English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For June 27/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.june27.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me
welcomes the one who sent me
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10/40/42.11,01/:”Whoever
welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s
reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous
person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of
cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple truly I tell
you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from
there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published on 26-27 June/2026
In Memory of Blessed Father Yaacoub the Capuchin, The Mind of Christ
Written in Deeds and Mercy/Elias Bejjani/June 26/ 2026
The Jihadists of Political Islam, Both Sunni and Shiite, Are Dragging the Middle
East Back to the Stone Age/Elias Bejjani/June 26/2026
Framework Agreement Between Lebanon and Israel Under US Auspices: Key Points and
Understandings
US State Department: Framework Agreement a Historic Step... Rubio Announces
Readiness to Support the Lebanese Army
Details of the Framework Agreement between Lebanon and Israel Revealed
Preliminary Text of the Agreement between Lebanon and Israel
Katz Attacks Qaani: The Image of a Collaborator Suits Him Better Than This
Ridiculous Threat Suit
Israeli leaflets warn residents of Mansouri amid widespread violations on the
ground
Ali al-Taher: Between Israeli Narrative and Lebanese Denial: What Has Changed on
the Ground?
Israeli Army: Ali Taher Hill No Longer a "Hezbollah Stronghold"
Israeli Army: A New Security Reality on Ali Taher Hill in the South
Adraee comments on the cancellation of official exams in Lebanon
Gila Gamliel: We are cooperating with the Lebanese government, and Trump
supports the disarmament of Hezbollah
Israeli forces arrest 6 people in the town of Ain Arab
Air strikes on Nabatieh and Mansouri... and the Israeli army announces the
injury of 4 soldiers in a field clash
Ben-Gvir: The ceasefire in Lebanon must end, and hundreds of targets must be
struck
Aoun Praises Macron and Meloni's Post-UNIFIL Initiative, Affirms: The Army is
the Only Guarantee
Aoun: Framework Agreement a Beginning of Restoring Sovereignty… and the Lebanese
Embassy Reveals its Key Provisions
Hassan Fadlallah attacks the Washington agreement: We will oppose any action and
will not allow the implementation of the pledges on the ground.
Hezbollah's First Comment on Israel's Claim of Control over Ali al-Taher Hill
Qabalan on the Lebanon-Israel Agreement: This Heinous Deal Will Not Pass, No
Matter the Cost
Ihab Hamadeh: The Agreement Will Remain Ink on Paper
Sheikh Yazbek: We Will Abide by the Ceasefire as Long as the Israeli Enemy
Abides by It
Syrian Social Nationalist Party: No Legitimacy for an Agreement that Rewards
Occupation, No Sovereignty Created Under American Tutelage
Former Minister Bahij Tabbarah Passes Away
The Gathering of Border Towns" rejects the exchange of sectarian rhetoric and
demands accountability for its disseminators
Hezbollah Leads a Rumor Campaign Refuted by Facts... Al-Qard Al-Hasan to
Government Discussion for Resolution
Naim Qassem: We have entered a new phase in confronting Israel, and the
political authority must reconsider its course.
Sheikh Naim Qassem and the Fateful Doom/Colonel Charbel Barakat/June27/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 26-27 June/2026
CENTCOM: We carried out strikes on Iran in response to its attacks on
ships in the Strait of Hormuz
Trump: Iran Still Retains "Some" Military Capabilities
Trump: Iran's Drone Attacks on Ships a Blatant Violation of Ceasefire Agreement
Sources reveal to Al Arabiya the location and timing of the upcoming US-Iran
negotiations: technical and at the expert level.
J.D. Vance: If Watergate happened today, it wouldn't bring down a presidency.
Vance: The deep state brought down Nixon, and I admire him.
Karim Khan to Al Arabiya: My Suspension Targets an International Public Official
/ First Appearance by ICC Prosecutor After Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Yemeni Official: We Are Pursuing the Killers of Al-Arabiya Correspondent and
Will Reveal the Circumstances of the Crime
Al-Arabiya.net: Awsan Salem / June 26, 2026 Sigrid Kaag to Al Arabiya: We Reject
Linking Humanitarian Aid to Gaza with Political Progress; She Described the
Palestinian National Committee as a "Cornerstone"
Egypt: Shooting at Monks in Monastery; Interior Ministry Reveals "Circumstances
of the Incident"
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes /
France Has Charged 3% Tax on Digital Revenues Since 2019
Oil prices fall as tankers continue to leave the Strait of Hormuz / Brent crude
futures settled down 4.34% at $71.99 a barrel
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on 26-27 June/2026
Did Angela Merkel Work for the Stasi? The Protected Secrets of Germany's
Recent Chancellor/Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/June 26, 2026
The Graveyard of Illusions/Joseph Habib/Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
Peace Requires Sovereignty/Toni Nissi (President, Committee for the United
Nations Security Council Resolutions on Lebanon)/June 26, 2026
Lebanon is waging a battle to establish rights and sovereignty/Daoud Rammal/Nidaa
Al Watan/June 26, 2026
Hezbollah: Between Illusory Victory and Real Defeat/Jean Al-Faghali/Nidaa Al-Watan/June
26, 2026
The State's Victory and the Fall of the Alleged Resistance/Fard Baroud/Maronite
News/June 26, 2026
America First: Between Influence and Isolation/Jeffrey Kemp/Al-Ittihad/June 26,
2026
250 Years of American History/Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 26, 2026
The New Supreme Leader and the Battle for Balance/Hassan Fahs/Independent
Arabia/June 26, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 26 June/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on 26-27 June/2026
In Memory of Blessed Father Yaacoub
the Capuchin, The Mind of Christ Written in Deeds and Mercy
Elias Bejjani/June 26/ 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155563/
In the spiritual depths of Christianity, faith does not stop at
the boundaries of theoretical contemplation or passing emotional sentiments.
Rather, it is a permanent movement of love—constantly ascending toward God and
constantly bending down toward humanity. Saint James formulated this essential
truth with a decisive, definitive phrase in his epistle when he said: “Faith by
itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).
This living faith, which does not settle for saying “Lord, Lord,” is the very
divine spark that ignited the heart of Blessed Father Yaacoub the Capuchin.
Khalil Haddad (Father Yaacoub) was not a monk who locked the Gospel between the
covers of a book; rather, he embodied it as a “living Gospel” walking upon the
earth. He realized that words without actions are an empty echo, so he
translated his watchful prayers into writing—penned with the sweat of his brow
and the tears of service—upon the bodies of the sick, the tears of the hungry,
the elderly priests, and the abandoned.
The faith-driven motivation for Father Yaacoub sprang from seeing the face of
Christ mysteriously present in every broken human being. He did not view a
psychiatric patient at “The Convent of the Cross” or an elderly priest at
“Christ the King” as a social burden. Instead, he saw Christ Himself in them,
who said: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Therefore, his faith transformed into
a silent, mighty “revolution of love,” mirroring the commandment of John the
Apostle: “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1
John 3:18).
Identity and Roots: Who is Khalil Haddad?
Blessed Father Yaacoub the Capuchin (Khalil Haddad) whose feast the Church
celebrates today was born in the historic Keserwan town of Ghazir, Lebanon, on
February 01, 1875. His real name before donning the monastic habit was Khalil
Haddad. Khalil grew up in a pious family that taught him the love of God and
self-sacrificing service. He received his early education in the town’s school,
then moved to La Sagesse (Al-Hikma) School in Beirut, where he stood out for his
sharp intelligence and linguistic eloquence. In the midst of his successes, he
felt a powerful monastic calling pressing upon his heart. He did not hesitate;
he chose the path of poverty, humility, and hard labor with the Order of Friars
Minor Capuchin.
The Secret of the Altar: When and how was he ordained a priest?
After completing his deep monastic and theological studies and professing his
solemn vows, Khalil Haddad was ordained a priest on November 01, 1901, in the
Church of Saint Anthony of Padua of the Capuchin Fathers in Beirut. On that
sacred day, he took the name “Father Yaacoub” (known popularly as “Abouna
Yaacoub”). From the moment he wore the priestly vestments, he launched into a
continuous workshop of spiritual and social labor whose flame never dimmed
throughout the long decades of his life.
A Revolution of Love: What are his most prominent achievements?
Father Yaacoub was not a monk content with contemplative prayers within the
walls of a cell; he was a man of the field who ran after human pain wherever it
was found. The medical and educational institutions he scattered across the
hills of Lebanon were not merely administrative achievements, but a practical
rendering of his deep-rooted faith. Among his most prominent achievements were:
*Establishing the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross (1930):
Which became the executive and spiritual arm managing his massive institutions
and caring for the abandoned.
*Launching a Comprehensive Educational Renaissance: By establishing free schools
in remote villages and towns to empower children of the poor classes to receive
an education.
*Establishing the “Library of Love”: As a tool to spread culture, awareness, and
spiritual and moral literacy.
*Building the Monument of “Our Lady of the Mountain” and the “Shrine of the
Cross of Lebanon”: In the Jal El Dib region, to serve as a unifying spiritual
beacon gathering the Lebanese people around the Cross.
Citadels of Humanity: The institutions he built and helped launch
He believed that every stone he raised to shelter an orphan or an elderly person
was a physical prayer ascending to heaven. By virtue of this faith, Father
Yaacoub became a complete “social and health safety net” embodied in a single
man. Here are the humanitarian citadels he constructed:
*The Convent of the Cross Hospital (Jal El Dib): The most prominent and largest
institution, dedicated to receiving psychiatric and mental health patients, as
well as those abandoned on the streets whom society had cast away and who had no
breadwinner.
*Our Lady of the Sea Hospital (Byblos/Jbeil): A distinguished health center
fully dedicated to the care of chronic patients and the elderly.
*Saint Joseph Hospital and School (Dora): To serve working-class and poor
families in the suburbs of Beirut, securing free medical care and education for
their children.
*Christ the King Convent (Zouk Mosbeh): A unique, exceptional institution
dedicated exclusively to housing elderly and sick priests and monks, honoring
their old age and long service to the parish.
*Our Lady of Hope Hospital (Baalbek): To extend the bridges of care and medical
services to the beloved Beqaa region.
*The Home for the Elderly (Al-Mina, Tripoli): To serve the elderly and the
homeless abandoned in northern Lebanon.
*Free Schools: He founded more than 15 free schools in various Lebanese regions
to support the families most in need.
The Embracing Father: The humanitarian role of Yaacoub the Capuchin
Father Yaacoub’s role as a true social safety valve manifested during difficult
periods that Lebanon endured, particularly following the aftermath of World War
I and the Great Famine. He never discriminated based on sect, denomination, or
religion. He used to roam the country gathering donations with the boldness of a
defender of truth and the humility of a monk, until he was nicknamed in popular
circles as the “Beggar of Charity.” Through his life, he proved that a priest is
not just someone who preaches from a pulpit, but someone who washes the wounds
of humanity with the shroud of mercy, walking in the footsteps of his Master who
“went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He focused his utmost attention on the
groups from which society turned away in shame or marginalized, restoring human
dignity to their hearts.
The Crossing to Heaven: A legacy renewed every year
After a journey filled with total self-giving and supreme benevolence, Father
Yaacoub the Capuchin slept in the odor of sanctity on June 26, 1954, at the age
of 79. Given his pure life overflowing with miracles and signs of grace, Pope
Benedict XVI declared him Blessed upon the altars of the Universal Catholic
Church in a historic and solemn celebration witnessed at Martyrs’ Square in
Beirut on June 22, 2008. The Church designated June 26 as his annual feast day,
which is the day of his crossing into the heavenly chambers.
Father Yaacoub the Capuchin remains the greatest witness in our modern history
that deeds are the soul and pulse of faith, and that true faith is the one that
speaks the language of tireless giving.
The Prayer of Father Yaacoub from His Heavenly Abode for Suffering Lebanon
From the heights of your heaven, O Father of the Poor and Apostle of Mercy,
where you stand today alongside the righteous and the saints in the presence of
the Lord of Glory, look down with a tender, fatherly gaze upon your homeland,
which lies beneath the Golgotha of pain. Lebanon—whose hills you stamped with
the kisses of prayer and above whose peaks you raised the Cross of
Redemption—groans today under the weight of suffering, its dignity gnawed at by
forces of occupation, injustice, and displacement.
O Beggar of Charity, we implore you today to be our fervent intercessor before
the Divine Throne:
Intercede for the suffering and the displaced: O you who sheltered the abandoned
without a home, wipe away the tears of families that have been displaced,
protect the children whose innocence has been stolen, and be a support for every
soul broken by hunger and oppression.
Liberate this occupied nation: O you who fought with your free faith against
injustice and reliance on mortals, pray so that Lebanon may shake off from its
shoulders the dust of dependency and occupation, and that its plundered
sovereignty and dignity may return to it, so that it remains a nation of freedom
and a message.
Cultivate within us the spirit of solidarity and action: Just as you transformed
your faith into citadels of mercy and institutions, pray so that faith does not
die in our hearts, but rather embodies itself in deeds of love and
steadfastness, so that we may support one of another in these difficult days.
O our Father Yaacoub, you who closed your eyes upon the land of Lebanon while
commanding love, do not leave the Land of the Cedars to fall into the abyss of
oblivion. Be a safety valve for us from your heavenly abode, and pray to Christ
the King to dispel the darkness of this long night, so that Lebanon may rise
from the tomb of its suffering victorious, with a glorious resurrection that
bears witness to the power of life and truth.
Amen.
NB: The information in this study is cited from various documented
ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references.
The Jihadists of Political Islam, Both Sunni and Shiite, Are Dragging the
Middle East Back to the Stone Age
Elias Bejjani/June 26/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155539/
The catastrophe caused by those who are intellectually and culturally
backward—the flag-bearers of Takfirism (excommunication) and
fundamentalism—represents an overt practice of the culture of death and
barbarism. In their dictionary, a human being is a creature stripped of any
distinction that separates them from non-human entities. In their culture, human
life carries no value, no dignity, no freedom, no sanctity, and no rights.
Today, Takfiri and fundamentalist groups spread corruption, murder, destruction,
and displacement across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Egypt, as well as
several African nations, committing the most heinous massacres against humanity.
The forced displacement of Christians from Arab and Islamic countries is an
inherently barbaric act. It is a fully-fledged crime entirely devoid of ethics,
civilization, faith, and the fear of God. These groups are nothing more than
instruments of slaughter, completely detached from human nature after stripping
themselves of their own humanity.
One of the most profound tragedies witnessed by the Middle East in recent
decades is the accelerating collapse of the historic Christian presence. From
Iraq to Syria, Egypt to Gaza, and onward to Sudan, Nigeria, Turkey, and Lebanon,
the Christian presence is tragically receding under the weight of religious
violence, extremism, and the rise of Political Islam in its various jihadist
manifestations.
Political Islam, in both its Sunni and Shiite schools, has fostered a hostile
environment for religious and cultural pluralism. While Sunni Takfiri groups
raised the banners of jihad, slaughter, and religious cleansing, armed Shiite
factions practiced an equally dangerous sectarian approach and dominance across
multiple Arab arenas. The ultimate result has been the displacement of millions,
the destruction of historical communities, and the undermining of the
foundations of coexistence.
In Iraq: Christians faced one of the largest uprooting operations in their
modern history. Ancient towns and villages in Mosul and the Nineveh Plains were
emptied of their inhabitants following terror campaigns led by jihadist
organizations. Properties were confiscated, churches were torched, and families
were forced to choose between displacement or death.
In Syria: The war and the rise of extremist Islamic factions drove massive
numbers of Christians to emigrate. Historic Christian towns faced attacks,
kidnappings, and extortion, as the Takfiri ideology transformed into a
destructive force against all forms of pluralism and openness.
In Egypt: For decades, Copts have lived under the threat of sectarian assaults
and terrorist attacks targeting churches, worshippers, and clergy. Despite
official and security efforts, fears persist regarding an extremist ideology
that views Christians as second-class citizens.
In Gaza: The Christian presence has shrunk dramatically due to being caught
between the hammer of violence and wars, Islamist control, and ongoing conflict,
forcing the vast majority to emigrate in search of safety.
In Turkey: The Christian presence (comprising Armenians, Greeks, and Syriacs)
has dwindled to a tiny fraction of the population after a century of upheavals,
displacement, and profound demographic shifts.
In Africa (Sudan and Nigeria): Decades of political Islamization contributed to
tearing Sudan apart and weakening its Christian presence. Meanwhile, armed
jihadist groups in Nigeria continue to attack villages and churches to sow
terror across vast regions.
This catastrophe is not confined to the Middle East and Africa. Many critics of
Political Islam argue that certain Islamist movements in the West seek to export
these conflicts to Western societies by demanding special religious privileges
or seeking to impose social and cultural norms derived from Islamic Sharia onto
societies fundamentally built on secularism, democracy, and individual
liberties. The danger here lies not in Muslims as individuals and citizens, but
in the political ideologies that prioritize ideological allegiance over the
values of citizenship and integration.
Consequently, defending persecuted Christians and minorities is not a sectarian
religious issue; it is a human, cultural, and moral cause. Societies from which
diversity is expelled and where religious freedoms are suppressed are societies
inevitably marching toward tyranny and collapse. The Middle East will not rise
as long as it remains captive to the culture of Takfirism, sectarianism, jihad,
and fundamentalism. There is no future for stability except through the
establishment of civil states that respect human beings, safeguard freedoms, and
place the law above all religious ideologies.
The Reality of Christians in the “Land of the Cedars”
In Lebanon, facts indicate that Christians face a gradual existential threat
that is no longer limited to emigration and declining numbers, but now directly
endangers their land, identity, and political role. Over the past decades,
large-scale demographic changes have escalated through the transfer of real
estate ownership—by coercion, intimidation, or financial inducements—in
predominantly Christian areas to entities linked to the political, financial,
and military influence of the Shiite Duo (Amal Movement and Hezbollah).
In this context, the area known today as the Southern Suburbs of Beirut
historically encompassed vast expanses and towns of a distinctly Christian
character before wars, displacement, and security, political, and economic
pressures led to a massive shift in its demographic fabric. Today, warnings are
repeatedly raised regarding intensive purchasing operations and the
expropriation of properties and real estate in regions across Keserwan, Jbeil,
the Beqaa, the South, and Mount Lebanon, as part of a long-term demographic plan
aimed at expanding the spheres of influence belonging to the Shiite Duo.
The existence of Hezbollah as a military and security force parallel to the
state—and indeed, one that hijacks its decision-making—has created an imbalanced
reality. This has left many Christians and other Lebanese powerless to confront
the real estate, security, and political expansion practiced by the Iranian
axis. The continuation of this trajectory threatens historic Lebanese pluralism
and undermines the national partnership upon which Greater Lebanon was founded
since its inception.
In conclusion: Protecting the Christian presence in Lebanon cannot be achieved
through slogans, dhimmitude (subservience), and turning a blind eye to the
frightening and terrorizing realities practiced by Christian political leaders
and the clerical shepherds of their churches. Instead, it requires enforcing the
state’s full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, restricting weapons
exclusively to legitimate state institutions, and preventing any disguised
demographic changes imposed by force of influence or skewed power balances. This
is vital to safeguarding the right of all Lebanese to remain in their land and
preserve their historical identity and heritage.
Framework Agreement Between Lebanon and Israel Under US
Auspices: Key Points and Understandings
Janoubia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington, under US
auspices, aimed at launching a new negotiating track between the two sides. The
signing ceremony was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During the
ceremony, Rubio stated that the Lebanese people deserve to live in security and
peace, emphasizing that "what happened today is just the beginning, and there is
still a long road ahead for Lebanon and Israel." He added that the two sides
reached a framework agreement after rounds of talks in Washington. For her part,
Lebanon's Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, described the
agreement as "the first step on the path to restoring Lebanon's sovereignty,"
noting that the negotiations were "long and difficult," and thanking the US for
hosting and sponsoring the talks. In contrast, Israel's Ambassador to
Washington, Yehiel Leiter, asserted that Iran and its proxies attempted to
obstruct the agreement, claiming that "Iran and Hezbollah are now out of the
game." He added that "the ultimate goal is peace between Lebanon and Israel."
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the signed agreement is a
"framework" aimed at reaching future agreements, while simultaneously
emphasizing that Israel will maintain its security zone in southern Lebanon
until Hezbollah is disarmed.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the
framework agreement with Lebanon constitutes "a major achievement for Israel."He
added that Israel will continue to remain in what he described as the "security
zone" in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
Netanyahu considered the framework agreement a "strong blow to Iran," claiming
that it sought to force an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He also
asserted that the agreement confirms "the absence of any role for Iran and
Hezbollah in Lebanon."According to Israeli media reports, the agreement includes
a trial phase beginning with the withdrawal of the Israeli army from two areas
in southern Lebanon, to which the Lebanese army will then deploy. This does not
entail a broad withdrawal from the south. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation
reported that the framework agreement paves the way for the withdrawal from
these two areas, confirming that the move will be limited to specific points
within the security zone. In contrast, Israel's Channel 12 quoted sources as
saying that the agreement stipulates Israel's continued presence in the "yellow
line" area until Hezbollah is disarmed, noting that Israel will be the party to
determine whether the trial phase was successful.
The channel added, quoting a senior Israeli official, that the Israeli army will
retain "freedom to respond to any threat" and will not leave the areas it
controls unless "Hezbollah ceases to be an influential factor in Lebanon." The
official asserted that Israel is working to solidify its control over this area
internationally as long as what it describes as the threat on its borders
persists. For its part, Israel's Channel 13 reported that the agreement includes
an Israeli withdrawal from one area to allow for the deployment of the Lebanese
army, as well as mutual recognition of each country's sovereignty over its
territory. In the context of the negotiations, Channel 12 reported that US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone conversations with Lebanese
President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an
attempt to resolve the remaining disagreements before the signing. On the
Lebanese side, sources at Baabda Palace confirmed that the negotiations had
progressed and that President Joseph Aoun had followed up on the details with
the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, ministerial sources within the Shiite duo told
Al-Jadeed that what transpired in the cabinet session regarding the appointment
of the Lebanese negotiating delegation was merely a formality, expressing
surprise at the document's publication the following day. Al-Jadeed's sources in
Washington also reported that Saudi-American contacts contributed to bolstering
the Lebanese position during the negotiations. It should be noted that the
declaration of intent or framework agreement is not a final agreement, but
rather a political and legal document that lays the groundwork for completing
the negotiations and moving to subsequent phases concerning implementation
mechanisms, withdrawal, and security arrangements between the two sides.
US State Department: Framework Agreement a Historic
Step... Rubio Announces Readiness to Support the Lebanese Army
Janoubia/June 26, 2026
(Google translation
from Arabic)
Following the signing of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel in
Washington under US auspices, the US State Department considered the agreement a
historic step and the beginning of a path aimed at achieving peace and stability
between the two sides. In an interview with Al-Hadath TV, the State Department
said the agreement paves the way for a lasting peace and aims to end Hezbollah's
threat to Israel and restore sovereignty to the Lebanese state in exchange for
providing security for Israel. It emphasized that the framework agreement is not
linked to any other negotiating tracks, stressing that the next phase requires
significant work to achieve security and peace in the region. The State
Department also explained that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to the
Middle East aimed to thank regional partners for their role in the success of
the diplomatic efforts that led to the signing of the agreement. For his part,
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the framework agreement will return
Israel to its borders if the threats end, affirming that the United States has
established a clear and organized mechanism for restoring Lebanon's sovereignty
and disarming Hezbollah. He added that the agreement stipulates the
establishment of a tripartite military coordination group specifically for
Lebanon to oversee its implementation, noting that the US Department of Defense
(the Pentagon) is prepared to provide more than $30 million in support to the
Lebanese army.
Details of the Framework Agreement between Lebanon and
Israel Revealed
Janoubia/June 26, 2026
(Google translation
from Arabic)
On Friday evening, Israel's Channel 12 published the details of the framework
agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which was reached that evening in
Washington. The Israeli channel stated that the agreement includes the following
provisions: Israel's withdrawal from two areas within the new yellow line.Israel
will not withdraw from the Beaufort Heights. Lebanese residents will not return
to towns within the original yellow line (8-10 km south of the Litani River).
The Israeli army will not withdraw from the yellow line until Hezbollah is
disarmed. Mutual recognition by both governments of
each other's sovereignty over their respective territories. The Lebanese army
will take over areas occupied by the Israeli army, where it has conducted
incursions but where it is not currently stationed (meaning there will be no
actual Israeli withdrawal). In this context, a senior political official stated
that following lengthy negotiations between the United States, Israel, and
Lebanon, representatives of the three countries signed a trilateral framework
agreement on Friday evening, June 26th. This framework aims to reach future
agreements between Israel and Lebanon to end the conflict between the two
countries and achieve a peaceful settlement. The official emphasized that Israel
will maintain its security zone within the Green Line in Lebanon until Hezbollah
and other armed groups in Lebanon are disarmed and any threat emanating from
Lebanon to Israeli territory is eliminated. According to the official, the
Israeli army will maintain freedom of military action throughout the security
zone to eliminate any threats. The official added that Israel and Lebanon agreed
on two areas near the Green Line, proposed by the Israeli army, to serve as
pilot zones for dismantling Hezbollah and transferring control of the area to
the Lebanese army. These zones are located outside the Green Line and south of
the Litani River, and outside the original Green Line and north of the Litani
River. A senior official in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office also stated that
the agreement includes freedom of action for Israel in all areas along the Green
Line. The official stated that the tripartite agreement is an achievement for
Israel in confronting Iran, which wanted to impose a unilateral withdrawal on
Tel Aviv.
Preliminary Text of the Agreement between Lebanon and
Israel
News Agencies/June 26/2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Israel and Lebanon affirm the right of every state to exist in peace and their
mutual desire to live in security as two sovereign and neighboring states. Under
this framework, Israel and Lebanon declare their intention to definitively end
their conflict, address its root causes, and thus formally end any existing
state of war between them. This framework, reached after several rounds of
direct negotiations between the parties, builds upon previous successful
agreements and understandings and expresses a determination to make irreversible
progress toward a comprehensive solution to all outstanding issues between the
two countries. The two countries affirm their commitment to resolving these
issues as two sovereign states through direct bilateral negotiations, mediated
and supported by the United States.
1. The Government of Israel and the Government of Lebanon commit to a reciprocal
and phased process, under clearly defined conditions, whereby the Lebanese Armed
Forces will restore effective state authority over all Lebanese territory,
following verification of the disarmament of non-state armed groups and the
dismantling of their associated infrastructure, thus enabling the gradual
redeployment of the Israel Defense Forces outside Lebanese territory. The
components of this process will be detailed in a security annex, prepared with
full U.S. support, which will complement this framework. The framework will
define the necessary measures, security arrangements, and verification
mechanisms to advance this process. Successful implementation of this framework
will pave the way for a stable and peaceful relationship between the two
countries and enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to redeploy outside
Lebanese territory.
2. In accordance with the security annex, and as part of broader efforts to
achieve a Lebanese state monopoly on the use of force and sovereign control over
its territory, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will gradually assume full and
effective security responsibility in pilot areas. These pilot areas will serve
as a mechanism for the phased and verified redeployment of the IDF and the
deployment of the LAF. Two initial pilot areas have been agreed upon by the IDF
and the LAF, and future pilot areas will be agreed upon by mutual consent. After
verifying the successful disarmament of non-state armed groups and the
dismantling of their infrastructure in these areas, the Lebanese Armed Forces
will assume full and effective security responsibility. Internationally
supported reconstruction efforts will commence, and Lebanese civilians will be
able to return safely to these areas under the exclusive control of the Lebanese
state authorities. The United States intends to work closely with both countries
to verify and support this process.
3. The Government of Lebanon reaffirms its firm and unwavering commitment to
restoring and exercising full sovereignty over all its territory. The Government
of Lebanon will work to re-establish the state’s monopoly on the use of force,
achieve the complete and verifiable disarmament of all non-state armed groups,
and ensure that these groups do not play any military or security role and do
not possess any armed capabilities anywhere within Lebanon. In this context, the
Government of Lebanon requests the support of international partners,
particularly Arab partners, under U.S. leadership, to achieve this outcome.
4. The Government of Israel emphasizes that its military operations in Lebanon
are solely a response to attacks, threats, and hostile intentions emanating from
non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. The Government of Israel asserts
that eliminating this threat, through the disarmament and dismantling of these
groups throughout Lebanon, along with additional security arrangements to be
agreed upon between the two countries, will preclude any future need for
military action or an IDF military presence in Lebanon. Based on the foregoing,
the Government of Israel declares that it has no territorial ambitions in
Lebanon.
5. The Government of Lebanon, in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations and in the exercise of its sovereign authority, affirms that its
security forces bear exclusive responsibility for the security and defense of
Lebanon, and that the Government of Lebanon possesses the exclusive sovereign
authority to decide on matters of war and peace. The Government of Lebanon
rejects any claims by any state or non-state actor to use force on its behalf
without its explicit authorization, and reiterates that any claim by any state
or non-state actor to play a military or security role is illegal according to
the decisions of the Lebanese Government and contrary to Lebanese national
interests.
6. The Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel affirm that nothing in
this framework prevents them from exercising their inherent right of
self-defense, as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations and in
accordance with applicable international law, while emphasizing that no third
party may exercise this right on their behalf. The two governments also commit
to establishing a military coordination group, with the support and
participation of the United States, to ensure the full implementation of this
framework.
7. The two countries affirm their shared goal of establishing a secure and
rebuilt Lebanon under the full sovereignty of the Lebanese state, where no
non-state armed group poses a threat to Israel, Lebanon, or the citizens of
either country. They also recognize that restoring security in southern Lebanon
through the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the safe return of the
civilian population, and ensuring the security of northern Israeli communities
are essential elements for achieving long-term stability and peace.
8. The Government of Lebanon commits to a rigorous, performance-based program to
enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to establish full military and security control
within Lebanon, in accordance with the security arrangements agreed upon within
the framework of the negotiations, to implement the disarmament of all non-state
armed groups, and to exercise effective authority throughout Lebanon. The
Government of Lebanon welcomes the United States’ readiness to support these
efforts, recognizing that any new U.S. assistance will be strictly contingent
upon the achievement of verifiable milestones, full transparency, tangible
results, and ongoing oversight. These efforts will enable the secure and orderly
reassertion of Lebanese sovereignty, which will also contribute to broader
stability and security in the entire Middle East region.
The two countries also recognize that the restoration of security and stability
in southern Lebanon through the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the
safe return of the civilian population, and the security of northern Israel, the
security of northern Israel, and the security of northern Israel, the security
of northern Israel, and the security of northern Israel, the security of
northern Israel, and the security of northern Israel, the security of northern
Israel, and the security of northern Israel, the security of northern Israel,
and the security of northern Israel, the security of southern Lebanon ... the
security of southern Lebanon, and the security of northern Lebanon, the security
of southern Lebanon, and the security of northern Lebanon, the security of
southern Lebanon, and the security of northern Lebanon, the security of southern
Lebanon, the security of southern Lebanon, and the security of northern Lebanon,
the security of southern Lebanon, the security 9. Separately and concurrently,
the United States will work to mobilize international partners to effectively
support the Government of Lebanon in rebuilding the country, repairing
infrastructure, restoring the economy, and creating opportunities for
prosperity. This is expected to include mobilizing substantial reconstruction
and humanitarian assistance for Lebanon, economic recovery programs, and
investment initiatives, enabling Lebanon to recover from years of conflict and
provide a better future for all its citizens.
10. Lebanon and the United States commit to preventing the flow of funds to any
entity, organization, or individual associated with non-state armed groups and
to taking all available legal measures to prohibit the activities of any such
entity, organization, or individual. The Government of Lebanon also explicitly
commits to preventing reconstruction funds from reaching non-state armed groups
and their affiliated entities.
11. Upon signing this framework, the two countries will establish working groups
to draft a comprehensive peace and security agreement. In addition, to achieve
the objectives of the framework, the two governments will immediately establish
complementary channels of continuous direct communication, facilitated by the
United States. Both governments are committed to proceeding in good faith until
a complete and lasting peace is achieved, bringing security, stability and
prosperity to the people of Israel and Lebanon.
Katz Attacks Qaani: The Image of a Collaborator Suits
Him Better Than This Ridiculous Threat Suit
Janoubia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz attacked the commander of the Quds Force
of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Esmail Qaani, in a post on the “X” platform,
following the latter’s threats against Tel Aviv regarding Lebanon. Katz wrote:
“The commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, has recently been
issuing numerous threats against Israel.” He added: “It seems that the image of
a ‘collaborating agent’ suited him much better than this ridiculous threat
suit.” He continued: “In any case, if Iran attacks Israel, it will be the
biggest mistake it has made so far.” He emphasized that “neither the Strait of
Hormuz nor targeting civilians will help them here. Nothing will stop us.” He
added, “Our forces are ready to complete the mission.” Yesterday, Qaani called
on Israel to immediately withdraw from Lebanon, threatening that it “will be
forced to flee tomorrow in humiliation and defeat if it does not comply today.”
Because Lebanese territory is “an arena of resistance and steadfastness, not a
playground for occupiers.” Claims circulated on social media during the war on
Iran that Ismail Qaani was an Israeli agent, or that his survival after the
assassination of numerous Iranian leaders was proof of this. However, there is
no credible evidence to support these claims. Qaani is one of the most prominent
Iranian military commanders, having assumed command of the Quds Force after
Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad in 2020.
Israeli leaflets warn residents of Mansouri amid widespread violations on the
ground
South Lebanon/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
An Israeli drone dropped leaflets over the town of Mansouri in the Tyre
district, urging residents to stay away from the town. Meanwhile,
Lebanese-Israeli negotiations resumed on Friday, June 26, 2026, with talks
continuing since Tuesday in Washington aimed at reaching a joint “declaration of
intent” between the two countries, amidst a stalemate regarding the Israeli
withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Concurrently with the negotiations, the
Israeli army is carrying out several raids and operations despite the ceasefire,
claiming to be "removing a threat against its forces." In the latest
developments, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that "3,200
Hezbollah fighters have been killed since March," noting that "10 Hezbollah
members have been eliminated since yesterday." On the ground, reports indicate
an Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and two airstrikes
on Ali Taher. An explosion of unexploded ordnance in the town of Mansouri
resulted in one death and critical injuries. Meanwhile, reports indicate that
houses were bulldozed and set on fire in the town of Markaba, in the Marjeyoun
district. Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles and bulldozers,
advanced from the town of Haddatha towards the outskirts of the town of Haris in
the Bint Jbeil district and established a presence in the home of Ibrahim Hijazi.
They conducted a large-scale search operation in the area amidst heavy drone and
reconnaissance flights. The Haddatha Volunteer Center urged residents to
exercise caution. At night, Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of the
towns of Barashit and Beit Yahoun with approximately 10 shells and two
airstrikes, coinciding with machine gun fire directed at Beit Yahoun. Earlier,
Israeli warplanes flew over southern Lebanon, releasing several flares before
withdrawing. The Ministry of Health's Emergency Operations Center reported in a
statement that "an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Mefdoun, in the
Nabatieh district, resulted in two martyrs and one wounded." Meanwhile, the
Israeli Broadcasting Corporation claimed that "3,200 Hezbollah members have been
killed since March," alleging that "10 Hezbollah members have been eliminated
since yesterday." In response to the Israeli violations, Hezbollah issued a
statement yesterday, Thursday, declaring that the Israeli army "deliberately
targeted Lebanese citizens who were on their way to check on their homes on the
Zawtar al-Sharqiyah-Mefdoun road, under the pretext that they posed a threat to
its occupying forces."
Ali al-Taher: Between Israeli Narrative and Lebanese
Denial: What Has Changed on the Ground?
Janoubia/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
The Ali al-Taher hill in the Nabatieh district has once again become a focal
point of the military and media landscape, after Israel intensified its claims
of “complete control” over the area in recent days. This was met with Lebanese
denials asserting that the situation on the ground has remained unchanged for
over a week. Israeli media outlets reported in recent days that dozens of
Hezbollah fighters were trapped inside a network of tunnels in the Ali al-Taher
heights, including members of the Radwan Force. They claimed that the Israeli
army had sealed off the tunnel entrances and that mediators had contacted them
to secure their release. According to these reports, Israel stipulated their
complete surrender as a condition for release. The Israeli reports also linked
this operation to what they described as a “new model” for dealing with tunnels,
suggesting that the goal was to transform them into what they termed “traps,”
forcing the fighters to surrender or remain inside. There were also reports of
Israeli concerns about potential kidnappings of soldiers as leverage in
negotiations for the release of those trapped inside. However, developments on
the ground today presented a different narrative. A Lebanese military source
confirmed to Al Jazeera that the situation on the ground in the Ali al-Taher
Heights has remained unchanged for a week, noting that no advance by Israeli
forces toward the heights in the Nabatieh district has been observed. In
contrast, Israel maintained its version of events. Israeli army spokesperson
Ella Wawiya told Sky News Arabia that its forces have completely surrounded Ali
al-Taher Hill but have not entered the tunnel located in the area. In a video
message posted from inside a tunnel in Majdal Zoun via the X platform, Wawiya
declared that "the equation has changed," asserting that Ali al-Taher Hill is
now under the complete control of Israeli forces and that it "is no longer
Hezbollah's impregnable stronghold." She added that the Israeli army is imposing
what she described as "a new security reality," and that its soldiers are moving
above the tunnels constructed by Hezbollah, asserting that the hill "will no
longer be a base for threatening Israel's security." Between the Israeli
narrative of complete control and a siege of the tunnels, and the Lebanese
insistence that the situation on the ground has not changed and that no Israeli
advance has been recorded in the highlands, Ali Taher Hill remains one of the
most prominent points of media and military engagement, amidst the continuation
of operations in southern Lebanon and ongoing political negotiations.
Israeli Army: Ali Taher Hill No Longer a "Hezbollah
Stronghold"
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
The Israeli army announced that Ali Taher Hill in southern Lebanon is no longer,
as it put it, a "Hezbollah stronghold," asserting that it no longer poses a
threat to Israel's security. The army added that the hill is now under its
complete control, indicating that it will no longer represent a security threat
to Israel.
Israeli Army: A New Security Reality on Ali Taher Hill in the South
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Ella Wawiya conveyed a message to Hezbollah
operatives in the south via the "X" platform, stating: "The equation has
changed. Ali Taher Hill, where you were hiding, is now under the complete
control of our forces.
The IDF is imposing a new security reality that puts an end to Hezbollah's
influence in this strategic area, where it sought to establish a military
presence. The hill will no longer be a base for threatening Israel's security."
Hezbollah operatives were told that the hill was an 'impregnable fortress.' Look
around you today: IDF soldiers are moving above the tunnels you built, and that
'impregnable fortress' collapsed in a matter of days."
Adraee comments on the cancellation of official exams in Lebanon
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee commented on the cabinet's decision to
cancel the official exams for the 2025-2026 academic year, writing: "How
wonderful it is to always see the joy of Lebanese youth." I know how difficult
and worrying it was for them to take their exams in such a tense atmosphere,
amidst a war imposed on their country by Hezbollah. He added, "Their joy today
isn't due to the cancellation of the exam itself, but rather to their lack of
psychological and moral preparedness. Deep down, and knowing the ambitions of
Lebanese youth, they wanted to advance so they could pursue the future they
envisioned as prosperous, were it not for Hezbollah's terrorist decision to
impose the logic of war on the values of progress and development."
Gila Gamliel: We are cooperating with the Lebanese
government, and Trump supports the disarmament of Hezbollah
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Israeli Channel 14 quoted Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science, and
Technology Gila Gamliel as saying that the latest round of negotiations between
Israel and Lebanon involved cooperation with the Lebanese government. She noted
that US President Donald Trump "remains on our side" and also supports the
disarmament of Hezbollah, as she put it.
Israeli forces arrest 6 people in the town of Ain Arab
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
An Israeli force Six people were arrested while working on their farmland on the
outskirts of the border town of Ain Arab.
According to reports, the detainees are three Lebanese residents of the town and
three Syrian workers. Israeli forces took them into Israeli territory, and the
circumstances of the incident and their fate remain unknown.
Air strikes on Nabatieh and Mansouri... and the Israeli
army announces the injury of 4 soldiers in a field clash
Southern/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
The southern front is witnessing a rapid field escalation that threatens the
effects of the temporary ceasefire. Violent air strikes by occupation warplanes
and drones overlapped with qualitative field developments on the ground,
resulting in casualties among the Israeli army following a direct clash, amid a
continuous exchange of accusations of crossing red lines and mutual violation of
the truce. The Israeli army announced in an official statement that a security
breach had occurred, which was described as serious. One of the resistance
members threw an offensive hand grenade towards an Israeli foot force that was
moving as part of its field deployment and ongoing sweeping operations. The bomb
explosion resulted in the injury of 4 Israeli fighters with varying injuries,
whose conditions were described as moderate to minor. The Israeli force
immediately opened fire on the attacker, killing him instantly and ending what
the statement described as a “direct threat.” In parallel, the Israeli Air Force
continued its violent violations of Lebanese airspace. Consistent field reports
indicated that Israeli warplanes launched two successive air strikes directly
targeting the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon. The aerial
bombardment caused a huge sound that reverberated throughout the area, resulting
in clouds of thick smoke rising, prompting the ambulance and civil defense teams
to be on alert and head immediately towards the targeted sites to survey the
damage and remove the rubble. On the Tire sector front, field correspondents
reported that an occupation drone (drone) carried out a precise air strike
targeting the residential outskirts of the town of Al-Mansouri (south of the
city of Tire). The raid caused massive material damage to property, and was
accompanied by intense and continuous flights of reconnaissance and monitoring
aircraft that did not leave the airspace of the villages and towns of southern
Lebanon to confirm the reality of air surveillance. The Israeli army also
carried out extensive sweeping operations in the vicinity of the towns of
Qantara and Zawtar al-Sharqiya, while it continued bulldozing operations between
the towns of Taloussa and Markaba. The Israeli army also completed the
demolition and bulldozing work in the town of Ain Arab - Marjayoun district,
after it had burned a number of houses there, despite the residents’ return to
it 3 days ago accompanied by the Lebanese army, before they were again asked to
leave the town under the threat of death and demolition. A sweep with machine
guns was also recorded from Israeli positions in Al-Bayyada towards Majdal Zoun,
Al-Siyad houses, and the outskirts of Al-Mansouri. Yesterday, the south
witnessed a series of attacks, the most notable of which was an Israeli drone
targeting a car on the Mifdoun-Zawtar road, killing 3 people and wounding
another. Israeli drones also dropped sound bombs several times over the town of
Nabatieh al-Fawqa. On the other hand, Hezbollah issued a statement in which it
considered that the Israeli army’s targeting of Lebanese citizens who were on
their way to inspect their homes on the Zawtar al-Sharqiyah-Mifdoun road, under
the pretext that they constitute a threat to its forces, is a flagrant violation
of the ceasefire agreement, noting that the attack resulted in the death of two
civilians and the wounding of a third, and stressing that it continues to
monitor these violations.
Ben-Gvir: The ceasefire in Lebanon must end, and hundreds of targets must be
struck
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
The Israeli cabinet meeting held on Thursday witnessed a debate regarding the
ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, after several ministers argued that the
agreement imposes excessive restrictions on the movement of soldiers. The
Israelis. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir responded to these criticisms by
saying, "You were the ones who wanted a ceasefire." For his part, National
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir confirmed that he had opposed the ceasefire
from the outset, saying that he did not want it "for this very reason." He
asked, "What happens when a new threat emerges?" "If you see Hezbollah rearming,
why don't you dismantle its capabilities?" Ben-Gvir called for an end to the
ceasefire agreement, arguing that after several Israeli soldiers were wounded by
a Hezbollah bomb, "we can target and bomb hundreds of targets." Minister of
National Affairs Orit Strock echoed Ben-Gvir's position, stating that Israeli
forces in Lebanon "feel like they are on a shooting range," adding, "It's better
to respond to every threat immediately." In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that soldiers respond to any threat immediately,
saying, "We don't impose any restrictions on any soldier." Defense Minister
Yisrael Katz supported Netanyahu's stance, stating, "There are pros and cons to
the ceasefire, but we don't put any soldier at risk, and every soldier can
respond immediately."
Aoun Praises Macron and Meloni's Post-UNIFIL Initiative,
Affirms: The Army is the Only Guarantee
South Lebanon/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
President Joseph Aoun welcomed the announcement issued yesterday by French
President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni regarding
the effort to form an international coalition around a mechanism for the post-UNIFIL
phase. In a statement, he considered this initiative “a sincere expression of
the international commitment to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability,
and a genuine appreciation of the role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces in
maintaining security and extending the state’s authority over all its territory,
especially in the southern border regions.” President Aoun expressed his
appreciation for “the joint Italian-French emphasis on the necessity of not
leaving any dangerous vacuum in the post-UNIFIL phase, as this approach aligns
with the steadfast Lebanese vision.” He stated that the Lebanese army is the
only true guarantor of the security of the South and the preservation of its
sovereignty.” He affirmed that “Lebanon looks forward to any international
formula that strengthens the capabilities of its armed forces, preserves its
territorial integrity, and prevents its land from becoming an arena for
escalation or regional rivalries,” reiterating “Lebanon’s openness to
coordination with its international partners, in a way that serves the interest
of the Lebanese people and consolidates stability in the region.”
Aoun: Framework Agreement a Beginning of Restoring
Sovereignty… and the Lebanese Embassy Reveals its Key Provisions
South Lebanon/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
President Joseph Aoun affirmed that the framework agreement signed between
Lebanon and Israel constitutes the beginning of the path toward restoring
Lebanese sovereignty over all its territory. He emphasized that the goal is to
reach a Lebanon “without occupation, without prisoners, without dependency, and
without guardianship.” Aoun expressed his gratitude to the American
administration, and especially to President Donald Trump, for hosting and
sponsoring the negotiations and supporting the Lebanese position. He also
thanked the brotherly and friendly countries that supported Lebanon during the
negotiations, in addition to the Lebanese negotiating delegation of diplomats
and military personnel in Washington and Beirut. He affirmed that the agreement
represents the first step in translating the sacrifices of the Lebanese people
into reality, enabling their return to their land and homes under a fully
sovereign state with no partners on its land and over its people. For its part,
the Lebanese Embassy in Washington explained that the framework agreement signed
between Lebanon and Israel stipulates the implementation of two pilot zones
encompassing the Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed
Forces, and the disarmament of non-state armed groups. The embassy added that
the agreement represents a significant step toward restoring Lebanon's
sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring a permanent cessation of
hostilities, and enabling displaced persons to return to their homes. It also
affirmed that Lebanon, under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun and Prime
Minister Nawaf Salam, and through the coordinated efforts of its constitutional
institutions, has charted a sovereign course based on dialogue rather than war.
Hassan Fadlallah attacks the Washington agreement: We
will oppose any action and will not allow the implementation of the pledges on
the ground.
Janoubia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, launched an
attack on the agreement signed in Washington, urging Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu “not to rush to announce the good news to his public.” He
asserted that Netanyahu “was negotiating with himself,” because “the Lebanese
government lacks constitutional and legal legitimacy and does not possess the
means to impose its dictates.”
In an interview with Al-Mayadeen TV, Fadlallah stated that this government “will
not be able to enforce the agreement signed in Washington unless it resorts,
with American support, to a civil war.” He added that what transpired in
Washington “is an attempt to derail the Islamabad process, and without the
resistance, nothing will succeed.” He asserted that “this authority will not be
able to impose its will on the Lebanese people,” emphasizing that “the
fundamental factor is the situation on the ground, and we control the ground; we
are the people of this land.” He considered that the authority “has presented a
gift to the Israeli enemy, but it will have no effect on the ground.” Fadlallah
added, “We will confront any action taken by the authority, and we will cling to
our resistance and our weapons even more firmly,” affirming that the party’s
opposition is “serious and will not allow the authority to implement its
promises on the ground.” He indicated that Iran “will not sign any agreement
before the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon,” noting that the party’s ministers’
continued presence in the government “has its own considerations and does not
imply our approval of its decisions.” He also asserted that “direct negotiations
with the Israeli enemy violate Article 52 of the Constitution, and no one has
the right to abrogate the state of hostility with Israel.” In a statement issued
through Hezbollah’s media relations, Fadlallah denied a television report
concerning his participation in meetings with security officials to formulate
Lebanon’s position on the negotiations, emphasizing that this information is
“completely and utterly baseless.” The statement clarified that Hezbollah’s
position, which was communicated to the relevant authorities in the Lebanese
government, was clear: it rejects direct negotiations with Israel and warns
against their political and security trajectory, considering it to be
undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty and threatening to create dangerous internal
divisions. The statement concluded by affirming that the party called on the
government to reverse this course and the decisions it has taken, deeming its
actions a “gratuitous path of concessions” that will lead to the country’s
destruction and serve only Israel’s interests.
Hezbollah's First Comment on Israel's Claim of Control over Ali al-Taher Hill
Janoubia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Hours after the Israeli army announced what it described as "complete control"
of Ali al-Taher Hill, claiming it was "no longer Hezbollah's impregnable
stronghold," and following the Israeli army spokesperson's confirmation that its
forces had completely surrounded the hill, Hezbollah issued its first official
statement regarding the events in the area. In this context, the Islamic
Resistance Operations Room issued a statement categorically denying Israel's
claim of control over Ali al-Taher Hill on the eastern outskirts of Nabatieh.
The Resistance affirmed that the hill is free of any occupation forces,
emphasizing that it remains under the control of its fighters, who are stationed
there and are "fully prepared to confront any attempt at advance or incursion by
enemy forces." The Israeli army had previously announced what it described as
"complete control" over Ali al-Taher hill, while an Israeli army spokesperson
stated that the hill "is no longer Hezbollah's impregnable stronghold,"
confirming that Israeli forces were imposing a siege on the area. Lebanese
military sources had also reported earlier that the situation on the ground in
the Ali al-Taher heights had remained unchanged for a week, and that no advance
by the occupying forces toward the heights in the Nabatieh district had been
observed.
Qabalan on the Lebanon-Israel Agreement: This Heinous Deal
Will Not Pass, No Matter the Cost
National News Agency/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The distinguished Jaafari Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, stated that "what has
been agreed upon between the current Lebanese government and terrorist Israel,
under malicious American auspices, is the worst national catastrophe to befall
Lebanon, and it has absolutely no legitimacy." In a statement, he said: "With
this agreement, the current government represents only itself, not Lebanon. The
dangerous aspect is that this agreement grants the terrorist Zionist army de
facto control over the Lebanese army's operations and the occupied Lebanese
territory, in addition to implicitly recognizing the Zionist army's authority
over the occupied lands. What is happening behind the scenes in Washington is a
catastrophe beyond compare, and we will not accept its implementation. Those who
prevented the Lebanese army from defending Lebanon now seek to destroy it
through this national disaster. The current government has placed the Lebanese
state in a black box and handed over the keys to Lebanon's sovereignty to
Washington and Tel Aviv. This heinous act will not pass, no matter the cost."
Ihab Hamadeh: The Agreement Will Remain Ink on Paper
National News Agency/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
MP Ihab Hamadeh described the agreement between Lebanon and Israel as
"humiliating," stating in a press release:
"First: It is clear that this authority bears the responsibility of exerting
maximum effort to ensure the continued Israeli occupation and to push Israel to
complete its project of eliminating the largest component of the Lebanese
population.
Second: The withdrawal clause is the first necessary condition for
completing the Iranian-American negotiations, and Netanyahu's insistence on not
withdrawing completely undermines the implementation of this first condition,
thus returning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz to square one.
Third: Linking the withdrawal to disarming Hezbollah is another step that
reflects the authority's inclination towards internal conflict.
Fourth: The authority does not possess what Israel demands, and the resistance
remains steadfast in its position of confronting the enemy until the complete
liberation of the land.
Fifth: The agreement will remain ink on paper.Sixth: It can be considered an
Israeli-Israeli agreement, a declaration of allegiance from the authority to
Israel.
Seventh: Joseph Aoun should know that The South is not his father's farm.
Sheikh Yazbek: We Will Abide by the Ceasefire as Long as the Israeli Enemy
Abides by It
National News Agency/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Baalbek – Sheikh Muhammad Yazbek, head of the Sharia Council of Hezbollah and
the general legal representative of Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei in Lebanon, stated
during a speech at the central Ashura gathering at the Sayyida Khawla shrine in
Baalbek: “We are a people who do not waver, nor do we compromise on our dignity,
honor, land, or national sovereignty, nor do we trade in the blood of our
martyrs. We will abide by the ceasefire as long as the Israeli enemy abides by
it, and there will be no return to the pre-March 2nd status quo.” He continued:
“We demand security in exchange for security… You who speak of Israel’s
security, why haven’t you spoken of Lebanon’s security? We also demand a
complete withdrawal to the demarcated borders between Lebanon and Palestine, and
we will not accept the loss of an inch of that land, nor will we allow any
Zionist defilement to remain upon it.” He emphasized the demands for "the
release of prisoners, the return of displaced people, and the commencement of
reconstruction," asserting, "We will not accept any form of guardianship, and we
are working to address our situation and resolve our problems ourselves in a way
that strengthens our national unity and coexistence." He added, "Lebanon is
beautiful in its diversity, and no one can erase anyone else. Our strength lies
in our unity and in citizenship, which is above all else." Yazbek concluded,
"Everyone must know that Lebanon is strong in its own strength, not in the
slogan of its strength being in its weakness, which has stripped us of our
sovereignty, divided us, and humiliated us. We will not accept humiliation and
subjugation, even if it is acceptable to others."
Syrian Social Nationalist Party: No Legitimacy for an Agreement that Rewards
Occupation, No Sovereignty Created Under American Tutelage
National News Agency/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The Syrian Social Nationalist Party commented on the Lebanese-Israeli agreement,
stating: “While the heroes of the resistance have written, and continue to
write, the most magnificent epics of heroism and sacrifice, and our people are
paying the price of blood, displacement, and destruction to preserve the dignity
and sovereignty of the land, official circles in the American capital,
Washington, present us with a humiliating spectacle: the signing of what is
called the ‘Tripartite Framework Agreement,’ under the auspices and dictates of
the American administration, a full partner in the aggression and war of
extermination against our people. The Syrian Social Nationalist Party, based on
its ideological and national principles, declares the following to the public:
First: A complete and absolute rejection of the so-called ‘Framework Agreement’:
This agreement does not represent the will of the Lebanese people, nor does it
preserve their sacrifices. Rather, it is a blatant attempt to legitimize the
results of the aggression and provide political and security escape routes for
the beleaguered Zionist enemy on the ground. Negotiating under fire…” Under
immense diplomatic pressure and dictated by the US, this is a disguised
surrender that we categorically reject. Second:
Rejecting the logic of "partial withdrawal" and pilot zones: The party
explicitly and vehemently rejects the fallacy of "pilot zones" and piecemeal,
conditional withdrawals. Accepting "first steps" that involve handing over areas
where the enemy is not even present, or granting them impunity for occupying
other territories, is a dangerous deception. The land of the South is
indivisible, and we categorically reject the consecration of the so-called "new
security belt," which the enemy's prime minister has openly declared his
commitment to and insistence on maintaining. Accepting a partial withdrawal is a
veiled legitimization of the occupation. Third: The dubious approach to the
concept of sovereignty: Sovereignty is not begged for in the corridors of the US
State Department, nor is it created through technical concessions. How dare some
speak of "restoring sovereignty" under absolute US-Zionist hegemony at the
negotiating table, and with the occupation's killing machine still in place?
Sitting atop our villages and mountains in the south? Any sovereignty not
established by the power of resistance and the will of the people over every
inch of our national borders is incomplete, false, and devoid of substance.
Fourth: Emphasizing the equation of power: The Syrian Social Nationalist Party
affirms that national rights are not restored through submissive diplomacy, but
rather through force, which is the decisive factor in establishing national
rights. The Zionist enemy has never abided by any agreement, and its history is
replete with treachery. What it has not taken on the battlefield, it will not
obtain through politics or negotiation. The party concluded: "We call upon all
vibrant national forces and all members of our people to stand united against
this downward spiral, to adhere to the option of comprehensive resistance, and
to demand a complete and unconditional Zionist withdrawal from every inch of our
national soil, without any restrictions, conditions, or humiliating security
arrangements at the expense of the blood of our martyrs."
Former Minister Bahij Tabbarah Passes Away
Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Former Minister Bahij Tabbarah passed away today at the age of 97. Prayers will
be held for him after the Asr prayer today, Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Basta
Tahta Mosque, and he will be laid to rest in the Bashoura Cemetery. Tabbarah
held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Economy and Trade in
the government formed in April 1973 under Prime Minister Amin al-Hafez. He also
served as Minister of Justice in three successive governments headed by Rafik
Hariri. He was later appointed Minister of State between October 26, 2000, and
April 17, 2003, before returning as Minister of Justice between April 17, 2003,
and October 26, 2004, again under Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. To ward off the
enemy's sedition: "
The Gathering of Border Towns" rejects the exchange of
sectarian rhetoric and demands accountability for its disseminators
Janoubia/June 26, 2026
(Google translation
from Arabic)
The "Gathering of Sons of Southern Border Towns" affirmed its rejection of
sectarian and racist rhetoric among the Lebanese, stating in a press release:
"Recently, some statements attributed to residents of certain border villages
have appeared on social media, containing divisive, racist, and sectarian
rhetoric directed at one another. It is common knowledge that these statements
do not represent the residents of the towns in question, but rather a small
number of misguided or deceived individuals who, intentionally or
unintentionally, are implementing the enemy's plans to sow discord and division
among the people of the same nation and region, especially in our border region,
which has always been known for its coexistence and cooperation among all its
inhabitants." The assembly called on all concerned parties and municipalities to
“deny and condemn these statements and issue joint statements to avert strife
and call for unity, harmony and cooperation in order to return to our villages
and rebuild them in a safe and calm atmosphere.” It also called on the competent
authorities to “uncover the publishers of these statements and hold them legally
and judicially accountable for the strife they are causing, which may lead to
undesirable consequences among the components of the same society, and all
residents to refrain from circulating and publishing these statements because of
the confusion and ill-considered reactions they may cause among some ignorant,
weak-minded or malicious people.”
Hezbollah Leads a Rumor Campaign Refuted by Facts... Al-Qard
Al-Hasan to Government Discussion for Resolution
Nidaa Al-Watan/June 26, 2026
(Google translation
from Arabic)
Alongside the media promotion of victory, despite the crushing military defeat
suffered by Hezbollah, the party launched a rumor campaign concerning Al-Qard
Al-Hasan (the benevolent loan). The aim is to sell illusions and suggest that
the financial situation will improve and that people will receive financial
assistance after the losses they suffered during the war.To spread these rumors,
Hezbollah employed its media outlets to conduct a disinformation campaign based
on the idea that the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister had given
assurances to Hezbollah that no action would be taken against the Al-Qard Al-Hasan
Association. The rumors also targeted the Governor of the Central Bank of
Lebanon, claiming that he, in turn, had given Hezbollah assurances on the same
matter. This raises the question: Why are these rumors being spread? And why at
this particular time? The answer is that Hezbollah's funding is no less
important than its weapons, but not just any funding—the social funding provided
by the Al-Qard Al-Hasan institution, which constitutes a fundamental pillar of
the party's ability to maintain its support base. Without this institution, the
party would have faced failure on two fronts: first, on the military front, with
Israeli forces reaching the outskirts of Nabatieh; and second, on the economic
and social front, if the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association had lost its ability to
continue functioning as the community bank upon which the party's support base
depends. Hence, this campaign appears to be a preemptive attempt to reassure the
party's supporters that things are still under control and that nothing has
changed. However, the campaign of rumors that Hezbollah is trying to promote,
claiming that the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association is continuing and remaining in
operation with a guarantee from the "state," is countered by facts that refute
it. Nidaa Al-Watan has learned that the Central Bank of Lebanon has again
submitted a formal request to the FATF Recommendations Follow-up Committee,
chaired by the Prime Minister, to reconsider this matter within the committee.
Today, the file has returned to the Prime Minister's desk, who is pursuing,
through a specialized committee, the issue of removing Lebanon from the grey
list. The case of the illegal Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association will be discussed in
the committee before being referred to the Cabinet for a final decision. As long
as Lebanon’s exit from the grey list depends on the fate of the good loan, it is
obvious that the government must bear its responsibility in this regard,
especially since the country is about to discuss the financial gap project to
begin the recovery from the collapse that has been ongoing since 2019. Without
putting an end to the illegal activities of the good loan, this recovery will be
impossible, and the country may slip into the black list at a later stage, and
lose its chance for financial and economic rescue.
Naim Qassem: We have
entered a new phase in confronting Israel, and the political authority must
reconsider its course.
National News Agency/June 26, 2026
(Google translation from Arabic)
Hezbollah's media relations office distributed the speech of Hezbollah
Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during the Ashura procession, in which he
said: "Ashura is the victory of blood over the sword. The blood of Hussein
nourishes the flame of freedom and liberation. The voice of Zainab inspires
those who walk the path of jihad. It is the banner of light guiding people
towards their righteousness. Ashura is Hussein's extension to the Mahdi to
establish justice. It is the education of generations to live dignified lives.
It is the whole story, extending the future with the brilliance of history.
Karbala is time that repeats itself eternally. It is the land that is proud of
its sons. It is the sky that bestows its blessings. It is the sun that dispels
the darkness of tyranny and oppression." He added: “On the day of Ashura, the
group gathered with Imam Hussein, peace be upon him. On the night before his
martyrdom, our Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, said to them: ‘I know of no
companions more righteous or just than you, nor any family more virtuous. May
God reward you well on my behalf.’ They responded with a noble and honorable
stance, expressed by Muslim ibn Awsajah: ‘By God, we will not abandon you until
God knows that we have preserved the legacy of His Messenger in you. By God,
even if I knew that I would be killed, then brought back to life, then burned,
then brought back to life, then scattered to the winds, and this would be done
to me seventy times, I would not leave you until I meet my death for your sake.
How could I not do so? It is but one death, followed by an everlasting honor.’
He continued: ‘This Ashura scene is an icon of history in sacrifice, giving, and
immortality. This Ashura scene is the true revolutionary mobilization that
changes the equation and topples tyrants. We say to our Imam Hussein, peace be
upon him, as his companions said: We will not abandon you, O Hussein.’” And we
say to our Imam, always and forever, in the arenas of jihad, in the arenas of
victory, in the arenas of establishing truth and liberating the land and
humanity: At your service, O Hussein! This year we witnessed the magnificent
commemoration of Ashura and the presence of people everywhere, despite
displacement, suffering, loss, and hardship. This is the people of Abu Tahir,
who have learned from the school of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, and stood
firm. Praise be to God who granted us the grace to experience Ashura and to be a
part of Karbala. We are in the Ashura of our time with Imam Khomeini, with Imam
Khamenei, with Ayatollah Sayyid Mujtaba, with Imam Musa al-Sadr, with Sheikh
Ragheb Harb, with Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi, with Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, with
Sayyid Hashem Safieddine, with the mujahideen, with the martyrs, with the
wounded, with the prisoners, with the families who surrounded us from every side
to say: Karbala is the arena, Karbala is the field, Karbala is the victory,
Karbala is the future. We are entrusted with the legacy of the martyrs, the
wounded, and the prisoners. It is a trust placed upon our shoulders, and we will
protect what they sacrificed for. They were all present in Ashura, and they
remain so; they are all on the land of Karbala, and they remain so.
The young mujahideen are in the field, the women mujahideen are in the field,
the elder, the child, the old, and the young—all are in the field of Karbala,
and all are creating Ashura. It is a replica of the Ashura of Hussein, Zainab,
Ali al-Akbar, Abdullah al-Radhi, and Habib ibn Mazahir—all were present in
Ashura, from the youngest to the oldest to their leader. And today, Ashura is
repeated—the whole family, the whole community. He said, “Our master Hussein was
present in the South, in Bint Jbeil, Khiam, Bayyad, and Ali al-Taher, and
everywhere is the South. He was present in the Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon,
Beirut, the southern suburbs, and the North, so all of Lebanon became the South,
and our people became the feelings of Karbala. We moved from ‘If only we had
been with you’ to ‘We are with you, and you are with us.’” We are no longer
facing the Karbala of history; we are now facing a Karbala connected from the
past to the present to the future, to Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his
reappearance). This means that the light has begun to spread, and liberation is
coming. They were and still are in communion with what God Almighty said: “Among
them are those who have fulfilled their vow, and among them are those who await
[its fulfillment], and they have not altered [their commitment] in the least.”
Karbala is all of life, Karbala is all purity, faith, and sacrifice, Karbala,
far be it from us to accept humiliation. Faint voices arose from afar objecting
to our being with Hussein, so the blood of the martyrs erupted, defeating the
tyrants, America and the Israeli enemy, and declaring to them through the
airwaves: “The followers of Hussein are victorious, and those who lag behind are
losers.”
He added: "We faced a war aimed at eliminating Hezbollah, its environment, its
people, and the citizens associated with it in Lebanon. US Secretary of State
Rubio says: Israel is in Lebanon because Hezbollah targets it with missiles. No,
Israel is in Lebanon because it wants to swallow it up. Israel is in Lebanon
because it wants to occupy it on the path to a Greater Israel. The resistance
arose precisely because of this aggression and occupation. This Israeli-American
aggression, by land, sea, and air, against civilians, trees, stones, and life
itself, using all types of weapons, with the help of countries and agents, with
plans to sow discord within the army, the sect, and the community, with
political criminalization and financial blockades, and with plans to strike
educational, social, and cultural institutions, is a major war and a great
danger they intended to eliminate our existence. But thank God, through the
Karbala-like stance of our noble and dear people, we were able to stop this
aggression; we were able to achieve a great victory. We declare it loud and
clear: We have shattered the Israeli-American project, and we have entered a new
phase. Whoever wants to work now must work on the basis of this new phase. This
aggression coincided with the aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran."
America and Israel also wanted to eliminate Iran by changing the regime and
seizing control of the country and its resources. They declared their
intentions, planned for them, and believed they could achieve them. America
incited the world to support it, using several Gulf states and working to draw
in European and other global powers. A NATO official announced that five
thousand aircraft had taken off from Europe in support of America's aggression
against Iran. Iran stood firm. Iran presented Imam Khamenei, may God sanctify
his soul, as a symbol, a beacon, a light, a guide, a revolution, and a force for
mobilization, along with its leaders, its people, its civilians, and through
immense sacrifices. In this way, it was able to stand firm and persevere, and it
was able to reach the Memorandum of Understanding, which is a formal declaration
of the defeat of America and Israel. Today, Iran is shaping the future not only
for itself but for the entire region. He continued: "We cooperated with Iran
during the aggression and confronted it together, and together we thwarted the
project. They wanted us to be isolated and divided, but we acted as a unified
force, and this is our natural right. If America, with all the world's
resources, worked to lure all countries into its aggressive project, how can we
not cooperate in our just project, in liberating our land, and in the honorable
resistance? Thank you to Iran, thank you to Iran, even if gratitude penetrates
sick souls and brings them down with regret. Thank you to Iran, and we will
remain with you. We want you by our side, and we want to be united, because it
has become clear that your strength, combined with the strength of the
resistance fighters on the ground, helps to create the appropriate balance that
will move us to the new stage, the stage of dismantling the Israeli project as a
prelude to expelling the Israeli entity from our land."
"We cooperated with Iran during the period of aggression and confronted it
together, and together we thwarted the project.' They wanted us to be isolated
and divided, but we acted as a unified force, and this is our natural right.
Thank you to Iran, and we will remain with you. We want you by our side, and we
want to be united, because it has become clear that your strength, combined with
the strength of the resistance fighters on the ground, helps to create the
appropriate balance that will move us to the new stage, the stage of dismantling
the Israeli project as a prelude to expelling the Israeli entity from our land."
"We worked with Iran during the period of aggression and confronted it together,
and together we thwarted the project." He added: "There are five pillars we
believe in and advocate for: First, Israel has no option but to withdraw
completely from every inch of our Lebanese land and to cease its aggression by
air, land, sea, and in all its forms. Its aggression has failed to achieve its
expansionist goals, and this is a fundamental starting point upon which we
build. Israel must leave unconditionally, and any commitment against Lebanon's
sovereignty will not be accepted, and no one has the right to sign or accept
anything. All solutions must be capped on Lebanon's complete sovereignty and
independence, with no normalization, no lifting of the state of hostility, no
gains for Israel, and no partial presence on Lebanese soil. Israel must leave
humiliated and defeated, and this is what will happen. We believe that the
ceiling of sovereignty can be achieved by remaining within the framework of the
results of the November 27, 2024 agreement, and on the basis of southern Lebanon
exclusively, south of the Litani River, and not all of the south."
He said: “Second: The resistance continues with its existence, presence,
decisions and capabilities, and it is now the pillar of Lebanon’s independence
and liberation, and it will remain. It is this people, it is this land, it is
history, the present and the future. Third: The Lebanese authority cannot
antagonize or quarrel with more than half of the Lebanese people and proceed
normally. The country is with its components, not its positions, and the
officials are responsible for preserving the country. They are proud if they
succeed, and the people will hold them accountable if they fail. The political
authority must reconsider. Its course is based on two matters: The first:
gathering the word, uniting the ranks, and uniting the political position in the
face of the Israeli enemy, and stopping implementing the dictates of the
guardianship and the enemy, and making decisions that are in the interest of
America and Israel. We are ready and we extend the hand. Seize the opportunity,
the resistance is strong and we are with you if you follow the path of Lebanon’s
sovereignty. The second: the necessity of mobilizing the resolve to build the
state in addressing the economic situation, depositors’ funds, reconstruction,
and bridging the social gap, and doing everything that would address the issues
that we need in Lebanon and in the future With the Israeli withdrawal, we are
studying together the comprehensive strategy for national security.”
He added: "Fourth: The necessity of benefiting from the path of understanding
between Iran and America as a fundamental support for Lebanon's sovereignty with
an exceptional force sent to us by God Almighty as a gift from heaven. You in
Lebanon, what do you have to combat aggression? We made these great sacrifices
because there is no balance by force. We adjusted with the sacrifice of blood.
Now this addition that came from honorable Iran, from the Iran of Islam, we must
benefit from it for the benefit of the project of a sovereign, free and
independent Lebanon. It has been proven that Iran is the path to salvation.
Fifth: Stop the hands of the Arab and foreign countries that are pressuring you
to drag you into strife and reconcile with Israel or Israel's interests, and
cooperate to the maximum with the Arab and foreign countries who are helping
Lebanon to achieve its sovereignty and build it. Tell them to translate this
into practice, not for some countries to come and tell you to disarm so that we
can help you. This is Israel's project. We want people who support us for our
sovereignty, and not support Israel under the pretext of our sovereignty.
Therefore, we welcome the Arab and foreign countries that work for
reconstruction and to restore sovereignty Strengthening the Lebanese army and
expelling Israel, and creating a strong lobby that prevents Israel from
achieving its goals.”
He concluded: “Finally: We must salute the people of Gaza and Palestine. O
honorable and generous sacrificers, the world has wronged you, but the blood of
your martyrs and the contributions of your people will remain the foundational
symbol of freedom, dignity and liberation. We are with you, Palestine and the
liberation of Palestine will remain the compass. We believe in its liberation
alongside its people, and, God willing, it will be soon. Here is a greeting to
the dear and selfless Yemeni people, the honorable leadership and the armed
forces.” Those who stood up when the world abandoned Palestine, Lebanon, and the
axis of resistance, despite all their difficulties and circumstances. These are
honorable people who know where the truth is. My salutes to the Iraqi people,
the leadership, the people, and the government, because they surrounded us with
care and assistance, and because they were with us. As a result, those who are
right will prevail, and we will continue to adhere to the slogan: Far be it from
humiliation.
Sheikh Naim Qassem and the Fateful Doom
Colonel Charbel Barakat/June27/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155578/
Today, corresponding to the eleventh of the month of Muharram (the final days of
Ashura), Sheikh Naim Qassem launched his threats against the Lebanese state and
anyone who does not align with the Party's theories on continuing the fight.
This fight has appeared, across all its stages, as one loss after another; its
fighters, along with those from the Revolutionary Guard, remain trapped in the
tunnels of the "Nabi Taher" ridge—which they intended to be an invincible base
to fight the "enemy," only for it to become a trap for them, much like al-Khiyam,
followed by al-Qusayr, Bint Jbeil, Kfar Tebnit, and other strongholds where
fighters were besieged and killed under the rubble or in explosions carried out
by the Israelis.
Sheikh Naim is still trying to delude the grieving support base into believing
that he won the war and triumphed as always, and that funds are coming,
reconstruction is inevitable, and Israel’s withdrawal will be achieved. All of
this, supposedly, due to Iran's victory in the war and its demand for a
cessation of fighting and the humiliated withdrawal of the Israelis from
Lebanon, alongside the return of the yellow victory flags to decorate the hills
of the South "liberated" from occupation—even if not a single stone is left
standing upon another, nor a tree, a field, a street, or a terrace wall.
Sheikh Naim believed that the Americans submissively accepted pressing Israel to
stop the fighting and stage a humiliating withdrawal because the United States
military lost the war, its fleets were destroyed, its planes were shot down, and
its soldiers were killed. He imagines it begging for the Revolutionary Guard's
acceptance to allow it to withdraw with honor from the Gulf, dragging its tails
with its head bowed down.
Furthermore, Sheikh Naim threatens anyone who stands in the face of his party
with a dark fate, just as MP Fadlallah also attempted to do by threatening a
civil war. He does not realize that his party no longer even controls its own
members, and its weapon is no longer capable of protecting a popular march or a
protest rally in the streets of Beirut. Those who tried to close the airport
road were expelled, those who tried to vandalize downtown Beirut were besieged,
and there will no longer remain demagogic elements capable of threatening people
in their neighborhoods and trespassing on their properties. The era of
obscenity, hegemony, and hiding behind the slogans of resistance and defending
the land has ended, never to return—especially since the Iranian occupier stated
it plainly: that these people are fighting in defense of Iran, and that they
paid with four thousand dead for the sake of Iran, at a time when Iran itself,
throughout the entire war and destruction, did not sacrifice more than three
thousand dead from its own forces.
Sheikh Naim and his clique have lost even the ability to lie. Everything they
said turned out to be utter nonsense, sheer lies, and blatant deception. They,
and similar turbaned figures who spout obscenities, do not deserve to be counted
among clergymen, even if they claim to be. We will not name those who brazenly
and publicly deceive people, such as Mufti Qabalan and others, because the
public now knows better than we do who led them to their demise and to the loss
of their livelihoods and children for no reason, and who demolished the
homeland, destroyed
homes, uprooted peaceful citizens from their dwellings, scattered them on the
roads, and housed them in the tents of humiliation they had long tried to avoid.
The Lebanese are not a group to be led by slogans indefinitely. Even the sons of
the stricken community have begun to open their eyes and see clearly who caused
the catastrophe they are living through, and whose consequences they will bear
for a long time. They will forgive neither Qassem, nor Qabalan, nor any of this
clique that hides beneath turbans, spreading hatred and venom, making no attempt
to protest the fate of the people or their suffering, but rather further
burdening them with weights they do not want and the outcomes of decisions they
have nothing to do with.
The Lebanese state is capable of proceeding along the path of righteousness. It
is negotiating for the benefit of everyone, especially the community stricken by
its leadership—from the turbaned figures to those seated for decades on chairs
of power who have never once spoken the truth. Instead, they have always been
tools of subjugation and justification for the occupier, as well as instruments
of sabotage and theft of the country's wealth, dividing it among themselves
while depriving citizens of their dignity, because their rights are always
squandered unless accompanied by the approval, mediation, and henchmen of these
rulers.The homeland will rise from its ashes, just like in that myth taught to
us by history. It will end its conflict with its neighbors in the east, the
north, and especially in the south. It will strive to prevent adventurers and
traitors from tampering with the destiny of the people and spreading illusions
and hatreds. Good will triumph this time, relations between states will be
regulated, Lebanon will enjoy neutrality and stability, and it will launch
toward cooperation with everyone based on respect and confidence. There will no
longer be any room for those who fish in troubled waters to resume spreading
venom or launching destructive theories.Flee, Sheikh Naim, if possible, before
it is too late, because no one will have mercy on you or your fellow
destructive, hateful companions. The hands of the wretched and oppressed—whose
children you killed, whose homes you destroyed, and whose dreams you buried—will
reach you, and you will not find anyone to search for a grave to bury you in...
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 26-27 June/2026
CENTCOM: We carried out strikes on Iran in response to its
attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz
Al-Arabiya.net and agencies/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday evening that it had carried
out strikes on Iran in response to its attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz
the previous day. CENTCOM added that Iran's aggression against the ships was a
blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, describing Iranian behavior as
dangerous and undermining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump:
Iran Violated Ceasefire by Targeting Ships
Trump: Iran Still Retains "Some" Military Capabilities
Al-Arabiya.net, Agencies/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that Iran had blatantly violated
the ceasefire. In a post on his "Truth Social" platform, he explained: "Iran
launched at least four 'One Way' attack drones at ships transiting the Strait of
Hormuz. One of the drones directly hit the deck of a large, expensive cargo
ship, causing damage, but the ship was able to continue its journey. We shot
down three more drones. This is clearly a flagrant violation of the ceasefire
agreement." Regarding Iran's capabilities, Trump said that Iran still retains
"some" military capabilities following the latest US strikes, but indicated that
they are "not many." "No Safe Passage Without Respecting Iran's Sovereignty"
Earlier on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that "safe passage
through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed without respecting Iran's
sovereignty," noting that ships transiting in parallel routes... The Strait of
Hormuz could endanger them. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi
told X, "Any framework for crossing the strait must be coordinated with Iran,
otherwise the result will be the suspension of the established route." The
Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that "the Strait of Hormuz must be managed in
coordination with Oman, as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding,"
adding that "regional security can only be achieved through cooperation among
its countries without foreign interference." This came hours after two senior US
officials confirmed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard attacked a
Singapore-flagged cargo ship on Thursday as it transited the Strait of Hormuz,
in a move seen as a test of the de-escalation agreement and the reopening of the
vital shipping lane signed by the United States and Iran last week. According to
the officials, the attack damaged the ship's bridge, but no crew members were
injured, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The
incident occurred near the Omani coast hours after the Revolutionary Guard's
navy warned commercial vessels against using shipping lanes within the strait
that have not been approved by Iranian authorities, according to The Wall Street
Journal.
Trump: Iran's Drone Attacks on Ships a Blatant Violation
of Ceasefire Agreement
Janoubia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
US President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that Iran had blatantly violated
the ceasefire agreement. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he stated:
"Iran launched at least four One Way attack drones at ships transiting the
Strait of Hormuz. One of the drones directly hit the deck of a large, expensive
cargo ship, causing damage, but the ship was able to continue its voyage. We
shot down three more drones. This is clearly a blatant violation of the
ceasefire agreement." Earlier on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry declared
that "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed without
respecting Iran's sovereignty," indicating that ships using parallel routes in
the Strait of Hormuz could endanger them. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem
Gharibabadi told X, “Any framework for transiting the Strait must be coordinated
with Iran, otherwise the result will be the suspension of the current route.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that “the Strait of Hormuz must be managed
in coordination with Oman, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding,”
adding that “regional security can only be achieved through cooperation among
its countries without foreign interference.” This came hours after two senior US
officials confirmed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked a
Singapore-flagged cargo ship on Thursday as it transited the Strait of Hormuz,
in a move seen as a test of the de-escalation agreement and the reopening of the
vital shipping lane signed by the United States and Iran last week. According to
the officials, the attack damaged the ship’s bridge, but no crew members were
injured, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The
incident occurred near the Omani coast hours after the IRGC Navy warned
commercial vessels against using shipping lanes within the Strait that have not
been approved by Iranian authorities, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sources reveal to Al Arabiya the location and timing of the
upcoming US-Iran negotiations: technical and at the expert level.
Riyadh: Al Arabiya.net/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath channels on Friday that the upcoming
US-Iran negotiations will be held on June 28 and 29 in Burgenstock, Switzerland.
The sources explained to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that the upcoming negotiations
will be technical and at the expert level, with mediators present. Iran
effectively gained control of the Strait of Hormuz after the war launched
against it by the United States and Israel on February 28, which disrupted oil
flows and caused turmoil in global energy markets and the economy in general.
Iran's nuclear program: Grossi emphasizes the need for a "very thorough" nuclear
verification system in Iran after the war. In addition to the issue of control
of the Strait, disagreements remain regarding other provisions of the framework
ceasefire agreement, including financial incentives for Iran, nuclear
inspections, and the Israeli war in Lebanon. The agreement stipulates that
negotiations will take place within 60 days to reach a settlement on the most
complex issues, including the Iranian nuclear program.
J.D. Vance: If Watergate happened today, it wouldn't bring
down a presidency.
Vance: The deep state brought down Nixon, and I admire him.
Washington: Bandar Al-Doushi/Al-Arabiya/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
US Vice President J.D. Vance said that if the Watergate scandal, which led to
the resignation of former President Richard Nixon in 1974, were to happen now,
it wouldn't bring down a presidency, considering its impact would have been
limited to "a 12-hour news story." This came during a speech Vance gave on
Thursday at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California,
where he was promoting his new book, "Communion." "Communion: Finding My Way
Back to Faith" is a personal memoir by US Vice President J.D. Vance and is the
second volume after his acclaimed book, "Hillbilly Elegy." In it, Vance speaks
candidly about his spiritual journey: from his childhood Christian faith (in a
poor Appalachian environment), to a period of estrangement and atheism in his
youth, then his return to faith and conversion to Catholicism in 2019 at the age
of 35. Vance said, "If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour
news story. The idea that it brought down a presidency is insane." He added that
Nixon's legacy is experiencing a well-deserved revival, noting that he has
always admired Nixon. The Vice President drew parallels between what happened to
Nixon and what happened to President Donald Trump, saying that the deep state
was responsible for Nixon's downfall, and that the story is not so different
from what the same institutions tried to do to Trump during his first term. The
Watergate scandal is one of the biggest political scandals in US history. It
erupted following a break-in and espionage operation at the Democratic National
Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972,
and ended with Nixon's resignation in August 1974 after his involvement in
attempts to cover up the crime was proven. Vance's statement comes at a time
when he is widely regarded as one of the leading potential presidential
candidates in the 2028 election.
Karim Khan to Al Arabiya: My Suspension Targets an
International Public Official / First Appearance by ICC Prosecutor After Sexual
Misconduct Allegation
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net / June 26, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan stated on Friday that his
suspension is a targeted attack on an international public official. In his
first appearance since being charged with sexual misconduct, Khan told Al
Arabiya/Al Hadath that three independent judges confirmed his innocence and
denied the existence of any evidence to support the misconduct allegations.
However, he said he is facing powerful and influential countries. Khan also
noted that he made a voluntary decision to temporarily step away from the ICC,
describing his suspension as painful and a "political decision." Regarding the
complaints filed against him, Khan said that lawyers from Britain representing
Israel filed complaints against him, which were dismissed. He also pointed out
that members of the US Senate threatened to target him if he pursued Israel. He
added that UN officials have been threatened simply for holding differing
opinions, and that many international judges are also subjected to threats,
stating: "International judges are subjected to coercive measures by influential
states." He also noted that the investigations against him amounted to 5,000
pages, yet the UN found no evidence to support them. He further pointed out that
the International Criminal Court (ICC) did not inform him of the procedures for
suspending his duties. Weeks earlier, an administrative body at the ICC
suspended Prosecutor Karim Khan with immediate effect after he was accused of
sexually assaulting a member of his office, and referred his case to the
Assembly of States Parties, emphasizing that the suspension did not constitute a
prejudgment. Khan, a 55-year-old Briton, had stepped down in May 2025 to focus
on his defense, denying the accusations against him. He was also removed from
the most prominent case before the ICC, involving former Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte.
Yemeni Official: We Are Pursuing the Killers of Al-Arabiya Correspondent and
Will Reveal the Circumstances of the Crime
Al-Arabiya.net: Awsan Salem / June 26, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
Salem Al-Khanbashi, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and
Governor of Hadramawt, stated on Friday that the relevant authorities are
continuing to pursue those involved in the killing of journalist Mohammed Ayda,
a correspondent for Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath channels. He emphasized that
investigations are ongoing to uncover the circumstances of the crime and bring
the perpetrators to justice. Al-Khanbashi's remarks came during his meeting with
Ayda's family in the city of Mukalla, in the presence of a delegation from Al-Arabiya
and Al-Hadath channels. The Hadramawt Governor's Media Office quoted Al-Khanbashi
as saying that targeting journalists constitutes an attack on media freedom. He
affirmed that local authorities are following up on the case in coordination
with the relevant bodies to ensure the completion of investigations and the
prosecution of those responsible. The West Asian Journalists Union condemned the
killing of Al-Arabiya correspondent Mohammed Ayda in Mukalla. He added that the
local authority is committed to providing a safe environment that enables
journalists to perform their work, praising the professional role played by
Mohammed Ayda throughout his media career.
Al-Arabiya.net: Awsan Salem / June 26, 2026 Sigrid Kaag to Al Arabiya: We Reject
Linking Humanitarian Aid to Gaza with Political Progress; She Described the
Palestinian National Committee as a "Cornerstone"
Riyadh: Al Arabiya.net/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The UN Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza,
Sigrid Kaag, told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath channels on Friday that "civilians in
the Gaza Strip are trapped in a constantly shrinking geographical area." She
added that "no one can claim to have achieved tangible progress in Gaza,"
rejecting any link between humanitarian aid to the Strip and political progress.
She continued, telling Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, "We are working to support and
strengthen political and financial support for the Palestinian National
Committee." Kaag emphasized that "the Palestinian National Committee is a
cornerstone in terms of legitimacy and credibility." Nearly all of Gaza's
residents were displaced during a two-year war between Israel and Hamas, and
today they find themselves trapped in a narrow strip along the coast, mostly in
tents and damaged buildings, according to Reuters. Despite a ceasefire reached
in October 2015, Israel has continued to launch attacks in Gaza, saying their
aim is to thwart imminent attacks by Hamas and other militants, while the
movement has so far rejected calls to lay down its arms in exchange for an
Israeli troop withdrawal.
Egypt: Shooting at Monks in Monastery; Interior Ministry
Reveals "Circumstances of the Incident"
Cairo: Al-Arabiya.net/June 26, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
On Friday, a shooting incident occurred at a monastery in Fayoum Governorate,
southwest of Egypt. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior revealed the "details and
circumstances of the incident." The Ministry confirmed that the incident stemmed
from a civil dispute over a piece of land that had been reclaimed by the state,
and was not an attack targeting the monastery. According to the Ministry's
statement, the Fayoum Security Directorate received a report stating that while
two monks from the Abu Khashaba Monastery were traveling in a car and passing by
a plot of land adjacent to the monastery, which had been previously reclaimed by
the state from the monastery's employees as it was state property, two private
guards confronted them. The statement continued that the situation escalated
when one of the guards fired a shotgun at the car, resulting in one of the monks
being wounded in the left leg by shotgun pellets. He was subsequently taken to
the hospital for treatment. Security forces were able to identify and apprehend
the guards and seize the weapon used, and the incident was referred to the
Public Prosecution for investigation, according to a statement from the Egyptian
Ministry of Interior. The Monastery of Abu Khashaba is located in the Itsa
district, 16 kilometers southeast of Fayoum, and is considered one of the oldest
Coptic landmarks in Egypt, with monastic life dating back to the 4th century AD.
The monastery area is associated with a historic visit by Saint Anthony the
Great, the founder of monasticism, a visit documented in church studies. The
name of the monastery, "Abu Khashaba" (Father of a Wood), originates from an
ancient church tradition documented in manuscripts at the Coptic Museum, which
speaks of a wooden beam in the church's ceiling historically linked to the
Nile's flooding and water flow.
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital
Services Taxes / France Has Charged 3% Tax on Digital Revenues Since 2019
Washington - Reuters / June 26, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to impose 100% tariffs on all
goods imported from any country that imposes a digital services tax on American
companies. The threat escalates transatlantic trade tensions, coming a day after
European Union countries committed to Trump's July 4 deadline to reduce tariffs
on U.S. goods. "Many European countries are in discussions about the imminent
implementation of a Digital Services Tax targeting U.S. companies... and some
are already close to doing so," Trump said in a social media post.
"Let this statement be considered confirmation that any country imposing such a
tax will immediately face 100% tariffs on all goods sent to the United States,"
he added. Trump stated that these tariffs would supersede any existing trade
agreements with the United States, "whether in force, signed, or otherwise."
Among these agreements will be the one concluded by the United States and the
European Union last year, which caps US tariffs on European goods at 15% in
exchange for EU countries reducing tariffs on US industrial goods to zero.
However, the lengthy legislative process within the EU to implement its
obligations under the agreement has led Trump to threaten to reinstate 25%
tariffs on European imports, including cars. The European Union institutions
subsequently rushed to comply with Trump's July 4th deadline for implementing
those changes. French President Emmanuel Macron said last week, ahead of his
meeting with Trump at the G7 summit, that France would not succumb to his
pressure and would not repeal the digital services tax imposed on American
technology companies, which covers services such as online marketplaces and
advertising. Before heading to the summit in France, Trump warned that the
United States would have "no choice" but to impose a 100% tariff on French wine
if Paris did not abolish the digital tax. Since 2019, France has levied a 3% tax
on revenues from digital services within its borders for companies with revenues
exceeding €25 million in France and €750 million ($854.02 million) globally.
French lawmakers proposed last year doubling this tax to 6%. The Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative has long threatened France, Britain, Austria, Spain
and other European countries with reciprocal tariffs if they implement digital
services taxes, arguing that these taxes discriminate against American companies
that dominate this sector globally.
Oil prices fall as tankers continue to leave the Strait of Hormuz / Brent crude
futures settled down 4.34% at $71.99 a barrel
Houston - Reuters / June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Oil prices fell nearly 3% at settlement on Friday and were on track for sharp
weekly losses as supply concerns eased thanks to the departure of more stranded
oil tankers from the Strait of Hormuz, despite an attack on a cargo ship near
Oman on Thursday. Brent crude futures settled down $3.27, or 4.34%, at $71.99 a
barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $2.69, or 3.74%,
to $69.23 a barrel. The evacuation plan for ships and sailors from the Strait of
Hormuz was suspended following an attack on a vessel. Since the market closed
last Thursday, Brent crude has plummeted 10.86%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI)
crude fell 9.62% over the week. The market was closed last Friday for a public
holiday. Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group, said, "There's a
growing sense that oil will continue to flow through the Strait of Hormuz."
Before the 60-day ceasefire agreement, markets were concerned that supplies
might not meet demand, but those fears appear to be easing. Analyst Tamas Varga
of PVM said, "The prevailing expectation seems to still be for an imminent
supply glut." Flynn added, "We're going to see a flood of oil. I think we're
going to see a massive flood of products." Shipping data from the London
Exchange Group showed that Saudi Aramco resumed loading oil at the Ras Tanura
port in the Gulf on Friday after a nearly four-month hiatus. Data showed that
two supertankers belonging to Saudi Arabia's Bahri shipping company were seen
loading crude oil at the port. Each tanker of this type has a capacity of two
million barrels of oil. June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta
Commodities, said, "There is a general sell-off in the market as it reacts to
the increased flows out of the Strait of Hormuz, at a time when China has yet to
begin increasing its demand for crude."
Ship struck by unidentified object
Both benchmark crude oil prices rose by more than 2% each on Thursday after an
unidentified object struck a ship near Oman, prompting the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, to suspend a voluntary evacuation
program. Two US officials told Reuters that Iran fired on the cargo ship as it
attempted to transit the strait. Iranian authorities have stated that the safety
of ships sailing outside designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz is uncertain.
Iran reiterated on Friday its right to control navigation through the Strait of
Hormuz and warned Gulf states against siding with the United States. Data
released yesterday showed that crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz
this week reached their highest level since the start of the US-Israeli war on
Iran on February 28. Despite the ceasefire agreement that led to the reopening
of the waterway, overall shipping traffic remains significantly below the
pre-war daily average. The Russian news agency TASS reported today that Russian
authorities are considering imposing a multi-month ban on diesel exports. Russia
is a major diesel exporter but has faced fuel supply problems following a wave
of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting oil refineries and other energy
infrastructure.
The Latest LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 26-27 June/2026
Did Angela Merkel Work for the Stasi? The Protected
Secrets of Germany's Recent Chancellor
Drieu Godefridi/Gatestone Institute/June 26, 2026
Did Angela Merkel Work for the Stasi? Officially, no.... She has repeatedly
stated that she refused recruitment attempts, notably in the late 1970s when
applying for an academic position.
Unofficially, however, the extreme and ongoing protection of her Stasi-related
files raises legitimate and troubling questions. In March 2026, the Berlin
Administrative Court upheld the Federal Archives' refusal to grant access to any
documents concerning her, even to researchers. This decision shields one of
modern Europe's most consequential leaders from full historical scrutiny --
decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Both of Merkel's political mentors in 1989-1990 were thus long-term Stasi
collaborators.... Merkel's ascent from relative obscurity to Bundestag member in
December 1990, then to Cabinet minister under Kohl, remains one of the most
meteoric and least scrutinized in German history.
Yet no full file has ever been released publicly -- and the 2026 court ruling
ensured it stays that way.
The Stasi Records Act (Stasi-Unterlagen-Gesetz) prioritizes personal data
protection over research interests...
The court did not even require the archives to confirm the existence of files or
review them in camera.
This is the same legal framework that allows victims and researchers wide access
to files on ordinary citizens and confirmed IMs -- but apparently not for
Germany's former chancellor.
The court's decision is not merely cautious -- it is an intellectual and moral
outrage that undermines the very purpose of the Stasi archives: confronting the
past to safeguard democracy.
[T]he ruling creates a two-tier system: ordinary former East Germans must live
with full exposure of their Stasi files, while the elite -- especially the
long-serving chancellor whose policies shaped modern Germany's migration crisis,
energy dependence on Russia, and EU direction -- receive extraordinary
protection.
By shielding Merkel's files, German institutions send a dangerous message: some
pasts are too sensitive for the public. In an age of declining trust in elites,
this breeds legitimate suspicion. If there is "nothing to hide," why the
extraordinary legal fortress?
The extreme and ongoing protection of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's
Stasi-related files raises legitimate and troubling questions. A democracy that
protects its powerful against the truth ceases to be a democracy and returns to
the era of suspicion -- exactly the trademark of the Stasi. Pictured: Merkel in
2018.
The Ministry for State Security (Stasi), the infamous secret police of the
communist German Democratic Republic (GDR), was one of the most ruthless and
pervasive instruments of repression ever created in Europe. Operating as the
iron fist of the communist dictatorship, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED),
the Stasi maintained a suffocating web of surveillance over its own population.
Nearly 91,000 full-time officers and up to 189,000 unofficial collaborators (Inoffizielle
Mitarbeiter, IM) -- meaning roughly one in every six or seven East Germans --
was spying on family, colleagues, or friends.
Through systematic psychological destruction known as Zersetzung (subversion),
the Stasi ruined lives without leaving visible traces. They destroyed careers,
marriages and mental health through targeted disinformation, anonymous letters,
workplace sabotage and relentless harassment. Political prisoners were tortured
in notorious facilities such as Hohenschönhausen, the Stasi prison outside
Berlin, where thousands were broken or murdered.
The Stasi kidnapped dissidents abroad, collaborated with international
terrorists (including the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Group) and
Palestinian groups), trafficked weapons, and ran a vast network of forced labor
and industrial espionage that stole Western technology on a massive scale. By
1989, it had amassed more than six million files on individuals -- a monstrous
archive of betrayal and fear that turned an entire society into a prison of
mutual suspicion. Even today, the full horror of this perfected totalitarian
machine remains only partially exposed, its surviving architects and
beneficiaries often shielded by post-reunification silence.
Did Angela Merkel Work for the Stasi?
Did Angela Merkel Work for the Stasi? Officially, no. There is no publicly
confirmed evidence that Merkel was a Stasi employee or one of the formal
Inoffizielle Mitarbeiter (IMs). She has repeatedly stated that she refused
recruitment attempts, notably in the late 1970s when applying for an academic
position.
Unofficially, however, the extreme and ongoing protection of her Stasi-related
files raises legitimate and troubling questions. In March 2026, the Berlin
Administrative Court upheld the Federal Archives' refusal to grant access to any
documents concerning her, even to researchers. This decision shields one of
modern Europe's most consequential leaders from full historical scrutiny --
decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Facts on Record: Merkel's Rapid Rise Amid Stasi Networks
Angela Merkel (née Kasner), born in 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany and raised in
Templin, East Germany, is the daughter of Protestant pastor Horst Kasner (known
as "the Red Pastor"), who moved his family to the GDR because he embraced the
"idea" of communism. Kasner was an advocate for the separation from the West
German church and Christian-socialist reconciliation. His Evangelical Church was
actively collaborating with communist authorities. Merkel studied physics,
earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry, and worked at the Academy of Sciences
in Berlin-Adlershof until 1990.
Key documented elements that fuel suspicion:
Free German Youth (FDJ) Involvement: Merkel served as Secretary for Agitation
and Propaganda (Agitations- und Propaganda-Sekretärin) in the FDJ at the Academy
of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof, where she worked from 1978 onward -- a role
that typically required close alignment with the communist regime and
cooperation with the Stasi. The position required promoting the state's
communist ideology, organizing political training, and monitoring the political
loyalty of colleagues. Holders of such roles were always recruited by or worked
closely with the Stasi. Merkel has downplayed this as "cultural affairs," but
contemporaries dispute her account. Her former colleagues asserted she indeed
propagated Marxist-Leninist ideology among students and colleagues.
In East Germany, an IM (Inoffizielle Mitarbeiter) was an unofficial collaborator
-- an informant -- who delivered private information to the Ministry for State
Security.
Wolfgang Schnur: In late 1989/early 1990, during the Wende (the peaceful
revolution), Schnur -- a long-time Stasi informant since the mid-1960s who
reported on church and opposition figures -- founded the Democratic Awakening (Demokratischer
Aufbruch) party. He personally recruited the then-unknown 35-year-old Merkel as
press spokeswoman in February 1990. Schnur was exposed as a Stasi IM just days
before the March 18, 1990 elections, leading to the party's collapse. Merkel
distanced herself but benefited directly from his patronage.
Lothar de Maizière: After Schnur's fall, Merkel moved seamlessly to the East
German branch of West Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Lothar de
Maizière, the last Prime Minister of East Germany (April-October 1990). De
Maizière, who negotiated German reunification with West German Chancellor Helmut
Kohl, was himself exposed in December 1990 as a Stasi informant (registered
since at least 1981, with files linking him to surveillance of the church and
West German contacts). Merkel served as his deputy government spokeswoman. He
resigned from the Germany's federal government shortly after unification when
the allegations surfaced.
Both of Merkel's political mentors in 1989-1990 were thus long-term Stasi
collaborators. Both had close ties to her father's church network, itself deeply
engaged in collaboration with the totalitarian regime. Merkel's ascent from
relative obscurity to Bundestag member in December 1990, then to Cabinet
minister under Kohl, remains one of the most meteoric and least scrutinized in
German history.
Yet no full file has ever been released publicly -- and the 2026 court ruling
ensured it stays that way.
The Court's Reasoning: Privacy Above Historical Truth
In March 2026, the Berlin Administrative Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by
Marcel Luthe (a researcher and former politician) seeking access to Merkel's
Stasi files. The court ruled that:
Merkel was not proven to be a Stasi collaborator, so she does not fall under the
categories allowing broader disclosure. The reasoning is quite ironic, given
that the investigation is specifically aimed at determining whether or not
Merkel did actually collaborate with the Stasi.
Merkel was not a sufficiently significant "person of contemporary history"
(Person der Zeitgeschichte) before 1990 to justify overriding privacy
protections.
The Stasi Records Act (Stasi-Unterlagen-Gesetz) prioritizes personal data
protection over research interests when no clear collaboration exists.
Releasing files could harm Merkel's privacy rights, although as Chancellor
(2005-2021), she was one of the most powerful figures in Europe for 16 years.
The court did not even require the archives to confirm the existence of files or
review them in camera. Luthe was ordered to pay around €20,000 in costs.
This is the same legal framework that allows victims and researchers wide access
to files on ordinary citizens and confirmed IMs -- but apparently not for
Germany's former chancellor.
Why This Ruling Is a Legal and Democratic Aberration
The court's decision is not merely cautious -- it is an intellectual and moral
outrage that undermines the very purpose of the Stasi archives: confronting the
past to safeguard democracy.
First, Merkel was politically active before 1990. She held a leadership position
in the FDJ at a major research institute, joined the DA party during the
revolution, and served as its spokeswoman. By early 1990, she was already
transitioning into high politics. Her claim that she was a "private person" with
no public relevance until after unification strains credulity.
Second, the two men who launched Merkel's career were both exposed Stasi
informants and she had been a staunch Marxist, following in the footsteps of a
father whose entire church was possibly a Stasi front. In any transparent
democracy, this network would demand full disclosure, not a blanket of secrecy.
The public has a legitimate interest in understanding whether Merkel benefited
from, navigated, or was protected by these compromised circles.
Third, the ruling creates a two-tier system: ordinary former East Germans must
live with full exposure of their Stasi files, while the elite -- especially the
long-serving chancellor whose policies shaped modern Germany's migration crisis,
energy dependence on Russia, and EU direction -- receive extraordinary
protection.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung? (Coming to Terms with the Past)
This concealment is the opposite of Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms
with the past), the principle Germany claims to uphold since the Nazi era. By
shielding Merkel's files, German institutions send a dangerous message: some
pasts are too sensitive for the public. In an age of declining trust in elites,
this breeds legitimate suspicion. If there is "nothing to hide," why the
extraordinary legal fortress?
Germany's democracy deserves better than selective amnesia. If there is really
"nothing to hide," why such an impenetrable legal shield around a former
chancellor? The full opening of Merkel's Stasi-related documents is not a matter
of harassment -- it is a matter of historical justice and public accountability.
A democracy that protects its powerful against the truth ceases to be a
democracy and returns to the era of suspicion -- exactly the trademark of the
Stasi.
*Drieu Godefridi is a jurist (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain),
philosopher (University Saint-Louis, University of Louvain) and PhD in legal
theory (Paris IV-Sorbonne). He is an entrepreneur, CEO of a European private
education group and director of PAN Medias Group. He is the author of The Green
Reich (2020).
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
The Graveyard of Illusions
Joseph Habib/Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
A number of experts ruled out the possibility of President Putin invading
Ukraine when he began amassing tens of thousands of Russian troops on his
neighbor's borders at the end of 2021. What was striking at the time was that
those who anticipated a Russian military campaign against Ukraine expected Kyiv
to quickly fall into the hands of the Kremlin forces. I recall having difficulty
convincing academics otherwise at the time, as Putin was seen as a visionary and
wise leader who would not take any ill-considered step toward a country that
Russians knew so well. But the weeks and years that followed February 24, 2022,
buried those illusions and revealed the truth: Putin had plunged Russia into the
deadly Ukrainian quagmire, and instead of curbing NATO's expansion, Russia's
shared border with the alliance had doubled in length. The "Tsar's" decision to
invade Ukraine constituted Russia's greatest strategic blunder since the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Moscow dubbed its war against Ukraine a "special
military operation," clinging to this contrived term that has drawn ridicule
from critics. This "special operation" has already surpassed the duration of
World War I, and if no radical shift occurs in political, diplomatic, and
military approaches, it is not inconceivable that it will exceed the duration of
World War II. The war has exposed the limitations of the "Russian bear" and
revealed the flaws in its war machine. Russia possesses the world's largest
nuclear arsenal and advanced missiles, yet its ground, naval, and air forces
have fallen short of the ambitions of those with imperial aspirations. Following
Russia's surprise annexation of Crimea and its instigation of the conflict in
Donbas, Kyiv began preparing for a major existential confrontation. Ukrainian
leaders assessed the balance of power and resolved to resist the Russian
"enemy," whatever the cost. Kyiv made its fateful choice before the "zero hour,"
a choice vividly articulated by the former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces, Valeriy Zeluzhny, on February 12, 2022, when he delivered a
historic and poignant warning to Russian forces: "Welcome to hell!" The Russians
did not take him seriously, and consequently, they paid a heavy human and
material price, causing immense destruction and a deep rift with their
neighbors, in addition to reawakening their nuclear fears. The image of "a
powerful Russia" was shattered and tarnished during this period. The aura
surrounding Russia, which Putin painstakingly cultivated throughout his
intelligence and political career, received a resounding blow from which it is
virtually impossible to recover anytime soon. Ukraine managed to adapt to the
war, albeit with great difficulty, and carried its devastating effects deep into
Russia thanks to its superior drone technology. Russia is now facing an
intermittent fuel crisis, as its energy infrastructure has been exposed to
Ukraine. Putin has finally concluded that Kyiv aims to destabilize Russian
society. He is not mistaken in this assessment, and he understands that his
continued hold on power in the Kremlin is now tied to the outcome of the war.
Both Ukrainians and Russians deserve peace, and they deserve a just end to the
war.
Peace Requires Sovereignty
Toni Nissi (President, Committee for the United Nations Security
Council Resolutions on Lebanon)
June 26, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155574/
1. Introduction: The Fundamental Equation for Stability
Peace requires sovereignty. Sovereignty requires the State. That simple
principle should guide every discussion about Lebanon's future.
As the United States and Iran pursue a new diplomatic understanding, much of the
international debate has focused on nuclear negotiations, regional
de-escalation, and preventing another Middle Eastern war. These are legitimate
objectives. Every serious diplomatic effort that reduces violence and creates
conditions for lasting stability deserves support.
Yet one critical question remains largely absent from the conversation: Can
there be lasting peace in the Middle East while Lebanon remains unable to
exercise full sovereignty over its own territory? I believe the answer is no.
2. The Core of the Crisis: The Erosion of State Authority
For decades, Lebanon has been viewed primarily through the prism of broader
regional rivalries involving Iran, Israel, Syria, and Hezbollah. While
understandable, this perspective has often overlooked the country's central
challenge: the progressive weakening of the Lebanese State.
No republic can function when constitutional institutions do not exercise
exclusive authority over:
National defense and decisions of war and peace
Foreign policy
Border security
The exclusive, legitimate use of force
The restoration of that authority should therefore be the primary objective of
every diplomatic initiative concerning Lebanon. This is not merely a political
aspiration; it is the constitutional foundation of the Lebanese Republic,
reaffirmed by the Taif Agreement.
3. The Legal Framework: UN Resolutions as a Coherent Roadmap
The international community has repeatedly endorsed the restoration of state
authority through United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and
1701. These resolutions should not be viewed as separate diplomatic texts.
Together, they form a coherent international roadmap for restoring Lebanese
sovereignty.
They explicitly call for:
Extending the authority of the Lebanese government over all its territory.
Securing Lebanon's internationally recognized borders.
Strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
Ensuring that no armed organization operates outside the authority of the State.
More than two decades after the adoption of Resolution 1559, these objectives
remain only partially fulfilled. The reason is not the absence of international
law, nor is it a lack of diplomatic engagement. The problem is that the
international community has too often chosen to manage Lebanon's recurring
crises instead of resolving their underlying causes. Ceasefires have been
negotiated, escalation contained, and violence temporarily subsided—yet the
structural weakness of the Lebanese State has remained largely untouched. As a
result, every crisis eventually returns.
4. Understanding Hezbollah and the Nature of International Obligations
One of the most persistent misconceptions has been to view Hezbollah exclusively
through either a domestic or a regional lens. Neither approach is sufficient.
Hezbollah is simultaneously a Lebanese political actor and an armed organization
that forms part of Iran's broader regional security architecture. Ignoring
either dimension inevitably leads to incomplete policies. This also explains why
Lebanon cannot resolve this challenge alone.
However, addressing this reality is an internal and international duty. The
implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and
1701 is not an Israeli demand, nor an American demand. It is an international
legal obligation accepted by Lebanon itself. Restoring Lebanese sovereignty is
therefore not a concession to any foreign power; it is the fulfillment of
Lebanon's own constitutional and international commitments.
5. Rejecting Foreign Tutelage: Tactical Management vs. Strategic Necessity
Achieving true sovereignty requires sustained international political,
diplomatic, economic, and security support. But support must strengthen the
Lebanese State—not substitute for it.
Lebanon has already experienced the consequences of foreign tutelage. Whether
exercised through Syrian domination, shaped by Iranian influence, or reinforced
by other external arrangements, the result has always been the same:
Weakened institutions
Fragmented authority
Economic decline
Recurring instability
Replacing one external influence with another is not a strategy; it is merely
the repetition of failure. This is why the current diplomatic engagement between
Washington and Tehran represents both an opportunity and a test. If it
contributes to strengthening the institutions of the Lebanese Republic and
facilitates the implementation of international law, it could become a turning
point for Lebanon and the wider Middle East. If, however, Lebanon becomes merely
another file within a broader regional negotiation, then today's diplomatic
success may simply postpone tomorrow's instability.
Managing Hezbollah is not equivalent to restoring Lebanon. One is a tactical
objective; the other is a strategic necessity.
6. The Five Strategic Priorities for Diplomatic Policy
American policy has consistently affirmed its support for Lebanon's sovereignty
and independence. Today, those principles should be translated into a coherent
strategy built upon five clear priorities:
Exclusivity of Constitutional Authority: Reaffirm unequivocally that only the
constitutional institutions of the Lebanese Republic possess the legitimate
authority to decide questions of war, peace, and national security.
Integration of UN Resolutions: Integrate the implementation of United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701 into every regional diplomatic
framework affecting Lebanon, rather than postponing them.
Empowerment of the Armed Forces: Continue strengthening the Lebanese Armed
Forces as the country's sole legitimate military institution capable of
exercising authority throughout Lebanese territory.
Border Infrastructure and Control: Support effective control of Lebanon's
internationally recognized borders with both Syria and Israel, reinforcing state
sovereignty and preventing the movement of weapons outside lawful government
authority.
Institutional Reinforcement: Ensure that every future diplomatic arrangement
strengthens the institutions of the Lebanese Republic rather than adapting to
parallel military structures that undermine them.
These recommendations are neither ideological nor partisan. They reflect
constitutional legitimacy, international law, and sound strategic policy. A
sovereign Lebanon serves the interests of every Lebanese citizen, regardless of
political affiliation or religious community. It also serves the long-term
interests of the international community; a sovereign Lebanon strengthens
regional stability, while a weak Lebanon exports crises.
7. Conclusion: The True Measure of Diplomatic Success
The Middle East has witnessed countless ceasefires. What it has lacked are
durable political settlements rooted in strong, sovereign states. That is the
real challenge before us.
The success of current diplomacy should not be measured solely by whether
another war is avoided. It should be measured by whether sovereign states emerge
stronger when diplomacy concludes. Lebanon deserves to become a fully sovereign
Republic whose government alone exercises authority over its territory, whose
Armed Forces alone defend its borders, and whose foreign policy reflects the
decisions of its constitutional institutions rather than the strategic
calculations of external powers.
That objective is not only in Lebanon's national interest. It is in the
strategic interest of the United States, the wider Middle East, and every nation
that believes peace is ultimately sustained by sovereign states governed by the
rule of law.
Ultimately, a nation cannot be sovereign if the decision of war lies outside its
institutions, and a people cannot be free if their sovereignty is a subject of
negotiation between outside powers. The future of Lebanon will not be built in
foreign capitals, but in Beirut—when the State reclaims its exclusive right to
represent the nation, and the Lebanese people regain confidence in their
Republic.
Summary Metric:
Peace requires sovereignty.
And sovereignty requires the State.
And the State can only stand when its decision is one, its weapon is one, and
its representation is unified before its people and the international community.
Toni Nissi/President/Committee for the United Nations Security Council
Resolutions on Lebanon
Lebanon is waging a battle to establish rights and
sovereignty
Daoud Rammal/Nidaa Al Watan/June 26, 2026 (Google translation
from Arabic)
The negotiation sessions have transformed from a technical discussion about the
proposed formulas and mechanisms into a real diplomatic confrontation whose aim
is to defend Lebanese national principles and prevent any attempt to introduce
amendments or interpretations that could infringe on Lebanese sovereignty or
diminish established national rights. A high-ranking political source revealed
to Nidaa Al-Watan that "the Lebanese negotiating delegation, headed by
Ambassador Simon Karam, has been engaged for the past three days in a delicate
and difficult negotiating battle characterized by intensive discussions and a
wide range of issues. This is based on direct and continuous political support
from the President of the Republic, who is following the negotiations moment by
moment, and on a political, legal, and diplomatic support team that has remained
on constant alert around the clock to monitor developments and provide immediate
advice and assessments of the proposals being discussed within the negotiating
rooms." The source explained that "the critical nature of the current stage
stems from the fact that the negotiations have not yet achieved any real
breakthrough or tangible progress, due to the clear Israeli backtracking on a
number of ideas and understandings that were previously proposed, whether
regarding the issue of model areas or the wording of the draft framework
document submitted by the American mediator to regulate the next phase and the
mechanisms for implementing any potential agreements."
According to the source, "The Lebanese side considers this retreat an attempt to
reopen points that have already been discussed and to introduce amendments with
political and legal dimensions that could affect the interpretation of Lebanese
rights or the nature of the relationship that might arise from the
implementation of any joint framework. Hence the firm instructions conveyed by
the President of the Republic to the negotiating delegation, emphasizing the
necessity of adhering fully to the Lebanese position and not accepting any
concessions, regardless of their size or nature."
The source confirmed that "President Aoun clearly informed the delegation that
Lebanon cannot back down or concede on any point, not even a comma, word, or
phrase related to the model areas under discussion. Nor can it accept any
amendment to the text of the joint framework if it would open the door to
political or legal interpretations that could be used in the future to infringe
upon national sovereignty or diminish Lebanon's established rights." The source
added that "this position stems from a firm official conviction that any
agreement or understanding must be based exclusively on the principle of
respecting full Lebanese sovereignty and Lebanon's non-negotiable right to
recover all of its occupied territories." The source indicated that "the
Lebanese delegation, during the negotiation sessions, insisted on a clear and
unambiguous text stipulating a complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied
Lebanese territories. This principle constitutes the foundation of any future
approach and is a fundamental condition that cannot be bypassed or circumvented
through vague formulations or ambiguous expressions. The delegation also
emphasized its rejection of any text or mechanism that could be interpreted in
the future as granting any external party a guardianship role or authority
exceeding the bounds of mediation or technical assistance, based on the
principle that Lebanese sovereignty is not subject to any form of external
guardianship or oversight."
The source further noted that "the Lebanese side attaches exceptional importance
to scrutinizing every word, every clause, and every proposed implementation
mechanism, based on the principle that protecting national rights begins with
protecting the texts that underpin any potential agreement. Past experiences
have shown that many disputes arise not so much from the fundamental texts
themselves, but rather from their divergent interpretations and attempts to
exploit their ambiguities for various political purposes." The source revealed
that "Lebanese diplomacy is witnessing, in parallel with the negotiations,
intensive contacts with a large number of brotherly and friendly countries, with
the aim of informing them directly of the true Lebanese positions and the
reasons that compel Beirut to adhere to its current stance." He explained that
"these contacts, being conducted by the President of the Republic, focus on the
issue of model zones and Lebanon's fundamental observations on the draft
framework for joint action, within the framework of securing the broadest
possible political and diplomatic support for the Lebanese position and
conveying a clear message to the international community that Lebanon is not
obstructing the negotiations, but rather is holding fast to clear and explicit
guarantees that preserve its full sovereignty and inalienable national rights."
In any case, the message that emerged from the third day of negotiations was
clear: Lebanon is holding fast to its full rights and rejects any formulation,
mechanism, or understanding that could be interpreted as a concession, even
partial, of its land, sovereignty, or independent national decision-making.
Hezbollah: Between Illusory Victory and Real Defeat
Jean Al-Faghali/Nidaa Al-Watan/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Since the end of the last war, Hezbollah has been trying to promote a narrative
based on the idea of "victory" against Israel, relying on its continued
existence and Israel's inability to completely eliminate it. However, an
objective reading of the course of the war and its results reveals that talk of
victory is nothing more than an attempt to cover up a strategic defeat, the
price of which was paid by the party's support base and all of Lebanon. Wars are
not measured by slogans and speeches, but by the scale of the losses and gains
they entail. Since the outbreak of the last war, the party has suffered
unprecedented human and military losses in its history. It lost a large number
of its field operatives and military commanders, and its organizational and
security structure was subjected to severe breaches that revealed the fragility
of its intelligence apparatus in the face of Israeli superiority. Its military
capabilities were also damaged as a result of the targeting of weapons depots,
command centers, and communication networks. The losses were not limited to the
military sphere; they extended to the political and popular levels. The areas
that constitute the party's core support base suffered widespread destruction,
and hundreds of thousands of residents of the South, the Bekaa Valley, and the
southern suburbs of Beirut were displaced. Meanwhile, the already weakened
economy incurred additional losses amounting to billions of dollars. Conversely,
the party failed to achieve a strategic shift in the balance of power or impose
new political conditions on Israel or the international community. The essence
of victory in any war lies in achieving clear objectives that transcend mere
survival. While the stated goal was to deter Israel and prevent it from imposing
its will, the war's results indicate the opposite. The party found itself
compelled to accept new field and political realities that limited its room for
maneuver and weakened its ability to take the initiative. Furthermore, the heavy
price paid by Lebanon raises serious questions about the viability of the
open-ended war option. Therefore, what is being presented today as a "victory"
appears to be nothing more than a moral victory aimed at maintaining the
cohesion of its popular base and boosting morale. In terms of facts and results,
the war showed a clear decline in the party’s capabilities and influence, making
its characterization as a strategic defeat closer to the truth than any
celebratory or mobilizing rhetoric. There is a big difference between surviving
defeat and achieving victory, and between them lies a reality that many try to
ignore.
The State's Victory and the Fall of the Alleged Resistance
Fard Baroud/Maronite News/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
What happened is not a mere diplomatic detail, nor just another news item to be
included in the evening news. What happened is the beginning of a historic
transformation that could open the door, for the first time in over sixty years,
to a genuine and lasting return of Lebanese sovereignty to southern Lebanon—not
through slogans, speeches, or missiles, but through the state itself. The
framework agreement signed under American auspices between Lebanon, Israel, and
the United States should not be interpreted from a narrow, formal perspective.
Its value lies not in the image, the seats, or the protocol. Its value lies in
its profound political significance: the Lebanese state, with all its
weaknesses, all the hijacking, obstruction, and blackmail it has endured, is
returning to the heart of the equation. The Lebanese army, not the militia,
becomes the symbol of the return to the land. The institutions, not the
mini-state, become the path to reclaiming the South. This is a victory for
Lebanon first and foremost. And this is a victory for the Lebanese state, first
and foremost. Those who betrayed the Lebanese people under the guise of
"resistance" for decades, those who transformed the South into a platform for
Iranian wars, and those who exploited the blood, homes, and livelihoods of the
people in service of a project that has no connection to Lebanon, now face a
harsh reality: the state has managed to open the door to Lebanon's liberation
without firing a single shot. This alone is enough to strike at the very heart
of the so-called resistance's logic, exposing and stripping it bare before the
Lebanese people.
This Iranian gang, which calls itself the resistance, has brought nothing but
occupation, destruction, displacement, and murder to Lebanon. It has invited
aggression, opened the country to wars, destroyed the economy, hijacked national
decision-making, and driven people into emigration, poverty, and fear. Then it
stands atop the rubble to deliver speeches about dignity and sovereignty, while
it was the first to destroy dignity and violate sovereignty. The Israeli
occupation of Lebanon must end. This is a national imperative beyond debate. But
the disguised Iranian occupation, through Hezbollah and its militias, is no less
dangerous to the very meaning of the state. Lebanon cannot be liberated from
foreign occupation only to remain hostage to an armed internal occupation. The
return of the South to the state is meaningless if the decision of war and peace
remains in the hands of an organization that takes its orders from beyond the
borders. Today, the real battle is not only on the borders. The battle is within
Lebanon: Will the state truly be a state, or will it remain a facade used when
needed and broken when the time comes? Will the Lebanese army be the authority,
or will armed gangs, and those who orbit them from all sects, remain above the
law, above institutions, and above the people? We are no longer surprised by the
deplorable rhetoric of this gang's mouthpieces. We are not surprised that
members of parliament who reached the assembly under the shadow of weapons are
attacking this historic achievement with the same vulgar language that reflects
their political minds. These people are not defending Lebanon. They are
defending the last vestiges of their project, which has begun to be exposed to
the Lebanese people: a project that thrives only on chaos, survives only through
fear, and rules only by force. Nor are we surprised that they resort to
instigating the lowest levels of chaos in the streets, such as blocking roads,
burning tires, and engaging in empty displays of anger. This is not strength.
This is a death knell. Those who possess a national project do not sabotage the
people's lives. Those who possess legitimacy do not need to intimidate the
public. Those who truly represent the resistance have no fear of the state's
return. This agreement, if Lebanon handles it well, could be the beginning of a
dual liberation: liberating the South from Israeli occupation and liberating the
Lebanese state from the Iranian occupation that has hidden behind the name of
resistance. Sovereignty is indivisible. Illegal weapons do not become national
simply because they raise a grand slogan. A state within a state does not become
a state simply because it has representatives, ministers, militias, and a paid
media. The next stage must be clear: extending state authority over all Lebanese
territory, establishing the Lebanese army as the sole legitimate force,
dismantling all armed structures operating outside the state's control, and
opening a judicial accountability file for all those responsible for killing and
displacing Lebanese citizens, destroying their villages, their economy, and
their future. Yes, this file must reach the judiciary. Naim Qassem, and all
those proven to be involved—leaders, ministers, representatives, politicians,
security officials, and militiamen—must be held accountable before the Judicial
Council, not for revenge, but for justice. Not for vengeance, but for the
restoration of the state. No political score-settling, but rather a national
reckoning for the devastation inflicted upon Lebanon—on the ground,
economically, morally, humanely, and socially. Lebanon no longer needs a sham
resistance that burns it down and then demands applause. Lebanon needs a state.
It needs an army. It needs a judiciary. It needs a single decision-making body,
a single armed force, and a single sovereignty. What happened today is not the
end of the road, but a firm and powerful beginning. Most importantly, it
revealed the truth: when the state acts, the illusion of resistance collapses.
When decision-making returns to the institutions, the gang is exposed. And when
Lebanon begins to reclaim the South under the banner of the state, it also
begins to reclaim itself.
America First: Between Influence and Isolation
Jeffrey Kemp/Al-Ittihad/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
When Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, few observers anticipated
a return to the internationalist approach that had characterized American
foreign policy since the end of World War II. The “America First” slogan, which
formed the cornerstone of his first administration, suggested a pragmatic
approach to allies, skepticism toward international institutions, and a
willingness to prioritize narrow American interests over traditional
partnerships. The slogan has a long history; President Woodrow Wilson used it
during his 1916 campaign to advocate neutrality, and the “America First”
committee revived it in 1940 to oppose the United States entering World War II.
Trump revived the slogan during his 2016 campaign, and by the beginning of his
second term, it had become the cornerstone of his foreign policy. The signs were
clear: sweeping tariffs strained relations with long-standing allies. His
repeated pronouncements about annexing Greenland also sent warning signals
across Europe. A tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in
the Oval Office in early 2025 exacerbated concerns that Washington was
abandoning many of the assumptions upon which the transatlantic alliance had
been based for generations. However, the announcement by the United States and
Israel in February 2026 of military operations against Iran, without extensive
consultation with Congress, the Democratic opposition, or a number of
traditional allies, came as a surprise to many. Regardless of one's view of the
campaign's objectives, it represented a striking departure from the
coalition-building approach that had characterized previous US military
interventions.
The ultimate outcome of the conflict remains uncertain, but what is clear is
that expectations of a swift and decisive victory were overly optimistic. The
scale of the political fallout following the crisis was also remarkable. Critics
both within and outside the United States sharply criticized Trump's handling of
the crisis, while Israeli voices complained that Washington had not provided the
level of support they had anticipated. In its quest to maintain maximum freedom
of action, the administration neglected the arduous diplomatic work needed to
win support and share the burden. Proponents of military action argue that
confronting Tehran achieved a worthwhile objective. But even worthwhile
objectives require partners. Alliances are not built overnight, and decades of
cooperation cannot be taken for granted. The United States has spent generations
cultivating networks of trust that have amplified its power and legitimized its
actions. Once these relationships are damaged, they are difficult to repair.
Anti-American sentiment appears to have increased in many parts of the world.
Fairly or not, much of this resentment stems not only from the war itself but
also from years of strained relations with allies and growing doubts about
America’s credibility as a partner. The consequences may extend far beyond the
Middle East. Cooperation in addressing global challenges, from pandemics to
climate change, depends on trust and shared expectations. Traditional allies are
quietly but systematically working to establish trade and security relationships
that are less dependent on the United States. While no one doubts Washington’s
continued power and influence, or the necessity of maintaining its partnerships,
the experience of trade disputes and the current crisis with Iran suggests an
emerging new world order where the American role is less dominant. History
indicates that the international mood is fluid, and the current divergences are
not necessarily permanent. However, restoring the trust of allies, large and
small, will require considerable patience and diplomatic effort. The “America
First” slogan may have promised independence and freedom of action. But the most
important question of our time remains: will this slogan ultimately make the
United States more powerful, or will it lead to greater isolation?
250 Years of American History
Mishari Al-Zaydi/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from
Arabic)
Fate has decreed that the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States
of America coincides with the presidency of Donald Trump. The man did not
hesitate to capitalize on this rare occasion. This Wednesday, President Trump
inaugurated the 16-day celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the founding of
the United States with a public address that sparked a number of controversies.
In it, he spoke of the great achievements in American history, saying, "As we
approach the 250th anniversary of independence, I say with enthusiasm that
America is back." He continued, "As you well know, not long ago we were a dead
country. We were dead. And today we are the most attractive country in the
world."
This statement did not sit well with Trump's opponents and Trumpism, some of
whom had already decided to boycott the celebrations, including some singers and
artists. An exhibition will be held alongside the celebration, featuring
pavilions representing the fifty states and six territories of America. In
addition to these, the president has promised other exceptional events, but his
speeches and surprises remain the most captivating element. He even claimed
that, were Elvis Presley alive, he would surpass him in drawing crowds! In fact,
official planning for the celebrations began in 2016 through the nonpartisan
congressional committee for the anniversary. This brings us back to American
history. From the very beginning—from the official declaration of independence
of the thirteen colonies from the British Crown on July 4, 1776—there were
divisions, disagreements, and even conflicts among the founding generation.
Anyone who watches the remarkable historical series about the life of the second
president, John Adams, on Netflix will find evidence of this early discord at
the dawn of the nation's founding. Disagreements arose over the powers of the
state and the president, the relationship between the federal government and the
colonies, foreign policy, freedom, the Constitution, citizenship, and more. The
great nation of America, after its birth and separation from the British womb,
has passed through critical existential moments, such as the bloody Civil War
between the South and the North in 1861, in which Abraham Lincoln, the second
founder, played a leading role, leading up to the two World Wars, the Cold War
with the Soviets and their allies until the fall of the Berlin Wall, then the
al-Qaeda attacks on the American heartland, then the Chinese threat, and finally
the moment of Trump, Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz. Today, America faces other
existential challenges, the essence of which is the Chinese threat economically,
politically, and technologically. Will America, which has existed for two and a
half centuries, still be able to defeat this great challenge during this
century? In his "farewell" letter, published in the Pennsylvania Pocket in
September 1796, the first president warned that there would be those who would
later claim that the country was too big to be governed by a republican system.
Speaking of Washington, one of his famous sayings is: “I hope that I may always
have the determination and virtue to maintain the most enviable of titles, that
of an honorable man.”
There is no doubt that the recent US-Israeli war has created a new reality in
Iran, presenting the regime with genuine challenges. It has forced the regime to
reassess its relationship with internal political forces, which have
demonstrated a degree of national solidarity that has played a role in calming
public sentiment and mobilizing support behind nationalist slogans.
Consequently, ending the war and moving towards seeking settlements with
Washington and the international community presents the new Supreme Leader with
challenges that were not faced by his predecessor. The challenges facing the new
Supreme Leader are not limited to promoting understanding, agreement, and peace
with the US, or even relations with it. This is now beyond the control of all
Iranian political forces and the ruling military, security, and political
institutions of the regime. The process of dismantling the remaining pockets of
dissent represented by radical groups is progressing towards a solution, through
their containment, the silencing of their rhetoric, the curtailment of their
resources, and the elimination of their influence on domestic and foreign
policy. However, the most dangerous of these challenges comes from the question
of the new leader’s ability to manage the balances between the decision-making
centers that emerged after the war, especially since he lost all the leaders he
relied on to help him get through the transitional phase. Consequently, this
time he has to deal with leaders who have great ambitions and a greater appetite
for monopolizing decision-making than their predecessors, who were assassinated
by Tel Aviv in two batches (2025 and 2026). Supreme Leader Mojtaba's attempt to
reach out to reformist forces and their leader, Mohammad Khatami, may come as a
shock to conservative forces, who have built their rhetoric over the past
decades on demonizing these groups. Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of
Experts, even suggested that the most influential factor in the Assembly's
decision to choose Mojtaba to succeed his father was their selection of a figure
who instilled fear in the hearts of reformists, and specifically in Mohammad
Khatami. Conversely, Mojtaba's positive step towards Khatami may have an
unstated aim: to create a balance of power among influential centers in the
coming period. This could mean using reformists to mitigate the ambitions of
other factions, eager to control and dominate decision-making, and to curtail
the Supreme Leader's choices and influence his decisions. This may present an
opportunity for reformists to rebuild their popular and political base,
especially given the promises of economic openness and growth in the coming
period, which could contribute to the revival of the middle class. This could
transform them into a genuine alternative or partner to the Supreme Leader in
efforts to extricate Iran from its current perilous situation. In return, it
allows the Supreme Leader to brandish alternatives that are more concerned about
Iran in the event that others who consider themselves the owners and defenders
of the regime try to monopolize and follow a policy of exclusion and unilateral
control over the scene and decision, and the illusions of besieging and
weakening the Supreme Leader.
The New Supreme Leader and the Battle for Balance
Hassan Fahs/Independent Arabia/June 26, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The message sent by Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to former
President Mohammad Khatami opens the door to much speculation about the future
of internal political relations. While the message was Khamenei’s response to
Khatami’s congratulatory message following his election as Supreme Leader, its
significance lies in its content and accompanying context, particularly
Khamenei’s indication of a desire for future cooperation and to benefit from
Khatami’s ideas and experiences. It can be said that this message has broken the
sharp estrangement between the Supreme Leader’s institution and the leader of
the reformist movement, a estrangement that had persisted since Khatami’s
departure from the presidency in 2005 and the complete break following the
events of 2009, known as the “Green Movement,” which erupted after the
presidential election results crisis and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election for a
second term. Despite Khatami's efforts to maintain even the tenuousst lines of
communication with the former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei did not initiate any
effort to modify his negative and exclusionary stance towards him. Matters
escalated to the point where Khatami received no response to his letters, was
excluded from the condolence message for his mother's death (which was instead
directed to his sister), and was effectively isolated and barred from appearing
in the media, even by name or image. This was compounded by his exclusion from
any consultative meetings with the Supreme Leader, unlike the usual practice
with key leaders and figures, and his omission from the list of those who
visited Khamenei in the hospital after his surgery. These actions by the Supreme
Leader towards Khatami appear to be part of a broader policy adopted by the
power structure to contain, isolate, weaken, and dismantle the popular base of
reformists and their discourse. This policy also aims to undermine the social
force that represents the economically and intellectually influential middle
class in Iranian society at all levels, thereby bolstering the role and position
of new, radical forces that emerged from within the conservative movement, which
serves as the custodian of the regime's ideological and doctrinal discourse.
However, Khatami, along with the reformist forces, did not succumb to these
efforts. He attempted to maintain a minimum level of influence over this segment
of society, striving to remain the leader of the reformist movement and its
political and social authority. Simultaneously, he persisted in unsettling the
Supreme Leader by consistently sending him both public and private messages. A
prime example is the lengthy letter, spanning dozens of pages, sent before the
2021 presidential elections and the subsequent election of Ebrahim Raisi. The
Supreme Leader at the time described this letter as positive, but noted that
Khatami lacked understanding of many issues.
Perhaps the letter or publication issued by Khatami after the US-Israeli war in
June 2025 attempted to outline a roadmap for the regime to regain the initiative
and engage with the national forces that had rallied around Iran, its
territorial integrity, and its republican system. This roadmap aimed to promote
a path that would strengthen political and intellectual freedoms and prevent
Iran from sliding into extremism and radicalism. This publication also
represented the most explicit and clear stance rejecting the policies of the
groups that seized power within the regime over the past two decades—policies
that disrupted the political and social balance without possessing the
mechanisms to help Iran emerge from its internal crises and international
isolation.
Mojtaba Khamenei's initiative toward Khatami and his attempt to reach out to him
may not indicate an attempt by the son to disavow his father's political legacy
or to renounce the positions he previously adopted in dealing with political
forces. Rather, it may signal the heir's attempt to establish a new phase based
on the realities imposed by the results of the American-Israeli war that began
in early March. Perhaps the most prominent indicator of this shift begins within
the Supreme Leader's office itself, with the talk of removing the most
influential figure who was close to the father, Asghar Hejazi. Hejazi played a
negative role in severing any possibility of communication between reformist and
moderate political forces and the Supreme Leader, and contributed to shaping his
positions toward them. The new Supreme Leader's attempt to reach out to
reformist leaders, through figures like Khatami and former parliament speaker
Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, may help bridge the gaps and resolve the complexities
and strained relationship between the regime and these groups. It might pave the
way for their return to political life and genuine participation, moving them
beyond the role of mere electoral reserves that the regime uses to bolster its
popular legitimacy during critical moments, as seen in the recent elections and
the rise of Masoud Pezeshkian to the presidency.
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 26 June/2026
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Yours truly in the pic with Lebanon's most courageous woman-- Lynn Harfoush.
Like me, she was born Shia and hails from the great city of Baalbek. Lynn does
not believe the Iran/Hezbollah bogus narrative, which is unfortunately bought by
the U.S. mainstream media, that the Shia were impoverished, downtrodden,
forgotten, underdogs, their women clad in black and men wearing beards, military
fatigues and ugly rings.
Like everybody else, Lebanon's Shia want Hezbollah disarmed, want to live in
peace with Israel and all other countries, and want to raise their children in
prosperity.
Lynn Harfoush must become Lebanon's speaker of parliament (the highest position
allowed to Lebanon's Shia -- apartheid, anyone?) See less