English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For June 05/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the
lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.june05.26.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since
2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006
Click On
The Below Link To Join Elias Bejjaninews whatsapp group
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FPF0N7lE5S484LNaSm0MjW
اضغط
على الرابط في
أعلى للإنضمام
لكروب
Eliasbejjaninews whatsapp group
Elias Bejjani/Click on
the below link to subscribe to my youtube channel
الياس
بجاني/اضغط
على الرابط في
أسفل للإشتراك في
موقعي ع اليوتيوب
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOOSioLh1GE3C1hp63Camw
Bible Quotations For today
If you belonged
to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to
the world, but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you
John 15/18-21: “‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated
me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you
as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of
the world therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you,
“Servants are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do
all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who
sent me.”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on 04-05 June/2026
Elias Bejjani/My audio personal analysis with the Hebrew "Makan" radio
station addressed peace between Lebanon and Israel and Hezbollah's
occupation/June 02/2026
The statement of the summit, which was falsely labeled as "spiritual," is
disgraceful, Mullah-like, and cowardly. /Elias Bejjani/03 June 2026
The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United
States of America, Republic of Lebanon, and the State of Israel.
Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli strikes kill 4 in
Lebanon
Israel strikes in Lebanon despite ceasefire deal
Netanyahu: What happened in southern Israel will be repeated in southern
Lebanon; Zamir: Our army is ready
Israeli Chief of Staff Displeased with US Intervention in Lebanon
Katz: We Reserve the Right to Target Beirut in Response to Any Attack
Qaani: The main demand in Lebanon is Israel's withdrawal to pre-war lines
Israeli Report on Hezbollah: Half of its Members Killed
UNIFIL Soldier Killed in Southern Lebanon… UNIFIL Warns: Attacks May Constitute
War Crimes
Israeli Warning: Fighting Continues; Anyone Heading South of Zahrani Puts Their
Life at Risk
Iran's voice is louder with Hezbollah than the voice of legitimacy
Aoun: The ceasefire agreement is the "last chance"... Qassem: A farce!
The army deploys in Dbayn... Berri remains silent... Le Drian discusses the
post-UNIFIL phase
What Berri wants, Hezbollah rejects
Disagreement within the Israeli government over the Lebanon agreement… Katz
calls it an achievement, Ben-Gvir attacks it
Despite the ceasefire announcement, Israeli drones target vehicles in the south,
and a massacre of paramedics occurs in Nabatieh.
Widespread Aerial Escalation Hits South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley… Martyrs
and Wounded in a Series of Raids!
Lebanon and Israel on the brink of a “conditional ceasefire”... Tehran warns
against “sowing doubt,” and Trump laments the lack of patriotism.
The proposed US-Lebanese-Israeli agreement following yesterday’s negotiations
stipulates that there will be no withdrawal before ensuring the organization of
the force that will replace the Israelis and testing it practically before
adopting it as a solution./Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 04/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on 04-05 June/2026
Trump Threatens to End Ceasefire with Iran
If American Soldiers Are Killed
Khamenei: Enemies Have Shifted from Military Confrontation to Attempting to Sow
Discord Inside Iran!
Hamas Investigates the Accelerated Assassination of its Leaders
Sources: "Tunnel Strikes and Voiceprints" Assisted Israel
An "Interim Agreement" Leaves Iran Battered but Unbroken... Military Gains Did
Not Lead to a Permanent Strategic Solution
Khamenei Warns of a "Hybrid War" Targeting the Interior
Ben-Gvir Describes Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Agreement as a "Big Mistake"
Sirens Sound in Northern Israel After Detecting a "Hostile" Aircraft
U.S. State Department: Trump Will Not Accept a Bad Deal with Iran
Iraq on the Verge of Restructuring the "Popular Mobilization Forces"
Al-Sadr Hands Over "Saraya" Fighters to the State... and a Military Committee to
Integrate Factions
IAEA: We Cannot Verify Iran's Nuclear Program
Britain and France Lead Mission to Clear Strait of Hormuz of Mines
Israel Announces Killing of Prominent Hamas Security Leaders in Gaza
Afghan Refugees: Iranian Police Extort Us Before Reaching the Border
Bolton Concludes a Plea Deal in Classified Documents Case ...Agreed to Pay a
Fine Exceeding Two Million Dollars
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons: Syria Handed Over 34 Boxes
of Documents
Titles For The Latest
English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on 04-05
June/2026
Ayatollah says Iran delivered 'decisive
blow' to 'malicious enemy'/Peter Barabas/Euronews/June 04/2026
With Trump in a holding pattern on Iran war, allies and critics worry he risks
getting boxed in/AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW LEE, AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW
LEE/The AP/June 04/2026
What Happens When Jihadists Smell Weakness/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/June 04/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 04 June/2026
on 04-05
June/2026
Elias Bejjani/My audio personal analysis
with the Hebrew "Makan" radio station addressed peace between Lebanon and Israel
and Hezbollah's occupation
June 02/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155042/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAyK3MmY45U
Elias Bejjani/My audio intervention
by phone on June 01 with the Hebrew "Makan" radio station, as part of the
"Morning Tour" program, addressed the latest military developments in southern
Lebanon following the Israeli army's liberation of the Beaufort Citadel (Castle
of the High Rocks) from the terrorist and Persian Hezbollah. It also covered my
stance regarding the State of Israel, the aspirations of the majority of
Lebanese for peace with it, ending the state of absurd conflict, closing the
Lebanese arena to the impostors, hypocrites, and merchants of the so-called
"resistance," and achieving salvation from the Iranian occupation.
The statement of the summit,
which was falsely labeled as "spiritual," is disgraceful, Mullah-like, and
cowardly.
This is because it completely ignored the Iranian occupation and
chanted tunes of condemnation solely against the Israeli aggression, while
failing to address the absolute necessity of peace with Israel and putting an
end to the ongoing crime of the so-called “Resistance”. The owners of the robes
and clerical hoods have expired nationally, in faith, and in credibility.
Elias Bejjani/03 June 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155013/
At the bottom of the text of the
spiritual summit's statement, it becomes clearly evident that the owners of the
robes and clerical hoods are deeply mired in the pathology of denial, acting as
driven puppets rather than independent choice-makers. They assembled by a decree
issued by Jumblatt and Berri, and with the blessings of all the owners of local
and proxy partisan corporations—entities entirely devoid of honesty,
credibility, patriotism, and respect.
The primary instigator and convener of this theatrical and farcical summit was
the cunning, flagrant, and adversarial duo (Jumblatt and Berri), who stand as
enemies to Lebanon, the State, and the Constitution. This corrupt and corrupting
duo grew terrified of the humiliatingly low level of popular support they have
reached. Consequently, they sought to resuscitate their popularity by playing on
sectarian strings that no longer resonate with anyone except their own herds,
and the herds of the remaining owners of commercial and dictatorial political
party corporations that have grown addicted to practicing politics under the
umbrellas of various occupations.
Attached to this commentary are the text, video, Arabic, and English versions,
which I had published regarding this summit two days ago.
The text of the following statement was released by the
Government of the United States of America, Republic of Lebanon, and the State
of Israel.
Agencies/May 04/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155054/
The United States convened the fourth high-level trilateral meeting between
Israeli and Lebanese representatives on June 2 and 3, 2026.
As a result of the U.S.-led negotiations, Israel and Lebanon agreed to the
implementation of a ceasefire. The ceasefire is contingent on a complete
cessation of Hizbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbollah operatives from
the South Litani Sector.
The two sides agreed with the guidance of the United States to swiftly advance
the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take
exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors.
These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security
agreement.
All countries reaffirmed that the future of the relationship between Israel and
Lebanon must be decided by the two sovereign governments. They rejected any
attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage.
Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed that they have no hostile intent toward one
another and committed to continuing direct negotiations to build confidence,
resolve all outstanding issues, and work toward a comprehensive agreement
between the two countries.
The delegations discussed a security framework, building on discussions at the
Pentagon on May 29, aimed at sustainably ensuring the sovereignty, security and
territorial integrity of Lebanon and Israel. This includes the dismantlement of
non-state armed groups, and the prevention of their re-emergence.
All parties condemned Iran’s attacks on countries in the region, and ongoing
activities that undermine stability throughout the Middle East, whether through
support for proxies and all other acts of aggression.
The United States reiterated its ongoing support for both governments to
exercise their sovereignty. It reaffirmed that any agreement to cease
hostilities must be reached directly between the two governments, brokered by
the United States, and not through any separate track. The United States
underscored its intent to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, with the aim of
improving their capacity and enabling the effective exercise of sovereignty
throughout Lebanese territory. It emphasized Secretary Rubio’s June 2 statement
that Hizbollah is not just an enemy of Israel and an enemy of America, but that
it is an enemy of Lebanon. Israel reaffirmed that its
security and respect for its territorial integrity can only be achieved through
the disarmament of Hizbollah and the dismantlement of its infrastructure
throughout Lebanon. It emphasized the importance of direct negotiations under
the leadership of the United States to resolve all outstanding issues and
achieve durable peace and security. Lebanon reaffirmed
the necessity for mutual respect of internationally recognized borders, the
urgent need for full implementation of the cessation of hostilities,
underscoring the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty.
Lebanon committed to enhancing the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, with
U.S. support, to assert effective control throughout the country.
The two parties agreed to reconvene the political and security tracks the week
of June 22, with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement. The United
States agreed to continue facilitating communication between the parties in the
interim.
Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement as Israeli
strikes kill 4 in Lebanon
BASSEM MROUE, JON GAMBRELL and SAM METZ, BASSEM MROUE, JON
GAMBRELL and SAM METZ/ June 4, 2026
BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement
reached between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group
demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as continued fighting there
hampered moves to end the Iran war.
The Hezbollah announcement came as Israeli strikes killed at least four people,
according to local authorities, and a U.N. peacekeeper was killed in the
crossfire. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, in a written statement read on TV,
called the negotiations "absurd, humiliating, and insulting." He said the
agreement's demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under fire
would mean "surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy's goals.""What we are
concerned about is an end to the aggression, ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal,"
he said, underscoring that Hezbollah had not made any commitment to stop
fighting. "So long as our villages are not safe and are being bombed and
destroyed and our people are killed," he said, northern Israel "will not be
safe."The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of
the south, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of
Hormuz, a key transit point for oil and gas. Its closure has jolted the world
economy. Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to
press ahead with Israel's offensive until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who faced a rare rebuke from Congress on Wednesday,
has sought to downplay the diplomatic deadlock and the failure of declared
ceasefires to end the fighting. He told reporters that in the Middle East, "a
ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner."
Peacekeeper killed in crossfire
A Serbian peacekeeper was killed and two others were wounded when a mortar
struck their location near Marjayoun, a Christian-majority town that has seen
intense fighting, according to the U.N. mission, known as UNIFIL, and Serbia's
Defense Ministry. Israel later blamed Hezbollah for the firing that killed the
U.N. peacekeeper, without offering evidence. Hezbollah and the U.N. did not
immediately comment on who launched the shells.Lebanon's state-run National News
Agency said a drone strike killed a motorcyclist and wounded four people in the
village of Maaroub. It said airstrikes on the village of Sohmor in the Bekaa
Valley, in eastern Lebanon, killed three people and wounded others. It also
reported airstrikes elsewhere in the south. There was no immediate comment from
the Israeli military, which has warned people not to go into parts of southern
Lebanon where it says it is striking Hezbollah facilities.
Fighting has raged despite declared ceasefires
Hezbollah resumed rocket fire days after Israel and the United States launched
their surprise Feb. 28 attack on Iran, which backs Hezbollah. Before then,
Israel had regularly carried out strikes in Lebanon against what it said were
militant targets, often killing civilians, despite an earlier truce reached in
2024.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli military's chief of staff, acknowledged
Thursday that the ongoing war was straining northern Israeli towns living under
the threat of Hezbollah fire. He said Israel's operations in Iran and Lebanon
had "created a new security reality," by weaking Iran and Hezbollah "to an
unprecedented degree."After Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks resumed,
Israeli troops seized around a fifth of Lebanon, pushing further into the
country's south than at any time since the end of Israel's 1982-2000 occupation.
In the southern city of Sidon, residents reacted to Wednesday's ceasefire
announcement with skepticism, saying previous agreements had failed to stop the
violence. "Every few days a ceasefire is announced, but people keep getting
killed," said Mayada Hijazi."It's all talk and no action," said Salah Nassab.
"We keep going back to our homes, and then we get displaced again, back and
forth. We're very tired."More than 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, and
over 1.2 million have been displaced. The fighting has killed 27 Israeli
soldiers and three civilians.
The ceasefire came from ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks
The latest declared ceasefire came about through U.S.-brokered talks between
Israel and Lebanon's government, which accuses Hezbollah of dragging the country
into war and had made efforts to disarm it before the latest hostilities. The
ceasefire agreement calls for Lebanon's armed forces to take control of security
zones in Lebanon from which the militants would be banned.Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun on Thursday called the new agreement "the last chance to enter a
final and comprehensive ceasefire." He said Lebanon was ready to implement
Wednesday's deal once he receives responses from relevant factions in Lebanon,
including Hezbollah. The United States — and Trump himself — would determine how
and when the deal is implemented, Aoun told journalists on Thursday. The
agreement terms Hezbollah "an enemy" of Israel, the U.S. and Lebanon and calls
for dismantling it. The government has promised to do so in the past but does
not have the capabilities to disarm Hezbollah by force.The latest agreement did
not say when Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon but said the U.S. would
support the Lebanese army as it works to assert control in areas where Hezbollah
has long wielded power.
Iran has demanded a durable Lebanon ceasefire
A top Iranian general on Thursday reiterated Tehran's demand for a full
ceasefire in Lebanon and called for Israel to pull troops back to where they
were when the wider war began. At that time, Israel held five strategic points
along the border. "Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is the duty of all of
us, and eliminating Israel from the region is an achievable goal for Muslims,"
Esmail Qaani, the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds
Force, was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies.As
diplomatic efforts have repeatedly faltered, Iran and the U.S. have traded fire
in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed. Before the
war, around a fifth of the world's oil and gas, as well as large shipments of
fertilizer and other goods, passed through the narrow waterway. The U.S. has
targeted what it says are Iranian threats to commercial shipping and its own
forces, while Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on Gulf states hosting
U.S. troops. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Metz
from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writer Malak Harb in Beirut
contributed to this report.
Israel strikes in Lebanon despite ceasefire deal
Steven Scheer, Maya Gebeily and Ahmed Elimam/Reuters/June 04/2026
Israel will continue to strike Lebanon for the time being and won't be
withdrawing from the south, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, after
Lebanon and Israel agreed to a ceasefire contingent on Hezbollah halting
attacks.
The United States announced Lebanon and Israel had agreed to implement a
ceasefire after a meeting in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli officials.
But Iran-backed Hezbollah is not a party to the talks, and has yet to comment
on the agreement. The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force -
which established Hezbollah in 1982 - said "the minimum demand of the
resistance" is Israel's withdrawal to positions it held before the war began
and Israeli forces invaded the south. Israel carried out numerous airstrikes in
southern Lebanon on Thursday, security sources said. Lebanon's National News
Agency reported five people killed in airstrikes in the town of Sohmor. A drone
buzzed over Beirut. The Israeli military, in a warning to residents of the
south, said it was continuing to target Hezbollah facilities. The war has ground
on despite several ceasefires declared from Washington since April. Hostilities
between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2, when the group opened fire in
support of Tehran as it came under U.S.-Israeli attack. The war has become a
sticking point in diplomacy towards resolving the regional conflict. Tehran has
demanded an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon as part of any deal. Lebanese
President Joseph Aoun said the statement issued in Washington was "a final
opportunity to secure a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire". Lebanon would
convey its position to the U.S. once it received responses from the relevant
domestic parties, particularly Hezbollah, he said.
ISRAEL TO REMAIN IN 'SECURITY ZONE'
A statement released by the U.S. State Department said the Israel-Lebanon
ceasefire was contingent on Hezbollah completely halting fire and the evacuation
of all its operatives from the area between the border and the Litani River. It
made no reference to any Israeli withdrawal from the south, where Israel has
seized a self-declared security zone, saying it aims to protect northern Israel
from attacks. In a statement, Katz said Israeli forces would remain in the
security zone, including the area of Beaufort castle, seized by Israeli forces
at the weekend, "and without the return of the population". Israel "will, for
the time being, continue its fire and operations on the ground", he said.
Israel's campaign has forced some 1.2 million people to flee their homes,
including hundreds of thousands from southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities say.
Most are Shi'ite Muslims.
LEBANESE ARMY TO CONTROL 'PILOT ZONES'
The joint statement said Lebanon and Israel agreed "to swiftly advance the
creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive
control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors". The Lebanese
army deployed into the south as part of a ceasefire agreed in November 2024 to
end the last Hezbollah-Israel war, and declared in January that it had
established control over the area between the border and the Litani. President
Aoun, a Maronite Christian, and Lebanon's Sunni Muslim Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam have been seeking Hezbollah's peaceful disarmament for a year, fuelling
tension with the group. Hezbollah has demanded Beirut quit the Washington
talks.
BEN-GVIR SAYS CEASEFIRE A 'SERIOUS MISTAKE'
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the
ceasefire a "serious mistake" and called for a cabinet vote. Ben-Gvir said that
Hezbollah would not withdraw its fighters from the area south of the Litani
River and that the Lebanese Armed Forces were incapable of forcing Hezbollah to
comply. Netanyahu has come under pressure from political opponents, and some
allies, who say he has ceded sovereignty in yielding to the U.S. Katz said
Israel would continue to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area" while
Israel had "freedom of action, backed by the U.S., to strike in Beirut in
response to attacks on Israeli communities and territory". A U.N. peacekeeper
in Lebanon died on Thursday from wounds sustained when mortar shells hit his
position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon late the previous night, the
U.N. peacekeeping mission UNIFIL said.
Netanyahu: What happened in southern Israel will be
repeated in southern Lebanon; Zamir: Our army is ready
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that what happened in
southern Israel in the Gaza Strip will be repeated in the north, in southern
Lebanon. For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Bezalel Katz said: "We will
remain in the security zone in Lebanon, which includes Beaufort Castle up to the
Yellow Line, while preventing the return of residents." He added: "Israel has
the freedom to act, with American support, to attack Beirut in response to any
fire directed at settlements or Israel." Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said
on Thursday that the army is focusing the majority of its capabilities and
military resources on the northern front, emphasizing the continuation of ground
and air operations to destroy what he described as Hezbollah's "terrorist
infrastructure" and remove threats to border towns. Zamir continued during a
situation assessment: "We are prepared on multiple fronts and are monitoring the
situation across the Middle East, but we are focusing on the northern border. My
directive is to concentrate our efforts here." Zamir added that Israeli forces
seized control of Shaqif Heights this week and destroyed infrastructure that
Israel described as "large and important for Hezbollah, built over many years."
In the same vein, the Israeli Chief of Staff asserted that the military
operations had weakened Iran and what is known as the "axis of resistance" to an
unprecedented degree, specifically targeting the Lebanese Hezbollah, which he
described as "Iran's center of gravity." He explained that the army acted
"swiftly and decisively" as soon as Hezbollah's involvement in the military
campaign was detected, in order to thwart infiltration threats and anti-tank
missile attacks. He emphasized a change in military strategy, stating, "This is
our policy—no containment. We act proactively and decisively against any
emerging threat," indicating the creation of a new security reality to protect
Israeli towns on the front lines. In a related development, the Israeli Foreign
Ministry announced that Hezbollah's refusal to cease fire and the interception
of its missiles demonstrate its continued attacks and destabilizing activities.
Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 12 quoted the head of the Metula settlement council
as saying, "It seems the state has abandoned us to live under the threat of
missiles and air raid sirens in order to appease Trump." Meanwhile, Israel's
Channel 14 reported that the ceasefire on the Lebanese front lasted only a few
hours, the situation on the ground remained unchanged, and a series of serious
incidents occurred. The Israeli Security Cabinet convened to discuss various
options regarding the northern front, amidst sharp criticism of the Israeli army
chief of staff, who was "displeased" with "American interference" in the
negotiations with Lebanon. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted an
Israeli official as saying that "Lebanon has a golden opportunity to dismantle
Hezbollah." The official stated that "the Lebanese state is capable of
preventing Hezbollah from destroying the country." He added, "Washington will
understand our position if the agreement with Lebanon is not implemented."
Israeli Chief of Staff Displeased with US Intervention in
Lebanon
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/June 4, 2026 (translated
from Arabic by Google)
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir expressed his displeasure with the significant
US intervention in the Lebanese situation, according to Israel's Channel 13.
Zamir stated during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, "We must maintain our
position on every step we take in Lebanon." Earlier that day, the Israeli Chief
of Staff, who had expressed reservations about the agreement between Lebanon and
Israel, said that the Israeli army is "in a state of multi-front readiness," but
is currently focusing its efforts on the northern border. He added that Israeli
forces "continue to operate on the ground and with fire to destroy terrorist
infrastructure and eliminate threats," adding that this has "inflicted
significant damage on Hezbollah and noticeably weakened it," as he put it.
Meanwhile, Israeli security assessments indicate the existence of an underground
Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of the historic Beaufort Castle (Qalaat
al-Shaqif), noting that destroying this infrastructure would require hundreds of
kilograms of explosives. These statements came as the Israeli cabinet is
expected to meet this evening to discuss the conditional ceasefire agreement
announced yesterday in Washington following two days of talks between Lebanese
and Israeli delegations. Earlier today, the Lebanese president clarified that
the ceasefire with Israel, brokered by the United States, could take effect
within 24 hours of approval by all parties involved. He added, "We are awaiting
responses from all concerned parties and guarantees of commitment, and
implementation could begin within 24 hours of final approval."
In a speech on Thursday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem called on
Lebanese authorities to halt the "humiliation called direct negotiations" with
Israel, describing the agreement as "surrender and defeat." He stressed that the
ceasefire must encompass all of Lebanon, including the south, and demanded the
complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. He also affirmed
that Hezbollah fighters would not withdraw from southern Lebanon as long as
villages remained occupied and subjected to Israeli bombardment. He pointed out
that "northern Israel will not be safe as long as Lebanese villages are being
bombed and their inhabitants killed." He added, "We reject any linkage between
our presence and the ceasefire or the withdrawal of the Israeli army" from the
south. It should be noted that, according to the agreement announced yesterday,
Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw from the south and cease its attacks on
northern Israel. The Lebanese army is to deploy in a number of "trial" areas
initially, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some southern
villages. The agreement also stipulates that, in exchange for this Hezbollah
withdrawal, Israel will refrain from targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Katz: We Reserve the Right to Target Beirut in Response to
Any Attack
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic
by Google)
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that the declaration of principles
reached between Israel and the Lebanese government in Washington, with American
mediation and guarantees, includes clauses related to the disarmament of
Hezbollah and the imposition of new security arrangements in southern Lebanon.
Katz explained that the agreement stipulates a clear objective: the disarmament
of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, condemnation of what he described as Iranian
interference in Lebanon and the region, and a ceasefire conditional on the
removal of Hezbollah elements from the entire area south of the Litani River
before it takes effect. He added that the understandings include the
establishment of a demilitarized zone, with the continuation of Israeli military
activity, firing, and field operations in the current phase, along with the
continued presence of Israeli forces in what he termed the "security zone"
inside Lebanon up to the Yellow Line, including the Shaqif area. Katz emphasized
that the Israeli army will continue destroying infrastructure in the field,
noting that the agreement grants Israel, with American support, freedom of
military action and the right to target Beirut in response to any fire directed
at Israeli settlements or territory. In statements carried by Israel's Channel
12, Katz said that Lebanese residents would not return to the southern regions
at this stage, emphasizing the continuation of infrastructure destruction
operations and the implementation of military measures related to the agreement.
In contrast, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir considered the
ceasefire with Lebanon a grave mistake and called for a cabinet meeting to vote
on a ceasefire resolution.
Qaani: The main demand in Lebanon is Israel's withdrawal to
pre-war lines
Asharq Al Awsat/June 4, 2026
(translated from Arabic by Google)
Iranian state media quoted Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard, as saying today (Thursday) that the main demand in
Lebanon is Israel's withdrawal to the positions it controlled before the
outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran. He added that the Lebanese fighters
"will soon reap the fruits of resistance." Lebanon and Israel agreed to
implement a complete ceasefire, conditional on Hezbollah halting its attacks and
withdrawing its forces from the area south of the Litani River, according to a
joint statement issued by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned on Wednesday that any attack on the
Lebanese capital, Beirut, would lead to a renewed war in the Middle East "on a
large scale."
Israeli Report on Hezbollah: Half of its Members Killed
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic
by Google)
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that "Hezbollah used residential
apartments and tents as facilities and operations centers." According to Israeli
estimates, "half of Hezbollah's members have been killed or are incapacitated,"
while an Israeli official said that "Iran will allocate a portion of its frozen
funds, if released, to Hezbollah."
UNIFIL Soldier Killed in Southern Lebanon… UNIFIL Warns:
Attacks May Constitute War Crimes
Janoubia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
UNIFIL announced the death of one of its soldiers from serious injuries
sustained when mortar shells landed on a UNIFIL position near Marjayoun in
southeastern Lebanon. Two other soldiers were wounded and are receiving
treatment at a UNIFIL medical facility. UNIFIL explained that the attack
occurred late last night, and that the wounded soldier was airlifted to a
hospital in Beirut, but succumbed to his injuries. The international force
offered its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased soldier and his
colleagues, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. It also confirmed that it
has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident.
UNIFIL noted a significant increase in the number of projectiles falling in
southern Lebanon recently, calling on all parties to cease hostilities, abide by
international law, and guarantee the safety and security of UN personnel and
property. The relevant Lebanese authorities have also called for an
investigation and accountability for those responsible for the attack,
emphasizing that targeting peacekeeping forces constitutes a serious violation
of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and
may in some cases amount to war crimes.
Israeli Warning: Fighting Continues; Anyone Heading South
of Zahrani Puts Their Life at Risk
Janoubia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of
southern Lebanon via the “X” platform, urging them to refrain from traveling
south of the Zahrani River until further notice. Adraee stated that fighting in
southern Lebanon continues, noting that the Israeli army is still targeting
Hezbollah facilities and infrastructure within and near villages. He added that
the Israeli army does not intend to harm civilians, but called on them to avoid
traveling south of the Zahrani River for their own safety. Adraee warned that
anyone traveling south is putting their life at risk.
Iran's voice is louder with Hezbollah than the voice of
legitimacy
Aoun: The ceasefire agreement is the "last chance"... Qassem: A farce!
The army deploys in Dbayn... Berri remains silent... Le Drian discusses the
post-UNIFIL phase
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic
by Google)
The Lebanese state has done its part, and with great difficulty and with the
help of its Arab, Gulf, and American brothers, it secured a ceasefire between
Hezbollah and Israel, which could put an end to the cycle of destruction,
displacement, and occupation into which Iran's proxy war has plunged Lebanon.
Following this achievement, which is credited to Lebanon as a state and its
diplomacy, President Joseph Aoun placed all Lebanese factions, especially
Hezbollah, before their responsibilities, presenting the equation: "Either abide
by the agreement or bear the consequences of its collapse." It should be noted
that the most prominent condition of the agreement is that Hezbollah cease its
operations and withdraw to north of the Litani River. All this while Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waits for Hezbollah to "strut" and resume
fighting.
Aoun: The ceasefire agreement is the "last chance"... Qassem: A farce!
The army deploys in Dbayn... Berri remains silent... Le Drian discusses the
post-UNIFIL phase
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 A final opportunity: In an effort to encourage
Hezbollah's cooperation, the President announced that the results of the fourth
round of negotiations, and the resulting statement containing crucial points for
Lebanon, represent the last chance to reach a final and comprehensive ceasefire.
He stressed that each party would bear responsibility for any failure to
respond. Speaking to reporters at Baabda Palace, Aoun said, "As soon as we
receive responses from the relevant domestic parties, particularly Hezbollah,
the Lebanese position will be communicated to the American side so that
appropriate action can be taken." He noted that the United States would
determine the date and mechanism for implementing the ceasefire, which could
begin 24 hours after being notified of Lebanon's agreement and the provision of
necessary guarantees. He added that US President Donald Trump would be the
direct guarantor of its implementation. The President affirmed that the Lebanese
negotiating delegation, headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, demonstrated
steadfastness. He noted that yesterday's negotiations were extremely difficult,
to the point that Ambassador Karam was compelled to suspend the round and
insisted on not moving on to any other topic before a comprehensive ceasefire
was agreed upon. This prompted the intervention of US Secretary of State Marco
Rubio to resume the negotiations, which concluded with the acceptance of the
Lebanese demand for a comprehensive ceasefire. He stated, "Throughout yesterday
and into the early hours of this morning, we remained in contact with
international and domestic parties to solidify the comprehensive ceasefire.
Brotherly and friendly nations also played a role in exerting pressure on behalf
of Lebanon." President Aoun expressed his gratitude today to Qatar for its
contributions to the success of the ongoing efforts to solidify the ceasefire in
Lebanon. Regarding the pilot zones, President Aoun revealed that Lebanon
proposed starting with the eastern and western Zawtar areas, along with Yahmar
and Beaufort Castle, given the symbolic significance of this region and its
proximity to the city of Nabatieh.
Removing pretexts from Israel: President Aoun also stressed the need to avoid
giving Israel any pretexts for not withdrawing from the south, considering that
any effort in this regard would have positive effects on the course of
negotiations. During his meeting this morning at Baabda Palace with the French
envoy, in the presence of the French Ambassador to Beirut, Hervé Magro, he
expressed his hope that the negotiations taking place in Washington between the
Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations would lead to positive results,
achieving a lasting ceasefire and ending the suffering of the Lebanese people in
general, and the people of the south in particular.
Iran's conditions: While no comment has been issued by Speaker of Parliament
Nabih Berri on the emerging agreement, it appears that the voice of Iran and its
interests carry more weight with Hezbollah than the voice of Lebanese legitimacy
and the interests of the Lebanese people. Just hours after Iranian Quds Force
Commander Ismail Qaani declared that "the minimum demand of the resistance in
Lebanon is the withdrawal of the usurping entity to the status quo ante,"
emphasizing that "supporting the resistance in Lebanon is our collective duty,
and the Lebanese mujahideen will soon see the fruits of their courageous
resistance," in what appeared to be an Iranian attempt to thwart the Lebanese
state's efforts and impose Tehran's conditions for a ceasefire, Hezbollah
Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that the outcome of the direct
negotiations was "absurd and humiliating for Lebanon, and completely
unacceptable." He affirmed that "the resistance has not given any commitment to
refrain from resisting aggression, and as long as our villages are not safe, the
settlements will not be safe." He pointed out that "the outcome of the absurd,
humiliating, and shameful direct negotiations for Lebanon, which are completely
unacceptable to broad segments of the Lebanese people, resulted in the
Washington Declaration, which outlines the fundamental principles that America
and Israel envision for Lebanon's subjugation to the Greater Israel project." He
reiterated that "the resistance has not given any commitment to refrain from
resisting aggression and responding to it." As long as the aggression continues,
we will confront it with all the strength we possess, and we will strike
wherever we decide and are able,” he warned, cautioning against the continued
aggression against southern Lebanon. He added, “If it persists, the settlements
will not be safe, and they will witness our might and severity.” He asserted
that “the primary objective of the negotiations is the disarmament of the
resistance as a prerequisite for any agreement, which means the destruction of
Lebanon’s power and an existential threat to its people’s resistance.” He
clarified that this demand aims to grant Israel politically what it failed to
achieve through war, which is impossible. He called upon “those in positions of
authority to halt this farce and humiliation called direct negotiations, so that
you may be stronger by rallying your entire people around the option of a
sovereign state under your leadership, to which the enemies will inevitably
submit.”
The army is deploying: Prior to Qassem's speech, and awaiting Israel's response
to the Hezbollah Secretary General's remarks, the Axios website indicated that
"if Hezbollah rejects the agreement between Lebanon and Israel and continues
firing rockets towards northern Israel, this could prompt President Trump to
give Netanyahu the 'green light' to escalate the military campaign in Lebanon."
The effects of the ceasefire agreement were beginning to appear, despite the
continued shelling and airstrikes on villages in the south and the Western Bekaa
Valley, and despite Israel raising its demands. While the Israeli army called on
Lebanese citizens "to refrain from traveling south of the Zahrani River until
further notice, as anyone who travels south is putting their life at risk," it
was reported that a Lebanese army patrol set out in the afternoon to open the
Marjeyoun-Ibl al-Saqi road, in preparation for securing traffic on the route. It
was later reported that the army deployed in Dbayn after the Israeli army
withdrew from it, and at the Khiam junction to the south.
Hezbollah: Hezbollah announced in a series of statements that "we targeted a
gathering of vehicles and soldiers of the Israeli enemy army in the town of
Qantara in southern Lebanon with two rocket salvos at 8:00 AM this morning,
Thursday." He also announced that "the Islamic Resistance targeted, at night,
gatherings of Israeli enemy soldiers on the southeastern and southern outskirts
of the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif, the southern outskirts of the town of Dibbin,
the town of Qantara and the vicinity of Beaufort Castle. It also intercepted an
Israeli Hermes 450-Zik drone in the airspace of the western sector."
Freedom of Military Action: For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz
said that the declaration of principles reached between Israel and the Lebanese
government includes clauses related to the disarmament of Hezbollah and the
imposition of new security arrangements in southern Lebanon. He explained that
the agreement stipulates a clear objective: the disarmament of Hezbollah
throughout Lebanon, condemnation of what he described as Iranian interference in
Lebanon and the region, and a ceasefire conditional on the removal of Hezbollah
elements from the entire area south of the Litani River before it comes into
effect. He added that the understandings include the establishment of a
demilitarized zone, while the Israeli army will continue its activities,
including firing and conducting field operations, in the current phase. Israeli
forces will also remain in what he termed the "security zone" inside Lebanon up
to the Green Line, including the Shaqif area. Katz emphasized that the Israeli
army will continue destroying infrastructure in the field, noting that the
agreement grants Israel, with American support, freedom of military action and
the right to target Beirut in response to any fire directed at Israeli
settlements or territory.
Beyond UNIFIL: Meanwhile, as the European Union announced €100 million in
support for the Lebanese army to help it maintain a state monopoly on weapons
and protect civilians, French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian met with
Lebanese officials today, discussing military and negotiation developments, as
well as the post-UNIFIL situation in southern Lebanon. In this context, while
condemning the "martyrdom of a UNIFIL member and the wounding of several of his
colleagues in an attack that targeted an international forces position near
Marjayoun in recent hours," the President of the Republic welcomed the desire
expressed by European and other countries to maintain their forces in the south
to contribute to strengthening stability and supporting the Lebanese army after
its deployment to the border. He noted that contacts are underway to find a
suitable formula for the continued presence of these forces in coordination with
the United Nations and the concerned countries. He also visited Ain al-Tineh to
meet with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received
the French presidential envoy, and during the meeting, they discussed the
results of the Washington negotiations and efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
Minister Le Drian confirmed that his visit to Beirut aimed to express French
support, solidarity, and concern for Lebanon's affairs.
What Berri wants, Hezbollah rejects
Al-Markazia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic
by Google)
Sources told Al-Hadath that Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem's speech
embarrassed Speaker Nabih Berri in front of several regional and international
parties. Lebanese sources confirmed to Al-Hadath that Speaker Berri wants to
stop the losses and displacement of his constituents, but Hezbollah has rejected
this.
Disagreement within the Israeli government over the Lebanon
agreement… Katz calls it an achievement, Ben-Gvir attacks it
Janoubia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
A clear division has emerged within the Israeli government regarding the
agreement concerning Lebanon, between the support of Israeli Defense Minister
Yisrael Katz and the rejection of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Katz considered the agreement a “major achievement,” calling on the government’s
opponents to acknowledge its results. He pointed out that it includes a clear
commitment to disarming Hezbollah and removing it from the area south of the
Litani River, in addition to establishing a demilitarized zone and condemning
Iranian interference in the region. He affirmed that the Israeli army will
continue its military operations inside Lebanon during the current phase, while
maintaining its deployment in the security zone up to the “yellow line,”
emphasizing the continued operations against Hezbollah infrastructure and the
continued presence of Israeli forces in Shaqif. He added that Israel, with
American support, will retain the freedom to carry out military strikes, even in
Beirut, in response to any attacks, considering that the agreement achieves, for
the first time in decades, a new level of security for the residents of northern
Israel. In contrast, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked the
agreement, describing it as a “grave mistake,” and called for its rejection and
for not yielding to American pressure, demanding that a meeting of the Security
and Political Affairs Cabinet be held to vote on a ceasefire resolution with
Lebanon.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, Israeli drones target
vehicles in the south, and a massacre of paramedics occurs in Nabatieh.
Janoubia/June 4, 2026 (translated from
Arabic by Google)
In a stark contrast reflecting the deep chasm between diplomatic circles
and the explosive reality on the ground, the language of fire and the
formulation of political agreements raced in southern Lebanon. While the US
State Department was issuing a historic tripartite statement at dawn announcing
a comprehensive and conditional ceasefire agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv,
Israeli fighter jets and drones launched a wave of assassinations and bloody
attacks this morning, Thursday, targeting civilian vehicles, ambulance crews,
and refugee centers, thus cementing a reality on the ground that completely
contradicts the supposed atmosphere of calm. On the
ground, and immediately following the diplomatic announcement, Israeli drones
carried out a series of swift raids this morning, Thursday; A drone strike
targeted a car on the road between the towns of Bfarwa and Zifta in the Nabatieh
district, resulting in one fatality. This coincided with another strike
targeting a Rapid-type vehicle on the same Zifta road, followed by a third
strike on a car on the Kafr Rumman-Haboush road at the "Al-Najda Al-Sha'biya"
intersection. At dawn, warplanes committed another massacre in the town of
Ghaziyeh, south of Sidon, after bombing a hangar housing several displaced
families, resulting in casualties. This followed a night of intense artillery
shelling that targeted the towns of Mansouri, Majdal Zoun, Deir Kifa, and
Kfardounine, reaching as far as the public park near the Tyre Tourist Rest Area.
In the context of the overall escalation, the Lebanese Ministry of Health's
Public Health Emergency Operations Center announced that the Israeli enemy
carried out its fourth attack in less than 24 hours against the medical system,
directly targeting an ambulance team belonging to the Health Authority in the
town of Zibdin (Nabatieh District). This resulted in the death of one paramedic
and injuries to another. This attack came hours after a paramedic in Arab Salim
and a team in Shahour were targeted, and the Tebnine Governmental Hospital, the
only functioning hospital in the Bint Jbeil District, was threatened with
attack.
Meanwhile, northern Israel experienced a state of alert. The Israeli army
announced this morning that sirens were activated in the Galilee and the
vicinity of the town of Kfar Yuval after detecting an infiltration by an "enemy
aircraft," which was later determined to be a suspicious aerial target that was
dealt with without injuries. Sirens also sounded in the Arab al-Aramsheh area
due to a target identification error.
Politically, this dangerous escalation on the ground came just hours after a
high-level joint statement was issued by the United States, Lebanon, and Israel,
officially announcing a ceasefire agreement following the conclusion of the
fourth round of direct negotiations hosted by Washington on June 2 and 3, 2016.
These negotiations were based on previous security discussions held at the
Pentagon at the end of May. According to the statement, the implementation of
the ceasefire is inextricably linked to firm and indivisible security
conditions, most notably:
A complete and comprehensive cessation of all military operations and Hezbollah
fire simultaneously by sea, land, and air.
The complete withdrawal of all Hezbollah elements and their armed presence from
the area south of the Litani River. Dismantling non-state armed groups and
preventing their reconstitution or future return to those areas. Establishing
urgent "pilot zones" in which the Lebanese Armed Forces (the army) assume
exclusive and complete control of the territory, excluding any non-state actors.
In a political dimension of profound strategic significance, the joint statement
emphasized that the future of relations between Lebanon and Israel is a purely
sovereign decision belonging solely to the governments of the two countries,
declaring their categorical rejection of any attempts by regional states or
non-state actors to seize control of Lebanon's future or impose guardianship
over it. In this context, the three parties meeting in Washington explicitly
condemned the ongoing Iranian attacks and activities that undermine the
stability of the Middle East, whether through support for groups and proxies or
other hostile acts. The statement concluded with the Lebanese and Israeli sides
affirming the absence of any mutual hostile intentions and their commitment to
continuing these direct negotiations to build trust and work towards a
comprehensive peace and security agreement under exclusive US auspices,
rejecting any separate tracks. This places the Lebanese arena between the jaws
of a pincer movement: harsh international diplomatic obligations on one hand,
and a raging Israeli war machine on the ground attempting to impose dismantling
conditions by force before the ink of the agreement has even dried.
Widespread Aerial Escalation Hits South Lebanon and the
Bekaa Valley… Martyrs and Wounded in a Series of Raids!
Janoubia/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
Lebanon witnessed a significant military escalation today with a series of raids
targeting several areas in the South and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in martyrs,
wounded, and damage in a number of towns. The National News Agency reported
injuries from a raid targeting a car on the Zifta-Kfarwa road, while another
raid targeted the town of Mansouri in the Tyre district. In Nabatieh, Al-Jadeed
TV reported a raid on the town of Deir Zahrani, followed by another targeting
the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif. The National News Agency also announced the
martyrdom of one person and the wounding of another in a drone strike targeting
a motorcycle in the town of Maaroub. The escalation extended to the Western
Bekaa Valley, where a raid targeted the town of Qilya, while raids on the town
of Sahmar resulted in one martyr and four wounded, according to Al-Jadeed TV.
These raids come amid continued field tensions despite political and diplomatic
efforts aimed at consolidating the truce and implementing the understandings
reached during the recent negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel on the brink of a “conditional
ceasefire”... Tehran warns against “sowing doubt,” and Trump laments the lack of
patriotism.
Asharq Al Awsat/June 4, 2026 (translated from Arabic by
Google)
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the region have witnessed rapidly
escalating complications. Iranian state media quoted the commander of the Quds
Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ismail Qaani, as saying today
(Thursday) that the primary demand in Lebanon is Israel’s withdrawal to the
positions it controlled before the outbreak of the American-Israeli war on Iran,
promising Lebanese fighters that they “will soon reap the fruits of resistance.”
This coincided with a warning from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a
written message commemorating the 37th anniversary of the death of the founder's
leader (Khomeini) in Tehran, that the United States and Israel were seeking to
"sow doubt, despair, fear, and division" through a "composite war" targeting
"the resilience of the people," considering any move that incites frustration as
"aiding the enemy." In Washington, US President Donald Trump condemned the House
of Representatives' vote in favor of withdrawing US forces from the war with
Iran, describing the move as "unpatriotic" because it came "in the midst of
final negotiations to end the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran." On the
other hand, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed the continuation of
military operations in Lebanon and the refusal to withdraw from the south,
despite Washington's announcement of a conditional ceasefire agreement between
the two sides. This agreement was rejected outright by Hezbollah
Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who described the direct negotiations as "futile
and humiliating," and warned that Israeli settlements would not be safe as long
as the shelling of Lebanese villages continued. Meanwhile, Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun announced that the implementation of the ceasefire could begin
within 24 hours of final approval, pending responses from internal parties,
particularly Hezbollah, to inform the American side of the official position.
The proposed US-Lebanese-Israeli agreement following
yesterday’s negotiations stipulates that there will be no withdrawal before
ensuring the organization of the force that will replace the Israelis and
testing it practically before adopting it as a solution.
Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 04/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155066/
After two days of ongoing negotiations in Washington, the American sponsor
declared a practical outcome entailing the creation of what they termed a "Pilot
Zone." This refers to experimental areas that the Lebanese Army would attempt to
clear of Hezbollah militants and their weapons. This zone would serve as a model
of what the army can achieve when Lebanese Army units independently assume full
control on the ground.
In an attempt to curry favor with Hezbollah, President Aoun announced that this
pilot phase would include a withdrawal of Israeli forces, proposing to start
with the Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif) area and its surroundings—namely
East and West Zoutar. The Israeli response was swift and decisive, with the
Minister of Defense firmly stating that there would be no withdrawal from
Beaufort Castle. What, then, are these pilot zones, and why is there so much
confusion surrounding the proposed solutions?
It appears that President Aoun—who fears confronting Hezbollah and seemingly
lacks any official Shia political cover, or at least lacks practical backing
from Speaker Berri—is attempting to interpret the self-evident results of the
talks in a way that is palatable to the party and its patrons. His
interpretation suggests that the ceasefire includes the beginning of an IDF
withdrawal from occupied areas, aiming to give Hezbollah the illusion of a gain
after the immense tragedy it has inflicted upon its own community.
However, historical precedent suggests otherwise. The Lebanese Army was
previously tested in the area south of the Litani River for over six months. At
the end of last year, it was officially declared that the south of the Litani
was cleared of weapons and militants, and that the army had established
practical control over the region. Yet, reality showed that Hezbollah was not
only launching rockets from that very same area, but was also fighting fiercely
for over a month from within villages and towns, operating amidst civilian
homes. They utilized tunnels and weapon depots they had prepared—infrastructure
that the Lebanese Army was supposed to have secured, if not completely
dismantled and destroyed.
Consequently, the Lebanese Army, given its current leadership and composition,
does not inspire confidence in its ability to execute any mission related to
Hezbollah and its arsenal—even from an advisory standpoint. Virtually all of its
declarations are misleading; in fact, they serve as a cover for Hezbollah and
its weapons. Hence, this army cannot be relied upon, particularly under a
current leadership that is infiltrated by—if not outright cooperative
with—Hezbollah, and which seems entirely unserious about curbing the group's
territorial control. Why would the Israelis agree to withdraw and hand over
areas they exerted immense effort to capture?
The Americans believe that forming a specific Lebanese Army brigade under a
different leadership, subject to their direct supervision, might offer a viable
opportunity for this experiment. Therefore, developments will not move as
quickly as the President or Hezbollah might hope. There will be no withdrawal
before ensuring that the force destined to replace the Israelis is fully
organized and practically tested on the ground before being adopted as a
solution. Otherwise, any rush to enforce an Israeli withdrawal—especially from
the Nabatieh and Nabi Taher perimeters—will be viewed as aborting the concept
entirely, rendering the proposal a
failure. This proposal could have otherwise been the natural solution
contributing to the restoration of the Lebanese state's sovereignty over its
territory, starting from the South and eventually extending to all of Lebanon.
President Aoun—who floated his ideas during a chat with journalists while
awaiting Hezbollah's decision to be announced by Sheikh Naim in his scheduled
speech today—should have been more astute and less hasty. His talk of an Israeli
withdrawal was never mentioned by the negotiators, and it is something neither
the Israelis nor the Americans would ever accept, unless it was a trap set for
him into which he fell. It would have been far wiser for him to propose an idea
based on the local residents' demands and the petition they raised. This would
involve declaring Nabatieh an "open city" that the army takes over from
Hezbollah, verifying that it is completely free of weapons and fighters,
independently dismantling all depots, destroying tunnels, and declaring it a
weapon-free city under full state control.
A verification mechanism or any other party, particularly the United States,
could then verify this status. Consequently, Nabatieh would serve as a model for
what the state intends to do in the remaining regions, thereby preventing the
Israeli army from expanding its operations further.
If short-sighted Lebanese, and like-minded Arabs, are attempting to convince the
American side that an Israeli withdrawal prior to the dismantling of Hezbollah
is a step in Lebanon's favor, then what they are doing is pure nonsense that
will only perpetuate wars on Lebanese soil. Even if Iran decides tomorrow to
stop utilizing the Lebanese arena, other factions will inevitably return to
rebuild subversive networks. This would trigger a full Israeli occupation next
time, rather than mere clearing operations.
Those who genuinely care about the future of Lebanon and the return of the
southern residents to their homes must strive for the surrender of this armed
militia and bring an end to the "open battleground" status quo. This requires
working toward a lasting peace, full normalization, and the opening of borders,
as is the case between all sovereign nations. Only then can the people of the
South rest assured that the homes they rebuild will never be destroyed again,
and that their region will thrive in prosperity between two stable and
prosperous states
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 04-05
June/2026
Trump Threatens to End Ceasefire with Iran
If American Soldiers Are Killed
Janoubia/Date: June 4, 2026
(Translated from Arabic by Google)
Informed U.S. officials reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has privately
told his aides that he would consider ending the ceasefire if Tehran kills
American soldiers. The officials also clarified that the weeks-long halt in
airstrikes remains in place, despite a recent series of mutual skirmishes,
according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of
State Marco Rubio described the tit-for-tat attacks as purely defensive in
nature and not a return to all-out war. Speaking during a House of
Representatives hearing yesterday, Wednesday, he stated:
"They are occurring in response to Iranian movements. If they don't fire at
those ships, we won't fire, but we have to respond." However, U.S. officials
reported that the frequency of these attacks has increased pressure on Trump and
raised doubts about the long-term sustainability of the ceasefire. In contrast,
Trump has repeatedly asserted that he is on the verge of signing an agreement to
end the war that would reopen the Strait, dismantle Iran's nuclear program, and
eliminate the country's stockpile of enriched uranium. The U.S. President and
his aides had previously pledged that the conflict would not exceed six weeks
from its outbreak on February 28, emphasizing that the objective was to
eliminate the Iranian nuclear and missile threats. A White House official
reiterated yesterday that Trump prefers to end Iran's nuclear program through
diplomacy, but has been clear about his red lines.On the other side, Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that Israeli attacks on Beirut would
lead to a return to all-out war, linking the fate of the conflict in Lebanon to
the future of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. These stances
come as the U.S. administration has worked for weeks on preparing a preliminary
"memorandum of understanding" following talks with the Iranian side through a
Pakistani mediator to establish a negotiation framework lasting approximately 60
days. The U.S. President rejected the latest Iranian proposal last Friday,
telling his aides that Tehran must make serious concessions from the outset,
rather than over a prolonged period, and emphasized that it should not receive
any benefits prior to doing so. In response, Tehran stressed that it will not
negotiate over its nuclear program until after the United States releases its
frozen assets abroad or provides other financial gains. It also demanded an end
to the fighting between Israel and its ally, Hezbollah, which prompted Trump to
"angrily demand last Monday" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
cancel planned attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh).
Khamenei: Enemies Have Shifted from Military Confrontation to Attempting to Sow
Discord Inside Iran!
Janoubia/Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by Google)
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei asserted, in a message read during a
ceremony commemorating the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini,
that Iran’s adversaries are today trying to compensate for what he described as
their "defeat on the battlefield" by targeting the Iranian internal front.
Khamenei pointed out that enemies are seeking to undermine the resilience of the
Iranian people and stir divisions and discord within the country, calling for an
adherence to national unity and solidarity in the face of what he considered
plots targeting internal stability. He stressed that spreading pessimism or
frustration among citizens serves the interests of adversaries and is considered
a form of assistance to the enemy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining
morale and national solidarity at this stage.The message came during the annual
commemoration of Khomeini’s death, coinciding with a prominent Shia religious
occasion, amid ongoing regional tensions and challenges facing Iran on both
domestic and foreign levels.
Hamas Investigates the Accelerated Assassination of its Leaders
Sources: "Tunnel Strikes and Voiceprints" Assisted Israel
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat (Gaza)/Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from
Arabic by Google)
The accelerating Israeli assassinations of leaders of Hamas and its military
wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, have forced questions regarding the causes both
inside and outside the movement. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that
investigations are underway regarding the targetings to track any security leads
or specific loopholes. The past month witnessed an intensity and speed in
Israeli assassinations that culminated in the killing of Al-Qassam commander Izz
al-Din al-Haddad on May 15, following a long pursuit; within two weeks, his
successor, Muhammad Ouda, was assassinated. Four field sources acknowledged that
the intensive Israeli military campaign on the tunnels was among the reasons for
the accelerated assassinations. Field sources in Gaza placed great weight on
Israeli espionage technology. One source explained: "Israeli drones intercept
communications within specific and designated ranges to isolate voices, matching
them against voiceprints of wanted individuals retained by Israel through prior
recordings or detentions."
An "Interim Agreement" Leaves Iran Battered but Unbroken...
Military Gains Did Not Lead to a Permanent Strategic Solution
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat/Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic
by Google)
The purpose of the U.S.-Israeli war was to break the back of Tehran's rulers,
but instead, the two warring sides are heading toward an interim agreement that
will leave Iran battered but unbroken, according to an analysis by Reuters news
agency. As the outlines of a potential deal emerge from sources familiar with
the discussions, it appears that Iran will emerge from this crisis with a
collapsed economy and a severely damaged military-industrial base, but the
dominance of the hardline Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) has become more entrenched
than ever before.
Estimates by diplomats, officials, and regional analysts indicate that even if a
memorandum of understanding to end the war is reached soon, it is unlikely to
constitute a permanent breakthrough so much as a temporary truce. They tend to
characterize the potential outcome as a deal aimed at opening the Strait of
Hormuz, easing pressure on global financial markets and on Iran, and giving U.S.
President Donald Trump a political exit while postponing thorny issues until
later.
Dennis Ross, a former senior U.S. diplomat, stated: "Extraordinary tactical
military successes were achieved, but no fundamental strategic gains were
realized. No file has been closed." After the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on
Iran on February 28, Trump spoke of goals such as eliminating imminent threats
from Iran, pointing to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and urged
Iranians to seek control of their country's reins. Under a memorandum currently
in preparation—the outlines of which Reuters obtained from sources familiar with
the discussions—Iran will end its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a
major artery for global oil supplies, and will receive financial support through
the release of frozen Iranian assets or limited sanctions relief. Iranian
officials view reaching a limited agreement as a way to buy time, secure
financial support, and contain growing internal risks given the deteriorating
economic conditions, without dealing with the most sensitive and difficult
issues. Trump, who has his sights set on the congressional midterm elections in
November, wants a formula that allows him to claim progress on the issue of
Iran's nuclear program, particularly Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched
uranium required to manufacture an atomic bomb. The primary root causes of the
war will remain largely in place, with Iran refusing to abandon enrichment,
Washington unwilling to provide security guarantees to Iran, and Israel
remaining determined to contain an enemy it views as an existential threat. For
its part, Iran believes there is no way to deter future attacks without
retaining its missile arsenal, its network of regional allies, and its ability
to disrupt energy flows from the Gulf.
Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and expert on Iranian affairs, said: "What
Trump needs politically and what Iran is willing to offer might look close, but
the space for alignment between them is very small." Eyre, who was a member of
the U.S. negotiating team during the Barack Obama era, added that the approach
is to reach an agreement now and "postpone all thorny issues to a second phase,"
which will likely never come. Two regional sources familiar with the discussions
said that Trump would apparently settle for a short-term truce, a vaguely worded
commitment regarding highly enriched uranium, and the Strait of Hormuz remaining
under Iranian control. Analysts in the region believe that even if the Strait is
opened, it will, as one put it, "be essentially under Iran's control, regardless
of how transit fees are defined." They say Washington is largely no longer
focused on ensuring the dismantling of Iran's ballistic missiles, despite
regional concerns.
The sources pointed to obstacles that must be overcome, including Iran's demand
to link any agreement to a halt in Israeli attacks on the Hezbollah group in
Lebanon, and Trump's desire to leave a positive impression regarding the nuclear
issue. They added that Trump has actually accepted what he publicly denies
regarding the link between Lebanon and the Strait. He has already pressured
Israel to stop strikes on转 Beirut and its southern suburbs, fearing that any
escalation in that conflict would derail efforts to reach an agreement on the
Strait. The sources said Iran views the immediate release of around $12 billion
in frozen assets as essential to any deal, and is unlikely to proceed without
it. David Schenker, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Trump
wants to avoid comparisons to the 2015 nuclear deal reached under former
President Barack Obama, but the release of Iranian funds carries the risk of
inviting such comparisons. Schenker added: "I'm not sure there is any way to
avoid that."
In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 agreement, under which
Iran agreed to limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
He stated that the agreement did not protect U.S. national security interests.
Trump now wants a formula that allows him to claim victory on the Iranian
nuclear program file without escalating the war. Ross said: "I think a formula
can be reached that each side can interpret as they wish. Then subsequent
negotiations will be fraught with peril."Analysts point out that any truce in
the conflict will likely further embolden the Revolutionary Guard. Schenker
said: "Previously they were the influential power behind the scenes, and now
they have become the power" directly taking charge.An interim agreement is
likely to cause anxiety in Israel, as Iran's leaders frame the war in an
ideological mold, using highly potent and clear language, indicating that no
agreement can resolve the conflict from its roots. Ross concluded: "For Israel
and Iran, this chapter of the war may be over, but the conflict remains."
Khamenei Warns of a "Hybrid War" Targeting the Interior
Accuses America and Israel of
Seeking to "Sow Division" and Disrupt the Calculations of Officials
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by Google)
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that the United States and Israel
are seeking to "sow doubt, despair, fear, and division" inside Iran, following
what he described as their "defeat" in the confrontation with the Iranian Armed
Forces.
A written message read on Thursday during a ceremony marking the 37th
anniversary of the death of the founding leader (Khomeini) in Tehran stated that
the "malicious enemy" has focused, in what he termed a "hybrid war," on "the
people’s resilience" and "disrupting the calculations of officials." He
considered that the primary tool to achieve this is "sowing the seeds of doubt,
despair, fear, mistrust, and discord."Khamenei called on Iranians to "thwart the
enemy's plot" through "resilience, insight, maintaining unity, cohesion, mutual
trust, and refusing to align with the enemy," warning that any step leading to
"inciting pessimism and frustration" among Iranians constitutes "assistance to
the enemy."The message added that "the enemy was defeated in the face of Iran's
brave sons in the Armed Forces," and consequently seeks to weaken the Iranian
internal front. It described Israel as a "garrison belonging to the global
hegemony system" that aims to prevent Iran's progress, while asserting that the
United States "has a problem with the Iranian people because of their refusal to
submit."
The message was read by the Tehran Friday prayer leader, Mohammad Javad Haj Ali
Akbari, at a ceremony held at the Khomeini Shrine south of Tehran. Senior
political and military leaders were notably absent from the event due to
security conditions, contrasting with the custom of previous years when Ali
Khamenei would deliver the annual commemorative speech himself. Hassan Khomeini,
the grandson of the first Supreme Leader, did not deliver a speech during the
ceremony—also contrary to past years—while the organizing committee stated that
the reading of Mojtaba Khamenei’s message represented the main part of this
year's event. Since his appointment as Iran's Supreme Leader following the
killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in the initial American and Israeli strikes
on Iran last March, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly. His positions
have been limited to written messages published by Iranian media or read at
official events. At the ceremony venue, a chair was placed topped with a picture
of the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who used to deliver the traditional
annual speech on this occasion. Scenes broadcast by state television also showed
pictures of Mojtaba Khamenei alongside images of Khomeini and Ali Khamenei
inside the venue, while participants raised flags of the Islamic Republic and
banners of the Tehran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, according to an Agence
France-Presse (AFP) correspondent in Tehran. This message echoes a similar
warning issued by Mojtaba Khamenei to Parliament on May 28, in which he urged
lawmakers and political elites to avoid "stiring divisions" and turning
differences—even "justified" ones—into conflict and disunity, during a phase in
which he said the country requires broader coordination among state institutions
to address the aftermath of the war. In that message, Khamenei demanded that
Parliament focus on economic stability, lowering inflation, supporting
production, and addressing the impacts of the war, deeming that the country
needs broader coordination among state institutions to maintain internal unity.
At the time, he also praised Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the
chief negotiator with the United States, in a move viewed as an attempt to ease
domestic criticism of the course of talks with Washington.On Tuesday, U.S.
President Donald Trump said that Mojtaba Khamenei is "engaged" in negotiations
aimed at ending the war, and that he would "probably" meet him at a later stage
if things go well. Trump said in an interview with the New York Post's "Pod
Force One" podcast that the Iranians "say the Iranian leader is giving his
approval in the talks," adding that the situation with Iran is "moving fast" and
could be "very good."Responding to a question regarding Khamenei's role in the
talks, Trump said: "He's engaged, certainly," adding: "I think they have a lot
of respect for him." He noted that he had not met him before, saying: "I haven't
had the honor of meeting him." Trump touched upon Khamenei's health status,
stating that "if the stories are true," he had suffered several injuries, but
added that Khamenei "gives the approval" on the negotiation path. He said: "They
say he gives the approval; because that's what's been happening for a very long
time. His father, then him, I think it's a succession." Trump added that he
wishes to meet the younger Khamenei, saying: "I'd like to meet him. I'd like to
meet everybody. And maybe we'll meet at some point, depending on how things turn
out."
Ben-Gvir Describes Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Agreement as a "Big Mistake"
Sirens Sound in Northern Israel After Detecting a "Hostile" Aircraft
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by Google)
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched sharp criticism
today, Thursday, against the Washington-mediated ceasefire agreement with
Lebanon, stressing that it is a "big mistake."Ben-Gvir wrote on the "X"
platform: The ceasefire with Lebanon is a big mistake,"
He asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisers are "dragging him
into wrong choices." Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, but
stated that it requires a "total cessation" of fire by the Iran-backed
Hezbollah, according to a joint statement issued following talks between the two
sides in Washington. [Photo Caption/Reuters]: Israel's Ambassador to the U.S.
Yechiel Leiter and Lebanon's Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh, accompanied by
U.S. State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Hohler, attended a meeting between
Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Washington following the Trump
administration's announcement that Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a
ceasefire. The two sides also agreed to establish "pilot zones" where the
Lebanese Army will assume control "exclusively over the area, to the exclusion
of any non-state actors." The statement added that the two sides agreed to
resume talks on "political and security tracks" during the week beginning June
22, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement. This comes at a time
when the Israeli army announced this morning that sirens were triggered in
northern Israel near the border with Lebanon after detecting the "infiltration
of a hostile aircraft," pointing out that one incident was brought under
control, while the second turned out to be a false alarm. The Israeli army
stated in a report on its Telegram account: "Following the sounding of sirens a
short while ago regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration in the Kfar Yuval
area, a suspicious aerial target was identified," adding that "the incident has
concluded and no injuries were reported," according to Agence France-Presse.
Sirens were also triggered for the same reason in the Arab al-Aramshe area on
the border with Lebanon, but the army later said the incident resulted from a
misidentification of the target.
U.S. State Department: Trump Will Not Accept a Bad Deal
with Iran
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by
Google)
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed on Thursday that
President Donald Trump will not agree to a "bad deal" with Iran regarding its
nuclear file, in a reference to the agreement concluded during the
administration of former President Barack Obama. He explained that Trump will
not repeat the mistakes of the previous agreement, noting that he is "in no rush
to reach a deal with Tehran." Meanwhile, Pigott revealed that the United States
is targeting Iranian networks trying to bypass U.S. sanctions, adding: "We are
depriving the Iranian regime of hundreds of millions of dollars."
Signing an Agreement in Switzerland
In a related context, Israeli media reported that the United States has informed
Iran that it wants to receive a response to its proposal regarding the nuclear
file by the end of the week, indicating its desire to reach an agreement to be
signed in Switzerland. According to the same sources, no significant progress
has been recorded in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran to
finalize the definitive stance. The sources added that the U.S. message to Iran
included what it described as "clear options," consisting of either accepting
the deal or facing the prospect of a military strike against it, according to
Israeli Channel 12.
The Knot of Frozen Iranian Funds
Earlier today, an informed source revealed that the U.S. President has linked
the release of frozen Iranian funds abroad to the signing of the interim
agreement with Tehran first. The source confirmed to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that
Trump informed mediators of his refusal to release the frozen funds before the
agreement is signed. He added that the primary obstacle relates to the mechanism
for disposing of a portion of the frozen Iranian funds, pointing out that a
proposal to establish a special fund to deposit those frozen assets is being
studied. Furthermore, he stressed that discussions are ongoing regarding a
mechanism to release a portion of these Iranian funds. Iranian Foreign Minister
Abbas Araqchi confirmed that no tangible progress has occurred in recent talks
with the United States regarding an interim peace agreement, while fighting
continued in Lebanon despite Washington's announcement of a ceasefire between
Israel and Lebanon. Araqchi stated on Wednesday evening that "no tangible
progress has occurred in the negotiation process" with the United States,
according to the Iranian Tasnim News Agency. For weeks, Iran and the United
States have been engaged in indirect talks to reach an agreement to end the war.
While signs of optimism appeared on the horizon last week, journalistic
information indicated that the U.S. President introduced stricter amendments to
the latest proposal under discussion, while Tehran has not delivered its
response.
Iraq on the Verge of Restructuring the "Popular Mobilization Forces"
Al-Sadr Hands Over "Saraya" Fighters to the State... and a Military Committee to
Integrate Factions
Source: Baghdad: Hamza Mustafa / Asharq Al-Awsat Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated
from Arabic by Google)
The military wing of Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr handed over the
security file of the city of Samarra to the Iraqi Army on Thursday, during a
symbolic ceremony that included lowering the faction's banner at the operations
headquarters. The step, which observers view as a "qualitative shift," coincided
with an announcement by the spokesperson for the Iraqi Armed Forces regarding
the "commencement of restructuring the formations of the Popular Mobilization
Forces (PMF / Hashd al-Shaabi) and ensuring the rights of its personnel."
Saad Maan, head of the Security Media Cell, said: "All fighters of Saraya
al-Salam (Peace Brigades) belonging to Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr
are now under the command of the Prime Minister, the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces." Video footage broadcast by state television showed elements of
Saraya al-Salam lowering their faction's banner in front of the operations
headquarters in the presence of a military committee dispatched by Prime
Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
Saraya al-Salam is integrated into the PMF framework via Brigades 313, 314, and
315, and handles security duties in several areas, most notably Samarra. Al-Sadr
had announced on May 27 the integration of his military wing into the state,
calling on PMF factions to hand over their weapons. Within one week, both Asa'ib
Ahl al-Haq and Kita'ib Imam Ali also announced their separation from the PMF,
while Kata'ib Hezbollah and the Nujaba movement continue to refuse to respond to
demands for disarmament and dismantling factions.
"Saraya" Under the Command of the "Chief"
Following the ceremony handing over the security file, the Deputy Commander of
Joint Operations, Qais al-Mahmdawi, stated during a press conference that the
integration of Saraya al-Salam means linking it to the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces, confirming "the formation of a committee by diwani order to
restructure the linkage and distribution of armed formations to distance them
from any other political title or formation."Saraya al-Salam brigades have been
stationed in Samarra since the bombing of the Al-Askari Shrine in June 2007. It
is not clear whether Saraya al-Salam elements will leave the city for the first
time in 19 years, but a military source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the faction
has handed over all its headquarters to the army, while its fighters now report
to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Nevertheless, details of the dismantling and disarmament operations still lack
much clarity according to observers. Many questions are also being raised
regarding the type and size of weapons possessed by the factions, and whether
they will actually hand them over to government authorities and relinquish them
completely. An Iraqi security official stated that the mechanism for restricting
weapons to the hands of the state "remains unclear," according to Agence France-Presse.
However, local media circulated claims about an initiative tabled for discussion
before the "Coordination Framework" alliance that includes "securing tens of
thousands of government jobs in official security institutions for individuals
whose armed factions agreed to separate."In a notable development, the
Spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Noaman,
announced that the committee formed under the direction of the
Commander-in-Chief has commenced its work to restrict weapons to the state,
explaining that separating from the PMF involves restructuring the formations
and ensuring the rights of personnel. This is the first time the term
"restructuring the formations of the Popular Mobilization Forces" has been
officially used since its establishment in 2014 to fight ISIS. Al-Noaman said:
"The term 'disengagement/separation' includes administrative frameworks,
restructuring these formations within the security apparatuses, ensuring the
rights of fighters, and integrating them with military formations." According to
the military spokesperson, "the committee has been formed and has commenced its
work; it will establish mechanisms for the integration and joining of the
concerned formations, and the delivery of weapons, equipment, and camps to Iraqi
security authorities." Al-Noaman clarified that "all weapons and all equipment
will be delivered to the central committee and to Iraqi security authorities,
and within two days a full inventory will be delivered to the central committee,
which is under the direct supervision, direction, and follow-up of the
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces." The committee includes multiple bodies,
including the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the Joint Operations Command,
and the PMF Authority.
The "Coordination Framework" authorized Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces, Ali al-Zaidi, to take decisions and measures capable of
preserving the supreme interests of the country, and supported "restricting
weapons to the hands of the state, and separating the PMF Authority from
political, partisan, and social frameworks." It is expected that Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq,
led by Qais al-Khazali, will take a step similar to the Sadrist Movement, after
agreeing with the Prime Minister to form a committee to separate from the PMF.
Khazali is subject to U.S. sanctions and is a leader within the "Framework,"
which holds the largest bloc in parliament; his political influence was
reinforced by winning 27 seats in the recent parliamentary elections. A source
close to Asa'ib confirms that it "currently considers political work and
presence in the government more important than fighting (...). Therefore, it
wants to provide reassurances to the United States." Similarly, Kata'ib Imam Ali
said it would form a committee to "follow up on the inventory, delivery, and
transfer process under the supervision" of Al-Zaidi, and another to "follow up
on the affairs of individuals and personnel and reintegrate them within state
institutions." Practically, this means that "all decisions related to their
brigades in the PMF" will fall into Al-Zaidi's hands "from an administrative
standpoint," according to a source close to the factions.
The U.S. Special Envoy to Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, welcomed a step that
"will contribute to building order," and praised the initiative of Prime
Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who has pledged since taking office last month to
restrict weapons to the state. This comes as Washington gains political and
economic points in Iraq, against a decline in Tehran's regional influence since
the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Tehran-backed Hamas
in 2023, followed by the first Israeli war against Iran in 2025, and then the
second war initiated by the United States and Israel in February, the
repercussions of which extended to Iraq.
The Disarmament Plan
Asharq Al-Awsat had revealed on May 9, 2026, details regarding an Iraqi
committee including Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, working to complete
an "executive project" to disarm armed factions, in preparation for presenting
it to Washington, amid escalating U.S. pressure to remove militias from the new
government and state apparatuses. The committee had presented to militia leaders
"ideas on how to disarm," but some meetings "did not pass quietly," as described
by insiders. The plan includes stripping heavy and medium weapons and
restructuring the PMF, coinciding with upcoming changes in sensitive security
apparatuses, which may include the Intelligence Service. However, political
sources doubted the government's ability to execute the project, considering
that it might be aimed at "buying time."
IAEA: We Cannot Verify Iran's Nuclear Program
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by
Google)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it remains unable
to access most Iranian nuclear facilities, with the exception of the Bushehr
nuclear power plant, which limits its ability to fully monitor and verify
nuclear activities. The agency said, according to a report published by Agence
France-Presse on Thursday, that it has "grave concerns" regarding the possible
presence of undeclared nuclear activities and materials in Iran, pointing to
continuous gaps in information related to certain sites and activities
associated with the Iranian nuclear program. It added that it is increasingly
concerned over its inability to verify the size and location of Iran's stockpile
of enriched uranium, in light of the restrictions imposed on inspection
operations and access to nuclear facilities. The report stated: "While the
Agency acknowledges that military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and sites
have caused an unprecedented situation, carrying out verification activities in
Iran without delay is of the utmost importance."The Agency's statements come at
a time when the relationship between Tehran and international regulatory bodies
is witnessing increasing tension, with ongoing disputes over mechanisms for
inspecting and monitoring Iranian nuclear activities. The IAEA had confirmed in
previous reports that its capacity to follow the Iranian nuclear program had
declined significantly in recent years as a result of reduced cooperation and
restrictions on access to nuclear sites and facilities.
Concerns Over Transparency
The issue of verifying the enriched uranium stockpile is among the most
prominent outstanding issues between Iran and the Agency, as the latter believes
that the continued ambiguity regarding actual quantities and storage sites
limits its ability to provide an accurate assessment of the nature of Iranian
nuclear activities. These developments come as international diplomatic efforts
continue to revive the path of nuclear understandings, amid Western demands to
increase the level of transparency and cooperation with international
inspectors, while Tehran asserts that its nuclear program is designated for
peaceful purposes.
Britain and France Lead Mission to Clear Strait of Hormuz
of Mines
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by
Google)
Britain and France are preparing to lead a broad international mission to clear
the Strait of Hormuz of naval mines, as part of efforts to re-secure commercial
navigation following recent military tensions between the United States and
Iran, according to people familiar with the discussions.
According to sources, London and Paris have finalized the main plans for the
mission, which is expected to launch within days of reaching an understanding
between Washington and Tehran regarding reopening the vital waterway to the
movement of commercial vessels, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Strait
of Hormuz is one of the most important maritime passages in the world, as a
large percentage of global oil and gas exports pass through it, while navigation
in it witnessed widespread disruptions following the recent confrontation in the
Gulf. The sources said military planners in several countries have reached
advanced stages of coordination to participate in mine clearance operations,
which are believed to have been planted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in
parts of the Strait. They added that the mission will comprise a coalition of 15
countries that have already pledged to provide military forces and equipment,
with some countries joining the operation weeks after its launch to reassure
commercial shipping companies and restore confidence in maritime traffic. The
sources indicated that logistical preparations are nearly complete, despite an
ongoing need for some additional equipment, particularly specialized support
vessels.
Awaiting a U.S.-Iran Agreement
According to the same sources, the deployment of forces will not begin before an
agreement is reached between the United States and Iran that ensures the full
restoration of freedom of commercial navigation and provides a safe environment
for the operation of military units in the Strait.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that U.S. forces managed to remove
"most" of the naval mines threatening ship movements, while Secretary of State
Marco Rubio confirmed to the Senate that Iran had planted mines across wide
areas of the Strait. Trump added that the Strait would be reopened "immediately"
once Iran signs a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities; however,
negotiations still face difficulties, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
announced on Thursday a lack of progress in talks amid ongoing Israeli military
operations in southern Lebanon. European preparations reflect a desire by London
and Paris to play a key role in ensuring Gulf security after the crisis ends,
particularly in light of mutual criticisms between the Trump administration and
U.S. European allies regarding the management of the recent war. British Foreign
Secretary Yvette Cooper said the mission was discussed with the United States,
explaining that its goal is to provide additional capabilities to clear mines
and secure or escort commercial vessels when necessary.
The sources also revealed that Britain and France are ready to open
communication channels with Tehran regarding the operational aspects of the
mission, even though Iran expressed its desire to execute mine clearance
operations itself. However, the two European capitals believe that Iranian
capabilities are insufficient to complete the mission with the required speed,
prompting them to prefer managing the operation directly. As part of the
preparations, the British Royal Navy dispatched the auxiliary support ship RFA
Lyme Bay from Gibraltar toward the region, which is equipped with advanced,
unmanned systems to detect and handle naval mines. The success of the mission
will be a decisive factor in restoring stability to global energy markets and
ensuring the flow of oil through one of the most strategically vital corridors
in the world.
Israel Announces Killing of Prominent Hamas Security Leaders in Gaza
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by
Google)
The Israeli army and the Domestic Security Service (Shin Bet) announced on
Thursday the killing of several senior officials of Hamas's General Security
Service in the Gaza Strip during an airstrike carried out last night in the
northern part of the Strip. The Israeli army stated that the operation targeted
prominent leaders in the security apparatus, which Israel describes as one of
Hamas's central and clandestine arms, responsible for securing senior leaders of
the movement, organizing communications among them, and coordinating their
meetings and movements. According to the army statement published by its
spokesperson, Ella Waweya, the strike killed Hassan Rabah Hassan Labad, the
deputy head of Hamas's General Security Service, whom Israel described as one of
the most prominent officials responsible for decision-making and drafting
directives within the apparatus. The army also announced the killing of Assem
Amin Shalach Shabir, Abdullah Atta Younis Abu Kaloub, and Muhammad Noaman Zaki
Abu Marq, confirming that they formed an essential part of the command and
decision-making system within the movement's security apparatus.
Accusations of Rebuilding Hamas's Capabilities
The Israeli army stated that the targeted officials had been working recently to
rehabilitate Hamas's organizational infrastructure after months of war, in
addition to assisting in planning activities and attacks against Israel and its
forces. It added that the operation comes within the framework of efforts aimed
at "removing immediate threats" and preventing the movement from rebuilding its
security and military capabilities inside the Strip. The Israeli announcement
coincided with continued strikes on the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian medics
reported, as conveyed by Reuters, that at least 10 Palestinians were killed on
Thursday, including five members of one family, as a result of strikes targeting
several residential apartments in Gaza City. Medical sources added that a young
girl was the sole survivor of one of the strikes that targeted the family home,
while more than 15 people were injured in the attack.
Stalled Negotiations
These field developments come at a time when indirect negotiations regarding the
second phase of the ceasefire agreement remain at a standstill, amid disputes
over disarming Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip.
According to data from health authorities in Gaza, approximately 930
Palestinians have been killed since the current ceasefire took effect, while the
Israeli army announced the killing of four of its soldiers during the same
period. Israel asserts that its military operations aim to prevent imminent
attacks, while Hamas and Palestinian factions accuse it of continuing to target
civilians despite ongoing calm efforts.
Afghan Refugees: Iranian Police Extort Us Before Reaching
the Border
Source: AlArabiya.net - Ahmed Al-Sayed/Date: June 4, 2026
(Translated from Arabic by Google)
Afghan refugees told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that elements of the Iranian police
are extorting those returning to Afghanistan, taking sums of money from them
before allowing them to continue their journey, at a time when complaints from
those arriving from Iran are escalating over the confiscation of their money and
property, and their inability to obtain their financial rights prior to
deportation. One of the Afghan refugees returning from Iran explained that a
number of Afghans who were on their way to the border were subjected to direct
extortion operations, pointing out that some police officers demanded sums of
money under the pretext of facilitating their transit or speeding up the
procedures for removing them from Iranian territory. Sources also stated that
many of the deported Afghans had lost their jobs or were unable to collect their
financial dues from employers before being sent back to Afghanistan, adding that
some arrived at the border "with almost no money" after paying sums along the
way or inside detention and deportation centers.
Extortion on the Way to the Border
These accounts align with testimonies carried by rights websites and
organizations from Afghan returnees from Iran, who said they paid fees and
bribes on the road from Iranian cities, including Tehran and Isfahan, to the
Afghan border. These reports cited some returnees saying that paying money to
Iranian police officers and deportation center officials has become part of the
exit journey, both for those who left voluntarily or were forcibly deported.
An Afghan woman returning from Iran said her family was demanded money "all the
way to the border," while another returnee said that payments turned into a
"business" at the expense of Afghans wishing to leave Iran or deported from it.
Rights reports also quoted Afghan refugees saying they paid hundreds of dollars
to release family members from detention centers, in an indication that the
financial cost is not limited to transportation, but sometimes includes exiting
detention itself.
Testimonies from the Islam Qala Crossing
At the Islam Qala crossing in Herat province, western Afghanistan, Afghan media
carried testimonies of returnees who said that Iranian police exerted pressure
on them despite some possessing legal documents. One returnee said that Afghans
face extortion in Iran under the pretext of being allowed to work, while another
said that all the money he had with him was taken from him before arriving in
Afghanistan. Returnees also spoke of documents being torn up or a refusal to
recognize residency papers for some deportees, in addition to complaints about
non-payment of labor wages or the confiscation of phones and personal
property—complaints that are repeated at border crossings as the number of
returnees from Iran increases.
Iranian Response and Rights Warnings
In contrast, the Iranian police stated that Afghans who have financial claims
can submit complaints to the Directorates of Immigration and Foreign Nationals
Police. Iranian media reported last year from the Iranian police spokesperson,
Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, saying that those removed from Iran who have financial
entitlements can inform immigration authorities of their complaints by
submitting documents and evidence. The spokesperson added that the Iranian
police will follow up on the financial claims of foreigners, pointing to work
toward establishing a system to register complaints and provide services to
them. However, returnees say the problem relates not only to the existence of a
complaint mechanism, but to the speed and circumstances of the deportation.
According to testimonies of returnees, many do not get sufficient time to gather
their belongings, collect their wages, or recover rental deposits, and their
transfer to detention centers or assembly points and then to the border makes
following up on complaints nearly impossible.
Violations and Physical Violence
Human Rights Watch had documented in a previous report violations to which
Afghan refugees in Iran were subjected, including physical violence, detention
in inhumane conditions, forced payment of transportation and accommodation costs
in deportation centers, in addition to violations related to property
confiscation and not granting deportees sufficient opportunity to arrange their
affairs before being returned to their country. The organization stated that
Iranian authorities must stop violations against Afghans, ensure that
individuals at risk are not deported, and grant those deported an opportunity to
collect their wages and dispose of their property before being removed from
Iran. These accusations come amid a massive wave of return from Iran to
Afghanistan. According to Reuters, the United Nations warned that the return of
more than five million Afghans from neighboring countries since late 2023 has
placed significant pressure on the aid system in Afghanistan, given the arrival
of thousands of people daily, a decline in international funding, and the
exacerbation of poverty and unemployment. Aid organizations state that many
returnees arrive in Afghanistan without savings or clear employment
opportunities.
Bolton Concludes a Plea Deal in Classified Documents Case
...Agreed to Pay a Fine Exceeding Two Million Dollars
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated
from Arabic by Google)
Informed sources revealed that John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security
Advisor in Donald Trump's administration, is expected to plead guilty in a case
related to the mishandling of classified documents. The sources stated that
Bolton intends to plead guilty to a felony charge involving the unlawful
retention of sensitive documents related to national security. He has also
agreed to pay a fine exceeding $2 million, according to CNN. The potential
penalty for a conviction on this charge reaches imprisonment for a term ranging
between 0 to 60 months. For its part, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to
comment on the case, referring inquiries to court records, which show a hearing
has been scheduled for June 26. The plea agreement comes months after charges
were brought against the former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton, by
prosecutors in Maryland, against the background of his retention of diaries and
documents dating back to his period of service in the White House during
President Donald Trump's first term. The prosecution accused Bolton of sharing
more than a thousand pages of information regarding his daily activities via his
personal email with two individuals unauthorized to review them. The two
individuals are his wife and daughter, according to CNN. Nevertheless,
allegations of transferring classified or secret information to these two
individuals do not fall within the charge to which Bolton is expected to plead
guilty. John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor for a year during
President Donald Trump's first term, was originally facing eight charges related
to the transmission of information related to national defense, in addition to
10 charges related to the retention of this information. Trump has been calling
for years to prosecute Bolton against the background of his 2020 memoir, which
contained sharp criticisms of the U.S. President, considering that the book
contained classified information and should have led to his imprisonment.
However, Bolton's case—unlike other cases that targeted figures Trump considered
his adversaries, such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York State
Attorney General Letitia James—has enjoyed continuous support from professional
prosecutors and investigators, according to people familiar with the case.
Criminal and Civil Investigations
The U.S. Department of Justice during Trump's first term had opened criminal and
civil investigations into Bolton's book in 2020, before they were closed in less
than a year. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened a new
investigation regarding Bolton the following year, during Joe Biden's
presidency, after his email was subjected to a breach suspected to have been
carried out by hackers linked to Iran. During the investigation, investigators
discovered what they described as "daily journals" containing information
classified as highly secret, dating back to the period when Bolton held the
position of National Security Advisor in the White House.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons: Syria Handed Over 34 Boxes
of Documents
Source: Riyadh - AlArabiya.net Date: June 4, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by
Google)
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) revealed that
the Syrian authorities handed over 34 boxes containing documents currently being
analyzed. The Under-Secretary-General expressed... [Text cuts off here in the
original source].
on 04-05
June/2026
Ayatollah says Iran delivered 'decisive
blow' to 'malicious enemy'
Peter Barabas/Euronews/June 04/2026
Iran's Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei delivered an unexpected proclamation of
Iranian victory in the war with the US on Israel, stating that "the malicious
enemy has been defeated in confrontation with Iran's armed forces."
In a statement read out on Thursday during the ceremony marking the 37th
anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founder Ruhollah Khomeini's death,
Khamenei said, "I tell the dear Iranian nation that the malicious enemy ... is
now experiencing a profound and meaningful humiliation, both on the military
battlefield and in the public arena and it is now focused on trickery."
Khamenei's unexpected statement may signal an approaching peace deal, for which
he appears to be preparing the Iranian nation, while also calling for its unity.
"The system of domination, which created a garrison called Israel nearly 80
years ago, does not accept the existence of a strong and independent Iran,
endowed with various advantages, on the eastern frontier of the false and
fictitious geography of 'Greater Israel' — east of the Euphrates," The
ayatollah's statement warned. Khamenei has not appeared in public since the war
began. US media reported, citing multiple Iranian officials, that he sustained
serious injuries in the strikes, underwent multiple surgeries and has difficulty
speaking due to severe burns.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was "likely disfigured." Iran has not
confirmed the reports. He has communicated only through written statements since
taking office.
In his written statement on Wednesday, Khamenei said that "the enemy ... focused
its efforts in a hybrid war on two areas: the resilience of the people and
creating errors in the calculations of the country's officials.""After Iran was
able to repel the enemy, who was defeated on the battlefield, it now seeks to
undermine the resilience of the Iranian people and sow discord," the younger
Khamenei warned the Iranian people. "Everyone must neutralise the enemy's
sinister plans through steadfastness, vigilance, preserving unity and cohesion,
maintaining mutual trust, and refraining from echoing the enemy's narrative," he
said. Khamenei has also called on Iranian officials to "support these
principles", warning them that "any action that leads to public pessimism or
discouragement among the people should be regarded as a form of assistance to
the enemy — assistance against this country and its people."
Trump would 'like to meet' Khamenei
In a series of surprising revelations, Trump said in an interview on Tuesday
that the new ayatollah was involved in negotiations with the US and the two were
"getting along quite well."
"He's involved, absolutely. Yeah, I think they have a lot of respect for him,"
Trump said on the Pod Force One podcast. "They say he is giving approval,
because that's the way it has been for a long, long time. His father and then
him, I guess it's a succession. But we seem to be getting along quite well."
Trump also said he was keen to meet the younger Khamenei, pending the result of
the ongoing talks. "Yeah, I'd like to meet him. I'd love to meet everybody. I
would like to meet him and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how
it all works out."Previously, Trump dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as a
"lightweight" and an "unacceptable" choice to lead the Islamic Republic.
Khamenei was selected as the Islamic Republic's third supreme leader by the
Assembly of Experts — the panel of Shia clerics responsible under Iranian law
for appointing the position — roughly 10 days after his father's death. After
the announcement, Trump said he was "not happy" and "disappointed," adding, "I'm
not going through this to end up with another Khamenei."
Sabre-rattling over Hezbollah
Khamenei's statement is part of a growing trend in recent days, in which Tehran
has continued to amplify its rhetoric towards a wider regional role to project
strength despite the war's impact, further engaging in discussions on the war in
Lebanon in support of its militant proxy Hezbollah.
Washington-based Institute for the Study of War think tank (ISW) has estimated
that "Iran and Hezbollah are continuing to try to transform negotiations about
ending the war over the Strait of Hormuz into negotiations about ending the war
in Lebanon." "The Iranian regime likely also calculates that it can preserve its
leverage on other issues in negotiations with the United States, such as its
nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, by deflecting talks to the
war in Lebanon," the ISW analysis said. The IRGC will "likely calculate that the
status quo will help them advance several other objectives, such as solidifying
Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the Iranian nuclear
program," according to the ISW. In an interview with a Lebanese television
station on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that "if
Israel attacks Beirut, the result will be the return to war," and that "either
the war stops in both Iran and Lebanon, or it doesn't stop neither in Iran nor
in Lebanon." "Our armed forces are ready to launch devastating strikes against
the occupied territories at any moment," Araghchi said. IRGC says Iran has more
'trump cards' up its sleeve as talks hang by a thread Iranian drone attack
causes heavy damage to Kuwait airport as US and Iran trade strikes
Former head of Israel's military intelligence research department and Atlantic
Council non-resident fellow Danny Citrinowicz warned that "we are entering a new
era in which Tehran feels stronger, more secure, and increasingly confident in
the credibility of its deterrence.""Iranian leaders now appear to believe that
their willingness to absorb military pressure and survive it, has enhanced
rather than weakened their strategic position," Citrinowicz said in a post on X.
"The result is a more assertive Iran, a more dangerous Middle East, and a
growing risk that future crises will escalate faster and further than anyone
anticipated," he added.
With Trump in a holding pattern on Iran war, allies and critics worry he risks
getting boxed in
AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW LEE, AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW LEE/The AP/June 04/2026
President Donald Trump is facing warnings from foes and allies alike that he's
getting boxed in on the Iran war, a conflict he sold as a brief military
incursion but that has since settled into a holding pattern. It's been nearly a
week since U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement to extend
the ceasefire in the conflict by 60 days and start a new round of talks on
Iran's nuclear program that required Trump's sign off.
But Trump has called for unspecified changes to the agreement and Iranian
officials — perhaps calculating that the Republican president is reluctant to
restart the bombardment after burning through key weapons systems — are showing
no signs they'll give in to new demands.
A series of strikes by the U.S. and Iran this week has raised fresh concern that
the ceasefire could collapse. Trump on Wednesday downplayed the significance.
"It's a different part of the world," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
"You know, I'd say in that part of the world, a ceasefire is when you're
shooting in a more moderate manner."
The shaky moment follows repeated claims by Trump since a 14-day ceasefire was
agreed to on April 7 — following 38 days of U.S. and Israel bombing of Iran —
that a deal is just days away and the Iranian side is begging to come to a
settlement. Trump on Wednesday said it was possible something could come
together "over the weekend."
Without an interim settlement in place to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,global
energy prices remain elevated and are adding to anxieties around the world about
the impact of rising costs spurred by the three-month conflict on the cost of
food, fuel and other goods. After a string of reports this week that Iran was
shutting down talks, Trump told CNBC he "couldn't care less" if the negotiations
had bogged down and even mused they had become "boring."
There's anxiety Trump is getting boxed in There's growing concern inside the
administration and among key advisers and allies that Trump now finds himself in
a bind, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the
administration's internal deliberations, both of whom spoke to The Associated
Press on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
He's buffeted by Democrats seizing on oil prices and warnings from hawkish
members of his base that an early exit from the conflict would amount to
capitulation. Trump is privately hearing from other Republican lawmakers as well
as Pentagon officials and Gulf allies that a return to the bombing campaign is a
bad idea. Meanwhile, Gulf allies are worried that Iran will retaliate against
them and their critical infrastructure and energy interests and further set back
their economies. At the same time, Trump has bristled at the idea of accepting a
deal that resembles the 2015 nuclear agreement brokered by Democrat Barack
Obama's administration, which restricted Iran's nuclear program in exchange for
lifting international economic sanctions.
Trump during his first term abandoned the pact that he said had failed to
permanently stop Iran's nuclear program, ignored Iran's ballistic missile
development, and did not penalize Iran for supporting militant proxy groups
across the Middle East.
Now, Trump, according to those familiar with internal deliberations, has made
clear he feels strongly he can't make "a bad deal" and is acutely aware that
he's at a moment where he's at risk of tarnishing his legacy if he missteps.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the notion that Trump has been
boxed in or that there's any concern within the administration about the pace of
talks. "These mysterious so-called 'administration officials' have no idea what
they're talking about — those actually involved in sensitive discussions know to
trust in President Trump, who will always do what is best for U.S. national
security," Kelly said in a statement.
Trump resisted Israel push for Lebanon bombings
Israeli and hawkish allies in Washington have made the case to Trump that a deal
at this point would amount to unconditional surrender, urging him to ratchet up
economic pressure on Iran and back Israel's assault on the Hezbollah militant
group in Lebanon.
But Trump earlier this week in a heated call with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu demanded Israel stand down, and on Wednesday, Israel and
Lebanon said they agreed to renew a ceasefire. Hezbollah was not part of the
Israel-Lebanon talks, which have been held at the ambassadorial level in
Washington since the beginning of last month.
Remaining in the current status quo with Tehran — neither a full resumption of
hostilities nor sealing an interim agreement to restart nuclear talks — is a
situation that Iran appears better poised to exploit, argues Behnam Ben Taleblu,
a senior fellow at the hawkish Washington think tank Foundation for Defense of
Democracies.
Despite being the weaker party, Iran appears to be calculating that the longer
the holding pattern lasts, the better the chances are they can "box in" Trump,
he added.
"Either way, Tehran appears more resolute than ever to not provide Trump with a
victory image, hence why it isn't budging on the battlefield or negotiating
table," Taleblu said.
Holding pattern isn't helpful for Republicans on the ballot
At the same time, Democrats are trying to capitalize on Trump's handling of the
unpopular war ahead of November's midterm elections. The House of
Representatives on Wednesday for the first time passed a symbolic resolution
calling for a halt in military action against Iran, with four Republican
lawmakers joining Democrats in the rebuke of Trump's war.
During hours of hearings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday with Secretary
of State Marco Rubio, Democrats laced into Trump for discounting the economic
impact of the conflict on Americans and for failing to anticipate that Iran
would shutter the Strait.
In one tense exchange, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker pointed to the
unsteady ceasefire as a sign that Iran has the upper hand. "We are the strongest
nation on the planet Earth, and we're in a stalemate with Iran," Booker said.
"And now we're begging to get back into a deal that you all trashed in the first
place." Rubio dismissed the criticism, underscoring that Iran has been placed on
its heels with the strikes that have taken out multiple layers of senior
leadership and left Iran's economy in shambles.
"There's no one begging," Rubio responded. "I don't know where you're getting
this perception that Iran is stronger."Another Democrat, Sen. Chris Van Hollen
of Maryland, homed in on Trump's comments last month that voter anxiety about
the cost of living was "not even a little bit" of a motivating factor for him to
reach a deal to end the war.
The president continues to downplay the rising costs for Americans at the pump
and predict that gas prices would fall sharply after the conflict ends.
Christopher Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public
Opinion in Pennsylvania, said that Democrats running in swing districts around
the country are already zeroing in on Trump's rhetoric on the war's impact on
Americans' pocketbooks.
"There's significant risk in having this thing drag on for Republicans," Borick
said. "It's certainly going to hurt if Trump ends up in a place where the war
ends and Iran's nuclear program is in the same place. But for Republicans in
some of these tough swing districts, there's a case to be made to rip the
bandage off now, get some easing in the oil markets and hope there's enough time
for voters to turn the page."
*Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri in New York and Lisa Mascaro
contributed to this report.
What Happens When Jihadists Smell Weakness
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/June 04/2026
The message emerging from Hamas -- and Iran -- is unambiguous: Hamas and Iran
believe they are winning. Iran has been dictating to Washington when and with
whom it will negotiate. Washington apparently never insisted upon face-to-face
negotiations with Iran. Why not? By discontinuing talks with the US, Iran also
succeeded in maneuvering the Trump Administration into two huge victories for
the current regime. First, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out in "Iran Gets
Trump to Rescue Hezbollah," US President Donald J. Trump demanded that Israel
stop defending itself against attacks from another proxy of Iran: Hezbollah in
Lebanon. Second, Iran -- as a result of a much-publicized shouting match between
Trump and Netanyahu – masterfully created "daylight" between its two main
adversaries: Israel and the United States.
Even though Iran's weapons have been decimated, the current regime, run by the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has reportedly been using its
leisurely, ever-extending ceasefire to rebuild them. The IRGC has been calling
the shots and has stood up to the "Great Satan," the US. No wonder the regime
thinks it is winning.
These are not the words of a defeated terror organization. These are the words
of a group that believes time is on its side.
Abu Obeida's remarks are particularly alarming because they come after nearly
three years of war, the elimination of many top Hamas leaders, and countless
declarations by international mediators that Hamas would eventually be removed
from power.
Instead, Hamas is still standing. Hamas, like Iran, appears increasingly
confident.
The "Board of Peace" was supposedly created to bring stability to the Gaza
Strip, end Hamas rule, and establish a new political reality after the war.
The truth is that the "Board of Peace" has failed in its central mission. Six
months after Trump's ceasefire initiative and almost three years after the
October 7 atrocities, Hamas remains in power. It continues to control large
parts of the Gaza Strip, maintains its military infrastructure, and openly
refuses to disarm
Recent reports that the Trump Administration pressured Israel to cancel a
planned strike against Hezbollah targets in Beirut's Dahiya district sent a
troubling message throughout the region.
For Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, any indication of friction between the US and
Israel is good news. Terrorists thrive on the perception that their adversaries
are divided.
Across the Middle East, terrorist organizations constantly search for signs of
weakness among their enemies. Jihadists interpret "restraint" quite differently
from the way Western policymakers do. What many Western leaders describe as
diplomacy, patience, or de-escalation is frequently seen by Islamists as
surrender, fear or exhaustion.
The October 7 massacre was partly the result of Hamas's belief that Israel had
become weak, divided, and vulnerable. Today, Hamas appears once again to be
reaching similar conclusions. This expectation should deeply concern
policymakers in Washington.
akness, hesitation, and public divisions send exactly the wrong message to
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Every appearance of indecision only encourages
further aggression and convinces terrorist leaders that persistence will
eventually bring victory.
A united American-Israeli front creates deterrence. Public disputes create
opportunities.
The latest Iranian and Hamas statements are not merely propaganda. They are a
warning. The question is whether decision-makers in Washington are listening.
Across the Middle East, terrorist organizations constantly search for signs of
weakness among their enemies. Jihadists interpret "restraint" quite differently
from the way Western policymakers do. What many Western leaders describe as
diplomacy, patience, or de-escalation is frequently seen by Islamists as
surrender, fear or exhaustion. In a video statement this week, Hamas spokesman
Abu Obeida.
Nearly three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre in Israel, led
by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, that Iran-backed terror group remains
as defiant as ever. Far from showing any willingness to disarm, abandon
terrorism, or relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, Hamas leaders are once again
issuing threats, glorifying jihad (holy war) and promising more violence.
Their statements should serve as a wake-up call not only for Israel, but also
for Washington and the wider West.
The message emerging from Hamas -- and Iran -- is unambiguous: Hamas and Iran
believe they are winning.
Iran has been dictating to Washington when and with whom it will negotiate.
Washington apparently never insisted upon face-to-face negotiations with Iran.
Why not? By discontinuing talks with the US, Iran also succeeded in maneuvering
the Trump Administration into two huge victories for the current regime. First,
as the Wall Street Journal pointed out in "Iran Gets Trump to Rescue Hezbollah,"
US President Donald J. Trump demanded that Israel stop defending itself against
attacks from another proxy of Iran: Hezbollah in Lebanon. Second, Iran -- as a
result of a much-publicized shouting -- match between Trump and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- masterfully created "daylight" between its two
main adversaries: Israel and the United States.
Even though Iran's weapons have been decimated, the current regime, run by the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has reportedly been using its
leisurely, ever-extending ceasefire to rebuild them. The IRGC has been calling
the shots and has stood up to the "Great Satan," the US. No wonder the regime
thinks it is winning.
As for Hamas, in a video statement this week, Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas's
military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, declared that despite the
deaths of many senior commanders, Hamas remains strong and determined to
continue the fight against Israel.
"The bill will remain open until the [Israeli] enemy pays it," Abu Obeida vowed.
He boasted that Israel "has not achieved anything by assassinating [Hamas]
leaders and insisted that Hamas has produced "a generation of leaders who will
continue the path of those who came before them."
These are not the words of a defeated terror organization. These are the words
of a group that believes time is on its side.
Abu Obeida's remarks are particularly alarming because they come after nearly
three years of war, the elimination of many top Hamas leaders, and countless
declarations by international mediators that Hamas would eventually be removed
from power.
Instead, Hamas is still standing. Hamas, like Iran, appears increasingly
confident.
Another senior Hamas figure, Osama Hamdan, recently insisted that Israeli
assassinations of top Hamas commanders "will not break the steadfastness and
determination of the Palestinian people" and stressed that his terror group
would continue its "resistance" campaign against Israel.
Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem has openly attacked members of the
so-called "Board of Peace" and accused them of spreading "misleading lies." He
also complained that the Board had failed to pressure Israel and force
implementation of its plans for the Gaza Strip.
The irony is striking. The "Board of Peace" was supposedly created to bring
stability to the Gaza Strip, end Hamas rule, and establish a new political
reality after the war. Yet Hamas leaders now seem to feel comfortable enough not
only to reject its demands but also to publicly mock its efforts.
The truth is that the "Board of Peace" has failed in its central mission. Six
months after Trump's ceasefire initiative and almost three years after the
October 7 atrocities, Hamas remains in power. It continues to control large
parts of the Gaza Strip, maintains its military infrastructure, and openly
refuses to disarm.
Hamas's confidence is not emerging in a vacuum.
Hamas leaders are carefully watching developments throughout the region. They
see the US conducting endless negotiations with Iran's regime. They see repeated
diplomatic initiatives that produce few tangible results. They see Iran
continuing to arm and finance its terrorist proxies across the Middle East.
Most importantly, they see Hezbollah in Lebanon continuing its attacks on
Israel. Recent reports that the Trump Administration pressured Israel to cancel
a planned strike against Hezbollah targets in Beirut's Dahiya district sent a
troubling message throughout the region. The reported decision to restrain
Israel, even as Hezbollah continues launching drone attacks and other
provocations, is undoubtedly being studied carefully in Hamas and Iranian
headquarters.
To Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran's regime, such developments can easily be
interpreted as signs of hesitation and weakness.
The same skewed outlook also applies to persistent reports of disagreements
between Trump and Netanyahu.
Whether these reports are exaggerated or not is almost irrelevant. What matters
is how America's and Israel's enemies perceive them.
For Hamas and Hezbollah, any indication of friction between the US and Israel is
good news. Terrorist organizations thrive on the perception that their
adversaries are divided.
A united American-Israeli front creates deterrence. Public disputes create
opportunities.
Hamas leaders appear convinced that the regional balance is shifting in their
favor. That conviction helps explain why they have renewed their threats and
escalated their rhetoric.
The problem extends beyond Hamas. Hezbollah is also carefully monitoring
Washington's actions. If the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group concludes
that Israel's freedom of action has been restricted, it may become even more
aggressive.
The Iranian regime is undoubtedly drawing similar conclusions.
Across the Middle East, jihadist organizations are constantly searching for
signs of weakness among their enemies. They interpret restraint differently from
the way Western policymakers do. What many Western leaders describe as
diplomacy, patience, or de-escalation is frequently interpreted by Islamists as
surrender, fear, or exhaustion.
This misunderstanding has repeatedly produced disastrous results.
The October 7 massacre was partly the result of Hamas's belief that Israel had
become weak, divided, and vulnerable. Today, Hamas appears once again to be
reaching similar conclusions. This expectation should deeply concern
policymakers in Washington.
There are no magical formulas that can transform jihadist organizations into
peaceful political actors.
Western policymakers, especially Americans, tend to seek quick solutions and
rapid successes.
Defeating radical Islamist movements requires strategic patience, consistency,
and a willingness to sustain pressure.
Groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and their patrons in Iran view conflict not in
terms of election cycles or news cycles, but in terms of generations.
A united American-Israeli front creates deterrence. Public disputes create
opportunities.
Weakness, hesitation, and public divisions send exactly the wrong message to
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Every appearance of indecision only encourages
further aggression, and convinces terrorist leaders that persistence will
eventually bring victory. Discord puts smiles on the faces of those who still
openly dream of destroying Israel and expanding Iran's influence throughout the
Middle East.
The latest Iranian and Hamas statements are not merely propaganda. They are a
warning. The question is whether decision-makers in Washington are listening.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22582/jihadists-smell-weakness
**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.
on
04 June/2026
Christiane Amanpour
Just landed in Beirut at a crucial moment for Lebanon. Can
diplomacy prevail? Tomorrow, I’ll sit down for a world exclusive with President
Joseph Aoun @LBpresidency
. It couldn’t come at a more important time. Look out for my interview on @CNN
Nadine Barakat
Yet he works with jreissati and the mikati Berri gangster And he renews exchange
house permits of one of Cassandra drug cartel meaning Hezbollah .. and he leaves
qard Hassan .. and cash companies.
Kudos Ziad
Jonathan Elkhoury- جوناثان الخوري
Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire, Israel agreed on the ceasefire, Yet Hezbollah
refused the ceasefire.
There are still some people that consider Hezbollah to be Lebanese or working
for Lebanese interests. They are not. Ceasefire will never work as long as
Hezbollah exists.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
In 30 years, I haven’t seen Israel practice as much self restraint in order to
boost the credentials of the Lebanese state. Respect!
Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער
Israel will open an embassy in Slovenia. Following the approval of the Slovenian
Parliament for the new government headed by @JJansaSDS - I announced this
evening my decision to open, for the first time, an Israeli embassy in
Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. I have instructed the Director General of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adv. Eden Bar-Tal, to act swiftly and
efficiently to establish the new embassy and to immediately begin the required
processes for selecting the designated ambassador. Janez Janša is a prominent
friend of Israel, and his selection creates a unique opportunity to advance the
bilateral relations between the countries, which have been at a low point in
recent years due to the hostility of the previous government in Ljubljana. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under my leadership, will act without delay to
capitalize on this opportunity.
Pierre Poilievre
Mark Carney's response to the vile and violent rise in antisemitism in Canada?
Yet another Liberal advisory council. More bureaucracy. More meetings. More
Liberal dithering.
What we need is for existing laws to be enforced right now to protect Canadian
Jews.
Lock up immediately the criminals who shoot at Jewish schools, set synagogues
ablaze, and terrorize communities. Secure our borders to prevent the entry of
terrorists, extremists, and those who sow hatred. And put an end to the Liberal
double talk and divisiveness that have torn the population apart. Conservatives
will not stop holding this Liberal government to account for its failures until
every Canadian Jew can live safely and in peace in their own country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
ראש ממשלת ישראל@IsraeliPM_heb
https://x.com/IsraeliPM_heb/status/2062565331512500531/video/1
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived today with his team at the town of
Shlomi, where he held a meeting with heads of authorities from the Confrontation
Line Forum: "What you saw in the south - that's what will be in the north. This
is a huge piece of good news here."
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Katz, Transportation Minister
Regev, Education Minister Kish, Minister for the Negev and Galilee Vaserlauf,
the minister responsible for the rehabilitation of the north and south Elkin,
Settlement Minister Struck, Minister of Environmental Protection Silman,
Chairman of the Finance Committee, MK Milavitsky, and MK Vaturi.The heads of the
authorities thanked the Prime Minister for approving the massive plans for the
north totaling over 13 billion ILS, which include protecting the settlements and
providing extensive assistance for rehabilitation and growth.
Mosab Hassan Yousef
Mossad is transferring captured Hamas and Hezbollah weapons to Kurdish groups
inside Iran.
The Kurds were always a serious strategic option.
Hiba Nasr
Trump : Hezbollah called us and and they said, 'How about stopping? And I think
you're going to see things happen over there. That's been like a little bit of a
different world, but it's interconnected with Iran, and it'd be really nice if
Lebanon could have some peace. Lebanon's been under attack for so many years,
and always like an underdog, and it would be really nice if it could end.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
https://x.com/hahussain/status/2062595607517155586/video/1
Iraqi Shia militia of Sadr (anti-Iran) surrenders its arms to the Iraqi state.
All pro-Iran Shia militias, minus three, are also surrendering their arms to the
Iraqi state.
And there are Americans who argue that Iran won the war while its proxies are
fading away. https://x.com/Osint613/status/2062542290434818466/video/1
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Dear Lebanese "lobby" @ATFLebanon
Your statement in support of tying the Lebanese track with Israel to the U.S.
track with Iran undermines the will of Lebanon's elected president and
government. Lebanon wants to separate the tracks. But you can atone for your
mistake by issuing a statement in support for the Agreement between the states
of Lebanon and Israel, yesterday.
Also, as Lebanese "lobby," speak up against Palestinian Tlaib and her proposed
legislation hijacking Lebanon in favor of Hezbollah. Also bash Ilhan Omar for
joining her, the Arab American Institute, and perhaps preemptively -- Ahmed
Hamawy and Abdul El-Sayed.
Enough with Islamists and Arabists messing up with Lebanon. Lebanon has an
elected government that sets its own national interests. Arab Americans and
Muslims America should either follow, or stay silent. I'll be waiting for your
statement, ATFL.
American Task Force on Lebanon
"The United States should use this moment to strengthen the Lebanese state. That
means urgently supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces
as they move to assert full state authority over Greater Beirut..."
Read the full statement: https://buf
ATFL Welcomes President Trump’s Efforts to Halt Attack on
Beirut, Urges Support for Lebanese State Control of Greater Beirut
by ATFL | Jun 3, 2026 | Statement, Statements & Announcements | 0 comments
Statement-ATFL Welcomes President Trump’s Efforts to Halt Attack on Beirut,
Urges Support for Lebanese State Control of Greater Beirut
Washington, DC—June 3, 2026. The American Task Force on Lebanon welcomes
President Trump’s leadership in helping halt Israel’s threatened attack on
Beirut’s southern suburbs and preventing another major escalation in Lebanon.
This was an important and timely intervention. Lebanon has already suffered
enormous loss of life, displacement, and destruction. President Trump’s action
is intended to create space for the ongoing US-led talks between Lebanon and
Israel to continue and for diplomacy to have a chance.
But this pause must not become a victory for Hezbollah.
The United States should use this moment to strengthen the Lebanese state. That
means urgently supporting the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces
as they move to assert full state authority over Greater Beirut, including the
southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh.
Dahiyeh has long been a Hezbollah stronghold. If the current de-escalation
simply leaves Hezbollah in control, then Iran and Hezbollah will benefit from a
pause that should instead strengthen Lebanon’s legitimate institutions.
The LAF should take the lead in securing Greater Beirut, with strong U.S. and
international advisory, technical, and intelligence support. This must be done
in coordination with the Lebanese government. Restoring state authority over
Greater Beirut is essential to Lebanese sovereignty and long-term stability.
A successful deployment would help prevent further destruction, allow residents
to return safely to their neighborhoods, and demonstrate that the Lebanese state
is capable of exercising authority throughout its capital.
President Trump’s intervention helped prevent immediate disaster. The next step
is to turn that intervention into a strategic gain for Lebanon’s state
institutions, not for Hezbollah.
ATFL urges the United States to press forward on both the diplomatic and
military tracks now underway and to ensure that any ceasefire or de-escalation
agreement strengthens the Lebanese Armed Forces, restores state authority, and
advances the sovereignty of Lebanon.
Michael Young
@BeirutCalling
Here’s the State Department statement on the Lebanese-Israeli talks held in
Washington this week. Some takeaways:
* It appears the United States wanted to give something to the Lebanese state,
amid unconfirmed reports in Beirut that the Americans negotiated in the Gulf
this week with Hezbollah’s Ammar Musawi, probably indirectly, on the Trump
announcement of Monday. Evidently, Berri was not the main conduit. Such a step
would have bolstered the party’s credibility, requiring compensation for the
Lebanese state;
* The establishment of pilot zones is a very useful idea in principle, because
if it can lead to Israeli withdrawals in specific areas, and the return of
villagers, this will greatly boost the credibility of the state. It’s imperative
that villagers be allowed to return and begin rebuilding, however.
* Pilot zones also avert a direct confrontation between the army and Hezbollah
on disarmament. Instead, the army would be protecting zones of control. This may
not prevent limited clashes, but it would not involve an aggressive process of
seizing Hezbollah’s arms, which the party could readily use to mobilize communal
support against the state;
* Such a plan would have to involve the better-trained units of the army, and
the pilot scheme means the areas of control would be easier to control, playing
to the army’s limitations. At the same time, there are reports the Americans
want the army commander replaced, probably believing that a more aggressive
figure is needed to carry out the plan. If Rudolph Haykal senses this, he would
probably resign first;
* A big question mark remains about Israeli intentions. Israel has
systematically shot down all measures in the past year and a half that would
give the Lebanese state and army credibility, so there are no guarantees things
will change now;
* A pilot project for specific areas shows the Americans understand that the
forcible disarmament of Hezbollah is not a viable plan, therefore that the
process requires advancing much more carefully than some would like;
* Finally, it is interesting to watch the interaction between the U.S.
negotiations with Iran and developments in Lebanon. Iran is trying hard to link
the two, positioning itself as Lebanon’s savior, and now the Americans have come
back to propose a plan that seeks to bolster the Lebanese stat as the main
negotiator for a ceasefire, not Iran. This will not please Tehran, but if the
plan can quickly return southerners to certain villages, it will be difficult
for the Iranians to push back against.
Prime Minister of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team held a meeting today in Shlomi
with local authority leaders from the Confrontation Line Forum.
Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Authority Leaders:
"There are two components here: One is the development and acceleration
component. The second is the security, distancing [of threats], and prevention
component. And we are very determined to do this. Why? Because it is an
essential condition. For your children, or your grandchildren, for Jews, Druze,
Circassians and Muslims. We are all in the same boat. And I am committed to
this. I am committed to this. The ministers here are committed to this, strongly
committed. This is not just lip service. And the money is one expression of
this, but it is much more. It is the struggle while navigating diplomatically on
a global level. One must navigate, but ultimately insist on our matters wisely,
being flexible where possible and very firm where necessary.
I want to thank you for the cooperation. I think today is a festive day. This is
news we have worked on for a long, long time. And I truly thank my friends here,
and everyone who worked hard here. This is a great day in our shared journey. I
tell you, remember this: What you saw in the South – is what will be in the
North. They didn't believe it then, but today everyone believes it. Here too. It
is only a matter of time and of this firm and calculated policy, and I want to
thank everyone once again."
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Katz, Transportation Minister
Regev, Education Minister Kish, Minister of the Negev and Galilee Wasserlauf,
Minister Responsible for the Rehabilitation of the North and South Elkin,
Settlement Minister Strock, Environmental Protection Minister Silman, Chairman
of the Knesset Finance Committee MK Milvitsky, and MK Vaturi.
The local authority leaders thanked the Prime Minister for approving the
large-scale plans for the North, totaling over 13 billion NIS, which include
community fortification and extensive assistance for rehabilitation and growth.