English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For July 28/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it
Matthew 23/16-22/”Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 27-28 July/2026
He Who Rolls a Stone, It Will Roll Back on Him … A Faith Reflection on God’s Justice and the Harvest of Human Deeds/Elias Bejjani/July 27/2026
Netanyahu says will resist US pressure to pull forces from Lebanon
Lebanon Tightens Control of Ports, Drying Up Hezbollah Funding Sources
Lebanon Army Condemns Israeli Attacks Preventing Deployment in South
Lebanon and Iraq Head Towards a New Partnership
An Israeli drone dropped explosives over the Ali al-Taher area in the Nabatieh district on Monday.
Hezbollah MP Says Resistance Will Not Be Disarmed
President Aoun: Israeli Actions in Southern Lebanon Violate International Law
Aoun and Macron discuss region, south Lebanon developments in phone call
Aoun: Lebanon committed to framework but Israel practices undermine its effectiveness
Army condemns Israeli attacks preventing deployment in south
Berri walks fine line between Aoun and Hezbollah
Salam Says Lebanon Ready to Pursue All Economic Opportunities With Iraq
Jumblat calls for preserving south's memory of 'coexistence, struggle and attachment to land'
Cleared for Takeoff: What the U.S. Reopening Flights to Beirut Signals/Marwan El Amine/This Is Beirut/July 27/2026
Berlin Pride parade attacker of Lebanese origin, previously held in Lebanon
Hezbollah’s Financing Strategies: Recovering From War With Israel/Dr. Iftah Burman and David Adesnik/FDD/July 27/2026
Kamel al-Asaad: A Man Who Upheld the Constitution/Ali Khalil Tarhini/Janoubia/July 27, 2026
We paid $3 billion for Lebanon’s army to make excuses for Hezbollah/Tyler Stapleton and David Daoud/Washington Examiner/July 27/2026
Les défis de la République /Dr. Charles Chartouni/Ici Beyrouth/27 juillet 2026
The Challenges of the Republic/Dr. Charles Chartouni/Ici Beyrouth/July 27/2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 27-28 July/2026
Netanyahu Heads to Washington for Eighth Meeting With Trump, Says Iran to Top Agenda
Iran foreign ministry says no current negotiations with United States
Sharaa: Syria Seeks Security Deal with Israel with Participation of Several Countries
Mediators see progress in diplomatic efforts to halt Iran war
Trump Says He Is Ready for Military Action if Iran Talks Fail
Iran Says US Not Involved in Talks with Oman over Hormuz Strait
Netanyahu Says Iran Is Top Agenda in Meeting with Trump
Israel to Allow International Force into Gaza, Israeli Official Says
Israeli Generals Accuse Netanyahu of Seeking to Ignite a ‘Third Intifada’
Police Arrest 1 Person after Seattle Festival Shooting that Killed 3
Netanyahu Accuses Mamdani of ‘Fomenting Hate’ and Calls ICC War Crimes Charges ‘Bogus’
Iran Says Progress in Oman Talks on Hormuz Strait Management
Iran Halts Strikes as Trump Gives Space to Talks
Iran Warns of 'Unforeseen' Consequences after Ukraine Attack on Caspian Sea Ship
Yemeni Armed Forces Warn Houthis Against Continued Threats to Red Sea Security
French Police Arrest Man after He Attacked Three Women with Knives in Paris
Israel Military Says Intercepts Two Drones Near Jordan Border
Yemen's Houthis Say Launched Drone Attacks on Saudi Oil Infrastructure
Saudi Arabia Urges Iraq to Prevent Territory From Being Used to Launch Attacks
Saudi Arabia Says Air Defenses Intercept Drones Targeting Oil Facilities
Iraqi Kurdistan Says Some Drones Targeting Erbil Were Launched From Mosul
Iran Says It Will Not Let U.S. Dictate War, Accuses Gulf States of Joining Conflict

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 27-28 July/2026
Trump's Saudi Nuclear Horror Show...Why Trump and Congress Should Reject the US-Saudi Nuclear Deal/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/July 27, 2026
The Doyen of Hostages/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Trumpism After 2028/Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Why is the IEA Questioning the Reliability of Gulf Producers?/Haitham Faisal Al Ghais-Secretary-General of OPEC/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 27-28 July/2026
He Who Rolls a Stone, It Will Roll Back on Him … A Faith Reflection on God’s Justice and the Harvest of Human Deeds
Elias Bejjani/July 27/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/148087/
The Holy Bible teaches us that God is love, but He is also a God of justice and holiness. Throughout life’s journey, many people believe they can hurt others, wrong them, or slander them without facing the consequences of their actions. Yet God’s Word clearly teaches that a person reaps what he sows, and that evil can never be a path to true peace or happiness. This reflection is a call to examine ourselves, choose the path of love and goodness, and remember that whatever we do to others will return to us in one way or another, because God’s justice neither fails nor disappears.
There is no doubt that human life follows one of two paths: the path of good or the path of evil, each carrying deep spiritual, human, and practical meaning. Every person, regardless of social status, education, or wealth, must choose which path to follow and accept full responsibility for that choice, remembering that no one can escape the consequences of his deeds, whether good or evil, because God’s justice is perfect and never makes mistakes.
If you are a righteous and wise person who fears God in your words and actions and believes in the Day of Judgment, then you must understand that evil brings only destruction to its owner. True wisdom is found in fearing God, controlling oneself, and avoiding injustice and harm. Every word you speak and every deed you do will leave a mark that will return to you sooner or later.
But if you harden your heart, blind your spiritual sight, kill the grace of shame within you, close your ears to the truth, and silence your conscience—which is God’s voice within you—remember that the pain you plant in the lives of others will one day knock on the door of your own life. God’s judgment may seem delayed, but it never expires and never escapes the watchful eyes of God.
The Bible confirms this truth in the Book of Proverbs: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will roll back on him” (Proverbs 26:27).
The Apostle Paul also says: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
As a Lebanese proverb says: “You will surely drink from the same cup that you made others drink from.”
How many proud and foolish people ignore this obvious truth! They plot evil, rejoice in harming others, and imagine that cruelty gives them power or prestige. Yet in the end, they reap nothing but the ruin of their own lives, the loss of inner peace, and the destruction of their souls.
In contrast, Christ calls us to a completely different path—the path of love, forgiveness, and mercy. He says: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). A true believer does not seek revenge or return evil for evil. Instead, he leaves judgment to God, who knows the secrets of every heart and rewards each person according to his deeds.
All of us encounter people who make hurting others their goal, hatred their method, and gossip and slander their way of life. They hurt even those closest to them because they have lost the grace of conscience and exchanged mercy for hatred and love for envy.
Let us pray that God grants those who walk in the paths of evil, hatred, and blind jealousy the grace of repentance and a return to the truth before it is too late. May they come to understand that whoever digs a pit for another will fall into it himself, whoever rolls a stone against another will have it roll back upon him, and whoever gives others a cup of bitterness will one day taste its bitterness himself.
As for those who reject repentance and persist in evil and injustice, caring neither for God nor for His commandments, let them remember that divine judgment is real and that every person will one day stand before the Lord to give an account for every word, every deed, and every intention.
Let us always remember that life is governed by God’s perfect justice. What you sow today, you will reap tomorrow. What you do to others will return to you in one way or another. Therefore, as believers, let us sow love so that we may reap peace, sow mercy so that we may receive mercy, and turn away from evil so that we may walk in the light of God.
In conclusion, whoever rolls a stone to harm others will one day have that stone roll back upon him. But whoever sows goodness and love will receive God’s blessing, joy in the heart, and peace of conscience.
The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Netanyahu says will resist US pressure to pull forces from Lebanon
Naharnet/27 July 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Cabinet meeting that he will resist U.S. pressure to pull forces from Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria, Israeli media reported Monday. Channel 13 quoted Netanyahu as telling his ministers that Washington is pushing for Israeli troop withdrawals from several fronts, including southern Lebanon, and that he will "stand on my own two feet and resist" any pressure to pull forces out prematurely. Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his position that Israel will maintain its security presence in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure or returning to the border area until the group is completely disarmed. He warned that if Iran or its armed regional proxies (including Hezbollah in Lebanon) launch attacks against Israel using drones or missiles, "it will make a terrible mistake" and Israel’s response will be "very, very forceful."
Netanyahu told his interviewer that Israel has "pushed Hezbollah back" and weakened the group. "That's good for Israel, good for peace, good for Lebanon," he said, adding that the fact that a framework agreement was reached in direct talks with Lebanon shows that Hezbollah has failed to intimidate the Lebanese authorities. Netanyahu plans to travel to the United States and meet with Trump in Washington on Tuesday, his office has said. They last met in Washington in February, weeks before they launched the war on Iran that killed senior leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hezbollah fired at Israel two days after the Iran war began, and Israel responded with airstrikes and ground forces in southern Lebanon. Since then, the U.S. has supported landmark direct talks between Lebanon and Israel to try to calm that front and find a way to disarm Hezbollah.

Lebanon Tightens Control of Ports, Drying Up Hezbollah Funding Sources
Beirut: Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Lebanon’s confrontation with Hezbollah is no longer confined to the issue of the group’s weapons and the implementation of international commitments in the South. It has expanded to a broader campaign to tighten state control over seaports, the airport and border crossings, curbing Hezbollah’s influence and cutting off its illicit sources of funding. Since the election of President Joseph Aoun and the formation of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government, the authorities have pursued a security and administrative strategy to reassert sovereign control over the country’s land, sea and air entry points.
According to security sources, the measures introduced in recent months have gone beyond reorganizing operations at these facilities. They have also struck at Hezbollah’s logistical infrastructure by significantly restricting smuggling routes and disrupting funding channels that operated through the Syrian border, Beirut airport and the Port of Beirut.
Hezbollah’s Influence Recedes
While anti-smuggling and border-control measures continue to be strengthened, their effects are already visible, with Hezbollah losing influence inside institutions where it once held considerable sway. A source involved in overseeing Lebanon’s land, sea and air crossings told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah’s influence within these facilities has declined to an unprecedented level since the start of the new administration. The source said the shift has directly affected the group’s financial and logistical capabilities, which, before the latest war, benefited from a different security and administrative environment that allowed goods and cash to move with relatively few constraints. In recent months, the Lebanese state has also imposed a higher level of technical oversight by deploying modern scanners at the Port of Beirut, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport and the Masnaa border crossing. The equipment has curbed the smuggling of goods, prohibited materials and cash through these facilities. The source added that the illegal crossings which for years served as the backbone of Hezbollah’s logistical network “no longer play the role they once did,” after the Syrian authorities tightened controls on their side of the border in parallel with enhanced Lebanese enforcement. As a result, illegal cross-border traffic has fallen to what the source described as almost negligible levels.
A Fundamental Shift
The source noted that conditions along the unofficial crossings with Syria have changed dramatically from previous years, when trucks linked to Hezbollah allegedly crossed regularly, taking advantage of a weak state and the marginalization of official institutions in favor of the group and smuggling networks operating within its orbit. The changes have extended beyond the movement of goods to the group’s financing networks. An official source reported a marked decline in attempts to bring bags of cash and gold into Lebanon through the airport, as well as in the smuggling of Captagon pills and hashish, activities the source described as among the most significant illicit operations associated with cross-border trafficking. The source also underscored the importance of the government’s decision to bar Iranian aircraft from landing at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, saying it had tightened pressure on Hezbollah’s supply channels by closing one of the routes allegedly used to transport cash and other material support to the group. Officials also described the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime as the most significant turning point—and the most severe blow—Hezbollah has faced since its founding. With Syria no longer providing what they described as a secure logistical environment, Hezbollah and Iran have lost one of their principal corridors for moving weapons and funding into Lebanon. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah’s influence within the institutions overseeing ports and border crossings has become “almost nonexistent” following a series of security and administrative measures aimed at rebuilding oversight systems at the Port of Beirut, Rafic Hariri International Airport and the Masnaa crossing. According to the source, the measures included the reassignment of numerous security and administrative personnel believed to have been under Hezbollah’s influence and who allegedly facilitated the passage of goods on an almost daily basis. The restructuring, the source said, closed loopholes that had long represented vulnerabilities within the agencies responsible for monitoring these facilities.
The source added that the authorities have not limited their efforts to administrative reshuffles. They have also launched investigations and legal proceedings against individuals suspected of facilitating the passage of goods, bags of cash and jewelry on Hezbollah’s behalf in recent months, as part of a broader policy aimed at dismantling the group’s networks of influence within public institutions.

Lebanon Army Condemns Israeli Attacks Preventing Deployment in South
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
The Lebanese army on Sunday condemned ongoing Israeli military activities in the country's south that it said were preventing its full deployment under a framework deal reached with Israel last month."Israeli occupation forces continue their attacks and violations of current understandings and of international laws through the systematic destruction and bulldozing of homes, bombardment and sweeps with automatic weapons in several southern areas," an army statement said."The continuation of these attacks obstructs the army's full deployment according to current agreements and prevents the return of residents to their villages and towns," it added.Under a US-sponsored agreement signed last month, Lebanon's army is to disarm Hezbollah and the Israeli military is to withdraw from "pilot zones" where Lebanese forces will subsequently deploy. The deal came more than three months after Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East with rocket fire at Israel in support of Tehran, triggering major Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people. Lebanon's army also accused Israeli soldiers of "opening fire near army positions in Kfar Tibnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Zawtar al-Garhbiyeh, which hinders the implementation of its missions". While violence has declined since the signing of a US-Iran memorandum last month on the regional conflict, and the Lebanon-Israel framework deal, Lebanon continues to report intermittent Israeli strikes and artillery shelling on the south, as well as the detonations of buildings in southern villages. This week, Lebanon's army began deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, one of the "pilot zones" under the framework agreement, and in recent days local residents have begun checking on their homes there. Israeli forces were previously present on the outskirts of the village. An AFP correspondent on Sunday saw heavy damage and Lebanese soldiers in the streets as some residents inspected their homes. "When I entered my home, I felt sadness. The destruction hurt me," said resident Ihsan Yaghi, surrounded by walls blackened from fire and rooms strewn with debris and rubble. "We stand with the (Lebanese) army," she said, adding that "we want to feel safe. It's time for the state to take care of us, we're tired."The army statement said its soldiers "continue to accompany the return of residents" to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh. The military's deployment in the south is a key test for the government, with Hezbollah refusing to disarm. In a meeting last week with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized "the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory". Hezbollah, meanwhile, continued to criticize the Lebanese authorities over the framework agreement. Member of the party’s parliamentary bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah said the state “was unable to stop the Israeli attacks or make such a goal a priority in its political and diplomatic efforts.” He added that Israel continues to exploit the framework agreement to maintain its occupation and violations. “Priority should be the liberation of remaining occupied land, the return of residents to their villages, the reconstruction of damaged areas and ending the Israeli attacks,” he went on to say. Moreover, he said the Hezbollah was not in a confrontation with the Lebanese army. “The main confrontation remains with Israel,” he stressed, while reiterating the party’s opposition to the Lebanese state’s policies.
The party is committed to civil peace and rejects any internal clash, the MP asserted.

Lebanon and Iraq Head Towards a New Partnership
Baghdad: Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam, discussed a number of issues related to bilateral relations during a meeting in Baghdad on Sunday. They also discussed using Lebanese territory as an additional gateway for Iraq to access the Mediterranean Sea and establishing a diversified economic partnership. A statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's media office said that al-Zaidi and his Lebanese counterpart held a bilateral meeting to discuss areas of joint cooperation and regional developments. The talks also covered the economic partnership between the two countries, as well as the latest developments in the region. The statement added that the discussions focused on ways to strengthen bilateral economic, political and security relations. They also explored opportunities to deepen the partnership between the two nations in a way that would support comprehensive and sustainable development and serve the interests of both the Iraqi and Lebanese peoples. According to the statement, the Prime Minister stressed the deep ties between Iraq and Lebanon, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening the relationship and highlighting the importance of entering into productive economic partnerships across various development sectors. He also stressed the need for close coordination between the two countries in addressing the challenges facing the region and supporting bilateral cooperation to reinforce regional stability, reduce tensions, and end conflicts. Salam's office said the Lebanese delegation included Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hajj, and Director General of General Security Major General Hassan Choucair. The visit included meetings with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi and a-Zaidi, during which both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and expand cooperation across various sectors. The visit also featured bilateral meetings between Lebanese ministers and their Iraqi counterparts. During the talks, Salam stressed that Lebanon is firmly committed to advancing projects that promote regional connectivity and strategic integration with countries in the region across a range of sectors, particularly energy, telecommunications, and transportation. He said these efforts would allow Lebanon to capitalize on the opportunities created by ongoing regional transformations while strengthening its position and role within its regional environment. Salam also stressed that economic cooperation among the countries of the region is a fundamental pillar of strength, stability, and shared prosperity, especially when based on a vision that promotes mutual benefits and common interests. He added that Lebanon looks forward to becoming an active partner with Iraq in shaping these regional projects in a way that opens new investment opportunities and supports sustainable development and economic growth for the two nations. Among the issues discussed in Baghdad was the proposed connection of the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline to the Tripoli refinery, as announced by the Lebanese side. According to Mazhar Mohammed Salih, the Iraqi Prime Minister's financial and economic adviser, the purpose of the visit was to renew the agreement under which Iraq supplies Lebanon with fuel to operate its power plants, while also exploring efforts to export Iraqi oil through Beirut to the Mediterranean. In press remarks, Salih said the energy sector is at the heart of Salam’s visit, with both sides seeking to extend and expand the agreement under which Iraq supplies fuel to Lebanon, an arrangement that has helped keep Lebanon's electricity sector functioning over the past several years. He explained that the visit also highlights the strategic dimension of regional transportation and connectivity projects, noting that the proposal to use Lebanese territory as an additional outlet for Iraq to access the Mediterranean Sea would, if implemented, give Lebanon an important logistical role while providing Iraq with a new commercial gateway to global markets. Salih added that any new agreement would represent a strategic lifeline linking Baghdad and Beirut through shared interests that extend beyond fuel supplies to broader economic stability. However, he stressed that energy is not the only issue on the agenda, pointing out that bilateral trade remains well below its potential. He said the visit could pave the way for facilitating the movement of goods and businesspeople and encourage investment in industry, agriculture, and services, giving both economies greater room to grow despite the region's unstable environment. Regarding Iraq, Salih said the visit would strengthen the country's economic presence in the Levant and diversify its partnerships beyond dependence on a single direction. For Lebanon, he said, it represents an opportunity to secure stable energy supplies and attract Iraqi investment to support the country's economic recovery.

An Israeli drone dropped explosives over the Ali al-Taher area in the Nabatieh district on Monday.
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
No immediate information was available on casualties or damage.

Hezbollah MP Says Resistance Will Not Be Disarmed
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said on Thursday that the group’s weapons would not be surrendered, calling on the Lebanese government to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. “They will not be able to disarm the resistance,” Hajj Hassan said, urging the authorities to prioritize achieving Israel’s full withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon.

President Aoun: Israeli Actions in Southern Lebanon Violate International Law
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday that Israel’s continued destruction of homes and razing of villages in southern Lebanon constitutes a direct violation of human rights and a clear breach of international law, calling for international action. During the meeting, Aoun said Israel has also targeted religious and cultural heritage sites, arguing that the attacks demonstrate a deliberate intent against both civilians and Lebanon’s cultural heritage, particularly because the sites are neither military positions nor used by armed groups.Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing the U.S.-brokered Framework Agreement but warned that continued Israeli actions risk undermining its implementation. He stressed that Lebanon will not accept ongoing violations of the agreement’s provisions.

Aoun and Macron discuss region, south Lebanon developments in phone call
Naharnet/27 Jul 2026
President Joseph Aoun has discussed regional developments and the situation in southern Lebanon in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Aoun also updated Macron on his recent visit to Washington, the presidency said Sunday in a post on the X platform. During the call, Aoun briefed Macron on the outcomes of his recent official visit to the United States, including his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior American officials, which focused on the situation in Lebanon, the post-framework agreement roadmap, and the execution of its core points. The two leaders addressed the escalating tensions in southern Lebanon due to continued Israeli strikes on several border towns and villages. They emphasized the urgent need to halt these attacks and strictly adhere to a cessation of hostilities, the presidency said. Additionally, the discussion covered future arrangements following the conclusion of UNIFIL’s mandate in the south, highlighting the critical role of sustained international engagement in preserving regional stability. Presidents Aoun and Macron agreed to stay in close coordination as events unfold.

Aoun: Lebanon committed to framework but Israel practices undermine its effectiveness
Naharnet/27 Jul 2026
President Joseph Aoun on Monday told U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk that Israel's continued destruction of homes and bulldozing of villages in the south constitutes “a direct violation of human rights and a blatant breach of international laws and norms, necessitating international action to put an end to it.” “Israel has also targeted religious and heritage sites, demonstrating premeditated intentions against both people and property, especially since these sites are not military and do not contain any armed presence,” Aoun added. He noted that Lebanon is committed to implementing the U.S.-backed framework agreement but fears that “Israeli practices will undermine its effectiveness.”Lebanon “will not accept the continued violation of its provisions,” Aoun told Türk. Türk for his part said that the Office of the High Commissioner is monitoring developments in Lebanon, particularly the ongoing Israeli attacks since March 2, in order to prepare a detailed report on the human rights violations.

Army condemns Israeli attacks preventing deployment in south
Agence France Presse/27 Jul 2026
Lebanon’s army on Sunday condemned ongoing Israeli military activities in the country’s south that it said were preventing its full deployment under a framework deal reached with Israel last month. "Israeli occupation forces continue their attacks and violations of current understandings and of international laws through the systematic destruction and bulldozing of homes, bombardment and sweeps with automatic weapons in several southern areas," an army statement said, adding that "the continuation of these attacks obstructs the army’s full deployment according to current agreements and prevents the return of residents to their villages and towns".

Berri walks fine line between Aoun and Hezbollah
Naharnet/27 Jul 2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that "the only acceptable path" is securing a ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. "What we wanted yesterday, today, and tomorrow is securing a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territory," Berri said, adding that he still rejects the framework agreement and any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. Berri said he fears these direct talks would not be fruitful. "What is happening in the pilot zones confirms our fears."He explained that any flexibility on his part is strictly tied to whether these talks can secure a ceasefire, ensure a full Israeli withdrawal, and return displaced residents to their villages and homes.Beyond that, he hasn't changed his stance against direct talks because they "bypass long-held Lebanese principles." In a separate interview with Asas Media, Berri had said he does not oppose the current political course of action taken by Aoun and Salam, but he is "not optimistic about achieving decisive positive results."

Salam Says Lebanon Ready to Pursue All Economic Opportunities With Iraq
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Monday that the government is ready to seize every available opportunity to advance Lebanon’s economic recovery, outlining a series of regional cooperation initiatives discussed following his recent visit to Iraq.
Following his return from Iraq, Salam said he spoke with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani about the importance of strengthening regional cooperation for the mutual benefit of all parties.Among the initiatives is connecting Lebanon to the Basra–Tripoli oil pipeline. Salam underlined Lebanon's significant fuel storage capacity and plans to establish a new refinery in light of Iraq’s intention to increase oil production. Salam also announced plans to establish a joint Lebanese-Iraqi technical committee to advance cooperation on these projects, including collaboration on a proposed special economic zone. He added that the government intends to rehabilitate Lebanon’s oil storage facilities to expedite overland transport of Iraqi oil, similar to existing operations through Syria’s Baniyas Port.

Jumblat calls for preserving south's memory of 'coexistence, struggle and attachment to land'
Naharnet/27 Jul 2026
Druze leader Walid Jumblat has emphasized that the most important thing is to preserve “the memory of south Lebanon and Jabal Amel in coexistence, struggle, resilience, intellectual and cultural contributions, scholarship and attachment to the land.”In a statement, Jumblat added that it is crucial to prevent “some who are intellectually and politically deviant” from “reverting to the schemes and conspiracies of the Zionist Organization in the mid-20th century.”

Cleared for Takeoff: What the U.S. Reopening Flights to Beirut Signals
Marwan El Amine/This Is Beirut/July 27/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last week to end a four decade ban on direct flights to Beirut signals Washington's view that Lebanon has entered a new era after decades of domination by actors it considers security threats.
Following his July 21 meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump announced he was directing his administration “to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land.”
The direct flight ban followed the June 14, 1985, hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which was forced to divert to Beirut International Airport, triggering a 17-day hostage crisis involving 40 U.S. citizens. In the opening hours of the ordeal, the hijackers murdered 23-year-old U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem, shooting him and dumping his body on the runway at Beirut airport, a scene burned into public consciousness at the time.
Although the standoff ultimately ended with the release of all the other American hostages, its consequences endured for decades.
One of the most lasting was the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to prohibit direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon. Lebanese flag carrier Middle East Airlines was likewise barred from operating flights to the U.S.
To understand the rationale behind the suspension of direct air links, however, it is necessary to look beyond the hijacking itself and examine the political and security environment that preceded it. The taking of TWA Flight 847 came in the aftermath of the armed uprising of February 6, 1984, led by Nabih Berri and Walid Jumblatt against the Lebanese government.
During this phase of the Lebanese Civil War, the militias of Berri’s Amal Movement and Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) forced the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to withdraw from West Beirut, including the area surrounding Beirut International Airport.
From that point onward, the district effectively fell outside the authority of the Lebanese state and came under a political and security order led by Syria under President Hafez al-Assad.
As Syria was designated by the U.S. State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism at the time, Damascus’s security control over the area surrounding Beirut Airport directly influenced Washington’s assessments of safety of civil aviation at Lebanon’s sole civilian airport.
Lebanon remained within Syria’s sphere of influence until 2005, when the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri triggered nationwide protests and international pressure that forced Damascus to withdraw its troops, ending nearly three decades of Syrian military presence.
Yet the Syrian withdrawal marked neither the end of foreign domination nor the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty. Instead, it ushered in a new and, arguably, more dangerous phase: the rise of Hezbollah. From 2005 onward, the Iranian-backed militia steadily expanded its influence until it became the dominant actor shaping Lebanon’s security and political decision-making.
The center of gravity thus shifted from direct Syrian tutelage to Iranian influence exercised through Hezbollah.
In other words, Lebanon went from being under the thumb of Assad’s Syria, a state sponsor of terrorism, to being dominated by Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
From this perspective, the continued suspension of direct U.S. flights to Beirut was driven by more than the 1985 TWA hijacking alone. It reflected the reality of who exercised effective control over Lebanon's political and security apparatus.
Washington’s decision to reopen the U.S.-Lebanon air corridor reflects its assessment that Hezbollah no longer possesses the ability to threaten the security of commercial aviation.
More broadly, it signals that the U.S. believes Lebanon is restoring state authority and that its political and security institutions are no longer subordinate to Hezbollah.
Any attempt to pull Lebanon back into Iran’s orbit, weaken state institutions, or destabilize the country will likely be viewed by Washington as a direct challenge.
The coming resumption of direct air service between Beirut and the U.S. demonstrates that Washington now sees a stable, sovereign Lebanon as integral to its broader strategic interests in the Middle East.

Berlin Pride parade attacker of Lebanese origin, previously held in Lebanon
Agence France Presse/July 27/2026
German police said Sunday they had shot and killed the chief suspect in what officials described as a deadly Islamist attack near the Berlin Pride parade the previous night, the latest ramming assault to hit the country. The attack late Saturday -- the first such incident to target the German capital's LGBTQ community -- killed one woman and wounded 29 others. Berlin police said on X that they had traced the chief suspect, 21-year old Abdul Ballout, to an allotment complex in the western Spandau district at around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Sunday. Ballout "ran towards them with a bladed weapon," the police said, prompting officers to open fire, "injuring the suspect so that he died at the scene despite attempts to resuscitate him." Earlier, prosecutors had said that Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese origin, had been a supporter of the so-called Islamic State group (IS) with several criminal convictions, the latest dating from May. Saturday's attack shattered what had been a day of celebration for hundreds of thousands attending Christopher Street Day (CSD), one of Europe's largest Pride events. Politicians in Germany and elsewhere in Europe widely condemned the attack, while the flag at the German Bundestag was lowered to half mast. Speaking before a memorial service for the victims at Berlin's Marienkirche church, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appealed to those targeted by the attack to "not let yourselves be intimidated."
Suspect's criminal past
Shortly before 10:00 pm (2000 GMT) on Saturday a white minivan ran into people on the southern edge of central Berlin's Tiergarten park before crashing into a tree. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Ballout was suspected of having then used a machete to attack more people. Dobrindt said 29 people were injured, some seriously. Merz said Sunday evening that none of the victims were any longer in a life-threatening condition.The attack took place several hundred meters away from the end of the tightly guarded CSD parade route and the event's main stage at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. Dobrindt said Ballout had been known to the authorities for a "high number" of previous crimes and for being radicalized. "Everything we see here indicates that this was an Islamist terror attack," he said. Prosecutors said Ballout had previous convictions for bodily harm and extortion committed in 2019, and one for robbery in 2020. They say that in 2024 he shared IS propaganda on Instagram and the following year traveled to Lebanon in order to fight for the militia in Syria. He was arrested in Lebanon and sentenced to three months' prison. On his return to Germany in November he was arrested and held until his conviction in May for "preparing a serious act of subversive violence." But his sentence of one year and ten months in jail was suspended, partially in recognition of the time he had spent in jail in Lebanon and pre-trial detention, and partially because he had admitted to the crimes and distanced himself from IS.
'Won't beat us down' -
In a vigil on Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people packed the square in front of the Brandenburg Gate holding rainbow flags and flowers with more gathering nearby. Luka, a 23-year-old student, told AFP she hoped the attack wouldn't be exploited by the surging anti-immigration far-right ahead of elections in the capital and in several regions in September. At the scene of the attack itself people left flowers and hand-written messages of condolence and support. Armin Duenhoelter, 49 from Wolfsburg, who works as a drag artist, was backstage at the main stage when the attack cut short the celebrations. He told AFP early Sunday that he was still shocked but vowed to be back for next year's CSD. "We won't let it beat us down," he said.
Spate of attacks -
Saturday's attack revived memories of a string of similar incidents which have shaken Germany in recent years and inflamed debate on immigration, with several of the perpetrators being from outside Germany. Martin Hess, a lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), denounced the attack as a result of "a complete failure of the government's security policies."The deadliest attack in recent years was a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 by a Tunisian man with jihadist motives that killed 13 people. The run-up to last year's general election saw a spate of attacks in public places, including by attackers with Islamist motives. In 2024, a Saudi psychiatrist and anti-Islam activist killed six people and wounded more than 300 in a car-ramming at a busy Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

Hezbollah’s Financing Strategies: Recovering From War With Israel
Dr. Iftah Burman and David Adesnik/FDD/July 27/2026
Iran has spent more than four decades building Hezbollah into a force capable of making war against Israel in hopes of one day destroying the Jewish state. Israeli forces have inflicted tremendous damage on Hezbollah’s leadership, arsenal, and manpower, yet the terror group is rebuilding, thanks in no small part to its globe-spanning illicit finance network. To shed greater light on this crucial subject, FDD has invited Israeli expert Dr. Iftah Burman to provide a robust overview of the transnational web of enterprises, stretching across the Middle East — and from Latin America to West Africa and into cyberspace — that sustains Hezbollah’s aggression. This work provides information essential to intelligence and law enforcement agencies in every country, including the United States, that recognizes the severity of Hezbollah’s threat to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East.
Introduction
On October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas murdered 1,164 people, and kidnapped 251 people into the Gaza strip, Hezbollah, in solidarity with the terrorists, launched military operations against Israel. After almost 12 months of gradually intensifying conflict on the northern front, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Northern Arrows in late September 2024. In addition to eliminating nearly all of Hezbollah’s leadership, including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the IDF inflicted severe damage on Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and destroyed much of the terror group’s stockpile of precision-guided munitions.
Hezbollah has also suffered extensive financial damage. The IDF physically targeted al-Qard al-Hasan, a key Hezbollah financial enterprise on which the U.S. Treasury Department imposed terror finance sanctions in 2007.1 These attacks cut off access to vital cash and gold reserves. It has also become more difficult for Hezbollah’s patron, the Islamic Republic of Iran, to support the group financially. The tightening of international sanctions and the maritime blockade of Iranian ports in April 2026 has caused a near-total paralysis of Tehran’s oil-export economy.2
Nevertheless, Hezbollah’s multifaceted financial apparatus is demonstrating remarkable resilience through innovative mechanisms designed to circumvent terror finance controls and repatriate funds to Lebanon. Through networks that extend across the Middle East, to Africa and Latin America, and into cyberspace, Hezbollah continues to generate substantial revenue. Since early 2025, the organization has amassed over $1 billion in revenue, predominantly sourced from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to sustain operational requirements and force buildup.3
The information below is based on publicly available sources but has been independently corroborated by a Western intelligence source via private communication, confirming that Hezbollah’s financial versatility remains critical to its recovery. The challenge now facing Israeli and Western intelligence and law enforcement agencies is to accelerate the exposure of front companies, seizure of assets, digital enforcement, and cross-border collaboration necessary to disrupt Hezbollah’s finances.
A Globe-Spanning Network
The Middle East
Hezbollah has built a sophisticated triangular configuration encompassing the Lebanese domestic sphere, Gulf State networks, and Turkish exchange infrastructure.
The Jood Initiative in Lebanon: In September 2025, Hezbollah incorporated Jood (Jood SARL) to mitigate sanctions on al-Qard al-Hasan. Masked as a regulated commercial gold enterprise, Jood served to liquidate gold reserves and launder money by purchasing gold from Lebanese citizens.4 In February, the U.S. Treasury designated the entity and its leadership as components of Hezbollah’s financial enterprise.5 Concurrently, hundreds of millions of dollars from Iranian oil sales were funneled to Hezbollah through Lebanese money changers and exchange companies.6
Illicit Narcotics: Captagon amphetamine trafficking remains a lucrative revenue stream despite the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, which had been Hezbollah’s main trafficking partner.7 Following the regime’s collapse, significant manufacturing infrastructure relocated to Hezbollah-controlled territories in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley and Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. Despite the Lebanese government’s numerous seizures — including 84 million Captagon tablets in the course of 2025 — the manufacturing and distribution persists.8
The Iraq-Lebanon Financial Axis: In March, intelligence services uncovered a network of 16 individuals and entities headed by Alaa Hassan Hamieh, former vice president of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL).9 Between 2020 and early 2026, Hamieh siphoned over $100 million from an Iraq-Lebanon bilateral trade agreement earmarked for national reconstruction. These funds were laundered through Polish and Slovenian shell companies, financing procurement for Hezbollah’s military wing.
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE): In March and April, Kuwait dismantled a terror-financing operation, arresting 24 operatives, including five former members of parliament, for transferring funds and coordinating sleeper cells.10 Kuwait also sanctioned several Lebanese medical institutions used as laundering fronts and, in July 2025, seized assets from three key financial facilitators.11 Similarly, the UAE dismantled a parallel Iran-Hezbollah network smuggling gold and cash to finance terror.12
The Turkish Exchange Hub: Turkish currency exchange networks serve as a critical transit hub routing hundreds of millions of dollars from illicit Iranian oil sales and Dubai’s gold trade to Lebanon.13 Furthermore, Hezbollah-linked companies mask Iranian fertilizer sales as originating from Oman, channeling millions in profits through Turkey to acquire military hardware.14
Africa
West Africa remains a strategic hub due to well-established Shiite diaspora communities embedded in the diamond and consumer goods trade.
Cote d’Ivoire: In January, intense U.S. diplomatic pressure, following a high-level FBI visit to Abidjan, pushed Ivorian authorities to accelerate investigations into Hezbollah’s financial networks.15 The inquiries primarily target indigenous shell companies used to inject capital directly into Beirut.
West and Central Africa: Hezbollah continues leveraging blood diamonds and other high-value commodities to move capital through a front-company web, facilitated by its Shiite clan networks. Coerced and voluntary remittances and donations are also a longstanding funding source for the organization, from prosperous Lebanese-owned businesses operating in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other countries.16 Legitimate goods trade camouflages illicit funds, originating mostly from international narcotics trafficking.17 As a result, Africa-based personnel are accumulating massive cash reserves to hedge against sanctions restricting Hezbollah’s use of the Lebanese banking sector. At the same time, they are attempting to balance the accounts through the Hawala system of trust-based exchanges, offsetting value between Africa-based and Lebanon-based businessmen.18
Latin America
Hezbollah maintains its involvement in money laundering, coal and oil smuggling, and the trafficking of narcotics, diamonds, and counterfeit currency within the Tri-Border Area.19 Recently, the group’s operations in Venezuela have faced unprecedented exposure.
The Collapsing of the Venezuelan Safe Haven: In January, a primary pillar of Hezbollah’s criminal economy was destabilized when its symbiotic relationship with the Venezuelan government was exposed following American forces’ arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.20 This is likely to cripple Hezbollah’s regional base, where it had enjoyed unfettered access to state-protected gold mines and narcotics-smuggling corridors. Hezbollah’s financier, Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi, used his connections with Maduro, to covertly trade Iranian oil for Venezuelan gold, which eventually led to weapons procurement in Turkey.21 Reports suggested the United States would likely pressure Venezuela to evict Hezbollah-linked networks.22
Continental Continuity: Despite challenges in obtaining information from local law enforcement regarding Latin American operations, intelligence assessments indicate Hezbollah continues to maintain the illicit money laundering and narcotics networks it has cultivated for decades.23 Legal commodities are purchased with the illicit profits, then shipped and sold in Latin America, Africa, or Lebanon.24 Similar to the Shiite communities in Africa, the ones in Latin America also pass back remittances and donations, willingly or otherwise.25 Larger donations often consist of illicit funds funneled through successful businesses to circumvent scrutiny. Also in Latin America, Hawala is a favored route for untraceable intercontinental money transfers.
China
Intelligence reports indicate that profits from the trade of Iranian energy products with China are funneled to Hezbollah through a network of shell companies in Hong Kong, the UAE, and Turkey. Tens of millions of dollars eventually reach Lebanon via Lebanese gold merchants, money exchangers, or professional couriers traversing the country’s international airports and land borders.26
Russia
Russian financial actors act as procurement agents for Hezbollah, trading revenues generated by Hezbollah-linked Lebanese energy firms into advanced military technology for the organization. A key Russian operative, Andrey Viktorovich Borisov, was linked to illicit gold, commodities, and oil trading, for the procurement of weapons in favor of Hezbollah.27
The Cyber Frontier
In 2025, the digital asset landscape emerged as Hezbollah’s preferred operational medium for high-value transactions, utilizing digital wallets linked to the organization and Iran’s IRGC.28
Billions in Digital Currency: Iran has facilitated the transfer of approximately $1 billion since early 2025. Total digital wallet transfers associated with the IRGC and its proxies — including Hezbollah — have surpassed the $3 billion mark, signaling a dramatic shift toward cryptocurrency-based financing.29
Unit 4400: Hezbollah’s logistical unit has strengthened affiliations with cryptocurrency exchanges to facilitate the repatriation of military procurement funds. Unit 4400, and wider financial operations, are overseen by members of the Qasir family, a Hezbollah founding clan that manages a global network of facilitators and trading firms.30
Stablecoin Trade: Syrian currency trader Tawfiq Muhammad Sa’id al-Law acts as the primary intermediary between the Qasirs and various digital exchanges.31 These include Moscow-based and U.S.-sanctioned Garantex (succeeded by Grinex), which utilized a ruble-backed stablecoin known as A7A5, and the Tron blockchain to trade in U.S. dollar-backed Tether (USDT) stablecoin.32 Digital wallets were used to collect transit fees for oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz and process payments for Iranian oil.33 Tether also served, until recently, as the chief financial conduit for the IRGC and Hezbollah’s trade with the Maduro regime, allowing the organization to launder Iranian oil revenues for terror financing.34
Current Challenges
Hezbollah’s financial requirements for organizational survival and basic infrastructure rehabilitation have created an urgent demand for liquid cash to address the following challenges:
Organizational Survival: Paying cash salaries to over 60,000 operatives and administrative staff within Lebanon to prevent internal unrest or instability
Military Rehabilitation: Reconstructing military capabilities, purchasing components for drone, UAV, rocket, and missile arrays, and rebuilding conflict-decimated strategic infrastructure
Social Compensation and Public Support: Providing financial reparations to families of deceased operatives and reconstructing residential areas in Southern Lebanon, the Beqaa, and the Dahiya to preserve Shiite-base loyalty
Regulatory Circumvention: Maintaining its dependence on bulk cash shipments to evade Lebanese government prohibitions on paramilitary activity and monitoring of domestic financial institutions
The Appreciation of Gold: Taking advantage of gold high prices, which peaked at $5,600 per ounce in January 2026, Hezbollah is trading the stockpiles it has been accumulating for several decades, evading sanctions and regulations associated with paper currency. Dealing with physical cash, instead of digital, presents substantial challenges. It is difficult to transfer hundreds of pounds of gold internationally for every transaction, limiting the pool of willing arms dealers and financiers.
How To Escalate Pressure on Hezbollah Financing Networks
Hezbollah’s capacity for rapid adaptation through civilian economic fronts, cryptocurrency networks, global commodity trade, and the African and Latin American Shiite diaspora all suggest a dangerous potential for recovery. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies are engaged in an ongoing campaign against Hezbollah’s illicit financing networks, but there is a need for greater effort and impact on six fronts:
Asset Seizure: Fully implementing international sanctions within Lebanese jurisdiction and confiscating assets belonging to the organization and its associates; proceeds should be used to compensate Hezbollah’s Lebanese victims
Exposing Illicit Activity in Key Sectors: Rigorously monitoring and dismantling front companies operating within the currency exchange, gold, and energy sectors
Border Fortification: Strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and its Internal Security Forces (ISF) to disrupt illegal manufacturing and trafficking networks and secure air, land, and seaports, coordinating with the post-Assad administration in Syria where feasible
Cyber and Crypto Warfare: Escalating enforcement against digital wallets — such as the April 20 seizure of $344 million in Tether, and taking action against terror-supporting exchanges35
This may have been the motive for the cyberattack on the Grinex exchange on April 16.36
International Intelligence Collaboration: Enhancing intelligence sharing with Gulf and West African states to unmask clandestine financial architectures and so-called “quiet capital” maintained by Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese communities and businesses
Israeli-Lebanese Relations: Leveraging its current bilateral negotiations with Israel, the Lebanese government should capitalize on actionable Israeli intelligence to dismantle Hezbollah’s covert financial assets.
Conclusion
The degradation of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure has created an urgent requirement for liquid capital. Over the past two years, the organization has systematically diversified its revenue streams and refined its methods for repatriating and deploying these funds. As demonstrated, Hezbollah uses a sophisticated financial architecture to circumvent Lebanese regulatory frameworks, international sanctions, and global counter-terrorism authorities. Ultimately, the intent of this architecture is not economic gain, but the sustainment of Hezbollah, its rearmament needs, military operations, and militant agenda. To effectively neutralize Hezbollah’s financial efforts, the international community must implement robust policy packages and back them with coordinated, multilateral counter-illicit finance measures, and deepened intelligence-sharing protocols. Doing so will systematically dismantle Hezbollah as one of the Iranian regime’s mechanisms of destabilization and terror.
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/07/24/hezbollahs-financing-strategies-recovering-from-war-with-israel/
FDD

Kamel al-Asaad: A Man Who Upheld the Constitution
Ali Khalil Tarhini/Janoubia/July 27, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156273/
Between the reverence of history and the silence of time, one stands before great figures with the discerning eye of those who, through the unfolding of events, glean the secret of humanity's inclination to assert itself in the arena of life. In the history of modern Lebanon, figures emerge who were not merely numbers in political records, but rather prominent landmarks in a period of constitutional and social transformation. Among these figures stands Kamel Bey al-Asaad, a man who descended from a distinguished political family in southern Lebanon and found himself at the heart of the state's struggles, leading and operating within the framework of the law, confronting the vicissitudes of time and ideologies with a steadfastness rooted in his vision of national sovereignty and its institutions.
A History of Long-Standing Leadership
Kamel al-Asaad did not emerge from a vacuum, but was born into a family that had held the leadership of Jabal Amel for centuries, extending back to the Ali al-Saghir family, who carved their presence in regional history through force, power, and prestige. Taybeh, that southern village nestled on the edge of the border and a repository of memory, was the stage for his early upbringing and the home of his family, a family that had held prominent positions since the Ottoman era. His father, Ahmad al-Asaad, was a minister and Speaker of Parliament, and his grandfather, Abd al-Latif al-Asaad, was a prominent figure in parliamentary affairs and a staunch opponent of the French Mandate.
This weighty legacy was not merely a matter of social prestige, but a commitment and a responsibility that compelled the successor to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors or to redefine leadership in accordance with the spirit of the times. The young man received his early education at Al-Hikma School in Beirut, then turned his attention to Paris to immerse himself in its wellsprings of law and political science at the Sorbonne University, graduating in 1952, equipped with the intellectual and legal tools he would later wield in the halls of the Lebanese Parliament.
Kamel al-Asaad entered Parliament for the first time in 1953, in the prime of his youth, thus beginning a long journey in parliamentary and ministerial work that spanned decades. He was repeatedly re-elected in successive terms and held ministerial positions including Minister of National Education and Fine Arts, Minister of Public Health, and Minister of Water and Electricity. However, the most prominent arena in which his character as a statesman shone was his presidency of the House of Representatives, a position he held three different times, totaling nearly fifteen years.
In the speakership, Asaad represented a rigorous legal school of thought that believes the constitution is not merely a set of rigid texts, but rather the social contract that protects the nation from disintegration. He acted as a guardian of the constitutional process, refusing to compromise on the proper functioning of parliament even in the most dire circumstances of division and turmoil. From this perspective, he contributed to the formation of the centrist parliamentary bloc alongside prominent political figures and played a decisive role in presidential elections, firmly believing that the survival of the state depended on the integrity of its parliamentary institutions and their determination to fulfill their constitutional role, regardless of the security and political challenges.
Kamel al-Asaad did not emerge from a vacuum. He was born into a family that had held the leadership of Jabal Amel for centuries, a lineage tracing back to the Ali al-Saghir family, who carved their place in regional history through force, power, and prestige. A dispassionate reading of this man's life necessitates examining the points of contention and accord that shaped his path to sovereignty. Al-Asaad was known for his unwavering adherence to the principles of legitimacy, believing that any deviation from constitutional institutions was the beginning of a slide into chaos. For this reason, he waged his political battles using the tools of law and parliament, refusing to succumb to external pressures or compromise on national sovereignty.
However, this fundamentalist rigidity in exercising power and his literal adherence to the letter of the law led his opponents to view him as a representative of a traditional system unwilling to adapt to the rapid social and political changes that swept through Lebanon before and during the civil war. He was criticized at times for taking drastic decisions and stances at critical junctures, linking his political destiny to paths that sparked widespread controversy in Lebanese society and regional circles. However, his guiding principle was always the firm belief that Lebanon's best interests lay in upholding legitimacy and legitimacy alone, far removed from temporary compromises or surrendering decision-making to armed groups.
Kamel Asaad passed away with little to show for his wealth, his influence having waned and his possessions diminished in the pursuit of his independent political choices and decisions.
The Myth of “Feudalism”!
One of the most prevalent labels attached to Kamel Asaad and his political dynasty was that of “feudalism.” His political opponents and proponents of modern movements attacked him as a symbol of acquired power and political inheritance, exploiting influence for personal gain. Yet, time, in its quiet wisdom, revealed a profound paradox that reflects the essence of this man and refutes the superficial rumors. Kamel Asaad passed away with little to show for his wealth, his influence having waned and his possessions diminished in the pursuit of his independent political choices and decisions. He died a man who lived with integrity, never exploiting his position to amass wealth or build financial empires. Conversely, many of those who raised the banner of defending the working class and waged battles against him in the name of change and justice ended up practicing even more ruthless forms of influence, amassing enormous wealth and establishing new fiefdoms cloaked in modern guises.
Herein lies the innocence of the honest man; he was a “feudal lord” in the inherited social and historical sense, but he was a statesman of integrity, dignity, and aversion to public funds. Meanwhile, the experiences of his successors have shown that glittering slogans can conceal a desire for acquisition and newfound influence. With the end of the civil war and the shift in the political balance, Kamel Asaad found himself outside the equation created by the new power dynamics. He ran for parliamentary elections in the 1990s and early 2000s, but circumstances and demographic and political changes did not favor him, and his parliamentary presence diminished without him abandoning his positions or changing his convictions. He withdrew into seclusion, suffering from ill health and pain, until he was laid to rest in July 2010. The life of Kamil Bey al-Asaad is not merely the story of a southern leader who lost a seat or won a battle; it is a chapter in the rich tapestry of Lebanese history. It is an exploration of how a statesman navigates the tide of change: does he compromise to survive, or does he stand firm on his principles, even if it leads to isolation? Al-Asaad chose to adhere to what he deemed right and constitutional, departing with little worldly possessions but a lasting legacy, leaving it to history to judge between true leaders and pretenders.

We paid $3 billion for Lebanon’s army to make excuses for Hezbollah
Tyler Stapleton and David Daoud/Washington Examiner/July 27/2026
This week, the president of Lebanon met at the White House with President Donald Trump to discuss the June security framework intended to systematically address Hezbollah’s military threat to Israel and ultimately demilitarize the group. It all depends on the willingness of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces to act. Having funded the LAF for decades, Congress should leverage its assistance to incentivize rapid, verifiable implementation while maintaining a credible threat of punitive measures against Lebanese officials or entities obstructing Hezbollah’s disarmament.
The Israel-Lebanon framework agreement’s center of gravity is its “pilot zone” model. These zones consist of parcels of Israeli-occupied Lebanese territory that, under the agreement, will be transferred to LAF control. Within each zone, Lebanon must dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure, take legal action against armed personnel engaged in unauthorized activity, permit credible third-party verification, and deploy “highly qualified” LAF units to prevent Hezbollah’s resurgence.
These responsibilities are not new. LAF, assisted by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in an auxiliary role, should have been performing them for decades pursuant to Lebanon’s existing obligations under international law, U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and bilateral agreements with Israel. Beirut has instead avoided confronting Hezbollah, citing the threat to domestic stability and civil war. Meanwhile, Washington has provided the LAF with more than $3 billion — currently averaging approximately $285 million annually — without producing meaningful progress toward Hezbollah’s disarmament.
The June 26 framework seeks to break this pattern by “strictly conditioning” continued U.S. assistance to Lebanon “on verifiable milestones, full transparency, demonstrated results, and ongoing oversight.” Yet Beirut is already signaling that it may retreat from its commitments under the deal.
The LAF has repeatedly rejected confrontation with Hezbollah — including after the Lebanese government proscribed the group’s military activity on March 2 and ordered the army to proceed with disarmament — citing domestic stability and unity. Beirut is now demanding an Israeli withdrawal before Lebanon even discusses its corresponding obligations, thus reversing the framework’s agreed-upon sequencing. Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun, have also sought to narrow the agreement’s binding significance, describing it as a negotiating guide rather than an agreement or treaty. They have also reframed its terms and minimized Lebanon’s disarmament commitments. Salam and Aoun have cast disarmament as a process to be achieved through “domestic dialogue” with an intransigent Hezbollah rather than coercion.
Congress has previously considered sharply curtailing or eliminating LAF assistance. Congress has also restricted LAF assistance to counter-Hezbollah purposes and directed the Pentagon to establish performance benchmarks and identify options for suspending aid if the LAF proves unwilling to disarm the group. Under the June 26 framework, Lebanon has now explicitly accepted that continued assistance will depend on measurable performance.
Congress should translate that principle into the structure of future assistance. Rather than continuing to allocate security aid broadly between the LAF and Internal Security Forces, it should direct funding to the LAF units implementing the pilot zones. That assistance could support operations against Hezbollah weapons caches, the demolition of tunnels and other military infrastructure, and the sustained deployment of Lebanese forces in cleared territory.
Funding should be released gradually as the LAF verifiably meets defined benchmarks. Given Israeli claims that the LAF has coordinated with Hezbollah to present vacated sites as evidence of disarmament — strengthened by Lebanon’s historical evasiveness regarding confronting the group — the United States should verify compliance in real time, rather than relying on LAF reports after the fact.
Congress should treat any Lebanese failure or unreasonable delay as grounds for withholding funding and reassessing continued support. Congress can also push for sanctions against military or government officials under existing corruption and counterterrorism authorities.
Such proactively punitive measures would complement the executive branch’s demonstrated willingness to sanction Lebanese officials for impeding Hezbollah’s disarmament and, by extension, obstructing the U.S.-sponsored peace process that the June 26 agreement is intended to advance.
Hezbollah will continue resisting implementation and disarmament, while its political allies seek to delay or dilute Lebanese action. Conditional assistance cannot alter Lebanon’s internal dynamics or eliminate those obstacles. But Lebanon needs U.S. assistance to have an impact on Beirut’s incentives. Conditioning aid can ensure that American taxpayers support demonstrable progress rather than further open-ended Lebanese promises of eventual action against Hezbollah that never materialize. The LAF should now be judged — and funded — according to whether it performs the mission assigned to it under the framework.
Tyler Stapleton serves as senior director of government relations at FDD Action. David Daoud is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4661130/us-aid-lebanese-army-hezbollah-disarmament-israel/
Read in Washington Examiner

Les défis de la République
Dr. Charles Chartouni/Ici Beyrouth/27 juillet 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156265/
La visite du président Joseph Aoun s’est terminée sur une note positive. Cependant, cette visite nous laisse perplexes quant à la possibilité d’opérer des changements de parcours dans un pays fracturé, assailli de toutes parts par des enjeux et des acteurs qui n’ont aucun intérêt à la normalisation tant attendue par les Libanais. Les problèmes s’amoncellent, l’endurance des Libanais est mise à rude épreuve. La communauté chiite, quant à elle, se montre plus réfractaire que jamais à l’idée d’une rupture avec une mouvance politique radicale. Celle-ci est consubstantiellement liée à une politique de subversion chiite pilotée par l’Iran, ainsi qu’aux réseaux terroristes et de criminalité organisée qui ont été patiemment montés au fil des décennies.Les attaches communautaires du Hezbollah expliquent sa pugnacité, son irrédentisme et l’état de psychose collective qui répercutent son insensibilité vis-à-vis des tragédies qu’il a générées. Les drames qui ont suivi ses engagements militaires aux effets désastreux n’ont pas été jusque-là suffisamment instructifs pour amener à des réflexions critiques et à de nouveaux positionnements. Ceux-ci visent à mettre fin aux cycles de violence et à l’absurdité d’une guerre par procuration au service d’un impérialisme chiite piloté par le régime iranien.
Le Liban, face aux fractures idéologiques et aux guerres qui leur sont rattachées, est dans l’impossibilité de réaffirmer la souveraineté de l’État, d’évoquer le narratif national commun à tous les Libanais et de faire valoir les stipulations d’un État de droit qui ont été alternativement déboutées au profit d’une idéologie sectaire et d’un projet de conquête impériale. La politique de domination du Hezbollah se ressource dans un récit sectaire qui pourfend le récit national libanais, et opère sur la base d’une politique de subversion commandée par le régime iranien. Les frontières nationales libanaises n’ont aucune pertinence et n’entrent en ligne de compte que dans la mesure où elles peuvent sanctuariser la politique impériale iranienne.
Le défi colossal posé à l’État libanais est celui du recouvrement de sa souveraineté battue en brèche depuis de nombreuses décennies. Il consiste aussi à préempter les dynamiques de désintégration et à donner des chances à la reconstruction du pays autour d’un ensemble de choix stratégiques qui fassent unanimité.
Les dynamiques du sectarisme chiite opèrent impunément et sans égard à toute autre vision ou intérêts stratégiques qui s’en départissent. La réhabilitation de l’État passe invariablement par la réaffirmation des règles de la consociativité et de ses consensus normatifs et procéduraux. À l’heure où le séparatisme chiite s’avère imperméable à toute logique d’accommodement. L’ampleur des désastres induits par cet impérialisme sans nuances a au contraire favorisé l’extrémisme de l’agenda politique et le maintien de choix agonistiques ravageurs.
La question du désarmement du Hezbollah est symptomatique d’un mal plus radical, celui des extraterritorialités. Ces extraterritorialités ont inévitablement servi la cause du démantèlement progressif de la souveraineté libanaise, de la remise en cause de l’État libanais, ainsi que des guerres de substitution qui ont détruit ce pays. Elles ont ainsi permis aux contre-États de se positionner face à lui, contestant ainsi sa légitimité. Tant que cette question est noyée dans des euphémismes qui renvoient à des attitudes ambiguës à l’endroit de la souveraineté effective de l’État, le Liban poursuivra sa descente aux enfers.
L’absence de souveraineté n’est pas un fait anodin dans la vie de notre pays, il s’agit en réalité de soixante-dix ans de conflits interminables qui l’ont détruit et rendu impossible sa reconstruction. Nous sommes là devant des défis qui portent sur la légitimité du pays, ses équilibres structurels, la prégnance du récit national, l’ingénierie des institutions et la centralité des droits humanitaires dans la vie politique. Cependant, nous sommes face à des contre-réalités qui pourfendent systématiquement les fondements normatifs d’un ordre étatique déliquescent et d’un pays voués à l’inconsistance.
La question des zones pilotes se transforme en question-fétiche, se limitant à des simulations douteuses de retrait du Hezbollah, accompagnées de replis et de repositionnements au nord du Litani, dans le but d'exorciser les extraterritorialités mutantes. En l’absence de tout engagement de principe, toutes les simulations en cours tourneront au bluff. La visite de Washington devrait sceller la fin des ambiguïtés plutôt que de nous installer dans des attentes vaines. Le redéploiement stratégique du Hezbollah, la continuation de la contrebande des armes, et le maintien des galeries souterraines suffisent à eux seuls pour discréditer l’ensemble du processus. Ils remettent également le Liban sur la voie d’une implosion équivalente à l’ampleur de ses territoires minés de part en part.
La visite à Washington marquera un nouveau départ si les déclarations de principe sont sans ambiguïté et si elles sont suivies d'actes. Il est également nécessaire que les échéances soient assorties de calendriers précis qui nous sortent des zones d’ombre et des engagements sans lendemain. Le Liban ne peut pas s’engager dans une diplomatie de fin de conflits à partir d’engagements contradictoires et de souhaits sans lendemain, le principe logique de non-contradiction vaut tout autant en politique.
La réussite de l’opération des zones-pilotes dépend non seulement d’une stratégie opérationnelle strictement menée mais également d’un horizon politique différent de celui qu’on connaît. Le déminage impératif du terrain devrait mettre fin aux politiques des conflits reportés ; pour y parvenir, il est nécessaire d'aboutir à la conclusion d’un traité de paix avec l’État d’Israël, comme l’a si bien déclaré le président de la République lors de la réunion au bureau ovale de la Maison Blanche.
La reprise des hostilités entre les États-Unis et le régime islamique iranien, le rejet sans ambages du Hezbollah de l’accord-cadre, la résurgence de l’impérialisme turc, les imbroglios stratégiques proche-orientaux, la mobilité des lignes de fractures géostratégiques et leurs retombées sur une géopolitique moyen-orientale en état de convulsion nous laissent perplexes.
Nous nous interrogeons en particulier sur la possibilité d’un décrochement au carrefour d’un nœud stratégique aussi complexe. La contreoffensive américaine s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une vision stratégique alternative et d’une architecture inédite en matière d’alliances stratégiques. Il faudrait en prendre acte et agir en conséquence. Par ailleurs, nous devrions tenter notre chance, sans pour autant céder aux illusions d’une prophétie auto-réalisatrice et des souhaits sans lendemain.

The Challenges of the Republic
Dr. Charles Chartouni/Ici Beyrouth/July 27/2026
(Translated from French)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/07/156265/
The visit of President Joseph Aoun ended on a positive note. However, this visit leaves us perplexed as to the possibility of changing course in a fractured country, assailed from all sides by issues and actors who have no interest in the normalization so long-awaited by the Lebanese. Problems are piling up, and the endurance of the Lebanese people is severely tested.The Shia community, for its part, is proving more resistant than ever to the idea of a break with a radical political movement. This movement is consubstantially linked to a policy of Shia subversion steered by Iran, as well as to terrorist and organized crime networks patiently built up over decades. Hezbollah's communitarian ties explain its pugnacity, its irredentism, and the state of collective psychosis that reflects its insensitivity to the tragedies it has generated. The tragedies that followed its military engagements with disastrous effects have not, thus far, been sufficiently instructive to prompt critical reflections and new positionings aimed at ending the cycles of violence and the absurdity of a proxy war in the service of a Shia imperialism driven by the Iranian regime.
Faced with ideological fractures and the wars attached to them, Lebanon is unable to reaffirm state sovereignty, to evoke a national narrative shared by all Lebanese, and to assert the stipulations of a state governed by the rule of law, which have been alternatively dismissed in favor of a sectarian ideology and a project of imperial conquest. Hezbollah's policy of domination draws its resources from a sectarian narrative that denigrates the Lebanese national narrative, and operates on the basis of a subversion policy commanded by the Iranian regime. Lebanon's national borders have no relevance and are only taken into account to the extent that they can sanctify Iranian imperial policy.
The colossal challenge facing the Lebanese state is that of recovering its sovereignty, which has been battered for many decades. It also consists of preempting the dynamics of disintegration and giving the country a chance at reconstruction around a set of strategic choices that achieve unanimity.
The dynamics of Shia sectarianism operate with impunity and regardless of any other vision or strategic interests that diverge from them. The rehabilitation of the state invariably involves reaffirming the rules of consociationalism and its normative and procedural consensuses. At a time when Shia separatism proves impervious to any logic of accommodation, the magnitude of the disasters induced by this unnuanced imperialism has instead favored the extremism of the political agenda and the maintenance of devastating antagonistic choices.
The issue of Hezbollah's disarmament is symptomatic of a more radical ailment, that of extraterritorialities. These extraterritorialities have inevitably served the cause of the gradual dismantling of Lebanese sovereignty, the questioning of the Lebanese state, and the proxy wars that destroyed this country. They have thus allowed counter-states to position themselves against it, thereby challenging its legitimacy. As long as this issue is drowned in euphemisms that point to ambiguous attitudes regarding the effective sovereignty of the state, Lebanon will continue its descent into hell.
The absence of sovereignty is not a trivial fact in the life of our country; it is actually seventy years of endless conflicts that have destroyed it and made its reconstruction impossible. Here we face challenges bearing on the country's legitimacy, its structural balances, the prominence of the national narrative, institutional engineering, and the centrality of humanitarian rights in political life. However, we are facing counter-realities that systematically assail the normative foundations of a decaying state order and a country doomed to inconsistency.
The issue of pilot zones is turning into a fetish question, limited to dubious simulations of Hezbollah's withdrawal, accompanied by retreats and repositionings north of the Litani, with the aim of exorcising mutating extraterritorialities. In the absence of any commitment in principle, all ongoing simulations will turn out to be bluffing. Washington's visit should seal the end of ambiguities rather than settling us into vain expectations. Hezbollah's strategic redeployment, the continuation of arms smuggling, and the maintenance of underground galleries are enough on their own to discredit the entire process. They also put Lebanon back on the path of an implosion equivalent to the scale of its mine-ridden territories.
The visit to Washington will mark a fresh start if the declarations of principle are unambiguous and followed by action. It is also necessary that deadlines be accompanied by precise timetables that get us out of the gray areas and commitments without a tomorrow. Lebanon cannot engage in post-conflict diplomacy based on contradictory commitments and wishful thinking; the logical principle of non-contradiction applies just as much in politics.
The success of the pilot zones operation depends not only on a strictly managed operational strategy but also on a political horizon different from the one we know. The imperative demining of the ground should put an end to the policies of postponed conflicts; to achieve this, it is necessary to conclude a peace treaty with the State of Israel, as the President of the Republic so well stated during the meeting in the Oval Office at the White House.
The resumption of hostilities between the United States and the Iranian Islamic regime, Hezbollah's outright rejection of the framework agreement, the resurgence of Turkish imperialism, Middle Eastern strategic embroilments, the mobility of geostrategic fault lines, and their repercussions on a convulsed Middle Eastern geopolitics leave us perplexed.
We wonder in particular about the possibility of a disengagement at the crossroads of such a complex strategic node. The American counter-offensive is part of an alternative strategic vision and an unprecedented architecture in terms of strategic alliances. This should be acknowledged and acted upon accordingly. Furthermore, we should try our luck, without yielding to the illusions of a self-fulfilling prophecy and wishful thinking.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 27-28 July/2026
Netanyahu Heads to Washington for Eighth Meeting With Trump, Says Iran to Top Agenda
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on X Monday, that he is heading to Washington for his eighth meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump since Trump’s second term began, saying the talks will focus primarily on Iran.
Netanyahu said the two leaders would discuss “all the issues on the agenda,” with the main objective being to preserve Israel’s security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace in the region. He said he was embarking on the visit “with a deep commitment to ensuring the security, strength, and future of the State of Israel.”During the trip, Netanyahu said he would also pay his final respects to Senator Lindsey Graham, describing him as “a true friend of mine and of the State of Israel” and “one of Israel’s greatest friends of all time.” “I am confident that in doing so, I represent the feelings of all the citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote.

Iran foreign ministry says no current negotiations with United States
Agence France Presse/27 Jul 2026
Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said it was not currently involved in negotiations with the United States, despite a halt in recent fighting between the two sides."At present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States," said the ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press briefing, denying reports that Iran had requested talks.

Sharaa: Syria Seeks Security Deal with Israel with Participation of Several Countries
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Syria is seeking to reach a security agreement with Israel, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday. He said a deal could pave the way for comprehensive peace between the two countries without compromising Syria's right to the Golan Heights, an area that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed ‌in 1981. Sharaa said ‌Syria was trying to involve a large group ‌of countries ⁠to pressure Israel ⁠to adopt a more balanced policy towards Syria. "We are avoiding getting into confrontations," he added. Soon after former Syrian President Bashar Al Assad fell to opposition forces in December 2024, Israeli troops pushed into Syria and seized strategic territories. Israeli troops moved into a demilitarized zone inside Syria, including the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, which overlooks the capital Damascus. Since then, ⁠the Israeli military has launched strikes on Syria and ‌detained individuals from within the country. Israel ‌has also intervened in what it calls missions to protect ethnic minority Druze in ‌southwestern Syria. On Sunday, Israeli forces shelled areas in Syria and destroyed an ‌electrical transformer in the village of Maariyah, depriving homes of power, Syria's state news agency SANA said. Sharaa's comments coincided with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visiting Syria, the first trip by a United Nations chief to the country since 2009. In a statement ‌on X on Sunday, Guterres called for respect for Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. "Violations by Israel of ⁠the 1974 ⁠Disengagement of Forces Agreement are unacceptable & must stop," Guterres said. Last year, Sharaa, who is trying to rehabilitate Syria's image, became the first Syrian president since 1967 to take part in the UN General Assembly in New York. His government is seeking to rebuild international ties and the local economy after nearly 14 years of war and decades of isolation and death under Assad family rule. Sharaa also said his government is "not considering military interventions" in Lebanon.Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Sharaa about combating Hezbollah, after criticizing Israel for killing too many civilians in Lebanon.

Mediators see progress in diplomatic efforts to halt Iran war
Associated Press/27 July 2026
Mediators have achieved progress in efforts to get the United States and Iran back to negotiations and avert an all-out war in the Middle East, two regional officials said Monday, with a pause in attacks coming after a period of rapidly escalating tensions. The comments came after neither the U.S. nor Iran reported carrying out any attacks for three straight days — a respite after about two weeks of sustained bombardments that had led to increasing fears of a return to all-out war. The two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive regional talks, said mediators led by Qatar and Pakistan were working to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran to return to an interim ceasefire deal that had been largely undermined by recent exchanges of fire.
No strikes over weekend
The U.S. has paused attacks after targeting Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure in a nearly two-week escalation sparked by Iran's firing at ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments. The Pentagon did not respond to questions.
U.S. President Donald Trump is "giving talks some space. He's giving it a little bit of room," Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox News. "We've had both Oman and Iran, and a number of our other negotiators, engaged at every level, from the most senior levels all the way down to the technical level over the past few weeks, and particularly in the past few days." Waltz dismissed the idea that the U.S. stockpile of interceptors crucial in defending against Iranian attacks is running low, but experts have questioned how long both the U.S. and Iran can afford to keep up attacks. Since the U.S. has halted attacks for the past two nights, Iran has as well, its army spokesperson told Iran's state TV on Sunday. Tehran in recent days has counterattacked against countries in the region hosting U.S. military forces, killing at least three service members at a base in Jordan and one in Iraq.
Regional officials cite progress in talks
One of the regional officials who spoke to AP Monday described the progress made in mediation efforts as "significant." He said mediators were working with Iran and Oman on a mechanism for managing vessels' transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which was the trigger for the latest round of strikes and counterstrikes between Iran and the U.S. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said during a news conference in Tehran Monday that mediators were conveying messages but that no direct negotiations were being held with the U.S. "Mediators may convey messages to us from the American side regarding ongoing developments in the region. But at present, we have no negotiations with the American side," Baghaei said. He said several rounds of talks had already been held between Iran and Oman, which lies on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, on Friday and Saturday on how to manage ship traffic through the waterway. "The objective is for Iran and Oman, as the two coastal states, to develop mechanisms to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights and sovereignty of both coastal states, as well as Iran's security and national interests" Baghaei said. However, he stressed that "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has not changed" and that the waterway remains closed. Tehran has asserted that the interim deal with the U.S. allows it to manage shipping on the waterway for now, and it has objected to U.S. efforts to support a route through the strait that passes close to Oman instead. The strait was considered an international waterway before the war. The U.S. military on Saturday said its recently reimposed naval blockade against Iran continued, with a dozen commercial ships redirected, two disabled and two boarded. U.S. forces "remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready," it added.
The 60-day period that began when the interim deal was signed by both countries in mid-June is now well into its second half, and major issues that were meant to be negotiated — notably Iran's nuclear program at the heart of tensions — remain set aside as mediators try to keep both sides talking. Shipping traffic on the strait is at a 3-week low
Concerns continue about shipping through the strait and now also through another crucial waterway in the region, the Bab al-Mandeb strait to the Red Sea. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last week threatened a blockade of Saudi shipping there, and fired on at least one Saudi tanker, setting it alight. Global energy supplies and the economy remain in the balance as gasoline prices have risen again. Commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was at a three-week low, a maritime body overseen by the U.S. Navy said Sunday, adding that no new attacks had been confirmed in the past 72 hours. It said traffic remained steady through the Bab el-Mandeb.

Trump Says He Is Ready for Military Action if Iran Talks Fail
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington was in "very deep ‌talks ‌with Iran" ‌and ⁠warned that he is ⁠ready for "strong military action" if diplomacy failed. "Not ⁠much ‌time. Either ‌it goes ‌fast ‌or not at all," Trump told ‌Axios when asked how ⁠long ⁠he was willing to give for talks.

Iran Says US Not Involved in Talks with Oman over Hormuz Strait
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said the United States was not involved in recent talks with Oman over the administration of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. "These talks have no connection with the United States. They are a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman, and they are continuing," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press briefing, adding that the waterway "remains closed". Deputy foreign ministers from the two countries held talks on Friday and Saturday on "common principles and operational mechanisms" to ensure the safe passage of shipping through the strait. Traffic through Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, has been under Iranian control since the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States on February 28. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have in recent days turned back multiple vessels, including six earlier on Monday, that attempted to transit the strait outside the route designated by the Iranian republic. The waterway has remained a key flashpoint between Iran and the United States, with fighting resuming earlier this month following a ceasefire, as the two foes vie for control of the strait. Iran insists on retaining control over the management of the strait, including the collection of service fees, while keeping Oman involved as a coastal state. The collapse of a Iran-US memorandum of understanding signed in June resulted in 13 days of exchanges of fire between the two sides, though fighting has been on hold since early Saturday. On Monday, Baqaei criticised the United States, saying its conduct in recent years has "resembled that of a mafia gang that adheres to no rules or laws". "So long as such behaviour by the United States continues, we cannot be hopeful about the emergence of a reasonable process," he added.

Netanyahu Says Iran Is Top Agenda in Meeting with Trump
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed to Washington on Monday, where he said he would meet US President Donald Trump for their first face-to-face talks since the start of their conflict with Iran. It will be Netanyahu's eighth meeting with Trump since the US president returned to office, and their first since February, right before Israel and the United States launched a joint aerial campaign against Iran. "In these complex times, you need to act with both great determination and great wisdom. ‌We will discuss ‌all the issues on the agenda, primarily Iran. ‌Of ⁠course, our goal ⁠is to protect our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us," Netanyahu said in a video statement upon departure. Israel had not taken part in a two-week US bombing campaign this month that provoked Tehran to fire on US bases in response. Trump halted the campaign over the weekend. Iran said ⁠it would suspend its own attacks for as ‌long as the US pause endures. ‌Israel has warned Tehran that any attack would trigger a forceful Israeli ‌response. Netanyahu has in recent weeks acknowledged that he and ‌Trump have had some differences, as Israeli and US interests in the region appeared to diverge. An acrimonious phone call in June where the president called the prime minister "[expletive] crazy", first leaked to the media and later ‌publicly confirmed by Trump himself, laid bare the strains that have at times emerged between the ⁠two leaders. In ⁠an apparent gesture to Trump on Sunday, Israel said it would allow a multinational security force to enter Gaza as proposed under Trump's peace plan for the enclave. On July 21, Israel announced that it had redeployed some of its forces in southern Lebanon, as part of the US-backed agreements reached with Lebanese authorities in recent weeks. A meeting with Trump that showcases what has traditionally been a close relationship between the two leaders could help Netanyahu at home, where he is facing an October 27 election and is struggling in opinion polls. It also comes as support for Israel in the United States has been falling.

Israel to Allow International Force into Gaza, Israeli Official Says
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Israel will allow a multinational security force to enter Gaza as proposed under US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for the enclave, an Israeli official said on Sunday, a day before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington. Netanyahu's security cabinet on Sunday approved the legal framework that would allow the force's entry to Gaza, the official said. Netanyahu is scheduled to depart for Washington on Monday and is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday. The official said that ‌the mission, called ‌the International Stabilization Force, will include 200 members ‌from "friendly countries ⁠such as Uganda ⁠and Morocco" deploying in areas that are not under Israeli control. Each contingent requires individual Israeli approval to enter Gaza. It was unclear when the forces would deploy. Much of Gaza remains in ruins from two years of full-scale war triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. After a ceasefire deal was struck in October, Trump set out a peace ⁠plan for Gaza that provided for a surge ‌in humanitarian aid, civilian administration by Palestinian ‌technocrats, Hamas laying down its arms and Israeli forces withdrawing. But the plan has stalled ‌and the group of technocrats — known as the National Committee for ‌the Administration of Gaza — has remained outside Gaza. Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of Gaza while nearly all of its 2 million people live on a sliver of land on the coast under Hamas control, mainly in makeshift ‌tents or damaged buildings and facing dire conditions. Hamas has so far refused to disarm and Israel has said ⁠it will expand ⁠its area of control in Gaza to 70% of the enclave, where it has continued almost daily military strikes. Trump’s plan included a Board of Peace as an overarching international authority responsible for implementing the peace framework. It would oversee the security force, among other functions. The board is planning a pilot humanitarian zone for Gazans as a way to kickstart the US president's stalled plan, a board official said this month. Nickolay Mladenov, Trump's Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, welcomed the Israeli decision. "It is a critical part of the agreed framework for stabilizing Gaza, supporting demilitarization, and enabling the transition to effective Palestinian transitional administration under the @NCAG," he said on X, referring to the Palestinian civilian administration body.

Israeli Generals Accuse Netanyahu of Seeking to Ignite a ‘Third Intifada’
Tel Aviv: Nazeer Majali/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Several generals close to the Israeli military leadership have launched a broad campaign against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, accusing him of seeking to "ignite a third intifada in the West Bank" as his "only way out to remain in power." Six hundred former generals and senior officials sent a letter to US President Donald Trump, urging him to "halt the deterioration in the West Bank and exploit his meeting with Netanyahu to rein in his comrades and allies in the far-right who are drowning the country in blood."Netanyahu departed for the US for a meeting with Trump on Monday. In their letter, the generals argued that "faced with US pressure to end the war, remaining aside on the Iranian front, and withdrawing from vast areas in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu has nothing left but the West Bank. He needs a conflict to maintain the state of emergency, which he requires either to unite the right around him or to postpone the elections that appear poised to cost him power." Several opinion polls regarding the upcoming general elections in October indicate that Netanyahu's chances of forming a government appear to be declining, contrasted with the growing chances of his main rival, former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, making significant gains. The generals, who are making media statements, writing articles, or organizing protest petitions, have noted the bloody attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians with overt government backing. These attacks reached a new peak last week when hundreds of settlers torched Palestinian homes, cars, and shops, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian citizens in the village of Tal, near Nablus. Although the Israeli military is decisively fueling the situation under the pretext of protecting settlers, its generals directly accused the government of planning the current unrest, driven in part by certain ministers with far-right ideological motives aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and in part by others for partisan and personal electoral purposes.
‘Playing with fire’
Yedioth Ahronoth published an editorial on Monday written by military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua under the headline "Playing with Fire," in which he stated that the military feels caught in an ambush: settlers attack, Palestinians respond, the military defends, Palestinians express their anger, settlers react, and so on, until the cycle of violence expands and can no longer be stopped. He added that "in an attempt to calm the situation, the Israeli military requires a massive force, deploying 26 battalions to the West Bank alone while maintaining long, open war fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, leaving almost no room to breathe." Yehoshua expressed his belief that "the root of the scourge lies in the settlement map of the West Bank, which is undergoing the largest shift in its history; plans for 80 settlements have been approved, 34 of which have already been built. Alongside this, more than 100 pastoral farms and a similar number of outposts have been established, some of which are currently undergoing regularization procedures."He stated: "It is important to understand that every new settlement is not just a point on the map, but requires protection; it creates transit routes, friction points, security missions, and a defensive routine. As Israeli territory expands, the area that the Israeli military must protect also widens."The author pointed to a grim equation emerging: Palestinians are initiating almost no resistance activities, yet the more they reduce these acts, the more settlers increase their attacks against them. According to data from the security establishment and the police, 660 Israeli attacks against Palestinians were recorded in the first half of 2026, representing a 63 percent increase compared to the second half of 2025, which saw 405 recorded incidents.
On the verge of a third intifada
Also in Yedioth Ahronoth, Nahum Barnea wrote that "the third intifada is on the brink of erupting, and if it happens, it will be different from its two predecessors; it will be the first to break out according to the vision of the Israeli government. There are those who sow the wind in hopes of reaping a whirlwind. Netanyahu sowed the wind, and he is pursuing and pushing for a third intifada."However, Barnea held the army responsible, stating: "If the weekend's round of violence turns into a third intifada, the Israeli military will not be exempt from responsibility for the bloodshed. The commander's mission is to protect Israelis residing in Area C, but he has a prior mission rooted in the country's laws and international law: to be the sovereign, enforce his rule over the area, and ensure the security of all residents. This is his military, leadership, and legal duty."A Palestinian boy stands on top of a pile of rubble from a building containing shops and flats that were demolished by Israeli forces, citing the lack of a building permit, in Arraba, south of the Palestinian city of Jenin in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank, on July 27, 2026. (AFP) Effective international intervention. In Haaretz, historians Dr. Assaf Bondy and Dr. Adam Raz wrote that "what Israel is doing against the Palestinians requires effective international intervention." They noted that "even under the darkest regimes that adopted killing as a method of governance, these regimes often sought to prosecute those who committed crimes of murder and looting in violation of their own 'regulations' and 'laws' - not out of integrity, but because even a murderous regime seeks to monopolize crime to ensure that killing is carried out by order, or according to specific goals and plans, rather than individual initiative."The two historians noted that "Israel in 2026, after nearly three years of genocide in the Gaza Strip, has abandoned even this appearance; crime is no longer merely remote from justice, but is now openly celebrated."They cited Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich smiling proudly while holding the Peace Now movement's report on massacres in the Palestinian territories and the accelerated pace of annexation. They warned that while "many of the state's citizens pin their hopes on the judicial system, a realistic view reveals that the judicial system in Israel is nothing but another cog in the crime machine called the State of Israel." The historians concluded that "foreign intervention is necessary, otherwise the number of Palestinian victims will increase dramatically."

Police Arrest 1 Person after Seattle Festival Shooting that Killed 3
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Police in the US city of Seattle said one suspect has been arrested and search was underway for another following a shooting Sunday at a crowded food festival that killed three people. Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said detectives don’t have any description on the outstanding suspect. Investigators believe the two were shooting at each other and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. in the waning hours of the Bite of Seattle, an annual festival that draws hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers. Three people died and four others were wounded and are in stable condition at a hospital, officials said. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said he was receiving briefings and State Patrol SWAT officers were deployed to assist local police. “My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe,” Ferguson said in a statement. The annual festival started in 1982 and draws 350,000 attendees over “three days of food, drink, and community celebration,” according to its website.

Netanyahu Accuses Mamdani of ‘Fomenting Hate’ and Calls ICC War Crimes Charges ‘Bogus’
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is “fomenting hate” by calling the prime minister a war criminal who should be arrested over the war in Gaza if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu said he intends to be in New York in September to address the annual UN gathering of world leaders, despite the mayor's suggestion that he is not welcome. Mamdani said last week that while New York City does not have legal authority to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world's top war crime court, he encouraged the federal government to do so. “He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers — Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone,” Netanyahu said on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo. “But he’s trying to turn one group against the other.”
The prime minister has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel's war in Gaza, which was ignited by the Oct. 7, 2023, deadly attack on southern Israel by Hamas. Israel also joined the US in starting the war against Iran on Feb. 28 before launching a ground invasion in southern Lebanon in response to fire from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed the International Criminal Court's war crimes charges against him as “bogus.” He pointed to sexual misconduct allegations against the ICC's top prosecutor, who was removed from that post on Friday, and said the warrant was an attempt to divert attention. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment Sunday. Netanyahu said he was concerned that once-bipartisan political support for Israel in the US is at risk, particularly as progressive and far-left Democrats aligned with the Mamdani wing of the party splinter. He also warned against rising antisemitism in the US and other Western countries, saying that when he talks to people in New York City, home to the second-largest Jewish population in the world, "Jews feel very uncomfortable.”“And I think it’s wrong. The whole thing is wrong,” he said. Throughout his mayoral election campaign last year, Mamdani said he would seek to order the city’s police to execute the ICC’s arrest warrant over Netanyahu's role in the war in Gaza. But Mamdani acknowledged last week that his city did not have the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu and called on federal authorities to step in. “I want to be equally clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” he said in a video message. He told New Yorkers that he understood their frustration and that expressions of protest is something the city would “always respect.”The Hague-based court has accused Netanyahu, his former defense minister and the late leader of Hamas of crimes against humanity. The Palestinian territory’s Health Ministry says over 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive — roughly half of them women and children. Some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the initial Hamas attack on Israel.Trump told Netanyahu in a social media post Monday that he “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”Netanyahu is expected in Washington this week to meet with Trump and attend funeral services for the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Graham, a leading defense hawk and strong supporter of Israel, died suddenly two weeks ago of a likely torn aorta. The prime minster called him an “extraordinary American patriot.”

Iran Says Progress in Oman Talks on Hormuz Strait Management
Asharq Al Awsat/July 27/2026
Iran said on Sunday it had made progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway crucial for oil and gas trade that both countries border. The latest talks come after the United States resumed attacks on Iran in an effort to end Tehran's control of the strait, following a June memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war that had briefly eased tensions. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said several rounds of negotiations were held in Iranian capital Tehran on Friday and Saturday between Iranian and Omani deputy foreign ministers. The discussions focused on "common principles and operational mechanisms" for ensuring the safe passage of shipping through the strait while respecting the sovereign rights of the two states, Baqaei said. He described the talks as "useful" and said progress had been made, adding that "technical and political consultations between the two sides were continuing". In June, Oman and Iran said they would discuss imposing service fees, a move Washington opposes. But Muscat also said ships could transit Hormuz via its waters, angering Tehran, which responded with a pattern of escalation. Iran said on Saturday that it had not recorded any US attacks after nearly two weeks of strikes. According to news site Axios, the Pentagon presented US President Donald Trump with a plan for a 14th consecutive night of strikes, but he declined to authorize it in favor of renewed talks. The report said Trump made the order to hold fire after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran "for talks on a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz". Responding to a separate question, Baqaei said there had been "no change" in the status of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, Iran's armed forces stopped six vessels attempting to transit the Hormuz strait after warnings over the past 24 hours, according to state television.

Iran Halts Strikes as Trump Gives Space to Talks
Asharq Al Awsat/July 27/2026
Iran and the United States held their fire Monday, handing Gulf shipping and the oil industry a respite from missile strikes as Donald Trump's UN envoy said the president was "giving talks some space". Tehran said it had halted retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East, and US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told "Fox News Sunday" that, while forces remained "locked and loaded", Trump would give negotiations "a little bit of room". Fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz derailed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, triggering a US air campaign and Iranian reprisals that expanded the conflict to shipping lanes, Gulf countries and military bases across the region. Prior to Friday, the US military had carried out strikes on Iran for 13 consecutive nights, in the largest rekindling of the almost five-month-old war since an April ceasefire. But Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights passed without bombing. "Since... our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations," said Iran's army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia. Oil prices tumbled on Monday as investors breathed cautious sighs of relief at the pause in combat. The price of a barrel of international benchmark North Sea Brent crude shed more than seven percent at one point early Monday to briefly drop back below $90, while US counterpart West Texas Intermediate was down four percent at $85.45 a barrel.
Unconfirmed Iranian media reports on Sunday said an oil tanker had been damaged by a sea mine.
'One way or the other'
The lull has revived hopes of a return to negotiations, although American media reported the pause could also reflect pressure on US stockpiles of Patriot interceptors and other defensive weapons.Trump insisted "we have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need" in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Waltz also dismissed the idea of a weapons shortage, in a second interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press". "I want to be crystal clear. The US military -- and I've verified this every which way -- has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be," he insisted. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due at the White House on Tuesday, and is expected to urge Trump to continue to take a tough line on Tehran, in particular on its nuclear program. Iran has long insisted the program is for civilian purposes but the United States and its allies allege it is aimed at developing a weapon. Also speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said he fully backed Trump's efforts to shut down Iran's nuclear program. "If he can do so without returning to intense military fighting, that's fine. Why not? But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear program, and with a deal or without a deal, that has to come to an end," he said. Plans to escalate the US campaign have been shelved in part because of shrinking munitions supplies, The New York Times reported, citing two people briefed on the matter.
New front
Trump also faces the risk of a wider Middle East war and further shocks to the global economy, the newspaper said. Trump said on Friday he had not decided whether to return to an all-out operation. "We're talking to them right now. I think they're getting more and more serious," he told journalists. The war that Trump once predicted would last four or five weeks is now nearing its fifth month and weighing on the Republican's approval ratings ahead of crucial US midterm elections in November. On Sunday, locals in Tehran carried on with a normal day, dealing with heavy traffic jams on their way to work, an AFP journalist said. Shops and restaurants were open as usual as the city suffered a heatwave.

Iran Warns of 'Unforeseen' Consequences after Ukraine Attack on Caspian Sea Ship
Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of "unforeseen" consequences following Ukraine's attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend. "This action by Ukraine was an absolutely illegal and unjustified act, contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, as well as a dangerous act of adventurism that will certainly not go unanswered by us," the ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a weekly press briefing, adding that the consequences of Ukraine's action "will certainly be unforeseen".

Yemeni Armed Forces Warn Houthis Against Continued Threats to Red Sea Security
Riyadh: Abdulhadi Habtor/Asharq Al Awsat/July 27/2026
As the Houthi group continues its military escalation, the Yemeni Armed Forces said they remain on the highest level of operational readiness and fully prepared to reinforce security and stability and restore state authority across the country's entire territory. In exclusive remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Brig. Gen. Abdo Majali, the official spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, warned against the continued targeting of commercial vessels by what he described as the "Houthi terrorist militias" and their threats to Red Sea security and freedom of international navigation. He said the attacks reflected "the militias' connection to the Iranian project aimed at undermining Yemeni and regional national security and threatening international interests." Majali said that, under the direction of Yemen's political leadership, the armed forces continue to coordinate with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen to deter Houthi threats, secure maritime routes, protect international shipping, and combat Houthi terrorism. He described these efforts as both a national responsibility and a firm commitment to safeguarding the security of Yemen and the region while preserving international peace and security.
Restoring State Authority
Majali said the Yemeni Armed Forces are at the highest level of readiness, possess full combat capability, and maintain the operational capacity and high morale necessary to carry out a wide range of military missions and defend the security and sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen.
He added that, with the support of the Yemeni people, the armed forces will continue fulfilling their national duty until state institutions are restored, security and stability are reinforced, and government authority is reestablished throughout the country's entire territory.
Coalition Operations
Majali said the military operations carried out by the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy were launched in response to Houthi attacks targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. He said the operations were conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law while taking care to preserve Yemen's national resources. The Houthis had previously been subjected to what the coalition described as "decisive and painful" strikes against sites linked to threats facing vessels in the Red Sea. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the operations focused exclusively on legitimate military targets, stressing that protecting the assets of the Yemeni people remained one of the coalition's highest priorities. Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber also said the Houthi militia had turned Yemen into a bargaining chip for external actors seeking to advance their own interests at the expense of the country's security, stability, and the suffering of its people. He said peace would not be achieved through slogans or political maneuvering, but through genuine political will that places the interests of Yemen and its people above all else.
All Yemeni Ports Remain Open
Majali said all Yemeni ports remain open to maritime traffic and continue receiving commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, and other goods. According to official figures, more than 300 commercial ships entered the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa during the first half of 2026.
Rejection of Peace Initiatives
Majali said the continued rejection of peace initiatives by Iran and the Houthi movement, along with their ongoing military escalation and threats to regional security and maritime navigation, particularly the security of Saudi Arabia, demonstrated their determination to undermine regional stability while diverting attention from what he described as the crimes and violations committed by the Houthis against the Yemeni people.
Protecting International Shipping
Majali stressed that safeguarding freedom of international navigation and securing maritime routes requires continued international support for efforts to protect global trade lanes, strengthen regional security and stability, and preserve the economic interests of countries around the world.
He said Yemen's political leadership has handled recent developments with a strong sense of national responsibility, adopting carefully considered measures aimed at protecting civilians and their property, shielding the Yemeni people from the consequences of Houthi escalation, and preventing attempts to drag Yemen into conflicts serving the Iranian agenda. Majali also urged residents in Houthi-controlled areas not to allow their children to be recruited into the fighting or used as "fuel for a losing war," adding that the group's actions would only strengthen the Yemeni people's determination to restore the state and end the coup.
Saudi Arabia's Continued Support
Majali praised what he described as Saudi Arabia's steadfast fraternal support and its ongoing efforts to assist the Yemeni people, ease their suffering, and strengthen security and stability in Yemen and across the region. Two days earlier, Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al Jaber said Saudi Arabia would continue supporting the Yemeni people and back all initiatives aimed at reopening Sanaa International Airport to commercial flights, allowing Yemenis to travel after, he said, the Houthis had prevented commercial operations through the airport under "unfounded pretexts." Al Jaber also said Saudi Arabia would continue supporting the arrival of ships at the ports of Hodeidah to meet the needs of the Yemeni people, while the Houthi militia continued attacking civilian commercial vessels in the Red Sea, threatening freedom of international navigation and regional security.

French Police Arrest Man after He Attacked Three Women with Knives in Paris
Asharq Al Awsat/July 27/2026
French police detained a man on Monday after he attacked three women with knives near Porte de Clichy in Paris, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters. The man attacked the three women, who were aged 19, 24 and 36, with two kitchen knives, severely wounding two of them, Nunez said. Video aired on social platform X and verified by Reuters showed a man with long black hair, wearing a cream tracksuit and wielding one big knife in each hand stabbing and attempting to attack a young woman. It is unclear if the woman was injured. Another part of the video shows the same man lying on the ground immobilized by bystanders, while the two knives are lying nearby on a pedestrian crossing. The motive of the attack remains unknown, Nunez said, adding police could not verify the identity of the attacker, whose declarations were "incoherent" while he was being arrested. The French national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office said it was weighing whether to open an investigation.

Israel Military Says Intercepts Two Drones Near Jordan Border
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
The Israeli military said it intercepted on Monday two drones near the Jordanian border and was investigating where they had been launched from. Earlier this month, the military said Israeli and Jordanian forces had intercepted an Iranian missile fired toward the Jordanian city of Aqaba. "A short while ago, the IDF intercepted two UAVs identified in the area of the Jordan border," the military said on Monday. "The UAVs did not cross into Israeli territory. The origin of the launch is under review." Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities between the United States and Iran.

Yemen's Houthis Say Launched Drone Attacks on Saudi Oil Infrastructure
AFP/27 Jul 2026
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they launched drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure on Monday in response to incursions by the kingdom's drones.
The Houthi's military spokesman Yahya Saree said "a number of sensitive targets and points involved in the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu were struck using several drones", referring to the port city where the Gulf monarchy's East-West pipeline reaches the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia Urges Iraq to Prevent Territory From Being Used to Launch Attacks
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Saudi Arabia on Monday called on the Iraqi government to take all necessary measures to prevent Iraqi territory from being used as a launchpad for attacks. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of Iraq fulfilling its responsibility to prevent any party from using its territory to threaten regional security and stability.

Saudi Arabia Says Air Defenses Intercept Drones Targeting Oil Facilities
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory that attempted to target oil facilities in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and the Riyadh region. Defense Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the attempted attacks were carried out by Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq, describing them as terrorist attacks. Al-Maliki reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend its territory and critical infrastructure, stressing that the Kingdom reserves the right to respond at the time and place of its choosing.

Iraqi Kurdistan Says Some Drones Targeting Erbil Were Launched From Mosul
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region Masrour Barzani said on Monday that some of the drones that targeted Erbil originated from the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Iran Says It Will Not Let U.S. Dictate War, Accuses Gulf States of Joining Conflict
This is Beirut/27 Jul 2026
Iran on Monday declared that it would not allow the United States to determine “the timing or duration of war and peace,” while accusing some Gulf states of participating in Washington’s military campaign against the Islamic Republic. Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran “does not pay attention to U.S. threats” and acts solely in accordance with its national interests. Baghaei also claimed that some Gulf countries had taken part in the U.S. war against Iran, without naming them.
Hormuz Talks Continue
The Iranian spokesperson confirmed that Tehran’s discussions with Oman on the administration of the Strait of Hormuz are continuing and described the talks as “positive.”
He stressed that the negotiations are strictly bilateral and have “no connection with the United States,” adding that the strategic waterway remains closed.
Warning to Ukraine
Baghaei also warned Ukraine of “unforeseen consequences” following Kyiv’s reported strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend. He described the attack as “an absolutely illegal and unjustified act” that violated the UN Charter and said Iran’s response “will certainly be unpredictable.”Ukraine said on Saturday it had targeted vessels transporting military cargo linked to Iran in the Caspian Sea. Tehran said the strike caused an Iranian vessel to explode, killing one sailor and injuring several others, adding that “the Ukrainian regime must certainly be held accountable.”
French Ambassador Summoned
Baghaei further announced that France’s ambassador to Tehran had been summoned on Sunday over what Iran described as interference in its internal affairs. He accused two French diplomats, who were briefly detained earlier this month, of engaging in activities “in no way justified” under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, saying they had interfered in Iran’s domestic affairs under the pretext of engaging with civil society. The comments come after France accused Iranian security services of detaining two French diplomats for several hours earlier this month, questioning them, and physically assaulting one of them before they were allowed to return to the French embassy.

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 27-28 July/2026
Trump's Saudi Nuclear Horror Show...Why Trump and Congress Should Reject the US-Saudi Nuclear Deal
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/July 27, 2026
The [US-Saudi civilian nuclear] agreement threatens to weaken decades of US non-proliferation policy, ignite a regional arms race, embolden America's adversaries, and create security risks that future generations may be powerless to reverse.
The most controversial aspect of the proposed agreement is that it reportedly allows Saudi Arabia to develop domestic uranium enrichment capabilities under safeguards that fall short of the stringent standards previously demanded by Washington. While low-enriched uranium is used to fuel civilian nuclear reactors, the same technology can eventually produce highly enriched uranium suitable for nuclear weapons.
"[W]ithout a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible." — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, CBS News, March 15, 2018.
These words should have ended any discussion about permitting uranium enrichment on Saudi soil. They reveal that Riyadh views civilian nuclear capabilities not merely as an energy project but also as a potential strategic hedge against Iran.
[G]overnments change, regimes fall, alliances split, and today's friend -- even as a member of the Abraham Accords -- may not be tomorrow's ally.
[E]xtremist Islamist organizations continue to view the kingdom as both a battlefield and a prize. No one can predict Saudi Arabia's political landscape 20 or 30 years from now. A future period of instability, succession crisis, or regime collapse could deliver sensitive nuclear facilities, technology, or materials to actors whose goals are fundamentally hostile to the United States and its allies.
The greatest danger, therefore, is not Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or the current Saudi leadership. The greatest danger is the uncertainty surrounding whoever may rule the kingdom decades from now. Nuclear technology lasts far longer than political regimes.
The proposed agreement also abandons the "gold standard" that has guided US civilian nuclear cooperation for decades. Under the 2009 US-United Arab Emirates (UAE) nuclear agreement, Abu Dhabi accepted strict conditions that prohibited domestic uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing while granting comprehensive international oversight. These restrictions significantly reduced proliferation dangers.
The Saudi agreement reportedly discards many of these safeguards. It also reportedly does not require Riyadh to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol, which allows inspectors short-notice access to undeclared facilities to detect clandestine nuclear activities.
The UAE would likely seek to renegotiate its own agreement. Turkey and Egypt would almost certainly demand similar privileges. Russia and China could use the American precedent to justify weaker safeguards in their own nuclear partnerships across the Middle East and beyond.
Instead of strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, the United States would be weakening it with its own hands.
Peace with Israel is not a prize awarded by Arab or Muslim countries. It is not something that should require American bribes in the form of nuclear technology or strategic incentives.
Peace serves Saudi Arabia's own interests. It enhances regional stability, strengthens economic development, attracts foreign investment, and improves security for all parties. Arab and Muslim states should pursue peace with Israel because it benefits their own people -- not because Washington offers dangerous concessions.
The United States should not become the architect of the next Middle East nuclear arms race.
The US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement threatens to weaken decades of US non-proliferation policy, ignite a regional arms race, embolden America's adversaries, and create security risks that future generations may be powerless to reverse.
US President Donald J. Trump's proposed civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia risks becoming one of the most dangerous strategic mistakes in recent American Middle East policy. Although supporters portray the agreement as a peaceful energy partnership designed to strengthen relations with a key Arab ally, the long-term consequences could be devastating. The agreement threatens to weaken decades of US non-proliferation policy, ignite a regional arms race, embolden America's adversaries, and create security risks that future generations may be powerless to reverse.
Congress and the American public should reject the agreement before it sets a precedent that could undermine global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
The most controversial aspect of the proposed agreement is that it reportedly allows Saudi Arabia to develop domestic uranium enrichment capabilities under safeguards that fall short of the stringent standards previously demanded by Washington. While low-enriched uranium is used to fuel civilian nuclear reactors, the same technology can eventually produce highly enriched uranium suitable for nuclear weapons.
The danger is not theoretical.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made his intentions unmistakably clear several years ago. "Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb," he said in 2018. "But without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible."
These words should have ended any discussion about permitting uranium enrichment on Saudi soil. They reveal that Riyadh views civilian nuclear capabilities not merely as an energy project but also as a potential strategic hedge against Iran.
Supporters of the agreement argue that the kingdom remains a close American partner and that the deal contains sufficient safeguards. History, however, teaches a different lesson: governments change, regimes fall, alliances split, and today's friend -- even as a member of the Abraham Accords -- may not be tomorrow's ally.
Saudi Arabia has experienced repeated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and ISIS. It is also the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, and 15 of the 19 terrorists who carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks were Saudi citizens. Although the Saudi government has consistently denied any involvement in those attacks, the kingdom's history suggests otherwise.
The persistent threat posed by Islamist extremism still exists.
Between 2003 and 2006, al-Qaeda launched a deadly insurgency inside the kingdom, targeting government institutions, foreign residents, and critical infrastructure. ISIS has claimed responsibility for attacks on mosques, security forces, and civilians inside Saudi Arabia.
Although Saudi authorities have largely succeeded in suppressing these groups, their existence underscores an enduring reality: extremist Islamist organizations continue to view the kingdom as both a battlefield and a prize. No one can predict Saudi Arabia's political landscape 20 or 30 years from now. A future period of instability, succession crisis, or regime collapse could deliver sensitive nuclear facilities, technology, or materials to actors whose goals are fundamentally hostile to the United States and its allies.
The greatest danger, therefore, is not Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or the current Saudi leadership. The greatest danger is the uncertainty surrounding whoever may rule the kingdom decades from now. Nuclear technology lasts far longer than political regimes.
No American president can guarantee that the House of Saud will rule forever. Political upheaval, internal instability, or even a violent overthrow of the monarchy could one day place uranium enrichment facilities, nuclear scientists, sensitive technologies, and weapons-grade materials into the hands of Islamist terrorists.
Once sensitive nuclear technology escapes state control, it cannot simply be recovered. Terrorist organizations could exploit nuclear expertise or materials themselves or sell them on the global black market to rogue regimes or other non-state actors. Such a scenario would represent an irreversible nightmare for international counterterrorism and non-proliferation efforts.
The proposed agreement also abandons the "gold standard" that has guided US civilian nuclear cooperation for decades. Under the 2009 US-United Arab Emirates (UAE) nuclear agreement, Abu Dhabi accepted strict conditions that prohibited domestic uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing while granting comprehensive international oversight. These restrictions significantly reduced proliferation dangers.
The Saudi agreement reportedly discards many of these safeguards. It also reportedly does not require Riyadh to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol, which allows inspectors short-notice access to undeclared facilities to detect clandestine nuclear activities.
If Washington lowers its own standards for Saudi Arabia, other countries will inevitably demand identical treatment.
The UAE would likely seek to renegotiate its own agreement. Turkey and Egypt would almost certainly demand similar privileges. Russia and China could use the American precedent to justify weaker safeguards in their own nuclear partnerships across the Middle East and beyond.
Instead of strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, the United States would be weakening it with its own hands.
The agreement also undermines Washington's ability to confront Iran over its nuclear ambitions. For years, successive American administrations have insisted that Iran must never be allowed to enrich uranium without stringent international oversight because enrichment provides a pathway to nuclear weapons. If Saudi Arabia is granted that same capability under less demanding conditions, Tehran will immediately accuse Washington of double standards.
Indeed, Iranian officials have already begun making precisely that argument. Iranian Interior Ministry spokesman Ali Zeinivand recently declared that if a regional arms race begins, Iran would have "more freedom of action than anyone else," while accusing the United States of discrimination by permitting some countries to pursue nuclear capabilities while denying others the same right.
The United States cannot credibly demand that Iran abandon capabilities it is simultaneously willing to grant Saudi Arabia.
The agreement also threatens to trigger a dangerous regional nuclear arms race. Iran has repeatedly indicated that it would respond to Saudi nuclear advances. Turkey has already warned that it may be forced to pursue similar capabilities if Iran acquires nuclear weapons. Egypt would undoubtedly come under pressure to do the same.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the agreement is that it separates civilian nuclear cooperation from broader diplomatic objectives.
The Trump Administration views civilian nuclear assistance as leverage to advance normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Peace, however, should never be purchased through strategic concessions that jeopardize international security.
Peace with Israel is not a prize awarded by Arab or Muslim countries. It is not something that should require American bribes in the form of nuclear technology or strategic incentives.
Peace serves Saudi Arabia's own interests. It enhances regional stability, strengthens economic development, attracts foreign investment, and improves security for all parties. Arab and Muslim states should pursue peace with Israel because it benefits their own people -- not because Washington offers dangerous concessions.
Once uranium enrichment spreads across the Middle East, it cannot easily be contained. Once regional powers begin competing for nuclear capabilities, there may be no turning back. The United States should not become the architect of the next Middle East nuclear arms race.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22743/trump-saudi-nuclear-horror-show
Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

The Doyen of Hostages
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
I asked the man who is in the thick of it for his assessment of the situation in southern Lebanon. He replied: "Part of our territory is occupied. It is a hostage in the hands of the Israeli army. I wish the Lebanese army were capable of recovering the occupied land by its own forces, but that is not possible. The imbalance of power is massive and terrifying."
"Since October 7, Israel has become more brutal and more powerful than it was before. Leaving the task to Hezbollah would be suicidal. Lebanon cannot withstand another round of military confrontation. It is economically exhausted, and most Lebanese oppose resuming the war. Choosing war would also mean keeping Lebanon hostage to a confrontation beyond its capacity," he added. "Unfortunately, southern Lebanon, and with it Lebanon as a whole, has spent being held hostage for a very long time. In the 1970s, southern Lebanon was hostage to the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation. It was a mailbox through which Palestinian organizations sent their explosive messages to remind the world of Palestinian rights. The south was treated as territory beyond the authority of the state to which it belonged," he remarked.
"Moammar al-Gaddafi sent an arsenal. Saddam Hussein sent weapons and men. Hafez al-Assad exploited the situation to portray his regime as both guarantor and pacifier. Armed men of many nationalities entered without even considering asking the Lebanese government for permission."
The Lebanese authorities were "trying to rescue a hostage called the area south of the Litani River, without allowing the south to become hostage once again to the influence of Iran and the Revolutionary Guard Corps. This is why the choice was made to rely on the United States for liberating southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation and freeing both the south and Lebanon as a whole from their captivity to Iran's regional project. When you do not possess sufficient force to rescue a hostage, a price must inevitably be paid, and efforts must focus on reducing that price."
Taking hostages is not new in the Middle East. Israel has pursued this policy for decades. It would occupy Arab territory and then force its rightful owners to pay a price for its release: recognizing Israel's right to exist and withdrawing, at least militarily, from the conflict with it.
President Anwar al-Sadat made a daring and seemingly suicidal decision. He decided to pay the price for the release of Sinai so that Egypt would no longer remain hostage to the conflict and its exorbitant costs.
President Hafez al-Assad, by contrast, avoided paying the price for the release of a hostage called the Golan Heights. Perhaps this was because he hails from a minority, or perhaps because he always believed it would be better for his family successor to inherit a cause that justified his rule rather than inherit an Israeli flag flying in Damascus, which would give his opponents a pretext to overthrow him. Thus, the Golan's hostage status became entrenched and remains so.
Iran was also an early adopter of hostage-taking as a policy. The image of American personnel held hostage in their country's embassy in Tehran after Khomeini's revolution has never disappeared from memory. In the 1980s, Iran took the hostage-taking model to Lebanon. Small groups with revolutionary or Islamic names detained Americans and Europeans of various nationalities. This game arose from the belief that democratic countries were inherently weak. It is no simple feat for such countries to launch a dangerous war in a complicated region to secure the release of one hostage. At the same time, these governments cannot abandon a citizen and declare him or her a martyr, as other regimes can. Detaining one individual seems to have been a way to drag an entire country into a small cage. Those countries had no option but to negotiate, even while continuing to repeat the phrase that there would be no negotiations with kidnappers or terrorists. Has the hostage story reached its climax with the current war that is shaking the Middle East and its calculations of security and stability? It is no exaggeration to say that the region - and perhaps the world - is facing an unprecedented hostage crisis, at least in modern times. We are talking here about the Strait of Hormuz.
It could be said that closing the strait has confronted the entire world with the costs of turning the global economy into a hostage, for whose release Iran is demanding a high price. Iran seeks to transform the strait into a permanent bargaining chip through which it can keep its grip on this route, along which energy and goods flow.Keeping Hormuz hostage impacts everyone. It influences fuel prices, which, when they rise, push up the prices of all other goods. This means the crisis affects the price of bread and the meals of the poor in countries both near and far. The Houthis' threat to close the Bab el-Mandab Strait risks adding another hostage whose captivity the countries of the region cannot afford. There is no denying that Iran has found in the Strait of Hormuz an opportunity to seize a hostage whom the world needs to release as quickly as possible.
To soften the impact of the Iranian move, Donald Trump resorted to imposing a naval blockade on Iran, turning the already exhausted Iranian economy into a hostage, in the hope of arranging an exchange. It is a dreadful hostage crisis. The hostage may be an individual, a city, or a chunk of land that is seized or surrounded by militias. The story is not confined to the Middle East.
Europe, which imagined that it had closed the chapter on hostages and the manipulation of borders, now finds itself facing a difficult situation. For the fifth year, the army of "Vladimir the Great" has been fighting on Ukrainian territory. Strikingly, Putin refuses to release the Ukrainian lands that have been turned into hostages; instead, he is demanding that Zelensky surrender them. It is a terrible crisis that has exposed the impotence of international law and the falsehood of the phrase "good neighborly relations." Guterres's tears are powerless to help secure the release of the hostages, from battered Gaza to the Strait of Hormuz, the doyen of hostages in this new and frightening world.

Trumpism After 2028
Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
America's standing in the world has never rested on military and economic power alone. It has also rested on the stability of its institutions, its respect for the orderly transfer of power, and the predictability of its policies—qualities that inspired allies' confidence in American leadership of the international order. Donald Trump's arrival in the White House in 2016, however, challenged that model. It exposed profound shifts within American society, deepened political polarization, and raised questions about the resilience of American institutions and the durability of US commitments.
American administrations have always adjusted foreign-policy priorities, of course. But those adjustments remained bounded by constitutional principles and the state's overriding strategic interests. From Woodrow Wilson until the eve of Trump, methods and policies evolved, yet the United States continued to be regarded as a partner whose conduct could be anticipated. Trumpism marked an exception. It did not merely alter policies; it touched something more fundamental: confidence in the stability of the American political system itself.
Why raise this issue when not more than two and a half years have passed since the start of Trump's second term? Because many countries now treat Trumpism as a permanent feature of American politics and have built their approaches to regional and international crises on that assumption—from Iran to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and through relations with NATO, the European Union, and international organizations.
Trumpism has not changed America's overarching objectives—containing China, preserving American primacy, and rethinking the effects of economic globalization—but it has changed the way those objectives are pursued. It has personalized decision-making, redefined relations with allies, made "America First" the organizing framework of foreign policy, and cast doubt on several assumptions that had shaped the American role since the end of the Cold War.
The consequences have been felt both at home and abroad. Domestically, political polarization reached its height amid the controversy surrounding the disputed 2020 election results, shaking the image of American democracy itself. Internationally, disputes with European allies, withdrawals from a number of international agreements, and a preference for bilateral relations over multilateral cooperation have led many governments to reassess the reliability of American commitments, given growing doubts about the continuity of US policies and the volatility with which they are pursued.
Prudence therefore requires preparing for multiple possibilities, because American policy is likely to remain shaped by election outcomes, domestic political balances, and economic conditions. So which path will prevail after Trump?
The first scenario is the continuation of a modified Trumpism through the election of figures from the same political current to the White House. That would not necessarily mean replicating Trump's policies in every detail—especially his personalized style of decision-making and his continual clashes with institutions—but it would preserve the primacy of immediate national interests, economic protectionism, a hard line on immigration, and the reassessment of alliances through a cost-benefit lens. Such a course would make it difficult to restore allies' confidence, because doubts about the reliability of American commitments would persist. The figures most often mentioned in connection with this scenario are Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and perhaps Eric Trump.The second scenario envisions the rise of traditional Republican leaders who opposed Trump and seek to restore the party's conventional approach by reaffirming traditional alliances and lowering the political temperature. Yet they would struggle to reverse policies that now enjoy broad support within the party and its base, particularly on immigration, China, and the reshoring of strategic industries. The change, therefore, would be greater in style than in direction.
The third scenario assumes the return of a Democratic administration seeking to repair relations with allies and strengthen the multilateral order in an effort to restore America's image as a dependable partner. Yet the success of that effort would remain limited as long as domestic divisions endure, because allies now judge American policy through the experience they have just lived, rather than through its stated intentions.
The fourth scenario—the most dangerous and the least likely—is a contested election result. Early signs are already emerging in the debate surrounding the upcoming midterm elections. If those disputes develop into a deliberate campaign to challenge the outcome, the United States could enter a period of constitutional, political, and security uncertainty whose repercussions would extend well beyond its borders. Allies would become even more concerned about persistent political uncertainty in Washington and more cautious about building their strategies on the assumptions that once prevailed. Policymakers in the region and beyond must therefore keep all of these scenarios in view, rather than assuming that Trumpism is either America's permanent destiny or something that will disappear decisively.
In the end, the central challenge is not simply who occupies the White House, but whether American institutions can regain the confidence that for decades constituted one of the country's greatest sources of strength. Trumpism has become part of a broader debate about the identity of the American state and its role in the world. That question will not be resolved merely by changing the president or the governing party. It will require time—and a renewed demonstration that American institutions remain capable of guaranteeing the continuity of the United States' role in world affairs.

Why is the IEA Questioning the Reliability of Gulf Producers?
Haitham Faisal Al Ghais-Secretary-General of OPEC/Asharq Al Awsat/27 July 2026
In an interview with the newspaper, The National, on 8 July 2026, when talking about the Strait of Hormuz situation, Dr Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said that Gulf oil exporters “need to regain their reputation as reliable exporters.”
This description of producers amounts to a value judgement. Gulf producers, according to Dr Birol, are no longer trustworthy suppliers of oil. It is a statement that makes for an easy headline, but one that has several flaws.
OPEC does not dismiss the challenges related to a full reopening of the Strait. That said, others should not dismiss historical context and evidence with rhetoric and sweeping statements. This perspective matters.
For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been a vital waterway for global trade and OPEC Gulf producers have been reliable suppliers of oil and petroleum products to consumers. They have supplied crude oil and refined products through multiple global and regional crises, including during some of the most turbulent events in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
This can also be viewed in the region’s producers investing heavily in upstream capacity, refineries, export terminals, pipelines and storage solutions to ensure that crude oil reaches global markets reliably. Regional producers have held spare capacity too, at a cost to themselves, which has been leveraged at times of past crisis. This has proven particularly beneficial to consumers.
Their reliability is also reflected in trade patterns that made the Strait of Hormuz so important. To suggest that their record has been fundamentally undermined by one crisis, which is still ongoing, is to pass judgement on long-term performance based on short-term turmoil.
Indeed, many of these producers have been at the forefront of actively seeking solutions that aim to reinforce security of supply. The totality of a country’s performance as a reliable supplier, backed by hard evidence and decades of data, should be the basis of any judgements.
For example, Europe’s status as an industrial powerhouse cannot be judged solely by the destruction of its manufacturing base in World War Two.
It is also important to accurately depict the nature of the disruption. The current crisis arose from military conflict and its impact on a maritime transit route. It is a systems-level vulnerability, not evidence that producers have failed to honor contracts.
A sound energy-security assessment would center on the security arrangements around this vital sea route, rather than singling out producers to “repair their reputation.”
International and intergovernmental organizations should be a bridge between producers and consumers, providing shared reference points and analysis. This bridging role is hard to reconcile with public moralizing about ‘trust’ in media interviews.
Dr Birol’s trust narrative is also almost entirely framed from the perspective of consumers, despite the fact that robust analysis requires a holistic view. While buyers’ concerns are real, producers have a vital interest in stability too.
Casting doubt on the reliability of producers only a few months into a crisis caused by a temporary closure of a waterway is not beneficial to anyone. It can also potentially have real world consequences, particularly if it impacts investments.
The Strait remains important, and no-one should question the reliability of Gulf producers. In fact, the IEA should view them as active partners in seeking a secure resolution, not parties who need to ‘repair trust.’

Treasury Extends Its Muslim Brotherhood Campaign to Europe
Mariam Wahba/FDD-Policy Brief/July 27/2026
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/07/24/treasury-extends-its-muslim-brotherhood-campaign-to-europe/
Pressure is ratcheting up on the Muslim Brotherhood. Months after targeting several of the Islamist organization’s chapters, Washington is now taking the fight to the group’s support infrastructure in the United Kingdom.
On July 23, the Department of the Treasury announced the designation of senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Mahmoud al-Abyari for acting on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood branch. Al-Abyari was also targeted for fundraising for Hamas through previously sanctioned organizations.
The London-based Egyptian national serves as secretary general of the Muslim Brotherhood’s General Secretariat and is the editor-in-chief of Risalat al-Ikhwan, the organization’s weekly publication.
The designation signals that Washington intends to continue dismantling the Brotherhood’s international support network by targeting not only regional chapters, but also the senior officials, financiers, and facilitators who sustain the movement.
Treasury Looks Beyond the Middle East
According to the designation, al-Abyari helped raise funds benefiting Hamas through Filistin Vakfi and Hayat Yolu, two organizations previously sanctioned for providing material support to the terrorist group. Alongside al-Abyari, Treasury designated three individuals and three entities for providing material support to Hamas.
Al-Abyari’s role in these fundraising efforts demonstrates how the Brotherhood’s international infrastructure is connected to Hamas’s financial networks. Brotherhood officials have long sought to distinguish between the movement from Hamas. They have also worked to put distance between the movement’s various chapters, branches, and offshoots, allowing each to operate autonomously and adapt to different political circumstances. Treasury’s action undercuts both efforts, highlighting the continued overlap in their leadership, ideology, and support structures.
Europe Remains a Brotherhood Safe Haven
These designations spotlight the enduring importance of European capitals, London chief among them, to the Brotherhood’s international operations. Since the organization’s removal from power in Egypt in 2013, many senior leaders have relocated to the United Kingdom and other countries across the continent. There they have rebuilt command structures, coordinated media operations, raised funds, and managed relationships with affiliated organizations across the Middle East.
Operating from the West has afforded Brotherhood leaders legal protections and financial access that would be difficult to obtain in the Middle East, where the organization has been largely banned.
Although European governments have devoted increasing attention to Islamism, enforcement has often focused on violent actors while overlooking the broader ecosystem of charities, advocacy organizations, media outlets, and financial facilitators that sustain Islamist movements over the long term.
Washington Should Continue Targeting Brotherhood Leaders
Al-Abyari should not be the last Brotherhood official designated by Treasury. The United States should continue identifying the group’s senior leaders, like Acting-General Guide Saleh Abdel Haq and Spokesperson Osama Suleiman, operating from London and elsewhere in Europe who facilitate fundraising, coordination, or financial support.
Treasury should also continue mapping the Brotherhood’s international financial architecture, including charities, front organizations, businesses, and facilitators that enable the movement to move money and sustain its overseas operations. Where evidence supports such action, these entities should face sanctions alongside the individuals directing them.
Finally, Washington should deepen coordination with British authorities on Brotherhood financial networks operating within the United Kingdom. As Treasury has demonstrated, disrupting the facilitators who sustain Hamas and the Brotherhood’s international apparatus can impose costs well beyond the battlefield. Continued pressure on these overseas networks will make it increasingly difficult for the Brotherhood to exploit London and other European capitals as permissive hubs for fundraising, coordination, and global influence.
**Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Mariam and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow Mariam on X @themariamwahba. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on 27 July/2026
Nadim Koteich
Patriarch Hoayek is beatified at the moment the refuge model has reached its breaking point. He founded Greater Lebanon from a simple question: how do we build a homeland that protects all its communities? Since 1967, the Lebanese answered in the opposite direction — each community built its own refuge outside the state: independent weapons, independent funding, a "strong president" in a weak palace, and a consensus mechanism reinvented to block accountability. They tried every refuge and every one went bankrupt. Beatification doesn't change nations by ritual alone. It succeeds when Hoayek's legacy becomes a source of discomfort to the country that produced him, not a tool for its glorification. For this to work, it must not be a celebration of the Lebanon he created, but a reckoning with the Lebanon we made after him. See less