial treasury, holding and
investing its assets and serving as intermediaries between the terrorist group
and mainstream banks," the Treasury charged. Bayt al-Mal operates under "the
direct supervision of the Hezbollah Secretary General. As one of Hezbollah's
main financial bodies, Bayt al-Mal serves as a bank, creditor, and investment
arm for Hezbollah," the Treasury said. It identified the designated individuals
as Ibrahim Ali Daher, Adel Mohammad Mansour, Ahmad Mohamed Yazbeck, Samer Hasan
Fawaz, Ali Mohamad Karnib, Abbas Hassan Gharib, Mustafa Habib Harb, Ezzat
Youssef Akar, Hasan Chehadeh Othman, Nehme Ahmad Jamil, Issa Hussein Kassir, Ali
Ahmad Krisht, Naser Hasan Neser, Wahid Mahmud Subayti, Mohammed Suleiman Badir
and Imad Mohamad Bezz.
The other three targeted entities are Al-Khobara, Tashilat SARL, and Auditors
for Accounting and Auditing.
Israel reviews Hezbollah tunnel threat, pushes to reduce
reliance on US arms
LBCI/June 30/2026
Israel has expanded its internal security review beyond the threat posed by
Hezbollah's drones to include what officials now describe as a major
intelligence failure involving the group's tunnel network along the Lebanese
border. According to information circulating in Israel, officials had received
intelligence before Operation Northern Arrows indicating that Iran had helped
Hezbollah build an extensive network of tunnels near the border. The underground
infrastructure was later described as a strategic asset for the group. The
report noted that the Israeli Air Force's intelligence branch underestimated the
significance of the information, assessing that the tunnels were inactive
facilities and largely devoid of weapons. At the same time, the Israeli army's
36th Division reportedly failed to detect key tunnels despite operating in close
proximity to them. Israeli officials now say the tunnel network contains command
centers, weapons depots, military equipment, dozens of drones, and large
quantities of ammunition. The discoveries have prompted Israel to pursue two
parallel tracks. The first focuses on analyzing the types of drones found in the
tunnel complexes and developing more effective methods to counter them. The
second centers on reducing Israel's military dependence on the United States,
particularly regarding ammunition supplies. Israeli defense planners are seeking
what they describe as a "game-changing military advantage" in both offensive and
defensive capabilities across the Middle East. That objective forms part of the
"Blue-White" plan, a strategy designed to expand Israel's domestic defense
industry and accelerate local ammunition production. The plan is being led by
the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Amir Baram, and will be
coordinated closely with the team of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as part of efforts to redefine aspects
of the U.S.-Israel defense relationship. According to Israeli security sources,
the initiative is intended to provide Israel with greater operational freedom
while reducing constraints associated with U.S. policies governing the use and
supply of American-made weapons.
Aoun meets Haykal, defends army against 'campaigns of doubt
and slander'
Naharnet/June 30/2026
President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday praised the role of the Lebanese Army and its
leadership, officers and soldiers in "extending state authority, maintaining
security and stability in the country, controlling the borders, and protecting
civil peace," the Presidency said.
Aoun voiced his remarks in a Baabda meeting with Army chief General Rodolphe
Haykal, in which he emphasized that "the campaigns of doubt and slander to which
the military institution and its leadership are subjected from time to time will
not affect its national performance, which is committed to the decisions of the
political authority, or the confidence of the Lebanese people in it."Haykal for
his part briefed the president on the results of his talks during his visits to
Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom within the framework of military
cooperation with these countries.
Aoun and Haykal also discussed the security situation in the country and the
anticipated missions of the army in the coming phase, in light of the results of
the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations and the resulting "framework
agreement."
Berri vows tough opposition to framework deal, urges Salam to pull out
Naharnet/June 30/2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has warned that he and a large parliamentary bloc
will strongly oppose a framework accord recently signed between Lebanon and
Israel. "They have entangled themselves in a major ordeal. If they believe this
agreement will pass through constitutional institutions, they do not realize
they will be facing Nabih Berri and a large parliamentary bloc. In the past,
they faced Najah Wakim and Zaher al-Khatib, but today they will face me
alongside a very large number of MPs," Berri was quoted as saying by visitors,
in a report published Tuesday in the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper.
According to the daily, Berri advised Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to "back out of
the agreement" when the latter called to thank him for calming the public and
preventing people from taking to the streets. Salam reportedly told Berri he is
flexible, to which Berri replied: "Then back out of this agreement." Berri
warned again against internal strife, accusing "those who drafted the agreement
of wanting to ignite discord." "I do not want strife, and I am applying pressure
to prevent an explosion," he was quoted as saying, adding that even Hezbollah is
seeking calm. "But they insist on moving forward with an agreement that is worse
than the May 17 Agreement... They want strife."According to Berri, the agreement
aims to obstruct the U.S.-Iran deal, which he noted has entered a difficult
phase amid disagreements between the U.S. and Israel, as well as within the U.S.
administration between Marco Rubio and JD Vance. "I fear the region might pay
the price for internal American friction, as well as American-Israeli friction,"
he warned. Berri also cautioned against any moves targeting the military or its
leadership. "If they touch the army or its commander, we will never remain
silent," he vowed.
US military to have 'direct role' in monitoring actions by
Lebanese and Israeli armies
Naharnet/June 30/2026
The U.S. military will have a direct role in monitoring actions by both the
Lebanese Army and the Israeli army, with U.S. troops on the ground in both
Lebanon and Israel, a U.S. official said.“We’ll call balls and strikes, if you
will,” the official told the Washington Post, using an idiom that means making
objective, impartial judgments based strictly on the established rules. This
means "our political leadership can apply whatever pressure needs to be applied
on either side to get them to hold up their end," the official added. The head
of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, is not taking a direct role in
overseeing either side, but officials with CENTCOM would report any violations
to the Trump administration, which would then engage, the official said.
Israeli strike hits Deir Seryan
Naharnet/June 30/2026
The Israeli army struck Tuesday at dawn the southern border town of Deir Seryan
and dropped stun grenades on Haddatha and Baraashit, despite a framework accord
signed by the two countries last week aimed at securing a peace deal. Lebanese
state media on Monday said an Israeli strike hit the area between the southern
Lebanese towns of Qantara and Deir Seryan.
More than tourism: What the UAE's Lebanon travel decision
means
LBCI/June 30/2026
The United Arab Emirates has lifted its travel ban on Lebanon, allowing Emirati
citizens to visit starting June 29, in a move that could signal a renewed
opening toward Beirut at a sensitive regional moment. Could we see Gulf tourists
in Lebanon again? The UAE Foreign Ministry had previously placed Beirut on a
list of destinations banned for travel, alongside Baghdad and Tehran. The new
decision follows a long suspension in direct travel that was partially eased
last summer, when Abu Dhabi again allowed its citizens to visit Lebanon as part
of a broader Gulf rapprochement led at the time by Saudi Arabia. While the
number of Emirati visitors to Lebanon during the summer of 2025 before the war
reached 4,000, the timing of the decision has given it added political
significance. Lebanese officials and observers see the move as more than a
tourism measure, reading it instead as part of a wider regional repositioning
shaped by the war and its diplomatic aftermath. Lebanon is now in a new and
delicate phase after signing a framework agreement with Israel, while political
factions in the country continue to debate Lebanon's place within shifting
regional alignments. The UAE was among the first countries to welcome the
agreement. Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed spoke with Lebanese
President Joseph Aoun shortly after the signing and said the UAE was ready to
support Lebanon politically, economically, and socially. The travel decision
also comes as Saudi Arabia has begun allowing Lebanese exports back into the
kingdom, another sign of a broader Gulf thaw with Beirut. For Lebanon, the
return of Emirati travel at such a sensitive moment could provide a fresh
opportunity. Officials in Beirut are being urged to make the most of it,
especially as Lebanon's strategic location could help attract investment in
ports, airports, and other sectors that could help revive the economy.
UAE lifts war-related ban on travel to Lebanon
Agence France Presse/June 30/2026
The UAE has said its nationals can travel to Lebanon, effective on Monday,
lifting a weeks-long ban in place because of the Middle East war and concerns
about Iran's influence. The foreign ministry announced "it will allow UAE
citizens to travel to the sisterly Lebanese Republic, starting from Monday, June
29, 2026," the official WAM news agency reported. The ministry asked citizens to
register with its consular services platform before travelling to Lebanon. The
United Arab Emirates banned travel for Emirati nationals to Lebanon in April as
well as to Iraq and Iran, citing regional developments including the Middle East
war. During the war, halted by an April ceasefire, Gulf states bore the brunt of
Iran's retaliatory aerial campaign following US and Israeli strikes on the
Islamic republic beginning on February 28. Earlier on Monday flights resumed
between Tehran and Dubai, Iranian state TV and other media reported, for the
first time since the war. However, the ban on Emirati nationals travelling to
Iran was not lifted.
Bassil meets Berri, agrees with him on fighting strife,
supporting army
Naharnet/June 30/2026
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil met Tuesday with Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, to discuss a framework agreement signed Friday with
Israel. Bassil said after the meeting that he and Berri agree on two main
things. They both want to prevent internal strife, and both agree on defending
the military. The Israel-Lebanon deal calls for Hezbollah to be disarmed before
Israel will withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. Israel agreed to withdraw
initially from a couple of "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army would then
deploy, but no details have been shared about how that will work in practice.
Hezbollah officials have warned that attempts to implement the plan could lead
to civil war.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese head home as fighting
eases, many still stranded
Reuters/30 June ,2026
Some 400,000 Lebanese uprooted by war have returned to southern Lebanon, with
more expected to follow in the coming week, a government minister said on
Tuesday, encouraged by a lull in the four-month-long conflict between Israel and
Hezbollah. Yet many remain unable to go back. Since March, around 1 million
people have been forced to flee their homes, and large numbers are still in
shelters or temporary housing because their homes are destroyed or
uninhabitable, said Hanine El Sayed. Roughly 40 percent of those displaced have
now returned to their towns and villages. The number of people staying in
collective shelters has fallen sharply, to about 13,000 from 37,000, she said.
While some shelters will remain open for families who cannot return, aid
programs — including emergency cash support — will continue. The number of
shelters has dropped from 692 at the height of the crisis to 479, with
additional centers opened in Nabatieh for those wanting to stay near their home
areas.El Sayed said the headline figures conceal a gap between those able to
return and those still displaced. “These are families that are able to return to
something, at least the basic minimum,” she told Reuters. “The fact that the
others have not returned means they have a much harder situation.”Authorities
expect further returns in the coming days and hope within about a week to better
gauge how many families cannot go back at all. “In about a week’s time ... we
would really know the size of the problem - how many absolutely cannot return
because their homes have been totally damaged,” she said.
Challenges of going home
For many, returning home does not mean a return to normal life. Families are
often finding damaged houses, scarce electricity and water, and destroyed
businesses and livelihoods, as the government works to restore basic services
and expand cash assistance, rental support and employment programs. Yet despite
these hardships, many are choosing to return. “Many of the people of the south
are very attached to their land and they want to rightfully make a claim back to
it,” El Sayed said. The government estimates Lebanon will need billions of
dollars to rebuild damaged homes and infrastructure, funding that it does not
currently have, El Sayed said. Nearly 90,000 housing units have been totally or
partially destroyed in the latest conflict, adding to widespread damage from
earlier fighting.
Geagea: We are not demonizing Islamabad's path; it is
Iran's role in Lebanon that is being demonized.
Al-Markazia/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Since the framework agreement was signed between Lebanon, the United States, and
Israel last Friday, the “Land of the Cedars” has entered a phase in which it
seems to be held hostage by two conflicting paths: Washington and Islamabad.
Amidst the drumbeats in Beirut, there is a sense of security and political
turmoil, and equations resembling “either the government falls in the streets or
the agreement is rejected in Parliament.” Between the “loud voice” of the
“Party” in “demonizing” the framework agreement, and the outlines of a
political-constitutional confrontation that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is
threatening to launch to attack the agreement, which was considered to be
“pulling the rug out from under Iran’s feet” in Lebanon, attention turned to the
outcomes of the executive path of the 14 clauses of the “tripartite framework,”
which is racing against Tehran’s insistence that “the matter is mine” through
the memorandum of understanding with the United States. Amidst this turbulent
atmosphere, Al-Rai interviewed Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces party.
The following is the text of the interview, which will be published tomorrow:
* Lebanon today is like a “state between two paths,” Washington and Islamabad,
each pulling in opposite directions… The framework agreement was considered
realistically the best possible outcome, while you described it as the most
important achievement in half a century… Is removing Tehran’s influence from
Lebanon, as you said, worth pursuing a “diabolical agreement,” as Hezbollah
called it?
The agreement itself is not diabolical; rather, what we have reached is a truly
diabolical situation, in every sense of the word. Lebanon and its people have
been plunged into a miserable and destructive state of affairs, which we have
been experiencing for over 40 years in one form or another, with varying degrees
of intensity. This situation has prevented any real development or progress in
our country and has led to waves of emigration of our young men and women who
sought a future outside their homeland. These are the diabolical conditions, not
the framework agreement.
Undoubtedly, the agreement is not ideal, but like any agreement, it reflects the
balance of power under which it was reached. Unfortunately, Hezbollah has placed
Lebanon in a protracted predicament from which there was no way out except by
resorting to such an agreement, which I consider a necessary agreement imposed
upon us by Hezbollah.
As for why I consider this the most important action taken by the Lebanese
government in the past fifty years, it is because this agreement signifies the
final closure of the bleeding and volatile flank in our south, which has turned
Lebanon into a playground for foreign interests. We had the 1949 Armistice
Agreement, and our predecessors who ratified it did well, but unfortunately, by
1964, this agreement began to be manipulated, even disregarded. Under this
agreement, both Lebanon and Israel were responsible for any military attacks
launched from their territories against the other side.
Since the successive resistance movements began along Lebanon's southern border,
the gates of hell have been opened upon us, from the Palestinian resistance in
1964 and 1965, to the national resistance in the early 1980s, and finally to the
Islamic resistance with Hezbollah from the mid-1980s onward. This perpetually
volatile and inflamed flank has caused Lebanon to become a powder keg—even if
military operations are not everywhere—and has undermined the foundations of the
state, usurping its authority over decisions of war and peace. It has made
national and political life hostage to reckless adventures and paralysis, and
has exposed the country to economic and financial collapses that have affected
every household and family. The importance of the agreement signed in Washington
lies not only in ending the war, but also in closing this vulnerable flank once
and for all, allowing Lebanon to return to being a normal state, regardless of
some details of the agreement that we had hoped would be better. But this was
not possible given the existing balance of power.
The problem facing the agreement is that Lebanon has spoken and officially
endorsed it, while Iran's influence in Lebanon rests on the fact that the final
word on Hezbollah and its weapons is in its hands, and that Hezbollah holds the
keys to implementing the agreement's commitments. Hezbollah has openly declared
that the agreement was "stillborn." So, what will make the implementation of
this agreement different from the fate of all the decisions the government has
made since August 2025?
Many things. And in this context, we must consider the bigger picture
surrounding both Lebanon and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is now in a different position. Its size and strength are no longer
what they were in 2023 or even 2024. The Assad regime, which was one of the most
important strategic factors driving the party, has fallen, replaced by an
alternative regime that rejects all its practices, policies, and roles. The
current Lebanese state is different from what we knew in previous phases, and
the developments that have occurred in the past year and a half—since the
election of President Joseph Aoun and the formation of Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam's government—are significant. Moreover, the overall balance of power in
the region, especially after the Iran-Iraq War, has shifted.
Therefore, we are facing entirely different factors that place the party in a
much weaker position than before, and the Lebanese state in a much stronger
position. This is why I say that the framework agreement must ultimately be
implemented. * In light of the acknowledgment that the framework agreement's
contents may reflect Lebanon's less-than-ideal negotiating position… why do you
insist on demonizing Iran's approach? What harm would it do Lebanon if it
allowed Tehran to secure an Israeli withdrawal without concessions, just as it
succeeded in forcing Israel to commit to a ceasefire and including this in the
first clause of the memorandum of understanding with the United States?
- Firstly, it wasn't Iran that imposed a ceasefire in Lebanon, but rather
President Donald Trump, for his own reasons and his desire to appear as the one
who ends wars. Although Iran requested that Lebanon be included in the
comprehensive ceasefire in the region, the significant decrease in military
operations only occurred after the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement. Before
that, the war seemed to be ongoing in the south. Therefore, it is inaccurate to
claim that Tehran brought about a genuine ceasefire in Lebanon.
The claim that Iran would have secured an Israeli withdrawal for Lebanon is a
mere assumption, because it failed to achieve a genuine ceasefire, even though
it managed to include one verbally in the memorandum of understanding with the
United States. Even the Americans, given the statements made by Israeli
officials, cannot extract a genuine Israeli withdrawal.
More importantly, we are not demonizing Islamabad's approach; rather, it is
Iran's role in Lebanon that is inherently "demonized." When Tehran seeks a
ceasefire in Lebanon—and let's assume, for the sake of argument, that it
succeeds, which is the most it can achieve—it will not do so for the benefit of
Lebanon, but rather for its own interests there. The difference between the two
is enormous. In fact, we have only reached our current situation because of
Iran's use of the Lebanese arena to strengthen its strategic position in the
region as a whole, or to settle scores. Therefore, the issue is not about
"treating the disease with what caused it."
Dialogue, peace, and hope for negotiations between the Pope and Patriarch Al-Rahi
Kataeb website/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Pope Leo Al-Rahi began the talk by thanking His Holiness the Pope for his
blessed visit to Lebanon, which was followed by a stage of dialogue for peace
and then negotiations that we hope will lead to a true, just, comprehensive and
lasting peace, stressing the necessity of internal national unity and not
excluding any Lebanese group that seeks peace and stability and believes in the
establishment of a strong Lebanese state that extends its authority over its
entire territory. Patriarch Al-Rahi placed His Holiness the Pope in the
atmosphere of the recent spiritual summit held at the House of the Sheikhdom of
Mind, which reflected an atmosphere of rapprochement and cooperation between
Christian and Islamic spiritual leaders and praised the importance of His
Holiness’s visit to Lebanon and its rich fruits at the local and foreign levels.
For his part, His Holiness the Pope stressed his closeness to Lebanon, recalling
the warmth with which he was received by the Lebanese of all sects, noting the
meeting with young people in the patriarchal edifice in Bkerke and the vitality
of the youth who are Lebanon’s bright future. Patriarch Al-Rahi concluded by
affirming the love of all Lebanese for His Holiness the Pope, the man of peace
who planted hope and hope in their hearts. He chose the title of his visit,
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Palestinian women in Lebanon find identity and resilience
in embroidery
Associated Press/June 30/2026
Decades later, Samar Kabouli still fondly recalls gathering with women in her
family and sipping cardamom-spiced coffee as they embroidered fabric with
colorful threads in traditional Palestinian patterns. Born in Lebanon to
Palestinian refugees, Kabouli had never seen her parents' homeland. But more
than just making pretty designs, the threads in her needle were stitching a
connection to her heritage. It's known as "tatreez," and Kabouli, 48, started
doing the traditional form of Palestinian embroidery in her teens to make money.
Besides an economic lifeline, tatreez has provided her with a bridge to the land
her parents fled during the 1948 mass displacement that Palestinians call their
Nakba, or catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or
fled their homes in present day Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's
creation. Israel refused their return. Kabouli's work allows her to send a
message of resilience, of survival. "We're still here," she said. "All what has
been happening in Gaza … and we're still standing and we'll not forget the
cause." From refugee camps to stitching circles and from museum halls to online
classes, many in the Palestinian diaspora communities worldwide engage with
tatreez as far more than a decorative aesthetic. They're finding in it a
celebration of cultural heritage, a bridge to their homeland and dispersed
communities and — with its myriad embroidered symbols — a visual language of
storytelling. To many, refugees or not, it's become a symbol of Palestinian
identity and pride, a vehicle for documenting history and a form of resistance.
With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, some have also used it to raise funds for
people there or stitched designs to focus attention on Palestinian suffering in
the enclave. "We had a lot of people who came and they're like, 'OK, we want to
do a T-shirt with a Gaza chest or we want to do a scarf with the Gaza motif,'"
said Ali Jaafar, general manager of Inaash Association, where Kabouli works. The
Lebanese organization provides Palestinian women in refugee camps in Lebanon
with much-needed income through tatreez, while also aiming to help preserve and
promote the heritage. It sells embroidered fashion, home decor and art pieces,
and showcases the art form in exhibitions and museums.
Protecting heritage and 'struggling through culture'
Efforts to preserve and raise awareness about tatreez in Palestinian communities
at home and abroad are part of a larger push to safeguard a heritage and
connections to a history and a place that many fear are at risk of being erased.
"Palestinian tatreez is an identity and a document of our presence in every
Palestinian village and town," said Maha Saca, founder and director of the
Palestinian Heritage Center in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank,
adding that old embroidered thobes, or dresses, show the presence of
Palestinians in particular locations before the dispersal of many. "The
Palestinian woman has written the story of her village through motifs from her
surrounding environment and her beliefs," Saca said. "We're struggling through
culture and saying we have roots."The Palestinian embroidery art form was added
in 2021 to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In New
York, Lina Barkawi, whose small business teaches tatreez, said the "constant
fight for liberation and having a Palestinian identity that's recognized
globally is really what has been driving a lot of this documentation."
A generational practice and window into history
In Arabic, tatreez refers to embroidery in general as well as the specific
Palestinian form, which is often a social practice taught through generations by
grandmothers and mothers. Some seek formal training. With motifs that
Palestinian women had historically adopted from their surroundings, the old
embroidered thobes can offer clues through stitched patterns, design and color
about facets of a woman's personal story, her environment and regional identity,
Saca said. In the Palestinian context, such connections to time and place,
including areas now in Israel, gain added importance as testament to what was,
she said. "How do we have a Jaffa thobe if we hadn't been in Jaffa?" she said.
"We write history on our thobes."There's also an element of continuity. Saca
said her grandmother's embroidered wedding thobe bears the hallmarks of
Bethlehem dresses, and that her own granddaughter's baptism dress included
embroideries copied from that dress.
Tatreez also can be political, both through preservation and creation. "Just
being able to have some of the dresses from pre-1948 is a political act,"
Barkawi said.There's also the making of the so-called "intifada thobe" that
included embroidered political and Palestinian symbols, such as the flag. It's
linked to the "first intifada," or uprising, which erupted in 1987 against
Israel's occupation and was met with a fierce Israeli response.
Stitching, mourning and documenting
After the war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on
Israel, fashion designer Hama Hinnawi expressed grief through tatreez work.
Tatreez is usually colorful, she said. But that was no moment for color. The
result? Black embroidery on black fabric, a statement of mourning for the
killings, destruction and displacement in Gaza. She's also experimented with
turning some iconic scenes from the war into new embroidery motifs. "We have a
big responsibility on our shoulders to tell this story, not to be buried for the
next generations … through tatreez, through art, through speaking." Born in
Jordan to Palestinian parents, Hinnawi wanted to bring awareness to heritage
through her fashion brand by marrying tatreez with contemporary fashion. To her,
tatreez simply means home. It's "identity, pride, storytelling," said Hinnawi,
who shuttles between Chicago and Jordan. She's provided embroidery work
opportunities to Palestinian women in refugee camps in Jordan and talked in the
U.S. about tatreez. Before the war, she also worked with women in Gaza. Barkawi
runs an online community of Palestinian and non-Palestinian embroiderers, some
of whom have created designs sold to raise funds for Gaza families. One
incorporates a "water and seeds" motif with an embroidered message to "Feed Gaza
Now."Members in different countries recreated a tapestry that once hung in a
bombed Gaza home, each stitching a part and mailing it to another. Born in the
U.S. to a Palestinian father and Panamanian mother, Barkawi said learning about
tatreez deepened her Palestinian identity.
New dresses with woven stories
Embroidering her first thobe took two years. Barkawi incorporated motifs with
personal meanings, such as palm trees that represent her name in Arabic. She
added orchids, the national flower of Panama, for her mom. Technically
imperfect, it was the perfect dress for her Islamic marriage ceremony. "I
embedded my story as a Palestinian in the diaspora into this dress."In Lebanon,
Kabouli, too, once dreamed of owning a tatreez piece for her wedding trousseau.
She couldn't afford one. After their parents died, an older sister had turned to
tatreez with Inaash to help support the large family. Kabouli learned from her.
Now a production supervisor at Inaash in Beirut, Kabouli sees her younger self
in the women working in refugee camps in Lebanon, many in the south, which was
hard hit by the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. The vibrancy of tatreez often
contrasts with harsh living conditions in camps amid employment and other
restrictions the refugees face. Contending with power cuts, women, eager to
finish a piece and get paid, may work on rooftops to grasp the last ray of
sunlight, Jaafar said. Besides the income, Kabouli said doing tatreez can be
grounding, almost meditative. She has another yearning: to see her parents'
homeland. They came from an area in what's now Israel. For now, tatreez provides
her with hope. "I don't feel like I am far away. I keep working on Palestinian
heritage, following the cause," she said. "It connects me to my homeland,
especially since we're deprived of it."
HAPPY CANADA DAY
Edmond El-Chidiac/Face Book/June 30/2026
Freedom isn't just an abstract idea; it has a geography. It has a border, a
sky, and a name. It is Canada. For everyone who crossed oceans and risked
everything to find it, this is the true home of freedom—a fortress of peace
where human dignity is sacred and the future belongs to anyone brave enough to
reach for it. But freedom is never free; it requires our constant vigilance. We
must fight to preserve the core Canadian values and the liberties we enjoy
today, ensuring they remain strong for generations to come. Standing under the
Maple Leaf today, I don't just feel lucky; I feel a profound, unshakable
allegiance to the nation and country that became my refuge, my home, and all
Canadians shared responsibility. Happy Canada Day!
Facts can change opinions. Opinions cannot change facts.
Roger Bejjani/June 30/2026
Israel is a very diverse society where many religions (Islam, Judaism,
Christianism and Buddhism) and several sects within each religion co-exist.
Ethnically is is very diverse as well considering the Sephardim majority, the
Ashkenazi, the Arab Bedouins, the Kurds, the Canaan descendants, the African
black Jews…
Culturally, diversity is even more distinct. Each of those groups has its
different traditions and/or religious rituals. Unlike all other middle eastern
countries, Israel guarantees total freedom as far as sexual orientations are
concerned.
Mosques, Churches, Synagogues and Buddhist temples are present throughout
Israel.
Despite this extreme diversity, and unlike Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iran,
Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Algeria, Libya……..in 78 years of existence, Israel never
had a single civil war and/or coup d’Etat.
Israel’s economy, despite being at war throughout nearly the past 3 years, has
registered record growth in 2024 (1%), 2025 (> 3%), and 2026 (> 4%). It’s GDP
per capita (forecasted at USD 69,000 in 2026) exceeds the ones of all Middle
East and Gulf countries, with the exception of Qatar; and exceeds the ones of
practically all European countries except Norway, Netherlands , Luxembourg,
Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It means that it
exceeds the German, French, Italian and UK ones.
Universal healthcare, free schooling and academics and retirement pensions are
of the highest quality in the worldwide stage. And of course they have the
obvious 24h/day power supply.
The non Jews Israelis demographic growth has been relentless since 1948.
Christians have broken all growth records, climbing from 25,000 in 1948 to about
200,000 + in 2026; whereas Christians have nearly vanished in Iraq, depleted in
Syria and have a much lesser growth ratio in Lebanon. With the social net Israel
provides (excellent universal healthcare, excellent free schooling academics and
pensions) and the very high GDP per capita, no non-Jewish Israeli would think of
relocating, despite the number of countries they can access easily with the very
strong Israeli passport. Unlike Lebanese and other Middle Eastern Christians who
are on a relocation mission, escaping realities in their countries.
Lebanese should start looking at our southern neighbor, recognized as an
independent State by the UN, with a more rational eye. A solid and highly
performing State is seeking to become our very good friend. Their only demand is
that we do not allow any group to attack them from Lebanon.
The choice is simple and without detour:
1. Build a solid future with our southern neighbor and try emulating its success
story.
2. Persist with the series of endless wars, slogans, hate and destruction while
Lebanon is being consumed day after day.
The Truth based on facts and data is bothering for some. But the opinion of the
latter cannot change the Truth. The latter should be able of changing the
opinions of some.
Discussing the content of the framework agreement
reached between the Lebanese and Israeli sides under American auspices.
Mohammad Fran/Facebook/June 30, 2026
Regardless of the context and circumstances of its ratification, it will not be
beneficial. Furthermore, it is not difficult to identify its flaws and the
extent of its bias towards serving Israeli interests. However, the problem does
not lie there, but rather in the possibility of reaching an alternative
agreement acceptable to Hezbollah. Even if all the clauses imposed by the United
States on the Lebanese negotiator, which infringe upon Lebanese sovereignty,
were removed, we would still not be able to reach any agreement. Hezbollah is
acting as if its forces have crossed Acre and Jerusalem and are now on the
outskirts of Tel Aviv, rather than Israeli forces being on the outskirts of
Nabatieh and the borders of Tyre, after having crossed the security zone in the
former border strip. The party will not accept anything less than a complete and
unconditional Israeli withdrawal! Fearing that the Lebanese government might
benefit from his confrontations with Israel, Hezbollah repeatedly asserts that
the Lebanese government has no involvement in his fighting and that he is
channeling his confrontations to Iran, not to the Lebanese government. During
these confrontations, the party focused its political attacks on the government
and the president, as if the Lebanese army, not the Israeli army, were the enemy
shelling and occupying Lebanese villages and cities. Its supporters went to
unprecedented levels, accusing the symbols of the current administration of
being agents of Zionism!
It is possible to reconsider this agreement through Lebanese constitutional
institutions, but this would require presenting an alternative agreement that
must include an exchange of Hezbollah's weapons for an Israeli withdrawal, the
release of prisoners, reconstruction, and the return of displaced persons. Had
Hezbollah agreed to this agreement earlier, it would have spared both the party
and Lebanon thousands of lives and this horrific destruction.
Here, the obvious question arises: Why does Hezbollah insist on clinging to its
weapons and attacking the current administration? What objective takes
precedence over liberating the land, reconstruction, releasing prisoners, and
the return of displaced persons? Quite simply, it is power. The party did not
hesitate to declare its intention to bring down the government through street
protests, nor did it hesitate to express its dissatisfaction with the
government's stance on its weapons and its relationship with Iran. The party's
ambition to seize power was repeatedly expressed in various ways, including its
rejection of government decisions regarding its weapons, the crisis surrounding
the Iranian ambassador, and statements from its supporters and allies demanding
guarantees such as assuming command of the army, creating a vice-presidential
post, or adopting a defense plan in which it would lead the popular component.
It also raised the issue of the fate of its cadres, fighters, and the families
of its martyrs, among other things.
Returning to the framework agreement, its flaws are numerous. The continued
secrecy surrounding the security annex is indicative of the sensitivity of some
of its clauses and the shortcomings it contains. However, this does not mean
that the Swiss agreement between the US and Iran paves the way. A declaration of
intent between the US and Iran does not necessarily mean that both parties are
committed to the same principles of a settlement. These intentions remain
vulnerable to collapse at any moment, and it wouldn't be surprising if either
side reneges on its commitments, reigniting the war and causing their agreement
on Lebanon to crumble. Moreover, the government fears that its acquiescence to
this agreement would embolden Hezbollah's ambition to dominate the government
and its power. The government's perception of Hezbollah as a threat to its
authority may have contributed to its haste in accepting American dictates.
The crucial point is not to focus on the flaws of a flawed draft agreement, but
rather on the obstacles preventing a sound agreement that addresses the conflict
with Israel and eases the internal situation. The solution lies with Hezbollah;
the solution lies with Iran.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 30 June-01 July/2026
A link to an important and informative video
interview about Lebanon, the Lebanese-Israeli framework agreement, and the
mistakes of American presidents with Professor Dan Schueftan from Israel Update
channel.
June 30/2026
CAN ISRAEL SAVE THE US FROM ITS MISTAKE? With Guest Dan Schueftan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4s0JR2Lf7M
Trump’s MOU repeats a very American mistake, says guest Prof. Dan
Schueftan: like many presidents before him he does not understand radicalism.
But the Lebanon Deal may be able to rectify some of the damage. In which case,
says Schueftan, it would not be the first time that Israel saves the US from its
own mistakes. Also in this episode: the judges in his trial declare the bribery
case against Netanyahu groundless.
The HK book Dan referred to turned out to be A World Restored, which,
incidentally, Gadi only read on kindle and had a hard copy sent to Mike a few
weeks back, because Amazon won't ship it to Israel. Highly recommended.
Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum
of understanding
Agence France Presse/June 30, 2026
Iran will respond to any U.S. violation of the memorandum of understanding aimed
at ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign ministry spokesperson said
Tuesday, as delegations from both sides were expected in Qatar for indirect
talks on the deal. "We will not leave any action unanswered. As Iran's powerful
armed forces have demonstrated, any act of aggression against the objectives of
the Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with an immediate and decisive
response," Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a weekly press conference. "Such
actions would constitute a violation of Article 1 of the memorandum of
understanding. Naturally, if such violations are repeated and continue, the
continuation of this process will encounter difficulties."
Iran couldn’t export ‘single barrel of oil’ during US
blockade, Ghalibaf says
Al Arabiya English/01 July ,2026
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said his country was
unable to export any oil during the US blockade on its ports, noting that
exports have since surged. “From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we
have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil,” Ghalibaf said in an
interview on state television. “By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60
days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil,” he added.
Ghalibaf also said that Iran was prioritizing diplomacy with the United States,
but remained ready for war. “We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is
not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly,” he
said, as Iranian and US delegations were due to hold separate discussions in
Doha. With AFP
Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of
understanding
Agence France Presse/June 30, 2026
Iran will respond to any U.S. violation of the memorandum of understanding aimed
at ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign ministry spokesperson said
Tuesday, as delegations from both sides were expected in Qatar for indirect
talks on the deal. "We will not leave any action unanswered. As Iran's powerful
armed forces have demonstrated, any act of aggression against the objectives of
the Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with an immediate and decisive
response," Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a weekly press conference. "Such
actions would constitute a violation of Article 1 of the memorandum of
understanding. Naturally, if such violations are repeated and continue, the
continuation of this process will encounter difficulties."
Indirect US-Iran talks in Qatar on Wednesday: Al Arabiya
sources
Al Arabiya English/30 June ,2026
Indirect negotiations will be held tomorrow between US and Iranian delegations
in Qatar in the presence of mediators, Al Arabiya sources said on Tuesday. The
sources added that the indirect talks will focus on the Strait of Hormuz and
overall general stability. The sources also said that Iran will receive $3
billion of its frozen assets by the end of the week while noting that both
delegations are expected to meet with the Qatari prime minister and Pakistani
mediators in Doha today. The Iranian foreign ministry had said earlier that Iran
will hold talks with mediator Qatar on Wednesday regarding its frozen assets,
denying that any meeting with the United States was planned in the Gulf state.
“What is expected to take place in Doha, probably tomorrow, will be discussions
regarding the implementation of provisions of the memorandum of understanding,
including the provision concerning the release of Iran’s restricted assets, and
these discussions will be held with the Qatari side,” foreign ministry spokesman
Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters at a weekly press conference. Baghaei was
referring to Iranian funds blocked abroad due to US sanctions, a key issue under
discussion as part of an agreement between Tehran and Washington to end the
Middle East war. Iran is making any agreement with the United States conditional
on the release of a portion of these assets in order to bring a lasting end to
the conflict. Among elements agreed under a so-called memorandum of
understanding already signed is a US commitment to eventually “terminate all
types of sanctions against” Tehran, and to “make fully available for use the
frozen or restricted funds and assets” of Iran. Iran has been subject to asset
freezes and sweeping sanctions by the United States and other Western countries
since its 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi. While there is no official figure for the total amount of frozen
Iranian assets, media reports have estimated the sum at between $100 billion and
$123 billion.Iran says will respond to any US violation of MoU Baghaei also said
that Iran will respond to any US violation of the memorandum of understanding
aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. “We will not leave any action
unanswered. As Iran’s powerful armed forces have demonstrated, any act of
aggression against the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be met
with an immediate and decisive response,” Baghaei said.
“Such actions would constitute a violation of Article 1 of the memorandum of
understanding. Naturally, if such violations are repeated and continue, the
continuation of this process will encounter difficulties.”With AFP
U.S. envoys arrive in Qatar for meetings on Iran
Associated Press/June 30, 2026
Two U.S. envoys arrived in Qatar on Tuesday for talks with mediators about the
implementation of an initial deal to end the war in Iran, an official said. The
visit by Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special Mideast envoy, and
Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, comes after a weekend of crossfire in the Persian
Gulf over efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic. The envoys
won't be having direct negotiations with Iranian diplomats while in Qatar's
capital, Doha, said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry.
Instead, mediators are working for the time being as go-betweens for the talks,
which won't include any high-level officials, he added. Such indirect
negotiations have happened in the past between Iran and the U.S. However, the
two previous rounds of talks collapsed into the 12-day war Israel launched
against Iran in 2025 and the recent Iran war. "We're not expecting any
high-level Iranian officials at the moment, but as I said, the technical
meetings are ongoing ... and they haven't stopped since then," al-Ansari told
journalists at a weekly news conference. Iran was also sending a delegation to
Qatar this week. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tuesday
that Iran has had no plans for a meeting with the American side at any level in
the coming days. "What will take place in Doha tomorrow is a discussion with the
Qatari side about implementing parts of the memorandum of understanding,
including the release of Iran's blocked assets," Baghaei told journalists at his
own briefing.
However, that left open the possibility of messages being passed to the Qataris
between the two sides. The U.S. and Iran agreed to an interim deal earlier this
month that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium. It also
waives U.S.-backed oil sanctions on the country, calls for free traffic through
the Strait of Hormuz and gives each side 60 days to hammer out broader
agreements. A fifth of the world's oil was shipped through the Strait of Hormuz
before the war began Feb. 28. Iran's attacks and threats stopped cargo ships and
tankers from moving through the strait, creating a global energy crisis. The
strait has long been considered an international waterway despite being in Iran
and Oman's territorial waters. Both sides traded strikes amid efforts last week
to open Oman's territorial waters in the strait to both inbound and outbound
ship traffic from the Persian Gulf. That raised concerns that negotiations to
formally end the war could be disrupted. Iran twice attacked vessels in the
strait — including a tanker filled with Qatari crude — and drew retaliatory
American airstrikes. Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting
Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday.
Chinese FM urges US-Iran talks to continue in meeting with
Saudi counterpart
Al Arabiya English/30 June ,2026
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called for maintaining the momentum
of negotiations between the United States and Iran during a meeting in Beijing
with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, state-run news agency
Xinhua reported. “The current ceasefire remains fragile, but talking is better
than fighting, and dialogue is better than confrontation,” Wang said, adding
that China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to ease regional tensions and
promote lasting peace. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the two
ministers discussed the latest regional and international developments and
exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, particularly developments in the
Middle East, efforts to reduce escalation and enhance security and stability,
and the importance of ensuring maritime security and preserving freedom of
navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and international waterways to support energy
security and global economic stability. The ministers also reviewed the
“strategic” relationship between the two countries and ways to strengthen
bilateral cooperation across a range of fields in support of their shared
interests, SPA said. They further discussed expanding economic, trade and
investment cooperation and strengthening their partnership in key sectors,
including energy, industry, supply chains and advanced technologies, in line
with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The discussions also focused on increasing
mutual investment, boosting bilateral trade and “opening new horizons for
cooperation between the two countries,” according to SPA.
Hormuz disruption may have lasting impact on vulnerable economies, UN trade
agency says
Reuters/30 June ,2026
The UN trade and development agency warned on Tuesday that while the reopening
of the Strait of Hormuz will bring immediate relief to energy markets,
vulnerable economies remain at risk from prolonged increases in food and fuel
costs. Food and transport systems are likely to take longer than energy markets
to recover, as disrupted supply chains need more time to reset following more
than 100 days of severe disruption to shipping through the strategic waterway, a
UN Conference on Trade and Development said in a new report. The strait, which
normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, was effectively
paralyzed during the conflict triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in
late February. Although Brent crude has fallen sharply back to around $73 a
barrel, close to pre-conflict levels, following the interim US-Iran agreement,
UNCTAD said higher fuel, gas and fertilizer costs could continue to feed through
into agricultural production, transport costs and household budgets. Vulnerable
economies remain particularly exposed to oil and fertilizer price shocks, while
persistently high food prices could place further pressure on poorer households.
UNCTAD said a 5 percent increase in food prices can significantly raise the risk
of childhood wasting.The agency identified 61 vulnerable economies exposed to
oil and cereal import shocks linked to the strait disruption. Among them is Cape
Verde, which relies heavily on imported fuel and has experienced rising
electricity, transport and food costs that could continue even after energy
markets stabilize. Staple food-importing countries such as Yemen also remain
highly vulnerable because their fragile economies are ill-equipped to absorb
higher grain prices and transport costs. UNCTAD called for international support
to help the most exposed countries recover from the recent shocks.
Israeli fighter jets scrambled after airliner accidentally reports hijacking
AFP/30 June ,2026
The Israeli military said it scrambled two fighter jets towards a civilian
airliner over the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, with European officials saying
the pilot accidentally broadcast a hijack code. LOT Polish Airlines said the
flight, which was operated by Bulgarian company Electra Airways, was headed from
Warsaw to Tel Aviv when “the crew reported an emergency situation.”“This report
was cancelled in the course of subsequent communications with air traffic
control,” the airline’s spokesman, Krzysztof Moczulski, told AFP.Bulgaria’s
defense ministry said in a statement the aircraft had broadcast transponder code
7500, an emergency messaging signaling unlawful interference or a hijacking.
Sofia had also scrambled a fighter jet, a MiG-29, to intercept the airliner and
escort it through Bulgarian airspace. The flight was rerouted to Burgas in
Bulgaria, where Electra Airways is based, Moczulski said, “due to limitations
related to the authorized working time for the crew”. The Israeli military said
in a statement that “two Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward a
civilian aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea following a report of lost
communication with the aircraft”.“There is no concern of a security incident,”
it added.
Warsaw Chopin airport spokesperson, Piotr Rudzki, told AFP that: “We have no
reason to take action in this situation.”“The (Bulgarian) airline is reporting
pilot error, so no action is required on our part. We are monitoring the
situation; nothing indicates any (external) interference,” he added.
Two IRGC members shot dead in Iran: State media
AFP/30 June ,2026
Attackers shot dead two members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
at their home in the western city of Paveh, near the border with Iraq’s
Kurdistan region, state media reported Tuesday.It was not immediately clear who
was behind the shooting but Tehran has frequently blamed Kurdish separatist
groups in the area for previous violence, accusing them of links to the United
States and Israel. The two IRGC members were killed in “a terrorist and cowardly
act,” state television said, while two other IRGC members were wounded.State
television said “exact details of this incident and the measures being taken to
identify those responsible are under review.”Separately, “a family’s vehicle was
sprayed with bullets” on Monday in the southeastern town of Saravan in Sistan-Baluchistan
province, killing the father and wounding the mother, state television
reported.The woman later died of her injuries. Authorities did not immediately
identify those responsible or provide further details about the victims. But
state television said the attack “was carried out by Zionist-American
mercenaries,” a term Iranian officials commonly use for separatist and militant
groups.Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen
clashes between security forces, insurgents and drug smugglers. One of Iran’s
poorest provinces, it is home to a sizeable ethnic Baloch population, most of
whom are Sunni Muslims in a Shia-majority nation.
Uncertainty looms over US-Iran deal as US envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Doha
Reuters/30 June ,2026
Top US envoys who have arrived in Doha will not hold a high-level meeting with
Iran, a Qatari official said on Tuesday, casting doubt on the progress of
efforts to bring a lasting halt to the Iran war and fully reopen the Strait of
Hormuz. Instead, there will be technical talks this week on issues including
regional security that could later be elevated to senior level, Qatar’s Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari told a media briefing.He said Qatar has
not transferred $6 billion of Iranian frozen funds to Tehran. Meanwhile, Doha
has been coordinating with Oman, which sits on the western coast of the Strait
of Hormuz, on the safe passage for vessels, the Qatari spokesperson added. The
arrival of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve
Witkoff in Doha on Tuesday followed exchanges of fire over the weekend that
tested the June 17 interim accord between the United States and Iran. While Iran
is sending its technical delegation to Qatar this week, Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said this had “no relation” to the Americans’ visit
and no talks between the two sides were scheduled. “We will not have any
negotiation meetings at any level with the American side in the coming days,”
Baghaei said. The disagreement over whether the sides would even meet
underscored the fragility of a June 17 accord to pause a conflict that has
disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and created a political
headache for Trump ahead of November’s congressional elections.
The US and Iran gave themselves at least 60 days to implement the 14-point
memorandum of understanding to extend an April ceasefire, discuss Iran’s nuclear
program and negotiate a permanent truce. But progress has been halting, with
each side accusing the other of violating agreed terms.After the US and Israel
attacked Iran on February 28, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the
narrow chokepoint that previously carried about a fifth of the global oil trade,
came to a virtual standstill. Israel has not joined the US-Iran peace talks and
has distanced itself from the agreement. Tensions between Washington and Tehran
have complicated efforts to end fighting in Lebanon, where Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri, an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah, has cast doubt on a separate,
US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at halting the conflict.
Closure of the waterway sent oil prices to above $100 a barrel, pushing up
global inflation and putting pressure on Trump ahead of the midterm elections
that will determine control of the US Congress, where some of his fellow
Republicans have criticized the president for waging war without lawmakers’
authorization. A senior Iranian official said there would be a meeting in Doha
on Tuesday, but unlike previous technical talks between Iran and US teams in
Switzerland, the focus would be on managing the Strait of Hormuz and
de-escalating tensions. Another official with knowledge of the plans said
technical teams from the US and Iran are expected to meet separately with Qatari
and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday.
Uncertainty in Washington
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “the meeting in Doha is going to be
perhaps important, perhaps not. We’re going to find out.”At the same time he
maintained “we’re winning militarily” and repeated his condition that Iran must
be stopped from producing a nuclear weapon.
Iran has sought leverage by flexing its control of the strait shared with
neighboring Oman, saying it plans to charge fees to ships using the waterway and
obstructing vessels that stray outside defined paths. The US has accused Iran of
hitting at least two commercial ships with missiles or drones in recent days and
bombed Iranian military facilities in response. Iran in turn launched missiles
and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early on Sunday. Witkoff
and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed members of Congress on Iran by phone
on Monday. Republican Senator Steve Daines told reporters they kept their
remarks to a minimum but he nonetheless deemed the conversation “constructive.”Top
Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, however, called the briefing “deficient, and
devoid of details.”“After dragging America into a costly war, the Trump
administration still can’t name a single thing Americans got in return. Instead,
Secretary Rubio confirmed to me that Iran will reap billions in oil revenue
while retaining dangerous leverage over the Strait of Hormuz,” Schumer said.
Release of frozen Iranian assets
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that $6 billion out of $12
billion of assets frozen in Qatar would be released and returned to Iran,
Iranian state media reported. He described the memorandum, which includes US
waivers for sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors, as “a great
victory for the Iranian people.” Oil prices rose more than 1 percent after
weekend hostilities highlighted the fragility of the US-Iran accord. French
President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said he was working with Oman to de-escalate
tensions and would cooperate with partners to de-mine the Strait of Hormuz. But
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded with an X post that
the removal of mines was to be carried out solely by Iran according to the
14-point plan. He warned France against complicating the situation.
US Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to limit birthright
citizenship
AFP/30 June ,2026
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to
restrict birthright citizenship in a blow to one of his signature
anti-immigration initiatives. The court, in an eagerly awaited decision on the
final day of its term, ruled 6-3 to maintain the right to American citizenship
for nearly everyone born on US soil. Trump signed an executive order last year
on the first day of his second stint in the White House decreeing that children
born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not
automatically become US citizens. Lower courts blocked the move by the
Republican president, ruling that under the Citizenship Clause of the 14th
Amendment to the US Constitution nearly everyone born on US soil is an American
citizen. The Supreme Court agreed in a majority opinion penned by Chief Justice
John Roberts that was joined by two other conservative justices and the three
liberals on the top court. “Children born in the United States to parents
unlawfully or temporarily present are ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the
United States and are citizens at birth under the Fourteenth Amendment’s
Citizenship Clause,” Roberts wrote. In an unprecedented move for a sitting US
president, Trump personally attended oral arguments on birthright citizenship at
the Supreme Court in April. Trump stayed for the presentation by his solicitor
general, John Sauer, but did not remain for the arguments of American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Cecillia Wang, who defended birthright
citizenship. Wang welcomed Tuesday’s ruling, saying the court’s decision
“reaffirms a fundamental American promise -- if you are born here, you are a
citizen.”“A president cannot change the Constitution by executive fiat,” she
said. Trump called the decision upholding birthright citizenship “bad for our
country.”He urged the Republican-controlled Congress in a Truth Social post to
“start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright
Citizenship.”“They will have my Complete and Total Support!” he said.
‘Birth tourism’
Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship was part of his wider campaign to
limit immigration, which includes expelling millions of undocumented migrants
and removing deportation protections from nationals of more than a dozen
countries. During oral arguments before the Supreme Court, Sauer argued that
unrestricted birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration and “birth
tourism,” in which foreigners come to the United States solely to give birth.
The 14th Amendment states that “All persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States.”It does not apply to those not subject to US jurisdiction -- the
children of foreign diplomats, for example. The Trump administration argued that
the 14th Amendment, passed in the wake of the 1861-1865 Civil War, addresses
citizenship rights of former slaves and not the children of undocumented
migrants or visitors. Trump’s executive order banning birthright citizenship was
premised on the notion that anyone in the United States illegally, or on a visa,
is not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country and therefore excluded from
automatic citizenship. The Supreme Court rejected such a narrow definition in a
landmark 1898 case involving a man named Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San
Francisco in 1873 to parents who had come to the United States from China. After
a visit to China, Wong Kim Ark was denied re-entry into the United States in
1895 under the Chinese Exclusion Acts. The Supreme Court ruled, however, that he
was a US citizen by virtue of being born in the United States and Roberts, in
his birthright opinion, referred to the case. “We have repeatedly understood the
rule of Wong Kim Ark to guarantee citizenship to all children born in the United
States and subject to its power,” Roberts said.
The Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship is
the third major loss for him this term. The justices struck down most of his
global tariffs in February and on Monday they blocked his bid to fire Federal
Reserve governor Lisa Cook.
Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes kill five
Agence France Presse/June 30, 2026
Gaza health officials said Israeli strikes killed five people including a child
in the Palestinian territory.
A ceasefire is in place in the Israel-Hamas war, but it has not ended the
violence and progress towards a final deal to end the war has stalled. "Three
people were killed and several injured when an Israeli drone struck a group of
civilians," Al-Aqsa Hospital said in a statement, adding that one of the victims
was a child aged eight years old. Gaza's civil defense agency, which acts as a
rescue force under Hamas, said the strike hit an area in Deir el-Balah in
central Gaza. An Israeli military source confirmed the attack. "The IDF (Israeli
army( did carry out a strike targeting jihadi terrorists. The results of the
strike are still being assessed," the source told AFP. Later on Monday, Gaza's
civil defense agency reported two people killed and more than 27 injured in an
Israeli airstrike on a tent on Khan Younis beach in the south of the territory.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed receiving the bodies of the dead.
Questioned by AFP about that attack, the Israeli military said that Israeli
forces "struck a Hamas terrorist in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip. The
results of the strike are under review." It added: "The IDF is aware of the
reports regarding casualties in the area as a result of the strike. However, the
reported number of casualties does not align with the information available to
the IDF."Israeli forces "make every effort to mitigate harm to civilians", it
said. At least 1,045 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire
took effect on October 10 last year, according to the territory's health
ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered
reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli military says it has lost five
soldiers in Gaza over the same period, as well as one contractor.Restrictions
imposed on media outlets and limited access in Gaza prevent AFP from
independently verifying tolls or freely covering the violence.
Death toll from Venezuela quakes rises to 1,943: Official
LBCI/June 30, 2026
The death toll from the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week
has risen to 1,943, National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday.
Recorded injuries meanwhile rose to 10,571, according to Rodriguez. AFP
Venezuela quake survivors seek food, shelter as toll rises to nearly 2,000
AFP/30 June ,2026
Tens of thousands of people urgently need food and shelter in Venezuela after
the two devastating earthquakes that killed nearly 2,000, the UN said on
Tuesday, as doctors warned of outbreaks of disease with survivors sleeping in
the streets. Last week’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude shocks – one of the worst
earthquake disasters in Latin America – collapsed whole residential complexes,
left tens of thousands unaccounted for and prompted frantic search-and-rescue
operations for survivors trapped in the rubble.The UN refugee agency said “food
shortages are widespread, basic services have broken down and connectivity has
been largely severed” in the port city of La Guaira – the worst hit area north
of the capital Caracas. “They give out supplies here, but sometimes people
nearly kill each other for food...it’s like a cockfight,” said Daniela Armas,
18, a vendor in La Guaira who was injured falling from a motorbike during the
quakes. In a daily update, Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge
Rodriguez said deaths had risen to 1,943, with more than 10,500 injured after
one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters. He said nearly 6,500 people
had been rescued from the rubble in La Guaira, but that number was likely closer
to 20,000 including those who escaped or were helped out by family. Many
Venezuelans have expressed anger at the government’s slow response to the
disaster in a country already struggling with decades of economic crisis that
has weakened infrastructure and health services. The UN agency said it needed
some $14.85 million to scale up aid and temporary shelter for 30,000 people over
six months. “Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains
constrained,” UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf said. The quakes likely damaged
or destroyed 58,870 buildings, according to a preliminary assessment of
satellite data published by NASA. World Health Organization spokesman Christian
Lindmeier said health services in Venezuela were overstretched and under
“extreme pressure.”“There’s an increased risk now of outbreaks of
vaccine-preventable diseases” such as measles and diphtheria, due to low
pre-earthquake vaccination coverage, he said.
Bare hands
With international rescue teams from the US, Mexico and dozens of other
countries scrambling with trained dogs and heavy equipment to dig out survivors,
Venezuelans began burying the dead they could find. Others were frantically
searching by hand for missing loved ones in the rubble, but also in hospitals
and morgues. “It’s harder not knowing because you ask yourself, ‘What do I do?
Where do I look for her?” said Rosanna Luna, looking for her sister Soraida in
the wreckage of her home.
AFP journalists on Monday saw black body bags containing victims of the quake
lined up near a makeshift morgue at the dock in La Guaira, where many people
came for news or to identify remains. Darvin Silva, 37, described how he battled
to reach his mother, who died under a pillar in a collapsed building. “The
effort it took me to get her out of there with my bare hands, with
sledgehammers, with pickaxes... you can’t even begin to imagine,” he said. “I
hope that I can now offer her the rest she deserves,” he said. The critical
72-hour window during which survivors were still likely to be found closed on
Saturday evening. But rescuers in hard hats and high-visibility vests were still
picking through the twisted metal and shattered concrete. Around 50,000 people
are still listed as missing, according to the UN.
Body bags
Some seven million people in Venezuela would be affected by the disaster, the UN
has said, with the quakes knocking a $6.7-billion hole in the economy – or six
percent of Venezuela’s GDP.
A total of 27 countries have mobilized nearly 40 search-and-rescue teams. They
include more than 2,000 troops and personnel, along with more than 160 dogs,
according to Gianluca Rampolla, the UN coordinator in Venezuela.The world body
is providing 10,000 body bags, though it hopes the final toll will be lower. At
the only public cemetery in Caracas, the two crematory ovens have been working
at full capacity. At the makeshift morgue at La Guaira’s port, many are still
waiting for the remains of their loved ones who are presumed dead. “My family is
there – I’m told my sister and her children are there, as well as the children
of my brother,” Wilker Molalla told AFP as he waited to identify the remains.
“There were 11 people in my household,” he said. “Only two of us survived
because we were at work.”
UAE exports record oil volumes after OPEC exit, ship-tracking data shows
LBCI/June 30, 2026
The United Arab Emirates boosted crude oil and condensate exports to a record
high in June, preliminary Kpler and Vortexa ship-tracking data showed, shortly
after the Gulf producer left OPEC. The decision to end almost 60 years of
membership of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on May 1
during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran was aimed at maximizing the value of its
resources, free from the constraints of the producer group's quotas. Iran's
chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, meanwhile, prompted Abu Dhabi National Oil
Company (ADNOC) to set up a tanker shuttle service to export its crude on
vessels with their transponders switched off to reduce the risk of attack while
sailing through the Gulf, helping these so-called dark vessels to evade attacks,
trade sources and experts have said. Crude and condensate exports from the UAE
have averaged about 3.7 million barrels per day this month, the highest level on
record, remaining above the 3.1 million to 3.3 million bpd achieved before the
Middle East conflict, said Kpler senior oil analyst Johannes Rauball.
Cuba says US pressuring UN member states to put off trade embargo debate
Reuters/30 June ,2026
Cuba’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that the US State Department was
“pressuring and intimidating” United Nations member states to put off an
upcoming floor debate over the US blockade of the communist-run island. Foreign
Minister Bruno Rodriguez also told reporters at a press conference in Havana
that the US sanctions were “causing deaths” in Cuba. The debate, slated for July
7, typically precedes a UN vote of member states later in the year to call on
the US to end its sanctions against Cuba. United Nations has voted 31 times,
including in November of 2025, to ask the United States to end the decades-long
trade embargo. Those votes have historically been near unanimous, with typically
only the United States and Israel in opposition. The non-binding vote this year,
however, takes on special relevance for Cuba after the Trump administration in
January imposed a fuel blockade on the island and fresh sanctions that have led
to an exodus of foreign investment and the near total collapse of tourism. The
US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the
foreign minister`s allegations. UN experts have previously called the US fuel
blockade, implemented in January, illegal and a violation of the human rights of
all Cubans.
The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published on 30 June-01 July/2026
14 Points on the 14 Points: Assessing the Israel-Lebanon
Framework Agreement
Robert Satloff/The Washington Institute/Jun 29, 2026
Robert Satloff is the Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute, a
post he assumed in January 1993.
This landmark document offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build real
peace between Beirut and Jerusalem, but progress needs to be swift and visible
given the threat of violent opposition from Iran and its local allies.
After a rocky start to their fifth round of negotiations and a delay of several
hours before the closing ceremony, Lebanon and Israel ultimately signed a
“framework agreement” on June 26, marking a substantial step-up from the
“statement of intent” they had been expected to endorse. This was the first
accord between the two neighbors since the short-lived May 1983 peace agreement,
and given its scope, ambition, and potential implications, it is perhaps the
most significant since their armistice agreement seventy-seven years ago.
The text of the agreement is divided into fourteen points, a structure that not
only echoes the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, but also appears
purposefully chosen to present an alternative path to that MOU in terms of
addressing the Lebanon question. Here are fourteen observations on those
fourteen points:
1. The term “framework agreement” was born in 1978 to describe the two halves of
the original Camp David Accords, one of which evolved into the 1979 Egypt-Israel
peace treaty. (The other half—on the Palestinian question—never reached
fruition.) The phrase suggests a major step forward, though not a conclusive
one. The previous four rounds of talks produced statements with varying degrees
of specificity, but one can assume that implementing the new framework agreement
will be the focus of Israel-Lebanon diplomacy for the foreseeable future.
2. While media reports have focused on the details of Hezbollah disarmament,
Israeli withdrawal, and the creation of “pilot zones” for the deployment of the
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), it is important to note that the agreement’s core
strategic objective is to establish peace between the two countries. The words
“peace” or “peaceful” are used ten times in the text, with paragraph 12
requiring the two sides to immediately begin the process of establishing
“working groups to draft the full comprehensive peace and security agreement.”
This puts to rest any intra-Lebanese debate about whether Beirut might set more
limited goals for this diplomacy, such as renewing the bilateral armistice or
seeking some form of nonbelligerency agreement. The goal is now clear: full
peace.
3. The agreement’s use of the word “irreversible” is striking. This is an
especially strong term in the diplomatic realm and has not been used in any
previous Arab-Israel peace agreement. Yet it appears twice in this agreement,
and in two very different contexts: paragraph 1 states, “This
Framework...expresses a determination to make irreversible progress towards the
comprehensive resolution of all issues between the two countries”; paragraph 4
states, “The Government of Lebanon reaffirms its resolute and irreversible
commitment to restoring and exercising full sovereignty over all its territory.”
This linguistic connection underscores the critical linkage between Lebanon’s
assertion of full sovereignty and the goal of forging peace with Israel.
4. The text is a bit contradictory on whether this is a trilateral agreement or
a bilateral agreement achieved with American support. Its official title is
“Trilateral Framework,” suggesting that the United States is an equal partner.
Yet paragraph 1 notes that “[b]oth countries affirm their intention to resolve
[all] issues as sovereign states through direct bilateral negotiations, with the
mediation and support of the United States.” However diplomats sort this out,
the agreement’s numerous other commitments make clear that America’s role—from
negotiation to implementation to defending the process from its adversaries—will
be indispensable. (See point 11 below)
5. While peace is the ultimate objective, the pathway to that goal runs through
executing the key operational principle outlined in paragraph 2: that both
governments “commit to a reciprocal, sequenced process, with clear conditions,
whereby the LAF will restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese
territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and
dismantlement of associated infrastructure, enabling the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
to progressively deploy out of the Lebanese territory.” This is the fundamental
deal at the heart of the agreement—as the LAF fulfills its commitment to deploy
in certain areas and disarm, dismantle, and prevent the regrouping of Hezbollah
once there, the IDF will cede control and leave, with Lebanese civilians then
permitted to return under “exclusive” Lebanese government control. There is no
defined timeline for this process, but the sequencing is crystal clear. Israeli
withdrawal is neither automatic nor assumed, and Lebanon makes no demand for an
immediate, unconditional departure. Rather, IDF redeployment is envisioned as a
rolling process whose pace and breadth are determined by the pace and breadth of
the LAF’s own efforts. As the text states, only “successful implementation” will
enable the IDF to leave.
6. The agreement does not define “disarmament” or “dismantlement,” but those
terms are explained as follows in the subsequently reported security annex:
“taking legal measures against all non-state armed personnel engaging in
unauthorized activity, and destroy[ing] or render[ing] inoperable associated
infrastructure, including but not limited to weapons, weapons caches, tunnels,
and command centers, by those non-state armed groups.” As the process unfolds,
it will be important to monitor whether dismantlement extends to Hezbollah’s
weapons factories, drone assembly plants, training facilities, and other
military infrastructure, and perhaps even its communications networks, financial
institutions, and leadership facilities. As for disarmament, the security annex
is silent on whether this process will be consensual, coercive, or both, opening
the possibility of multiple tactics to achieve that goal. Yet one option is
specifically ruled out: incorporating Hezbollah units into the LAF, an idea that
has been gaining traction in some circles. According to paragraph 4, Beirut has
committed to ensure that “non-state armed groups” will have “no military or
security role and no armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon.”
7. Paragraph 3 states that “pilot zones” will serve as “the mechanism for phased
and verified redeployments of the IDF and the deployments of the LAF.” While
Lebanon and Israel had endorsed this concept in previous talks, they came to
Washington last week with very different ideas about implementation. Beirut
originally proposed that the IDF withdraw from a zone along the border, with
displaced Lebanese civilians then returning to that zone. Not surprisingly,
Israel balked at the idea of beginning the process within firing range of its
northern communities. Ultimately, they agreed on two zones further north in the
“South Litani Sector.” They also agreed to add more pilot zones “by mutual
consent.”
Relatedly, the security annex commits the two sides to establishing a novel
joint initiative—the bilateral “Military Coordination Group for Lebanon”
(MCG4L)—to “operate 24/7, managing deconfliction, verification, and overall
implementation.” This step-by-step process of expanding LAF control while
disarming and dismantling Hezbollah is eventually envisioned as extending
“throughout Lebanon.”
8. While the pilot zones focus on disarming and dismantling Hezbollah in defined
areas of territory, Beirut also made a broader commitment to starve Hezbollah of
funding throughout the country. As paragraph 11 notes, the government pledges to
prevent “funds from flowing to any entity, organization, or individual
affiliated with non-state armed groups,” and “explicitly commits to prevent
reconstruction funds from flowing to non-state armed groups and connected
entities.” (Notably, the United States has joined in this commitment as well;
see point 11 below.) Defining precisely who is “affiliated” with Hezbollah and
what is a “connected entity” will be critical. Does this include the Council for
South Lebanon, or the Amal movement led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri?
What about local Hezbollah mayors in communities south of the Litani? In any
case, the principle adopted here is a powerful tool to help strangle the group
financially.
9. One fascinating subtext in the agreement is that both sides repeatedly
commiserate with each other’s difficulties and challenges, reflecting a deeper
sense of mutual empathy than normally found in such documents. For example, one
might think that the Israeli government would be indifferent to whether Lebanese
civilians return to southern Lebanon and, similarly, that the Lebanese
government would be indifferent to the situation facing Israel’s northern
communities—they would normally be expected to focus on their own national
priorities instead. Interestingly, however, the document reflects a sense that
these discrete national interests are linked. In paragraph 8, for example, “the
two countries recognize that the restoration of security in South Lebanon
through the deployment of the LAF, the safe return of its civilian population,
and the security of Israel’s northern communities, are essential to long-term
stability and peace.” It is difficult to find this degree of empathetic
understanding in any previous Arab-Israel peace agreement.
10. Critics of Lebanon’s negotiating acumen have pounced on the commitment made
in paragraph 13 “to take good faith measures that demonstrate positive intent,
including the cessation of all hostile or adverse actions in international
political or legal fora, and pledge to work towards the search for and return of
remains and the release of detainees.” Specifically, domestic opponents accuse
the Lebanese government of giving away citizens’ rights to hold Israel
responsible for the hardship, displacement, and deaths suffered as a result of
military action in recent months. Yet this is a skewed misreading of a
commitment that benefits both sides. For example, while it likely means that
Lebanon will no longer partner with UN Human Rights Council investigations of
Israeli actions, it also puts to rest Lebanese concerns that Israel would
support potential U.S. congressional efforts to cut or severely condition
bilateral military assistance to the LAF as penalty for its failure to act
against Hezbollah. To be sure, this paragraph does not mean that Lebanon will
suddenly change its position on the International Criminal Court case against
Israeli officials or the International Court of Justice case charging Israel
with genocide—but that is because Lebanon (like Israel and the United States)
never ratified the Rome Statute and is not a party to the ICC, nor has it ever
made an official intervention on the ICJ genocide case.
11. The U.S. role in the agreement is deep, as seen in numerous parts of the
text. Stitching them together, the Trump administration committed to the
following:
providing “mediation and support” for Israel-Lebanon diplomacy (para. 1)
supporting the drafting of the security annex (para. 2)
verifying and supporting the pilot zone initiative (para. 3)
leading the effort to enlist international and Arab support for this process (para.
4)
supporting and participating in a “military coordination group” to ensure
implementation (para. 7)
rallying international partners to support Lebanon’s reconstruction (para. 10)
working with Lebanon to prevent financial flows to Hezbollah and its affiliates
(para. 11)
facilitating Israel-Lebanon negotiations for a final peace agreement (para. 12)
In addition, the agreement mentions that “any new U.S. assistance” to Lebanon
would be “strictly conditioned on verifiable milestones, full transparency,
demonstrated results, and ongoing oversight”—concepts that, by implication, do
not necessarily apply to existing U.S. assistance.
In publicly reported versions of the security annex, Washington’s role is
surprisingly limited, mentioned only in terms of facilitating implementation and
mediating dispute resolution. In reality, however, a more robust role is likely
to emerge for the United States as the lead actor in the creation of a “mutually
agreed-upon third-party entity” that will verify the “clearance of all non-state
armed groups and their military infrastructure” in the pilot zones.
Two implications are clear from all these American commitments: first, that the
United States—not the UN or some consortium of countries—bears responsibility
with the parties for executing this agreement, and second, that the Trump
administration needs to quickly stand up a substantial interagency team
dedicated to full implementation of Washington’s commitments.
12. The authors of the agreement were unambiguous in rejecting the idea that
Iran has a legitimate role to play in determining the future of Lebanon’s
political or security affairs, despite this notion being inherent in the
U.S.-Iran MOU. As stated in paragraph 6, “The Government of Lebanon rejects the
claims of any state or non-state actor to use force on its behalf without its
explicit authorization, and reiterates that any claim by any state or non-state
actor to exercise a military or security role is illegal per the decisions of
the Lebanese Government and contrary to Lebanese national interests.” It is no
surprise, then, that Iran’s top agents in Lebanon—Hezbollah and Amal—have
denounced the agreement in extreme terms. Hezbollah took to the streets to
threaten violence against the government, while Berri labeled the document
“sedition” and proudly advertised a phone call with his Iranian counterpart
Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, highlighting his close coordination with Tehran. The
result is that Lebanon is now the unambiguous ground zero for the Islamic
Republic’s claim to a broader regional role after surviving the Iran war.
13. The Lebanese government’s courage and tenacity should not be underestimated.
The path of least resistance for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam would have been to close ranks with Berri, stand with the U.S.-Iran MOU’s
call for a full ceasefire, and support Tehran’s demand for unconditional Israeli
withdrawal from all Lebanese territory. While this could have spurred Washington
to cut off U.S. funding for the LAF, certain states in the region would likely
have made up the difference. Instead, Lebanon’s leaders acknowledged that most
of their public is fed up with decades of war and Iranian control, and they made
the bold decision to reject Tehran’s entreaties and gamble on Washington,
Israel, and the pursuit of peace. There is a long way to go, especially on
implementing the pledge to disarm and dismantle Hezbollah, which Lebanese
governments have been promising to do since the Taif Accord four decades ago.
But this time the result may finally be different, since the die has been cast
and the contest between proponents and opponents of the agreement has become a
zero-sum game.
Hopefully, Israel’s government—which is facing its own domestic political
crosswinds—will recognize the moment and act in both word and deed as the
partner that this precedent-shattering agreement envisions. Among other things,
this would include avoiding provocative statements and measures that complicate
Beirut’s already tortuous path, coordinating closely with Lebanese political and
security authorities on implementation, and quietly encouraging international
donor efforts to support Lebanon’s reconstruction and rehabilitation.
14. As much as the framework agreement is a signal success for U.S.
diplomacy—and especially for Secretary of State Marco Rubio—it has also laid
bare an internal U.S. debate over whether Iran is solely part of the problem in
the Middle East or possibly part of the solution. This is often depicted as a
contest between Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, the lead defender of the
U.S.-Iran MOU. As of this writing, President Trump has not publicly commented on
the Lebanon agreement, though paragraph 14 expresses “deep appreciation” for his
“vision and leadership.” This may suggest he is not yet ready to offer a
definitive verdict on the issue—a potential source of concern for both Israel
and Lebanon, despite Trump’s reportedly warm weekend phone call with Aoun.
Conclusion
The Israel-Lebanon agreement offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build
real peace between these neighbors, but the way forward is fraught and fragile.
With an array of opponents already declaring their intent to kill the
opportunity in its crib, progress needs to be swift and visible.
Today saw an early positive step, as U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper
visited Beirut to begin coordinating implementation of the security annex with
LAF commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal—a smart move given the latter’s record of
prioritizing “civil peace” over measures to disarm Hezbollah. Washington should
push for additional helpful steps, such as broader Arab and international
endorsement of the agreement. But nothing will replace a key missing
piece—effusive public embrace of the agreement by President Trump himself. Done
artfully, in a way only he can do it, this could greatly boost Israel-Lebanon
diplomacy without injury to the main body of the Iran MOU he negotiated, and
without exacerbating tensions between his vice president and secretary of state.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/14-points-14-points-assessing-israel-lebanon-framework-agreement
**Robert Satloff is the Segal Executive Director and Howard P. Berkowitz Chair
in U.S. Middle East Policy at The Washington Institute.
Why Siccing Syria’s Army on Hezbollah Is So Dangerous
David Schenker//The Washington Institute/Jun 28, 2026
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/why-siccing-syrias-army-hezbollah-so-dangerous
The potential upsides of implementing the Trump administration’s poorly
conceived idea are negligible at best, while the downsides would be legion,
including further damage to Middle East stability and American interests.
From the Gaza Riviera to the promised annexation of Greenland to the alienation
of India, to neutrality in Ukraine—and this is just a partial list—the Trump
administration has pursued a series of ill-advised foreign policy initiatives
during its second mandate. Among the growing catalogue of problematic policies
advocated by the administration, its latest bid to deploy the Syrian army to
fight Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon is particularly dangerous. If
implemented, the intervention would all but certainly further undermine regional
stability and US interests in the Middle East.
On 16 June, President Trump said he believed the best approach to Hezbollah was
for the military forces of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to deploy to Lebanon
and attack the group. While Israel had proven incapable of disarming the
militia, the president maintained that Syria could “do a better job of doing
it.” It was the first official admission by the administration of a long-rumoured
US plan that, until then, Washington had denied. Indeed, in March, US Special
Envoy Tom Barrack tweeted that these stories were “false and inaccurate.”
After months of persistent reports, Trump’s call for Syrian military
intervention didn’t come as a total surprise. Yet it was nonetheless shocking,
given the predictably negative consequences. Even for an administration that
prides itself on disruption, this seemed a bridge too far.
Washington’s friends in Lebanon who support the disarmament of Hezbollah oppose
Syrian involvement. There’s a complicated history between the states that
resonates to this day. Under the authoritarian Assad regime that ruled Syria
from 1970 until it was toppled in 2024, Damascus did not recognise Lebanese
sovereignty. For the Assads, Lebanon was part of Syria. This wasn’t just a
theoretical approach; from 1991 to 2005, Syria militarily occupied Lebanon,
disappearing thousands of Lebanese political opponents along the way.
The brutal Syrian occupation only ended after a mass uprising following the
assassination of Lebanon’s most popular politician, former premier Rafik Hariri,
by the Assad regime and Hezbollah. After working so hard to end the Syrian
presence, the vast majority of Lebanese have no interest in seeing their
neighbours return. Many Lebanese, not surprisingly, also harbour an enduring
disdain for Syrians.
At the same time, Lebanese are suspicious of Syria’s new government, led by al-Sharaa,
an erstwhile member of al- Qaeda. Moderate Sunni, Christian, and Druze Lebanese
express concern about religious extremism next door, and a Syrian army brimming
with foreign fighters and allegedly former jihadis.
Washington’s friends aren’t the only ones concerned about a Syrian military
deployment to Lebanon. The Shiite militia Hezbollah also talks a lot about the
threat from Sunni extremism in Syria and what it would mean for the group’s
constituents. It wasn’t that long ago that the region was plagued by
Sunni-Shiite sectarian violence.
No doubt, Hezbollah has exploited (and exaggerated) fears about al-Sharaa to
shore up support for the militia, but it does have some very real reasons to be
concerned about the Syrian military. During the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah
deployed to Syria to defend the Assad regime. At the time, the group’s secretary
general, Hassan Nasrallah, said the move was defensive as he believed there was
a Western plot to empower extremist Sunni groups to be used against Hezbollah.
Over the course of 8 years, Hezbollah, along with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps, helped prop up the Assad regime in a war that destroyed Syria and
ripped apart its social fabric. Hezbollah also fought against the very same
Sunni foreign fighters who are now incorporated into the predominantly Sunni
Muslim Syrian military. To say there is bad blood is an understatement. As a
result, it is unlikely that Syrian military operations in Lebanon could avoid
degenerating into a very ugly sectarian conflict, especially if Lebanese Sunni
jihadist groups join as well.
What Sovereignty?
To be clear, the US plan inviting Syria back into Lebanon to deal with Hezbollah
undermines Washington’s stated objective to support Lebanese sovereignty.
Furthermore, a recent US invitation to Tehran to participate in the Hezbollah
“deconfliction cell” in Lebanon also throws Washington’s commitment to Lebanese
sovereignty into question. It is difficult to make the case that the Trump
administration seeks to advance Lebanon’s sovereignty when it is allowing—and
even encouraging—Syria, Iran and Israel to station forces there.
Lastly, the deployment of Syrian forces to Lebanon could have negative
implications for the Sharaa government in Damascus. President Trump has heavily
invested in the success of the Sharaa government in post-Assad Syria. Damascus
continues to face enormous economic and security challenges, making a costly
military campaign a ridiculous proposition. Furthermore, Syria’s
relatively small army, which already has limited capabilities, could be
dangerously stretched. If a significant number of Syrian forces enter Lebanon,
it could leave a vacuum where remnants of the Islamic State (IS) could step in,
especially now that US forces have fully withdrawn from Syrian territory. Even
if such military adventurism does not break or strain the Syrian army and the
Sharaa government, it would almost certainly distract it from delivering on
promises made to the Syrian people of a better life following 60 years of
authoritarian rule. Over the past 18 months, Damascus has been laser-focused on
managing Syria’s tenuous political transition, piecing together the war-torn
country, and rebuilding state institutions.
Little Upside
The downsides of this Trump administration proposal are legion. As with the
ill-advised war on Iran, which led to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, the
implications of pursuing this Syria policy are just as predictable and
detrimental to US interests, while the upside is almost negligible.
While President Trump—impatient with the slow pace of Hezbollah disarmament—sees
the Syria option as a quick fix to the Hezbollah problem, it almost certainly
will not resolve the issue. A wiser path would be to patiently stay the course
with the slow but steady Lebanon-Israel talks being mediated by Washington. The
recent framework agreement was a positive development on that front. The
Trump administration’s Syria initiative is poorly conceived and dangerous.
Fortunately, President Sharaa understands the risks associated and has so far
had the wisdom and resolve to refuse the undertaking. Ironically, the restraint
and political insight of this former jihadist are likely to save the Trump
administration from yet another unnecessary foreign policy debacle. **David
Schenker is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of
its Rubin Program on Arab Politics. This article was originally published on Al
Majalla’s website.
Moscow And The Middle East/THE CHALLENGE OF PUTIN'S RUSSIA
Anna Borshchevskaya/State Craft and Strategy/Summer 2026
TOPIC: Russia ; Ukraine
https://www.statecraftandstrategy.com/the-challenge-of-putins-russia/moscow-and-the-middle-east/
No matter when and how the war in Ukraine ultimately ends, an aggressive Russia
will remain a challenge for the United States and the broader West. In December
2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said as much in his speech before the
Munich Security Conference. “We are Russia’s next target,” he warned, “NATO’s
own defenses can hold for now but with its economy dedicated to war, Russia
could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years.”[1]
Yet the challenge Russia poses is not confined to the European continent.
Despite the mounting costs and international isolation incurred by its
aggression against Ukraine, Russia’s government in recent years has articulated
a global vision, and increasingly positioned itself as a major geopolitical
player in various global theaters.
In this calculus, the Middle East figures prominently. Moscow’s approach to the
region, centered on its ongoing strategic partnership with Iran, is designed to
provide it with strategic options, and to enable Moscow to take advantage of any
missteps Washington makes in the region.
Geared for War
This past April, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the spy academy of the
Federal Security Service, Russia’s internal security agency, to be renamed in
honor of Felix Dzerzhinsky.[2] Dzerzhinsky is a notorious figure in Russian
history; he was the founder of the Cheka, the feared Soviet secret police, and
the architect of the “Red Terror” that followed the 1917 Revolution and which
brought the Bolsheviks to power in Moscow. During the Soviet era, the statue of
Dzerzhinsky in front of the KGB headquarters in Moscow became a potent symbol of
the torture, terror, and brutality of the era. When the Soviet Union collapsed
in 1991, the toppling of the statue by pro-democracy protestors came to
symbolize the fall of the Soviet system itself. As such, Putin’s rehabilitation
of Dzerzhinsky’s name and likeness serve as an ominous indicator of his plans
for Russia’s future.
Indeed, Russia is now a country geared for war, both literally and figuratively.
The Kremlin’s current, massive focus on investment in its military-industrial
complex is a product of the Ukraine war in more ways than one. Just as the
invasion of Ukraine was about more than Ukraine for the Kremlin, so is the
current Kremlin drive for militarization. Putin portrays Russia as being under
attack from the West, and argues that the West was using Ukraine to invade and
undermine his country. As a result, militarization is about not only the current
war in Ukraine, but, as Moscow sees it, in the service of a broader
confrontation with the West.
In fact, there are signs that Russia’s defense-industrial base has learned from
the country’s failures in Ukraine, and those lessons have informed its efforts
to modernize Russian military capabilities.[3] That modernization, according to
recent U.S. intelligence assessments, is impressive. It includes, among other
initiatives, the development of hypersonic glide vehicles, nuclear powered
cruise missiles, and nuclear-capable underwater platforms.[4] Analysts have also
noted Russian advances in space sensing and maneuverability, suggesting major
investments in that domain as well.[5]
All of this has been undergirded by major capital infusions. The country’s
military spending now represents nearly 7.5% of its GDP, for a total of $190
billion. That represents the highest level of military expenditure ever recorded
in Russia and Ukraine, according to Lorenzo Scarazzato of the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute.[6]
Those expenditures, moreover, are only expected to grow. Privately, Western
officials have long acknowledged that Russia now produces more munitions than
all of NATO combined. Just under 4 million Russian citizens are employed by the
country’s defense-industrial complex, according to 2024 and 2025 statistics,
which is a record for modern Russia.[7] Meanwhile, Russian elites profit
handsomely from the war through lucrative military contracts, the exploitation
of resources in Ukraine’s occupied territories, and either the outright seizure
of assets from departing Western companies or their purchase at heavily
discounted prices.[8] Indeed, since the invasion of Ukraine started, and despite
a widening array of Western sanctions, the number of Russian billionaires has
actually grown. In its annual tally of the world’s wealthiest people earlier
this year, Forbes listed a record 155 Russians, marking the fourth consecutive
year that the number has increased.[9]
That means Russian militarization ranks as a matter of domestic stability for
the Kremlin. Any reduction of jobs in the country’s military sector is likely to
cause civil unrest. In a manner of speaking, therefore, Putin simply cannot
afford peace. In addition, Russia is now receiving an added influx of revenue
from the Trump administration’s temporary lifting of sanctions, as Washington
works to stabilize global markets against the backdrop of its conflict with
Iran. Those resources, however, will inevitably go toward guns rather than
butter, and will help Russia to reconstitute its military forces.
Iran as Centerpiece
This martial focus naturally translates into an activist foreign policy,
beginning with Moscow’s deep and longstanding strategic partnership with
Iran.[10]
“Neither East nor West but Islamic Republic,” became a defining slogan of
Iranian revolutionaries in 1979, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. But with
Khomeini’s death a decade later, some Iranian officials sought to improve ties
with Moscow. Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani even traveled to Moscow in
June 1989 to explore rapprochement between Tehran and Moscow. By the late 1990s,
Russia had emerged as Iran’s main conventional arms supplier and began assisting
its nuclear program.
With Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power, the Russia-Iran relationship continued to
grow. The arms trade between the two countries expanded further, and the
Kremlin’s diplomats vocally supported Iran’s nuclear program as a peaceful
endeavor and worked diligently to dilute Western sanctions on Tehran. By a
decade ago, high-level meetings of the countries’ top officials became
practically routine.
For Russia, this support carried a deeper and more strategic character than many
acknowledged or understood. Moscow and Tehran both sought a new, multipolar
world order in which Western influence would be diminished. Influential Russian
thinkers and intellectuals, such as Eurasianist ideologue Alexander Dugin, came
to see Iran as a key link in a Eurasian arc of influence that stretched all the
way to China. Those views, moreover, were mirrored in Tehran.[11]
In January 2025, this relationship culminated in a strategic agreement that
details cooperation on defense, intelligence sharing, energy and other trade,
nuclear energy, as well as media/information and cultural exchanges. Perhaps
most importantly, the bilateral agreement stipulates a shared commitment to
refrain from aiding an aggressor if either country is attacked.[12]
Against this backdrop, it is no wonder that Russia increased cooperation with
Iran following the June 2025 “Twelve Day War,” and that it further stepped up
its support to the Iranian regime after the U.S. and Israeli strikes against
Tehran in March 2026. This assistance reportedly includes providing Iran with
intelligence about the locations and movement of American troops, ships and
aircraft.[13] Ukrainian intelligence, for its part, has said that Russia’s
intelligence helped Tehran to strike Israel’s energy sites.[14]
Russia is also said to have sent drones to Iran—upgraded versions of the
unmanned platforms that Iran originally provided Russia for its war machine in
Ukraine, American and European officials say.[15] Analysts likewise observed
that Iranian strike patterns appeared very similar to Russian operations, which
suggests that Russia provided Iran with tactical advice as well.[16]
This support is hardly a departure from Russia’s previous assistance to Iran. It
simply builds on the Kremlin’s longstanding backing for the Iranian regime. For
years, Moscow has engaged in major military cooperation with Tehran, providing
it with systems like the S-300, with trainer jets and attack helicopters, and
with light arms.[17] Iran has likewise relied on Russia to launch satellites
into orbit, providing the Islamic Republic with a space-based capability to
surveil targets in the region and beyond.[18] Russia has also assisted Iran with
domestic repression. For instance, Tehran reportedly used Russian Spartak
armored vehicles to suppress protests in 2025, and Russian jamming technology to
keep Iranian citizens offline during the course of the most recent war.[19]
That help is logical. Any weakening of the current regime in Iran would hurt
Moscow’s interests, and Russian leaders have long feared a pro-Western turn in
Tehran. This is not just because such a shift would take a strategic ally off
the board for the Kremlin. It is also because Iran is an integral member of an
axis of revanchist states that, together with Russia and China, support one
another against the West. In other words, Iran is a core pillar of a multipolar
(or, as the Russians describe it, “polycentric”) world order that Putin has
pursued since coming to power more than a quarter-century ago.
This assistance, meanwhile, has paid dividends for Putin. Even as his government
does everything short of intervening militarily to make sure the Iranian regime
remains in power, Russia’s president is publicly positioning himself as a
neutral mediator. The Kremlin, for instance, has repeatedly offered to play an
active role in brokering a peace agreement between Iran and the U.S. by removing
Iran’s highly enriched uranium.[20] U.S. officials have thus far ruled out
turning to Russia to help secure Iran’s nuclear program. But Putin continues to
repeat the offer in hopes that he might eventually be taken up on it.
Meanwhile, Moscow is clearly benefiting from the economic effects of the current
conflict. Rising global energy prices, and a temporary lifting of U.S.
sanctions, has sent fresh funds flowing into Russian coffers, with potentially
transformative results.[21] At the same time, Iran’s closure of the Hormuz
Strait helps Russia on another front as well, given its role as the world’s
second largest exporter of fertilizer. Moscow is now well-positioned to earn
additional revenue in this domain, as well as to improve its standing among many
nations in the Middle East and Africa, which are deeply dependent on Russian
wheat and fertilizer. All of which is likely to strengthen perceptions of Russia
in the Global South as an indispensable actor in time of a global crisis.
Still Relevant in Syria
Russia’s Mideast activism is not confined to partnership with Iran, however. It
also entails an ongoing commitment to a presence in Syria. Early assessments
assumed the fall of that country’s Kremlin-backed dictator, Bashar al-Assad, in
late 2024 would end up being a major blow to Russia. But while Russia did suffer
a significant setback with the ouster of the Assad regime, it immediately began
positioning itself for the future in the former Ba’athist state.
In doing so, Putin has astutely judged that Syria remains deeply reliant on
Russian assistance. As both Syria’s current president, Ahmed al- Sharaa, and its
Foreign Minister, Assad al-Shaibani, have said in public interviews, if the
Kremlin let Assad fall (which it did), there would be a place for Russia in
post-Assad Syria.[22]
That represents a significant turnaround. Moscow had bombed al Sharaa and his
HTS forces in previous years as part of its backing for the beleaguered Assad.
But al-Sharaa has shown no qualms making a practical deal with the Russian
government to secure his position in power. This is so for practical reasons.
Just as Russia’s promise to give up support for Assad was crucial to helping al-Sharaa
secure his victory, Russia’s role in post-Assad Syria remains important for
Damascus.
This is particularly the case in the country’s security sector, as recent
episodes demonstrate. For instance, following the outbreak of sectarian violence
in western Syria in March 2025, Russia let many families take refuge at its
Kheimim airbase, an event that was widely publicized by the Russian foreign
ministry at the time. As many as 8 thousand refugees sheltered in Khmeimim,
according to official Russian sources.[23] Whether or not those numbers were
exaggerated, the incident demonstrated to Damascus that Russia could serve as a
stabilizing security force moving forward.
By the end of 2025, Russia had briefly redeployed its military police to
southern Syria, ostensibly to act as a mediator and buffer between Israeli
forces and Damascus. Reports in November 2025 indicated that Russia may play a
role in supporting and developing Syria’s civil security and police sectors as
well, possibly through joint security agreements.[24]
Indeed, Moscow has moved quickly to consolidate its position in Syria’s new
order. Here, it has clear advantages. Given Syria’s decades-long dependence on
Soviet and then Russian military equipment, Damascus will continue to remain
reliant on Russian arms, especially in the absence of other alternatives.
Russia likewise remains Syria’s primary oil supplier and prints Syrian currency.
Russian companies like Tatneft have been invited back into the country over the
past year. Moreover, the Kremlin retains ties to all of the country’s political
factions (SDF, Alawites, Druze) and, therefore, can exploit ethnic tensions to
keep Syria weak and dependent while positioning itself as a protector of Syria’s
minorities.
Putin has hosted al-Sharaa himself twice since Assad’s ouster: first in October
2025 and again in January 2026. These meetings aimed to improve ties between
Moscow and Damascus. They not only ensured that Russia’s military bases in the
country remained operational, but also preserved the energy and reconstruction
contracts that the Assad regime had previously awarded to Russian companies.
This outcome suggests that, rather than “redefining” the relationship with
Russia, as Sharaa had previously pledged, many of the core elements of Syria’s
dependence on Russia established during the Assad regime remain in place.
Building a Broader Base
Meanwhile, Putin’s restraint on Iran serves a larger purpose in the rest of the
Middle East. It allows Moscow to simultaneously retain good ties with the Arab
states, Turkey, and Israel, even if those actors are unhappy with Russia’s
support for Iran. Indeed, no country has taken steps to move away from Russia
since the start of the Iran war, just as they didn’t when Russia invaded Ukraine
several years earlier.
With the Gulf States, the Kremlin has engaged in extensive diplomacy to maintain
its contacts. With the UAE, Putin has offered to serve as mediator, and to relay
Abu Dhabi’s security signals directly to Tehran. [25] Similarly, with Bahrain,
Putin has emphasized Russia’s diplomatic role in a solution to the conflict.[26]
And with Saudi Arabia, there appears to be recognition that Russia could
leverage its unique ties with both Iran and the Gulf states to play a
stabilizing role in the crisis.
Moscow has also managed its relationship with Israel carefully. With the
outbreak of hostilities this Spring, Moscow coordinated with the IDF to evacuate
its personnel from Iranian nuclear sites[27], even as Putin used international
platforms to pressure and criticize Israel publicly. Moscow’s nuanced engagement
with the Jewish state has distinctly political dimensions, because Israel is
home to a large Russian speaking population, a constituency which represents a
significant factor in the Kremlin’s calculations about its regional
policies.[28] That, in turn, has allowed policymakers in Jerusalem to remain
relatively sanguine about Russia, and rebounded to Moscow’s benefit since it has
muted Israeli moves toward closer partnership with Ukraine.
Beyond this general willingness to engage with Russia diplomatically, the region
remains interested in engaging the Kremlin for another reason as well:
weaponry.[29] Russia’s continued militarization and innovation, meanwhile, will
ensure that it has more arms and technology to offer to weapons-hungry Mideast
states.
More Than Simply a Spoiler
Russia’s posture in the Middle East is often portrayed as a mere series of ad
hoc responses to unfolding crises. That, however, significantly underestimates
the extent of the Kremlin’s plans. In recent years, under Putin’s direction,
Moscow has been pursuing a nuanced, consistent, and calibrated approach—one that
does not seek direct confrontation with the United States, but which strives to
erode Western influence, expand its own leverage, and shape outcomes across the
region.
The stakes are high. If Iran eventually takes a pro-Western turn, it will hurt
Russia’s interests in the Middle East,and by extension Moscow’s global
ambitions. Even in that eventuality, however, Russia can be counted on to find a
way to work with the new regime. For the time being, though, the conflict
surrounding Iran is paying clear dividends for Russia while reinforcing to
Iran’s remaining regime the importance of continued alignment with the Kremlin.
Simply put, however the Iran crisis ends, Russia seems well positioned for the
aftermath.
That, in turn, should be instructive to Western policymakers. Russia clearly
sees its role in the region as structural, deliberate, and deeply intertwined
with its own global ambitions. Accounting for it will be a necessity for
Washington.
https://www.statecraftandstrategy.com/the-challenge-of-putins-russia/moscow-and-the-middle-east/
**Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, focusing
on Russia in the Middle East. She is also an expert on Eastern Europe and the
Caucasus. She is the author of Putin’s War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and
the Price of America’s Absence (I.B. Taurus, 2021), named by the Financial Times
as one of the leading books on Syria.
[1] North Atlantic Treaty Organization, “Keynote speech by NATO Secretary
General Mark Rutte and moderated discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Germany Johann Wadephul,” December 11, 2025, https://www.nato.int/fr/news-and-events/events/transcripts/2025/12/11/keynote-speech-by-nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-and-moderated-discussion-with-the-minister-for-foreign-affairs-of-germany-johann-wadephul.
[2] “Putin Renames FSB Academy After Red Terror Architect Felix Dzerzhinsky,”
The Moscow Times, April 22, 2026, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/22/putin-renames-fsb-academy-after-red-terror-architect-felix-dzerzhinsky-a92567.
[3] Dara Masicott, “How Russia Recovered,” Foreign Affairs, November/December
2025, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/how-russia-recovered?check_logged_in=1;
See also Michael Kofman, “Ukraine’s War of Endurance,” Foreign Affairs, February
16, 2026, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/ukraines-war-endurance.
[4] Anya Fink, “Russia’s Nuclear Weapons,” Congressional Research Service
Report, April 22, 2026, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12672#:~:text=According%20to%20a%202025%20estimate,and%20nondeployed%20strategic%20nuclear%20warheads.
[5] Mike Wall, “‘Whatever Russia is testing, it’s sophisticated’: 2 Russian
satellites get within 10 feet of each other in orbit,” Space.com, May 6, 2026,
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/whatever-russia-is-testing-its-sophisticated-2-russian-satellites-get-within-10-feet-of-each-other-in-orbit.
[6] Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, “Global military spending
rise continues as European and Asian expenditures surge,” April 27, 2026,
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/global-military-spending-rise-continues-european-and-asian-expenditures-surge.
[7] “Численность кадров, задействованных в ОПК России, достигла 3,8 млн человек
[The number of personnel involved in the Russian defense industry has reached
3.8 million people],” RIA-Novosti, August 12, 2024, https://nvo.ng.ru/economics/2024-08-12/4_9069_news4.html.
“Российский ОПК выполнил все задания по гособоронзаказу в 2025 году [The Russian
defense industry has completed all the tasks under the state defense order in
2025],” Luganski Informatsionni Tsentr, January 12, 2026, https://lug-info.ru/news/rossijskij-opk-vypolnil-vse-zadanija-po-gosoboronzakazu-v-2025-godu/.
[8] See for example the case of Danone. Sonya Bandouil, “Danone finalizes sale
of assets and exits Russia,” Yahoo! Finance, May 18, 2024, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/danone-finalizes-sale-assets-exits-234939709.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEzGPEDKAyNE5TtnDF9Up4ePC9ak4WXuRde0EBcq2q3SE9pDZPeR95m14WU4c3wzVIKaHk1wy9Iz4aJ0q8npJFtYNBD4fyUrsnHhWtXiXvwBjxgnQVbTiD6xoAW8ccvRJyI3i3hYz1jHpaYGAkeQv9JeTwlIiXnJJbntd4XqMhQ7;
See also the case of Carlsberg. Alexander Marrow, “Russia approves $320 mln
management buyout of Carlsberg assets, document shows,” Reuters, December 3,
2024, https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/russia-approves-320-mln-sale-carlsberg-assets-local-businessmen-document-shows-2024-12-03/.
[9] “Record 155 Russians Make Forbes Billionairs List,” The Moscow Times, March
11, 2026, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/11/record-155-russians-make-forbes-billionaires-list-a92193.
[10] Anna Borshchevskaya, “Can Trump Break up the Russia-Iran Alliance?” The
Tower, February 2017, http://www.thetower.org/article/can-trump-break-up-the-russian-iranian-alliance/.
[11] For more details, see Ilan Berman, testimony before the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, April 21, 2026 https://www.csce.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Berman-CSCETestimony-April-2026-FINAL.pdf.
[12] Full text of Iran-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty,
January 17, 2025. Available from: https://president.ir/en/156874
[13] Warren P. Strobel, “Russia is Providing Iran with Intelligence, US
officials say,” Washington Post, March 6, 2026, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/06/russia-iran-intelligence-us-targets/.
[14] Sasha Vakulina, “Russia provided Iran with intelligence on Israeli energy
sites, Ukraine says,” EuroNews, June 4, 2026, https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/07/russia-provided-iran-with-intelligence-on-israeli-energy-sites-ukraine-says.
[15] Emma Burrows, “Russia is sending upgraded drones used in the Ukraine war to
Iran, officials say,” Associated Press, March 27, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-drones-shahed-war-israel-ukraine-840b4f885d99714bdb7813c0d56213cf.
[16] Alex Raufoglu, “As Iran Conflict Escalates, Ukraine Tells US: We’ve Seen
This Before,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, March 25, 2026, https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ukraine-us-drones/33716140.html;
See also Thomas Grove, “Why Russia Is Stepping Up Its Support for an Embattled
Iran,” Wall Street Journal, March 29, 2026, https://www.wsj.com/world/why-russia-is-stepping-up-its-support-for-an-embattled-iran-e3dcf8ee.
[17] April Brady, “Russia Completes S-300 Delivery to Iran,” Arms Control
Association, December 2016, https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2016-11/news-briefs/russia-completes-s-300-delivery-iran;
See also Mansur Mirovalev, “How extensive is Russia’s military aid to Iran?” Al
Jazeera, March 27, 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/27/how-extensive-is-russias-military-aid-to-iran.
[18] “Russia sends 3 Iranian satellites into orbit, report says,” Associated
Press, December 28, 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/12/28/nx-s1-5659773/russia-iranian-satellites;
See also “Russian rocket successfully launches an Iranian satellite,” PBS News,
April 9, 2022, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russian-rocket-successfully-launches-an-iranian-satellite.
[19] Roman Pryhodko, “Iran Armed its Border Guard Units with Russian Spartak
Armored Vehicles,” Militarnyi, November 24, 2025, https://militarnyi.com/en/news/iran-armed-its-border-guard-units-with-russian-spartak-armored-vehicles/;
See also Brandon J. Weichert, “Did Iran Just Use Russia’s ‘Kalinka’ Jamming
System on Starlink?” The National Interest, January 20, 2026, https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/did-iran-just-use-russias-kalinka-jamming-system-starlink-bw-012026.
[20] “Putin offers to store Iran uranium as US rejects plan,” MSN, May 10, 2026,
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/insight/putin-offers-to-store-iran-uranium-as-us-rejects-plan/gm-GMC8DEED25?gemSnapshotKey=GMC8DEED25-snapshot-11&uxmode=ruby;
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/20/russia-says-it-can-take-irans-enriched-uranium-will-that-happen-a92547.
[21] “Exclusive: Iran war doubles Russia’s main oil revenue to $9 bln in April,
Reuters calculations show,” Reuters, April 9,2026, https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iran-war-doubles-russias-main-oil-revenue-9-bln-april-reuters-calculations-show-2026-04-09/.
[22] “Sharaa says Syria, Israel negotiating deal that would see pullback of
Israeli forces,” Times of Israel, September 13, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/sharaa-says-syria-israel-negotiating-deal-that-would-see-pullback-of-israeli-forces/;
See also Ibrahim Hamidi, “Asaad Shaibani on how Syria untangled its Russian
knot,” Majalla, November 18, 2025, https://en.majalla.com/node/328370/politics/asaad-shaibani-how-syria-untangled-its-russian-knot.
[23] “Over 8,000 Syrians find refuge at Russia’s Khmeimim airbase — diplomat,”
TASS, March 13, 2025, https://tass.com/society/1927465.
[24] Dmytro Shumlianskyi, “Russian Troops Arrive at the Border Between Syria and
Israel,” Militarnyi, November 17, 2025, https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-troops-arrive-at-the-border-between-syria-and-israel/.
[25] President of Russia, “Telephone conversation with UAE President Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan,” March 2, 2026, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79242.
[26] “Putin Holds Talks With Leaders Of Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia & The
United Arab Emirates,” Russia’s Pivot to Asia, March 3, 2026, https://russiaspivottoasia.com/putin-holds-talks-with-leaders-of-bahrain-qatar-saudi-arabia-the-united-arab-emirates/
[27] “Russia said coordinating with IDF on evacuation of workers from Iran
nuclear plant,” Times of Israel, April 4, 2026, https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-said-coordinating-with-idf-on-evacuation-of-workers-from-iran-nuclear-plant/.
[28] See, for instance, “Putin points to Israel’s huge Russian-speaking
demographic,” TASS, June 20, 2025, https://tass.com/politics/1977955
[29] For more details on this issue, see Anna Borshchevskaya and Matt Tavares,
“After Ukraine: Prospects for a Russian Resurgence in the Middle East,”
Washington Institute Policy Note, January 23 2026,
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/after-ukraine-prospects-russian-resurgence-middle-east.
Neo-Marxism and the Muslim Brotherhood in New York!
Bandar Al-Doushi/Al-Arabiya/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The American political arena is witnessing a rising tide of socialists
affiliated with the Democratic Party, a phenomenon that has sparked widespread
concern. The Wall Street Journal even described this rise as dangerous. Despite
warnings about this trend, prominent Democratic leaders have chosen to appease
this movement rather than confront it. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority
leader in the House of Representatives, welcomed them, driven by his desire to
gain their favor to secure the party leadership in the House. He was joined in
this conciliatory stance by Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the
Senate. On the other hand, only 10 Democratic representatives dared to publicly
warn of the dangers of sliding into neo-Marxism. But regardless of the
calculations on Capitol Hill and the leadership struggles, this leads us to
another, even more contradictory and bizarre story. It is well known that in the
world of politics, alliances are often formed that provoke controversy and
surprise, and the American political scene is no exception. It is currently
witnessing a phenomenon that warrants attention and reflection: the intriguing
alliance between political Islamist movements, foremost among them the Muslim
Brotherhood and its affiliated entities, and the radical left. The recent
legislative primaries in New York State revealed this significant contradiction.
We witnessed an exchange of congratulations and celebrations from figures within
the political Islamist movement and organizations like CAIR following the
victory of two "Muslim" candidates, Abeer Kawas and Darie Chevalier, who
recently converted to Islam. Ostensibly, this victory is being marketed to the
general public as a triumph for minorities and for the representation of Muslims
in the West. However, a closer look at the candidates' ideological affiliations
reveals a new paradox. Both candidates belong to the Democratic Socialists of
America (DSA), an organization that openly embraces radical leftist and Marxist
positions that clash fundamentally and directly with the most basic tenets of
the religious conservatism that political Islam claims to uphold. The
contradiction doesn't stop at mere party affiliation; it extends to the very
core of the candidates' electoral platforms and promises, which fully embrace
the principles of the neo-Marxist organization. We are talking here about
legislative promises that promote extremely radical agendas concerning the
family and society. Among the most prominent of these are gender policies, which
entail supporting and facilitating funding for gender reassignment surgeries for
minors, dismantling parental authority by seeking to pass laws that strip
parents of the right to object to these medical procedures for their children,
and even going so far as to criminalize dissenting parents, considering this a
justification for stripping them of their guardianship and removing children
from their families. This organization also supports queer liberation, which is
the explicit adoption and promotion of sexual liberation agendas and the
complete abolition of traditional norms.
In reality, the rise of candidates from the DSA is part of a broad wave of
expansion of neo-Marxist and communist ideas that have begun to permeate the
fabric of American politics, exploiting appealing slogans such as social justice
and minority rights. This growing rise constitutes a genuine concern for broad
segments of American society. Critics argue that these agendas are not reformist
at all; on the contrary, they aim to dismantle traditional societal values,
destroy capitalism, and reshape American identity according to totalitarian
ideological frameworks that suppress fundamental freedoms and parental rights.
The question then arises: how can we explain the celebration of these victories
by Islamic organizations and fronts? The answer lies in the opportunistic nature
of these movements. This support reveals a purely Machiavellian face; in order
to infiltrate the American political system and gain seats and positions of
influence, these currents seem willing to abandon all the principles they have
long used to attract followers in the Arab and Islamic world. We are witnessing
a case of systematic ideological schizophrenia. In the Middle East, the Muslim
Brotherhood raises the banners of governance and strict religious conservatism,
attacking moderate projects and states in the region to exploit emotions and
spread extremism. Meanwhile, in the West, they have no qualms about
enthusiastically applauding projects that dismantle the family, eliminate the
role of fathers, and support Marxist feminism, as long as it provides them with
political cover and a temporary ally. This alliance does not represent a victory
for Muslims or Arabs in America; it is a hijacking of their voice and an
exploitation of their identity for dangerous agendas that have no connection to
their culture.
The unmasking in New York proves once again that these movements are nothing
more than opportunistic political tools, ready to sell their principles at the
first electoral auction, even if the price is the destruction of the family,
society, and all conservative values.
Iran Tries to Curb al-Zaidi's "Sovereignty" Approach...
and Fails?
Laura Yamin/Al-Markazia/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Al-Markazia - In his first foreign visit since signing the memorandum of
understanding with the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
arrived in Iraq. At a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad
Hussein, Araqchi warned against any attempt to impose new or separate
arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz against Iran's will, considering that this
would further complicate the situation. Araqchi also called for a "new
framework" for Gulf security in which the countries of the region participate
exclusively, without external interference. For his part, the Iraqi minister
pointed out that "the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was the reason for halting
Iraqi oil exports and had a profound impact on the economy," reiterating the
call to lift the American naval blockade on Iran, and emphasizing Iraq's
commitment to renouncing wars. At the Baghdad Palace, President Nizar Omidi,
during his meeting with the Iranian minister, stressed "the importance of
resorting to dialogue to establish sustainable understandings that address
outstanding issues." Araghchi also met with the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali
al-Zaidi. According to diplomatic sources speaking to Al-Markazia, the visit was
highly significant in both its substance and timing. While Iraq is attempting to
remain neutral in the escalating regional conflict, as evidenced by the
diplomatic and measured stances of its officials, Iran seeks to re-establish
ties with the Iraqi government and its prime minister, maintaining influence, if
not outright control, over them.
Tehran was displeased by al-Zaidi's insistence on restricting weapons to
legitimate security forces only, and his determination to combat corruption, in
which Iran's allies in Iraq have a long history. Iran believes that al-Zaidi's
actions are at the behest of the Americans, aimed at curbing Iranian influence
in Baghdad. Based on this premise, Araghchi discussed with his hosts the
situation of the Iraqi factions loyal to Iran, requesting a delay in addressing
the fate of their weapons. According to the sources, the Iranians are betting on
retaining the factions as leverage in negotiations with Washington, hoping to
extract some concession in Iraq in return. They also believe that things must
remain as they are for now, because if the negotiations fail and the war is
renewed, the factions may have a role in supporting Iran... But Al-Zaidi's
positions, which followed Araqchi's visit, indicated that there is no retreat
from what Baghdad has started "sovereignly," as he announced that "his
government is continuing to combat corruption and restrict weapons to the
state," while the Iraqi government announced that September 21, 2026, will be
the final date for handing over weapons to the state, within the framework of a
government plan aimed at restricting weapons to official institutions and ending
the presence of armed factions outside the control of the state.
“Lebanon First” and the Collapse of the Iranian
Hezbolla's (Party) Narrative
Ahmed Al-Ayoubi/Nidaa Al-Watan/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The narrative of the Iranian party in Lebanon has collapsed on all levels, to
the point that its discourse is almost crumbling in the face of accumulating
facts that reveal, hour by hour, its vulnerability, its impotence, and its
failure to maintain cohesion and to present a convincing narrative to the Shiite
community that justifies the party’s fate and its resounding political and
military defeat. This necessitates a comprehensive national mobilization to
shatter the illusion of the party’s superiority and to destroy this idol around
which politics has revolved for decades. The narrative of defense and deterrence
against Israel has collapsed with the removal of ballistic missiles from the
equation—missiles that were supposed to destroy Tel Aviv and Jaffa, and reach
beyond Haifa. Here we are faced with one of two possibilities: either the
Israeli army managed to target and destroy the storage facilities for these
precise and dangerous missiles, along with their tunnels, or the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard, which controls the decision-making process on the ground in
Lebanon, still possesses these strategic missiles for use in any predicament
Iran might face. The narrative of defense and preventing the Israeli enemy from
occupying the land has also collapsed, as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces
crumbled and were unable to confront the forces advancing towards the southern
villages. Consequently, their claims under the banner of "We protect and build"
have fallen apart. Indeed, the war waged in support of Iran has brought the
occupation to the outskirts of Nabatieh and the borders of Tyre. Furthermore,
Hezbollah's ability to wage a war of liberation against the occupation has also
collapsed. It is exhausted and depleted, unable to rescue its fighters besieged
in its facilities in the south. Therefore, Hezbollah's adherence to the
ceasefire agreement is evidence of its inability to continue the confrontation.
The conviction that Hezbollah was incapable of confronting the challenges
deepened with its loss of the ability to mobilize popular support to topple the
government, following a series of failed attempts. This was especially true
given that Amal's supporters had withdrawn from participating in the movements
targeting the government and efforts to bring it down. Many criticized the
framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, brokered by the US
administration, which Hezbollah deemed a humiliating and shameful agreement.
While the agreement was indeed far from ideal, it was a consequence of the
dangerous accumulation of problems resulting from Hezbollah's defiance of
Lebanese constitutional and national will. The Lebanese had lost hope of finding
a lasting solution regarding Hezbollah's weapons. Neither dialogue tables nor
the Baabda Declaration held, nor even President Joseph Aoun's
year-and-three-month dialogue with Hezbollah leaders yielded any results.
National despair over the possibility of reaching an understanding with
Hezbollah, and its hijacking of decisions regarding war and peace—culminating in
a war waged in support of Iran and in revenge for Ali Khamenei—has led the state
and the people to a decisive stance: rescuing Lebanon from Iran's clutches has
become imperative. This can only be achieved through a new balance of power that
breaks the shackles of Iranian occupation and restores the state to its rightful
place in negotiation, agreement, and determining Lebanon's interests amidst
regional and international conflicts. No one, no entity, can replace the state.
The priority of "Lebanon First" is once again asserting itself. Hezbollah's
denial of this priority, its hostility towards the Lebanese flag, and its
burning of it are merely indications of Hezbollah's convictions regarding the
Lebanese entity—its non-recognition of it politically and nationally. "Lebanon
First" is not a campaign, a slogan, or an emotional outburst; rather, it is a
firm conviction that national belonging takes precedence over imported
identities, specifically the Iranian identity, which has conflated Persian
nationalist extremism with Shiite sectarian extremism, producing the worst
experiences the Arab and Muslim world has ever witnessed. The European Union
announced a €100 million grant to the Lebanese Armed Forces for training and
capacity building. This agreement is already beginning to yield economic
benefits for the military and the state. However, the pillars of the state must
act as statesmen, and the military must act as the future army of Lebanon,
asserting sovereignty and overcoming all the artificial barriers that will
crumble with every step the military takes to dismantle the vestiges of
occupation on Lebanese soil.
No constitutional violation in the framework agreement, and it has not yet been
officially ratified.
Lawyer Michel Qlimos/Al-Markazia/June 30, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Constitutional expert and lawyer Michel Qlimos, speaking on the “Evening
Headlines” program on Voice of Lebanon and VDL24, offered a constitutional
analysis of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. He affirmed that
the agreement does not violate the constitution, noting that it has not yet been
ratified by the Lebanese cabinet to become official.
Qlimos pointed out that this agreement is not the first between Lebanon and
Israel, explaining that Article 49 of the constitution stipulates that the
President of the Republic is the head of state and the symbol of national unity,
and is responsible for upholding the constitution. Article 50 of the
constitution affirms that the president takes the constitutional oath to uphold
Lebanon's sovereignty. Another article grants him the exclusive authority to
decide on matters of war and peace. He added that when President Aoun, in
consultation with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, decided, following the Israeli war
that violated Lebanese sovereignty, it became his duty, and in accordance with
his constitutional oath, to initiate direct negotiations to end the occupation
and resolve the crisis of the Lebanese who were forcibly displaced from their
villages and towns. Furthermore, the president cannot remain passive and wait
for fruitless dialogues that lead nowhere, whether with those bearing arms or
with Israel. He pointed out that the framework agreement that was signed is not
the first; it was preceded by the 1949 Armistice Agreement, and with the Taif
Agreement, it became an integral part of the National Reconciliation Document.
Lebanon cannot deviate from the Arab consensus and the Beirut Arab Summit
initiative. He pointed out that in 1949, Lebanon committed to negotiating with
Israel under the auspices of the United Nations. This agreement explicitly
stipulated that it was a military arrangement pending a peaceful settlement in
Palestine. It was this agreement that secured Lebanon's independence and
sovereignty over its territory, as stipulated in Article 5. He emphasized that
neither Lebanon nor Israel could renege on the Armistice Agreement because it
had been ratified by the Security Council. For this reason, it was the first
agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel, although Israel later stated its
desire to withdraw from it.
He noted that all agreements are governed by power dynamics that dictate timing
and wording. However, matters that constitute the international order cannot be
ignored. When I stated that the Armistice Agreement is binding on both Lebanon
and Israel, even if Israel attempts to disregard it, it has become an
international document. Any departure from the Armistice Agreement, in its
military and political aspects, would mean abandoning the Arab Peace Initiative,
i.e., leaving the Arab League. However, President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam
affirm that Lebanon remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative and that the
agreement will remain in effect until the end of the conflict in Palestine.
Qleimos asserted that there was no violation of the constitution in signing the
framework agreement, and that the cabinet would make its decision on it after
the agreement was placed on its agenda, as it has not yet been officially
ratified. He said, “If the framework agreement has a financial aspect, it must
be presented to Parliament. This agreement was brokered under American auspices,
as was the November 27, 2024 agreement. In this agreement, the party agreed to
disarm, starting south of the Litani River, and acknowledged that the agreement
aimed to achieve peace and stability and to adhere to Resolution 1701. Two
months later, President Aoun was elected, and in his inaugural address, he
emphasized the issue of weapons and the national security strategy, which is not
limited to the issue of weapons alone. Then came the ministerial statement, with
the approval of all its members, confirming the state’s monopoly on the use of
force.” He continued: “President Aoun, in good faith, negotiated with Hezbollah
to ensure the state’s monopoly on weapons until the August 5th cabinet session,
where the government reaffirmed the state’s monopoly on weapons and the sole
authority to decide on war and peace. This was then reiterated and confirmed by
a government decision in August and September of the same year.” He added: “The
Lebanese state did not decide to enter the war of support, and it is currently
fulfilling its duty to ensure stability and security for the country.” He said:
“President Aoun has fulfilled his oath of office and the constitutional oath,
and we must be convinced that President Aoun is the President of the Republic
and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the Lebanese Army is
performing its role to the fullest extent.” While noting that consensus does not
mean condoning mistakes, he said: “Let us reach a consensus within the framework
of national principles.” He added: “Neither the state nor the Lebanese Army was
consulted in the decision to enter the war of support, and the Lebanese people
have embraced one another. We must extend our hands to one another, not turn
against one another.” He emphasized in conclusion that this agreement did not
supersede Security Council resolutions or the truce agreement, and that he spoke
of security arrangements for stability on the border.
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 30 June/2026
Sohaib Jawhar
According to Syrian diplomatic sources:
• Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is expected to visit Beirut in the
coming days as part of a new phase in Syrian-Lebanese relations and to discuss
the latest political developments in Lebanon.
• His itinerary will include meetings with President Joseph Aoun, Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek
Mitri, the Grand Mufti of the Republic, the Maronite Patriarchate, Walid
Jumblatt, Samir Geagea and Bahia al-Hariri.
• Al-Shaibani will present a Syrian political initiative aimed at supporting the
Lebanese state in consolidating the state’s exclusive authority over arms
through a consensual political process that avoids internal confrontation.
• Damascus believes that the issue of weapons should be addressed through
national dialogue and political consensus rather than through pressure or
measures that could trigger internal instability.
Talks with Speaker Nabih Berri will focus on reducing domestic tensions and
exploring mechanisms to prevent internal unrest during the next phase.
• Syria will express its readiness to work with Arab and regional partners to
help preserve Lebanon’s stability and prevent any internal escalation.
• The Syrian proposal is based on the full implementation of the Taif Agreement
in all its constitutional and political provisions as the framework for
restoring long-term stability in Lebanon.
Damascus will reaffirm its rejection of any infringement on Lebanon’s
sovereignty or territorial integrity and will stress its commitment to
preserving Lebanon’s unity.
• Al-Shaibani will also convey Syria’s readiness to coordinate with the Lebanese
state within the framework of regional and international negotiations aimed at
securing a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the occupied Syrian
Golan, viewing the security and stability of both countries as closely
interconnected.
Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter
https://x.com/yechielleiter/status/2071709606728941627/video/1
While we are making strides here in DC toward a peaceful future between Lebanon
and Israel, our troops are acting on the ground to ensure that the security of
our people isn't compromised.
The terror tunnel dismantled yesterday in Majdal Zoun ran over 650 feet long,
and over 82 feet underground - Hezbollah constructed it with 4 launch shafts to
deploy against Israeli civilians.
Our actions on the battlefield and in the negotiating room send one message -
Hezbollah has no place in Lebanon.
יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog
https://x.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/2071638487384674468/video/1
The most recent MOU between Israel and Lebanon signed in Washington a few days
ago is a major breakthrough for peace and can serve as a cornerstone moving
forward.
My remarks today in the Romanian Parliament:
Maya Khadra (PdV)
To all those who criticize the framework agreement between
Lebanon and Israel, here’s what the absence of such an agreement has brought to
the Shiite community: dozens of coffins, a true “nakba” for thousands of
displaced or bereaved families.
Recent history bears witness: the war in Syria, where Hezbollah sent its
fighters, notably to Madaya and Qousseir, contributing to the starvation of
civilian populations; then, today, an absurd confrontation against Israel,
presented as vengeance in the name of the “Guide.”
This agreement guarantees the return of displaced persons, provided that
Hezbollah is disarmed (a demand of the majority of Lebanese). It proposes a
solution that is certainly demanding and radical, but which at least has the
merit of breaking with past approaches, which have proven to be nothing more
than a Band-Aid on a wooden leg.
Be that as it may, it is time to seriously consider radical solutions to better
manage Lebanon’s communal mosaic and prevent the regular emergence of such
obscurantist phenomena.
Israel Army
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warns that Israel could be
at war with Iran "tomorrow" if Tehran launches missiles at Israeli
territory.Katz says the IDF has been ordered to prepare for an independent
operation, with forces on high alert and targets already selected.
Ora Levitt חיילת צה"ל עם ישראל חי
Terror commandos tried to infiltrate Israel for major attacks:
It can now be reported that early morning the day before yesterday, commando
units from a terror organization tried to infiltrate Israel from Syria toward
the Golan Heights.
The cell was considered highly dangerous and was on its way to carry out major
terror attacks inside Israel. 🇮🇱According to the report, the terrorists had
been planning the attacks for months, and Israeli intelligence recently picked
up their trail. 🇮🇱As they were already moving toward Israel to carry out the
attacks, IDF special forces, together with Brigade 6, directed an Israeli Air
Force aircraft that eliminated them on their way to the border.
#Israel #Jewishlivesmatter #IDFHeroes
Maya Khadra (PdV)
First consequences of the signing of the Lebanon-Israel framework
agreement and the sovereign policy of Nawaf Salam's government: the renewed
confidence that Lebanon has enjoyed among Arab partners:
Resumption of exports to Saudi Arabia
Lifting of the ban on citizens of the United Arab Emirates traveling to Lebanon.
These two measures had been imposed due to the influence of Hezbollah in
Lebanon, which had distanced Lebanon from so many Arab or international
partners.
Lebanon nevertheless remains on the FATF gray list for many reasons, including
the poor handling of the terrorism financing file (Al Qard El Hassan is singled
out).
A next evaluation will take place in October 2026. Hence, the need to
increasingly distance Lebanese and Iranian files and to consolidate Lebanese
sovereignty.
Monotheistic Zionist
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a statement:- Netanyahu has shown
Erdogan his true place! 🇮🇱 "We see clearly what Turkey is doing, and it must
stop now."No matter how many hollow threats Erdogan makes, Netanyahu isn't
playing games. True strength doesn't need to shout. There is truly only one
powerful nation in the Middle East—and that is Israel.
Maneli Mirkhan | مانلی میرخان
Translated from French
The Shiite axis of influence of the Iranian regime is cracking on both its legs.
Beirut signs with Tel Aviv to counter Hezbollah. Baghdad arrests the relays of
the Islamic Republic at the highest level. The Shiite Crescent, Soleimani's
doctrine, is losing its systemic coherence. And to date, the Islamic Republic is
addressing it from a position of historic weakness, caught in a vise between
economic bankruptcy and internal power fractures and doctrinal rifts within the
regime.
Baba Banaras™
https://x.com/RealBababanaras/status/2071845363745710121/video/1
Big blow to Iran's nuclear dream. Top Iranian nuclear scientist Dr. Ebrahim
Hossein has been eliminated by unknown gunman when he was travelling to his
hometown Neyshabur. Two security personnel also killed in this attack. Looks
Mossad is working overtime.
Israel Army
https://x.com/IsraelArmyX/status/2071847833989480593/video/1
Is Mossad still active in Iran?
According to reports, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the Deputy Commander for Political
Affairs in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, died in a "car
accident."
His car was struck by an unidentified vehicle.
He was one of Mojtaba Khamenei's advisors.
Israel Army
https://x.com/Netanyahu_News/status/2071686660170133932/video/1
Big Breaking : The airstrike was successful,The target has been eliminated.
Reports have just come in that the US and Israel launched a massive attack on 10
military bases and 5 IRGC sites in Tehran killing several key officials and
ministers.
Today is a day of celebration.
ⁿᵉʷˢ Barron Trump
Commentary account
Marco Rubio just laid out one of the simplest demands imaginable: tell Iran to
stop attacking ships, remove the sea mines, and allow humanitarian aid to reach
the people who need it. If the UN can’t unite behind something this basic, then
what exactly is its purpose? Keeping international waterways open isn’t a
partisan issue—it’s a global necessity, and every nation that depends on free
trade should have an interest in making sure the Strait of Hormuz never becomes
another weapon.
Fatima J ن
https://x.com/LadyLevnon/status/2071787833157677127/video/1
Every time MP Camille Chamoun sits down for an interview, I imagine half the
political elite glued to their TVs, waiting to find out whose week he’s about to
ruin.
He has a habit of saying what so many others won’t say out loud. And unlike many
in Lebanese politics, his words aren’t just for show. That said, if they were,
you’d definitely be getting your money’s worth.This interview is not for the
faint of heart
Tsahal
https://x.com/Tsahal_IDF/status/2071656262865948764/video/1
The underground tunnel, more than 16 kilometers long, in which Lieutenant Hadar
Goldin was held, is now completely sealed, thanks to more than 30,000 cubic
meters of concrete.
The underground complex included nearly 80 residential quarters and served as a
Hamas terrorist command and control center.The tunnel was located near the
Philadelphia Corridor and passed under a residential neighborhood, mosques,
kindergartens, clinics, a school, as well as an UNRWA clinic.
Office of the President of Israel
During his state visit to Romania, President @Isaac_Herzog met with President of
the Senate Mircea Abrudean and President of the Chamber of Deputies Sorin
Grindeanu.
President Herzog expressed his deep appreciation for their steadfast support,
sincere friendship, and shared commitment to strengthening the bilateral
relationship between Israel and Romania.
גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel
Three remarkable comments from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz today:
On the reported plan to topple the Iranian regime, originally prepared under
former Mossad chief David Barnea: "There were external actors who were supposed
to join, but they did not allow it to happen."On the U.S. decision to link the
Iran and Lebanon fronts: "The U.S. President linked the arenas. I regret that
linkage, but it was an American interest. Because of Dahieh, we moved to Plan B.
Hezbollah also reinforced its presence south of the Litani." On future
preparations: "I instructed the IDF to prepare for Operation 'Blue and White' in
Iran."
Mossad Commentary
https://x.com/MOSSADil/status/2071866335139606807/video/1
🇮🇱 THE REAL ISRAELIS — NOT THE EVIL CARICATURES
A Mexican couple visited New York City for what they thought would be a private
rooftop proposal.But the groom-to-be had no idea what was waiting for him. As he
got down on one knee, a huge group of Israelis suddenly witnessed the moment —
and then did what Israelis do best:
Singing. Dancing. Cheering. Pure joy. For everyone trying to demonize Israel,
this is the real Israel:
Light. Happiness. Life. Dancing on a skyscraper rooftop in New York City.
Mazel tov to the beautiful couple.
The Iranian
https://x.com/JustAnIranianIr/status/2071745323727306809/video/1
REMEMBER when the American pilot made an emergency landing in southern Iran, the
Islamic regime wanted to search for him and capture him, but the Iranian people
stood in their way so that the American pilot would not fall into the hands of
the Islamic regime and be saved???
These are people whose average family income is $100 a month, they could have
earned thousands of dollars by finding and handing over the American pilot… But
according to their culture, they chose humanity. This video proves to you that
the Iranian people are not looking for food, wheat, and corn, the Iranian people
want freedom and human dignity, not corn and wheat.@POTUS
Prime Minister of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I strongly condemn the shameful remarks made
against the Chief-of-Staff yesterday in Bnei Brak. Even when there are
disagreements among us, there is absolutely no place for severe incitement
against the IDF and its commanders, who protect us all.”
Roger Bejjani
I think that HZB, once it dismantles its military structure that proved to be
ridiculous and ephemeris, should be put in charge of a nationwide metro and
train system going through mountains. Undoubtedly they are good diggers.