English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For July 18/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.july18.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him,
‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’But he said,
‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!
Saint Luke 11/27-32: “A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said
to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’But
he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’When
the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil
generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign
of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son
of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the
judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came
from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see,
something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at
the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on 17-18 July/2026
They falsely claim to be Christians for Lebanon while they are
practically Christians for the Mullahs’ Iran and Hezbollah/Elias Bejjani/July
15/2026
Israeli violations in Lebanon: Latest developments
Virtual Lebanese-Israeli-US meeting postponed to prepare files
Lebanese army arrests suspects, seizes weapons and drugs in Baalbek raids
First UAE humanitarian aid convoy reaches Lebanon with 29 trucks
German FM proposes deploying EU force to replace UNIFIL
South Lebanon’s pilot zones: Between military arrangements and hopes for
stability
EU, Lebanon strengthen partnership in transportation, energy, environment and
water
Bodies recovered from Mansouri; search operation surrounds residents of Haris
Arnaud and Lacroix Brief the Security Council on the Implementation of
Resolution 1701
Beyond UNIFIL: Europe Proposes an Alternative in the South
British Government Designates Revolutionary Guard a “National Security Threat,”
Punishes Collaborators with Up to 14 Years in Prison
Former PM Barak fears a repeat of Israel's Lebanon quagmire
A weapons shipment, five interests: The Syria-Iraq-Hezbollah file at the heart
of a Turkish-Israeli rivalry
Geagea questions Hezbollah's fighting capacity as Lebanon pursues Israel talks
Fayyad says Lebanese leadership has 'abandoned its people'
Fuel prices rise in Lebanon
Video link & text for a political interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni on
Lebanon’s “Grey State” Status, the Significance of the Framework Agreement,
Aoun’s White House Visit, the U.S. Role, Israeli Resolve, and the Dangers of
Hezbollah’s Coup Project
Syria intercepts advanced weapons bound for Hezbollah from Iraq/Ahmad
Sharawi/FDD's Long War Journal/July 17/2026
Lebanon Seeks Turkey’s Help To Avoid Acting Against Hezbollah/David
Daoud/FDD-Policy Brief/July 17/2026
Iraq sanctions individuals and entities tied to Lebanese Hezbollah/David
Daoud/FDD's Long War Journal/July 17/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on 17-18 July/2026
US strikes bridges, collapses tower at key port as its Iran campaign expands
Iran attacks Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Qatar
Hopes for US-Iran diplomacy still alive as fighting intensifies over Hormuz
US military says it destroyed Iranian port surveillance tower
US hails agreement between Baghdad and Damascus to restore Iraq-Syria oil
pipeline
US military launches strikes against Iran for a seventh night in a row
Iran warns of 'full-scale offensive' if US strikes continue
Western oil companies see ‘fantastic’ future in Iraq, sign agreements
Israeli strikes kill Palestinians attending Gaza funeral for earlier strike
victim
New Labour leader Burnham vows to renew hope as next UK PM
Ukraine says it struck Russian oil refinery, two tankers
Danish police officer and two others shot, including suspected perpetrator,
reports say
Trump blames Canada for smoke pollution from wildfires
EU reiterates its call on Israel to refrain from more expansion of settlements
Pakistani troops kill 24 militants as violence escalates in region near
Afghanistan
ConocoPhillips takes 42 pct stake in BP Iraq venture
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published
on 17-18 July/2026
All Christians Must Die-The Extremist Persecution of Christians During
April 2026/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/July 17, 2026
Why Hormuz matters far beyond the current conflict/Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya
English/17 July ,2026
Question: What is the meaning of “where two or three are gathered” in Matthew
18:20/GotQuestions.org//July 17, 2026
Video-Link & full text for an important English interview with Israeli President
from Alarabiya-English Channel: My dream is to drive to Beirut/Not Surprised’
Iran-US Deal Fraying, Believe in ‘Diplomatic Solution‘/July 17/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 17 July
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 17-18 July/2026
They falsely claim to be Christians for Lebanon while they are
practically Christians for the Mullahs’ Iran and Hezbollah
Elias Bejjani/July 15/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155944/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epzG5HwKp3k&t=118s
The meeting held at the “Saydet al-Bir” monastery under the title “Christians
for Lebanon” raises deep questions and doubts regarding the identity of the
organizing body, its legal status, and the names of its founders and those
responsible for it, as there is no clear or public information available
regarding any of these. As for the statement issued by the meeting (found at the
bottom of the page), particularly the parts regarding considering Israel an
enemy and an existential threat and regarding “resistance” as a sacred right of
peoples, these are blatant political heresies. The participants in the meeting
do not necessarily represent the entities and institutions to which they belong,
noting that some figures whose names were listed in the statement as attendees
or supporters were quick to deny their responsibility for the statement and its
entire content.
Mysterious Identity and Unanswered Questions
When I attempted to search for and verify information regarding this
group—especially since its name was not familiar to the majority of the Lebanese
people before the issuance of its “un-Lebanese” and “un-Christian” statement,
which is hostile to peace—a set of fundamental questions arose for which I found
no answer:
Who are the founders of the “Christians for Lebanon” group?
Is this group officially registered with the relevant authorities?
Does it possess a license (“Ilm wa Khabar”) from the Ministry of Interior and
Municipalities?
Who are the members of its administrative or executive body?
Who is its president or secretary-general?
Who is in charge of its media and organizational affairs?
According to the available data, no clear statements answering these questions
have appeared, nor did the text of the statement itself contain any official
definition of the group or its organizational structure.
Content of the Statement: A Blatant Intersection with the “Resistance Axis”
The political content of the statement reflects total bias toward the Iranian
Mullahs, Hezbollah, and all terrorist groups, which is clearly evident in the
following points:
Considering Israel an enemy and an absolute existential threat.
Considering “resistance” (in its militia concept) a sacred right of peoples.
Rejecting what is called the “Abrahamic Project.”
Emphasizing Lebanon’s religious and pluralistic identity in a fragmented way to
serve a specific agenda, ignoring the danger of the religious identity that
Hezbollah has sought to impose on the Lebanese by force of arms.
These positions intersect completely and blatantly with the political discourse
supporting the “Iranian terrorist resistance axis” and its local arm represented
by “Hezbollah” (Iran’s destructive army in Lebanon).
Questions Regarding the “Saydet al-Bir” Monastery and the Exploitation of Names
A question directed to the ecclesiastical authorities: What entity permitted
this meeting to be held at the “Saydet al-Bir” monastery, which is a monastery
belonging to the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross founded by Saint
Yaacoub Haddad (Father Yaacoub the Capuchin)? Does hosting the meeting
necessarily mean that the monastery or the order adopts its content and
political positions?
There is no doubt that some entities and figures associated with the
participants, or whose names were mentioned in the report, were quick to clarify
later that they are not responsible for the statement and do not adopt its
content. Here we ask the fundamental question: Who is the actual hidden party
that drafted the statement and issued it in the name of this hybrid meeting?
Conclusion: Hiding Behind Christianity to Justify Terrorism
It remains to be said that the content, approach, and objectives of this
statement do not serve the interest of Lebanon or the Lebanese, nor do they fall
within the scope of striving for peace, stability, and the restoration of the
state and sovereignty. Rather, the statement brazenly expresses support for
“Hezbollah” and justifies its military, security, and terrorist role, which is
totally contradictory to the concept of the state.
As for hiding behind Christianity, this is a behavior that fundamentally
contradicts true Christian faith. Christianity is based primarily on the values
of love, peace, reconciliation, and justice, not on the discourse of axes,
conflict, division, and the justification of wars, killing, and destruction for
the benefit of foreign agendas.
The fundamental problem with this meeting is not only related to the content of
its suspicious statement, which is hostile to peace and everything that is
Lebanese, but also to the legitimate doubts and many questions surrounding the
authority and motives of the party that called for it, in light of the complete
absence of any transparency or legal and organizational existence for it.
Israeli violations in Lebanon: Latest developments
Naharnet/July 17/2026
Israeli occupying forces opened machine gun fire overnight, trapping a number of
residents in the southern town of Harees, who appealed to the Lebanese Army to
evacuate them. Meanwhile, enemy drones carried out
airstrikes last night targeting the southern town of Mansouri, killing several
people, whose bodied were recovered on Friday. Israeli forces also fired
artillery shells at the outskirts of Haddatha, Baraashit and Houla, as an
Israeli drone attacked the entrance of the town of Maifadoun, near Shoukine.
Fires broke out meanwhile in wheat fields located outside the town of Qlayaa,
east of Burj al-Mulouk, after the Israeli army conducted large-scale machine gun
combing that lasted for more than half an hour. This was followed by the
dropping of incendiary bombs from a drone, which ignited the agricultural lands.
Lebanese Civil Defense teams from the Qlayaa center, supported by army units,
immediately went to the site of the fire, where they are working to extinguish
it and prevent its spread to neighboring fields.
Virtual Lebanese-Israeli-US meeting postponed to prepare files
Naharnet/July 17/2026
An electronic Lebanese-Israeli-U.S. meeting scheduled for Friday has been
postponed with the aim of preparing the necessary files, LBCI television
reported on Friday. The meeting was supposed to put
the final touches on the results of the Rome meeting regarding the
technicalities related to the so-called pilot zones. Lebanon and Israel
concluded two days of talks in Rome on Wednesday, with a U.S. State Department
official describing the discussions as “productive and positive.”"Talks
concluded after two days of productive and positive discussions," a U.S.
official said, adding that the participants "agreed on the structure and
guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the
coming days."The U.S. official said they will now "move to expanded technical
talks, which will focus on implementing all areas of the Trilateral Framework
with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."
The U.S.-brokered negotiations took place in the Italian capital over the
framework agreement sealed last month after five rounds of talks in Washington,
with Lebanese negotiators hoping for progress on an Israeli withdrawal from
southern Lebanon. The deal seeks an end to the state
of war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, disarmament of the Iran-backed
militant group, the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south and for Israeli
forces to steadily withdraw from the country, starting with two "pilot zones".
But the agreement, rejected by Hezbollah, does not set a timetable for Israel's
withdrawal. Israeli officials have also vowed that their forces will remain in a
"security zone" 10 kilometers deep along the frontier for as long as Hezbollah
remains armed. On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country
was "ready to move forward implementing these two pilot zones". A Lebanese
military source meanwhile told AFP that the Lebanese army has begun intensifying
patrols in several villages adjacent to areas occupied by Israeli forces in
southern Lebanon, including Froun in the Bint Jbeil district, in preparation for
implementing the pilot zones provision.
Lebanese army arrests suspects, seizes weapons and drugs in
Baalbek raids
LBCI/July 17/2026
A Lebanese army unit carried out raids on the homes of wanted individuals and
arrested citizen (H.M.) in Haour Taala, Baalbek, for allegedly opening fire with
others on an army patrol on Feb. 16, 2023, killing three soldiers. The army said
it seized military ammunition, a quantity of drugs, and counterfeit currency in
his possession. It also arrested citizens (M.M.), (Q.A.), and (H.A.) in Haour
Taala for driving illegal vehicles, seizing a handgun and a quantity of drugs
from their possession. In addition, a Syrian national identified as (Y.M.) was
arrested in Sharawneh, Baalbek, for moving within Lebanese territory without
legal documents. Weapons, military ammunition, drugs, and raw materials used in
their manufacture were found in his possession. The seized items were handed
over to the relevant authorities, and investigations with the detainees were
launched under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
First UAE humanitarian aid convoy reaches Lebanon with 29
trucks
LBCI/July 17/2026
The Higher Relief Commission announced the arrival of the first shipment of
humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates for people affected by the
conflict. The convoy, provided through the UAE Aid Agency under the directives
of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, consists of 29 trucks that
entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing. The UAE Aid Agency said the
assistance includes food and other essential supplies delivered in coordination
with Lebanon’s Higher Relief Commission to help meet urgent humanitarian needs
and support early recovery efforts. Lebanon’s ambassador to the UAE, Tarek
Hassan Mneimneh, thanked the Emirati leadership, government and people for their
continued support of Lebanon and its people during difficult times. Higher
Relief Commission Secretary-General Brig. Gen. Bassam Al-Nabulsi thanked the UAE
for launching the humanitarian aid convoys, describing them as a reflection of
the strong ties between the two countries and of the UAE's longstanding support
for Lebanon during times of crisis.
Related Articles
German FM proposes deploying EU force to replace UNIFIL
Naharnet/July 17/2026
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul has proposed deploying a European
Union force in Lebanon to replace the U.N. peacekeeping mission whose mandate is
soon to expire, in order to prevent a security vacuum. In an interview published
Friday by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, he said, "We in the EU should consider
whether we can guarantee that there will be no security vacuum with a European
mandate following the UNIFIL mission."Wadephul said that Lebanon, with a stable
government, represents "one of the most promising developments in the region at
the moment."
The German minister said that a force with an EU mandate could "create the
conditions for an Israeli army withdrawal without Hezbollah's return."UNIFIL's
mandate expires on December 31, 2026. The German parliament extended the
country's participation in the mission for the last time just a few weeks ago.
South Lebanon’s pilot zones: Between military arrangements and hopes for
stability
LBCI/July 17/2026
Cars pass along this road near Srifa, residents move in and out, and Lebanese
army patrols are deployed at intersections. But what is happening here goes
beyond routine security measures. The area lies at the center of discussions
over what are known as “pilot zones.” The Lebanese-Israeli agreement is based on
two pilot zones. In the first, the Lebanese army would maintain control over
areas where it is already deployed south of the Litani River. The initial pilot
area includes the villages of Froun, Ghandouriyeh, Srifa, Qalaouiyeh, and Borj
Qalaouiye, where weapons would be cleared. In the second zone, the Israeli
military would withdraw from villages it occupies, beginning with Zawtar
el-Gharbiyeh, allowing the Lebanese army to redeploy there.The scene reflects
the role that the Lebanese state says it is prepared to assume if these
understandings move from paper to full implementation. However, the path forward
remains complicated. Lebanon is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from areas
that remain occupied before expanding any further steps, while Israel is linking
any withdrawal to security guarantees and assurances that there will be no armed
presence outside state control. Amid these two positions, technical and military
meetings continue, while discussions over the “pilot zones” intensify. Israel
views them as a test of the Lebanese state’s ability to fully assert its
authority in the south. For residents of these villages, however, the situation
is different. They are not waiting for a new name for a political plan or
another round of negotiations abroad. They want this fragile calm to become
lasting stability and for the military checkpoints seen today to become a symbol
of the state embracing its people, rather than a reminder that the border
remains vulnerable to every new escalation or round of negotiations.
EU, Lebanon strengthen partnership in transportation,
energy, environment and water
Naharnet/July 17/2026
The European Union and Lebanon held Thursday a 4th meeting of a Sub-Committee on
Transport, Energy, Environment and Water, the EU delegation to Lebanon said.
"The meeting builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation in key sectors,
which the EU has significantly supported in recent years, amid current
challenges," the European delegation said. The agenda
centered around updates on EU transport policies and their implications for
Lebanon, including discussions on the new EU Maritime Strategy and Ports
Strategy. The parties reviewed recent developments in Lebanon’s civil aviation,
maritime transport, and land transport infrastructure, emphasizing the need for
robust reforms to improve efficiency and safety. The energy sector discussions
underscored the importance of enhancing Lebanon's institutional energy
framework, particularly following the establishment of the Electricity
Regulatory Authority. The dialogue explored EU support for Lebanon’s energy
transition and efforts to increase renewable energy production and reinforce
regional connectivity. The meeting addressed cooperation in the field of
environment, emphasizing solid waste management reforms and initiatives aimed at
biodiversity conservation. Both sides expressed their commitment to
strengthening sustainable resource management and environmental protection. In
the water and wastewater sector, the EU and Lebanon assessed the implementation
of the Water Sector Recovery Plan, and Lebanon’s progress toward sustainable and
resilient water management systems, while acknowledging that implementing a
progressive tariff revision and increasing subscription and collection rates are
critical for strengthening the financial performance of the Water
Establishments. The discussion also addressed the ongoing climate challenges
impacting various sectors in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for innovative
solutions and reforms, particularly in environmental protection, energy, and
water. The meeting took place within the framework of the EU–Lebanon Association
Agreement and following the EU–Lebanon Association Council held in December
2025. It was co-chaired by Ambassador Mila Jabbour from the Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister of Lebanon and Mr. Alessio Cappellani, Head of Division for
Jordan, Lebanon and Syria at the European External Action Service. Both parties
reaffirmed their dedication to deepening cooperation and working towards
alignment with European strategies to tackle shared challenges effectively. In
light of the recent conflict, the European Union reaffirmed its solidarity with
Lebanon and its people, and its commitment to advancing reforms and
strengthening institutional capacities across these sectors.
Bodies recovered from Mansouri; search operation surrounds residents of Haris
Al-Markaziya/July 17, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
Rescue teams from the Islamic Scout Association - Civil Defense recovered the
bodies of victims from the site of the airstrike that targeted the town of
Mansouri - Al-Mashaa neighborhood - at midnight last night. Israeli forces also
demolished a number of houses in the city of Bint Jbeil. Artillery shelling
targeted "Jal Shahab" below Ali Al-Taher Hill. Additionally, Israeli forces
launched two drone strikes this morning on the towns of Mayfadoun and Shoukin. A
search operation conducted by Israeli forces last night surrounded a number of
residents of the town of Haris, who appealed to the army to evacuate them. Three
Israeli drone strikes also targeted the Naqoura road. The Israeli army launched
an airstrike on the town of Mansouri and another on Naqoura, resulting in the
injury of a Syrian worker. This morning, the Israeli army carried out a large
explosion in the town of Haddatha - on the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal. He also
carried out search operations in the ho
Arnaud and Lacroix Brief the Security Council on the
Implementation of Resolution 1701
NNA/July 17, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Yesterday, Mr. Jean Arnaud, Acting Head of the Office of the UN Special
Coordinator for Lebanon, along with Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on the implementation of
Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Following the escalation of hostilities
between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 and the continued Israeli presence and
military activities on Lebanese territory, Mr. Arnaud noted the widespread
destruction and displacement, the magnitude of the humanitarian needs, and the
looming challenges to recovery. He urged the international community to assist
in addressing these challenges. Mr. Arnaud also noted the latest developments in
diplomatic efforts, including the tripartite framework agreed upon by Lebanon,
Israel, and the United States on June 26. He reaffirmed the UN’s support for
initiatives aimed at reducing tensions and assisting the parties in reaching
arrangements that would end decades of conflict. He also stressed the importance
of continued international engagement and ensuring that these efforts have broad
national ownership. Mr. Arnault highlighted the efforts of the Lebanese
authorities to extend and strengthen state authority throughout Lebanese
territory, noting that this must be a comprehensive effort involving all sectors
of the state, and that its success depends on the state's ability to provide
security and services to the population. He added that the Lebanese Armed
Forces, as the national institution enjoying widespread trust, will be a
cornerstone of this process. In light of the uncertainty following the recent
hostilities, the accompanying regional instability, and concerns about the
situation in southern Lebanon in the post-UNIFIL era, Mr. Arnault stressed the
United Nations' commitment to supporting the implementation of Resolution 1701
and to continuing its support for Lebanon's security, stability, territorial
integrity, and recovery.
Beyond UNIFIL: Europe Proposes an Alternative in the South
Al-Markazia/July 17, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul proposed sending a European Union
mission to replace the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after
its mandate expires. This comes as Israeli reports revealed a parallel proposal
to deploy European forces in southern Lebanon to oversee the implementation of
security arrangements. According to statements carried by the German newspaper
network "Deutschland," Wadephul called for exploring a European mandate to
prevent a security vacuum after UNIFIL's mission ends, arguing that this could
pave the way for an Israeli army withdrawal "without Hezbollah's return" to the
border areas. The German minister explained that the stability of the Lebanese
government represents an opportunity that should be supported, noting that the
European Union is required to play a greater role in maintaining the security
and political process in the country. The German proposal comes in conjunction
with a report published by the Israeli website "Ynet," which revealed ongoing
discussions involving what was described as the "Italian initiative," which
calls for the deployment of Italian forces in southern Lebanon to oversee
disarmament and prevent the return of Hezbollah elements to the region, instead
of UNIFIL forces.
British Government Designates Revolutionary Guard a
“National Security Threat,” Punishes Collaborators with Up to 14 Years in Prison
Janoubia/July 17, 2026 (Google
translation from Arabic)
In a significant strategic shift reflecting the depth of escalating tensions
between Western capitals and Tehran, the British government officially
designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a group posing a
direct threat to the country's national security. This announcement followed the
British Parliament's approval of an urgent executive order submitted by the Home
Secretary, thus shifting the British approach to Iranian activities from
diplomatic engagement to strict criminal prosecution. Legal Framework of the
Decision: Criminalizing Support and Prosecution
Under the strict new laws that came into effect immediately upon parliamentary
approval, this designation entails a range of legal and criminal measures
affecting individuals and institutions within British territory:
Prohibition of Expressions: Expressing support for the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard Corps in any form is considered a criminal offense and is subject to legal
prosecution. This includes glorifying, encouraging, or promoting its activities
in public spaces or on digital platforms.
Criminalizing Financial and Logistical Support: Assisting the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or accepting or receiving any material or
in-kind benefit from it, such as receiving funds, donations, or facilitation, is
now a crime severely punished under British law.
Severe Penalties: Those convicted under this decision face deterrent criminal
penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment, in addition to the confiscation of
assets and funds associated with these activities.
Implications of the Decision: What does this "designation" mean scientifically
and politically?
This decision represents a shift from traditional economic sanctions lists to
counter-terrorism and national security laws. Its significance lies in several
dimensions:
Banning Activities on British Soil: The decision grants British security and
intelligence agencies broad powers to pursue and dismantle any networks
affiliated with or operating on behalf of the IRGC within the United
Kingdom.Legal Cover for Arrest and Confiscation: The law allows British police
to arrest suspects without lengthy warrants if their connection to or support
for this entity is proven, with the possibility of freezing bank accounts and
confiscating assets immediately. Developments and Background: Why did London
make this decision now? The British government's move was driven by a series of
crucial developments on the ground and in the political arena, both
internationally and domestically:
Regional military escalation in the Gulf: The decision coincides with the
military confrontation between the United States and Iran entering an advanced
stage of mutual shelling, targeting of American bases in the region, and threats
to international maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of
Aden, which London views as a direct threat to its vital interests. Intelligence
reports on "domestic threats": British security agencies (such as MI5) have
previously announced the detection of systematic attempts and plots by elements
linked to Tehran to target, kidnap, or assassinate opposition figures and
journalists residing in the United Kingdom. Alignment with Western allies: This
decision places London in complete harmony with the American position, which has
designated the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, and increases
political pressure on the European Union to take a similar step in the near
future.
Former PM Barak fears a repeat of Israel's Lebanon
quagmire
Associated Press/July 17/2026
It was just before sunrise when the last columns of Israeli tanks crossed from
Lebanon back into Israel and then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who ordered the
withdrawal, said the homecoming of Israeli troops sent "shivers down his
spine."That was May 24, 2000, the day Israel ended its 18-year occupation of
southern Lebanon. By then, many Israelis had grown to view the invasion —
initially aimed at ousting Palestinian militants — as a strategic failure, akin
to the U.S. military quagmire in Vietnam. Now, 26 years later, Israel is again
occupying much of southern Lebanon, and while polling shows that a majority of
Israelis currently support an extended military presence in Lebanon, some,
including Barak, who remember the pitfalls of the last occupation, are afraid
that Israel is falling into the same trap. "Our very presence will become the
only goal," Barak said in a recent interview, recounting what he said he thought
of the occupation in 1985, when he was a general in the Israeli military, and
Israel was shifting from active fighting to long-term deployment in Lebanon.
"We will protect our fortresses, we will protect our convoys of supply,
the logistics, the patrols, everything," he said he warned. "But we were not
serving Israeli security, we were not serving the state. There was no logic to
this in 1985, and there was no logic in 2000, when we pulled out."
An open-ended occupation
Israel again invaded Lebanon in March and now controls more than 600 square
kilometers of territory. It began the operation after Hezbollah launched a wave
of drone and missile attacks in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and
15 months of Israeli violations to a ceasefire reached in November 2024 with
Lebanon. Last month, Israel signed a framework agreement with the Lebanese
government to use at least two areas in southern Lebanon as "pilot zones" for
removing Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure and handing over security to
Lebanon's army. Israel would then redeploy or withdraw its forces from those
areas. Hezbollah was not part of the agreement and has vowed to oppose it. In
the meantime, Israeli officials have vowed to keep troops inside a broader
"security zone" in Lebanon as long as Hezbollah retains its weapons. After the
Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that sparked the war in Gaza, Israel has
maintained smaller "security zones" in Gaza and Syria, which it says are needed
to prevent future attacks by militants. "We didn't ask anyone's permission to
enter Lebanon, and we don't need anyone's permission to stay in Lebanon,"
Defense Minister Israel Katz said recently, calling it Israel's "right and our
duty" to protect residents in northern border towns.
A former prime minister warns of similar pitfalls
Barak, who served as Israel's military chief before coming prime minister, still
considers the pullout one of his proudest achievements. As a general, he recalls
visiting soldiers stationed in Lebanon in the early 1980s. He said they told
him, "We are fighting to remove the threat from Hezbollah so that our children
will be safe and won't have to serve here." But when Barak ordered the
withdrawal nearly two decades later, he said some of the children of those same
soldiers were serving in Lebanon. Israel's
self-declared security zone inside Lebanon did not deliver for Israelis during
the previous occupation, and it is unlikely the new zone will either, Barak
said. Even in the 1990s, rudimentary Katyusha rockets launched by Hezbollah
could easily bypass it and hit northern Israel. "In
order to destroy, totally destroy Hezbollah, you'd have to conquer the whole of
Lebanon," Barak said, something most Israelis consider to be impractical. But
even Israel's presence in the south, and the widespread destruction of villages
there, runs the risk of rallying Lebanese support for Hezbollah, he said. Israel
says the group embeds fighters and weapons in these border towns, but Israeli
operations since March had displaced around 1 million Lebanese. About 40% of
them have since returned home, according to the Lebanese government. More than
4,300 people have been killed since hostilities began on March 2. Nearly 40
Israeli soldiers have also died, as well as a defense contractor and two
civilians in northern Israel.
Same place, different war
Hezbollah was founded in 1982, as a response to the Israeli occupation, and
fought a deadly guerrilla war that included high-profile suicide bombings and
assassinations, roadside bombs and ambushes. Israel
carried out bombing campaigns and airstrikes against the militant groups. It
also helped establish a local proxy force, a mostly-Christian militia known as
the South Lebanon Army that carried out patrols and provided a buffer between
Israeli troops and Hezbollah. Thousands of SLA fighters and their families fled
to Israel following the withdrawal.But the type of warfare between the two sides
has also changed. Israel is now operating without a local proxy, instead relying
on monitoring and strikes either by air or from vantage points on ridges and
hilltops. And Hezbollah, which once relied on insurgent tactics, now uses
high-precision missiles and drones, including fiber-optic drones that are hard
to defend against and have caused Israeli casualties.
Unique diplomatic opportunity could shift balance
One key difference from 2000 is the possibility of a diplomatic solution with
Lebanon, said Orna Mizrahi, former deputy director of Israel's National Security
Council. Israel has an opportunity in Lebanese
President Joseph Aoun, Mizrahi said. Since he was elected last year, he has
publicly condemned Hezbollah and expressed readiness to negotiate a permanent
ceasefire with Israel. "The military operation needs to complement a diplomatic
process," said Mizrahi, now a senior researcher at the Institute for National
Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. Although
Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to disarm, it has been severely weakened by wars
with Israel, she said, adding that its main sponsor, Iran, is also busy
weathering U.S. strikes and battling for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Mizrahi said this has created an opportunity for a new balance of power inside
Lebanon, by strengthening the Lebanese government and military. Israel will
never destroy Hezbollah completely, she said. But while the group is scrambling
to reorganize, Israel can work with international powers to empower Lebanon to
confront it, she added.
4 mothers against the war
By the time Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, the occupation had become
deeply unpopular, in large part because of the more than 1,200 Israeli soldiers
killed in operations. In 1997, four mothers of
soldiers serving in Lebanon founded a grassroots movement advocating for
withdrawal. Brurya Sharon, now 84, one of the founding members, recalls sending
both of her sons off to fight in Lebanon. At the time, she said she felt like
Israel's government and military were maintaining the occupation out of inertia,
without stopping to consider if it was effective. The
"Four Mothers" movement has been widely cited as a major factor in Israel's
withdrawal in 2000. They tried to steer clear of politics, instead focusing on
the soldiers' lives, a bipartisan issue, Sharon said.But now, the country is so
divided, especially after the Oct. 7 attack, that Sharon says she sees no option
for a broad-based public movement to pressure Israel to withdraw.
Israelis are also concerned about leaving the country's borders
vulnerable. Currently, more than seven in 10 Israelis support a permanent
security presence in southern Lebanon, according to a recent poll by the think
tank Israel Democracy Institute. "I don't see a sunbeam of hope, I don't even
see a speck of light," Sharon said.
A weapons shipment, five interests: The
Syria-Iraq-Hezbollah file at the heart of a Turkish-Israeli rivalry
LBCI/July 17/2026
At the NATO summit in Turkey, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump also
held talks in Washington with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who announced
that all weapons would be placed under the exclusive authority of the Iraqi
state. Israel is closely monitoring these developments.
Against this backdrop, Damascus announces that it has intercepted a
shipment of weapons that was being smuggled from Iraq to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The weapons were concealed inside a tanker truck and seized at the Iraqi-Syrian
border on July 7. However, the seizure was not announced until July 16. Why the
delay? The story goes beyond a routine border interception. The incident reveals
a broader web of overlapping interests, centered on the increasingly intense
rivalry between Turkey and Israel in Syria. Damascus is trying to demonstrate to
Washington that it is a reliable security partner. Announcing the seizure at
this particular moment directly reinforces that message. Another key factor
shaping the issue is the relationship between Ankara and Tel Aviv, which has
deteriorated to its lowest point in years as the two countries compete for
influence in Syria.
Why does this matter for Hezbollah?
Turkey, the main backer of al-Sharaa's government, has an interest in portraying
Syria as a state capable of controlling its borders and preventing the flow of
weapons, not only to reassure Washington, but also to signal to Israel that it
is a credible security partner rather than a lawless territory that could be
used to justify military intervention and expansion.
In other words, the interception of the weapons shipment may have been intended
as a dual message to both Washington and Israel. As for Iraq, it also wants to
demonstrate, above all to Washington, that state institutions, not armed
factions, are driving policy. The Iraqi government wants to show that stability
and state-building depend on the authority of the state rather than militias,
and that the key to Iraq's political, economic, and financial recovery lies with
the United States. In short, the seizure of the weapons shipment near al-Tanf
represents the convergence of five overlapping interests: Syria seeks
international legitimacy, Iraq wants to avoid political embarrassment, Turkey
aims to reinforce its role as a guarantor of stability in the face of Israel,
Washington seeks to further disrupt Hezbollah's logistical supply routes, and
Israel is closely monitoring Turkey's expanding influence in Syria as a
potential long-term strategic threat.
Geagea questions Hezbollah's fighting capacity as
Lebanon pursues Israel talks
Naharnet/July 17/2026
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the two-decade-long campaign to
restrict weapons solely to state authorities and bolster national sovereignty
has yielded significant milestones.
In an interview published Friday in the Saudi daily Okaz, Geagea lauded the
Lebanese Cabinet, arguing that its participation in direct negotiations with
Israel in Washington is a primary indicator of change and a proof that Hezbollah
has been defeated. "Despite Hezbollah's opposition to this diplomatic track, the
group has failed to stop the negotiations," Geagea said, as he attributed this
to a decline in the group's capacity to sustain armed conflict. The Christian
leader considered that Lebanon has made great progress "toward building a
functioning democratic state" where the majority determines the country's
direction, rather than an armed minority "imposing its will". Geagea also
praised the new regime in Syria, telling Okaz that he has observed no cause for
concern under the current leadership in Damascus, after U.S. President Donald
Trump suggested many times that Syria would do a better job of rooting out
Hezbollah than the Israeli army."The political rhetoric I have heard aligns with
what we have long hoped for," Geagea said, adding that recent security
developments along the Lebanese-Syrian border and within Syria itself offer
"grounds for reassurance."
Fayyad says Lebanese leadership has 'abandoned its people'
Naharnet/July 17/2026
MP Ali Fayyad of Hezbollah on Friday charged that the Lebanese leadership "has
abandoned its people, indifferent to their suffering and the extent of the
crimes committed against them by the Israelis.""This ruling authority seems to
have become corrupt and is persisting in its choices despite all the failures
and despite all the advice and criticism directed at it from abroad and within,
even from its allies," Fayyad added. "It is no longer concerned with anything
other than appeasing the Americans and justifying its submission to the
Israelis, with the aim of eliminating the resistance and getting rid of its
weapons. As for liberating the land, protecting the people, the return of
residents to their villages, preserving Lebanese sovereignty, and internal
stability, these are, in the calculations and positions of this authority,
merely empty slogans with no real meaning or value," the lawmaker lamented.
He asserted that "the Lebanese authorities seem determined to take the country
to a very dangerous place, one in which they will neither regain the land nor
restore sovereignty, while simultaneously losing internal stability and the
unity of the Lebanese people.""This is precisely what the Israelis meticulously
planned, and the Lebanese authorities have willingly and fully committed
themselves to it. Therefore, the problem with this authority has become immense,
bridges with it are severed, and the possibility of understanding is impossible.
The consequences will be dire," Fayyad warned. He emphasized that "the
resistance, as always, is prepared for all eventualities and options, based on
its well-known principles."
Fuel prices rise in Lebanon
LBCI/July 17/2026
On Friday, July 17, 2026, the prices of 95-octane gasoline increased by LBP
43,000, 98-octane gasoline by LBP 42,000, and diesel by LBP 91,000, while gas
prices remained unchanged.
The current prices for hydrocarbon derivatives are as follows:
* Gasoline 95 octane: LBP 2,277,000
* Gasoline 98 octane: LBP 2,294,000
* Diesel: LBP 1,938,000
* Gas canister: LBP 1,115,000
Video link & text for a political interview with Dr.
Charles Chartouni on Lebanon’s “Grey State” Status, the Significance of the
Framework Agreement, Aoun’s White House Visit, the U.S. Role, Israeli Resolve,
and the Dangers of Hezbollah’s Coup Project
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155998/
The interview was conducted by journalist Strida Beaino for the “Assyasa”
(Politics) YouTube channel/July 17, 2026
Note: The content of the interview with Dr. Charles Chartouni was transcribed,
drafted, summarized, categorized, and titled by Elias Bejjani with full
editorial discretion.
Summary of the Main Topics Addressed by Dr. Chartouni
The interview covered the trajectory of the “Framework Agreement” negotiations
concerning Lebanon in light of regional shifts, with a focus on the dilemma of
“decoupling” Lebanese paths from Iranian influence. Professor Chartouni
discussed the major challenges facing the Lebanese state, emphasizing that the
“Model Zones” in the South will not succeed unless they are paralleled by the
disarmament of Hezbollah and the withdrawal of the Israeli army. He also touched
upon the role of the United States as a primary guarantor of the process,
warning that Hezbollah’s “coup project” places the Lebanese entity in danger of
disintegration and demise should Lebanon continue to be tethered to Iranian
interests.
Interview Pillars
1- “Decoupling” Negotiations and the Problem of Implementation
Dr. Chartouni expressed the view that the mere act of the Lebanese state
separating its path from the Iranian track and imposing its own negotiating
agenda, away from Hezbollah’s dictates, is an advanced step and a sovereign
gain. However, he added that the fundamental question remains regarding the
feasibility of translating this step into practice on the ground. Today, there
is talk of “Model Zones” (in the Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil districts), which is an
initial experiment to test the ability of the Lebanese state, as an
internationally recognized institution, to extend its sovereignty.
For this experiment to succeed, three parallel goals must be achieved: the
disarmament of Hezbollah, the imposition of state control, and the withdrawal of
the Israeli army. Without this balance, the experiment will fail as the efforts
of the previous 15 months failed, especially since we are dealing with a heavy
legacy of regional power struggles on Lebanese soil spanning 70 years, which
have led to the destruction of the Lebanese state, moving from Palestinian to
Syrian “decoupling,” and now to the current Iranian one.
2- The U.S. Role and the Reality of International Forces
Dr. Chartouni explained that American mediation and participation are essential,
and without the initiative imposed by the U.S. administration, the “Framework
Agreement” would not exist at all. Conversely, the mission of the international
forces (UNIFIL) has reached a dead end after failing since 1978 to prevent the
transformation of the South into an arsenal of weapons and tunnels, all under
the watch of the United Nations. Therefore, renewing the international forces in
their current form is not feasible, and we are facing an existential challenge;
Lebanon as a political and national entity will not survive if the state does
not succeed in this process of decoupling.
3- The Lebanese Army and Hezbollah’s Coup Project
Dr. Chartouni explained that relying on the Lebanese Army to disarm Hezbollah,
based on past experiences, does not inspire optimism—not only for logistical
considerations, but for political and operational reasons related to the
surrender of the South to Hezbollah and the presence of infiltrations within
military leadership. Hezbollah today does not yield to the Lebanese state; its
rejection of any field steps means its coup project is ongoing, and it uses the
“failure in the South” card to recoil against the Lebanese interior and threaten
civil peace. Hezbollah is a project of both regional and internal war
simultaneously.
4- Regional Initiatives and the Future of Lebanon
Dr. Chartouni explained that there are regional attempts (such as the
Turkish-Qatari initiative) to link the Lebanese and Syrian files, but these
approaches collide with major strategic equations and Israeli rejection. One
cannot speak of economic or political stability in isolation from addressing
strategic and security issues. Regarding the invitation of the Lebanese
President to the White House, it is a step that breaks previous obstructionism
and opens a door for the American bet, but the President goes without a clear
resolve, restricted by internal balances and a lack of responsiveness from the
Shia community, which remains organized under the banner of the Iranian agenda.
5- Lebanon at a Decisive Crossroads Facing the Iranian Project
Dr. Chartouni summarized his interventions by stating that Lebanon today is a
strategic station for the Iranian regime, and Hezbollah does not behave as a
Lebanese party, but as an advanced arm of Iranian policy in the Near East. The
recent Israeli military confrontation has shuffled the deck, and what we are
witnessing now is Hezbollah’s attempt to regain its strength through the
Lebanese interior. Dr. Chartouni’s opinion is that a decisive stance must be
taken regarding these axes; Lebanon no longer has the luxury of a “policy of
neutrality,” and the current path is destructive to the entity and the state.
More important than disarmament is ending the “sovereignty exception” that
Hezbollah exercises through its anti-state. Whoever does not see this reality
either lacks the ability to read the political landscape or is complicit with
Hezbollah. Dr. Chartouni summarized Hezbollah’s position as an “anti-state”
seeking to undermine the Lebanese state through the following essential points:
Hezbollah is not a Lebanese party.
Hezbollah possesses no Lebanese thought.
Hezbollah holds no Lebanese national agenda.
Hezbollah is an organic part of the Iranian political equation and constitutes
an advanced station for the Iranian coup policy in the Near East.
Dr. Chartouni explained in detail the danger of Hezbollah’s Iranian project,
which works to undermine the moral, constitutional, and actual entity of the
Lebanese state. It acts as a “state within a state,” or rather a “state above
the state,” exercising political, military, and diplomatic functions outside the
scope of legitimate authority. Chartouni stressed that Hezbollah’s greatest
danger is not limited to weapons, but lies in the “sovereignty exception”—the
entrenchment of the reality that the party is a body outside the Lebanese law
and constitution, dealing with state institutions selectively and
opportunistically, and turning against them whenever they conflict with its
goals.
6- Hezbollah’s Use of Lebanon as a Battlefield
Dr. Chartouni warned Lebanese citizens and those interested in Lebanese affairs,
both internationally and regionally, that the terrorist, sectarian, and jihadist
Hezbollah deals with Lebanon as a “station” or “tool” to implement the Iranian
agenda. It transforms Lebanese territory, through force, terror, and forced
proselytization, into land for proxy conflicts and regional power politics,
which has led to the destruction of the Lebanese state over the decades.
7- Hezbollah’s Coup Against the Lebanese Interior
Chartouni confirmed that Hezbollah represents a project of both regional and
internal war simultaneously. It does not hesitate to use the card of “failure in
the South” (in the face of Israel) to recoil against the Lebanese interior,
threaten civil peace, and impose its political equations by force. He summarized
the party’s situation as a “destructive project” for the Lebanese entity, and
that overlooking this reality, or failing to acknowledge it as an “anti-state”
working to demolish the existing state, is either the product of an inability to
read the political reality or explicit complicity with this project.
Syria intercepts advanced weapons bound for Hezbollah
from Iraq
Ahmad Sharawi/FDD's Long War Journal/July 17/2026
On July 16, Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced that it had foiled an
“attempt to smuggle a large shipment of sophisticated weapons across the
Syrian-Iraqi border.” The ministry said that evidence gathered during the
operation confirmed that the shipment was intended to transit Syrian territory
to Lebanon for the benefit of the “terrorist Hezbollah militia.” The operation
reportedly took place on July 7. Reuters reported that Syrian officials said
that the weapons had been concealed inside an oil tanker truck bound for the
coastal city of Baniyas. The shipment was discovered during a routine inspection
at the Al Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq, after authorities
subjected the vehicle to a thorough search.Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi
ordered the formation of an investigative committee to coordinate with Syrian
authorities and examine the circumstances surrounding the thwarted attempt to
smuggle weapons from Iraq through Syrian territory. According to an Iraqi
official, the oil tanker’s driver said that “employees at the al-Waleed border
crossing [on the Iraqi side] had colluded in smuggling the weapons.”
Syria has emerged as a transit route for Iraqi oil shipments since the outbreak
of the war with Iran in February and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iraqi
officials have also indicated that they intend to use the port of Baniyas on
Syria’s Mediterranean coast as a hub for Iraqi oil exports. Once the loading
facilities are ready, crude oil could begin moving from Iraq through Syria at
approximately 50,000 barrels per day, two Iraqi Oil Ministry officials told
Reuters in June.
The increase in oil shipments through Syria has created new opportunities for
Hezbollah’s allies in Iran and Iraq to conceal weapons bound for the Lebanese
terrorist group. Unlike previous interdictions, the tanker contained a wide
range of sophisticated weapons and components, including first-person-view
drones, fiber-optic spools, drone warheads, anti-tank missiles—including the
Iranian-produced Almas system—and components used in cruise missiles. Hezbollah
has employed several of these weapons extensively in its recent conflict with
Israel.
The latest interdiction comes as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly
signaled an interest in giving Syria a role in disarming Hezbollah, including
floating the possibility of a Syrian incursion into Lebanon against the
Iran-backed group. Although Damascus has rejected that option, Syrian officials
have reportedly committed to preventing Hezbollah from rearming and rebuilding
its capabilities through Syrian territory.
Since the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad, who was Hezbollah’s longtime
ally and a key facilitator of its weapons buildup, the new Syrian government has
made extensive efforts to disrupt the group’s supply routes and prevent its
rearmament.
On April 16, one day before the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire formally took effect,
Syrian authorities announced that they had stopped the smuggling of 6,000
explosive detonators intended to be used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
That operation followed the seizure of five Konkur anti-tank missiles on March
14 and small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and explosives on March 20. Both
interdictions happened along the Lebanon-Syria border. On January 26, nine
Konkur anti-tank missiles, 68 RPG warheads, two 107 rockets, and five boxes of
BKS machine gun ammunition were seized from a vehicle in the Homs Governorate,
and drones were seized from a series of raids around Damascus on February 1.
Last year, on December 10, Syrian security forces confiscated 42 Malyutka
anti-tank guided missiles and four Metis anti-tank guided missiles in an
operation in the eastern Daraa countryside. On December 3, a raid near Damascus
resulted in the seizure of 1,250 mines armed with detonators.
**Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant.
Lebanon Seeks Turkey’s Help To Avoid Acting Against
Hezbollah
David Daoud/FDD-Policy Brief/July 17/2026
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted a strong interest in his
neighbors’ affairs last month, declaring that, “Turkey’s security does not begin
in Hatay [in southern Turkey], but rather in Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut.” The
reference to Beirut was an implicit portrayal of Israeli action against
Hezbollah in Lebanon as an eventual threat to Turkey.
Erdogan’s remarks preceded a July 10 meeting in Istanbul with Lebanese Prime
Minister Nawaf Salam. The meeting reflected Ankara’s bid to influence Lebanon’s
future and Beirut’s efforts to gain Turkish backing as it negotiates with
Israel, giving it additional leverage in Washington.
Turkey’s Lebanese Frontline With Israel
Since October 7, Erdogan has firmly and openly supported Hamas and described
Israel’s operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon as “genocidal.” Turkey has also
sought to mediate the Israel-Hezbollah conflict but was rebuffed by both sides,
with Beirut citing “concerns over expanding Turkish influence.”
Ankara has been frustrated at its exclusion from an arena it considers vital to
its national security. Yet Turkey’s limited existing footprint and the
fragmentation of the Lebanese Sunni population preclude Erdogan from building
support within Lebanon.
The Istanbul meeting with the Lebanese premier gives Ankara its desired opening.
Turkey can urge Lebanon, alongside powers like Saudi Arabia, to maintain a
hardline, rejectionist posture toward Israel; backstop the state’s reluctance to
confront Hezbollah; and preserve a permissive environment in Turkey and Lebanon
that benefits the group. Although there is no evidence Ankara directly funds or
arms Hezbollah, Israel accuses it of ignoring Hezbollah-bound funds transiting
Turkey. In February 2025, Lebanese authorities reportedly seized $2.5 million
allegedly destined for Hezbollah from a passenger arriving in Beirut from
Turkey. Last November, U.S. Treasury Department Undersecretary for Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence John Hurley urged Turkey to cut off funds flowing to the
group.
Erdogan Is Lebanon’s Trump Whisperer
Lebanese officials have pursued closer political and economic ties with Ankara,
suggesting that they do not believe Turkey intends or currently possesses the
capacity to replicate Iran’s model of sectarian proxy-building, despite some
Lebanese commentators arguing that it could eventually do so.
Turkey is a NATO member with a powerful military and a substantial arms
industry. More important for Beirut are improving U.S.-Turkish relations under
President Donald Trump, built on Trump’s warm relationship with Erdogan. At the
July 7 NATO summit in Ankara, Trump spoke affectionately of Erdogan and called
Turkey “much more loyal” than traditional U.S. allies.
Meanwhile, on June 26, Lebanon signed a U.S.-sponsored framework agreement with
Israel restating Beirut’s standing obligation to do what it has never been
willing to do: confront Hezbollah. Lebanon fears this could trigger civil war
because the group retains substantial Lebanese Shiite support. Admitting that
unwillingness could cost U.S. aid and prompt renewed Israeli operations. Because
of the Erdogan-Trump relationship and Turkey’s apparent preference for Hezbollah
to serve as a counterweight to Israel, Lebanon likely believes Erdogan can
intercede with Trump to dilute the agreement’s implementation. Beirut could
thereby end Israeli operations and presence without paying the price required by
the framework.
Washington Should Stay the Course on Lebanon
Notwithstanding closer Washington-Ankara ties, Turkey’s apparent position
directly undermines U.S. policy in Lebanon. The United States, through the June
26 agreement, has made clear it seeks a permanent resolution to the
Israel-Lebanon conflict by addressing its “underlying causes” — namely,
Hezbollah’s arsenal and pathways to resurgence.
But Lebanon is already signaling an incipient backsliding on its commitments
under the deal. Beirut is demanding Israeli withdrawal in advance of Lebanon
merely discussing its corresponding obligations, thus reversing the agreed-upon
sequencing. Lebanese officials, including Salam, have also downplayed the
agreement’s significance, reframed their obligations under the deal, and
minimized their disarmament commitments.
Allowing Hezbollah to survive as a military force and rearm undermines American
interests in the region. The United States should therefore hold Lebanon to its
commitments, impose proportionate consequences for noncompliance, and reject
evasive Lebanese arguments advanced through Ankara.
**David Daoud is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
(FDD) focused on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/07/16/lebanon-seeks-turkeys-help-to-avoid-acting-against-hezbollah/
**Ahmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at FDD focused on Syria and Iranian
intervention in Arab affairs and the Levant. For more analysis from the authors,
please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow David on X @DavidADaoud.
Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan
research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
Iraq sanctions individuals and entities tied to Lebanese
Hezbollah
David Daoud/FDD's Long War Journal/July 17/2026
On July 15, Iraq’s Ministry of Finance circulated a banking directive
instructing ministries, state entities, and financial institutions to implement
recent US Treasury Department sanctions against three Hezbollah-linked
individuals and five associated companies. The measure, issued pursuant to US
Executive Order 13224, requires Iraqi institutions to review and take the
necessary action against the listed persons and entities, potentially
restricting their access to Iraq’s financial system and commercial sector.
While the action does not create an independent Iraqi sanctions regime, it
represents Baghdad’s implementation of US terrorism-finance measures against
Hezbollah’s political and commercial network. If rigorously enforced, it could
disrupt Hezbollah-linked financial activity in Iraq, though reports later
emerged that Iraq’s Ministry of Finance may have issued a second circular
rescinding the directive.
The sanctioned parties and their significance
Iraq’s reported designations echo sanctions issued by the US Treasury Department
on March 20 and June 18 that include the following persons and entities:
Designated individuals:
Sleiman Frangieh is the leader of Lebanon’s Marada Movement, a small Maronite
party historically aligned with former Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad’s regime.
Frangieh and the Marada Movement have been among Hezbollah’s most dependable
Christian allies, supporting the group’s retention of an independent arsenal and
Lebanon’s alignment with Iran and Syria. This alliance has helped Hezbollah
portray its agenda as cross-sectarian rather than exclusively Shiite.
Iraq’s Finance Ministry included Frangieh in its banking circular after the US
designated him for allegedly accepting Hezbollah funding in exchange for
supporting efforts to unseat reformist and independent parliamentarians—conduct
Washington deemed material support for Hezbollah. The measure’s direct impact on
Hezbollah will likely be limited, because Frangieh is primarily a political
ally, not a financier or weapons supplier, and the Marada Movement has a small
parliamentary base. Its effect on Frangieh likewise depends on whether he holds
assets or conducts business in Iraq. The greater significance may be
reputational, as even Iraq, where Iran retains considerable influence, showed
that it is prepared to apply US terrorism sanctions on one of Hezbollah’s
Lebanese political allies.
Mahmoud Qamati is the deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s Political Council and one
of the organization’s senior public and political representatives. Iraq’s
measure could complicate Qamati’s financial transactions, travel-related
dealings, and institutional contacts in Iraq—including with Iran-aligned parties
and organizations—while reinforcing pressure on Hezbollah’s access to Iraqi
financial channels. Qamati’s designation is especially relevant because
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has previously thanked Iraq’s
government, Shiite religious authorities, holy shrines, Popular Mobilization
Forces, and public for their financial contributions.
Wael Costanteen is a Lebanese national with addresses in Baghdad and Abra, near
Sidon. Costanteen appears to be from Abra’s established Constanteen family,
which is locally associated with the Melkite Greek Catholic community.
Costanteen served as deputy general manager at GlobeMed Iraq from October 2017
to February 2025 and then worked as a freelance insurance adviser. He was also
the CEO of Al Shafa Administrative Services Limited, an Iraqi company
established in July 2025 as part of businessman Alaa Hassan Hamieh’s alleged
Hezbollah-finance network.
Treasury says Hezbollah financier Muhammad Al Bazzal, Hamieh, and Hamieh
associate Maya Boustany created Al Shafa to ostensibly provide insurance
management services, appointing Costanteen—then a Hamieh employee—to lead it.
Costanteen was designated for acting on Hamieh’s behalf, not because Treasury
identified him as a formal Hezbollah member. If enforced, Iraq’s circular should
cause Iraqi banks and state institutions to block or reject dealings involving
Costanteen, severely restricting his ability to operate Al Shafa or conduct
business in Iraq. The impact on Hezbollah will likely remain incremental unless
Baghdad also freezes Al Shafa Administrative Services’ assets, investigates its
transactions and counterparties, and dismantles the broader network rather than
merely circulating the designation.
Designated entities:
Al Shafa Administrative Services Limited (HEAL) is an Iraq-registered company
based in Baghdad, established on June 29, 2025, under commercial registration
number30787. It purportedly provides insurance management services but has
little discernible public or commercial footprint beyond its registration. The
US Treasury Department identifies it as part of a Hezbollah-linked commercial
network, though publicly available independent evidence establishing that
connection remains limited.
If enforced, Iraq’s measure should cut Al Shafa off from Iraqi banks, state
bodies, contracts, and counterparties, likely making normal operations difficult
or impossible. The impact on Hezbollah will depend on Al Shafa’s actual
financial role in the network and on whether Iraqi authorities freeze its
accounts, investigate its transactions, and pursue counterparties rather than
merely circulate its name.
Globe Technology Providers SARL (Globe SARL) is a Lebanese IT and
telecommunications company established in 2004 and based in Hazmieh, near
Beirut. Historical business listings and employment advertisements indicate that
it conducted technology operations, while Syrian corporate reporting records a
similarly named company importing and servicing communications and IT equipment,
suggesting possible Syrian operations. Globe SARL, co-owned by Alaa Hamieh and
Bahaa Addin Hashem, also owned Oman-registered Globe International SPC
(registration number 1579840).
Treasury said that Hezbollah financier Muhammad al Bazzal helped secure
nearly$10 million in Assad-regime contracts whose profits were divided among
Globe SARL and other Hamieh- and Hashem-linked companies. Iraq’s restrictions
should bar Globe SARL from doing business with Iraqi banks, state institutions,
and companies. Its impact on Hezbollah is uncertain, because no independent
public evidence documents any transfers to the group. However, full enforcement
could disrupt a technology and contracting company allegedly used to generate
revenue, administer Syrian projects, and move payments through Oman.
Al Ahd Company for Trade and Investment is a Damascus-based Syrian wholesale
trading company, reportedly incorporated in 2016 with starting capital of a
million Syrian pounds and interests in other Syrian companies. Treasury alleges
that Assad-linked businessman Yassar Husayn Ibrahim used Al Ahd to represent GM
Farm, a Hezbollah finance-team company, and that Al Ahd helped administer nearly
$10 million in Assad-era contracts involving Globe SARL, with profits divided
among Al Ahd, Globe SARL, and the Hezbollah-controlled Talaqi Group.
Iraq’s measures would restrict Al Ahd’s Iraqi dealings. Their effect on
Hezbollah is difficult to quantify, because no independent Syrian corporate
files, contracts, ownership records, or transaction evidence document Al Ahd’s
ties to the group. The impact is likely limited: Assad’s fall deprived Al Ahd of
the political access, state contracts, and protection that made it useful, and
there is little evidence that the company remains operational. Nevertheless, the
action is also preventative, making it harder to reactivate, rename, or use the
company to hold assets or collect receivables while also prompting Iraqi
institutions to scrutinize related firms and beneficial owners.
Tyke/Taek SAL is a Lebanese joint-stock company established on February 23,
2017, and headquartered in Beirut’s Musaytbeh district. The organization is
registered for non-specialized wholesale trade and broader commercial and real
estate activities, and its listed Lebanese corporate identifiers are
registration number 1022301 and company number 5-121673.
Treasury said that Alaa Hassan Hamieh founded Tyke SAL before transferring his
shares in September 2023 to his brother, Muhammad Hassan Hamieh, who joined the
board and was managing the company by December 2025. Tyke SAL was designated
because it was owned, controlled, or operated on behalf of Muhammad Hamieh, whom
Treasury identifies as part of a Hezbollah revenue-generation network.
The company has little discernible public footprint. Iraq’s measure will likely
have only an incremental impact on Hezbollah but could deny a Hamieh-controlled
company access to Iraqi banks, counterparties, and commercial opportunities.
The Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Washington
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is currently in Washington on his first
official foreign visit after taking office on May 14. Zaidi received a warm
reception from President Donald Trump on July 14. Prior to his visit, Zaidi
published an op-ed in The Washington Post entitled, “Iraq’s prime minister: Why
I’m coming to Washington.”
“I want to move the relationship beyond crisis management to opportunity
creation — particularly opportunities that have a measurable economic impact,”
Zaidi wrote. The new prime minister hopes to bring more American investment to
Iraq, particularly via deals with major energy companies.
Zaidi has also presented promises of disarmament by three militias—including
Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Imam Ali, which are US-designated foreign terrorist
organizations—and his government’s recent crackdown on corruption as evidence of
Iraq’s readiness to transform the relationship with the US. He has given the
militias a deadline of September 30 to disarm, which is when the American-led
coalition to counter the Islamic State will leave the country. So far, Iraqi
officials have not provided details on how disarmament will proceed, where
weapons and fighters will go, or other logistical aspects.
While Zaidi received American support when his name was put forth for Iraq’s top
job in April, he is still proving himself to the Trump administration, which
prioritizes countering Iranian influence in Iraq. The prime minister also met
with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on July 14, who said, “To deepen our
partnership, Iraq must assert its sovereignty and disarm the Iran-aligned
militias responsible for 600+ attacks on U.S. personnel this spring.” In
addition, Zaidi met with Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and reiterated
his commitment to countering corruption and disarming militias, according to a
readout on the prime minister’s official X account. While Zaidi’s
anti-corruption campaign has arrested around 70 individuals with more to come,
it has not yet targeted any major Iran allies.
Zaidi, an Iraqi businessman with no political experience, was nominated to be
prime minister in April by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shiite
parties, many of which are allied with Iran.
Iraq almost blocked Hezbollah and Houthi assets in 2025 but quickly reversed
course
In November, under the prior government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al
Sudani, the official gazette of the country’s Ministry of Justice included
Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen in a list of blocked groups. However, as soon
as this list received public attention, the Iraqi government removed the two
Iran-backed groups from the list, and Sudani’s office issued a statement saying
that he had “ordered an urgent investigation to determine responsibility and
hold accountable those responsible for the error.” The then-prime minister added
that the list was intended to be limited to elements of the Islamic State and Al
Qaeda, at the request of Malaysia.
The Committee for the Freezing of Terrorists’ Funds, an Iraqi institution that
maintains the list of blocked individuals and entities, said that the original
list with Hezbollah and the Houthis was published before undergoing final
revisions. A statement from Sudani’s office on December 16 noted that the
government accepted the recommendations of the committee created to investigate
the incident, including the dismissal and reassignment of several officials. The
statement did not explain how the groups were initially included in the gazette.
**David Daoud is senior fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies
(FDD) who focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Bridget Toomey is a
research analyst at FDD focused on Iranian proxies, including Iraqi militias and
the Houthis.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 17-18 July/2026
US strikes bridges, collapses tower at key
port as its Iran campaign expands
Associated Press/July 17/2026
The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday by
hitting more bridges, electrical equipment and collapsing a tower at a key
Iranian port, part of U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to start striking
infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran launched new missile attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle
East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war. The interim ceasefire agreed
to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth
attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the strait. Iranian
officials say U.S. strikes have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds of
others, with new casualties reported in Friday's strikes. When the U.S. and
Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the strait
to shipping traffic, a move that sent the price of oil soaring and gave Iran
major leverage in negotiations. Speaking in a primetime address to the American
public, Trump insisted the war was going well. "We are likewise winning big in
Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labor very, very shortly," Trump said.
Bridges and 'electrical infrastructure' hit in Iran
The U.S. airstrikes hit bridges overnight into Friday in Iran's southern
Hormozgan province, killing at least seven people, Iranian state television
reported. The attacks hit Bandar Khamir, a city on Iran's coast on the Strait of
Hormuz. The highway and railway bridge strikes appeared aimed at cutting off
Bandar Abbas, Iran's main port, from roads leading into the Islamic Republic's
central region onward to Tehran, the capital. While other routes still are open,
the U.S. strikes could expand further, potentially disrupting both the movement
of military materiel and goods needed for Iran's 90 million people. Iran also
acknowledged "attacks on power infrastructure" during the U.S. airstrike
campaign for the first time Friday when its Energy Ministry issued a call for
people to use less power in southern provinces. It said those areas "are
currently experiencing extreme heat and attacks on power infrastructure." The
ministry did not elaborate on whether it was power plants, transmission lines or
other equipment that had been attacked. Such strikes on power infrastructure had
been suspected for days. Tehran city councilman Mehdi Chamran told journalists
asking about electrical problems on Tuesday, "Just look at how many power
facilities they hit … and you wouldn't be asking that question."
Tower at key port collapses in US strike
The U.S. military's Central Command said it hit dozens of targets in its latest
airstrikes, which concluded at dawn Friday, the sixth night in a row of American
attacks. The strikes also collapsed a tower at Iran's Chabahar port on the Gulf
of Oman, a key trade route for landlocked, neighboring Afghanistan, the
state-run IRNA news agency reported. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared
the image of the surveillance tower collapsing, part of his effort to assert
American control over the strait. That image had circulated social media via
activists prior to Hegseth sharing it. Chabahar port, which Iran had been
running with support from India, has been a repeated target of American
airstrikes. Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the
facility without immediately acknowledging the tower's collapse. Iran described
the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port. However, Iran's
paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also operates at ports across the country. As
of 6 a.m. Friday, the U.S. strikes had killed at least 38 people and wounded
more than 400 in Iran, Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said.
Iran retaliates by targeting Qatar, a mediator in the war. On Friday, Qatar
twice warned the public to take shelter as a barrage of Iranian missiles
targeted the nation. People heard explosions overhead as air defenses fired to
intercept the missiles. Qatar's Interior Ministry said falling debris wounded a
child. Qatar, along with Pakistan, is a key mediator
in trying to reach an end to the Iran war. But talks have broken down over
Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also targeted Bahrain and Kuwait
early Friday. Jordan's military said it intercepted three incoming missiles
Friday morning launched by Iran. Explosions also could be heard Friday morning
in Irbil and Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region as
air defenses targeted incoming fire. The attack apparently targeted the Iranian
Kurdish dissident group Komala, killing at least nine people and wounding
others, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity for security
reasons. Iran did not immediately claim the attack but
has targeted Komala in the past. Also on Friday, a
tanker came under attack traveling through the Strait of Hormuz taking the route
closest to Oman, the British military said. The report from the United Kingdom
Maritime Trade Operations center said the ship sustained minor damage without
any of its crew being injured. Iran has been attacking
tankers traveling on the route near Oman but did not immediately acknowledge any
attack.Strikes come as Iran and US vie for Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has returned in recent days to his threats to target Iranian power
stations and bridges to try to compel Iran to loosen its hold on the strait,
through which about a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed in
peacetime. The U.S. also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its
shipments of crude oil. Week-to-week cargo shipments through the strait dropped
by almost a quarter at the beginning of the month, according to maritime data
firm Lloyd's List Intelligence. And that was before the recent surge in
violence. Given the risks, some oil shippers are transiting the strait with
their location devices turned off, but many are just staying put, Lloyd's said
Thursday. A growing amount of the region's energy is being shipped through
pipelines, but not nearly enough to offset the decline in shipping through the
strait. U.S. forces have redirected three commercial vessels trying to run the
blockade, disabled one that did not comply and boarded another.
Iran attacks Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Qatar
Agence France Presse/July 17/2026
Kuwait reported Friday an Iranian attack on a power and water plant on Friday,
while Bahrain and Qatar also said they had intercepted missiles after the U.S.
attacked power infrastructure in Iran. Kuwait said
that a power and water plant had been damaged by an Iranian attack, as the war
in the Middle East escalated. "One of the power and water distillation plants
was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression... resulting in a
fire, damage, and the impairment of several production units," the electricity
ministry said in a statement, urging users "to ration their electricity
consumption during this exceptional period". Iran's Revolutionary Guards
meanwhile said they had struck U.S. military aircraft stationed in Jordan with
ballistic missiles and drones in retaliation for overnight U.S. strikes. In a
statement, they claimed to have destroyed "several U.S. refueling aircraft and
fighter jets" and caused "serious damage to many more". They also called on
Jordanians to target "the interests of the aggressive and anti-Islamic
Americans" in their country. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said they had
struck two radar sites belonging to the United States in the Gulf sultanate of
Oman and the Al-Tanf military base in Syria. A statement said their forces
"targeted and destroyed the maritime surveillance radar at the Salamah Rocks and
the U.S. air surveillance radar stationed in the Ghanam area". "The IRGC
announces a surprise attack on the enemy's Special Operations Command Center in
Syria's Al-Tanf region in retaliation for the blood of the martyred Iranian
soldiers in Iranshahr," a separate statement on Telegram said. A Syrian military
source denied to AFP on Friday that Iran had bombed the Al-Tanf base near
Syria's southeastern borders with Jordan and Iraq. In
neighboring Iraq, the U.S.-led coalition shot down several drones on Friday over
Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, Kurdish forces said, in
the second such incident in the city this week. Kurdish counterterrorism forces
said that "coalition forces downed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil
between 04:19 and 05:25 am (0119 and 0225 GMT)", with no damage or casualties
reported.
Hopes for US-Iran diplomacy still alive as fighting intensifies over Hormuz
Associated Press/July 17/2026
Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has intensified over control of the Strait of
Hormuz, but hopes for a possible diplomatic solution have shown stubborn signs
of life. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected suggestions that
Islamabad had abandoned efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the
negotiating table after brokering an initial ceasefire agreement last month that
has now collapsed."Let me dispel the impression that Pakistan has done hands up,
and this is not the case," ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a news
conference, adding that the parties eventually "will have to come to the
negotiating table to settle all outstanding issues."Even the top negotiators for
Iran and the U.S. signaled they have not walked away from talks. In a podcast
interview with Joe Rogan that aired Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said the
Trump administration is "not going to bomb and bomb and bomb" and noted that
"you've got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the
problem." "We're going try to use our military force as one of the many tools
that we have to solve the problem," Vance said, adding that "diplomacy is
another tool." Mediators from countries that include Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt
have been working to resume talks, according to regional officials who spoke on
condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy. They noted that
neither side has notified Pakistan that it was officially withdrawing or
terminating the initial ceasefire agreement. The backchannel efforts have been
overshadowed by the escalating attacks, with the U.S. military on Thursday
conducting strikes deeper into Iran and firing on a ship that the U.S. accused
of trying to break its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has retaliated by
launching missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region and warned that its
attacks could grow to target "all the infrastructure in the region."The U.S. and
Iran are in a delicate and potentially pivotal moment that "leaves open the
possibility of moving up the escalation ladder," said Naysan Rafati, senior Iran
analyst at the Washington-based International Crisis Group.
The push is on for renewing negotiations
Andrabi, the spokesman for Pakistan's foreign ministry, acknowledged that
mediation between Iran and the U.S. had become increasingly difficult. But he
said peace efforts remained alive. "It can be put on the backburner, but it
stays," Andrabi said, adding that "whenever the parties exhaust the logic of
escalation, the formula for peace is there." The regional officials involved in
mediation attempts said efforts to salvage the deal to end the war were
continuing this week. They acknowledged that the 60-day negotiating process
spelled out in the interim deal has halted. But they said mediators have been
working to persuade both sides to return to the negotiating table. Officials say
the key point of dispute is management of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial
energy shipping route that is Tehran's greatest source of leverage. The language
in the interim deal is vague. Iran claims it has the authority to arrange
shipping transit through the strait, while the U.S. says the waterway is meant
to be open to free passage and has tried to arrange an alternate shipping route
along Oman's coast. In his interview with Rogan, Vance
acknowledged that diplomacy might ultimately be the only way forward."I'm very
frustrated by the Americans and frankly by people in other countries who are
like, 'You cannot negotiate with the Iranians,'" the vice president said. "Well,
then what is your proposal to get people to stop shooting at ships in the Strait
of Hormuz?"
Trump increases the threats and says Iran 'better behave'
The fighting resumed over Iran's unwillingness to allow oil tankers and other
commercial vessels to navigate freely through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital
Persian Gulf shipping route through which 20% of the world's oil normally flows.
Iran effectively choked off the usual stream of commerce by attacking commercial
vessels that ignored its rules, disrupting world energy markets and driving up
prices that could pose problems for Republicans in November's midterm elections.
Asked by reporters in recent days if he is still open to negotiations, Trump has
repeated his previous threats that Iran returning to the table is the only thing
that can avoid U.S. attacks on civilian infrastructure like bridges and power
plants. But the Republican president said he would not put a timeline on it.
"I don't like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the
story," Trump said in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. "They better behave."Moments
before, Iran's parliament speaker and lead negotiator said the country is not
declaring last month's interim deal void. But Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said
Iran's commitment depends on continued implementation by the United States. If
Washington fails to honor its obligations, Iran would have no reason to remain
bound by it, he argued. The initial June 17 agreement
called for a permanent end to hostilities and a reopening of the strait and
started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran's
nuclear program and other issues. Qalibaf also suggested that Iran is not
seeking to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed indefinitely. He said Tehran's
objective is to preserve what he called "Iranian arrangements" governing
navigation through the waterway, while allowing the maximum safe passage of
commercial shipping under those rules. US is trying a naval blockade and more
strikes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — again. To stop Iran's attacks on ships,
Trump has stepped up military attacks and reinstituted an earlier Navy blockade
of Iranian ports to inflict economic pain. But it would be unrealistic to expect
the U.S. to eliminate Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones into the
strait anytime soon, said Bradley Bowman, a former Army helicopter pilot and now
a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington
think tank. "Unfortunately, Iran only needs to hit a ship every now and then to
create serious problems and dilemmas for insurers and ship captains and reduce
the flow of traffic in the strait," he said. "That reduced flow exerts
significant economic and political pressure on Washington, especially as midterm
elections approach. Iran understands the leverage it now has — and so does
Trump."At the same time, Bowman and other experts are not convinced that more
strikes and economic pressure will get Iran to negotiate. "We're doing things
that have not affected Iranian behavior in the past," said Mark Cancian, a
retired Marine colonel and a senior defense adviser with the Center for
Strategic and International Studies. "So why would it affect Iranian behavior
now?"
US military says it destroyed Iranian port surveillance
tower
Reuters/17 July ,2026
The US military said on Friday that it had destroyed the Chabahar Shahid
Kalantari Port surveillance tower in Iran on Thursday. US Central Command said
in a post on X that the tower was part of a maritime surveillance network along
Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to
track and target commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
US hails agreement between Baghdad and Damascus to restore
Iraq-Syria oil pipeline
AFP/18 July ,2026
The US State Department on Friday reported a major oil pipeline between Iraq and
Syria, which has been closed for decades, will be restored by the two
countries.“The United States welcomes the Government of the Republic of Iraq and
the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic’s intent to advance the
rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Iraq-Syria crude oil pipeline as a
priority infrastructure project,” the State Department said in a statement,
calling it “of bilateral and regional strategic significance.”The pipeline will
link Iraqi oil production to export markets in the Mediterranean and beyond.
“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone for the region and for
Syria-Iraq relations,” the State Department added. Washington is overseeing an
international consortium “to execute the technical and financial aspects of this
project,” which is expected to have an initial transport capacity of two million
barrels of crude daily once fully rehabilitated, the department said. In
Damascus last week, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said that Syria could
become an “important transit country for oil coming from Iraq to the
Mediterranean,” especially with the need for “alternative routes” given the
closure of the Strait of Hormuz from to the Iran war and its effect on global
energy supplies. Since April, Iraq has been
transporting crude through Syria by truck to circumvent the closure of the
strait, which briefly reopened after a fragile ceasefire but has since been
locked down by Iran after US strikes resumed earlier this month. The
announcement of the oil pipeline restoration comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali
al-Zaidi visits Washington, with US President Donald Trump praising his
leadership.
US military launches strikes against Iran for a seventh
night in a row
Al Arabiya English/17 July ,2026
IRGC targets Thai-flagged vessel for entering Strait of Hormuz without
permission
US forces launched strikes against Iran for a seventh night in a row on Friday,
the US military said. US Central Command (CENTCOM), in
a post on X, said the strikes, which began at 1900 GMT, were designed to
“continue degrading Iranian military capabilities.”Five explosions were heard in
the early hours of Saturday in Yazd, in central Iran, the state news agency IRNA
reported. Another Iranian news agency, Mehr, reported
that explosions were heard “in several provinces in the south” of Iran.Earlier,
the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a Thai-flagged vessel in
the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Iran’s Tasnim news agency said the ship ignored
warnings and tried to pass through the strait without seeking permission from
the IRGC.Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, was also quoted as
saying that if the US seized any points in Iran, “we may enter an offensive war,
instead of a defensive one.” He added: “If US strikes continue for several more
days, we will move into a phase of full-scale offensive operations.”With Reuters
Iran warns of 'full-scale offensive' if US strikes
continue
LBCI/July 17/2026
Tehran is ready to resume "full-scale offensive operations" if U.S. strikes
against it continue for another two or three days, a senior military advisor to
Iran's supreme leader warned Friday. "Iran will no
longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses ... and no political
border will be safe," Major General Mohsen Rezaei said, according to the Iranian
news agency IRIB. AFP
Western oil companies see ‘fantastic’ future in Iraq, sign agreements
Reuters/17 July ,2026
Western energy companies on Friday signed dozens of agreements with Iraqi
officials on oil and gas and pipelines as the OPEC member seeks to deepen
relations with the US and develop alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz for
getting its energy to global markets. “We are using an
open-door policy,” Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said through a translator at a
US-Iraq business summit at the US Chamber of Commerce where Iraqi officials and
US energy, healthcare and technology companies signed non-binding agreements and
memorandums of understanding of more than $60 billion. “Everybody who has a
project can come and talk to us. We will not make it difficult for anyone,”
al-Zaidi said. The US-Israeli war on Iran has rocked
Iraq’s neighboring country and the wider Middle East. Tom Barrack, an envoy to
the region for President Donald Trump, said on one hand the war has created
chaos and confusion but on the other Iraq is “at the forefront of a new
strategic security alliance” with the US and others.Al-Zaidi visited Chevron’s
headquarters in Houston on Thursday before Iraqi officials signed agreements
with the oil major to advance its potential entry into Iraq’s West Qurna 2 and
Nassiriya oilfields. Jake Spiering, a Chevron president of corporate business
development, told the Chamber event that his company will be investing in a
pipeline to avoid the Strait of Hormuz and create another export route out of
Iraq. Such a pipeline could transport Iraqi oil to the west coast of Syria which
is on the Mediterranean Sea. Iraq’s exports have been hit hard by the war in
part due to the partial closing of the strait through which 20 percent of the
world’s oil and gas typically flowed. In the long
term, Spiering said, Iraq’s energy potential could make it the Middle East’s
equivalent of the US energy trading centers known as the Henry Hub natural gas
and Cushing oil hubs. ConocoPhillips said it had agreed to acquire a 42 percent
stake in BP Energy of Kirkuk Ltd, joining British oil major BP in redeveloping
four producing oilfields in northern Iraq.
BP sees potentialMeg O’Neill, BP’s CEO, said Iraq has “fantastic potential from
a resource perspective,” and that the partnerships help with Iraqi and global
energy security. BP has a long history in Iraq, having been involved in the
discovery of Kirkuk in 1927. Ryan Lance, the CEO of Conoco, said his company
does not have the history BP does in Iraq, but has experience in challenging
places like Alaska’s North Slope. “We are anxious to bring our technology, our
know-how, our people, and our capital to help the Iraqi people,” Lance said.
Zaidi, on a five-day trip to the US, met Trump at the White House on Tuesday,
who said the US would be doing a lot of deals with Iraq, creating jobs for both
countries.
Israeli strikes kill Palestinians attending Gaza funeral for earlier strike
victim
Reuters/17 July ,2026
An Israeli airstrike killed at least eight Palestinians and wounded 20 attending
a funeral in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Friday for a person killed by
another Israeli strike on the area earlier in the day, Gaza health officials
said. Those deaths, along with at least three Palestinians killed in separate
Israeli airstrikes elsewhere in the enclave, brought Friday’s toll to at least
12, medics said. Hamas condemned the Nuseirat strike
as a “brutal massacre” against mourners and urged mediators, as well as the
United Nations, to act to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza. Asked about the attack
in Nuseirat, the Israeli military said it struck a cell belonging to the Islamic
Jihad militant group, which holds sway in parts of the enclave along with Hamas.
The military said it was “aware of the claims that several uninvolved
individuals were harmed as a result of the strike.”
Israel orders evacuations despite ceasefire
Residents in an area east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip said
Israeli forces used drones to broadcast audio messages ordering them to leave
their homes, forcing some families to flee for safety.
The deaths add to a toll of more than 1,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
killed by Israeli attacks since an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
militants took effect, according to Gaza health officials. Hamas does not
usually disclose its losses. The truce halted major fighting but has not stopped
near-daily Israeli strikes. Israel says it is targeting militants. Four Israeli
soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period. Conflict
monitor ACLED, a US-based research group that tracks political violence, said
Israeli airstrikes against Hamas and other militants rose to more than 40 in
June, the highest monthly total since the ceasefire. Other strikes hit people
near the line dividing the two sides, killing and injuring civilians, including
women and children, it said.
New Labour leader Burnham vows to renew hope as next UK PM
AFP, London/17 July ,2026
Andy Burnham vowed Friday to restore “hope” to the British people as he
officially became the ruling Labour party’s new leader, and incoming UK prime
minister. Nicknamed the “King of the North” for a nine-year spell as Manchester
mayor, Burnham pledged to work to improve living standards in every region of
the United Kingdom. “People and places ... have been waiting too long for
politics to let them hope again ... We’re going to give them hope back,” he
promised at a special party conference. “I am for us, for all of us,” Burnham
told cheering delegates. The 56-year-old takes over from Keir Starmer, who
resigned last month after months of political turmoil, scandal and domestic
policy missteps.Center-left Labour retains an overwhelming majority in
parliament after the 2024 general election. As the leader of the largest party
he becomes the country’s prime minister, without having to call new polls.
Burnham will enter Downing Street on Monday after meeting King Charles III,
becoming the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade.It is only four weeks since
Burnham sensationally returned as a member of parliament following a nine-year
absence, determined to replace Starmer. Labour MPs reckon he is their best
chance of reining in Nigel Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform UK party, tipped in
the polls to win the next general election, expected in 2029.
Burnham’s flagship idea is devolving powers to cities and regions,
including by setting up a “Number 10 North” office. Hailing from the party’s
so-called soft left, he favours more public control of services, such as water,
and reindustrialisation. “If we want an economy and a country that works for all
people and places ... then it requires a new path to the one we’ve been on for
the last 40 years,” he said. Burnham has pledged to boost the construction of
public housing to try to resolve the homelessness crisis, and pump resources
into social care. After facing no challengers, he becomes leader at his third
attempt, following failed bids in 2010 and 2015. Burnham was an MP between 2001
and 2017, serving as a minister in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments.
He has since reinvented himself as a man of the people, melding a relaxed folksy
style with slick social media videos. Labour MPs see him as a better
communicator than Starmer and hope will take a more radical approach to
reforming Britain’s battered public services.
“It feels like a fresh start. There’s reason to be hopeful,” Labour MP Richard
Baker told AFP after Burnham’s speech.
New leader, old problems
Starmer returned Labour to power after 14 years in opposition in July 2024 with
a landslide victory over the Conservatives, who had churned through five prime
ministers in the tumult unleashed by the 2016 Brexit referendum. But his
premiership quickly became characterised by domestic policy missteps and
controversies, including his appointment of ex-Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter
Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. Disastrous local and regional election
results in May heaped further pressure on Starmer, which became impossible to
withstand after Burnham won a parliamentary by-election on June 18, allowing him
to run for leader. Burnham, regularly seen in his trademark dark T-shirt and
casual jacket, secured the backing of 379 of Labour’s 403 MPs, with no one
mustering the 81 nominations required to challenge him. He will face the same
unenviable challenges that beset Starmer: a tepid economy, high government
borrowing costs, a ballooning welfare bill and irregular migrants arriving in
small boats that have fuelled support for Reform.
Unpredictable energy prices due to the US-Iran war and a volatile American
president in Donald Trump also threaten to buffet his premiership.Burnham has
vowed not to raise the country’s main taxes, but will need to fill a
£4.7-billion ($6.3-billion) gap over four years in the country’s defense
investment plan. “Most of what’s been said by Burnham and his supporters so far
has been pretty vague,” politics professor Tony Travers told AFP. “He’s going to
have to come out with a visible plan and policies people understand ... pretty
quickly,” or he risks “losing momentum,” Travers added.
Ukraine says it struck Russian oil refinery, two tankers
Reuters/17 July ,2026
Ukraine’s military said on Friday it struck a Russian oil refinery in the
Yaroslavl region on Thursday. The general staff said
on the Telegram app that the attack resulted in fires at Slavneft-YANOS
refinery. A gas carrier and a tanker were also hit in the Black Sea, it added.
Danish police officer and two others shot, including
suspected perpetrator, reports say
The Associated Press/17 July ,2026
A Danish police officer and two other people were shot Friday, including the
suspected perpetrator, authorities said. The shooting occurred in Norresundby,
in the North Jutland region in northern Denmark. The injuries were serious,
Soren Pejtersen, a spokesperson for the North Jutland police, said in a
statement posted to Facebook that the injuries were serious. Police received a
report of a fire in an industrial area of Norresundby at 1:39 p.m. (1139 GMT)
and rushed to the scene, Danish broadcaster DR reported. The officers were met
with gunshots, the statement said, and they returned fire. It wasn’t immediately
clear whether the police officer was shot by the suspect or injured in friendly
fire. It also wasn’t immediately clear who the third injured person was, or who
shot them. Police said that the shooting was over by 3
p.m. (1300 GMT), but the investigation would continue, DR reported. A column of
black smoke was visible in photos and video from the scene. Further details
weren’t immediately available.
Trump blames Canada for smoke pollution from wildfires
LBCI/July 17/2026
President Donald Trump lashed out at Canada on Friday, as wildfire smoke
drifting down from the United States' northern neighbor triggered air quality
alerts across much of the country ahead of the World Cup final."The United
States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air,
the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" Trump wrote on
Truth Social. "I will call the Prime Minister during
the day to find out what they are going to do about it."AFP
EU reiterates its call on Israel to refrain from more
expansion of settlements
LBCI/July 17/2026
The European Union on Friday reiterated its call on Israel to refrain from
expanding its settlements in the occupied West Bank. "The EU reiterates its call
on Israel to refrain from further settlement expansion, the legalization of
outposts, land appropriation, demolitions, evictions and other unilateral
measures that undermine the viability of the two-state solution," said a
statement from the EU's diplomatic service spokesperson. Earlier this week,
Israel's security cabinet approved a budget of 1.3 billion shekels ($427.8
million) for establishing 34 new settlements in the West Bank.U.N. bodies,
Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under
international conventions - a stance disputed by Israel - and a primary
obstacle to peace. Reuters
Pakistani troops kill 24 militants as violence escalates in
region near Afghanistan
The Associated Press/17 July ,2026
Pakistani security forces raided multiple militant hideouts in the country’s
northwest region, killing Pakistani Taliban and seizing a cache of weapons, the
military and local officials said. The military said
Friday it used intelligence sources to target militants in operations carried
out over the previous day that killed 24 members of the outlawed Pakistani
Taliban and Baloch separatist groups.The military said in a statement that the
raids came in response to a pair of militant attacks on Wednesday, including a
suicide bomber who used a vehicle packed with explosives to ram police officers
and civilians. A little-known militant group also targeted a police station and
wounded several officers in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali
Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces on Friday
for what they described as a swift and effective action against those
responsible for recent attacks in Bannu. The two men said in separate statements
that eliminating terrorism remained the government’s top priority and vowed to
bring perpetrators to justice. The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban
Pakistan, or TTP, are separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban
government, which Pakistan frequently accuses of turning a blind eye to
cross-border militant attacks. Afghanistan’s government in Kabul repeatedly
rejects the claims, although the TTP and Baloch separatist group BLA frequently
claim responsibility for attacks in Pakistan. Since last year, Pakistan has
carried out multiple strikes it says targeted TTP hideouts along the Afghan
border. The Pakistani government in the capital
Islamabad also alleges the groups receive support from India to the south, which
the Indian government in New Delhi denies. In their statements Friday, the
president and prime minister repeated the allegation. Pakistan’s security forces
intend to press ahead with Azm-e-Istehkam, or “Resolve for Stability,” a
nationwide counterterrorism campaign approved last year under the National
Action Plan to dismantle militant networks across the country, the military
said.
ConocoPhillips takes 42 pct stake in BP Iraq venture
AFP/17 July ,2026
ConocoPhillips announced Friday that it had reached a deal with BP to join as
minority partner in the British company’s oil production venture in northern
Iraq. The US company will acquire a 42 percent interest in BP Energy Company of
Kirkuk Limited, with the signing expected during Iraq Prime Minister Ali
al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington. BP ECKL holds a contract to develop the
currently producing Baba and Avanah domes at Kirkuk and three adjacent fields,
ConocoPhillips said in a statement.
ConocoPhillips did not disclose financial terms.
The company said it does not anticipate “significant” capital contributions, but
remuneration will be “linked to a proportionate share of incremental production
and costs.”“We see an opportunity to create value through a capital-efficient
redevelopment program that leverages a large existing production base, while
also offering meaningful exploration upside,” said ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan
Lance.“We look forward to working with BP and the Government of Iraq to support
the continued redevelopment of these historically significant fields in an
important energy-producing region.”BP and Iraq finalized the Kirkuk agreement in
February 2025 as part of a strategy to boost production from Iraq.The
announcement comes a few days after President Donald Trump welcomed Zaidi to the
White House, where the US president hinted at likely oil deals with Iraq.
The White House meeting came against the backdrop of renewed military
escalation between the United States and Iran. Washington and Tehran are Iraq’s
main allies but have long fought a proxy war over the country. Like other oil
producers, Iraq -- a founding member of OPEC -- was greatly affected by the
Middle East war. It is hugely dependent on oil exports, which make up about 90
percent of its budget revenues, and the vast majority of its crude travels via
the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently at the heart of US-Iran tensions.
The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published
on 17-18 July/2026
All Christians Must Die-The Extremist
Persecution of Christians During April 2026
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/July 17, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/155993/
Next “they took him into the house and cut off his hands while reciting Islamic
scripture.” Finally, they dumped him near a crossroads. A stranger found him and
raised the alarm. His father, Lubega Issa, reportedly justified the attack:
“That is what sharia [Islamic law] instructs us to do to those who deny the
religion of Allah.” — Morning Star News, April 17, 2026, Uganda.
The Muslim assailants had “targeted Christians” after they “rejected the
generous offer made to them by Islamic State, based on the just rulings of
Islam.” The “offer” was understood as a demand to convert to Islam or submit to
dhimmi status and pay jizya (a subjugation and protection tax for non-Muslims)….
Thousands were displaced. Less than a year earlier, [Islamic State Central
Africa Province] had declared: “Let the Christians of Africa and their Crusader
armies know that there is no security for you except by Islam or jizya.” —
Barnabas Aid, April 13, 2026, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Police claimed he had hanged himself with a scarf from a ceiling fan but Riyasat
rejects the suicide narrative: “There were marks on several parts of his body.”
No complainant ever appeared for the alleged kidnapping, and none has come
forward more than a week later, leading the family to conclude the charge was
fabricated purely for extortion. The family has been denied a full post-mortem
report. — Morning Star News, April 7, 2026, Pakistan.
“Christians have no rights in Pakistan,” said one. “We had no security. No
police. No help.” Despite a police station being only 10 minutes away, officers
took an hour to respond, leaving the wounded Christians “helpless and abandoned
under the open sky, lying severely wounded and soaked in their own blood.” —
x.com, April 5, 2026, Pakistan.
According to an April 8 report, more than 3,809 crimes and offenses were
recorded on church properties across the United Kingdom in 2025. This means
that, on average, more than ten crimes were committed every day in churches and
Christian places of worship last year. — Countryside Alliance.org, April 5,
2026, United Kingdom.
On April 2, in a direct Easter threat, ISIS called on Muslims to set fire to
churches and synagogues across the US and Europe. The Islamist terror group
issued the propaganda in its weekly al-Naba newsletter. “It is incumbent upon
Muslims everywhere… to rise up and set fire to the Jewish synagogues scattered
across America, Europe, Russia, India, and elsewhere.” — New York Post, April 2,
2026.
On April 6, a 45-year-old Moroccan attacked three neighbors with an axe in
Montefrío, Granada, because, according to him, he had “felt the call of Allah”
and that “all Christians must die.” — Gateway Hispanic.com, April 6, 2026,
Spain.
In a video published on Easter Monday, a Sydney preacher, Wissam Haddad,
delivered a sermon mocking Christianity and preaching hate against Christians
and Jews. He cited Hadiths to declare that Jews… and Christians… are destined
for damnation…. “Their God’s being killed and dies and they’re celebrating. It’s
a Good Friday. Makes no sense.” — Sky News Australia, April 8, 2026, Australia.
On April 6, a 45-year-old Moroccan attacked three neighbors with an axe in
Montefrío, Spain, because, according to him, he had “felt the call of Allah” and
that “all Christians must die.”
The following are among the murders and abuses Muslims inflicted on Christians
throughout the month of April 2026.
The Muslim Abduction, Rape, and Forced Conversion of Christian Girls in Pakistan
On April 11, two Muslims raped a 25-year-old Christian woman, leaving her in
critical condition. The survivor, a daily-wage laborer, was picking lemons in a
citrus orchard for local contractor Faizan Mehboob Rehmani (also known as Kaka)
when the assault occurred. “Kaka may have thought I was an easy target because I
am a Christian,” she said from her hospital bed. “They have destroyed my life. I
want the police and courts to ensure they are punished.” According to her:
“I went to drink water from a tap outside a room in the orchard when Kaka and
another man came and pushed me inside at gunpoint. They forced some drink into
my mouth, tied my hands and feet with my scarf, and stuffed cloth into my mouth
so I could not scream. I tried to resist, but Kaka pointed a pistol at my head
and threatened to kill me. He then removed my shalwar [trouser] and raped me
while the other man held me down. After that, his accomplice also raped me, but
by then I had lost consciousness. I don’t know how many times they assaulted
me.”
She was later found unconscious in a street near her home, her clothes soaked in
blood. Her uncle, Tariq Masih, said:
“We were shocked when we received information that she had been found lying
unconscious. We immediately called rescue services, and she was taken to a
government hospital… The assault was so brutal that she received 22 stitches in
her genital area.”
She required transfer to Lahore for specialized treatment due to excessive
bleeding and severe infection. Now the family is facing threats. Tariq reports
that
“The accused and his relatives have started pressuring us to reach a settlement.
They are threatening us with violence and telling us that we are weak and
helpless who cannot afford to pursue this case.”
On March 24, a 16-year-old Christian girl was abducted, forcibly converted to
Islam, and possibly married to a Muslim prayer leader. Neha Bibi had been
attending sewing classes for six months at a center run by the wives of the
45-year-old prayer leader, Sajid Ibrahim. She went to the center that day but
never returned home. When the family inquired, Ibrahim’s wives claimed she had
already left. “We continued to search for her, but when we couldn’t trace her,
we went to the police,” her father said. “They did not pay attention to our
pleas for help.” Police delayed registering a First Information Report, allowing
critical time to pass. The family later discovered that Ibrahim and his wives
had also fled. A report was finally filed on April 2 naming them as suspects,
but authorities made little effort to locate them. The investigating officer
later informed the family that Neha had appeared in a Lahore court claiming she
converted to Islam of her own free will. “We were devastated to hear this,” her
father said. “It is obvious that she may have been converted for the purpose of
marriage.”
According to an April 17 report, a Muslim man, Ali Murtaza, and two accomplices,
abducted 15-year-old Christian girl Sidra Bibi at gunpoint from her home. The
men had scaled the wall of her house around 3 a.m.. Her father, Afzal Javed
Masih, who was away collecting scrap, returned and immediately registered a
First Information Report. Police registered the case but recorded her age as 17
instead of 15 years as in her birth certificate. “I am illiterate and only
learned of this discrepancy later,” Masih said. Police initially detained
relatives of the suspect but released them after documents surfaced claiming
Sidra was an adult, had converted to Islam of her own free will, and married
Ali. “This claim is absurd,” was her father’s response. Murtaza had previously
harassed the family:
“Last year, he fired shots at our house after I objected to him loitering
outside. Despite my complaint, police took no meaningful action. Had they acted
then, this incident might have been prevented.”
The investigation has stalled. Police have declined to recover the girl or
vigorously prosecute, despite irregularities in the purported marriage
certificate (missing Sidra’s national ID number). The family is the only
Christian household in the village, heightening their vulnerability as a
religious minority.
On April 2, a Muslim man threatened to kill a 20-year-old Christian woman unless
she converted to Islam and married him. Laiba Javed received a handwritten note
from former schoolmate Rehman Irfan demanding she convert and marry him by April
15 or face death. Her uncle, Imran Masih, said Irfan came to their house with
two armed accomplices while she was alone. “He handed her a letter at gunpoint
stating that he loved her and would go to any extent to marry her after
converting her.”
On April 12, Muslims who had gang raped a 14-year-old Christian girl, attacked
her relatives in an attempt to force them to withdraw the rape case. Zaman
Shafique, along with five to six accomplices, assaulted Arshad Masih and two
other relatives. Later that night, the assailants returned and set fire to a
thatched section of the family’s home. Rev. Khalil Maqsood, parish priest of St.
Mary’s Catholic Church, confirmed the attack:
“There are about 30 Christian families in this village, and the accused had
publicly threatened that Christian homes would be burned if the victim’s family
did not agree to a settlement.”
The attack is directly linked to a case registered last year over the gang-rape
of the 14-year-old cousin of the assaulted young men. The suspects had
repeatedly pressured the family to settle out of court.
According to an April 24 report, a Christian family continues fighting for
justice after the abduction and forced marriage of their 19-year-old daughter,
Adan Sabir. On July 3, 2025, Usman Ali kidnapped Sabir at gunpoint after she
rejected his marriage proposal. He presented a forged marriage certificate
claiming she had converted to Islam and married him willingly. During an initial
court hearing, Sabir remained silent due to threats against her family. The
Lahore High Court later ordered her return to her family in November 2025 after
evidence of coercion emerged, and a divorce was accepted. However, after Sabir
became engaged to a Christian man, Ali allegedly fired gunshots at the family
home on April 20 and continues threatening them. The family is now in hiding,
moving frequently. According to Sabir’s mother,
“Adan stays silent all day, and at night she wakes up trembling and asks us to
pray. Usman keeps threatening us, saying that if he took her once, he can take
her again, and this time he won’t let her escape.”
The Muslim Slaughter of Christians
Uganda: On April 9, Muslims posing as moto-taxi drivers murdered evangelist
Alfred Kitenga shortly after he preached at a gospel event. Alfred and his wife,
Anna Grace, were returning home when four men approached them. The men claimed
to be fellow Christians who had attended the event and offered free transport.
“We believed them because they said they were fellow believers who had listened
to the message,” said Anna. During the journey, the drivers suggested an
alternative route. Anna grew uneasy when one repeatedly spoke on the phone in a
language she did not understand. Eventually, three additional men appeared.
“What followed was sudden and violent,” she recounted. The attackers beat the
couple severely and stabbed Alfred to death with knives. They later released
Anna near her home.
Separately, on April 17, Muslim relatives cut off the hands of a convert to
Christianity. According to the victim, Kalegeya Faruku, 40,
“I gave my life to Jesus in early March 2026, and my family members were not
happy. They became very angry and started sending me threatening messages about
taking my life.”
On April 17, relatives ambushed him at his family home:
“I found my brothers waiting for me… My elder brother approached me and
pretended to ask about my whereabouts. Suddenly, he grabbed me, and others
surrounded me.”
Next “they took him into the house and cut off his hands while reciting Islamic
scripture.” Finally, they dumped him near a crossroads. A stranger found him and
raised the alarm. His father, Lubega Issa, reportedly justified the attack:
“That is what sharia [Islamic law] instructs us to do to those who deny the
religion of Allah.” Last reported, Faruku was recovering in a secure medical
facility.
Democratic Republic of Congo: During Holy Week (April 1 and 2), Islamic
terrorists of the Allied Democratic Forces attacked Bafwakao village, killing 43
Christians. The jihadist group struck while residents slept, killing victims by
gunfire and beheading several with machetes. Some were burned alive inside their
homes. “The attackers surprised the population in their sleep… The images are
unbearable,” a local source said.
A later report offers more details including that the death toll had reached 60
Christians, and that the Muslim assailants had “targeted Christians” after they
“rejected the generous offer made to them by Islamic State, based on the just
rulings of Islam.” The “offer” was understood as a demand to convert to Islam or
submit to dhimmi status and pay jizya (a subjugation and protection tax for
non-Muslims). When the Christians refused, IS Central Africa Province (ISCAP)
fighters attacked, killing the victims with machetes, burning dozens of homes
(at least 44 reported), and abducting two people. Thousands were displaced. Less
than a year earlier, the ISCAP had declared: “Let the Christians of Africa and
their Crusader armies know that there is no security for you except by Islam or
jizya.”
Pakistan: On April 5, a Muslim driver rammed a speeding cargo truck into a
Christian Easter sunrise procession in the Wazirabad district of Punjab, killing
at least one and injuring more than 60 others. Around 3:30 a.m. approximately
200 members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church were singing hymns and
carrying candles in a pre-dawn service when the light commercial truck plowed
into the crowd at high speed. Eyewitnesses described it as “a premeditated and
well-planned terrorist attack.” A chaotic scene followed, in which worshippers
had to overturn the vehicle themselves to rescue those trapped underneath. The
driver, Muhammad Bilal, fled the scene. Church leaders said they had notified
authorities in advance and received promises of security — that never
materialized. “Christians have no rights in Pakistan,” said one. “We had no
security. No police. No help.” Despite a police station being only 10 minutes
away, officers took an hour to respond, leaving the wounded Christians “helpless
and abandoned under the open sky, lying severely wounded and soaked in their own
blood.” (Some images of the wounded here).
Separately, on March 26, police in Lahore tortured a Christian father of four to
death after fabricating kidnapping charges to extort his family. Following the
arrest of Iftikhar Masih, 42, his wife received a call from his phone by a man
claiming to be an officer, alleging Iftikhar had tried to kidnap a girl at
gunpoint. His brother, Riyasat Masih, rushed to the station where officer Mohsin
Shah repeated the allegations. Riyasat said Shah demanded a bribe of 200,000
Pakistani rupees ($720) for his brother’s release.
“I pleaded that my brother was innocent and of good character, but he insisted
on the payment. I left to arrange the money, and when I returned a few hours
later, I was told that Iftikhar had committed suicide.”
Police claimed he had hanged himself with a scarf from a ceiling fan but Riyasat
rejects the suicide narrative: “There were marks on several parts of his body.”
No complainant ever appeared for the alleged kidnapping, and none has come
forward more than a week later, leading the family to conclude the charge was
fabricated purely for extortion. The family has been denied a full post-mortem
report.
Nigeria: The following are among just some of the Muslim murders of Christians
in April 2026:
On April 5, Islamic terrorists carried out coordinated attacks on two Christian
churches in Kaduna State during Easter Sunday celebrations. The assailants
targeted congregants at the First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church
as they celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the early morning hours.
They arrived in large numbers, surrounded the area, and “began shooting
sporadically at worshippers.” At least 12 Christians were killed, and several
others abducted into the bush.
That same Easter Sunday, in Benue state, Fulani terrorists killed another 17
Christians as they celebrated Easter.
On April 9, Fulani terrorists killed at least 20 more Christians in a nighttime
assault on their village.
Between April 3 and April 11, Fulani terrorists killed eight Christians in
Plateau state.
On April 26, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
attacked the Christian community of Guyaku in Adamawa State, killing at least 29
people and burning churches, homes, and motorcycles.
On April 26, terrorists slaughtered a pastor, his wife, son, and an infant
child. According to the report,
“the attack occurred at about 10:46 p.m. The assailants reportedly entered the
village under the cover of darkness and targeted the pastor’s residence. The
victims were reportedly killed inside the family home…”
Muslim Attacks on Christian Churches
Mozambique: On April 30, ISIS-affiliated jihadists raided and destroyed the
Church of St. Louis de Montfort in Meza, built in 1946. Monsignor Antonio
Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo, Archbishop of Pemba, said
“The parish was attacked, vandalized, and completely burned. A terrifying scene,
homes and infrastructure destroyed, a historic parish reduced to rubble.”
Christian civilians were also “captured and forced by the jihadists to listen to
their hateful proclamations.”
Archbishop Juliasse appealed for international solidarity:
“For almost nine years, chapels and churches in the diocese have been attacked,
destroyed, and set on fire.”
He told of more than 300 Christians killed (many with throats slit) and at least
117 churches and chapels destroyed (23 in 2025 alone). The attackers belong to
Ansar al-Sunna, part of ISIS’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP).
Algeria: According to an April 27 report, nearly all Protestant churches have
been forced to close, pushing thousands of Christians underground. Since 2006,
authorities have shut down at least 58 Protestant churches, including nearly all
affiliated with the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). By January 2025, the
last evangelical churches had effectively ceased public operations.
Azerbaijan: Authorities demolished the Holy Mother of God Cathedral and the
Church of St. Jacob in Khankendi (Stepanakert), Nagorno-Karabakh. Satellite
imagery from April 26 confirms both major Armenian Christian sites have been
erased. The cathedral, consecrated in 2019, served as the city’s main place of
worship and a bomb shelter during conflicts. The Church of St. Jacob was
completed in 2007. Cross stones surrounding the latter were also destroyed.
Armenia’s Orthodox church authorities accused Azerbaijan of “deliberately
targeting Armenian Christian holy sites, seeking to erase the Armenian
presence.” The demolitions come after over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled the
region following Azerbaijan’s 2023 recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh.
France: On April 4, a 43-year-old Tunisian-born man entered the Saint-Clément
church in Arpajon, shouted “Allah Akbar” many times, and assaulted a female
worshipper. “Aymen B.” knelt and prayed on the floor before getting up, knocking
over several objects, and shoving the faithful. The priest immediately alerted
police and he was arrested. His phone showed searches for “Al Jazeera” and “Ben
Laden.” He claimed a “momentary madness” after smoking a joint and said he was
unaware of his actions. Police released him.
United Kingdom: According to an April 8 report, more than 3,809 crimes and
offenses were recorded on church properties across the United Kingdom in 2025.
This means that, on average, more than ten crimes were committed every day in
churches and Christian places of worship last year. The actual figure is likely
higher, as some regions did not provide data or categorize crimes consistently.
The most affected areas were London, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester—all
of which have large Muslim populations.
Nigeria: On April 4 (night before Easter Sunday), terrorists launched a
late-night raid on a Christian village in Borno State, setting a church and
several homes ablaze. Locals said the “attackers operated for hours without
resistance.”
ISIS: On April 2, in a direct Easter threat, ISIS called on Muslims to set fire
to churches and synagogues across the US and Europe. The Islamist terror group
issued the propaganda in its weekly al-Naba newsletter. In response to Israel’s
temporary closure of the al-Aqsa mosque, ISIS declared: “It is incumbent upon
Muslims everywhere… to rise up and set fire to the Jewish synagogues scattered
across America, Europe, Russia, India, and elsewhere.” It explicitly called for
similar attacks on churches and “Jewish gatherings,” urging supporters to
emulate prior terror acts.
Indonesia: On April 4 (Good Friday), authorities forced the closure of the
Thessalonika Christian Ecumenical Fellowship Church after its Easter weekend
celebrations, in response to local Muslim anger. After Friday prayers, several
Islamic clerics and Muslim students demanded sealing the church over the claimed
lack of a Building Permit. Authorities promptly carried out the closure,
preventing the congregation from using the building on Easter Sunday. “This
location is far from the mosque, and we have used soundproofing,” said the
chairman of the Thessalonika POUK Foundation. “We have also coordinated with the
sub-district office and Satpol-PP.” He noted that their permit application had
been stalled for three years.
Generic Muslim Attacks on Christians
Spain: On April 6, a 45-year-old Moroccan attacked three neighbors with an axe
in Montefrío, Granada, because, according to him, he had “felt the call of
Allah” and that “all Christians must die.” The victims — two women (one around
70) and a 69-year-old man — were walking when the attacker struck without
warning. He first hit the elderly man, who defended himself with his walking
cane. He then attacked the two women: one suffered head trauma, while the other
sustained severe hand injuries, including the amputation of a finger. Emergency
services, including a medical helicopter, were required to treat the victims.
Separately, on April 19, a Muslim man of North African origin assaulted a woman
for her Christian faith. According to one report,
“the incident occurred in the early hours of 11 April 2026 in … Barcelona. A
19-year-old man of Maghrebi origin allegedly approached a woman who was walking
alone and initiated a brief conversation. He asked her about her religion. After
the victim confirmed she was Christian, the suspect allegedly reacted violently,
shouting the insult ‘Christian whore!’ before assaulting her. The victim
sustained minor injuries and was assisted at the scene by emergency medical
services.”
Libya: According to an April 7 report, life for foreign Christians remains
highly restricted under strict Islamic influence. Native Libyan Christians are
extremely rare—some sources estimate only about 150 exist—and these must remain
hidden for survival. Foreign Christians (mostly migrant workers) face verbal
abuse, threats, and surveillance. One expatriate worker, “Nathaniel,” in
Benghazi, said that Christians “pray secretly in their homes behind closed doors
so that no one sees them.” He received threats simply for discussing online the
desire to attend church. “Every religion or belief other than Islam is met with
harsh condemnation here,” Nathaniel added. Bibles are nearly impossible to
obtain.
Australia: In a video published on Easter Monday, a Sydney preacher, Wissam
Haddad, delivered a sermon mocking Christianity and preaching hate against
Christians and Jews. He cited Hadiths to declare that Jews (split into 71 sects,
70 in hell) and Christians (72 sects, all in hell) are destined for damnation.
Mocking Easter and the crucifixion, Haddad said: “They celebrate the supposed
crucifixion of — and I don’t see how it’s a celebration. Their God’s being
killed and dies and they’re celebrating. It’s a Good Friday. Makes no sense.”
Africa: According to an April 10 report, jihadist groups are actively imposing
jizya (protection tribute stipulated by Koran 9:29) on Christians in several
regions as part of asserting Islamist dominance.
In Mali, al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM controls rural areas and has demanded 25,000
CFA francs (~$40–41) monthly from Christians over 18 as a condition for
practicing their faith. Non-payers face church closures or expulsion. Christians
described it as a new reality in a supposedly secular state.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, ISIS’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP/ADF)
presents Christians with three choices: convert to Islam, pay jizya while living
“humiliated and subdued,” [Koran 9:29] or face death and displacement. An August
2025 Al-Naba editorial stated:
“If the Christians of Africa want to feel safe… our true Islam provides them the
freedom to choose between three options, Islam, jizya paid humiliated and
subdued, or death and displacement.”
The group has claimed hundreds of Christian deaths.
Even in Pakistan’s tribal border areas, groups like TTP have forced Christians,
Hindus, and Sikhs to pay jizya protection where state authority is weak, says
the report.
Egypt: According to an April 29 report, a Coptic Christian YouTuber, Augustinos
Samaan, was sentenced to five years in prison over faith-based online videos.
The conviction relates to content perceived as proselytizing, or “undermining”
Islam.
Separately, Said Mansour Rezk Abdelrazek, a Muslim convert to Christianity, has
become one of Egypt’s most prominent religious freedom cases. After embracing
Christianity in 2016, he endured years of harassment, detention, and abuse
before fleeing to Russia, where he was granted asylum. Despite a Russian court
order barring his deportation, he was forcibly returned to Egypt in 2024.
Arrested again in July 2025 after publicly professing his Christian faith and
seeking to change the religion listed on his national ID, he was charged with
terrorism-related offenses, contempt for Islam, and promoting ideas harmful to
national unity. On April 13, prosecutors referred him to a terrorism court,
while his lawyers were denied access to the case file. He remains imprisoned,
with advocates reporting torture, physical abuse, denial of adequate medical
care, and repeated postponements of his trial.
Finally, on April 12, police arrested a South Sudanese Christian child for
“proselytizing.” The minor was arrested while distributing Christian literature.
Authorities have increasingly targeted Christians, including foreigners and
converts, under laws restricting evangelism and “undermining” Islam. Such
detentions often involve lengthy interrogations and pressure to stop religious
activities.
Nigeria: Muslim gunmen abducted several Christian schoolgirls and killed one of
them. According to an April 28 report,
“One of the students, Purity Babangida, was killed while attempting to escape
during the attack. Witnesses said at least 15 other students managed to flee by
jumping from the vehicle and later reached nearby communities, including Awon
village, after trekking for several hours through the bush… [T]his incident is
part of a pattern of ambushes along the Akwando–Kachia road… [A]ttacks involving
students and schools have been reported in other parts of Southern Kaduna in
recent years. In 2021, more than 100 students were abducted from a secondary
school in Chikun Local Government Area.”
Syria: Anti-Christian riots erupted in Suqaylabiyah in the last few days of
March, after a Muslim man and a Christian man got into a dispute. Muslim crowds
attacked Christian properties, churches, and individuals in the town.
Separately, according to an April 2 report, Christian churches reduced
activities during Holy Week due to security threats. The restrictions reflect
ongoing dangers for Christians amid instability and Islamist influence. Many
communities limited public celebrations to avoid attacks, highlighting the
precarious position of the Christian minority in the country.
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified
Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at
the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East
Forum.
About this Series
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by
extremists is growing. The report posits that such persecution is not random but
rather systematic, and takes place irrespective of language, ethnicity, or
location. It includes incidents that take place during, or are reported on, any
given month.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22694/persecution-of-christians-april
**Follow Raymond Ibrahim on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Why Hormuz matters far beyond the current conflict
Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/17 July ,2026
We are well into the fifth month of the US-Iran war. An MOU brought a temporary
reprieve, interrupted by occasional skirmishes. For the past week, however,
guns, missiles and drones have once again done the talking. What does this mean
for the global economy and for geopolitics more broadly?First, oil prices
reacted swiftly, with Brent crude rising by roughly 20 percent over a 10-day
period. This matters because higher energy prices intensify inflationary
pressures. The IMF’s latest economic update raised its 2026 global inflation
forecast to 4.7 percent and lowered its global growth forecast to 3 percent.
Several factors helped prevent oil prices from remaining above $120 a barrel
during the first months of the war. First, consumers relied heavily on
commercial and strategic inventories, some of which have since been
substantially depleted. Second, Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline offered
capacity of around 7 million barrels per day, while the UAE’s Habshan-Fujairah
pipeline provided up to 1.8 million barrels per day of bypass capacity, allowing
some exports to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. Third, China, the world’s largest
crude importer, has effectively behaved like a “swing consumer” during the
conflict. When oil prices were low in recent years, China bought heavily and
built up considerable inventories. Since the war began, it has sharply reduced
crude imports, drawing on inventories while refinery demand and fuel exports
have also weakened.
In June, China’s crude imports stood at around 7.1 million barrels per day, down
more than 40 percent year on year and about 12 percent from May. Refinery
operating rates also fell markedly.
At some point, depleted inventories will need to be replenished. That may prove
to be the moment of awakening. Oil is only one part of the story. There is also
LNG, fertilizer, aluminum, helium and other commodities where the bottlenecks
are potentially even more severe. In many cases, there are no major pipeline
alternatives, strategic and commercial storage is more limited, and maritime
transport is indispensable. The situation surrounding fertilizer is particularly
precarious. Before the war, around 30 percent of global fertilizer trade passed
through the Strait of Hormuz, while the Gulf region accounted for an estimated
20 to 30 percent of global ammonia exports.Major South Asian agricultural
economies also depend on Gulf gas, LNG and finished fertilizer supplies,
increasing their exposure to prolonged disruption.
Important planting seasons are approaching in parts of South Asia, Africa and
other developing regions. A lack of fertilizer, combined with higher
transportation and fuel costs, could make agricultural produce scarcer and more
expensive. Once again, the poorest nations and the poorest segments of society
within them are likely to be hardest hit. LNG faces similar economic pressures.
The United States is expected to increase LNG exports by 1.9 billion cubic feet
per day in 2026, bringing average exports to 17 billion cubic feet per day,
according to the US Energy Information Administration. There are other sources
of supply, including Australia, Indonesia and sanctioned Russian exports. Still,
none can fully compensate for the roughly 20 percent of global LNG trade that
passed through Hormuz before February 2026.The Northern Hemisphere must now
prepare for winter, which means greater competition for cargoes between wealthy
European economies and major East Asian importers, including Japan, South Korea
and Taiwan.
This competition is likely to place further upward pressure on prices. Once
again, countries with less economic capacity in the developing world risk being
priced out of the market, as happened at the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
So much for the geoeconomic implications of renewed hostilities between the
United States and Iran. There is also a geopolitical danger that extends far
beyond the immediate economic disruption. The legal framework governing passage
through the strait is principally set out in the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea. The International Maritime Organization, a UN specialized
agency, oversees many of the international shipping, safety and environmental
rules that operate alongside that framework.
Under Articles 37 to 44 of UNCLOS, ships and aircraft enjoy the right of transit
passage through straits used for international navigation. States bordering such
straits must not hamper or suspend that passage. UNCLOS also does not permit
coastal states to impose fees merely for exercising transit passage, although
charges may be levied for specific services provided to a vessel.
Iran signed but has not ratified UNCLOS, while the United States has neither
signed nor ratified the convention itself. Washington nevertheless treats many
of its navigational provisions as customary international law. The competing US
and Iranian efforts to restrict shipping, together with declarations that Hormuz
is alternately open or closed, risk weakening established navigational norms.
Talk of imposing toll fees creates an additional danger. The neighboring GCC
states and Iraq require free passage to export commodities and finished goods,
as well as to import essential products, not least food. Mariners, shipping
companies and insurers also need clarity about the physical and legal status of
the strait in order to assess the risks facing vessels.
The current situation makes even basic commercial decisions extremely
difficult. The longer uncertainty persists, and the more unexpected developments
arise, the harder it becomes to reach reliable assessments. The Strait of Hormuz
is pivotal to oil, gas and fertilizer markets, as well as to many other
commodities and goods that form an integral part of global supply chains. It is
also central to the economies of neighboring countries. But Hormuz is not the
only vital maritime chokepoint. The Strait of Malacca, the Singapore Strait, the
Taiwan Strait, the Suez Canal and the Turkish straits are among several other
waterways whose disruption would have global consequences.The Strait of Malacca
and the adjoining Singapore Strait together form one of the world’s busiest
shipping corridors, carrying roughly one-quarter of global seaborne trade by
some estimates. The Taiwan Strait is critical to the
electronics supply chain. Estimates suggest that around 30 percent of Japan’s
imports and 25 percent of its exports pass through the waterway. South Korea
also depends on it for a substantial share of its imports and exports.
This makes clear that playing fast and loose with international maritime
law and UNCLOS has consequences that extend far beyond Hormuz. Globalization
helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the past three
decades, and global trade remains one of its most important engines. No nation
and no individual should be allowed to play games with something as critical to
humanity’s well-being as open seas and the free passage of ships through
international waterways.
Question: What is the meaning of “where two or three are gathered” in Matthew
18:20?
GotQuestions.org//July 17, 2026
Answer: Matthew 18:20 is often used to give legitimacy to a small prayer meeting
or church service. The pastor might say something like “There are just a few of
us here tonight, but we are glad that we don’t have to have a huge crowd for God
to listen to us. After all, Jesus promises, ‘Where two or more are gathered in
my name, I am there.’” This sounds comforting until it is analyzed and taken to
its logical conclusion. What if there are not two? What if there is only one who
is praying in isolation? Does that mean Jesus is not there? If the answer is
“no,” that raises the question, “What does Matthew 18:20 really mean?”Let’s take
a look at the context of “where two or three are gathered.” The NIV groups
Matthew 18:15–20 together as one paragraph. The paragraph divisions, of course,
are not an inspired part of the text, as the originals were written without any
spaces. However, the NIV paragraph division is based on the content of the
passage and seems to be right on target in this case.
Matthew 18:15–17 tells how to deal with sin in the church; it is a passage on
what is commonly called “church discipline”: “If your brother or sister sins, go
and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you,
you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others
along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they
refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax
collector.”
Verse 18 then gives assurance that, when this process is followed, God is
working in it: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”And then,
verses 19–20 give a final assurance: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my
Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with
them.”The context of “where two or three are gathered together in my name”
(Matthew 18:20, KJV) has to do with church discipline and the confrontation of
the wayward sinner. In verse 16, the principle has been invoked of needing “two
or three witnesses” in making an accusation (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). It seems
that the mention of “two or three” in verse 20 echoes that principle; the “two
or three” are confronting sin in the church.
Jesus cites the Old Testament Law that said an accusation from a single
individual is insufficient to bring action in a criminal case. However, two or
three witnesses who agree are sufficient to establish a matter. The law in
Deuteronomy regulated a human court. Jesus applies this to the “heavenly court.”
When the erring brother or sister in the church is confronted by “two or three
witnesses” and refuses to repent, these witnesses bring the matter before the
church. Jesus assures us that, when this happens, it is not just the witnesses
who are bringing action against the wrongdoer, but He is there with them. Church
discipline is sanctioned by both the Father and the Son. This is important
because we live in an age when it is not fashionable to confront or “judge”
anyone’s lifestyle as sinful. Those who do step forward to call out sin in the
church can take heart in the fact that they are not acting alone; Christ is with
them in the endeavor.
The process of church discipline calls for “two or three,” and this seems to be
the best application for this verse. The two or three who gather in Jesus’ name
are not coming together in a prayer meeting or a worship service but in a matter
of church discipline. The two or three witnesses have confronted the sinner in a
spirit of humility (see Galatians 6:1), and the sinner has not repented. So the
two or three take the matter to the Lord in prayer and then confidently move
forward with the process outlined in Scripture, knowing that they are not being
bullies or busybodies, for God endorses their efforts—Jesus is “with them.”
رابط فيديو ونص كامل لمقابلة رئيس دولة إسرائيل إسحاق هرتسوغ
(بالإنكليزية) من موقع قناة العربية/النص منقول حرفياً عن موقع العربية على
اليوتيوب
Video-Link & full text for an important English interview with Israeli President
from Alarabiya-English Channel: My dream is to drive to Beirut/Not Surprised’
Iran-US Deal Fraying, Believe in ‘Diplomatic Solution‘
July 17/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156008/
NB: The transcript below is copied verbatim from the YouTube transcript of the
interview.”
Summary of Initial Topics Addressed Israel President President Herzog in his
interview with the Al Arabiya English Channel
In the opening segment of the interview, President Isaac Herzog addressed
several key regional security issues:
Iranian Aggression: Herzog stated he was not surprised by the recent escalation
in regional tensions, characterizing it as part of a long-standing Iranian
pattern of behavior using proxies to radicalize situations and create
instability.
The Nuclear Threat: He emphasized that the international community—including the
U.S. and the EU—recognizes Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities as the root
cause of the current conflict, posing a significant danger to the entire region.
Maritime Security: Herzog defended the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz
open for international trade, condemning Iran’s attempts to use its closure as a
form of “blackmail” against the world economy. He expressed support for firm
American reactions to ensure these routes remain open.
Diplomatic Stance: While acknowledging Israel had legitimate concerns regarding
past interim deals, he reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to a diplomatic solution,
provided it effectively halts Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional
destabilization.
Interview Transcript: President Isaac Herzog and Melinda Naji
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156008/
Melinda Naji You’re watching Counterpoints on Al Arabiya English. I’m Melinda
Naji coming to you from Jerusalem for this special interview with the Israeli
President Isaac Herzog. President Herzog, thank you so much for your time on Al
Arabiya English.
Isaac Herzog Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to appear for Al Arabiya.
Melinda Naji We’re sitting down here in Jerusalem at a time of another flare up
in regional tensions. We’re seeing Iran again resuming the targeting of some
vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. We’re seeing renewed strikes from the United
States on Iran. The memorandum of understanding that was signed on to—was it a
bad interim deal if we find ourselves back in this position?
Isaac Herzog First of all, I’m not surprised that this is the situation because
with the Iranian pattern of behavior which we know it’s impossible to do deals.
They violate all the time. They have their own way of interpreting things that
are very, very clear. We see in so many instances their proxies are all
operating on their behalf simply to stir up and radicalize the situation leading
to instability. That’s their ideology for years and years and years. And I must
say I believe that this reality also hits the face of many people who thought
that there is an opportunity and a chance. Honestly, I believe in a diplomatic
solution to the conflict. I think this is absolutely what needs to be done and I
actually know that this is the clear Israeli position. But we had legitimate
concerns. We raised them and now you see it in front of your eyes with the
Iranian behavior. I’m happy that the American reaction is firm so that and clear
so that everybody understands especially the Iranians that they cannot goof here
and they have to go back on track if they really want to implement a venue of
exiting from the war.
Melinda Naji You mentioned that Israel had concerns about the memorandum. Do you
think if Israel had been negotiated with in the lead up to the memorandum being
agreed to, that this current situation could have been avoided?
Isaac Herzog Look, the whole situation is controlled and led by President Trump
and I trust him fully on this and I believe that it is an American-led situation
meaning they, the Americans, have to deal with it with their allies as well
because closing Hormuz—let’s understand it—closing Hormuz is clearly an another
extortionate step in the relations of Iran with the world. If you think about it
objectively, now let’s go into bird’s eye view and you remember the map of the
Middle East. It cannot be that the world would accept a situation whereby
maritime routes which are owned by the world which are internationally open
which are part of international rules and part of international maritime law. It
cannot be that they will be closed by one nation through its proxies or by
itself simply because they want to blackmail the rest of the world. It cannot go
this way. It’s impossible because once you do it then the whole world is a mess.
And I think here the American position is very clear and I think President Trump
is correct in the fact that he’s insisting that it must be open. It’s part of
international trade.
Melinda Naji The US though is also asserting its own blockade on the strait. So
why should they be allowed?
Isaac Herzog/ Because it’s a counter reaction to the Iranian blockade. And at
the end of it all, it’s quite clear that free maritime is an essential element
in world affairs. You know, people who watch us now should realize that this
blackmailing operation which has been going on for about almost three years—like
closing of Bab el-Mandeb, or closing of Hormuz, etc.—increased the cost of
living of all these families around the world who are getting these products
which are being carried by ships all over the world because of insurance and
freight costs and other costs. So it’s obvious that the world is paying a price
simply for this Iranian rudeness and Iranian mode of behavior which has always
been a terrorist mode of behavior.
Melinda Naji And even after what looked like a potential breakthrough, the world
finds itself back in this position. We’re discussing again the closure of the
strait, regime change in Iran now looks increasingly unlikely, and their nuclear
and ballistic missile capabilities remain.
Isaac Herzog/ Well, but that’s everybody’s clear purpose, to make sure that Iran
does not have nuclear capabilities. The president of the United States made it
clear, the international community, the European Union—everybody understands now
the threat of nuclear capability by a jihadist regime as the Iranian regime.
This is the root cause of the war. I mean, you know, the United States went to
war with Israel on this issue of the nuclear capability of Iran because it means
huge, huge risk and danger to all the people in the region.
Melinda Naji The fact though that we’ve gone so far into this conflict, we’ve
had a potential breakthrough, now we seem back to the beginning of where we
were. Has it been a strategic failure to this point?
Isaac Herzog/ I don’t know because honestly, you know how it is. There’s an
eruption and then there’s negotiations. I know that there’s efforts to go back
on track. I cannot comment because I’m not in the room nor are we involved. So I
don’t want to give judgment on something and make clear declarations because it
may go back on track. All I’m saying is there should be clear guidelines: no
nuclear capability for Iran, no blackmailing and extorting the world community
by closing off Hormuz.
Melinda Naji Um, and as you say, the negotiations now look like they could
potentially get back on track. Would you like to see Israel at the table?
Isaac Herzog/ I always want to see Israel at the table. I want to see Israel at
the table speaking with all our neighbors and finding the root for peace in our
region and moving forward with our allies and having a real dialogue above board
with all the Arab states around us because I believe that we’re at a critical
historical moment where there is a trajectory, a shift, a change of a real
dialogue between Israel as the only Jewish state in the world and in the region
speaking to all these very distinguished Muslim states around us. I believe we
are at a moment of dialogue between Jerusalem and Mecca. I believe that there is
a moment of dialogue between people of all faith in the region and I’m trying to
pursue it in my own way.
Melinda Naji What’s the impetus do you think for that at this current point?
Isaac Herzog/ Because there’s an evolution of the relations. 50 years ago, 30
years ago, there was not even a chance of a dialogue between Israel and any of
the Arab states. Following the peace agreement with Egypt, then with Jordan, and
the Abraham Accords, there is a major movement moving forward. There’s also
reality under—you know—not so above-board dialogue between so many nations and
peoples and business and so forth and so on. It is clear and it is my dream as I
say all the time. It is my dream to take a car and drive to Beirut. It is my
dream to go to Damascus and it is my dream really to see peace between Israel
and Saudi Arabia. Definitely normalization moving forward and I believe it’s
part of history and I believe we are all the children of Abraham and are
destined to live together and must move forward together including with our
Palestinian neighbors.
Melinda Naji Okay. Let’s go back to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia first of all and
discuss what that could look like because some Gulf states have reaffirmed their
position that normalization with Israel needs to be reliant on an irreversible,
time-bound pathway to Palestinian statehood. So would Israel be open to
agreements with Gulf states outside of the scope of the Abraham Accords?
Isaac Herzog/ Well, Israel—I’ll say the following right now. It is a clear
Israeli desire to have agreements with further and important Arab states and
clearly the dialogue between Israel and Saudi Arabia or the normalization is
clearly something that should be dealt with directly between the nations with
the support of the United States. I don’t say it has to be under any formula or
under special cover or definition. You’re dealing with a very serious leader and
I have great respect for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I’ve heard and read
and known so much about him from friends who I know and he’s a very admirable
leader, and the things that we want most in Israel is to see rapprochement
between the nations. As for the way we move forward, of course there are many
issues, but right now it’s important for me to tell your viewers that as of
today, Israel is on the route, on the path for elections, and the elections will
take place on October 27th. I as the head of state—non-executive—I have also the
constitutional power to delegate to a member of Knesset to form a government and
that’s out of the results of the election. So clearly I would not say things now
that are part of the agenda of any of the political sides because there’s a big,
big debate on how we move forward with the Palestinians, for example. But I’m
leaving it for the Israeli people to decide. All I can say clearly that I
believe that the Israeli nation is eager to move to further peace agreements and
eager definitely to have a real dialogue and normalization with our Saudi
neighbors.
Melinda Naji So just my final question on that. So then to confirm, Israel would
be interested in, open to, constructive, creative frameworks catered to
individual Gulf countries?
Isaac Herzog/ So I’m not going into the exact formula because again, out of my
position, I don’t craft the exact outcome of how to build it, but I do know—and
I’ve said it many times—discussion as opposed to a group. I agree it’s not part
of a group. We are very happy about the Abraham Accords, I must say, and we’re
very proud of our relations with the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Bahrain,
and with the United Arab Emirates, which is just an example of how successful it
can be and moving forward. But clearly, we understand that the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia is a very important country. It’s definitely a country on its own right,
a major leader in the Muslim world. And for me, I think it’s the dialogue
between Jerusalem and Mecca which should be the real gist of it because I
believe Jew and Muslim need to dwell together in this region in peace. It’s a
wonderful, great dream. Absolutely. A dream indeed. And I have many friends who
visit Saudi Arabia and they enjoy Riyadh tremendously and keep on telling me I
should come. I said fine, but you know, I guess I can’t come just as an ordinary
citizen. I hope to be able to realize and meet the Saudi Arabian leadership
officially in due course.
Melinda Naji If we turn to other diplomatic relationships, the relationship
between the US and Israel, we have seen comments from US and Israeli officials
that appear to have different focuses at the moment. We see a US administration
very focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. We see the Israeli focus being
very firmly on Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and stability in your
region. Do you feel that there is a divergence in focus or priorities between
Israel and the United States?
Isaac Herzog/ Right now I think there is a close and good dialogue especially in
closed rooms. We could have our differences. It’s only natural. We have
different viewpoints on things. We live here, they are there. They have the
grand picture on things that are matter to the United States. Hormuz is clearly
something of vital importance to the world and world economy. We are the ones
who bear the brunt, like our neighbors as well and the neighbors of Iran, from
Iranian missiles and their aggression. So, we can have our differences, but at
the end they’re tactical. We all understand that we are faced with an empire of
evil in Tehran with its proxies, with its belief, with their call that the
United States is the big Satan and Israel is the small Satan or with their call
of annihilating Israel or the fact that they press buttons and fire at nations
all around the Gulf simply because they feel like it and they think they can
threaten or harass. They’re surprised to find out that dignified Arab states
stand up to them. That’s like terrorizing them. And then it’s about time the
world tells them, “You know what, we’re not afraid of you guys. We are going to
make sure that you won’t be able to do that anymore.”
Melinda Naji You say that it is normal obviously for two allies to have their
differences. But is it disappointing to see those differences being aired so
publicly when we hear comments from the US Vice President JD Vance speaking on
his current podcast tour saying things like, “We know that there is without a
shadow of a doubt people within the Israeli government trying to shift us away
from negotiations”?
Isaac Herzog/ But we live in a world of politics and we live in a world where a
lot of stuff is open and transparent. I can tell you because my family
relationship with US administrations goes back 15 presidents since Franklin
Delano Roosevelt—but clear, close relations—that the more things change, the
more they stay the same. There’s always differences. There’s always arguments.
There’s always tension. I respect President Trump and I respect Vice President
J.D. Vance and I respect Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the entire
administration. We work closely with them on many issues. And I believe the
grand picture which the United States should push with Europe and others is of
course the connectivity between the east—that what should go through the eastern
hemisphere meaning through us, Israel, all the way to Saudi Arabia, through the
Gulf, all the way to India—the major connectivity on transportation, on
communications, on energy which could change the entire world. And I believe
that with the incredible Israeli advantages in so many spheres together with the
incredible advantages and qualities of the Arab nations and definitely Saudi
Arabia, we can get very far.
Melinda Naji If we turn away from the US and back to more of your regional
neighborhood, there have been several high-profile Israeli officials who have
expressed concerns recently that some countries within your region are trying to
change or even destroy the balance of power in the region. Do you think that
that’s a very real and present threat?
Isaac Herzog/ First of all, it’s a very important comment that was stated by
Prime Minister Netanyahu. We’re very much aware of it. We believe this region
should move to peace, not to an arms race of sorts and threats and so forth. I
mean, the next big objective should be peace with Syria, peace with Lebanon,
between Israel and Syria. Israel and Lebanon are not tilting the balance towards
all sorts of elements that may divert and kind of change the equation in this
region and the equilibrium which is quite sensitive.
Melinda Naji Because Israel obviously has its own very legitimate security
concerns. But since the atrocities of October 7, we’ve witnessed or the world
has seen a reported death toll in Gaza of approximately estimated 73,000 people,
about more than a million displaced from Gaza and Lebanon. Israel is accused of
genocide at the International Criminal Court and Israeli politicians accused of
war crimes. As a head of state—non-executive—are you sorry and uncomfortable at
that level of unnecessary civilian death and scrutiny on Israel?
Isaac Herzog/ So first of all, we reject a lot of this data and we of course
insist that we operated according to international law by defending ourselves.
One has to understand the frontier, the arena of battle because we alerted every
citizen who was there in advance to move out so that we can get in and unravel
those tunnels of terror where our hostages were kept there or where huge
ammunition was kept there to attack our citizens and go for this massacre of
October 7th. People had missiles, long-range missiles, in their living rooms, in
their bedrooms, in their kitchens, in their mosques, and in their shops, and
what’s not in their schools. So, at the end, what do you do? You send your
soldiers to get them out. And unfortunately, there were tragedies, although
we’ve done our best to maintain international law. And by the way, many of those
killed were Hamas operatives, and we have all the names and numbers and all. Now
I must say fast forward where we are now. Clearly there’s a hope and clearly
there’s a venue. There’s a venue because of the 20-point plan of President Trump
adopted as a security council resolution on Gaza. Phase one was done. Israel and
all sides, they had demarcation of where we are. In order for Israel to
withdraw, first of all, there has to be—according to the 20-point plan—the clear
disarming of Hamas. That’s the phase we’re at—the heavy negotiations by the
board of peace, international chair of it all Nikolai Mladenov and his team,
bringing in a technocrat government of Palestinians to Gaza from Egypt. The
precondition of all of it is to move on all the issues, including the disarming
of Hamas. That’s where we’re at. So, I’m saying to the world, “Guys, you can
keep on going on the blame game. We defended ourselves and actually protected
the free world, by the way we fought this empire of evil.” Same in Lebanon, same
in here. If you get the terrorists out, you will have real hope for peace and
real hope for the people living in Gaza. These people in the Gaza, they deserve
good life. We want good life for them. They were there when Hamas took it all,
took them over. Even now Hamas is money laundering some of the incoming food
supplies in order to maintain their regime. But if they’ll go out and a
technocrat government takes over, there’s huge hope. Same goes for Lebanon. We
can have peace with Lebanon. The one who are stopping it is Hezbollah, and
they’re a proxy of Iran just like Hamas—a proxy of Iran. So that’s the strategic
situation we’re looking at. And believe me, my heart aches for every innocent
civilian in the Palestinian side because this is not our aim or desire in any
way.
Melinda Naji And just finally, the tide of public opinion after a lot of these
situations in Gaza, in Lebanon, has in some quarters globally turned against
Israel as the Israeli government, I should say, and perhaps their actions. As
the head of state, how do you grapple with the public opinion problem?
Isaac Herzog/ That first of all, we have to differentiate. I’m answering and
replying to all these allegations all the time. There’s an international
campaign and onslaught against Israel as part of trying to weaken Israel in its
battle against the Iranian Empire of Evil. That is a clear equation and
therefore a huge part of this campaign is aimed to affect public opinion by
viral movies, by messaging, by demonstrations, and so forth. Having said all
that—not organically—sort of, it’s not organically. A lot of it is fake, too. I
don’t shy away from the fact that there are people who believe that. But we
can—we know that it’s instigated and organized and paid for and financed and a
lot of was exposed in recent months all over the place. Because some of the
people have no clue. They don’t know anything about the region. They don’t know
anything about my country. They don’t know that 20% of Israel is Muslim. They
have no clue. You know, recently I posted a beautiful picture of the way I swore
in five new judges—qadis—for the Sharia court in Israel including one woman
which is a great story. The amount of response I got from the Arab world in the
international community was great. “What, you have Muslims in Israel? What, you
mean they’re equal citizens?” People don’t know that they have parties and they
are very important in our politics and they are now in the political picture in
Israel—counts them as very interesting in the political game—and they have no
clue about their TV, radio and the fact that they’re part and parcel of all our
lives. But that’s the greatness of this nation. We are a very moderate nation.
We want peace. We were attacked, butchered, slaughtered, raped our sisters and
daughters and husbands and brothers. That’s what happened to us. And we went to
fight simply to defend ourselves. But now after showing resilience and leading
to a major change which occurred in Syria, in Lebanon, in Gaza, now is the
opportunity for the international community to stop this blame game and move to
peace. And we can move to peace if we really want to. But for this, Iran has to
pull out its proxies, its war machine, and enable people to live. There’s no
difference between us. I mean, there’s no real arguments between us and Lebanon
on the solution for peace. The border is clear. We don’t have disputes. We
simply want to live in peace in our northern border without being attacked by…
And I’m telling you, I spoke in Arabic to the people of Lebanon saying we just
want to be there as real good neighbors to you guys.
Melinda Naji I guess the counterargument to that is those who would say that the
Israeli government doesn’t show that they want to live in peace.
Isaac Herzog/ So the issue is that I’m not dealing with what people say here or
express. In our democracy, the variety of views is unimaginable. So people can
say whatever they want. At the end, Israel made clear, we just signed an MOU
with Lebanon with clear guidelines for peace. It’s a major, major step and we
heard what the President said and Prime Minister Salam. We know it’s not easy
for any one of them. We are clear and also for Israelis. Our people in the north
want to make sure that they can live in peace, not go to school being bombarded
by Hezbollah attacks all day long. So that’s why we took over this strip of 10
kilometers or so until the Litani River simply as a buffer to protect our
citizens. But it’s not that we can’t have an arrangement. The previous UN
Security Resolutions and ceasefire agreements were violated by them, so that’s
why—and I know it’s also a very big interest of the region to have peace on that
side of the Middle East and we are eager to it, but guys, the world has to
understand we are not willing to be attacked again and Israelis have lost their
trust in their ability of trusting their neighbors. That’s the result of October
7th. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. It means that the Israeli public—at least
as I speak for the Israeli nation—wants to have peace and wants to make sure
that it will be safe under that agreement.
Melinda Naji President Isaac Herzog, I appreciate your comments and this
wide-ranging interview. Thank you for your time on Al Arabiya English.
Isaac Herzog Thank you.
Selected Face Book & X tweets on
17 July
Lindsey Graham
Memorial Dates for the Late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
The life and legacy of the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)
will be celebrated on these dates and at these locations:
Tuesday, July 28th
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, July 29th
Columbia, South Carolina
Pickens County, South Carolina
Additional details to follow.
Us Force
That monster has been eliminated.
https://x.com/TrumpSpoofPower/status/2077992234436399272/video/1
Hamas commander Walid Haniya—who gunned down 10 innocent children in front of
their families, and forcibly raped and murdered a Christian woman in her own
home before dumping her body in a nearby drain—has been eliminated in a covert
operation.
John Bolton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQeA87QIbHU
The people we are negotiating with in Iran don’t have the cards. They are not in
control of the weapons, they aren’t in a position to make commitments that they
can enforce. There is very little reason to amend the MOU under these
circumstances.
Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי
"You're dealing with a very serious leader, and I have great respect to Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman #MBS. I've heard and read and known so much about him
from friends who I know, and he's a very admirable leader...
...I have many friends who visit Saudi Arabia and they enjoy Riyadh tremendously
and keep on telling me I should come. I say fine, but I can't come just as an
ordinary citizen. I hope to be able to realize and meet Saudi Arabian leadership
officially in due course."
Zéna Mansour ܙܺܝܢܵܐ ܡܲܢܨܘܪ
President Aoun’s historic meeting with President Trump - the first such summit
in 16 years - must go beyond mere protocol. To achieve stability, the outcomes
of the Washington and Rome frameworks need to translate into practical steps
that secure support for the Lebanese army, assist with reconstruction, and pave
the way for peace and energy normalization.
Safeguarding Lebanon's sovereignty also requires a gradual Israeli withdrawal
and a heavily reinforced army capable of securing the country. Ultimately,
achieving domestic security depends on disarming illegal weapons and ensuring
that displaced residents can return to their hometowns.
יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog
https://x.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/2078094522030993671/video/1
A message of peace from Jerusalem to our neighbors across the region.
My interview with @AlArabiya_Eng
ראש ממשלת ישראל
@IsraeliPM_heb
https://x.com/IsraeliPM_heb/status/2078154280402333804/video/1
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today with reserve soldier A. and his
family after he was released in great efforts from his prolonged detention (8
months) during his and his wife M.'s honeymoon in Thailand. The Prime Minister
congratulated the couple upon their return to Israel, thanked them for the
prolonged reserve service they performed, and said that the State of Israel
acted and will always act for its citizens around the world. A., M., and the
family members thanked the Prime Minister: "Thank you for doing everything
possible to bring us back, it warms the heart. Thank you for not leaving us
behind."The Prime Minister expressed appreciation to the Coordinator of
Prisoners and Missing Persons, Gal Hirsch, for leading the release efforts, and
thanked the President of the State, the Foreign Minister and his staff, and the
elements in the security system who assisted in bringing them home.
Israel Army
🇮🇱6:00 PM: Mossad claimed, We know the exact location of Iran's Supreme
Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. 🇮🇷7:00 PM: Iran's Army Chief responded, He is in a
highly secure and undisclosed location. The United States has never been able to
find him, so an agency like Mossad won't be able to either. 🇮🇱8:00 PM: Mossad
replied, We have been operating inside Iran for the past 500 days, and Iran
still hasn't realized that Mossad agents are active inside the country. We don't
need to prove who we are—the whole world knows Mossad's capabilities. And yes,
we know Mojtaba Khamenei's location.
Hiba Nasr
Tom Barack : We've had probably 75 prophets in the last 3,000 years that all
have been sent to this region. They didn't go to Greenland. They didn't go to
Latin America. They didn't go to Asia. They went to this little quagmire of
tribes and flags that turned into nations over time.