English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For July 05/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10/01-07/:"After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!" And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house."

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 04-05 July/2026
Canada Day: Gratitude for a Free Nation and Hope for a Sovereign Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/July 01/2026
A Prayer for the Deliverance of Lebanon from Mercenaries/Elias Bejjani/June 30/ 2026
US-led effort to boost Lebanon’s army emerges as key pillar of Hezbollah disarmament/Al Arabiya English/Published: 04 June ,2026
Israeli military says killed armed militant in south Lebanon
Lebanese president urges US to ‘keep standing’ by country
Aoun urges Trump to keep backing Lebanon to 'turn the page on wars'
Over 600,000 displaced Lebanese return home amid ceasefire
Lebanese Army Commander, UNIFIL chief discuss security cooperation in South Lebanon
US Embassy: We Stand Proudly with the Lebanese People
Clairefield Leads the Tripartite Committee… Beirut Relies on the Americans to Break the Deadlock
At Trump's Request, Netanyahu Postpones Military Operation in Ali al-Taher
President Aoun Sends a Telegram to Trump: We Appreciate Your Efforts!
Amal Movement Delegation Meets Araqchi: We Reject the Framework Agreement and Affirm Our Condemnation of Sedition
Nassar: We Will Not Accept Losing an Inch of Our Land
Is it possible to normalize relations with Iran?./Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/July 4, 2026
Israel warns of escalation across multiple fronts, names Iran as central focus
Aoun congratulates Trump on US Independence Day
Did the two sides put the wars of support, the demarcation agreements, and the October 27th events to a vote in the constitutional institutions?/Lara Yazbek//Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026
Lebanon and Syria: From Intervention to Partnership/Yola Hashem/Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 04-05 July/2026
Mass grief at Khamenei funeral projects hardline grip on post-war Iran
'Revenge, revenge': Iran mourners gather for Khamenei's funeral
Netanyahu, Trump agree to meet in US 'soon'
Trump says White House meeting with Netanyahu possible next week: Report
Some Gaza residents say world forgot about Palestine tragedy after Iran war
Saudi Arabia vows response to Houthi threats
Ukraine denies claim that Russian forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine
St Petersburg region oil terminal hit in major Ukrainian drone attack
Mass protests in Germany as far-right AfD meets

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 04-05 July/2026
The Danger of Terrorism as an Opportunity/Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/July 4, 2026
Iran's Regime: 'No Choice but to Build the Nuclear Bomb'/Dr.ajid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/July 54, 2026
Where is the State Regarding the Alteration of Geography in Lebanese Regions?/Colobel Charbel Brakat/July 05/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 04-05 July/2026
The Framework Agreement Between Lebanon and the State of Israel Is the Last Opportunity to Liberate Lebanon from Iranian Occupation, and Israel Is a Friend, Not an Enemy
Elias Bejjani/July 03/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155769/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTjdmjXhEk&t=3s
The essence of Lebanon’s crisis is no longer hidden from anyone. The problem is neither a disputed border issue, nor a temporary internal political disagreement, nor a governance crisis that can be resolved through another short-lived compromise. The core of the crisis is that Lebanon has been under the hegemony of the Iranian jihadist and imperial project for decades, through its terrorist army composed of Lebanese mercenaries falsely and blasphemously called "Hezbollah."
Hezbollah is not an ordinary Lebanese political party with which Lebanese citizens may agree or disagree. It is, in every practical sense, an Iranian army of Lebanese mercenaries operating on Lebanese soil and implementing an agenda that has nothing to do with the concept of the Lebanese state or the interests of the Lebanese people. Without this Iranian mercenary army, Lebanon would not have become a failed state, its institutions would not have collapsed, its sovereignty would not have been confiscated, and its strategic decisions would not have become hostage to the will of the rulers in Tehran.
For this reason, the Framework Agreement signed under American sponsorship between the State of Israel and the Lebanese government carries exceptional significance that goes far beyond its security or border-related dimensions. This agreement is not merely a technical arrangement. It represents a historic turning point that opens the door to restoring Lebanese sovereignty, reestablishing state authority over all Lebanese territory, and bringing an end to the era of Hezbollah's occupation.
The Lebanese government must implement this agreement in full, without clever maneuvering, political gamesmanship, evasions, or attempts to buy time. The era of political maneuvering is over. There is no longer room for the traditional tactics that Lebanon’s ruling class has perfected for decades. What is required is the actual and practical implementation of all obligations undertaken by the Lebanese state, alongside the full enforcement of international resolutions and the elimination of all illegal weapons outside state authority.
Any attempt to obstruct the implementation of the agreement or strip it of its substance will lead to only one outcome: Israel remaining in the South and Lebanon continuing as a state with incomplete sovereignty under Hezbollah’s domination. Neither the international community is prepared to turn back the clock, nor is the United States willing to tolerate further delays, and Israel will not accept a return to the reality that enabled Hezbollah to transform southern Lebanon into an advanced Iranian military base.
The current reality that many in Lebanon and the Arab and Islamic countries are trying to ignore, whether out of fear, subservience, sectarianism, or ideology, is that the vital interests of Israel and those of a free, sovereign, and independent Lebanon have converged in an unprecedented way. Israel seeks the permanent removal of the Iranian threat from its northern border, while Lebanon seeks liberation from the disguised Iranian occupation that has usurped its state, its decision-making process, and its future. At this specific point, the interests of both countries, Lebanon and Israel, meet directly and unmistakably.
The past years have demonstrated that the Lebanese state is incapable, on its own, of confronting the military machine that Hezbollah has built with massive Iranian support. Experience has also proven that all efforts at accommodation, dialogue, and internal political settlements have failed. Therefore, the Framework Agreement—with its American sponsorship, international guarantees, and new realities on the ground—represents the most serious opportunity in decades to end Hezbollah’s occupation and control over Lebanon’s national decision-making process.
As for the rhetoric still promoted by Hezbollah and its media mouthpieces regarding victories, resistance, and so-called steadfastness, it has collapsed under the weight of reality. After decades of slogans, Lebanon has harvested nothing but destruction, economic collapse, isolation, poverty, emigration, and the loss of sovereignty. The so-called “Axis of Resistance” has brought Lebanon nothing except deeper dependence on Iran and additional wars and confrontations that do not serve Lebanon’s national interests.
The liberation of Lebanon begins by acknowledging the reality and truth as is: Hezbollah is an Iranian mercenary army controlling Lebanon’s sovereign decision-making process through force, intimidation, terrorism, criminality, and fully occupying the country. Therefored the Framework Agreement provides the most realistic path toward ending this occupation and restoring the authority of the state. Any delay in implementation will only prolong the crisis and deepen the suffering of the Lebanese people.
Today, Lebanon faces a clear historic choice that leaves no room for ambiguity: either a free, sovereign, and independent state that governs itself and honors its international commitments, or continued submission to Iranian jihadist and malign schemes through Hezbollah. Unless the Lebanese state makes its choice through action rather than words, Lebanon will remain captive to Iranian domination regardless of changing slogans and political narratives.
As for the opposition to the Framework Agreement by figures such as Nabih Berri, Walid Jumblatt, Suleiman Frangieh, Gebran Bassil, and others who oppose Lebanon’s sovereignty for whatever reason, they should be held politically and legally accountable for positions and actions that have contributed to undermining Lebanese sovereignty and perpetuating foreign influence over the country.
In conclusion, Israel stands today as the only power capable of helping liberate Lebanon from the grip of Iranian-backed jihadist occupation. Consequently, from both a strategic standpoint and the perspective of Lebanon’s true national interest, Israel should be openly recognized as a vital partner and friend rather than an adversary.
The message is clear: anyone invested in Lebanon's future and genuinely dedicated to its liberation must now listen and act.
**The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Canada Day: Gratitude for a Free Nation and Hope for a Sovereign Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/July 01/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155716/
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)
As Canadians celebrate Canada Day from coast to coast to coast, I join millions of citizens in expressing gratitude for a nation that has become a beacon of freedom, democracy, pluralism, and human dignity. For my family and me, this celebration carries a special meaning. Since immigrating to Canada in 1986, we have experienced firsthand the blessings of living in a country where the rule of law prevails, human rights are protected, and citizens are empowered to pursue their aspirations in peace and security. Canada welcomed us not merely as immigrants, but as future citizens and partners in building a prosperous society. It offered us opportunities, stability, and a sense of belonging. Here, diversity is embraced as a source of strength, and freedom is not a slogan but a living reality. On this occasion, I am reminded of the words of Holy Scripture: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) And:“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12). These verses capture the profound gratitude I feel toward God for the privilege of calling Canada home.
Yet while celebrating Canada’s freedom and sovereignty, my thoughts inevitably turn to Lebanon—the homeland of my birth, a nation I continue to love despite its long and painful ordeal. The contrast between the Canadian experience and the Lebanese reality could not be more striking. While Canada flourishes under democratic institutions and national sovereignty, Lebanon has spent decades struggling under successive occupations and foreign domination. Armed Palestinian organizations once transformed large parts of the country into military strongholds outside state authority. This was followed by the Syrian occupation, which imposed political, military, and security control over Lebanon for nearly three decades, undermining its institutions and suppressing its independence.
Although the Syrian military withdrew in 2005 following the Cedar Revolution and the sacrifice of Lebanon’s sovereignty martyrs, true independence remained elusive. Iran quickly filled the vacuum through Hezbollah, its most powerful proxy in the region. Today, Hezbollah functions as a state within the Lebanese state. Armed, financed, and directed by the Iranian regime, it monopolizes decisions of war and peace, undermines state institutions, and subordinates Lebanon’s national interests to Tehran’s regional agenda. For decades, Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into destructive wars and conflicts that the Lebanese people neither chose nor approved. It has participated in regional military campaigns, most notably in Syria, while maintaining an arsenal that stands above the authority of the Lebanese government and armed forces.
The consequences have been catastrophic: political paralysis, economic collapse, international isolation, mass emigration, and the erosion of state sovereignty. Millions of Lebanese have paid the price for policies imposed by an armed organization whose loyalties extend beyond Lebanon’s borders.Yet despite these tragedies, the Lebanese people’s aspiration for freedom remains unbroken.
Lebanon’s history is one of resilience. Time and again, its people have demonstrated extraordinary courage in defending liberty, coexistence, and democratic values. They deserve a country governed by one constitution, one legitimate authority, and one national army—not by competing centers of power or foreign-sponsored militias. The future of Lebanon can only be secured through the full restoration of sovereignty, the exclusive authority of the state over all weapons, the independence of national decision-making, and the reaffirmation of the principles that once made Lebanon a beacon of freedom in the Middle East.As we celebrate Canada Day, I also reflect on the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” (Isaiah 1:17) And the promise found in Scripture: “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10). These values—justice, freedom, peace, and human dignity—are not only the foundation of Canada’s success. They are also the values that must guide Lebanon’s rebirth.
Today, I offer my heartfelt thanks to Canada for the opportunities, freedoms, and security it has provided to my family and to countless others who arrived seeking refuge from oppression and instability. At the same time, I pray for Lebanon: that it may finally be liberated from all forms of foreign domination, whether direct or indirect; that it may reclaim its sovereignty and independence; and that it may once again become a homeland of freedom, peace, prosperity, and hope.
May God continue to bless Canada. And may God grant Lebanon the freedom, sovereignty, and peace for which its people have struggled and sacrificed for so long.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Happy Canada Day.

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.

US-led effort to boost Lebanon’s army emerges as key pillar of Hezbollah disarmament
Al Arabiya English/Published: 04 June ,2026
Under new US agreement, the LAF will assume exclusive responsibility for security within designated areas and push out Hezbollah fighters
The United States is exploring a significant expansion of support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as part of broader efforts to solidify a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and create conditions for the eventual disarmament of Hezbollah. The effort, which has been the subject of discussions between the Pentagon, including US Central Command (CENTCOM), Lebanon and Israel, would seek to strengthen the Lebanese military’s ability to exert authority in southern Lebanon, a region long dominated by Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. Officials said discussions remain at both military and political levels and are focused on what role the LAF could realistically play in enforcing any future arrangements tied to Hezbollah’s weapons and military presence near the Israeli border, as well as along Lebanon’s frontier with Syria, where they also have large numbers of militants.
According to officials, CENTCOM has been engaged in discussions involving the LAF and the Israeli military, while Pentagon officials have examined what additional support the Lebanese army may require to expand its operational footprint in the south. The discussions gained fresh momentum this week following a joint statement issued by the US, Lebanon and Israel outlining plans for the creation of pilot zones in southern Lebanon. Under the proposal, the LAF would assume exclusive responsibility for security within designated areas, with all non-state armed groups excluded from operating there. The initiative, which is expected “under the guidance of the United States,” is viewed by officials as a potential model for gradually expanding state authority across southern Lebanon while testing the LAF’s ability to maintain security and enforce ceasefire commitments without the presence of Hezbollah. Any effort would likely involve increased funding, training, intelligence-sharing and equipment transfers aimed at improving the Lebanese military’s mobility, surveillance capabilities and ability to maintain a sustained presence in areas where Hezbollah has traditionally operated.
What can the US do?
Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, a former CENTCOM commander, said a successful effort would need to go beyond simply providing additional weapons and equipment. “I think there are three things we should be focusing on,” Votel told Al Arabiya English. “First, we should ensure the LAF has the military equipment and capabilities, as well as other resources, including funding for paying troops, for a sustained campaign to re-establish control over their sovereign borders. This may include some US trainers to assist.”
Second, Votel argued that Washington should help the LAF develop an elite counterterrorism force capable of confronting militant threats.“We should help the LAF create a high-end counterterrorism force capable of going after Hezbollah,” he said. “A very capable strike force that can effectively go after the militant threats that Hezbollah maintains.”A third area of focus, Votel said, should be strengthening the military’s civil affairs and reconstruction capabilities. “We should be helping the LAF with civil-military capabilities,” he said, citing engineering, medical, humanitarian assistance, infrastructure support and explosive-removal capabilities.
Votel said such support would allow the LAF to play a more active role in helping citizens recover from conflict, particularly in southern Lebanon. Washington ‘clear-eyed’ about challenges
Yet officials emphasized that policymakers remain realistic about the limits of the Lebanese military. “Hezbollah remains the biggest obstacle,” one official familiar with the discussions said, noting that there is broad recognition within the US administration that the group’s entrenched political influence, military capabilities and support networks cannot be displaced quickly. Officials described ongoing conversations as “clear-eyed” about the challenges facing the LAF, including questions about whether the army has sufficient manpower, resources and political backing to confront or replace Hezbollah. Rather than envisioning a rapid disarmament campaign, discussions have focused on gradually -- but swiftly -- expanding state authority while reducing Hezbollah’s freedom of movement and military activity, particularly near the Israeli border. The United States has long been one of the Lebanese military’s largest backers, providing billions of dollars in assistance over the past two decades. However, officials said any substantial expansion of support would likely require continued congressional funding and sustained political commitment from future administrations.
Congress and the LAF
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper underscored that challenge during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month. “Taking on the disarmament of Hezbollah is a tall order,” Cooper said. “Hezbollah has been funded by Iran for decades with billions of dollars, and Hezbollah is inculcated into every fabric of Lebanese society.”Asked what Washington could do to help the LAF, Cooper pointed to the value of existing US assistance but suggested additional support could be warranted.“I believe our commitment could be to provide the funding necessary so that they can do more,” he said. There has been growing frustration among some lawmakers in recent years over what they see as the LAF’s slow pace and, at times, lack of willingness to take meaningful action against Hezbollah. Some officials and lawmakers have called on the Lebanese military to arrest members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is believed to maintain advisers in Beirut and southern Lebanon. The chairmen of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee last month called for cutting US aid to the LAF if it failed to take tangible steps toward disarming Hezbollah. Top US senators call to halt aid to Lebanon army over failed Hezbollah disarmament
Middle East
Top US senators call to halt aid to Lebanon army over failed Hezbollah disarmament
The Pentagon’s top official for international security affairs also told lawmakers that the department continues to press the LAF to accelerate efforts aimed at curbing Hezbollah’s military influence. Votel suggested assistance to Lebanon should be viewed through the broader lens of US regional security objectives, when asked about challenges of securing more funding for the LAF from Congress. “Support to the LAF ought to be considered a part of the overall Epic Fury campaign. We should be able to provide some element, much as we did last year when the agreements were first put in place with Israel, that can help with the coordination of activities.”Votel also argued that deploying the Lebanese military more broadly across southern Lebanon would require more than just equipment. “They need training and equipment — and the advice and assistance of the US military,” he said. “They also require diplomatic and informational support to create the space to address the problem of Hezbollah militant influence and presence in southern Lebanon.”The discussions are also occurring against the backdrop of Israeli concerns that Hezbollah could use any pause in hostilities to rebuild its military capabilities. US officials said part of Washington’s role has been encouraging Israeli restraint while efforts to strengthen Lebanese state institutions continue. But support for the LAF is increasingly being viewed in Washington as a central component of any lasting arrangement aimed at preserving the ceasefire, preventing another Israel-Hezbollah war and putting to an end once and for all to the influence of Iran’s number one proxies.

Israeli military says killed armed militant in south Lebanon
AFP/July 04, 2026
NNA said an Israeli helicopter carried out “a broad sweep operation on the outskirts” of Majdal Zoun
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Saturday that it killed an armed militant in the “security zone” under its control in south Lebanon. “Earlier today (Saturday), IDF soldiers identified an armed terrorist operating inside the Security Zone, in the Majdal Zoun area in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement, adding that troops “opened fire at the terrorist” and, after conducting “extensive searches,” then “eliminated” him. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said an Israeli helicopter carried out “a broad sweep operation on the outskirts” of Majdal Zoun and launched five missiles toward the village, without specifying a target or immediately reporting casualties.
The NNA also reported on Saturday that an Israeli strike on the village of Mansouri wounded one person, and reported Israeli artillery shelling elsewhere. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes days earlier. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, where its troops still occupy swathes of territory near the border.At the end of June, Lebanon and Israel agreed to a US-backed framework aiming to pave the way for a permanent end to hostilities.

Lebanese president urges US to ‘keep standing’ by country
AFP/July 04, 2026
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged the United States to stand by his country after a recent US-backed framework deal with Israel aiming to permanently end hostilities after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. The deal reached in Washington calls for the disarmament of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army there, starting with two “pilot” areas. Hezbollah has rejected the deal, which does not set a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal. In a congratulatory message to President Donald Trump marking the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, Aoun urged Washington to “keep always standing beside Lebanon’s right and just causes, its institutions, army and people.”Aoun expressed hope that Lebanon could “turn the page on wars... and open a new page of hope, peace and stability.”
In a message also marking the independence anniversary, the US embassy in Lebanon said on X that “it is with great pride that we stand with the people of Lebanon as they forge a brighter future — one of peace, prosperity, and promise long overdue.”
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes days earlier. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, where its troops still occupy swathes of territory near the border. An agreement signed by Tehran and Washington on ending the regional war last month also established a ceasefire in Lebanon, which took effect on June 21.Days later, Lebanon and Israel agreed to the US-backed framework aiming to pave the way for a permanent end to hostilities.
The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said this week that more than 640,000 displaced people have returned home since June 22.
Lebanese authorities have said the war has killed some 4,300 people and displaced more than one million others. But many residents are unable to return to towns and villages near the southern border where Israeli troops are still present and many of which have suffered massive destruction.
On a visit to the south on Saturday including the heavily damaged city of Nabatieh, Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed said authorities were working on a plan including for “prefabricated houses and rent assistance payments” to help people return home, or to areas nearby. Israeli has kept up intermittent strikes on south Lebanon despite the ceasefire. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said an Israeli strike on the village of Mansouri on Saturday wounded one person, also reporting Israeli artillery shelling elsewhere.

Aoun urges Trump to keep backing Lebanon to 'turn the page on wars'
Naharnet/July 04, 2026
On the occasion of America's 250th Independence Day, President Joseph Aoun sent a congratulatory telegram to U.S. President Donald Trump, wishing him and the American people "continued success, prosperity, and further progress."In his telegram, Aoun stated: "There is no doubt that the relationship between Lebanon and the United States of America is ancient and deeply rooted, as old as the human and social principles and values ​​that have united their visions.""Today, this relationship is being revitalized thanks to your determination and tireless efforts to restore stability and security to the Middle East in general, and to Lebanon in particular," the president said. "While we appreciate your efforts in this regard, we call upon you to continue your unwavering support for Lebanon's just and righteous causes, and for its institutions, army, and people, so that we may turn the page on wars, tragedies, and suffering, and open a new chapter of hope, peace and stability," Aoun went on to say.US Embassy: We stand with the people of Lebanon by Naharnet Newsdesk 15 hours ago. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Saturday voiced support for Lebanon and its people, in an X post marking America's 250th Independence Day. "This year, as America commemorates 250 years of independence, we celebrate not only the founding principles that define us, but also the enduring friendships that have shaped our nation's story," the Embassy said."It is with great pride that we stand with the people of Lebanon as they forge a brighter future - one of peace, prosperity, and promise long overdue," it added.

Over 600,000 displaced Lebanese return home amid ceasefire
Agence France Presse/July 04, 2026
More than 640,000 displaced people in Lebanon have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have wound down following a deal to end the Middle East war. Lebanon was drawn into the regional war on March 2 when Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and an invasion of southern Lebanon, where its troops still occupy swathes of territory. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed around 4,300 people and displaced over one million, particularly from southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs. In a report on Thursday, the IOM said "646,107 IDPs (internally displaced persons) have begun returning to their communities", while about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22.An agreement signed by Tehran and Washington last month established a ceasefire in Lebanon starting June 21. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have returned to their homes in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs. Lebanese authorities say they have worked to remove informal tent encampments in and around Beirut and reduce the number of official shelters. But it remains impossible to return to dozens of towns and villages near the southern border, many of which have suffered massive destruction. Israeli officials have also vowed that their forces will remain in a "security zone" 10 kilometers (six miles) deep, despite the ceasefire.
- 'Indefinite forced displacement' -
Last week Lebanon and Israel concluded a U.S.-backed framework agreement aiming to pave the way for a permanent end to the war.The agreement calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Army there -- starting with two "pilot" areas. However, the agreement -- rejected by Hezbollah -- does not set a timetable for Israeli withdrawal. Instead, it makes Israeli withdrawal contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament first, a tall order that experts say the Lebanese state cannot meet.Reacting to criticism of the agreement, particularly from Hezbollah, President Joseph Aoun insisted on Friday that the document "does not legitimize the continuation of the Israeli occupation in Lebanon". He said the absence of a timetable was because it was a "framework formula" rather than a final agreement."Our shared objective is one: to secure Israel's withdrawal," he said, according to a statement from the presidency.Amnesty International and five other NGOs warned on Friday that the framework agreement "threatens to betray war crimes victims in Lebanon". They argued that "parts of the text appear to be aimed at preventing victims of serious international crimes from seeking justice before international forums".Aoun responded to this criticism of article 13 of the framework agreement by saying that "it affirms the suspension of legal proceedings between the two states during the negotiation period" but "does not preclude" any private entity from taking legal action. The NGOs added that other parts of the text "seem to acquiesce to the prolonged and indefinite forced displacement of tens of thousands of residents of vast swathes of southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli forces.".

Lebanese Army Commander, UNIFIL chief discuss security cooperation in South Lebanon
LBCI/July 04, 2026
Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal met with the head and force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Maj. Gen. Diodato Abagnara, at army headquarters in Yarzeh to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon, particularly in the country's south. Abagnara was accompanied by UNIFIL Deputy Head of Mission and Director of Political and Civil Affairs Hervé Lecoq. The meeting focused on recent security and political developments in southern Lebanon and ways to strengthen cooperation between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL amid the current challenges in the region.

US Embassy: We Stand Proudly with the Lebanese People
Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026  (Googlr translation from Arabic)
The US Embassy in Beirut wrote on its “X” platform: “This year, as the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary of independence, we celebrate not only the founding principles that define our identity, but also our enduring friendships that have shaped our nation’s history. We stand proudly with the Lebanese people as they forge their path toward a brighter future, a future of peace, prosperity, and long-awaited promise.”

Clairefield Leads the Tripartite Committee… Beirut Relies on the Americans to Break the Deadlock
Al-Janoubia/July 4, 2026 
The debate in Lebanon is no longer about the framework itself, but rather about the ability of the parties involved to translate it into practical steps on the ground. With the appointment of US General Joseph Clearfield as head of the security and military committee tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Lebanese-Israeli agreement, the process has entered a new phase, characterized by a shift from political understandings to implementation mechanisms. This comes amidst ongoing field and political complexities that continue to strain the chances of success.
Clearfield and a Difficult Task
Washington seeks to give practical impetus to the new process through a tripartite committee comprising Lebanon, the United States, and Israel, tasked with overseeing the implementation of security arrangements in pilot areas in the south. However, the success of this mission remains contingent on the committee's ability to overcome political and field complexities. The continued divergence in the positions of the concerned parties grants Israel greater leeway to delay fulfilling its commitments and postpones the transition from the agreement phase to the implementation phase. Reports indicate that Clearfield has initiated a series of discreet contacts with various stakeholders in an attempt to develop an implementation roadmap. However, the path ahead does not appear easy given the continued field tensions and the sensitivity of the issues at hand.
Official Reliance on Washington
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government continues to rely on the American role, considering it the party most capable of influencing Israeli decisions. The congratulatory message sent by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US President Donald Trump reflected this sentiment, as he called on the US administration to continue supporting Lebanon and its institutions, and to help consolidate stability and turn the page on past confrontations. Similarly, the message from the US Embassy in Beirut, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of US independence, conveyed supportive signals to Lebanon, affirming its solidarity with the Lebanese people in their pursuit of a more stable and prosperous future, thus reinforcing the impression that Washington still considers the Lebanese issue a regional priority.
The South: Between Escalation and Control
On the ground, despite a relative decrease in the pace of military operations, Israeli activity in the south has not ceased. Raids, artillery shelling, and bombings have continued in several areas, indicating that the calm remains fragile and that any political progress requires simultaneous security consolidation. In the same context, the meeting between Army Commander General Rudolph Heikel and UNIFIL Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara stood out, amidst ongoing discussions about the future of the international force and its role in the coming phase. Lebanon is keen to maintain coordination between the army and UNIFIL to preserve stability in the south.
Influential Regional Intersections
The Lebanese trajectory is inseparable from the regional landscape, as the US-Iranian negotiations intersect with Lebanese developments. Israeli leaks suggest that President Trump preferred to postpone any large-scale Israeli military operation in southern Lebanon until the path of understanding with Tehran becomes clearer, reflecting the continued interconnectedness of the various regional arenas. Meanwhile, reports circulating about Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's willingness to resign if the settlement with the United States falters have garnered widespread attention, reflecting the extent of the pressures facing the Iranian leadership as it reassesses its domestic and foreign policy priorities. Ultimately, the current phase appears to be a true test of the American diplomacy's ability to translate the framework agreement into practical reality. If the new committee succeeds in launching the implementation steps, it could mark the beginning of a more stable path in the south. However, if political and field calculations continue to obstruct implementation, the agreement will remain a theoretical framework, while security realities continue to dictate the Lebanese and regional landscape.

At Trump's Request, Netanyahu Postpones Military Operation in Ali al-Taher
Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
Israeli Channel 15 reported, citing sources, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the postponement of the operation in the Ali al-Taher area of ​​southern Lebanon at the request of US President Donald Trump. The channel added that Trump asked that the situation in Lebanon not be escalated so as not to jeopardize his ongoing communications with Iran.

President Aoun Sends a Telegram to Trump: We Appreciate Your Efforts!
Central News Agency/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, President Joseph Aoun sent a congratulatory telegram to US President Donald Trump, wishing him and the friendly American people success, prosperity, and further progress. In his telegram, President Aoun stated: "There is no doubt that the history of the relationship between Lebanon and the United States of America is ancient and deeply rooted, as old as the human and social principles and values ​​that united their vision. Today, this relationship is being revitalized thanks to your determination and tireless efforts to restore stability and security to the Middle East in general, and to Lebanon in particular. While we appreciate your efforts in this regard, we call upon you to continue standing firmly by Lebanon's just and righteous causes, and by its institutions, army, and people, so that we may turn the page on wars, tragedies, and pain, and open a new chapter of hope, peace, and stability."

Amal Movement Delegation Meets Araqchi: We Reject the Framework Agreement and Affirm Our Condemnation of Sedition
Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
A delegation from the Amal Movement, headed by Khalil Hamdan, a member of the movement's Presidential Council, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran. The delegation included MP Qabalan Qabalan, Deputy Head of the Political Bureau Sheikh Hassan al-Masri, Political Bureau members Talal Hatoum and Hassan Qabalan, Executive Committee member and Head of Foreign Relations Ali Hayek, and Amal Movement representative in Iran Salah Fahs. Araqchi welcomed the delegation members, thanking them for their condolences and participation in the funeral ceremonies for the martyred Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei. He also commended the "great national role of Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri," and asked the delegation to convey his greetings to him. Araghchi affirmed the Islamic Republic of Iran's concern for Lebanon, stressing the necessity of a ceasefire and the obligation of the Zionist enemy to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories. He linked the final agreement with the United States to the implementation of this clause in the Memorandum of Understanding. For his part, Hamdan, on behalf of Berri, the Amal Movement, and the Scouts of the Message, offered condolences on the martyrdom of Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, praising the Islamic Republic of Iran's support for the Lebanese people and their resistance, and the firm and clear stance of the Iranian negotiators in including a clause in the Memorandum of Understanding stipulating a ceasefire in Lebanon and an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories. He emphasized that this clause was a fundamental point for continuing negotiations and reaching an agreement. He also affirmed Berri and the Amal Movement's rejection of the framework agreement, their commitment to Lebanese national unity, and their rejection of sectarian strife among the Lebanese people.

Nassar: We Will Not Accept Losing an Inch of Our Land
Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
In a decisive Lebanese stance reflecting the state's commitment to its full sovereignty, Justice Minister Adel Nassar affirmed to the French newspaper Le Monde that Lebanon will not accept losing an inch of its land, emphasizing that the framework agreement clearly stipulates a complete withdrawal. This position comes amidst ongoing discussions about the future of the situation in the south and the associated political and security obligations, particularly after the signing of the framework agreement with Israel in Washington, and the differing interpretations it has generated regarding implementation mechanisms and the required guarantees. The Justice Minister's statement clearly indicates that Lebanon is committed to implementing the agreement according to its content, especially the clause concerning a complete withdrawal, while attention remains focused on the extent of Israel's adherence to the agreement's provisions and the ability of international guarantees to prevent any attempt to impose new realities on the ground.

Is it possible to normalize relations with Iran?
Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/July 4, 2026  (Googlr translation from Arabic)
Is it possible to build healthy, normal relations between the Gulf Arab states and some other Arab countries, such as Jordan and Yemen, on the one hand, and Iran under the rule of the ideologically driven Revolutionary Guard on the other? This question is not new, born of the current tensions between Iran and the United States. Rather, it is an old question, dating back to the birth of the Khomeini regime with its doctrines of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Velayat-e Faqih) and the export of the revolution, and its slogan of “supporting the oppressed”—the Iranian euphemism for interfering in the affairs of other countries and violating their sovereignty. The Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, the largest country, have tried to build bridges of friendship with the Iranian regime and overlook the causes of tension, as happened in the Khobar Towers bombing in eastern Saudi Arabia in 1996. We also recall the remarkable moments of rapprochement during the rule of the late Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz when he was Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. But these “exceptional” moments failed to permanently steer relations toward calm, peace, and normalcy with the Iranian regime. This is a 47-year-old experience, and this is its harvest today: an ideological regime that has grown more ferocious, aggressive, and militarized. The renowned thinker, Professor Radwan al-Sayyid, is one of the most prominent Arab scholars who have studied the roots of Islamic thought in the Middle East, including Iranian thought, for decades. Two weeks ago, he wrote an article here entitled “Iran, the Arabs, and the Relations of the Future,” in which he stated: “It took me a while to realize, while observing the Iranian mindset, that the Iranian plateau, with its single state, harbors imperial ambitions in the name of nationalism, sectarianism, or both.” Reflecting on the current war, he added: “We kept consoling ourselves by saying that the cost of militias and nuclear weapons was very high and didn't seem to be popular with the Iranian public. The more optimistic among us continued to speculate that this was all a form of blackmail against America and the Arabs, and that it would end after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or after the nuclear agreement with the Obama administration in 2015.” This means that the military power of the Gulf states must be equal to, if not greater than, that of Iran. Yes, I know that Iran lags behind in air power, and even in the efficiency and modernity of its land and naval weapons... but it has compensated for this with highly advanced investments in its ballistic missile and drone programs, as well as in explosive-laden boats, or fast and numerous patrol boats, in addition to forming loyal militias, as in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Therefore, the Gulf states must be up to the Iranian challenge, which does not appear likely to diminish in the foreseeable future. A prerequisite for achieving this is working towards cooperation and unity on these crucial matters, at least. If a Gulf political and diplomatic breakthrough is achieved with the Iranian regime to build a healthy and normal relationship, then all the better, and that is precisely what is needed. As Professor Radwan asked: "Isn't it possible to agree on a mutually beneficial offer to Iran? What does Iran gain from spreading instability around it unless it is ideologically driven, in which case it would be a disaster?"

Israel warns of escalation across multiple fronts, names Iran as central focus
LBCI/July 04, 2026
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir rejected any compromise on the demand to disarm Hezbollah and dismantle the group. In meetings with the head of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, U.S. General Joseph Clearfield, and U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper, Zamir stressed the need for the Israeli military to maintain its deployment in Lebanon. He said implementation of the first phase of the trilateral framework agreement, which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two designated pilot zones, is contingent on guarantees from the Lebanese army and the Lebanese government regarding the mechanism sought by Israel. Washington is working to address the issue by intensifying pressure on Israel to accelerate its withdrawal from the pilot zones.
During a security assessment, Israel identified Iran as the central focus of its military preparations.

Aoun congratulates Trump on US Independence Day
LBCI/July 04, 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun sent a congratulatory message to U.S. President Donald Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, wishing him and the American people continued prosperity, progress and success. In his message, Aoun said the relationship between Lebanon and the United States is longstanding and deeply rooted in shared humanitarian and social values. He praised Trump's efforts to restore stability and security in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, saying the bilateral relationship has gained renewed momentum through the U.S. president's commitment to regional peace. Aoun also urged Trump to continue supporting Lebanon's legitimate causes, as well as its state institutions, armed forces, and people. "We appreciate your efforts in this regard and call on you to continue standing by Lebanon, its institutions, its army and its people, so that together we may turn the page on war, tragedy and suffering and open a new chapter of hope, peace and stability," Aoun said in the message.

Did the two sides put the wars of support, the demarcation agreements, and the October 27th events to a vote in the constitutional institutions?
Lara Yazbek//Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
Al-Markazia - Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed that the Washington agreement serves as a roadmap, noting that negotiations are still in their early stages. During a cabinet meeting he chaired Thursday afternoon at the Grand Serail, Salam presented the tripartite framework signed in Washington between Lebanon, the United States, and Israel, stating that "we are facing a political framework that serves as a roadmap for negotiations, from which political, not legal, commitments will emerge." He added: "The aforementioned framework has not yet reached the stage of an agreement or treaty, as indicated in its text, so it cannot be presented and ratified properly in the constitutional institutions. Negotiations are still in their initial stages to achieve the goals we are working towards, particularly reaching a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory."
These clarifications come after the Shiite duo leveled a barrage of criticism against the "framework," deeming it unconstitutional, illegal, and a violation of the Taif Agreement and the president's powers. They argued it was invalid because it hadn't passed either Parliament or the Cabinet. They also threatened to put it to a vote in constitutional institutions, where it would be defeated. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri stated earlier this week, "If they think the agreement will pass in constitutional institutions, they don't know they'll be facing Nabih Berri and a large parliamentary bloc." The duo suddenly remembered constitutional institutions and the constitution, then. According to sovereign political sources speaking to Al-Markazia, the decision of war and peace doesn't require constitutional institutions or a vote, nor does the decision to engage in fighting in Syria, in the view of the resistance. However, a "framework agreement" must be put to a vote. Prime Minister Salam and President Joseph Aoun reassured those concerned that it cannot be presented to the institutions now because it is still just a framework, emphasizing that once it becomes an agreement, it will inevitably be placed on the table of constitutional institutions. But we must ask here about the October 27, 2024 agreement reached by Berri, the elder brother of Hezbollah, through direct negotiations with the Americans. Was it put to a vote at the time? It later became clear that it was a disastrous blow to sovereignty, as it granted Israel freedom of action in Lebanon whenever it deemed necessary. And what about the maritime border demarcation negotiations during which the official Lebanese government (then in the hands of the resistance and its allies) ceded tens of kilometers of maritime territory to Israel? Was that agreement presented for discussion and a vote in the constitutional institutions? The answer, in both cases, is "no." Today, the sources continue, because the state is negotiating—not Iran, not Berri, and not any of Tehran's allies—the resistance is suddenly invoking the constitution and demanding a vote on the framework, hoping this tactic will lead to the abortion of the framework agreement and, with it, the negotiations led by the official Lebanese government. The games of this group are transparent, governed by only one principle: "serving Iran's interests." Indeed, "those who had any shame are long gone," the sources conclude.

Lebanon and Syria: From Intervention to Partnership!
Yola Hashem/Al-Markazia/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
In a move described as an attempt to restructure relations between Beirut and Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani paid an official visit to Lebanon, carrying significant political and economic messages. Al-Shaibani met with top Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who announced the signing of an agreement to establish the joint Lebanese-Syrian Higher Committee. His meeting with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri was also a significant event, as he expressed openness to engaging with Hezbollah "if the interest so requires," indicating Damascus's desire to prioritize dialogue over confrontation. The visit comes within the context of an effort to open a new chapter between the two countries, based on institutional cooperation and respect for sovereignty, with a focus on energy, trade, and security coordination, reflecting a trend toward rebuilding the relationship on the basis of shared interests. In a notable move on the Lebanese political scene, Shibani visited Maarab, Saifi, and Clemenceau in a meeting described as transparent and constructive, reflecting Damascus's desire to open a new chapter with Lebanese forces historically opposed to it. The most significant aspect of this visit was the replacement of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council, which had been heavily biased towards Syria, with a new agreement that aims to rebuild relations between the two countries on sound and balanced foundations. What will change with this agreement? MP Razi al-Hajj, a member of the "Strong Republic" bloc, told Al-Markazia: "In all countries with the potential for economic integration and contiguous borders, high-level committees are established to coordinate these matters and regulate interactions between the two sides. The agreement signed today is completely different from the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, which was tasked with signing agreements that were mostly not in Lebanon's interest, as if they were being imposed on the Lebanese government and a state that had been under Syrian tutelage for fifteen years." Al-Hajj points out that "three essential things are required between Lebanon and Syria: First, affirming the sovereignty of both countries and respecting the relationship between them as two independent and sovereign states. This is a fundamental matter that cannot be overlooked. Second, achieving integration with Syria, given that the Syrian market is vast and offers significant opportunities for Lebanese citizens to benefit from it, and Lebanon is also capable of providing job opportunities for Syrians through the workforce it needs." Third, the Syrian displacement crisis in Lebanon must be definitively resolved, ensuring that the Syrian presence in Lebanon is regulated according to applicable laws, whether through labor laws or legal residency regulations. He concludes: "If these three things are achieved—and I believe they will, as we have already covered more than half the distance—we will have truly turned the page on Syrian intervention and tutelage indefinitely and definitively, and opened a new chapter with a major neighboring country. Together, we can achieve economic integration, respect one another, and dispel the anxieties that sometimes raised fears of future repercussions."

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 04-05 July/2026
Mass grief at Khamenei funeral projects hardline grip on post-war Iran
Reuters/July 04, 2026
TEHRAN: Tens of thousands of Iranians thronged a vast outdoor prayer complex in Tehran on Saturday to view the coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader killed at the start ​of the US-Israeli war on Iran, and his family. Dressed in black and draped in the red, white and green flags of the Islamic Republic of Iran, mourners held up portraits of Khamenei and his son and successor, Mojtaba. In a show of public devotion to the Islamic Republic’s theocratic state and revolutionary zeal, Iran is staging a week of mass funeral processions for the supreme leader killed in February by the opening airstrikes of the war. After a day lying in state indoors for senior Iranian leaders and foreign officials to visit, Khamenei’s coffin was put on display under glass outdoors, along with those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-lawand 14-month-old granddaughter. There has still been no public sighting or image released of Mojtaba, the new leader, said to have been injured in the attack that killed his father. Mourners filed into the vast courtyard of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, beating their ‌chests, wailing and waving ‌the banners of the Islamic Republic. Women dressed in black chadors wore white visors or held ​umbrellas ‌to ⁠shield from ​the ⁠hot mid-morning sun. “Let us wail!” a compere encouraged the crowds through a loudspeaker. Chants of “Death to America” echoed through the huge prayer hall.
BLOOD FEUD
“Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their supreme leader,” Arash Rahimi, 40, told Reuters in the crowd. “As our leader has said, we have a blood feud with the United States. Our relations with the United States will never be good.”The funeral is taking place at a critical moment for Iran, with its clerical rulers, backed by the military, buoyed from having survivedthe onslaughtwith their ruling system intact. The coffins of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members are pictured at the Grand Mosalla at the start of the funeral ceremonies in Tehran. (AFP)
The war has been paused for a ceasefire under an agreement with Washington that the authorities say will ultimately bring huge economic benefits, in line with what they describe as a victory over a superpower. Some in the crowd of mourners ⁠suggested they were ready for compromise.
“The United States ... wants certain things. We should give some things, otherwise ‌they blow up our officials in the air,” mourner Fattah Bayaz, 63, told Reuters. Beyond the displays ‌of solidarity with the leadership, it remains impossible to assess how deeply public loyalty ​runs across a country of 90 million people. Weeks before the war, hundreds ‌of thousands of Iranians demonstrated against the government in protests that were put down in a violent crackdown in which thousands were killed. But there ‌has been little or no public sign of such dissent since the US and Israeli attacks began.
During the war, more than 3,000 people were killed including many of Iran’s most senior politicians and military commanders. Military bases and major infrastructure projects were destroyed causing billions of dollars in damage. But Iran successfully struck US bases in the region, inflicted pain on the Gulf Arab countries that host them, and asserted its control of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a spike in global energy ‌prices which US President Donald Trump said ultimately persuaded him to make peace.
The interim deal reached last month includes unfreezing of billions of dollars in assets held abroad, and waivers from financial sanctions that ⁠had brought Iran’s economy to its knees.
Mourners wept at the sight of Khamenei’s coffin alongside those of his family members also killed in the airstrike
SHIITE ⁠MARTYRDOM
In Iran’s theocratic system, Khamenei was not only head of state and leader of a revolutionary movement, but the earthly representative for Shiite Islam’s last imam, a holy figure who disappeared in the ninth century. His death in an enemy attack plays into a longtradition of martyrdom and ritual mourning, dating to the seventh century death in battle of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein, which divided Islam into its Shiite and Sunnibranches. Burials are meant to be conducted within a day of death in Islam, but because of the risks of holding a big funeral during the war it was postponed until after last month’s interim truce deal was agreed. Khamenei’s coffin was unveiled late on Thursday. On Friday it was laid in state in the great prayer hall built to honor his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, where it will remain until Sunday evening. After what authorities are billing as a massive procession in central Tehran on Monday, the remains will be taken to the seminary city of Qom, the center of Iran’s Shiite hierarchy, for ceremonies on Tuesday. From there the body will be flown to Iraq for ceremonies in the two Shiite holy shrine cities of Najaf and Kerbala on Wednesday.The ​body will return to Iran on Thursday for another procession in Mashhad, ​to be buried near the tomb of another of the mediaeval Shiite imams. Authorities plan to mobilize millions of people for big processions over the coming days, offering transport, food and lodging.

'Revenge, revenge': Iran mourners gather for Khamenei's funeral
Agence France Presse/July 04, 2026
Mourners beat their chests and chanted "revenge, revenge" as thousands gathered in Tehran early Saturday for a final farewell to slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks in late February that sparked a regional war. His body lay in state on Saturday morning at the sprawling Grand Mosalla prayer complex in the Iranian capital, where an AFP journalist saw crowds filing in holding red flags, a symbol of revenge in Shiite Islam. "We have come not for the funeral but for revenge," a eulogist at the event chanted. "We're never going to give up your blood, which is the reddest line." The mourners, some in tears, made their way through strict security towards the courtyard where Khamenei's coffin was placed for people to pay their respects. "We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader," Hamidreza Shabani, an 18-year-old student, told AFP. The coffin, wrapped in an Iranian flag, was unveiled on a stage from behind dark blue velvet drapes after Quran recitations. It stood on a raised platform accompanied by the coffins of his family members also killed in the US-Israeli attack. Two rows of Iranian flags lined the stage, while portraits depicting different stages of Khamenei's life hung on the walls of the Grand Mosalla.Some mourners carried portraits of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has succeeded his father but remained out of public sight. Also seen among the crowds was the yellow flag of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which has been battling Israeli forces in southern Lebanon since the regional war broke out. Hezbollah is part of the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance", a network of groups across the Middle East that is opposed to Israel and the United States.
'Until the end' -
"We came because we promised the supreme leader we would stay with him until the end," Reza, a 37-year-old university professor, told AFP. "All these people are here for him. We shouted for a long time that we would sacrifice our lives for the leader, but he was the one who sacrificed himself for us."
The crowds were sprayed with water as temperatures in Tehran reached the mid-thirties Celsius, while makeshift stalls served refreshments in areas surrounding the venue. Many parked their cars several kilometers from the complex and walked the rest of the way due to traffic restrictions imposed across the capital. The funeral ceremonies followed memorial events for Khamenei on Friday at the same venue, which were attended by delegations from several countries. Khamenei was killed aged 86 at his compound in central Tehran on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched their opening salvoes of the war, triggering a conflict that spread region-wide. Last month the U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary deal to end the war, though negotiations on a permanent settlement are ongoing and there have been sporadic exchanges of fire since the agreement.

Netanyahu, Trump agree to meet in US 'soon'
Agence France Presse/July 04, 2026
Naharnet/Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on Friday and agreed to meet "soon" in the United States, the premier's office said. The conversation comes after the United States and Israel fought alongside each other in their military campaign against Iran, and also follows reports of tensions between the two leaders over efforts to end the war. "The Prime Minister said in their conversation that the U.S. is a guarantor of global freedom, and Israel greatly appreciates the close ties between nations," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the U.S.," it added. During the conversation, Netanyahu also congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence, the statement said. Washington is Israel's closest ally, but Trump has been publicly critical of Netanyahu in recent weeks after Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon threatened peace talks with Iran.

Trump says White House meeting with Netanyahu possible next week: Report
Published: 04 July ,2026
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked him for a meeting at the White House, and that it could take place as early as next week after the NATO summit in Turkey.

Some Gaza residents say world forgot about Palestine tragedy after Iran war
AFP/04 July ,2026
The Gaza war was the spark that touched off years of Middle East conflict culminating in the US-Israeli war with Iran, but as Washington and Tehran wrangle over terms for peace, the devastated territory’s fate seems largely out of mind. “Ever since the United States went to war with Iran, the whole world has forgotten Gaza and its tragedy. We no longer have anyone standing by us,” Palestinian Ahmed Jamali, 53, told AFP from the displacement camp in Gaza where he lives.  “We are weak and oppressed, and Israel is doing whatever it wants: killing, destroying and occupying Gaza, while no one in the world lifts a finger.” The apparent inattention paid to the Palestinian territory is all the more striking because it sits at the heart of the chain of events that plunged the region into its most dangerous confrontation in decades. Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered a devastating military response in Gaza, drawing in Tehran-backed allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen’s Houthis - and eventually Iran itself. What began as a local war between Israel and Hamas evolved into a regional conflict and, in turn, a direct confrontation between arch-foes Tehran and Washington. More than two-and-a-half years later, Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis, and despite a fragile ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas in October 2025, efforts to bring the war to a definitive end have stalled for months. Although Iranian officials initially spoke of an agreement to end the Middle East war that would encompass the entire region, the preliminary text endorsed by Tehran and Washington last month contains no mention of Gaza. For analysts, that shows a shift in regional priorities. “It reflects Hamas’s declining strategic value in Iran’s eyes,” Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP.
Iran has long armed and financed Hamas as part of its “axis of resistance” - an array of regional forces opposed to Israel and the US - but the October 2023 attack appears to have fundamentally altered that relationship. “Iranians do not really care about Gaza. Hamas was an ally, not an Iranian tool,” said Israeli military expert Eado Hecht. “It betrayed them. They did not want war in autumn 2023, it was too early for them.”
‘Gradually fading’
Michael Milshtein, another Israeli military analyst, argued that Tehran’s calculations have shifted elsewhere. “It places greater value on preserving Hezbollah as a pillar of the regional balance,” he said. The diplomatic focus has also shifted, with a growing sense of international fatigue over Gaza. “Gaza is gradually fading from international attention,” said Lovatt.One diplomat involved in negotiations described a widespread belief among governments that “most actors see the issue as insoluble in the short to medium term”. Another veteran diplomat based in Jerusalem told AFP that Gaza’s absence from the discussions reflected political paralysis rather than progress. “Gaza is absent from the agreement not because the war is over, but because no credible political framework exists for the day after,” he said. Israel insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any political transition can begin, while Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons without guarantees that an alternative Palestinian governing authority will replace it.Neither an international stabilization force nor a credible transitional mechanism has emerged in the months since the ceasefire took effect, both of which were called for in the US-brokered framework that halted the fighting.
Cairo talks
Behind the scenes, negotiations over Gaza’s future continue in Cairo.The talks bring together Palestinian factions, including Hamas, alongside the Board of Peace set up by US President Donald Trump and regional players including Qatar and Turkey. “Trump may want to give this process a chance,” said a source close to the negotiations. “Whether it succeeds remains to be seen.”Although few details have emerged publicly, diplomatic and security sources told AFP that negotiators are working on a roadmap combining the gradual disarmament of Hamas with the creation of transitional governing authorities for Gaza. Israeli media has reported that the government would reject such a framework. “For now, this diplomatic process exists only around the negotiating table,” Lovatt said. “There has been progress, but reconstruction remains a distant prospect, and nothing is changing for the people on the ground.”
Return to combat?
With diplomacy stalled, concerns are mounting that the fighting could yet resume. Israeli media have reported military preparations for a possible summer 2026 offensive against Hamas should political negotiations fail. But military expert Hecht cautioned against assuming that contingency planning meant another war was inevitable. “Having the military opportunities is not the same as having the political opportunity,” he said. “Preparations are not the same as implementation.”Analyst Milshtein argued that Israel had little leverage left. In his view, Washington could ultimately pressure Israel to accept a phased disarmament of Hamas alongside a transitional political framework - or even to withdraw from Gaza.“Alternatively, Israel could embark on another military adventure. Given this government’s record... (it) cannot be ruled out,” Milshtein said, adding that Israeli leaders still lacked a coherent long-term strategy.

Saudi Arabia vows response to Houthi threats
Al Arabiya English/04 July ,2026
Saudi Arabia on Saturday rejected Yemen’s Houthis latest statements toward the country, describing them as a diversion. “Houthi statements against the Kingdom yesterday are merely an attempt to divert attention away from their grave violations against the brotherly people of Yemen, through which they try to export the economic disasters and Yemeni suffering they have caused,” the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Major General Turki al-Malki, said in a statement.Al-Malki added that the group’s statements are “an extension of escalations and hostile behavior demonstrated by the Houthi militia and their attempts to undermine regional and international security.” In addition, he vowed a response “with unprecedented determination and force to any and all attempts to target the Kingdom, its citizens and residents and national assets, or any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the brotherly Republic of Yemen.”

Ukraine denies claim that Russian forces captured Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine
Al Arabiya English/04 July ,2026
Russia’s military said on Friday that its forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, a key locality whose capture Moscow has long sought in its advance through the Donetsk region. The announcement was made by General Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia’s General Chief of Staff, as President Vladimir Putin visited a command point overseeing the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine.However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the General Staff said that Ukraine still controls the strategically important eastern city of Kostiantynivka, rejecting the Russian claims.
“Of course, that is not true. It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story,” Zelenskyy said on X. “If Kostiantynivka were under Russian control, then perhaps (Russian President Vladimir) Putin would have no problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war,” he added. The General Staff also said Kostiantynivka remained under the control of Ukrainian forces. “Military units and subunits of the 19th Army Corps of the Eastern Grouping continue to conduct defensive operations on designated lines within the town and on its approaches,” it said in a statement. Kostiantynivka is the southernmost of four key settlements that form a defensive line central to Ukraine’s effort to hold the heavily industrialized Donetsk region. For his part, Gerasimov, in a report to Putin on the conduct of the war, now in its fifth year, said the southern group of Russia’s forces was “carrying out offensive operations to liberate” all of Donetsk Region. “The troops of the group have liberated the city of Kostiantynivka, one of the main defensive hubs of the enemy within the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk-Kostiantnynivka fortified area,” Gerasimov said.
The Defense Ministry’s post on the Telegram messaging app showed what it said were scenes from the captured town, including pictures of Russian servicemen holding up national flags around shattered buildings. Analysts say capturing the city would give Russian forces a foothold from which to push north along the defensive belt, now the main axis of their campaign. Russia’s military has for some time reported controlling parts of Kostiantynivka, one of several heavily fortified cities that make up Ukraine’s so-called “fortress belt” in Donetsk. Aside from Kostiantynivka, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday it had taken five villages in eastern Ukraine: Shyikivka, Novyi Myr, Cherneshchyna and Druzhelyubivka in Kharkiv region, and Vasylivka in Donetsk region.With Reuters

St Petersburg region oil terminal hit in major Ukrainian drone attack
Reuters/04 July ,2026
Russia’s second city of St Petersburg and the surrounding region came under a major Ukrainian drone attack overnight on Saturday, with a local port and oil infrastructure hit, Russian and Ukrainian authorities said, as Kyiv’s drone strikes continue to deepen fuel shortages in Russia.
St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the city of 6 million had been subjected to a “large-scale” drone attack, with the city’s oil terminal struck. He said there were no casualties and that the aftermath of the attack had been dealt with.For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our dedicated page. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the surrounding Leningrad region, said a drone had struck the area of Vysotsk port, about 170 km (105 miles) northwest of St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea. The port handles oil, grain, coal and liquefied natural gas. Drozdenko said 72 drones had been shot down over the region, and there was minor damage in several settlements. He gave no information on the impact on Vysotsk port. In a post on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Ukraine’s defense forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia’s war, and also hit Kronstadt, an important military target more than 850 km (530 miles) from Ukraine’s state border.”There was no Russian confirmation of a strike on Kronstadt, a major naval base near St Petersburg that Ukraine also targeted in an earlier attack in June. Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure this year, inflicting major damage on refineries and causing gasoline shortages across the country’s 11 time zones. Russian state news agency TASS reported that President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law tax code amendments aimed at supporting the domestic fuel market, including tax incentives for producing high-octane fuel through blending.In the Leningrad region town of Gatchina on Friday, a Reuters witness saw long queues at fuel stations, with some outlets entirely out of fuel. One resident waiting in line, who gave his name as Gennadiy, told Reuters: “Standing in queues after work isn’t exactly fun.”“And then, in a couple of days, I’ll have to stand in queues again, because I’ll run out of gas again.”Elsewhere, the governor of Russia’s Bryansk region and the Russian-installed governor of Crimea said that drone strikes had killed one person in each region, with several more wounded.South of St Petersburg, the governor of Pskov region said more than 30 drones had been shot down overnight. He reported minor damage and injuries, including at a factory in the town of Velikiye Luki.

Mass protests in Germany as far-right AfD meets
Reuters.04 July ,2026
Thousands of opponents of Germany’s far-right AfD took to the streets of Erfurt on Saturday and blocked roads to the party’s annual conference ahead of regional elections that could see it take power at state level for the first time. Protesters from unions, civil society groups and left-wing parties gathered as large numbers of police, including reinforcements from across Germany, were deployed ahead of the AfD’s two-day annual conference. AfD stands for Alternative for Germany.Watched by police in riot gear, protesters sat in rows to block highways and roads leading to the convention center where the meeting is being held. Police estimated around 15,000 people joined demonstrations in and around the eastern city.“We want to make it clear that we simply won’t tolerate this, that fascism is on the rise here in Germany,” said Georg Becker, a spokesperson for Widersetzen (“Resist”), an anti-AfD umbrella group.
Leading in the polls
The conference, where co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla are expected to be re-elected, comes ahead of elections in the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern that the AfD hopes will help pave the way for success at national level. Formed more than a decade ago, the AfD has opened a clear lead in opinion polls over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives with a mix of nationalist rhetoric, calls for tougher immigration policies and appeals to voters frustrated with successive governments and years of economic stagnation. Opponents accuse the AfD of promoting racist policies and attitudes incompatible with Germany’s democratic values and say it would threaten the country’s constitutional order. Mainstream parties have ruled out any cooperation, under a so-called “firewall” strategy designed to isolate the party and keep it out of coalition governments.
AfD leaders deny opposing Germany’s democratic foundations and earlier this year won a court injunction ordering the domestic intelligence service to suspend a previous classification of the party as “extremist.” Recent polls put AfD support as high as 29 percent, compared with around 22 percent for Merz’s CDU/CSU conservatives. The party also made strong gains in two regional elections in western Germany earlier this year. Its strongest support, however, comes from the former communist east, where surveys show the highest levels of voter disillusionment with the traditional party system.
In Saxony-Anhalt, where the latest poll puts the AfD on 41 percent ahead of 23 percent for Merz’s Christian Democrats, the party is aiming for outright victory. It also has hopes of becoming the largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 04-05 July/2026
The Danger of Terrorism as an Opportunity
Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/July 4, 2026 (Googlr translation from Arabic)
Amidst the news and the diplomatic, political, and military back-and-forth between America and Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz—and what a strait it is!—the danger of terrorist groups is often overlooked, or deliberately ignored by some. Some mistakenly believe that this danger has disappeared or diminished because the media has largely turned a blind eye. About him.
However, regardless of the designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional affiliates as a terrorist group, the threat posed by ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their offshoots remains ever-present, active, and pervasive. Have you not heard of ISIS operations in Syria itself these days, under the new regime? And what about the presence of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their local counterparts deep within the African continent, in Mali, Nigeria, and elsewhere? Therefore, the need remains to act against this threat in every possible way, including through regional and international alliances. Recently, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), in partnership with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and in cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), organized a dialogue session entitled “Capacity Building in Low-Capacity, High-Risk Environments,” as part of the side events of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The Secretary-General of the IMCTC, Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi, stated in his address that the evolving threats associated with terrorist financing necessitate enhanced international cooperation to confront this transnational threat. It transcends borders. Yes, it is a danger that crosses not only geographical boundaries, but also cultural, intellectual, and social ones. The proof lies in finding an Arab with a terrorist group deep in Africa or the heart of Asia, a Frenchman fighting in the deserts of Iraq and Syria, or an Afghan from the Revolutionary Guard in the mountains of Yemen or the plains of Syria. This type of danger is not a passing summer cloud, but a persistent problem demanding continuous action, beginning and ending with the mind. This is not a cause for despair, but rather an incentive for creativity and a catalyst for determination, an opportunity for ongoing, non-seasonal awareness, and even an opportunity for artists to explore this complex landscape. In this regard, we recall Egyptian artistic masterpieces such as the series "The Family," the courageous films of Adel Imam, and many other compelling examples. The point is that confronting this danger can be an opportunity to sharpen the capabilities of security and intelligence personnel and enhance their skills, just as it is a beacon guiding artists and igniting their passion!

Iran's Regime: 'No Choice but to Build the Nuclear Bomb'
Dr.ajid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/July 54, 2026
Iran saw Trump's turn-around on permission to have ballistic missiles and... must have thought, "Why not nuclear weapons too?"
The goal seems to be to outlast the current US administration and then openly march toward nuclear bombs. One look at Libya and Ukraine, which gave up their nuclear weapons with catastrophic results, and then at North Korea, which did not, tells the regime everything it needs to know. A nuclear deterrent is the ultimate insurance for survival -- and expansion.
This critical moment is not helped by wishful thinking. Flawed agreements, or even ones that look firm, will simply wait until the US has turned its attention somewhere else.
Before a US administration that was resolute, the Iranian regime's days could be numbered.... Targeted military responses against renewed ballistic missile, nuclear, and proxy activities -- or members of the regime who are not helpful -- remain on the table. There are no shortcuts.
[T]he focus must be on finishing the job: unrelenting pressure and denying the regime any tools that might threaten the world. Anything less perpetuates an Iran openly bent on destruction.
Iran saw Trump's turn-around on permission to have ballistic missiles and must have thought, "Why not nuclear weapons too?" The goal seems to be to outlast the current US administration and then openly march toward nuclear bombs. Pictured: A Fattah ballistic missile is displayed during the annual military parade in Tehran, on September 22, 2023. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
The Islamic Republic of Iran has long mastered the art of deception, particularly when it comes to its nuclear program. Many times, it has been caught advancing its nuclear ambitions behind closed doors -- from covert enrichment facilities to undeclared sites -- only, when exposed, to delay, deflect and deny.
Now, the regime is not even hiding it.
Iran, like the rest of us, saw President Donald Trump foolishly change his mind from prohibiting Iran's regime from having ballistic missiles to permitting them -- supposedly to defend themselves in a neighborhood that has been relatively peaceful except for them. The Times of Israel reported Trump's decision:
"If other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some," Trump said. "If Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, I would say that in relative proportion, I think it's okay" for Iran to have ballistic missiles as well.
"Missiles aren't the problem... They hurt a little location, but they don't blow up the planet [like nuclear weapons do]," Trump said.
Ballistic missiles may not be able to "blow up the planet," but they do seem to have been the reason Trump declared a fatal premature ceasefire on April 8. Saudi Arabia and presumably other Arab Gulf States let it be known that they were not happy about being victims of them. Iran's missiles can now reach Europe. Soon they will undoubtedly have even longer ranges, to target America's east coast cities, and be even more precise. Just wait until they are tipped with nuclear warheads.
Iran saw Trump's turn-around on permission to have ballistic missiles and – largely using Trump's own logic, implied deterrence – must have thought, "Why not nuclear weapons too?"
After the recent Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with the United States that followed devastating blows from Israeli and US strikes, Iran's state media outlet Fars News published a striking commentary, titled along the lines of "No Choice but to Build the Nuclear Bomb." Such a statement does not appear in such an outlet without high-level approval. This marks a shift; the regime is openly declaring its intentions. Fars argued that Iran must achieve "nuclear deterrence" to negotiate from strength. It framed this as essential amid a changing world order. This is not rogue commentary. Fars reflects hardline thinking from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its publication underscores that the regime feels emboldened enough to voice what it has long pursued in the shadows.
The goal seems to be to outlast the current US administration and then openly march toward nuclear bombs. This is an ideological, fundamentalist regime founded on exporting revolution. The Islamic Republic's founding "Supreme Leader," Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, declared:
"We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry 'There is no god but Allah' resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle."
Iran's constitution enshrines the duty to spread this theocratic ideology. The regime views itself as a vanguard against perceived enemies, with ambitions that transcend borders invented by infidels. One look at Libya and Ukraine, which gave up their nuclear weapons with catastrophic results, and then at North Korea, which did not, tells the regime everything it needs to know. A nuclear deterrent is the ultimate insurance for survival -- and expansion.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, repeatedly struggling with Iran's restrictions on monitoring and inspection of nuclear sites, missed presumably most clandestine advances. Even after the strikes, and pledges in recent understandings to allow inspectors back, the regime has an ostentatious track record of using diplomacy as a cover to advance its nuclear weapons programs in secret while talking peace. Post-Trump, or after any perceived lapse in resolve, the path to weaponization will rapidly accelerate.
This critical moment is not helped by wishful thinking. Flawed agreements, or even ones that look firm, will simply wait until the US has turned its attention somewhere else.
So long as Iran's ruthless IRGC military regime is in place, there will not be real compliance or real peace. First, the current regime needs to be weakened even further. The US and Israel may have levelled several of the "top layers" but there are apparently many more to go.
The regime cannot sustain indefinite pressure on multiple fronts — economic collapse, internal unrest, and external isolation — while pursuing grand ideological goals. Before a US administration that was resolute, the Iranian regime's days could be numbered. Giving it oxygen now risks a nuclear-armed Iran emboldened to pursue domination, and threatening Israel, Gulf states and the United States. Targeted military responses against renewed ballistic missile, nuclear, and proxy activities -- or members of the regime who are not helpful -- remain on the table. There are no shortcuts.
For the sake of the Iranian people and international stability, the focus must be on finishing the job: unrelenting pressure and denying the regime any tools that might threaten the world. Anything less perpetuates an Iran openly bent on destruction.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on the US foreign policy. He can be reached at *dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
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Where is the State Regarding the Alteration of Geography in Lebanese Regions?
Colobel Charbel Brakat/July 05/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155640/
There has been much talk lately about the military trenches dug under entire villages in southern Lebanon, and perhaps in other regions of the country as well. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hezbollah was digging tunnels near the Israeli border right under the eyes of the UN forces and the Lebanese Army, many were outraged. In fact, the late Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah even used these statements as material to mock the Israelis in one of his television interviews, using the word "Al-Shakoush" (the hammer) and the sound of its ticking to strike fear into the hearts of Israelis.
However, the ongoing war in the South today has shown that the Israelis knew exactly what they were talking about. Entire villages like Ayta al-Shab and others—referred to as the "border-edge villages"—and towns like Al-Khiam and Bint Jbeil have been destroyed due to the existence of tunnels stretching across the length and breadth of these towns and villages beneath the houses. These tunnels were equipped with corridors, ventilation, weapons depots, rest areas, medical aid, and multiple entrances and exits.
We are not revealing any secrets here by speaking about the tunnels of Wadi al-Salouqi, Al-Qantara, Wadi al-Hujair, Zibqin, and Majdal Zoun, nor those of Kfar Tibnit, the Beaufort Castle (Qal'at al-Shaqif), and especially the Nabi Tahir hill. We do not even wish to discuss what connects them to the inside of the city of Nabatieh, which has not been made public yet. We will not detail the trenches and underground cities in Mount Rayhan reaching the villages overlooking Iqlim al-Tuffah, or what connects them to the Beqaa region in Machghara. Nor will we detail what might have been constructed in the mountainous heights from Jezzine to Yammouneh, passing through strategic peaks like the heights of Sannine, Oyoun al-Simaan, and the Laklouk highlands, reaching all the way to Dinniyeh and Hermel, let alone what exists in the Eastern Lebanon Mountain Range.
However, the talk about these trenches also applies to the entirety of the Southern Suburbs (Dahiya) and the capital, Beirut, reaching certain neighborhoods like Al-Basta. This does not exclude Beirut International Airport, where these tunnels could pass beneath it toward Ouzai, with private exits inside the airport premises itself, where certain special shipments brought in by air used to pass—and still do—without the knowledge of the airport’s own security agencies.
Structural Repercussions and the Absence of State Oversight
These drilling operations, though they undoubtedly affected the infrastructure in southern villages, did not destabilize their foundations due to the relative absence of high-rise buildings. This was not the case in Amrousiya and Al-Basta, where three buildings collapsed, and it is believed their foundations gave way because of the excavation work carried out underneath them. Yet, no investigation was issued by the authorities regarding the matter. However, the day the story of the Party’s control over the state and its institutions ends, many stories and numerous problems will surface regarding the unregulated drilling operations across Lebanese regions in general.
Last week, when the Israeli army detonated a tunnel under the houses of Majdal Zoun village, an entire hill vanished from existence. The explosion caused massive cracking in the houses that still stand around the town. Even though its residents have not yet returned, the village was a center for a large UN forces base, under which the Iranian Party had dug trenches. If the internationals did not know about these actions, it is a disaster; and if they knew and did nothing, the disaster is even greater. To whom can a citizen turn to protect their home, livelihood, and the future of their children if even the United Nations group is unable to protect its own bases from drilling and destruction?
The Future Duties of the Lebanese State
The Lebanese State—after the danger of the Party is eliminated and its leaders are apprehended and imprisoned for the ruin and destruction they ordered, and not just for the killings, assassinations, and sabotage they committed, and after completing the process of weapons collection, securing control, and establishing stability—faces many tasks.
Not the least of these tasks is uncovering the full blueprints of the terrorist group known as "Hezbollah" and working to remove the explosives depots it amassed. Crucially, the state must also verify all drilling projects across the entirety of Lebanese territory and ensure their structural integrity. Some of these tunnels might be useful in the future as tourist attractions or specialized centers for certain types of products that can be utilized, provided that all engineering aspects are inspected to ensure they pose no danger to the buildings or urban projects above ground.
Conclusion: The destructive project led by Iran in Lebanon has not been carried out by any fighting organization around the world. Hence, it must be studied thoroughly, lessons must be drawn, and no group must be allowed in the future, under any pretext, to carry out destructive projects that impact citizens for generations and long years to come.
Lebanon will rise from its ordeal. The misled citizens must begin self-criticism for promoting the claims and clowning of this Hezbollah, which tied the fate of a large segment of Lebanese to Iran, paralyzed intellect and critical thinking among the Lebanese, and suppressed the freedom of expression that characterized them for long years. Consequently, they blindly led themselves to destroy their own homes and kill their children for no result and no reason, growing accustomed to blaming others while waiting for rewards from the group of destruction, which never hesitated, time and again, to oppress them and lead them to their doom.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on 04 July