English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For July 24/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
John 15/12-15/:"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 23-24 July/2026
Elias Bejjani/Text, Video, Arabic & English: Mistakes, Sins, Blunders of Transparent Political Cleverness, and Falsification of Facts Committed by Joseph Aoun During His Visit to America/July 23, 2026
Saint Charbel Makhlouf: An Expanded Biography of the Life and Holiness of Lebanon’s Great Hermit/Elias Bejjani/July 23/ 2026
Berri not worried over 'Syrian intervention', says Salam visit to south coordinated with him
Salam says southerners are not alone, state will facilitate their return
Israeli troops raise flag on Shaqra's Dubieh castle
Fadlallah says Hezbollah ready to recognize achievements but warns state against 'confronting its people'
Syrian worker wounded in south Lebanon amid Israeli incursions and detonations
Ancient Lebanese city of Tyre added to heritage danger list
Terrorism trial opens in stabbing of author Salman Rushdie
Lebanon cannot afford to wait to disarm Hezbollah/Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab News/July 23, 2026
Hezbollah says Lebanon president’s US visit ‘submission’ to foreign power
Assad Loyalists, Syrian Hezbollah Members Eye Return as Lebanon Grows Unsafe
Lebanon Condemns Houthi Threats, Affirms Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
South Lebanon: Incursions, Shelling, and a Strike Targeting Civil Defense Paramedics in Nabatieh
Before noon today, the Israeli army carried out a major explosion in the town of Tairi, Bint Jbeil district.
President Aoun and the First Lady Return from Washington
Berri Calls the President to Congratulate Him on a Safe Return
An Eye for an Eye: Is the Region Heading Toward an Explosion or an Escalation That Revives Negotiations?
Laura Yammine/NNA/July 23, 2026
The "Summit" Equation Translated in the South: Lebanon’s Seriousness Met with US Pressure on Israel/ Lara Yazbek/NNA/July 23, 2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 23-24 July/2026
US issues sanctions on groups helping fund Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas
US Senate blocks resolution curbing Trump’s Iran war powers
Gulf states, Jordan say continued Iranian attacks are ‘explicit acts of aggression’
Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen’s Houthis this month, sources say
Iran Vows to Continue Strikes in Mideast War
UK says armed forces ready to defend country after Iran warning over US bombers
Kuwait reports new drone attack on its Iraq border
Saudi Arabia ‘strategic’ partner, seeking ‘peaceful, civil’ nuclear program: Rubio
Iraqi PM Takes De-Escalation Initiative to Tehran
US unveils new tariffs on 60 partners as Trump rebuilds trade agenda
Rubio Says US Wants Positive China Ties but Won't Abandon Allies
Houthis attack 2 Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea as US carries out 12th night of strikes
Houthi Threats to Shipping Signal New Price Hikes in Yemen
Trump says Saudi nuclear deal contingent on recognizing Israel
Trump Threatens Iran, Houthis with 'Major Military Punishment'
Trump Praises Nigeria's Efforts against Violence towards Christians
Russia Warns US against Ukraine Arms Sales as Top Diplomats Meet in Manila

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 23-24 July/2026
Houthis announce blockade of Saudi Arabia, ships reroute to avoid Bab al Mandeb Strait/Bridget Toomey/| FDD's Long War Journal/July 23/2026
Receding Nile Waters Revive the GERD Debate/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
How to tackle the Houthis’ expanded threat/Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy/Arab News/July 23/2026
Iran shifts the battle to Kuwait and Yemen/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya English/July 23/2026
Stories of Fools and Simpletons/Tawfiq Alsaif/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
When Gulf Security Becomes a Global Issue/Dr. Ibrahim Al-Othaimin/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Hamas's New Leader, Same Old Jihad/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/July 23/2026
Mamdani Accidentally Offers Insight into the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict/Kenneth Levin/Gatestone Institute/July 23, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 23 July/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 23-24 July/2026
Elias Bejjani/Text, Video, Arabic & English: Mistakes, Sins, Blunders of Transparent Political Cleverness, and Falsification of Facts Committed by Joseph Aoun During His Visit to America
July 23, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156155/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTd1oPZut0U
Summary of the Main Topics Addressed in the Commentary
*A positive assessment of President Joseph Aoun’s visit to the United States, while noting major observations and criticisms.
*Accusing President Aoun of distorting the historical facts related to Hezbollah’s creation.
*Affirming that Hezbollah is an Iranian project and not a consequence of the Israeli occupation.
*Criticizing the description of Hezbollah as a Lebanese resistance organization.
*Objecting to the praise directed toward the Lebanese Army leadership and Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal.
*Criticizing the portrayal of Nabih Berri as a statesman and the defense of his political role.
*Warning against policies of appeasement and political maneuvering in dealing with national issues.
*Criticizing the composition of the delegation accompanying the President during his visit to Washington.
*Holding presidential advisers responsible for certain presidential positions and statements.
*Comparing President Aoun’s approach with that of President-elect Bashir Gemayel in calling things by their true names.
*Calling on Lebanese citizens to practice criticism and refrain from turning officials into political idols.
*Stressing that officials should be judged by their performance and not glorified merely for carrying out their duties.
President Aoun’s Visit to Washington: Positives and Mistakes
President Joseph Aoun’s visit to the United States was an important achievement, that the American position toward Lebanon was noteworthy, and that the overall approach of the visit carried positive and encouraging elements. At the same time, however, certain political mistakes and missteps accompanied the visit and deserve to be highlighted out of respect for truth and history.
First: Falsifying the History of Hezbollah’s Creation
Since assuming the presidency, President Aoun has repeatedly stated on various occasions that Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization that emerged as a result of the Israeli occupation. Such a statement constitutes a falsification of history and an insult to the intelligence of the Lebanese people. According to publicly known facts and the testimonies of its founders and leaders, Hezbollah was never a direct result of the occupation. Rather, it is an Iranian ideological, military, and jihadist project established by the Iranian regime and attached to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Its leaders have repeatedly declared that their ideological, political, and military allegiance is to the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih and that their funding, armament, and direction come from Iran. Therefore, describing Hezbollah as merely a Lebanese resistance movement does not reflect the reality of its formation, trajectory, and role.
Second: Hezbollah Between Lebanese Identity and Iranian Affiliation
It is true that Hezbollah’s members hold Lebanese citizenship, but this does not make the project to which they belong a Lebanese one. Its ideology, decision-making, financing, and political and military references are all tied to Iran. They are mercenaries in every sense of the term as defined in political science. Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly confirmed on many occasions that Hezbollah is part of the Wilayat al-Faqih system and that its money, weapons, and support come from Iran.Therefore, describing Hezbollah as an independent Lebanese organization contradicts the facts publicly declared by its own leadership.
Third: A Different Reading of the Liberation of South Lebanon in 2000
Hezbollah did not liberate South Lebanon in 2000. Rather, it occupies it, displaced its inhabitants, and caused its destruction and devastation. Furthermore, Israel’s withdrawal in 2000 was not the result of a military victory by Hezbollah but came within the framework of complex regional and international considerations. The issue of the Shebaa Farms was later used to justify the continuation of weapons outside the authority of the state.
Fourth: Criticism of Confidence in the Army Leadership
As for President Aoun’s confidence in the Army leadership, this confidence does not align with the realities represented by Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal, who is affiliated with Nabih Berri and Hezbollah. Aoun bears full responsibility for any performance or decisions issued by the military leadership as long as he defends it and grants it political cover.
Fifth: Nabih Berri and the Concept of a Statesman
Describing Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri as a statesman is both a sin and a crime, because Berri’s political, financial, constitutional, and militia record lies at the heart of every crisis that has afflicted Lebanon and the Lebanese people. He is part of the problem, not the solution.He also serves as cover for Hezbollah’s jihadist and Iranian policies and has contributed to consolidating a political reality that has weakened the state and its institutions.
Sixth: The Problem of Political Cleverness and Appeasement
One of the main causes of Lebanon’s crises is the tendency of the majority of political party bosses, officials, and religious leaders to adopt appeasement and political cleverness instead of telling the whole truth. Calling things by their true names is the essential gateway to building a real state and restoring the Lebanese people’s confidence in their leadership.
Seventh: Criticism of the Presidential Delegation
Many Lebanese, including myself, question the reasons behind the selection of certain members of the delegation that accompanied President Aoun to Washington.
This “poorly assembled” delegation was not the best representation of Lebanon for a visit of such importance. The exclusion of certain figures and ministers, including the Foreign Minister, raises many doubts and questions.
Eighth: The Role of Advisers
The advisers surrounding President Aoun, especially those involved in drafting his speeches and positions, are characterized by approaches that lack a Lebanese national perspective and that openly and blatantly distort historical and political realities.
The President needs advisers who possess the courage to tell him the truth rather than flatter him.
Ninth: Comparison with Bashir Gemayel’s Experience
Some compare Joseph Aoun to Bashir Gemayel, and this is a major mistake. Bashir’s experience was distinguished by honesty, clarity, and courage in calling things by their true names, without resorting to appeasement or ambiguity. He also surrounded himself with capable advisers who were willing to express opposing opinions whenever necessary.
Tenth: A Call for Criticism and Against Creating Idols
Lebanese citizens, especially those who consider themselves sovereignists, should stop blindly applauding any official, including the President of the Republic, who is merely a public servant working for the state and its citizens. Performing one’s duties does not place a person above criticism or accountability. Joseph Aoun must not become a new political idol, because previous experiences have proven that political sanctification leads to further mistakes and failures.
Conclusion
President Joseph Aoun’s visit to the United States was positive in terms of its form and overall results. However, it was marred by major political mistakes, most notably:
*Justifying Hezbollah’s creation and linking it to the Israeli occupation.
*Polishing the image of Nabih Berri and presenting him as a statesman.
*Defending the Army leadership and granting it unconditional confidence.
*Furthermore, reliance on advisers who serve as deposits for Hezbollah, Nabih Berri, the Syrian Nationalist Party, the remnants of Michel Aoun’s disastrous legacy, and groups of opportunists and hypocrites does not provide the President with a critical reading of reality.
Ultimately, speaking the truth, no matter how difficult, remains a national and moral duty. Public officials should be evaluated based on their performance and commitment to the truth, not on the amount of applause that surrounds them.
The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Saint Charbel Makhlouf: An Expanded Biography of the Life and Holiness of Lebanon’s Great Hermit
Elias Bejjani/July 23/ 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156061/
Saint Charbel Makhlouf is one of the most renowned saints of the Maronite Church and the Catholic Church in modern times. His fame has spread far beyond Lebanon and the Middle East to every continent of the world. Millions of believers know him as the “Heavenly Physician” because of the countless graces, healings, and miracles attributed to his intercession. Maronites and Catholics celebrate the feast of Saint Charbel each year on July 23, commemorating his passing from this earthly life into eternal glory. His life remains a remarkable example of asceticism, prayer, self-denial, and obedience. He has become a spiritual symbol of Lebanon and of the Universal Church, while his shrine in Annaya is today one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites in the world.
His Birth Name and Early Life
Saint Charbel was born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf on May 8, 1828, in the village of Bekaakafra in the district of Bsharri in northern Lebanon. Bekaakafra is considered one of the highest inhabited villages in Lebanon.
His father was Antoun Makhlouf, and his mother was Brigitte Chidiac. Youssef grew up in a humble and devout rural family whose livelihood depended on farming and livestock raising. He lost his father at a young age, a hardship that marked his childhood. From an early age, he showed signs of deep piety and a strong attraction to prayer and solitude. He often withdrew to a nearby cave to pray in silence, and the villagers sometimes referred to him as “the little hermit.”
His Religious Calling and Entrance into Monastic Life
From his youth, Youssef felt a powerful call to the monastic life. In 1851, he secretly left his family home and entered Our Lady of Mayfouq Monastery, belonging to the Lebanese Maronite Order.
Upon entering religious life, he took the name Charbel, in honor of Saint Charbel of Antioch, a Christian martyr of the second century. After a period of formation, he moved to Saint Maroun Monastery in Annaya, where he continued his monastic journey. On November 01,1853, he professed his first monastic vows.
He later pursued his philosophical and theological studies at Kfifan Monastery, where he studied under the guidance of the holy monk Nimatullah Al-Hardini, who would later be canonized as a saint of the Maronite Church.
His Priestly Ordination
Father Charbel was ordained a priest on July 23, 1859. Remarkably, this same date would later become his liturgical feast day. Following his ordination, he returned to Saint Maroun Monastery in Annaya, where he devoted himself to a life of prayer, labor, and silence.
His Life at Annaya Monastery
Saint Maron Monastery in Annaya, located in the Jbeil region of Lebanon, has become one of the most famous monasteries in the Christian world because of its association with Saint Charbel.
He lived there for more than sixteen years as a monk before moving to the hermitage.
He became known for:
Long periods of silence.
Complete obedience to his superiors.
Profound humility.
Love for the poor.
Constant devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
Severe asceticism.
He firmly believed that monks should live the Gospel in practice and not merely in theory.
His Move to the Hermitage
A hermitage is a place of strict monastic solitude where a hermit lives a life of prayer, contemplation, and work apart from the world. In 1875, his superiors granted him permission to move to the Hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul, located near Annaya Monastery. There he spent the final twenty-three years of his life.
A Life of Asceticism and Prayer
Saint Charbel’s life in the hermitage is considered one of the most rigorous examples of asceticism in Maronite monastic history.
His daily life centered on:
Prayer/He spent long hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Fasting/He fasted during most days of the year.
Vigil/He slept only a few hours each night.
Manual Labor/He participated in simple agricultural work.
Silence/He spoke only when absolutely necessary.
His Personal Virtues
Humility/He never sought position, recognition, or fame. He considered himself the least among the monks.
Obedience/He faithfully carried out the instructions of his superiors without complaint.
Voluntary Poverty/He embraced poverty throughout his entire life.
Constant Prayer/Those who knew him regarded him as a man who lived continually in the presence of God.
Love for the Eucharist/ The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was the center of his spiritual life.
His Death
On the evening of December 16, 1898, while celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the hermitage, Father Charbel suffered a stroke. He remained ill for several days before passing away on December 24, 1898. The Maronite Church celebrates his liturgical feast on July 23, the date associated with his priestly ordination and spiritual remembrance within the Church tradition. He was seventy years old at the time of his death.
Events Following His Death
Soon after his burial, extraordinary events began to occur. Residents of the area reported seeing mysterious lights emanating from his tomb during the night. Because these occurrences continued, Church authorities opened the tomb several months later. To their astonishment, his body was found largely incorrupt and preserved in an unusual manner. It was also observed to exude a fluid resembling a mixture of water and blood. This phenomenon continued for many years. His remains were examined on several occasions during the twentieth century, attracting the attention of physicians, researchers, clergy, and pilgrims from around the world. Today, the saint’s relics are preserved at his shrine in Annaya, which receives millions of pilgrims.
Annaya Monastery and His Shrine
Saint Maron Monastery in Annaya has become the worldwide center of devotion to Saint Charbel.
The site includes:
The saint’s tomb.
A museum containing his personal belongings.
The historic monastery church.
The modern basilica.
A pilgrims’ reception center.
Every year, visitors arrive from Lebanon, the Arab world, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
His Beatification
After extensive study of his life and miracles, the Cause for Beatification was introduced in Rome.
On December 5, 1965, Pope Paul VI declared Father Charbel Blessed during the Second Vatican Council. This event marked a historic milestone for the Maronite Church.
Twelfth: His Canonization
Following the recognition of additional miracles in Lebanon and many other countries, his cause was further examined.
On October 9, 1977, Pope Paul VI canonized him as a saint of the Universal Church.
Since that day, he has been officially venerated throughout the Catholic world as Saint Charbel Makhlouf.
Thirteenth: Some of the Most Famous Miracles Attributed to His Intercession
Thousands of spiritual and medical testimonies have been attributed to Saint Charbel’s intercession.
Among the most notable are:
The Healing of Sister Marie Abel Kassis/This miracle played a central role in the process leading to his beatification. She was cured of severe illnesses after invoking his intercession.
The Healing of Nohad El Shami/ Her case became one of the most famous modern miracles associated with Saint Charbel. She was reportedly healed from a serious paralysis, and two unusual wounds appeared on her neck following a vision of the saint.
Healings from Cancer/
Numerous testimonies from Lebanon and abroad describe recoveries from various forms of cancer attributed to his intercession.
Healings from Blindness and Paralysis/
Church and medical commissions have documented many reports concerning the healing of severe and incurable conditions.
The administration of the Annaya shrine continues to receive reports and testimonies from countries throughout the world.
Fourteenth: The Spread of His Veneration Throughout the World
Today, Saint Charbel is among the most widely venerated saints of the Christian East.
Churches, monasteries, shrines, and chapels dedicated to him can be found in dozens of countries, including: Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Hundreds of churches, chapels, and shrines bearing his name have been established across the globe.
Fifteenth: The Spiritual Importance of Saint Charbel
The significance of Saint Charbel lies in the fact that he:
United prayer and work.
Lived the Gospel with extraordinary fidelity.
Embodied the spirituality of Eastern Christianity.
Offered a universal model of asceticism and contemplation.
Became a spiritual bridge between East and West.
For this reason, Christians, Muslims, and people of various religious backgrounds visit his shrine seeking prayer, healing, and blessings.
A Prayer Through the Intercession of Saint Charbel for Lebanon
Lord God, Master of history and of all nations, we ask You through the intercession of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Hermit of Annaya and Saint of Lebanon and the world, to look with mercy upon Lebanon and its people. Grant its sons and daughters wisdom, courage, and fidelity to the truth. Bless every effort that seeks justice, peace, freedom, and human dignity. Protect Lebanon from violence, division, and corruption. Strengthen the rule of law and its institutions, and safeguard its sovereignty, independence, and territorial unity. Lord, heal the wounds of the Lebanese people, comfort those who suffer, and grant all public servants the grace to work faithfully for the common good.
Through the intercession of Saint Charbel, make Lebanon once again a land of encounter, love, witness, and mission, according to Your holy will. To You be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Conclusion
Saint Charbel remains one of the most prominent spiritual figures in the history of Eastern Christianity. His hidden life in a small hermitage in Annaya became a universal testimony to faith, prayer, holiness, and total dedication to God. Today, his name is honored in hundreds of churches, monasteries, and shrines throughout the five continents, making him one of the most beloved saints of the modern era.
**The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com
**Note: The information presented in this study has been compiled from numerous reputable ecclesiastical, theological, historical, and scholarly sources.
Introduction

Berri not worried over 'Syrian intervention', says Salam visit to south coordinated with him
Naharnet/July 23/2026
Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he is waiting to learn what happened in the bilateral meetings in Washington between President Joseph Aoun and Donald Trump and the extent of commitment to implementing the Israeli withdrawals from southern Lebanon. Regarding whether he will meet with President Joseph Aoun upon his return from Washington, Berri told the Dubai-based WHYZ news portal: "Communication is ongoing."As for U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about a possible Syrian intervention in Lebanon, Berri said he is "not worried because there are no indications from either Syria or Lebanon of any intention to interfere or create tensions." Concerning Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Berri said: "It was symbolic and coordinated with me. He contacted me, and I advised him to go early and to coordinate with the Lebanese Army because the Israeli army has not ceased firing."

Salam says southerners are not alone, state will facilitate their return
Naharnet/July 23/2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who visited Wednesday the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, said the visit aimed to reassure the people of the south that the state is with them. Salam, alongside Lebanon’s defense minister and senior military officials, pitched a Lebanese flag near a destroyed building in the town, vowing the government will start rebuilding destroyed homes and infrastructure. He said Thursday that the state will not stop at reclaiming the land, but will return to the people of the south and with them. The return begins with the deployment of the army and security forces, followed by reopening roads, clearing debris, and restoring basic services, ultimately ensuring the prerequisites for a dignified return, including temporary and transitional shelter such as prefabricated units, Salam said. He stressed that the people of the south will not be left to face this phase alone, stating that state ministries, public institutions, and government councils are fully mobilized for the task. "The State will deploy all available resources to launch the process of return and early recovery." Salam's visit to Zawtar al-Gharbieh came a day after President Joseph Aoun’s landmark White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israeli troops raise flag on Shaqra's Dubieh castle
Agence France Presse/July 23/2026
The Israeli war has caused widespread destruction in Lebanon, mainly in the south, but violence has declined since the signing of a U.S.-Iran memorandum last month and the Lebanon-Israel framework deal. In Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, one of several "pilot zones" where the Lebanese Army begun deploying as part of the Washington-sponsored deal with Israel, dozens of residents waited for permission to check on their homes. "We will enter the town with our heads held high, thanks to the presence of the Lebanese army," Abbas Yaghi, 73, told AFP. The military had told residents on Tuesday to avoid entering "until the security situation stabilizes".The army is conducting a sweep of the village, which is contiguous with its Israeli-occupied neighbor, Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh. Israeli troops still launch intermittent strikes on nearby towns. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported drone attacks on Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Khardali area on Wednesday, as well as artillery shelling on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge. "We will follow the army if it gives us permission to enter," said Mostapha Ammar, a 60-year-old resident of Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh. Wafaa Ismail, 64, also from Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, was not granted permission to enter the neighboring village as Salam visited. "He should have brought the people in with him so he could claim victory," she said. The NNA said Israeli troops "carried out an incursion towards the Dubieh area" near the town of Shaqra, further south near the border, and "raised the Israeli flag in the historic Dubieh castle".Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame on X called the move a "hostile, provocative act", saying Lebanon would "spare no effort to restore sovereignty" over castles in the south. In May, Israeli forces seized south Lebanon's strategic crusader-era Qalaat al-Shqif, also known as Beaufort Castle. The United Nations looks set to list five south Lebanon castles including Beaufort and Dubieh, also known as Qalaat Shakra, as world treasures under threat, as UNESCO member states meet in South Korea.

Fadlallah says Hezbollah ready to recognize achievements but warns state against 'confronting its people'
Naharnet/July 23/2026
MP Hassan Fadlallah of Hezbollah noted Thursday that Israel “has not withdrawn from any meter it has occupied in south Lebanon,” despite the declared start of the pilot zones process. "What happened was the Lebanese Army strengthening its deployment in liberated villages and towns that the enemy failed to occupy thanks to the blood of our martyrs and the sacrifices of our resistance fighters. The Lebanese Army can deploy among its people and community and reinforce its presence; no one is preventing it from doing so," Fadlallah added. "When the army tried to move slightly beyond the liberated borders in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the enemy opened fire on it. The enemy then announced with brazen arrogance -- and amid official Lebanese silence -- that the Lebanese Army had advanced 100 meters forward, despite the fact that the army was moving on Lebanese soil and the enemy army is the occupier," Fadlallah noted. "What happened in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh involved no Israeli withdrawal whatsoever. This government did not need to put on these charades to present what happened as an achievement, for it is a illusionary accomplishment," the lawmaker said. He however announced that "if anyone delivers an actual achievement, we stand ready to recognize it as such."“This government operates on the principle of legitimizing the Israeli occupation and its presence, while linking an Israeli withdrawal to the notion of disarming the Resistance," Fadlallah added. He pointed out that "those making commitments to the United States and drafting plans to disarm this resistance are merely selling illusions to the U.S. administration.”“They will spend the rest of their constitutional tenures counting days, nights, months, and years without achieving a single objective aimed at targeting any element of our strength," he stressed.
"The enemy tried through fire and iron to disarm this resistance and it failed. Will a few individuals in power manage to do so? In what world, and on which planet, are those denying reality living?" Fadlallah wondered. "Accordingly, these commitments (made by the Lebanese state) carry no value for us. Our resistance remains a necessity and a national requirement, and we will remain steadfast in holding onto it until we liberate our land, protect our country, and honor the blood of our martyrs," he went on to say. "The principles we operate by are: the withdrawal of the enemy from our land, the return of displaced persons, reconstruction, and the release of prisoners. If the government manages to achieve even a single objective among these headings, we will acknowledge it as an achievement. But so far, it has delivered nothing," Fadlallah noted. He warned that Lebanese are authorities are “driving the country internally toward internal tensions and clashes, pushing in various directions to provoke an internal conflict.”“For our part in Hezbollah, we avoid internal conflict; we care deeply about our country and our civil peace. We constantly warn this government: do not push our people into a confrontation, for no authority in Lebanon will emerge victorious if it drives its people into conflict," Fadlallah cautioned. He pointed out that Hezbollah is “avoiding an internal clash” out of concern for the country, not out of “weakness, retreat, or a lack of popular support.”“Some officials sitting in their palaces assume that the resistance's community has weakened and that Iran will weaken, but they are delusional, building their positions on dreams and illusions," he added. "The primary bet will remain on the regional umbrella taking shape in the region, even amidst these American attacks" on Iran, Fadlallah said. "Ultimately, no matter how long the attacks last, the Americans will return to an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the first clause of that agreement will be Lebanon," he suggested. "We are confident in the stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran that there will be no regional agreement, nor any final deal, without a full Israeli withdrawal from our land. This is a strong and enduring expectation, and it is where our hopes lie," Fadlallah said. "At the same time, above all else, we rely on God. Simultaneously, we rely on the will and steadfastness of our people, as well as on our resistance, its constant presence, and its continuation in the field," the Hezbollah legislator added.

Syrian worker wounded in south Lebanon amid Israeli incursions and detonations
Naharnet/July 23/2026
Israeli forces infiltrated Thursday the southern town of Serbine amid heavy machine gun fire. Nearby in al-Tiri, forces carried out a large-scale detonation. In Ibl-al Siqi, a Syrian worker was wounded as Israeli forces fired machine guns, and detonated houses in the village.

Ancient Lebanese city of Tyre added to heritage danger list
Agence France Presse/July 23/2026
Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon hit in recent months by Israeli bombardment, was on Wednesday added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in danger. "The site has been directly hit and has sustained damage. Furthermore, its state of conservation is a cause for growing concern, particularly given the possibility of further impacts," the organization said."Optimal conditions are no longer in place to ensure the conservation and protection of the property's outstanding universal value," said the U.N. body, adding that it was the Lebanese government that requested its inclusion on the list. The ruins in Tyre, around 80 kilometers south of Beirut but barely 20 kilometers from the Israeli border, were placed on the UNESCO heritage list in 1984 and contain mainly Roman-era archaeological remains. The coastal city was caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and tens of thousands of its residents fled after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders covering districts including some archaeological areas, though most locals have since returned. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame welcomed Wednesday's move and said the listing would "focus the attention and concern of UNESCO and member states on a site of great importance in the history of a region currently witnessing conflicts". The ancient city, founded some 4,700 years ago, is home to two protected areas listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and which include a Roman triumphal arch and a hippodrome dating from the second century. One of the sites suffered a direct hit from an Israeli strike in June. A Lebanese culture ministry official told AFP at the time that an administrative office was struck and debris from nearby bombardment had impacted archaeological elements including columns, capitals and mosaics. The city, one of the oldest in the Mediterranean, was variously Phoenician, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine. Earlier this year, Salame accused Israel of failing to comply with the Hague Convention, which since 1954 has required warring parties to protect cultural sites during armed conflict. He had also accused Israel of disregarding "blue shields", an internationally-recognized symbolic emblem which a UNESCO-linked committee established to protect cultural sites during armed conflict. UNESCO's decision to inscribe Tyre on its danger list comes as the organization holds the 48th session of its World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.

Terrorism trial opens in stabbing of author Salman Rushdie
Associated Press/July 23/2026
The man convicted of trying to kill Salman Rushdie spent years researching the writer's whereabouts before stabbing him on a lecture stage, federal prosecutors said Wednesday at the opening of his federal terrorism trial. It is a second trial for Hadi Matar, who was found guilty in a New York state attempted murder case last year. The federal terror charges focus more on Matar's alleged motive for the attack on the renowned author and free-speech advocate in 2022.Prosecutors started working Wednesday to persuade jurors that Matar was trying to carry out a 1989 fatwa, or religious ruling, that called for Rushdie's death because of what some Muslims saw as blasphemy in his 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses.""Fulfill the fatwa — that's what Hadi Matar intended to do," Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch said in an opening statement at a federal courthouse in Buffalo, New York, about 70 miles (110 km) from the arts and intellectual retreat where Rushdie was assaulted. The Booker Prize-winning author is expected to testify later this week about the stabbing that nearly killed him and left him blind in one eye.Defense attorney Nathaniel Barone urged jurors to keep their minds open. "You're going to have to ask yourselves: What was Hadi Matar's intent?" Barone said in his opening. Speaking to The Associated Press outside of court, Barone said the biggest challenge facing prosecutors is determining Matar's state of mind at the time of the attack.""Certainly, they can't do that demonstrably. There's no facts. There's no hard evidence," Barone said. "They'll have to draw together different events, different circumstances, and then ask that jury to connect the dots. And that's difficult to do because there could be a number of reasonable, plausible explanations as to what he was thinking."
Prosecutors contend that Matar's writings, communications and other materials showed he acted out of loyalty to Iran's theocratic government and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group; Iran's late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa.
A stunned audience saw Rushdie's stabbing
Matar, 28, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that include engaging in an act of transnational terrorism. Currently serving a 25-year New York State prison sentence, he faces a potential life sentence if convicted in the federal case. The attack — which jurors saw on video Wednesday — unfolded in front of a horrified audience at the Chautauqua Institution, where Rushdie was about to discuss writer safety. His assailant, wearing a medical mask, strode onstage and stabbed Rushdie repeatedly, continuing even as the writer got up and fell backward. Spectators rushed to pull the attacker off Rushdie and assisted the lone state trooper on site in holding the assailant face-down before he could be handcuffed. Zachary Colvin's body-camera video was also played and showed Matar informing the trooper he had no weapons in his pockets, admitting he had a fake New Jersey driver's license, and telling him his real name was Hadi. Asked by the defense whether Matar was cooperative as he was being detained, Colvin said: "Initially he did attempt to knee me, but he was cooperative beyond that."As one of the videos played, Matar, 28, placed his head down on the defense table several times before looking back up at the screen. Otherwise, he spent much of the time writing notes on a yellow pad and exchanged comments with his lawyers — and waved at Colvin when asked to point him out in court. Rushdie, now 79, has recounted the assault and his lengthy recovery during Matar's earlier trial, in a memoir and in multiple interviews.
"The thing that happens when you get really a close-up look at death — that's as close as you can get without actually doing the dance of death and heading off to nowhere — it stays with you," he told The Associated Press in 2024. "There's a shadow."
Federal terrorism trial hinges on Matar's motivation
Born in the U.S. to parents who immigrated from Lebanon, Matar is a citizen of both countries. His mother has said he turned moody and withdrawn after a 2018 trip to Lebanon.
Prosecutors say his attack on Rushdie was propelled partly by remarks that the late Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made in 2006, amid an uproar in the Muslim world over caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in European newspapers. Nasrallah opined that "the problem began the day Salman Rushdie wrote 'The Satanic Verses' " and that the furor over the cartoon wouldn't have happened if someone had followed through on Khomeini's fatwa. Matar started researching Rushdie in 2020, asking online contacts where the writer lived and eventually looking into where his office was, what sports teams he followed and where he watched games, Lynch said in his opening statement. He said Matar kept sticky notes and a notebook about his project. "We need to kill him ASAP," Matar wrote, according to the prosecutor. He said Matar framed the killing as part of what he considered a jihad, or holy war, and added: "Become a warrior and just get it over with." In Matar's New Jersey bedroom, federal agents found photos of Khomeini, his now-deceased successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a Hezbollah figure, Lynch said. Matar's computer held a photo of him saluting in a Hezbollah-related T-shirt, plus a video about Khomeini's fatwa, and Matar asked a contact in 2022 whether the edict was still valid, the prosecutor said. And the fake ID Matar carried echoed a Hezbollah figure's name, prosecutors said. "The defendant wanted everyone to know he was doing this for Hezbollah," Lynch told jurors. Matar declined to testify at his state court trial, and it is unclear whether he will take the stand in federal court. At his state court sentencing, Matar said he believed in free speech but blasted Rushdie as "a hypocrite" and a "bully."
How Ayatollah's edict affected Rushdie
Rushdie was born in India, raised in Britain — where he was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II — and now is a U.S. citizen. He won the Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel "Midnight's Children" and became most famous, and notorious, for "The Satanic Verses." A dream sequence about the Prophet Muhammad sparked often-violent protests erupted against Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim family. Khomeini's 1989 fatwa drove Rushdie into hiding for years. Although the edict was rescinded, Iran hasn't focused on it in recent years. Iran's government denied involvement in the 2022 stabbing, but its Foreign Ministry's then-spokesperson suggested Rushdie invited trouble by insulting Islam. Hezbollah's Nasrallah did not comment on the attack. After "Knife," Rushdie's memoir about the stabbing, he returned to fiction with last year's "The Eleventh Hour," a book of short stories and novellas. He received a Dayton Literary Peace Prize lifetime achievement award in November.

Lebanon cannot afford to wait to disarm Hezbollah
Khaled Abou Zahr/Arab News/July 23, 2026
This was not the first time a Lebanese official had visited the White House and received support. But it was the first time that a president with the will and capacity to ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty had visited the White House. At the same time, Tuesday’s meeting between Joseph Aoun and President Donald Trump came against the backdrop of a US president having the courage and willingness to address Iran’s evil role in the region, facing it head-on, for the first time. So, beyond the positive relationship between the two presidents and Aoun being able to “have anything he wants,” there is a great window of opportunity for Lebanon here.
Now, we need to put things into perspective. If Lebanon might today be capable of regaining its sovereignty, it is because Israel obliterated Hezbollah. The pundits can spin this any way they want, such as by stating that Hezbollah is still there — but it is nowhere near its past power. Without the military action by Israel against Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, it would have been impossible to conceive that Lebanon has the potential to regain its sovereignty.
While Aoun highlighted the importance of an Israeli withdrawal in order for any resistance movement to stop, he also mentioned that Hezbollah is Lebanese and highlighted the Iranian influence. But there will not be a chicken-and-egg scenario. The mechanism is clear with the pilot zones. There is a clear path for Lebanon to regain control over its territory from both Iran and Israel. It is clear Aoun envisions a negotiated, phased process rather than an immediate disarmament.
This positive meeting can be aligned with the meetings Trump had with the Iraqi prime minister and the Syrian leader. The US obviously wants to reduce Iran’s influence and, to different extents, the three leaders are aligned with this goal. But how will it be achieved?
Also, can the Lebanese situation be compared to the disarming of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, or the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland, as Aoun mentioned in one of his speeches in Washington? This would mean an agreement from Hezbollah to surrender its arsenal to the state willingly. I have my doubts, but I still ask: what would make this happen?If nothing happens on the ground in Lebanon, the country will stay on its current trajectory. It is clear Aoun envisions a negotiated, phased process rather than an immediate disarmament. This is what is expected in the proposal aimed at avoiding internal instability, while reaffirming that only the Lebanese state should possess arms. I can honestly state that I do not know how this would happen in the long term. With agendas changing and timelines slipping, I am worried that this strategy could leave Lebanon in an eternal status quo.
If we take the FARC example that Aoun mentioned, the 2016 peace agreement was made possible not only by military pressure and negotiations but also by broader regional changes in South America, mainly the decline of revolutionary movements and the end of Cold War-era ideological conflicts. By using this example, Aoun is indirectly stating there is a need for regional change for this plan to work. The key difference here is Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm and the IRGC’s unwillingness to give it an order to do so. There is little chance of Hezbollah voluntarily surrendering its arsenal. While any logical plan would imply the gradual deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces into areas under Hezbollah’s influence, the transfer of security responsibilities to the state, and the eventual decommissioning of Hezbollah’s heavy weapons — including missiles, rockets, drones, and military infrastructure — how can this happen if Hezbollah refuses?To keep America’s support, Lebanon will have to move forward and regain sovereignty over the entirety of its territory.
In short, Aoun had a very successful US visit. He cannot and should not miss this opportunity. This means Lebanon must deliver. It is now the country’s turn to finish the job and get rid of Hezbollah. The head of the military keeps repeating that this would break the army and the country. Whether this is true or false, the result will be the same. To keep America’s support, Lebanon will have to move forward and regain sovereignty over the entirety of its territory.
I do not believe that Hezbollah will disarm willingly. Hence, amid the army’s lack of readiness, if direct action is taken it will only be done in collaboration with Israel and/or Syria, as Trump has been suggesting. This reality also highlights that it was Israel’s strikes that allowed Lebanon to dare mention officially disarming all nonstate militias and planning for a return to sovereignty. Aoun is trying to avoid at least one of these scenarios. But a gradual plan carries the risk of stalling if nothing changes regionally or if international agendas and priorities shift. Previous examples have shown that solely relying on international pressure is not viable. The West lacks the commitment Hezbollah has from the IRGC.
The ongoing confrontation between the US and Iran could trigger a regional shift and I believe that this time it might. Yet Lebanon has been left behind too many times, like an elevator stuck halfway up. The real test of sovereignty is whether Lebanon can take the lead and work with international partners to achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah without waiting for regional changes. *Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is the CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.

Hezbollah says Lebanon president’s US visit ‘submission’ to foreign power
AFP/23 July ,2026
The Iran-backed Hezbollah group on Thursday branded Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to Washington a failure and said it showed the government’s submission to a foreign power.
In a statement, the group’s lawmakers said the visit revealed “the extent of subservience and submission to foreign tutelage,” adding that it “failed to achieve... an American commitment to the withdrawal of the enemy from our land,” referring to Israel. The visit, according to the group, also failed to “stop the crimes of killing, bombing and bulldozing that this enemy continues to commit against our people, nor did it provide the possibility of a safe return for the displaced or the start of reconstruction.”US President Donald Trump received Aoun in Washington on Tuesday, where the Lebanese leader said he “stressed the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.” Trump, when asked whether Washington would put additional pressure on Israel to withdraw, said: “We’ll be looking at that.”Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel in support of Tehran on March 2, triggering major Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion. In their statement, the Hezbollah lawmakers reiterated the group’s rejection of Beirut’s direct talks with Israel, which began in April, and a US-sponsored framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel last month. They also called for a full Israeli withdrawal from the country’s south. Lebanon’s army on Tuesday began deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiya as part of the agreement. Under the deal, the army is to disarm Hezbollah and the Israeli military is to withdraw from “pilot zones” where Lebanese troops will subsequently deploy. Army chief Rodolphe Haykal visited Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Thursday where he “reviewed the measures taken” to “ensure the safe return of the residents,” a day after Prime Minister Nawaf Salam planted a Lebanese flag in the town. While violence has declined since the signing of a US-Iran memorandum last month and the Lebanon-Israel framework deal, Israel still carries out intermittent strikes on the south. On Thursday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli forces carried out a “large detonation” in Al-Tiri, near the border, and that a Syrian worker was wounded by Israeli gunfire elsewhere in the south.

Assad Loyalists, Syrian Hezbollah Members Eye Return as Lebanon Grows Unsafe
Damascus: Mansour Hussein/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Fearful of political and battlefield developments, former Assad-era officers, personnel and Syrian Hezbollah members who fled to Lebanon after the regime’s fall are searching for safer, more stable options. For some, returning to Syria is becoming “a viable choice.”“We go to sleep hearing talk of a Syrian military intervention and wake up to the possibility of rapprochement between (Hezbollah) and the Syrian state. Either way, we lose,” said Hadi, a former Hezbollah security operative from the northern Homs countryside. His words capture the anxiety gripping Syrians linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Warmer rhetoric between Damascus and Beirut, combined with uncertainty over the positions of Syria’s new authorities and Hezbollah’s leadership, has fueled fears of a rapprochement that could come at their expense. Speculation is growing that Hezbollah could withdraw its protection and restrict their security activities. Syrians under the group’s protection, especially the poorest, fear becoming a “bargaining chip” in talks with Damascus. As support fades and living conditions worsen, many are looking for safe ways back to Syria or seeking refuge elsewhere. Hadi is among them. “Most Syrians can feel the hostile tone toward the new Syrian state easing,” he said. “What was once a red line — approving of any position taken by the ‘Jolani government’ — is now considered normal, as long as it does not affect the sect.” He has asked relatives in Syria to check whether he faces arrest warrants or legal complaints that could lead to his detention if he returns. Hadi worked with Hezbollah from 2013 until Bashar Assad’s government fell. Fears deepened after Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently praised “the Syrian leadership’s decision not to join a pincer movement with Israel by intervening militarily in Lebanon.”His comments came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa renewed his opposition to military action against Hezbollah and backed dialogue.Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani later said during a visit to Beirut in early July that talks with Hezbollah were possible “if the interest requires it.” Abdel Razzaq, who joined Hezbollah’s security division in the Sayyida Zeinab area outside Damascus, has already sent his family back to Syria.He did so when the Israeli war in Lebanon began. He remains in Lebanon, uncertain whether to follow them or leave for another country. He is “waiting for the green light.”For anyone with a clean record, he said, “returning to Syria today is far better than living in poverty and constant fear that we will be handed over to the Lebanese state because we are here illegally.”That, he said, would mean deportation and prosecution in Syria. “Many people have completed settlement procedures and returned to normal life,” he added. Whatever happens, Abdel Razzaq believes people like him will pay the price. “Whether there is an agreement, or war and Syrian forces enter Lebanon as people keep saying, we will be the scapegoats,” he said. “Most of us live here without official papers from any UN agency or government body.”
Home feels safer
Zeinab, from the town of al-Zahraa in the Aleppo countryside, refused to wait for assurances. As soon as the Israeli war in Lebanon began, she pressed her husband to return to Syria because of the hardship they faced in Beirut’s southern suburbs. She said Aleppo was calm and there had been no acts of revenge. Her husband had served as a military engineering officer clearing remnants of war and “had nothing to do with combat or military operations,” she said. “After it was established that he had not fought with Bashar’s army, he completed a settlement in Aleppo and was not mistreated.” Zeinab told Asharq Al-Awsat that she had repeatedly checked the security status of relatives and acquaintances still in Lebanon. Among them was her father, who had worked as a cleaner at a Hezbollah facility in Sayyida Zeinab. He fled after the regime’s fall, fearing retaliation.
No collective revenge
Sources at Syria’s Interior Ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat that the state rejected collective retaliation. “The consequences of the war cannot be addressed by making women and children bear responsibility for crimes committed by adults,” the sources said. But former members of the regime’s military and security structures must regularize their status as soon as they enter Syria. Anyone found to have harmed others, taken part in actions that injured civilians or faced a personal complaint — including over property seizure, theft or similar offenses — would be detained, the sources said. They stressed that completing a settlement did not shield anyone from later personal claims or evidence of involvement in crimes against civilians.
Assad’s legacy
Diaa, a former officer in the Political Security Directorate, does not believe Hezbollah will hand him or other former regime personnel over to the Syrian government. But he expects pressure to grow. Hezbollah, he said, is facing rising frustration in its support base, where large numbers of Syrians have settled. The group could respond by tightening restrictions. “That is already happening,” Diaa said, citing reduced food aid, closer monitoring of former officers who were never Hezbollah members and the possible withdrawal of protection. Such steps, he said, could leave them exposed to security raids. Some former regime loyalists still “dream of returning to power” and remain active along the Syrian border, Diaa said. They continue to receive protection because they are useful to Hezbollah, he added. Most of those who fled, particularly family breadwinners, were shocked by the reality of life in Lebanon. Many are now searching for a safe route home or a way out to another country. Diaa is waiting for a visa to an Arab state. Others are seeking help from UN agencies to move to Europe, Australia or New Zealand, which they see as safer and more stable. Security expert Brigadier General Imad Shahoud said Hezbollah had never fully trusted Assad-era forces, even when it operated inside Syria. “Hezbollah did not consider Bashar Assad’s army and militias friendly forces,” he said. “Its military and security methods made that clear.”Still, Shahoud said the group was unlikely to abandon its Syrian fighters. He described them as a long-term source of leverage against Syria’s new government and a reserve force of more than 10,000 fighters living in special camps, including Khamenei Camp. Most oppose the new Syrian authorities for doctrinal and ideological reasons, he said. That, he added, could make them Hezbollah’s first line of defense and a force capable of fueling unrest and destabilizing Damascus.

Lebanon Condemns Houthi Threats, Affirms Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Lebanon's foreign ministry on Thursday condemned threats by Yemen's Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, including threats to maritime navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, describing them as a flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In a statement, the Ministry reaffirmed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation and ensuring the security of international waterways. It also stressed the need for the full implementation of international resolutions, continued support for the legitimate Yemeni government, and the withdrawal of the Houthi militia from the areas under its control, emphasizing that these measures are essential to preserving regional security and stab

South Lebanon: Incursions, Shelling, and a Strike Targeting Civil Defense Paramedics in Nabatieh
Before noon today, the Israeli army carried out a major explosion in the town of Tairi, Bint Jbeil district.
Central News Agency / July 23, 2026
An Israeli force pushed into the town of Sarbine in the Bint Jbeil district, led by bulldozers and military vehicles, accompanied by heavy machine-gun fire directed at the town. In the same context, the town of Nabatieh el-Fawqa and the Ali el-Tanter area in southern Lebanon were subjected to artillery shelling, according to information received from the region. Reports indicated that a strike by an Israeli drone on Nabatieh el-Fawqa targeted an Islamic Health Authority Civil Defense ambulance near the Deir neighborhood in Nabatieh el-Fawqa, resulting in injuries among the paramedics.
Later, the "Islamic Health Authority" announced in a statement that "while the Islamic Health Authority Civil Defense team was performing its humanitarian duty inspecting the site of the first strike in the Breid neighborhood of Nabatieh el-Fawqa, the Israeli enemy targeted the vicinity of the paramedics' operations, injuring two of them slightly and damaging the team's ambulance." The statement affirmed that "these attacks will not deter us from performing our humanitarian duty, nor will they prevent our teams from continuing to aid those in need, rescue the wounded, and carry out their humanitarian mission with full responsibility and sincerity." It concluded: "The Civil Defense of the Islamic Health Authority will remain present alongside our people, believing that protecting humanity and saving lives is a mission that cannot be stopped by attacks or broken by sacrifices."
The Israeli army carried out an explosion in the town of Hula (Haddatha), and another in two stages in the town of Sarbine, coinciding with artillery shelling targeting Sarbine in southern Lebanon. Warplanes conducted mock raids in the skies over southern regions at medium altitude. The Israeli air force carried out a strike targeting the "Wadi al-Khanazir" area on the outskirts of the town of Deir Siriane in southern Lebanon. Concurrently, an Israeli drone flew over the skies of Sahmar in the Western Bekaa, while mock raids were recorded over several southern areas, alongside low-altitude flights by warplanes over the Zahrani region.The residents of Ibl al-Saqi experienced a difficult night, under heavy machine-gun combing operations and successive explosions carried out by the Israeli army in the vicinity of the Nabaa area, where Israeli vehicles continued to move throughout the night. As dawn broke, the extent of the damage left by the operations became apparent, with reports of the destruction of two chalets, a stone crusher, and a house in the Nabaa vicinity. Israeli artillery shelling also targeted the outskirts of Braachit this morning. Additionally, Syrian worker Monther al-Bahloul was wounded by gunfire this morning as Israeli forces opened fire in the Nabaa Ibl area in Ibl al-Saqi, and he was transported by the Lebanese Red Cross to the Marjeyoun Governmental Hospital. Early this morning, the Israeli army carried out combing operations in the towns of Chamaa and Majdel Zoun using medium weapons.

President Aoun and the First Lady Return from Washington
Central News Agency / July 23, 2026
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun and First Lady Neamat Aoun returned to Beirut this morning at the conclusion of an official visit to the United States of America in response to an invitation from US President Donald Trump.

Berri Calls the President to Congratulate Him on a Safe Return
NNA/July 23, 2026
House Speaker Nabih Berri received Minister of Justice Adel Nassar at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain el-Tineh, following up with him on political developments, the general situation—particularly judicial matters—and legislative affairs. Speaker Berri also received Judges Souheir al-Harka and Nada Dakroub. In another context, the House Speaker placed a phone call to President of the Republic Joseph Aoun, congratulating him on his safe return. Separately, Speaker Berri’s media office issued a statement denying reports promoted by some media outlets citing "Ain el-Tineh sources" or "sources following Ain el-Tineh's positions," confirming that they are "fabricated information completely detached from the truth."

An Eye for an Eye: Is the Region Heading Toward an Explosion or an Escalation That Revives Negotiations?
 Laura Yammine/NNA/July 23, 2026
Tehran affirmed on Wednesday that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon the absence of US forces, warning against the use of alternative routes. The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated: "No one will sell oil in a region where we do not sell oil, and no infrastructure in the region will be secure if our security is not guaranteed." Ghalibaf added in a post on "X" that the security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of US forces, emphasizing that the status of the strait will not return to what it was before the war. He concluded: "The equation of this war is clear.. either everyone or no one."US President Donald Trump had threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran fires upon a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Seyed Majid Mousavi, responded to Trump's remarks by saying: "If our bridges and power plants are attacked, cutting off electricity to the allies and hosts of child killers is inevitable."
For his part, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that "our defense doctrine is clear: an eye for an eye." He stated that "any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will necessitate a strong and decisive response." He added, "Those who contribute to such aggression, regardless of the type of support, will also be considered legitimate targets."
These stances were followed overnight by new strikes carried out by the US military against targets in Iran, with the governor of Iran's Bushehr announcing that a missile targeted a power plant in the vicinity of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in the south of the country.
The nature of the targets has thus begun to change, as Washington targets energy centers and approaches nuclear facilities. This is a remarkable development, according to diplomatic sources speaking to the Central News Agency, as it confirms the gradual escalation of US strikes, which are beginning to become more painful for Iran. Since Tehran continues to threaten and proclaim "an eye for an eye," the region is holding its breath and appears headed toward a larger and more dangerous confrontation if the Guards decide to target similar locations in the Gulf (having already done so by striking a water desalination plant in Kuwait).
According to sources, this arm-wrestling match will push toward one of two outcomes: either pressures and contacts by mediators will intensify to halt the escalation, revive the truce, and return to the table, driven by a tacit desire from Iran and the United States; or the Americans and Gulf states will tell Iran "enough is enough," and engage in a comprehensive confrontation with it until it either surrenders or is dragged, broken, into negotiations.
Which scenario is more likely? The second one for now, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated today: "It appears that Iran is not ready to make a deal, and they will pay the price, and that price will increase every night until they come to their senses," adding, "The Iranians agree to something and then demand changes to the terms of the agreement."

The "Summit" Equation Translated in the South: Lebanon’s Seriousness Met with US Pressure on Israel
 Lara Yazbek/NNA/July 23, 2026
Hours after the presidential summit that brought together President General Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House—the core of which was the implementation of the framework formula—Prime Minister Nawaf Salam touched down Wednesday morning in the town of Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh. He was accompanied by Defense Minister Michel Menssa, Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Odeh, Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council Major General Mohammad al-Mustafa, President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction Mohammad Kabbani, President of the Council of the South Hashem Haidar, and Director of the Central Operations Room at the Prime Minister's Office Zahi Shahin.
In other words, the state—with its executive authority and its military and developmental apparatuses—descended to the South. The South was also visited before noon today by Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal.
This movement is not for show nor did it come out of nowhere; rather, it carries clear political messages that official Lebanon wants to convey internally and externally, according to informed political sources speaking to the Central News Agency. Their substance is that the South has returned to legitimacy, and legitimacy has returned to it; it is no longer an open arena serving this or that faction's agenda—or more precisely, it is no longer a playground for Hezbollah and Iran. According to sources, Aoun pledged during his meeting with Trump that the army will fulfill all its duties according to the framework formula, enter the model areas, deploy within them, and extend its sole authority there—meaning the Lebanese state alone will be present. Salam and the Army Commander's visit to Zawtar falls within the framework of translating and cementing this position. In tandem with this Lebanese momentum and in support of it, the Americans will continue their efforts and contacts along the Beirut-Tel Aviv line, pressing the latter to accelerate the pace of withdrawals and to draw up a plan for the subsequent areas to be evacuated and handed over to the Lebanese Army, thereby expediting the withdrawal and liberation process. Aoun and Trump agreed on this formula: Lebanese seriousness in the South met with greater US pressure on Israel and greater support for the Lebanese Army.
To this end, and since Lebanon has demonstrated complete seriousness in implementation, the head of the Tripartite Military Commission, US General Joseph Clearyfield, is arriving in Beirut in the coming hours. Haykal also met yesterday with the commander of special operations at the US Central Command, Brigadier General John Bishop, at Trump’s behest and with a clear mission: to push the framework formula, Israeli withdrawals, and the deployment of the Lebanese Army further forward. It appears that Trump has been convinced—especially in light of President Aoun’s clarifications, where he pointed out that "Hezbollah’s weapons can be dismantled if we are honest about what it truly takes, namely removing the occupation, the army assuming full control, and a reconstruction program managed exclusively by the state"—that this is the fastest way to embarrass Hezbollah, weaken its arguments, and corner it until it surrenders its weapons, the sources conclude.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 23-24 July/2026
US issues sanctions on groups helping fund Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas
Al Arabiya English/23 July ,2026
The US issues new sanctions against “front organizations” that allegedly help move funds for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, the State Department said on Thursday.
“Today, the United States is addressing this threat by designating a senior UK-based Egyptian MB official and three individuals and three entities, all resident outside Egypt, that have provided material support to Hamas,” State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott said. The Treasury Department also issued a statement designating Mahmoud al-Abyari, the UK-based individual, and three other individuals and three more entities for providing support to Hamas. “The Trump Administration will relentlessly pursue terrorists, and those who finance them,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Whether operating under the guise of charities, businesses, or underground financial networks, those who enable Hamas will be exposed, sanctioned, and held accountable,” he added.
The Treasury Department said the latest sanctions expose a “multi-layered typology” in which the MB and Hamas use front organizations to move and disguise funds.

US Senate blocks resolution curbing Trump’s Iran war powers
Reuters/23 July ,2026
The Republican-led US House of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Donald Trump to halt US military action against Iran unless he obtains Congress’ approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure.
The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favor of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it. But the Senate voted 49 to 47 to block its own war powers measure within hours of the House vote. The House resolution, introduced by Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, directed Trump “to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities” against Iran unless Congress authorizes it. However, it was largely symbolic. Lawmakers have passed similar resolutions repeatedly in recent months, but they have not led to a cessation of the war. The four House Republicans who voted in favor were Tom Barrett of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. In the Senate procedural vote, Republican Susan Collins of Maine voted with Democrats in favor of the resolution and Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted with Republicans against it. Four Senators did not vote. Trump’s Republicans hold slim majorities in the House and Senate. The votes reflected growing frustration among lawmakers of both parties about a conflict that Trump pitched as a quick, focused effort that would trigger Iran’s capitulation but instead has become a morass for the United States.

Gulf states, Jordan say continued Iranian attacks are ‘explicit acts of aggression’
Al Arabiya English/23 July ,2026
The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan said on Thursday they were united in condemning the “treacherous aggression” launched by Iran and its proxies against their territories. In a joint statement, the seven countries said Iranian attacks on their territories, citizens and civilian infrastructure had continued without interruption since Feb. 28, 2026, including after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 17. They said the attacks had intensified particularly against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, targeting energy facilities, water desalination plants, ports, airports and other civilian infrastructure. The seven countries stressed that the continuing attacks constituted “explicit acts of aggression” in violation of the UN Charter, international law, international humanitarian law, UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), and Iran’s explicit commitments under the MoU, posing a threat to international peace and security. The Gulf states and Jordan reaffirmed their inherent right to individual and collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and said they were entitled to take all necessary legal measures to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, commercial vessels and vital infrastructure from the continuing attacks. The seven countries also welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s decision to restrict weapons exclusively to the state by Sept. 30, 2026. They expressed support for the decisive and effective measures taken by the Iraqi government to prevent pro-Iranian militias from continuing their hostile operations against countries in the region.The statement called on the UN Security Council to adopt an urgent resolution demanding an immediate halt to the Iranian attacks, recognize the right of affected states to defend themselves and consider additional measures if the systematic attacks do not cease. The Gulf states and Jordan also praised the “bravery, professionalism, and high readiness” of their armed forces in defending their sovereignty, security, stability and the safety of their civilians. The seven countries reaffirmed their commitment to freedom and safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb, and to preserving regional security and stability. They said they were prepared to work with all countries in the region and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish permanent arrangements consistent with international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, state sovereignty and good-neighborly relations. The Gulf states and Jordan also expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and their complete support for the Kingdom’s legitimate measures to preserve its sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity. They praised the diplomatic efforts of Saudi Arabia and Oman to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution to the conflict in Yemen, as well as the development and humanitarian assistance provided by Saudi Arabia to Yemen.

Iran flew IRGC commanders, missile gear to Yemen’s Houthis this month, sources say
Al Arabiya English/23 July ,2026
Iran flew Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, four sources told Reuters, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.
Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, a development that has not been previously reported. The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight. The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Yemeni government. “The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,” one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities. The two Iranian sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. The deployment offers fresh evidence of Iran’s efforts to bolster the Houthis, who have been in a civil war against the internationally recognized Yemeni government for more than a decade and have attacked Gulf neighbors with missiles and drones.
Iran’s foreign ministry was not immediately available to comment. Tehran has repeatedly denied providing the Houthi militia in Yemen with missile capabilities. There was no immediate response to requests for comment sent to two Houthi officials. The group has previously denied being an Iranian proxy and has said it develops its own weapons. Three days after the flight arrived in Yemen, Reuters reported that Tehran had asked the Houthi militia to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US struck Iranian power infrastructure, posing a new threat to global energy supplies.
On Monday, the militia, whose area of control in Yemen overlooks the waterway, announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in response to the July 13 bombing of Sanaa airport, which they claimed was carried out by Saudi Arabia. The moves signaled the end of a four-year truce between Riyadh and the Houthis. Their threat to one of the world’s top maritime trade routes escalated further on Thursday when the group said it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Iryani confirmed the transfers of IRGC personnel and equipment in a telephone interview with Reuters on Wednesday, citing intelligence. “Their mission is to strengthen the militias’ military capabilities and prepare them to threaten international maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait,” he said. Mzahem Alsaloum, a security and intelligence analyst who has tracked the Houthis and other Iranian-backed militias for years, also confirmed the IRGC experts’ arrival on the July 13 flight. He said some of the cargo included components related to short- and medium-range missiles and drones, weapons systems similar to those previously used in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to Alsaloum, Tehran also sent military advisers to Yemen during a war with Israel last year, routing them through Somalia, a claim that was denied by Tehran. The Houthis had announced direct flights between Sanaa and Tehran earlier this month. At a press conference in Tehran on July 20, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the flight to Sanaa on July 13 was intended to take home a Houthi delegation who had gone to Tehran for the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as Yemeni citizens who had received medical treatment in Iran. On July 3, the aircraft flew the group of about 200 people, including senior officials, women and children, to Iran for the funeral. On July 13, the four sources said, the aircraft returned to Yemen carrying members of the delegation as well as the IRGC commanders and advisers. Before it could land in Sanaa, the Yemeni government struck the airport, forcing the aircraft to divert to Houthi-controlled Hodeidah. With Reuters

Iran Vows to Continue Strikes in Mideast War
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
Iran vowed on Thursday to keep striking the region so long as it remains under attack, AFP reported on Thursday. The war resumed following a ceasefire that lasted just a few weeks, throwing the region and global energy markets back into chaos as Iran and the United States battle for control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis this week joined the conflict, claiming to have struck two oil tankers. Meanwhile, Jordan and Kuwait both reported intercepting strikes as Iran's military and Revolutionary Guards claimed to be targeting US assets in both countries. "The armed forces' retaliatory attacks will continue as long as the US attacks on the country's infrastructure and coastal areas continue," Iran's army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said, according to state TV. 'Eye for an eye' The developments followed fresh US strikes on Iranian military targets, with US Central Command reporting its twelfth consecutive night of strikes, saying it aimed to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters".  President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US would bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure every time Tehran fires at ships in Hormuz. "Any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure, writing: "Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye." Iranian state media said Thursday that a US attack killed two people at Shalamcheh on Iran’s border with Iraq. It also reported two US missiles hit Bushehr, home to the country's only civilian nuclear plant and a frequent target of Washington's strikes. Houthis step in The Houthis said they had carried out missile and drone strikes on two tankers in the Red Sea.  British naval security monitor UKMTO said the master of a tanker reported being hit by an unknown projectile about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq, causing a fire that the crew was fighting. In Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guards said they stopped three oil tankers from transiting, as the US and Iran vie for control over the route through which around one fifth of the world's oil passed before the war. "The Strait of Hormuz is under our control... and any ship that is deceived by the US and intends to pass without coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran will suffer the same fate," the Revolutionary Guards said. Oil prices again climbed Thursday, with Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, up four percent at $97.80 a barrel and bringing back fears of spiraling consumer prices and slowed growth globally. On the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis had been "suckered" into attacking Red Sea shipping by Iran. "The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships," Rubio said. "I hope they will de-escalate, because I think the Houthis, frankly, got snookered into this thing by the Iranians."

UK says armed forces ready to defend country after Iran warning over US bombers
Reuters/23 July ,2026
Britain said on Thursday its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps issued a warning over allowing US bombers to fly from UK bases. “Our Armed Forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad. The UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself,” a government spokesperson said. “This includes through operating a layered approach to air and missile defense, provided by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force assets equipped with a range of advanced capabilities, working closely with our NATO allies,” they added. Iran’s warning came after new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was notified last week of Britain re-committing to an existing agreement allowing the United States to use British bases in what it described as the collective self-defense of the region. The government said on Wednesday that the arrangement covered US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities used in attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In response to Iran’s warning, the spokesperson said Britain’s approach remained unchanged and that it was committed to defending its people, interests and allies in accordance with international law while avoiding being drawn into a wider conflict.

Kuwait reports new drone attack on its Iraq border
AFP, Kuwait City/23 July ,2026
The Kuwaiti military said on Thursday that a new drone attack had been launched against one of its border crossings with Iraq. “Al-Abdali border post was the repeated target this evening of enemy drone attacks that caused material damage but no casualties,” army headquarters said in a statement posted on social media. Earlier on Thursday, Kuwait said drones hit its side of the border with Iraq, with one Kuwaiti official telling AFP Iran was to blame. “The Al-Abdali border crossing was attacked this afternoon by hostile drones, resulting in material damage, but thankfully no casualties,” defense ministry spokesman Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia ‘strategic’ partner, seeking ‘peaceful, civil’ nuclear program: Rubio
Al Arabiya English/23 July ,2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is an important partner to the US and that it made sense to enter into a nuclear agreement with the Kingdom. “Suffice it to say that the US is always looking for cooperation agreements with allies,” Rubio said speaking to reporters on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Manila. “In the case of Saudi Arabia, they’ve been an important strategic partner for us. It would make sense for us to enter into such an agreement,” Rubio said adding that “Saudi Arabia seeks to have a peaceful civil nuclear program.”The US and Saudi Arabia have agreed to a deal that will allow the Kingdom to develop its civil nuclear program, the US Energy Department said on Wednesday. “These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. Commenting on the deal, Rubio underscored that any agreement that the US is going to make on civil nuclear energy would have safeguards in place. “The United States wants to be the partner of choice, and we’re always looking for opportunities to be able to make sure that our technology and our companies are the ones that are providing that,” Rubio said.

Iraqi PM Takes De-Escalation Initiative to Tehran
Baghdad: Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Iraq’s government spokesman said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi carried an initiative to Tehran aimed at easing regional tensions, while Baghdad said it would not allow Iraqi territory to be used to threaten Iran. The remarks came during an official visit by al-Zaidi to Tehran, about a week after he met US President Donald Trump in Washington. Al-Zaidi arrived in Tehran on Thursday afternoon at the head of a high-level delegation and was welcomed by Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Madanizadeh, representing President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the Iranian government’s official media website. Pezeshkian received al-Zaidi at an official ceremony at Tehran’s Saadabad Palace, where the national anthems of both countries were played and the two leaders reviewed a guard of honor. Al-Zaidi said he had discussed several issues of mutual interest with Pezeshkian, including establishing a mechanism for the work of the Iraqi-Iranian Joint Economic Committee. He said his visit reflected the depth of bilateral relations and renewed them, describing the trip as a bridge of friendship between the two peoples and pointing to the two countries’ shared religion, civilization, geography and culture. Al-Zaidi said the visit was intended to discuss bilateral and regional issues and called for joint investments in various sectors. Pezeshkian said security and stability were highly important and would have a positive effect on bilateral development. He also pointed to significant joint investment opportunities between the two countries.
Al-Zaidi and Pezeshkian oversaw the signing in Tehran of four agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership between the neighboring countries. The agreements, signed on behalf of Iraq by the foreign and electricity ministers and the acting ministers of finance and planning, included freight shipping and the international overland transport of goods, a memorandum of understanding to extend the Kermanshah-Khosravi-Khanaqin-Baghdad railway and a twinning agreement between the Baghdad and Tehran municipalities.
“Impressions from Washington”
Al-Zaidi conveyed to Iranian officials “views and impressions from his recent visit to Washington,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. “Iran’s current problem with the United States is not one of mediation,” Araghchi said in remarks carried by Iranian television. “The problem lies in the nature of the US approach, which is unreasonable and based on excessive demands and domination,” he added. Media reports had suggested that the Iraqi prime minister might be carrying a message to the Iranian side, but there was no official confirmation.
Iraqi initiative
Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Zaidi had carried “an initiative aimed at achieving stability in the region, including de-escalation.”“Iraq maintains balanced relations within its regional and international environment and uses them to support regional stability and create a comprehensive opportunity for regional development,” al-Aboudi said. Before leaving for Tehran, al-Zaidi said in a post on X that he was traveling there to discuss issues of mutual interest, bilateral cooperation, regional developments and efforts to consolidate security and stability in the region. “Iraq and Iran share historical and civilizational ties, a geographical border and common interests,” he said. “This requires continued work in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect, in a way that strengthens sustainable development and prosperity for the peoples of both countries and supports security and stability in the region and the world.”Former Iraqi Electricity Minister Luay al-Khatteeb, however, ruled out any clear economic breakthrough “under the current conditions of war in the region, whose trajectory is difficult to predict because of the lack of visibility.”He said challenges arising after attacks on Iranian energy installations and infrastructure would increasingly have a negative effect on Iranian electricity and gas supplies to Iraq. Politically, al-Khatteeb said the visit's importance lay in preserving a balance in Iraq’s relations with its strategic allies, both regionally and internationally. He said the trip also amounted to accepting an invitation to a protocol intended to strengthen relations between al-Zaidi’s newly formed government and the Iranian government. Asked whether Iraq could play an active mediation role in the ongoing war, al-Khatteeb said its role was limited to Tehran’s influence over armed factions in Iraq and the importance of integrating them into the political system and state institutions. He said regional diplomatic efforts would remain primarily in the hands of Oman and Pakistan, along with other regional countries.
What do experts say?
Yassin al-Bakri, a professor of political science at Al-Nahrain University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Zaidi’s visits to Washington and then Tehran were interconnected and followed the usual pattern of previous Iraqi prime ministers seeking to balance relations with both sides. Al-Bakri said it was unclear whether Washington had asked Iraq to play a role in the current crisis. “But it may be an opportunity for Iraq to try to insert itself into this issue, despite its difficulty,” he said.
“Iran understands that Washington is working forcefully to pull Iraq out of its sphere of influence and may believe that the United States intends to turn Iraq into a buffer and revive its role as a strategic counterweight to Iran.”Media professor Ghalib al-Daami told Asharq Al-Awsat that Tehran viewed al-Zaidi as “a final opportunity and a lifeline, particularly after the recent faltering of negotiations led by Pakistan.”“The concealed purpose of the visit is for al-Zaidi to inform the Iranian side of the need to withdraw its backing from the armed factions so their weapons can be brought under state control, and to continue the anti-corruption campaign, in return for Iraq assuming a mediation role,” al-Daami said. Government spokesman al-Aboudi had said the government did not intend to discuss placing all weapons under state control during the visit. “Bringing weapons under state control is an Iraqi sovereign matter and is not discussed in other capitals,” he said. Local reports had suggested that al-Zaidi might ask Tehran to pressure armed factions to surrender missiles and drones and close what the government describes as the “uncontrolled weapons” file before the end of September. The Iraqi government has not confirmed those reports.
During his visit to Washington, al-Zaidi told The Atlantic that Iraq was seeking to adopt an approach focused on investment and economic development to confront the consequences of regional tensions. He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had caused financial losses exceeding $50 billion, placing further pressure on Iraq’s public finances.

US unveils new tariffs on 60 partners as Trump rebuilds trade agenda
AFP/24 July ,2026
The United States said Thursday that it would impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced labor concerns, replacing an expiring global duty rolled out by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The levies, which take effect Friday, range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and impact major economies like China, India and the European Union. “The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in unveiling the duties.
The Trump administration has moved swiftly to rebuild the president’s tariff wall after the Supreme Court struck down a host of his duties in February -- dealing a blow to his ability to unleash steep levies at will.After the legal setback, Trump tapped different authorities to reimpose a 10-percent tariff on imports. But this only lasts 150 days, expiring Friday. The volley of new duties, initially proposed in June, will now take its place. The measures were proposed after a months-long investigation and are considered more resistant to legal challenges than earlier moves.
Under Thursday’s announcement, economies that have implemented a forced labor prohibition are hit with the lower 10-percent rate. They include Canada, the EU and the United Kingdom. Others were deemed to deserve harsher levies, receiving the higher 12.5 percent tariff, a US official told reporters. Trading partners like China and Japan are covered in this group. Goods already facing Trump’s sector-specific tariffs -- like steel and aluminum -- will not be impacted.Goods entering under the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact will also be exempt, a US official told reporters.
Maintaining leverage
Washington is separately investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity, in probes that could lead to additional duties. These could result in different rates among countries eventually, as Trump had done before his legal setback. The Trump administration’s move to impose a baseline tariff while sustaining the threat of further duties ahead maintains leverage over its trading partners, trade lawyer Greta Peisch told AFP. It also creates an incentive for countries to comply with trade pacts that they earlier struck, she added. In spending time on investigations, officials want their incoming tariffs to be robust if there are court challenges, said Peisch, a former USTR general counsel who is now a partner at Wiley Rein. “This makes it much more likely that they stay for the duration of Trump’s term,” signaling a “much more protectionist world’s largest economy” moving forward, Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council think tank told AFP. The Trump administration has been hunting for options that would allow it to aggressively deploy tariffs, said former US trade official Ryan Majerus. In the longer term, Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which Greer tapped to impose the latest duties, provides “more flexibility than people realize,” Majerus said. Once they are in place, officials can modify them based on new developments, added Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding.
‘Fragile’ deals
The latest salvo comes shortly after a separate 25-percent tariff took effect on various Brazilian goods, with Washington accusing the Latin American giant of unfair trade practices after a yearlong investigation. This week, Trump also ordered new 50-percent tariffs on many Canadian products, citing Ottawa’s “discriminatory treatment” against American alcohol, automobile and dairy products. The Canadian tariffs taking effect in a month relied on an untested legal provision, showing that Trump has “other tools in the toolkit” to wield, said Lipsky. This signals that US tariff deals “are still fragile.”Nonetheless, the EU, which earlier signed a trade pact with the United States, expects Washington “will honor the commitments that are spelled out under the EU-US Joint Statement.”Read more: US proposes new tariffs over failure to act on forced labor

Rubio Says US Wants Positive China Ties but Won't Abandon Allies
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the United States wants a positive relationship with China ‌but that ‌would not ‌be ⁠at the expense ⁠of its allies. "We have a role and can't abandon our allies. ⁠We've made that ‌abundantly ‌clear. We're going ‌to have ‌a good relationship with China," he told ‌reporters in Manila according to Reuters. "We have to have ⁠a ⁠relationship with China. We want it to be as positive as it possibly can be."

Houthis attack 2 Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea as US carries out 12th night of strikes
Associated Press/23 July 2026
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, and the U.S. military conducted a 12th night of strikes against Iran as the two countries vie for control of vital shipping lanes. The Houthi attack in the Red Sea threatened to open a new front in a war that has roiled the global economy, sending prices for fuel and other goods surging across the world. With the standoff in the Gulf deepening, there were no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. U.S. Central Command said its strikes were designed to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping. President Donald Trump warned earlier Wednesday that the U.S. would destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the strait. Both sides have increasingly threatened civilian infrastructure. International law generally prohibits such attacks unless the infrastructure is being used for military purposes. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media.
Iran-backed Houthis say they attacked oil tankers
The Houthis said in a statement issued via their SABA news agency that they had struck two tankers named Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea, leading to fires on both vessels. That would be their first reported attack on a vessel since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen's rebel-held capital, Sanaa. Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of the world's trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, passes through the narrows, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt's Suez Canal. A senior official with the Houthis said the blockade on Saudi-linked shipping would remain in effect until a years-old Saudi blockade against the Houthis is lifted. The official gave no details of the attack and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Saudi state media reported that the Encelia was set ablaze by an attack while sailing overnight in the Red Sea, citing an unidentified source from the General Authority of Transport. The Saudi Press Agency reported that a strike caused a fire at the bow of the ship, but no casualties. It did not mention the Layla. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center, UKMTO, said it had received a report of a tanker being struck by "an unknown projectile" 70 nautical miles (80 miles, 130 kilometers) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the Red Sea. It said no casualties had been reported.
Both sides dig in over Strait of Hormuz dispute
The continued American airstrikes are occurring as both sides have dug in on their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy that remains largely closed. The closure of the strait, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passed during peacetime, has jolted the world economy with effects far beyond the Middle East. Iran says it has the right to manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the strait, which was open to all and toll-free before the war. It has attacked ships using a route through the strait that is overseen by U.S. forces and intended to be outside Tehran's control. In response to Iran's attacks, the U.S. re-imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and began the widening campaign of strikes across the country. On Tuesday, Trump signaled that U.S. forces could soon target an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has led negotiations with the U.S., appeared to brush off Trump's threats. "We have repeatedly said that the situation of the strait will not return to prewar conditions," he wrote on social media.
The costs of war are mounting
Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday for the arrival of the remains of four U.S. service members. A day earlier Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated in a fiery Senate hearing that the U.S. had spent $37.5 billion on the war so far. In Iran, state media reported that U.S. missiles struck locations overnight near the cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran, and two people were killed in a U.S. missile strike in the town of Shalamcheh on the Iraqi border. Iran has responded to U.S. attacks by targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants that provide drinking water in parched neighboring Gulf countries. Military officials in Kuwait said on social media that their air defenses were "confronting attacks by hostile drones, following the sinful Iranian aggression."Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would adopt an "eye for an eye" defense doctrine."Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response," he posted Wednesday on X.
Diplomatic efforts show no signs of progress
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held meetings in recent days in Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, seeking to revive diplomacy. But it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war, which lately has become a battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Interior Ministry spokesperson Ali Zeinivand said "diplomacy isn't called off" and that messages were still being exchanged, without elaborating, according to IRNA. An Arab diplomat said Gulf states are increasingly pessimistic about finding an off-ramp for escalating hostilities and are particularly concerned about the latest round of threats.The diplomat said countries in the region, in addition to Pakistan and Turkey, are continuing to push for de-escalation but that chances for improvement currently appear bleak. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. At a regional summit in the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. remains open to negotiations with Iran, "but right now they don't seem to be serious about that" so instead the focus is on protecting shipping.

Houthi Threats to Shipping Signal New Price Hikes in Yemen
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
At a time when Yemen faces one of the world's worst humanitarian and economic crises, renewed threats by the Houthis to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait are raising growing fears of direct repercussions on the lives of millions of Yemenis, who may find themselves facing a new wave of rising prices and declining basic services each time. Commercial sources in Sanaa say that markets in Houthi-controlled areas are currently witnessing a rising wave of basic commodity prices, with continued threats to international shipping.
The sources add that both traders and consumers are facing increasing pressure due to the abuses, looting, and illegal levies imposed by the group, which exacerbates the suffering of families and deepens the living crisis. The sources indicated that millions in Houthi-controlled areas are not following the news of the escalation in the Red Sea as distant events, but rather consider them an additional threat that is getting closer day by day to the details of their daily lives. Residents in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas fear that continued tension will lead to further economic pressures, whether through rising prices, declining commercial activity, or increased difficulty in obtaining certain goods and services. They express their growing concerns that they will be the first to pay the price for this escalation, amidst an exhausted economy and an ongoing humanitarian crisis that has lasted for years.
Anticipation and Fear
Nasser, a government employee in Sanaa, awaits the repercussions of any potential Houthi escalation in the Red Sea with increasing anxiety, amidst his salary being cut for years and his repeated inability to secure his children's needs. Jameel told Asharq Al-Awsat: "We can no longer tolerate successive waves of inflation. Any new tension could prolong the war and double the suffering, especially with the ongoing salary crisis, and it directly affects the prices of food, medicine, and fuel, while our incomes and those of many families remain stagnant and do not keep pace with the rising cost of living." Saeed from Hodeidah Governorate added: "We hear about conflicts at sea, but their effects reach us directly in the markets. When transportation and shipping costs rise, we ultimately pay the price," confirming current significant increases in the prices of many basic goods. Yemen relies heavily on imports to cover its basic needs, making disruption of navigation and increased shipping and insurance risks a significant factor pushing up commodity prices in local markets. Reports have warned that rising sea transport and insurance costs could exacerbate the burdens on Yemeni consumers. In one of the rural areas of Sanaa, Sadeq, an unemployed family man, says: "We calculate the value of everything before buying it. Any new crisis means the family will forgo more of its needs." Meanwhile, a merchant from Ibb city told Asharq Al-Awsat: "The merchant is also affected, as the rising cost of import and transport impacts everyone, from the shop owner to the citizen buying the goods."
Daily Burdens
While the Houthi militants continue to threaten international commercial shipping, Yemenis in areas under their control remain the most affected, as regional developments transform into daily burdens affecting food, medicine, income, and job opportunities. Observers believe that continued tension in the Red Sea could open the door to mutual military responses, increasing the likelihood of the conflict's expansion in the region, and placing Yemen at the heart of a regional conflict whose repercussions extend beyond its geographical borders, while the Yemeni citizen remains the most harmed party. Economic experts also warn that any escalation leading to disruption of navigation or increased risks to commercial vessels will push global shipping companies to raise transport and insurance fees, or change their routes, which practically translates into higher costs for imported goods reaching Yemeni markets. Amidst salary cuts, declining purchasing power, and rising poverty rates, any new price increase will exacerbate the suffering of Yemeni families.

Trump says Saudi nuclear deal contingent on recognizing Israel
Associated Press
President Donald Trump on Thursday said an agreement being reached with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.In a post on social media, the Republican president said the deal doesn’t allow for enrichment of uranium. Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns that the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels. Trump’s post said the agreement "will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords." He added that "The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities."Trump has sought to build on the 2020 agreements, which expanded the number of Arab states with diplomatic ties with Israel.

Trump Threatens Iran, Houthis with 'Major Military Punishment'
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would hold Iran responsible for attacks on shipping by Yemen's Houthis and threatened both with "major military punishment."Trump's warning came after the Tehran-backed Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on oil tankers in the Red Sea to enforce what they said was a blockade on Saudi Arabia, AFP reported. "The US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves" should they launch further attacks, Trump said on his Truth Social network. Trump said he was "very disappointed" by the Houthis as they had "until now, acted very professionally and smart" following US attacks on the group last year, and during the Iran war that the United States and Israel launched in February.
The Houthis hit a Saudi ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, bringing the Middle East war to a new front and sending oil prices surging. Earlier this week, the Houthis said they had struck two Saudi oil tankers after declaring a blockade of Saudi ports.

Trump Praises Nigeria's Efforts against Violence towards Christians
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
President Donald Trump praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his actions against violence, according to a letter released by Nigeria's presidency on Wednesday, in contrast to the US leader's threats late last year over treatment of that country's Christians. Trump said he appreciated Tinubu's "decisive leadership on behalf ‌of the ‌Nigerian people" and applauded ‌his ⁠efforts to address "the violence ⁠affecting Christian communities," according to the letter, which was dated July 6. "It is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to ⁠make the Federal Republic of ‌Nigeria stronger and ‌more prosperous," Trump wrote. The letter signals ‌a warming of ties between ‌Abuja and Washington since Trump last November accused the government of failing to protect Christians from extremist violence and threatened to ‌cut aid to Nigeria and take possible military action. Nigeria rejected ⁠the ⁠allegations, saying insecurity affected citizens of all faiths. According to the Nigerian presidency, the two countries established a joint security working group last year to expand intelligence sharing, training, and operations against militant groups. The letter was released days after US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Frank Garcia visited Abuja for talks on strengthening security cooperation.

Russia Warns US against Ukraine Arms Sales as Top Diplomats Meet in Manila
Asharq Al Awsat/23 July 2026
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Washington against making "unacceptable" arms deliveries to Ukraine during a Thursday meeting with US counterpart Marco Rubio in Manila, Moscow said. Lavrov told the US secretary of state "it was unacceptable to continue supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime", the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. In their meeting held on the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asian foreign ministers, Moscow's top diplomat also condemned what he called "a destabilizing policy by European countries, which are still seeking to inflict a 'strategic defeat' on Russia", reported AFP. The first sit-down between Lavrov and Rubio since September 2025 comes as Washington's focus has switched from mediating in Ukraine to dealing with war in the Middle East. The US State Department said in a brief statement that the Rubio and Lavrov -- who made no statements to the press ahead of their meeting -- had discussed the "US-Russia relationship and the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war". Lavrov, according to Moscow's statement, reiterated that the Russian side was ready for a "political-diplomatic resolution to the conflict". Both top diplomats are in the Philippines for meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).They were also expected to discuss the conflict in the Middle East, which has seen Moscow condemn Washington's strikes on its ally Iran.
- Areas of cooperation -
Rubio spoke briefly with Lavrov at a gala dinner on Tuesday, and the two participated in an ASEAN meeting on Thursday. "The war in Ukraine, I think, has in many ways impeded the ability of Russia and the United States to find areas of agreement on other topics," Rubio told reporters on Wednesday. "That doesn't mean we won't seek to find other areas of potential cooperation. "But by the same token... we'd like to see that war come to an end," he said. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with US envoys in a bid to revive stalled talks aimed at ending the years-long war. "I just spoke with President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. It was a good, important conversation on how to reinvigorate diplomacy and bring peace closer," Zelensky said in a post on X. US President Donald Trump has voiced support for Ukraine's campaign of long-range drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure, saying it could "help bring about an end" to the conflict. In recent months, Kyiv has appeared to stall Moscow's grinding offensive and has substantially expanded its drone strikes against Russia, disrupting ordinary life there in the war's fifth year. Moscow has meanwhile escalated its deadly missile strikes against Kyiv, launching dozens of hard-to-intercept rounds as Ukraine struggles with depleted air defense stocks.

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 23-24 July/2026
Houthis announce blockade of Saudi Arabia, ships reroute to avoid Bab al Mandeb Strait
Bridget Toomey/| FDD's Long War Journal/July 23/2026
The Houthis announced a complete maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20. In response, a growing number of vessels are rerouting to avoid the Bab al Mandeb Strait, the southern Red Sea chokepoint near Houthi-controlled territory, demonstrating that the shipping industry is taking the threat seriously. However, the Houthis have not yet targeted vessels or port infrastructure to enforce their blockade. On July 16, Reuters reported that Iranian leadership had told the Houthis to close Bab al Mandeb if the US struck Iranian power infrastructure. After President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran’s power grid in a July 15 interview, Iranian officials accused him of following through on the threat overnight on July 17. However, the Houthis are portraying the blockade as a response to Saudi-imposed air and maritime blockades, which have been in place for roughly a decade to stop support to the Iran-backed terror group during the Yemeni civil war.In June, Saudi Arabian oil exports via the Red Sea averaged roughly 4 million barrels per day (bpd). In total, about 7 percent of the global oil output (7.4 million bpd) transited the critical waterway, according to the maritime intelligence firm Kpler, up from 4.2 million bpd in 2025.
The Houthis followed their announcement with an email to shippers that, according to Reuters, said, “Vessels are banned from loading or ​discharging cargo at or from any Saudi ports.” The message went on to threaten that vessels transporting Saudi cargo “may be subject to targeting ​in any location within the operational reach of the Yemeni Armed Forces.”
“The criminal Saudi enemy continues its unjust and brutal siege on our dear people for nearly twelve years — plundering wealth and imposing a comprehensive blockade on ports and airports by land, sea, and air — which has worsened the suffering of our dear people until conditions reached an unbearable level, without any right or justification for doing so,” Yemeni military spokesman Yahya Saree stated in an announcement of the maritime blockade. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring that “the Kingdom is, at the same time, taking all necessary measures to protect its ships.” The statement also denounced Houthi claims that Saudi Arabia contributes to the suffering of Yemenis, noting Saudi support for the internationally recognized government of Yemen.
Since early July, the Houthis and Iran have attempted to break the Saudi air blockade against the Houthis and portray it as oppression. Currently, vetted civilian and humanitarian flights are permitted to Houthi-controlled territory, but no direct access is allowed between Yemen’s Houthi-controlled airports and Iran. On July 13, Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from returning the Houthi delegation to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral. In response, the Houthis launched drones and missiles at Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, all of which were intercepted. On July 21, the Houthis announced a campaign on X in support of the blockade, calling for people to post with the hashtags “siege for siege” and “escalation for escalation.”
**Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focusing on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/07/houthis-announce-blockade-of-saudi-arabia-ships-reroute-to-avoid-bab-al-mandeb-strait.php
Read in FDD's Long War Journal

Receding Nile Waters Revive the GERD Debate
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
In recent days, images showing the falling water level of the Nile in Sudan have been causing concern and raising the alarm. Beyond the appearance of sandbars caused by the river's retreat. In some areas, the Nile has come to resemble a shallow seasonal stream that people can cross on foot. The decline has also led to a drinking-water crisis in parts of Khartoum North and Omdurman after major water stations stopped operating. Agricultural projects have likewise been affected as irrigation pumps went out of service, while signs of the river receding have emerged in several states, extending as far as northern Sudan.
This decline comes at a time when people would normally expect water levels to rise with the rainy season, renewing debate over the effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). A number of water-resource experts argue that, although natural factors such as delayed rainfall have played a role, it was primarily the operation of the dam, which has altered the natural pattern of water flow. Some experts have described the recession as a warning to Sudan and Egypt, particularly as Ethiopia insists on managing it unilaterally and controlling water releases without sharing data on storage and discharge. This leaves the transit country, Sudan, and the downstream country, Egypt, hostage to decisions made in Addis Ababa.
Concerns are growing as Ethiopia speaks of plans to build additional dams, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a televised interview from the dam site in September 2025. He described the dam's inauguration as the beginning of a new phase that would "strengthen Ethiopia's geopolitical standing." The issue returned to the forefront after Israeli websites reported that Addis Ababa had prepared designs for three more dams upstream on the Blue Nile. Such projects would inevitably require the withdrawal of large quantities of water for storage and would give Ethiopia unprecedented control over the flow of the river.
This unilateral approach poses a challenge to Sudan and Egypt. It also contradicts Ethiopia's claim that it wants to turn water projects into instruments of cooperation and mutual benefit rather than sources of conflict. Since the GERD project began 15 years ago, repeated rounds of negotiations have failed to produce binding agreements. Even the Declaration of Principles signed in Khartoum in 2015 by Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, with the aim of promoting consultation and cooperation, has remained merely words on paper and achieved nothing.
Under these circumstances, talk of potential benefits, or assurances that Ethiopian water projects will not harm neighboring countries, is meaningless without an agreement on operating rules and data sharing. There is broad agreement among water-resource experts that the lack of a binding legal framework among the countries concerned lies at the heart of the problem. The solution, they argue, is institutionalized regional cooperation: transparency, data exchange, and coordinated management of shared water resources.
Water is the lifeblood of societies. With growing populations, development needs, rising demand for resources, and accelerating climate change, cooperation among states is becoming more urgent than ever. The alternative is to deepen disputes and open the door to conflicts whose cost would be exorbitant for all.
There are successful examples of managing shared rivers. The Organization for the Development of the Senegal River, established in 1972 by Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal, is one of the most prominent models of sharing the benefits of water resources. Its member states agreed to distribute the economic benefits of water regardless of the geographical location of dams and created a system for the joint management of major projects, including collective ownership of some dams.
The Mekong River Commission, established in 1995 by Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, offers another model. It is based on prior consultation over water-development and hydropower projects, as well as the protection of fisheries, with the aim of reducing disputes and promoting cooperation in resource management. It provides a platform for continuous dialogue, the exchange of hydrological data, and joint planning for projects in areas that affect all the signatory states. While the Mekong model is based on the institutionalization of regional consultation, the Senegal River model goes further by sharing project management, financing, and benefits.
History, however, also offers many examples of water becoming an instrument of conflict. Different eras have witnessed disputes and wars linked to control over water resources or to their use for military purposes. Water has been used to flood areas and create defensive barriers, as the Dutch did in the 17th century to prevent the advance of French forces, and water supplies have been cut off, as Serb forces did during the Bosnian War.
The future of the Nile Basin should therefore not be built on the balance of power or unilateral actions, but on clear rules for cooperation, transparency, and benefit sharing. Managing international rivers is no longer merely an engineering or technical issue. It has become a test of states' ability to build sustainable partnerships that prevent water, the foundation of life, from becoming a new cause of conflict and war.

How to tackle the Houthis’ expanded threat
Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy/Arab News/July 23/2026
It is easy to fall for the illusion that the Houthi threat to shipping in the Red Sea has receded. For months, images of burning vessels and missile attacks did not dominate news bulletins as they did at the height of the crisis. Yet recent developments have demonstrated that this lull did not mark the end of the threat. Rather, it was a transitional period in which the danger itself became an instrument of deterrence, negotiation and economic pressure.
On Monday, the Houthis went a step further, announcing what they described as a “naval blockade” and warning shipping companies against loading or unloading cargo at any Red Sea port. They threatened that vessels failing to comply could be targeted wherever they came within the reach of Houthi military capabilities. The threat was therefore no longer confined to ships alleged to be linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports.
The Houthis’ success should not be measured by the number of ships they manage to hit but by their ability to alter the movement of global trade without firing a single missile.
The danger lies not only in the higher cost of shipping but also in the timing. With a significant share of energy traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted by the US-Iran war, growing reliance has been placed on pipelines carrying oil to the Red Sea. This route has become the principal alternative for exporting millions of barrels a day without passing through the Gulf.
At this point, the Houthi threat ceases to be a narrowly Yemeni or maritime problem and becomes part of the global energy equation. If the Strait of Hormuz is the natural outlet for Gulf oil, Yanbu and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait constitute the emergency route when that outlet is disrupted. Threatening both routes simultaneously means that the crisis no longer concerns a single maritime passage but the entire infrastructure through which Gulf energy reaches the world.
Days before the blockade was announced, it was reported that Tehran had asked the Houthis to prepare to disrupt the oil route through Bab Al-Mandab if the US targeted Iran’s electricity network. A source close to the group said missiles and drones had been positioned near the strait, awaiting the order to act. Neither Iran nor the Houthis officially confirmed the report but, if accurate, it reveals the extent of their coordination and the possibility that Bab Al-Mandab could be used as an extension of Iranian pressure in the Strait of Hormuz.
The group is seeking to consolidate its authority inside Yemen and secure a measure of practical regional recognition.
Even so, it would be simplistic to regard the Houthis as little more than a button for Tehran to press. The group has its own domestic project and strategic calculations. It is seeking to consolidate its authority inside Yemen and secure a measure of practical regional recognition. Its relationship with Iran provides weapons, expertise and political cover, but this does not prevent the Houthis from using that support to pursue their own Yemeni objectives.
It is this overlap between local and regional agendas that makes the threat more complex. The Houthis do not have to choose between serving Iran’s strategy and advancing their own interests — the same escalation can achieve both.
The Houthis do not possess the conventional capabilities required to impose a full naval blockade. They do not control the strait in the way a state controls its territorial waters, nor do they have a fleet capable of inspecting vessels and physically preventing their passage. But they do not need one. Antiship missiles, drones, explosive boats and naval mines, combined with a proven record of striking vessels, are enough for markets to treat their threats as credible.
Indeed, uncertainty itself may be more effective than a conventional blockade. Shipping companies do not wait for an attack before rerouting their vessels and insurers do not need to see the wreckage of a tanker before raising their premiums. The mere possibility of an attack becomes a cost in its own right. For Egypt, these developments create a complicated paradox. Tankers leaving Yanbu for Asian markets have been forced to turn north through the Suez Canal, sail into the Mediterranean and then travel around Africa to reach their destinations — a route that adds weeks to the journey. The canal may temporarily become an emergency outlet for some Saudi oil, with the Suez-Mediterranean pipeline assisting supertankers unable to transit the canal while fully loaded.
Yet if the expanding threat in the Red Sea turns into actual attacks, the ultimate consequence will be to keep large sections of international trade away from the Suez route, inflicting further losses on the Egyptian economy.
The US faces a different dilemma. President Donald Trump has threatened to “take care of” the Houthis if they obstruct shipping, but opening a new front near Yemen would require Washington to divide its ships, aircraft, air defense systems and munitions between the Gulf and the Red Sea.
Previous US campaigns inflicted real damage on the Houthis’ military and economic infrastructure but failed to eliminate their ability to launch missiles and drones. Years of airstrikes have also demonstrated the group’s capacity to conceal its assets, redeploy its forces and rebuild parts of its arsenal. Inside Yemen, the war has not ended but it has evolved from large-scale battles into a struggle over legitimacy, resources, ports and political recognition. The longer a settlement remains out of reach, the greater the Houthis’ ability to transfer the conflict from Yemen’s interior to the surrounding maritime corridors.
What is happening now confirms that Bab Al-Mandab and Hormuz can no longer be treated as separate files. They have become part of a single equation that might be described as the “geography of pressure.” Iran applies pressure in Hormuz, while the Houthis threaten the Yanbu route and Bab Al-Mandab. The objective is not necessarily to close both waterways completely but to raise the cost of the war for the US and its allies and strengthen their negotiating position in any future settlement.
What is happening now confirms that Bab Al-Mandab and Hormuz can no longer be treated as separate files. The Houthi threat has not disappeared; it has changed in character. It has evolved from attacking individual vessels to threatening energy networks and ports, and from a potential Iranian card into an instrument of pressure already affecting tanker routes and insurance premiums.
Protecting ships with additional destroyers or launching further strikes against missile sites is therefore no longer sufficient. Several parallel tracks are needed: securing freedom of navigation, preventing the US-Iran conflict from spreading to Bab Al-Mandab, preserving Saudi-Houthi channels of communication, and reviving a credible political process in Yemen. A maritime corridor cannot remain indefinitely insulated from the war unfolding along its shores.
The Houthis may not be able to close the Red Sea but they have proven that they can make it more expensive, more volatile and more deeply entangled in an open-ended regional conflict. That is a power whose dangers should not be underestimated.
*Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy has covered conflicts worldwide. He is the author of “The Copts: An Investigation into the Rift between Muslims and Copts in Egypt.” X: @ALMenawy

Iran shifts the battle to Kuwait and Yemen
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya English/July 23/2026
On the gound, the Iranian regime has begun carrying out some of its threats to widen the conflict by opening two new border fronts. The first is in the southern Red Sea, through threats by the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The second is in the northern Arabian Gulf, through direct and unprecedented threats against Kuwait.
The danger of this shift is not limited to Kuwait or the Red Sea, but extends across the entire regional security system. Iran is no longer confining the confrontation to its original parties, namely the United States and Israel. Instead, it is shifting the conflict to neighboring countries and strategic waterways. This behavior is less a defensive reaction than a reflection of a strategic direction that Iran’s military project has been developing for decades, based on expanding its influence and geopolitical control over surrounding countries.
The statements being issued by Iranian institutions warrant close attention, particularly as threats against Kuwait have intensified. The Tasnim News Agency has published statements strikingly similar to those issued by Baghdad before Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Tehran is using the limited US military presence in Kuwait as a pretext for a possible attack, while ignoring the fact that this presence dates back decades and primarily serves as a deterrent against any potential invasion. Kuwait was also not a principal base for the recent US military operations against Iran.
The question today is: How should Kuwait, together with the Gulf states, respond to this threat?
The challenge extends beyond the capabilities of individual states and requires a return to the concept of collective action through the creation of a cohesive regional front, supported by an international coalition that clearly rejects any pretexts for expanding the war or legitimizing attacks against neighboring countries. Washington may not be expected to lead the diplomatic initiative while it is preoccupied with managing the military confrontation. However, it can establish clear red lines affirming that the security of the Gulf and its maritime routes falls within its highest strategic interests. Iran has not limited itself to verbal threats against Kuwait. It has repeatedly struck water and electricity facilities and expanded the scope of its threats to include Bahrain as well.
Tehran appears to understand that a tightening naval blockade of its ports, together with the possibility of expanded US operations along its coastline, could cause it to lose its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, one of its most important tools of pressure during both the war and negotiations. It is therefore attempting to create alternative sources of leverage. These include turning Bab al-Mandeb into a point of strategic coercion through the Houthis and seeking to impose a new security reality in the northern Gulf. Although the circumstances are different, this effort evokes certain features of Saddam Hussein’s policy of imposing facts on the ground in 1990.
Iranian behavior has developed a recurring pattern. Whenever Tehran loses a strategic card, it quickly opens a new front in an attempt to recreate its instruments of pressure and coercion. To reduce the political and legal costs, and to avoid appearing as a directly aggressive state, it is likely to rely more heavily on its regional proxies, including Yemeni and Iraqi militias.
What are the chances that this new Iranian positioning will succeed?
The answer is not straightforward, because an analysis of Iranian behavior cannot be based solely on conventional assumptions of rationality. The Iranian leadership is also confronting complex domestic calculations and fears that any perception of defeat could destabilize its position at home, particularly after it spent decades diverting the country’s resources toward building military capabilities and financing wars.
The Houthis in Yemen appear to have been assigned the task of turning Bab al-Mandeb into an operational alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran’s ability to use the latter as a pressure tool declines because of US military attacks. With the Houthis already moving to threaten maritime navigation, Yemeni forces, together with the Saudi-led coalition, are likely to receive regional and international support to prevent the disruption of one of the world’s most important arteries of global trade.The expected response will not necessarily be limited to the military dimension. Diplomatic opportunities may be broader on this particular front. Major powers that depend on shipping through the Red Sea, led by China and India, as well as European states, have a direct interest in guaranteeing freedom of navigation. Any military action aimed at ending the Houthi threat to the maritime route could therefore receive broader international support, as it would be presented as a defense of the principle of freedom of international navigation rather than as an extension of the war taking place in the Gulf.
In all cases, building this regional and international coalition is no longer merely a political option. It has become a strategic necessity, not only to confront current threats, but also to deal with any arrangements that may emerge from the outcome of the war in the future. Iran is not simply seeking to manage a temporary crisis. It is attempting to redraw the region’s strategic map according to its new narrative, so that it emerges from the war, even if the fighting ends early, with spheres of influence and rules of engagement different from those that existed before the conflict. The debate, therefore, is no longer only about how to end the war, but also about the shape of the regional order that will emerge afterward.

Stories of Fools and Simpletons
Tawfiq Alsaif/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Suppose you came across a headline reading, "Gulf Family Assaulted in Istanbul." There is a 70 percent chance that you would read the entire story, along with all the comments beneath it, even if there were a hundred of them. Let us say that this type of story captures the attention of 70 percent of internet users and viewers of short videos on social media. You are likely to find the same proportion among people gathered in social and family circles.
The stories that attract the greatest interest from readers and listeners are those that end by tarnishing the reputation of individuals or entire communities. They usually begin with a minor incident—a dispute in a restaurant that ends with a customer being asked to leave, or perhaps a fight involving a handful of people. The story is then retold with a generous dose of sensational embellishment until it is presented as evidence of the general attitude of the people of one country toward the people of another. It typically concludes with calls to boycott the first country and hate its people.
This is not a hypothetical example. It has happened many times. In every case, the victim was a single person or a small number of individuals, yet the incident was portrayed as representing the stance of an entire nation against another.
I regret to say that popular media is saturated with such stories. They create the illusion that the world is a jungle inhabited by executioners, thieves, swindlers, the corrupt, and sexual predators. Yet we know that the true stories among all those being circulated amount to only a tiny fraction. Taken together, they are no more than a drop in the river of everyday life, which is filled with acts of kindness and positive human experiences.
"Very well—but isn't evil the dominant force in today's world?"
Unfortunately, this is the impression we have inherited, to the point that it has become almost unquestionable. It is reinforced by sayings interpreted in ways that support this belief, such as the reported maxim: "When the times are good, think well of people; when the times are corrupt, think ill of them." The implication, of course, is that our times are corrupt.
The same applies to verses attributed to Imam al-Shafi'i:
Let your opinion of others be only ill,
For suspicion is among the sharpest forms of wisdom.
Nothing has cast a person into hardship
Like trusting others and speaking kindly.
Such sayings are presented in a manner that leaves audiences with the impression that God Almighty created the world in this inherently wicked form, or that Satan has gained mastery over humanity.
What is wrong with this mindset—and the message it promotes?
The concept of social capital is probably one of the more recent additions to economic thought, particularly in the field of local development. Although the term dates back to the early twentieth century, serious scholarly interest in it emerged only toward the end of that century.
Sociologists argue that economic transformations can produce profound disruptions in the values people ordinarily rely on to regulate their relationships and resolve their differences. The foremost function of these values is to preserve mutual trust among members of society.
Trust, quite simply, is the deeply held conviction that dealing with others will produce mutual benefit, and that they will act in good faith rather than seek to rob, betray, or undermine us. That is why people enter into contracts with strangers, pay for goods before receiving them, or deliver goods before receiving payment.
It is precisely this degree of mutual trust that makes official, commercial, and personal transactions easier—the very transactions people depend upon to improve their livelihoods. That, in essence, is the heart of social capital.
The stories mentioned earlier are dangerous because they erode this social capital. Repeating and recirculating them does great harm. They plant fear and suspicion in people's minds, weaken mutual trust, and make everyday dealings more difficult or fraught with doubt. I have little doubt that they fall within what the Holy Quran condemns as the spreading of indecency.
I write this to urge thoughtful people, in our countries and elsewhere, not to become absorbed in reading such stories—which are little more than tales for fools and simpletons—let alone passing them on. In truth, they undermine the social fabric and cut off people's means of livelihood.

When Gulf Security Becomes a Global Issue
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Othaimin/Asharq Al awsat/July 23/2026
Brussels hosted the third GCC–EU Regional Security Forum on Monday, July 13, 2026. The forum forms part of the practical implementation of the strategic partnership announced by the two sides in May 2022. It also gives effect to the outcomes of the first GCC–EU Summit held in 2024 and represents an institutional continuation of the previous forums in Riyadh and Luxembourg, reflecting both blocs' efforts to build a more structured and effective security and political partnership.
The forum's third edition was held amid particularly sensitive regional circumstances, with security and political challenges intensifying and renewed concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz and their implications for oil flows and price stability in global markets. Gulf security is no longer merely a regional issue. It now has direct implications for global stability, particularly for Europe's security and interests, given the continent's reliance on stable energy supplies and secure international shipping and trade routes. Against this backdrop, three issues emerged as the forum's central themes, and they are likely to shape the next phase of GCC–EU partnership.
The first is that the security and stability of the Gulf have become fundamental pillars of both the global economy and European security. The relationship between the two sides has long moved beyond the traditional producer–consumer or exporter–market equation. The security of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, the protection of critical civilian and strategic infrastructure, and the uninterrupted flow of trade now matter as much to Europe's economy as they do to the Gulf states.
When either strait is disrupted, the consequences extend far beyond the region. Around 20 percent of global oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while nearly 12 percent of global seaborne trade passes through Bab el-Mandeb. Disruption in either waterway quickly reverberates through energy markets, supply chains, and the global economy.
In his address to the forum, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi noted that Europe is facing its second energy shock in four years and that what began as a regional escalation has since affected the economies of the Gulf, Europe, and the wider world. This reality confirms that Gulf stability is no longer simply a regional interest but a shared responsibility that requires European partners to play a more active role in supporting regional security and protecting energy flows and international trade.
Rapid regional developments also call for moving beyond coordination and consultation toward broader practical cooperation, translating political consensus into joint action to address shared challenges, particularly in information sharing, maritime security, cybersecurity, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Such cooperation would strengthen both sides' ability to respond to cross-border threats.
Today's challenges no longer allow for isolated national responses. They require collective action that is more organized and sustainable. The challenge posed by Iran stands at the forefront of these issues, underscoring the importance of such cooperation. The GCC states remain firmly committed to peace, dialogue, diplomacy, and good-neighborly relations as the primary means of resolving disputes. At the same time, they stress that this approach can succeed only if Iran genuinely respects state sovereignty and international law, refrains from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and guarantees freedom of navigation. This gives Europe an important role in supporting de-escalation and strengthening regional security and stability.
The benefits of this cooperation extend beyond the current crisis. The forum provides an opportunity to build on the progress achieved in GCC–EU partnership and advance it toward a more integrated framework better equipped to address future challenges.
The Secretary-General outlined six priorities: political and diplomatic coordination, regional security, trade corridors and alternative routes, energy, lessons learned from the crisis, and people-to-people ties and easier movement. Together, they reflect a broader understanding of security that encompasses the protection of economies and societies alongside the protection of borders.
This broader concept of security means keeping ports operating, ensuring that energy and communications networks remain uninterrupted, maintaining alternative trade routes, and developing a shared capacity to withstand shocks. It also means expanding cooperation in renewable energy, technology, artificial intelligence, and food security, since building shared interests remains one of the most effective safeguards against future crises. This vision could be translated into a permanent early-warning mechanism, joint exercises to protect maritime navigation and critical infrastructure, and contingency plans to ensure supply chain continuity, making cooperation institutional rather than dependent on the temporary responses each crisis demands.
The upcoming second GCC–EU Summit, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026, will provide additional momentum and an opportunity to build on the progress achieved since the first summit while advancing the partnership toward deeper and more effective cooperation. It is hoped that the summit will produce practical initiatives and clear mechanisms for implementation and follow-up, translating agreed principles into sustainable cooperation that serves both sides' shared interests. Finally, I believe that the continued dialogue and institutional coordination between the two sides demonstrate just how closely the security of the Gulf and Europe has become intertwined. Their shared interests in energy, maritime security, and trade now transcend geographical distance, making the GCC–EU partnership an important framework for strengthening security and stability and addressing common challenges.

Hamas's New Leader, Same Old Jihad
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/July 23/2026
The election is... evidence that efforts to remove Hamas from power have failed.
Instead of discussing disarmament, Hamas is discussing succession. Instead of preparing to relinquish power, it is choosing who will govern.
Terrorist organizations do not negotiate themselves out of existence.
Al-Hayya was Sinwar's closest associate. He served as Sinwar's deputy. He helped shape Hamas policy before and after October 7. After the massacre, al-Hayya praised October 7 as "a source of pride for our people... to be passed down from generation to generation."
The election sends a clear message throughout the Middle East: The Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" remains intact. It also explains why al-Hayya's first public remarks as Hamas leader included thanks to Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Iraqi Shiite militias. His loyalties are clear.
The continued protection afforded to Hamas leaders by terrorist-sponsoring "friends" of Trump, such as Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan, undermines international efforts to combat terrorism.
The people paying the highest price remain the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Instead of rebuilding homes, reconstructing schools, restoring hospitals, and creating jobs, Hamas is holding leadership elections. Its priorities could not be clearer. Its leaders are busy securing their own political future while ordinary Palestinians continue living amid destruction.
The election of al-Hayya should finally end the fantasy that Hamas may evolve into a political movement willing to coexist peacefully with Israel. It should also end the illusion that negotiations alone will persuade Hamas to disarm.
Allowing Hamas to survive politically after October 7 would send a message to terrorist organizations and the Iranian regime: that committing mass murder carries no lasting consequences, and that even after one of this century's worst terrorist atrocities, its perpetrators can simply elect a new leader and carry on as before. Hamas's election of Khalil al-Hayya demonstrates that the terrorist group remains sufficiently organized to manage internal political affairs while continuing to rule much of the Gaza Strip and dictate the lives of more than two million Palestinians.
Nearly three years after the October 7, 2023 massacre – the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust – the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas has calmly elected a new head of its "Political Bureau."This simple fact should alarm everyone who believed that the terrorist organization had been defeated or dismantled. Organizations that have been defeated do not hold orderly leadership elections. Organizations that have ceased to exist do not choose successors, debate candidates, and prepare for the future. Hamas does.
Its election of Khalil al-Hayya demonstrates that the terrorist group remains sufficiently organized to manage internal political affairs while continuing to rule much of the Gaza Strip and dictate the lives of more than two million Palestinians. The election is therefore not merely an internal Hamas matter. It is evidence that efforts to remove Hamas from power have failed.
Instead of preparing to surrender its weapons or dissolve itself after the atrocities of October 7, Hamas is preparing for its future. Holding internal elections means that Hamas expects to remain a permanent player in Palestinian politics. This completely contradicts any expectation that Hamas will eventually disappear from the Gaza Strip. More than seven months after US President Donald J. Trump's 20-point peace plan called for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, the terrorist group remains intact. Instead of discussing disarmament, Hamas is discussing succession. Instead of preparing to relinquish power, it is choosing who will govern.
The election of al-Hayya also exposes the failure of current American strategy. For months, the Trump Administration and its "Board of Peace" have continued believing that negotiations could somehow persuade Hamas to disarm voluntarily. What has happened is the opposite.
Hamas never intended to disappear. It never intended to surrender its weapons. It never, as its internal election proves, intended to leave the Gaza Strip. Terrorist organizations do not negotiate themselves out of existence. The assumption that al-Hayya is more pragmatic than his predecessor, the late Yahya Sinwar (the mastermind of the October 7 massacre) is dangerously misleading. Changing from military fatigues to a business suit does not transform a terrorist into a statesman.
Al-Hayya was Sinwar's closest associate. He served as Sinwar's deputy. He helped shape Hamas policy before and after October 7. After the massacre, al-Hayya praised October 7 as "a source of pride for our people... to be passed down from generation to generation."
Those are not the words of a moderate. Al-Hayya has never renounced Hamas's 1988 charter calling for Israel's elimination. He also never apologized for the murder, rape, torture and kidnapping of Israeli civilians – and he has consistently rejected demands that Hamas disarm.
His election signals not change but continuity.
Perhaps the biggest winner is Iran's regime. Al-Hayya has long maintained close relations with the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His victory over Khaled Mashaal consolidates the influence of Hamas's most pro-Iran faction.
Iran, despite repeated declarations that Hamas had been weakened, therefore retains one of its most valuable terrorist proxies. The election sends a clear message throughout the Middle East: The Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" remains intact.
It also explains why al-Hayya's first public remarks as Hamas leader included thanks to Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Iraqi Shiite militias. His loyalties are clear.
Another troubling question: Why is al-Hayya still living safely in Qatar? Why do senior Hamas officials continue enjoying sanctuary in Qatar and Turkey? At least 43 American citizens were among those murdered on October 7, while another 12 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayya was one of the leaders of Hamas on October 7. Why has Washington not demanded his extradition? If Hamas leaders planned attacks that killed Americans, why are they still free?
The continued protection afforded to Hamas leaders by terrorist-supporting "friends" of Trump, such as Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan, undermines international efforts to combat terrorism.
The people paying the highest price remain the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Instead of rebuilding homes, reconstructing schools, restoring hospitals, and creating jobs, Hamas is holding leadership elections. Its priorities could not be clearer. Its leaders are busy securing their own political future while ordinary Palestinians continue living amid destruction.
Hamas repeatedly insists that Palestinian suffering is a necessary sacrifice. Its leaders celebrate martyrdom while living comfortably abroad. This is precisely the mentality that Sinwar embraced. Al-Hayya has recently echoed the same rhetoric:
"We tell the occupiers that we are the owners of a cause. Neither the killing of our children nor the martyrdom of our leaders will frighten us or instill fear in our hearts."
The election of al-Hayya should finally end the fantasy that Hamas may evolve into a political movement willing to coexist peacefully with Israel. It should also end the illusion that negotiations alone will persuade Hamas to disarm.
Instead, the election confirms that Hamas remains committed to the same ideology, alliance with Iran, and strategy of perpetual jihad (holy war) that produced the October 7 massacre. A terrorist organization that can calmly elect a new leader nearly three years after committing one of the worst atrocities in modern history is not collapsing. It is adapting. That is why Hamas has no place in Gaza's future – not as a government, not as a political party, and certainly not as an armed movement. Allowing Hamas to survive politically after October 7 would send a message to terrorist organizations and the Iranian regime: that committing mass murder carries no lasting consequences, and that even after one of this century's worst terrorist atrocities, its perpetrators can simply elect a new leader and carry on as before.
Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22730/hamas-new-leader-same-jihad
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© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

Mamdani Accidentally Offers Insight into the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Kenneth Levin/Gatestone Institute/July 23, 2026
[Mamdani's map of ethnic enclaves in New York City] labels neighborhoods as "Little Palestine," "Little Egypt," and "Little Pakistan," along with other ethnic identities. But absent is any acknowledgment of, for example, the city's prominent and historic Italian, Irish, Jewish or Puerto Rican neighborhoods. Their history and prominence are simply erased. The reality is, of course, the opposite of the Palestinian false history, or "narrative." Jewish history in the land goes back more than 3,000 years. Islam didn't even exist for most of that time. Mary was, of course, a Jewish woman. The Jewish presence in the land, even when diminished by forced exile imposed by various conquering empires, was unbroken throughout that entire history. The Muslim presence only began in the late seventh century, when Arab forces seized the area from the Byzantine Christian empire that then controlled it.
There has never been a Palestinian Arab state. The land was under the control of the British via a mandate ratified by the League of Nations after World War I. When, in 1947, the United Nations voted to divide the mandate into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, the Jews agreed and the Arabs rejected the proposal. Palestinian leaders have continued to reject two-state solutions whenever they have been agreed upon by Israel, as in 2000, 2001 and 2008. They continue to hold out for what Mamdani advocates, an Arab state "from the river to the sea," with the Jewish state annihilated.
The only coherent use of "genocide" to characterize events in the area is the genocide advocated by the Arab side, where Hamas... calls in its charter for the annihilation of all the world's Jews as a religious obligation, and the Palestinian Authority advocates the murder of Jews in its media, mosques and schools, and uses much of its annual budget to provide pensions to people for doing exactly that, murdering Jews.
The map labels neighborhoods as "Little Palestine," "Little Egypt," and "Little Pakistan," along with other ethnic identities. But absent is any acknowledgment of, for example, the city's prominent and historic Italian, Irish, Jewish or Puerto Rican neighborhoods. Their history and prominence are simply erased.
The distinction given to recently arrived Muslim immigrant communities and the erasure of historic and important non-Muslim groups is virtually a carbon copy of the ludicrous claims by Palestinians and their supporters that the Palestinians should be acknowledged as the exclusive claimants of what is now Israel and that the Jews are recent foreign interlopers whose presence should be nullified and erased. It is of a piece with Mamdani's call for the liberation of Palestine "from the river to the sea"; that is, the extirpation of Israel and its Jews.
It is likewise of a piece with the rhetoric of the Muslim retreat attended by Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, on the French island of Corsica, over the 250th July 4 celebration. There the Virgin Mary was declared to be a "Palestinian woman."
The reality is, of course, the opposite of the Palestinian false history, or "narrative." Jewish history in the land goes back more than 3,000 years. Islam didn't even exist for most of that time. Mary was, of course, a Jewish woman. The Jewish presence in the land, even when diminished by forced exile imposed by various conquering empires, was unbroken throughout that entire history. The Muslim presence only began in the late seventh century, when Arab forces seized the area from the Byzantine Christian empire that then controlled it.
The land was sparsely populated in modern times until the last century. From 1516 until World War I, it was essentially part of the Ottoman Empire. In the 1830's, the ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, broke from his allegiance to the Ottomans, conquered the area that is now Israel, and encouraged the migration of Egyptians into the area to reinforce his hold on it. By 1841 the Ottomans had pushed Muhammad Ali's forces back. They, likewise wanting to strengthen their hold on the area, subsequently encouraged the migration of Muslims fleeing Christian colonial inroads (for example, Muslims from the Caucasus fleeing Russian expansion; Muslims from the lands that are now Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, seeking to escape French imperial conquest; and Muslims from what is now Iran, migrating from upheaval there). The first half of the twentieth century also saw large-scale Muslim immigration into the area.
Again, the Jewish presence during this period was unbroken. Jews were, for example, a plurality in Jerusalem -- that is, their numbers exceeded those of Muslims or Christians -- in Ottoman counts early in the 1800's, and a majority in Jerusalem from the mid-nineteenth century.
There has never been a Palestinian Arab state. The land was under the control of the British via a mandate ratified by the League of Nations after World War I. When, in 1947, the United Nations voted to divide the mandate into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, the Jews agreed and the Arabs rejected the proposal. Palestinian leaders have continued to reject two-state solutions whenever they have been agreed upon by Israel, as in 2000, 2001 and 2008. They continue to hold out for what Mamdani advocates, an Arab state "from the river to the sea," with the Jewish state annihilated.
The only coherent use of "genocide" to characterize events in the area is the genocide advocated by the Arab side, where Hamas -- the darling now of much of the American Left -- calls in its charter for the annihilation of all the world's Jews as a religious obligation, and the Palestinian Authority advocates the murder of Jews in its media, mosques and schools, and uses much of its annual budget to provide pensions to people for doing exactly that, murdering Jews.
If Mamdani were to publish a map of neighborhoods "from the river to the sea" and associated ethnicities, he would no doubt replicate the methodology he applied to the New York City map, a methodology reflecting the aspirations of Palestinian leaders: every neighborhood on the map would be a "little Palestine."
**Kenneth Levin is a psychiatrist and historian. His most recent book is The Canary on the Couch: The Psychology of Jewish Self-Delusions in the Face of Rising Antisemitism (Academic Studies Press).
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22729/zohran-mamdani-israel
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on 23 July/2026
Charles Elias Chartouni
Mamdani is an islamist in quest of subversion, he is violating the constitution,meddling in Foreign Affairs that are beyond his purview and instigating civil war. He should be removed.