English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For March 15/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent/The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 02/01-12/When
Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at
home.So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in
front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.Then some people came,
bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could
not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him;
and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic
lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are
forgiven.’Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their
hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can
forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they
were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do
you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the
paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and
walk”?But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins’ he said to the paralytic ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat
and go to your home.’And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out
before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We
have never seen anything like this!
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on March 14-15/2026
The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic & The Power of Praying for
Others/Elias Bejjani/March 15/2025
The Martyrs of Ain Ebel: George, Elie, and Shadi to the Heavenly Mansions Where
there is no pain, nor sorrow, but life everlasting/Elias Bejjani/March 12, 2026
Elias Jradi: An Enemy of Lebanon and its People/Elias Bejjani/March 12/2026
Israeli Mobilization Continues; Ceasefire Efforts Stalled
France Ready to Host Negotiations; Bypassing Berri "Explodes the Country"
Tel Aviv severs South’s arteries and warns health sector; Hezbollah accused of
exploiting trucks.
Axios: Israel plans major incursion, Boulos tasked with Lebanon-Israel talks
file
Report: Israel changes stance on Lebanon talks after US request
Hezbollah says engaged in 'direct clashes' with Israeli forces in south Lebanon
Hezbollah's 'existential' war against Israel could be its last
Conflicting reports on 'French plan' to end Lebanon war
UN chief says 'diplomatic avenues' available to stop war in Lebanon
Report: Meeting held in Baabda to discuss direct negotiations with Israel
Israeli and Lebanese envoys to reportedly meet abroad in coming days
France reportedly proposes plan to end Lebanon war that includes recognition of
Israel
Will there be a Eid al-Fitr truce in Lebanon?
Zamir Orders Intensification of Campaign Against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
New Health Ministry Toll on Victims of Israeli Strikes on Lebanon
Israeli Escalation Continues: Targeting of Khardali Bridge and Hezbollah
Elements
Aboul Gheit: Hezbollah is a Militia Insisting on Exposing Lebanon to Increasing
Risks
Second Strike on Borj Hammoud and Raid on Haret Saida
French Foreign Ministry Clarifies Following Talk of Proposal to End War
Lebanon and Israel Approach Direct Negotiations;
Berri to "Asharq Al-Awsat": My Positivity Depends on a Ceasefire and the Return
of the Displaced
Israel and Lebanon Prepare for Round of Talks Sponsored by U.S. and France;
Berri: I Agree with Reservations
Paris Denies: "No French Plan" to Stop the War in Lebanon
Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Positivity is Contingent on Ceasefire and Return of
Displaced
Tel Aviv Expands Target List... Shelling of Israeli Depth Recedes
Washington Links Ceasefire to Simultaneous Disarmament of Hezbollah
An Open Letter to the President of the Lebanese Republic His Excellency General
Joseph Aoun From Toni Nissi
The War on Hezbollah-The Iranian Terrorist Proxy Continues/LCCC website
Links to important News Sites
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on March 14-15/2026
Trump says ‘Iran totally defeated,’ ‘wants a deal’ he won’t accept
US strikes more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, CENTCOM says
US attacks Iran’s Kharg Island in one of ‘most powerful bombings raids in
history’: Trump
Fire in UAE’s Fujairah after debris from drone interception: Media office
Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane
Pentagon approves deployment of amphibious Marine unit to Middle East
Iran threatens US-linked oil targets after Trump says Kharg bombed
Israel says Iran war entering 'decisive phase'
Iran, US threaten attacks on oil facilities
Drone attack takes place on US embassy in Baghdad: Iraqi security source
US offers up to $10 mln reward for tips on Iran’s supreme leader, senior
officials
Hamas urges Iran to stop 'targeting neighboring countries'
The War on Hezbollah-The Iranian Terrorist Proxy Continues/LCCC website
Links to important News Sites
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on March 14-15/2026
There is no way around the Strait of Hormuz/Cornelia MeyerAl Arabiya English/14
March/2026
The false narratives of war and the strategic patience of Gulf states/Dr.
Ishtiaq Ahmad/Arab News/March 14, 2026
France chooses the nuclear option/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/March 14, 2026
Tunisia and the loss of hope/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/March 14, 2026
Middle East shockwaves for Europe and Asia/Andrew Hammond/Arab News/March 14,
2026
on March 14-15/2026
The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic & The Power of Praying for Others
Elias Bejjani/March 15/2025
On the fifth Sunday of Lent, Catholic Maronites reflect with great reverence on
the Gospel of Saint Mark (2:1-12), which recounts The Healing Miracle of the
Paralytic. This powerful miracle underscores the immense value of intercession,
affirming that prayers and supplications for others are faith-driven acts that
Almighty God attentively hears and graciously answers.
Notably, the paralytic man in this Gospel passage did not personally seek Jesus'
help, nor did he ask for healing, forgiveness, or mercy. Many theologians
believe that Jesus frequently preached in Capernaum’s synagogue, the very town
where this man lived, yet he remained distant—lacking faith, hope, and spiritual
awareness. He did not believe that the Lord could cure him.
What makes this miracle particularly remarkable is the unwavering faith of the
paralytic’s friends, relatives, or perhaps some of Jesus' disciples. They were
convinced that if Jesus merely touched him, the man who had been crippled for 38
years would be healed. Their deep faith and determination compelled four of them
to carry him on a mat to the house where Jesus was preaching. When they could
not break through the crowd, they climbed onto the roof, made an opening, and
lowered the paralytic before Jesus, pleading for his healing.
Moved by their faith, Jesus first forgave the man’s sins: "Son, your sins are
forgiven." Only afterward did He heal his body, commanding: "Arise, take up your
bed, and walk."
Like the scribes in the Gospel, many today question why Jesus prioritized the
forgiveness of sins over physical healing. His divine wisdom reveals that sin is
the true death, leading to eternal suffering in Hell. Sin cripples the soul,
destroys faith and hope, erodes morals and values, and numbs the conscience,
separating individuals from God. Jesus sought to restore the man’s soul before
curing his body, teaching an eternal truth: "For what does it profit a man to
gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37).
Our merciful God never turns away those who seek Him in faith and humility. He
listens with boundless love and responds in His divine wisdom, time, and
manner:" Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and
it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks
finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And
the prayer of faith will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him
up." (James 5:15)
Within this divine context of mercy and intercession, prayers for others—whether
they are living or deceased, loved ones or enemies, relatives or strangers—are
acts of faith and compassion. God listens and responds because He never abandons
His children, provided they turn to Him with sincere repentance and trust.
Numerous biblical passages demonstrate God’s acceptance of prayers offered on
behalf of others:
Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant at the request of the Centurion, not the
servant himself. (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in response to the pleas of his sisters, Mary
and Martha. (John 11:1-44)
Praying for others—whether family, friends, strangers, or even nations—reflects
faith, love, and hope. Almighty God, as a loving and merciful Father, hears
these prayers and answers them according to His divine wisdom, which often
transcends human understanding:
"Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)
God is always waiting for us, His children, to seek His mercy—whether for
ourselves or for others. He never leaves us alone. Moreover, it is our duty of
faith to extend a helping hand to those who cannot pray for themselves—the lost,
the suffering, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. This spirit of intercession
is why we also pray to the Virgin Mary and the Saints—not as objects of worship,
but as intercessors who bring our pleas before the Lord.
O Lord, grant us the grace of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience.Help us to be
loving, humble, and compassionate. Guide us on the path of righteousness May we
stand with the just on the Day of Judgment.God sees and hears us always—let us
live in reverence to Him in all we think, say, and do.
N.B: The above piece was first published in 2012/It Is Republished with minor
changes
The Martyrs of Ain Ebel: George, Elie, and Shadi to the
Heavenly Mansions Where there is no pain, nor sorrow, but life everlasting
Elias Bejjani/March 12, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152739/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2MiQS010DY
“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job
01:21)
In the solemnity of faith, and with a grief that constricts the sovereign hearts
pulsating with the love of Lebanon, we bid farewell today to a new constellation
of the Martyrs of the Cedars—martyrs of steadfastness, heroism, and faith. They
have watered with their pure blood the sacred soil of Southern Lebanon; the land
blessed by the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother Mary, which
witnessed the majesty of His first miracle in Cana of Lebanon, where He turned
water into wine to herald the joy of the Kingdom.
An Elegy of Martyrdom and Resilience: From Alma al-Shaab to Ain Ebel.
How grievous it is to depart from heroes in the prime of their giving, yet our
solace lies in the truth that they are “Children of Light” who rejected the
darkness. Days ago, we were afflicted by the martyrdom of Mr. Sami al-Ghafari in
the patriotic village of Alma al-Shaab—brother to the parish priest—followed on
the path of Golgotha by Father Pierre al-Raee in the village of Qlaiaa. Today,
the tragedy continues to unfold in the noble town of Ain Ebel with the martyrdom
of three of its youth in the flower of their youth: George Khreish, Elie Atallah
Dahrouj, and Shadi Ammar.
These men bore no arms; rather, they carried the tools to connect the world.
They were martyred while repairing the internet network to sustain their
people’s presence in their land, confirming that steadfastness is not merely a
slogan, but an daily act of faith. They were slain without guilt, save for being
“Heroes of Remaining” who refused displacement, clinging to the soil of their
ancestors, defying the machinery of death imposed by the Iranian occupation and
its terrorist instrument (Hezbollah), which holds Lebanon hostage to foreign
agendas and drags peaceful villages into a futile war in which the people of the
land have no say.
In the Presence of the Divine Word
We lift our prayers today, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.” (John 15:13).
The three heroic martyrs—George, Elie, and Shadi—offered themselves as a ransom
for the survival of Ain Ebel, that its bells may continue to toll and its homes
remain inhabited. We echo the words of Saint Paul, who comforts us in our human
frailty:
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we
have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
(2 Corinthians 5:1).
They have been liberated today from the earthly tent of the body, burdened with
afflictions, to return to the bosom of the Heavenly Father as angels interceding
for us from above.
A Message of Sovereignty and Sorrow
The systematic displacement and wanton shelling befalling our border villages
are not mere “accidents of war,” but the result of shackling the nation to alien
axes that do not resemble us. We hold fully responsible those who have
desecrated our sovereignty and turned our frontline villages into ramparts for
their regional projects. The targeting of our youth is an attempt to break the
will to remain; but Ain Ebel, which drank from the cups of bitterness in the
past, shall not be broken today.
A Heartfelt Condolence
To the bereaved families, to the wives and children whose hearts are broken, and
to the mothers of the martyrs who offered their most precious treasures: we
offer our condolences with hearts wrung with pain, and we console our Church,
which bleeds with every martyr. May the passing of George, Elie, and Shadi be an
oblation for the resurrection of a sovereign, free, and independent Lebanon.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
To our people in the South, we pray for steadfastness and victory over the
machinery of death and subjugation.
Elias Jradi: An Enemy of
Lebanon and its People
Elias Bejjani/March 12/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152694/
Elias Jradi, who holds his seat in the Lebanese Parliament through fraud and
intimidation, is a long-standing leftist who believes neither in sovereignty nor
in faith. He stands against everything the “Land of the Cedars” represents—its
values, its message, its civilization, and its deep-rooted history of faith and
sacrifice.This individual was raised on the ideologies of Marx and Nasser; he is
blinded by a deep-seated hatred toward the West and its culture. Despite being
registered as a Christian, his political identity is entirely shaped by the
culture of political Islam—both Sunni and Shia—which traces its roots back to
Ottoman influence.Plainly speaking, there is no difference between him and the
likes of Arafat, Michel Aflaq, or the leaders of Hezbollah. He is a remnant of a
global leftist movement that is hateful toward everyone, and most dangerously,
toward itself. It is well known that the people of the Souther Lebanon did not truly elect him.
Instead, he was appointed by Hezbollah, utilizing an electoral law tailored to
serve their Iranian expansionist and terrorist agenda. He is a “Trojan Horse”
and a modern-day “Iscariot.” There is no credibility in any justification for
his actions, as his hostility toward Lebanon and its people is undeniable.
Though a physician by trade—an eye doctor, no less—he is spiritually and
politically blind. He has spent his career supporting the “militia” culture and
the lie of the “Resistance,” never showing a hint of remorse or professional
integrity. Characters like this Trojan Iscariot should be expelled from every place they
visit. His expulsion today from the heroic town of Qliaa was not a random act;
it was the rejection of a “devil” who came with arrogance to desecrate a land
that sanctifies freedom and remains loyal to its Lebanese identity and Christian
faith. Let evey patriotic Lebanese pray for mercy for the soul of Father Pierre
Al-Rai, a man who carried his cross with honor. He refused to compromise,
surrender, or kneel. He has ascended with his cross to the heavenly dwellings
that God has prepared for the righteous and the brave.
Israeli Mobilization
Continues; Ceasefire Efforts Stalled
France Ready to Host Negotiations; Bypassing Berri "Explodes the Country"
Tel Aviv severs South’s arteries and warns health sector; Hezbollah accused of
exploiting trucks.
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
Against the backdrop of Israeli mobilization on the southern border—coupled with
growing talk in Hebrew media regarding an imminent military incursion south of
the Litani River—and as strikes continue in the Southern Suburbs and the capital
(which Tel Aviv claims "is no longer a safe place"), Israeli warnings today
targeted civilian truck movement on the Lebanese coast. Israel alleges that
Hezbollah may use trucks to "camouflage combat assets" and is "exploiting the
coastal region to transport weapons."Meanwhile, official Lebanese efforts for a
ceasefire and direct negotiations remain at a standstill. French President
Emmanuel Macron's efforts are faltering due to Israeli and U.S. insistence on
"disarming Hezbollah before anything else," countered by Hezbollah
Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem’s insistence on continuing the war,
promising "surprises" for the enemy. Qassem appears supported in this stance by
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, according to Hezbollah media.
France is Ready
In the context of international efforts to silence the guns—led primarily by
Paris and, to an extent, the UN—Macron stated today: "I held talks yesterday
with President Aoun, PM Salam, and Speaker Berri. Everything must be done to
prevent Lebanon from sliding into chaos. Hezbollah must immediately stop its
escalatory approach, and Israel must abandon any large-scale attack and halt its
intensive raids." He added on "X" that the Lebanese executive branch has
expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel, which France is willing to
host in Paris to strengthen Lebanese sovereignty.
"Exploding the Country"
Conversely, while Berri still rejects the idea of direct negotiations with
Israel (proposed by the President and supported by the PM), the "Stronger Shia
Mufti" Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan issued a veiled warning to President Aoun. He stated
that Speaker Nabih Berri is the "cornerstone of constitutional and national
legitimacy," adding that "any bypassing of Speaker Nabih Berri will explode the
country." He warned that "playing with fire will burn everything."
Heikal and Guterres
While UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated yesterday that the time has
come for "one state, one weapon, and one army," Lebanese Army Commander General
Rudolf Heikal received Guterres and UN officials Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Jeanine
Hennis-Plasschaert at Yarzeh today. Discussions focused on implementing
Resolution 1701 and the cessation of hostilities. Attendees affirmed their full
support for the military institution during this complex stage.
UAE Welcome
The UAE Ambassador to Lebanon, Fahd Al-Kaabi, stated that the UAE welcomes the
Lebanese government's decision to ban Hezbollah’s military activities and
designate it an illegal organization, requiring it to hand over its weapons. He
called this a "pivotal moment" for national stability and sovereignty based on
the Taif Agreement.
Hezbollah: "With Everything We Have"
Hezbollah appears to be on a different wavelength. AFP quoted a source in the
party saying: "The party has entered the war with everything it possesses; it
will either end or establish a new equation forcing a total Israeli withdrawal
and a halt to aggressions."
Field Developments: Severing Arteries and Health Sector Warnings
Targeting Infrastructure: Israeli strikes hit the Khardali Bridge (linking
Nabatieh and Marjayoun) and the Debbine-Marjayoun road, completely cutting off
traffic. Pressure on Health Sector: IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that
medical facilities and ambulances must not be used for military purposes,
threatening action under international law if Hezbollah continues this alleged
practice. Civilian Casualties: Strikes on Nab'aa (Bourj Hammoud) targeted a
residential apartment, killing a Syrian national. In Haret Saida, a strike
killed four members of the Al-Tiryaki family.
The "Truck" Warning: Adraee claimed intelligence shows Hezbollah camouflaging
weapons inside civilian trucks on the coastal road to target naval assets,
warning that any truck on the coast could be at risk.
Military Summary (March 14, 2026)
Israeli Escalation: IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered an intensified
campaign against Hezbollah’s "Radwan Force" following increased movements toward
the border. Expansion of ground operations south of the Litani is underway.
Casualty Toll: The Ministry of Health reported that from March 2 to March 14,
the total death toll reached 826, with 2,009 wounded. This includes 106 children
killed and 31 healthcare workers.
Hezbollah Operations: The group claimed several attacks, including:
Suicide drone swarms on the Stella Maris and Ein Shemer bases.
Rocket salvos targeting soldiers in Khiam, Maroun al-Ras, and Metula.
Guided missile strikes on a Merkava tank and armored vehicles near Khiam.
Targeting the 146th Division headquarters in Ga'aton.
Diplomatic Criticism
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit launched a sharp attack on
Hezbollah, describing it as a "militia" that insists on exposing Lebanon and its
people to increasing risks, while condemning Israeli strikes on civilian
infrastructure.
Would you like me to translate the specific details of the military strikes or
the verbatim statements from the UN officials mentioned?
Axios: Israel plans major
incursion, Boulos tasked with Lebanon-Israel talks file
Naharnet/March 14, 2026
Israel is planning to significantly expand its ground operation in Lebanon,
aiming to seize the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantle
Hezbollah's military infrastructure, Israeli and U.S. officials told U.S. news
portal Axios. This could be the largest Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon since
2006.
"We are going to do what we did in Gaza," a senior Israeli official told Axios,
referring to the flattening of buildings Israel says Hezbollah uses to store
weapons and launch attacks. An operation of this size and scale could lead to a
prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. The Trump administration backs
a major Israeli operation to disarm Hezbollah, but is also pressing to limit the
damage to the Lebanese state and pushing for direct Israel-Lebanon talks on a
postwar agreement, Axios said. "Until days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's government was still trying to contain the Lebanon escalation in
order to stay focused on Iran," according to Israeli officials."That calculus
changed Wednesday when Hezbollah launched more than 200 missiles in a massive
coordinated attack with Iran, which fired dozens of its own," the officials
said. "Before this attack we were ready for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but after it
there is no way back from a massive operation," a senior Israeli official said.
On Friday, the Israeli army announced it was sending reinforcements to the
border and mobilizing additional reserves ahead of the expanded ground
operation. "The goal is to take over territory, push Hezbollah's forces north
and away from the border, and dismantle its military positions and weapons
depots in the villages," the Israeli official said. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem
said Friday that the Lebanese government's diplomatic track had failed to
achieve sovereignty or protect Lebanese civilians — and therefore "there is no
solution except resistance.""When the enemy threatens a ground invasion, we tell
him: this is not a threat, but one of the traps you will fall into," Qassem
said. "Because every advance of a ground invasion allows the resistance fighters
to achieve gains and results through close confrontation with the enemy," he
noted.
The Israeli army has issued evacuation orders across southern Lebanon and — for
the first time — to villages and towns north of the Litani River, as well as to
Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs. Around 800,000 Lebanese
civilians have been displaced since the start of the conflict. At least 773
people have been killed, many of them civilians.
The Trump administration asked Israel not to bomb Beirut's international airport
or other Lebanese state infrastructure during the operation, U.S. and Israeli
officials told Axios. U.S. officials said Israel agreed to spare the airport —
but stopped short of committing to protect other state infrastructure. On
Friday, the Israeli army bombed a bridge in southern Lebanon it claimed
Hezbollah was using to move forces and weapons. An Israeli official said they
will consult with Washington on a case-by-case basis: "We feel we have full U.S.
backing for this operation," the official told Axios.
"The Israelis have to do what they have to do to stop the Hezbollah shelling," a
U.S. official said.Netanyahu has tasked former minister Ron Dermer with managing
the Lebanese file during the war, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
Dermer will handle contacts with the Trump administration and lead any
negotiations with the Lebanese government if direct talks begin in the coming
weeks, the officials said. On the American side, the file is being managed by
Trump adviser Massad Boulos, who is also the U.S. envoy for Africa. Boulos, who
is Tiffany Trump's father-in-law, has been in contact with Israeli, Lebanese and
Arab officials in recent days to facilitate direct talks between Israel and
Lebanon.The Lebanese government has indicated in recent days it is ready to hold
direct talks on the terms of a ceasefire with Israel, immediately and without
preconditions.
Sources told Axios the Trump administration wants to use those negotiations to
lay the groundwork for a broader deal that would formally end the state of war
between Israel and Lebanon — ongoing since 1948.
Report: Israel changes stance on Lebanon talks after US
request
Naharnet/March 14, 2026
The file of negotiations with Lebanon has made some progress, with the U.S.
administration asking Israel to positively respond to Lebanon's negotiations
overture and to explore the Lebanese proposal for halting the war, LBCI's
correspondent in Israel, Amal Shehadeh, said on Saturday. Shehadeh added that it
seems that even the appointment of former Israeli minister Ron Dermer to lead
the negotiations with Lebanon came at the request of Washington. Dermer has
close ties to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United
States. Moreover, the report said that Israel has backed down from the negative
response it had given to the visiting U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon
regarding the possibility of negotiations with Beirut. "In a special session
held Thursday night and continued on Friday, Israel seriously discussed how to
move forward with the Lebanese proposal. It also decided to form a negotiations
team led by Ron Dermer," the report added. It also noted that Israel is trying
not to put the spotlight on the issue of negotiations because it wants to keep
the issue of military preparations and the threats against Lebanon at the
forefront of public messaging.
Hezbollah says engaged in 'direct clashes' with Israeli
forces in south Lebanon
Agence France Presse/March 14, 2026
Hezbollah said it was involved in "direct clashes" with Israeli forces in the
southern Lebanese town of Khiam late on Saturday. In a statement, it said the
clashes were ongoing, having started at 9:20 pm (1920 GMT) and involved "light
and medium weapons as well as rocket-propelled projectiles". It said it had also
targeted Israeli forces in three border villages.
Hezbollah's 'existential' war against Israel could be its
last
Agence France Presse/March 14, 2026
Hezbollah suffered heavy losses in a war with Israel more than a year ago, but
the Iran-backed group has now regrouped only to end up fighting what it has
called an "existential battle" and which some warn could be its last. Lebanon
was drawn into the Middle East war last week when the militant group, funded and
armed by Iran, attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iran's supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes. Israel, which had
continued to strike targets in Lebanon even before the war, despite a 2024
ceasefire with Hezbollah, has launched deadly air attacks, sent ground troops
into border areas and issued evacuation warnings that have displaced hundreds of
thousands of people. On Friday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group was
ready for a long confrontation. "This is an existential battle... we will not
allow the enemy to achieve its goal of eliminating our existence," he said. A
Hezbollah source requesting anonymity said the group had gone "all in." Either
Hezbollah "is finished or it establishes a new equation involving Israel's
complete withdrawal from Lebanon and a halt to its attacks," he told AFP.
The source said Hezbollah decided to fight months ago but was waiting for a
change in the regional status quo "which it found in the U.S.-Israeli war on
Iran". The group, he added, "knows well that whatever the outcome of that war,
its turn would come and Israel would not hesitate to launch a broad campaign
against it".
'Absorbed shocks' -
Israel kept striking Lebanon after the 2024 ceasefire, killing around 500 people
including many fighters from Hezbollah, which initially refrained from
retaliating. Hezbollah "absorbed shocks after the previous war, bandaged its
wounds... and reorganized its ranks. And today it is fighting a battle that it
is prepared for", the group's source said. Hezbollah's leadership has denied the
battle's timing was linked to the Iran war, instead saying it lost patience with
Israeli attacks. But that hasn't convinced officials or swathes of the
population who have expressed increasing anger at the group for dragging Lebanon
into a new war.
Military expert Hassan Jouni said that for Hezbollah "this is an existential
battle... so it will fight until the last breath"."For Israel, this is the final
battle against Hezbollah," he said, noting the current circumstances, which
Israel sees an opportunity to destroy its foe, may not reappear. He pointed to
factors including the favorable regional and international situation under "the
administration of U.S. President Donald Trump", and a badly weakened Iran.
Lebanese authorities committed to disarming Hezbollah after the 2024 ceasefire
and the army had been dismantling the group's infrastructure near the Israeli
border.
Last week, Beirut banned Hezbollah's military and security activities, and
President Joseph Aoun has accused Hezbollah of working to "collapse" the state
"for the sake of the Iranian regime's calculations".
'Finished' -
Until just before Hezbollah entered the conflict, Lebanese officials were
unaware of the group's intentions. Shortly before the first rockets were fired
on March 2, Hezbollah sent a delegation to inform its ally parliament speaker
Nabih Berri, a source familiar with the meeting told AFP on condition of
anonymity. Hezbollah surprised friends and foes with its attacks, after the
battering of its leadership and arsenal took in the 2024 conflict, and the loss
of its major supply route through Syria with the fall of longtime ruler Bashar
al-Assad. Last week, the Israeli military's international spokesman Lieutenant
Colonel Nadav Shoshani said Hezbollah still has "significant amounts of weapons
that endanger Israeli civilians". Despite the already enormous cost to Lebanon
in destruction and displacement, mainly from areas seen as Hezbollah heartlands
where the group is usually celebrated as victorious, it has insisted on carrying
on. President Aoun has received no response to his proposal of direct
negotiations with Israel, which has kept up threats of further destruction
unless authorities disarm Hezbollah and stop its attacks. To academic and lawyer
Ali Mourad, "Hezbollah's priority was to open a Lebanese front in the service of
the Iranian agenda, after holding back" since 2024.The group is fighting "an
existential battle on two fronts: the Lebanese front and its (Iranian) ally's
political, ideological and strategic front", he told AFP. "Hezbollah is finished
as a regional power and as a strategic weapon" for Iran, he added, predicting
that "this war will not end in victory" for the group.
Conflicting reports on 'French plan' to end Lebanon war
Agence France Presse/March 14, 2026
France's foreign ministry said Saturday there was "no French plan" to stop the
fighting in Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran-backed militant group
Hezbollah. "France has supported the Lebanese authorities' openness to direct
talks with Israel and has offered to facilitate them," said a ministry statement
sent to AFP. "But it is for the parties, and only the parties, to set the agenda
for these talks," it added. However, Barak Ravid, the Axios journalist who
reported the plan, said the French foreign ministry is "lying.""There is a
French plan. The headline of the document says it is a French plan. The French
foreign ministry is lying. Menteurs (liars)," Ravid said on X. He had earlier
cited three sources in his Axios report as saying that France had drawn up a
proposal to end the war, one that involved Lebanon recognizing the state of
Israel. A Lebanese official told AFP Saturday that it was preparing to form a
delegation to negotiate with Israel in a bid to stop the war with Hezbollah.
UN chief says 'diplomatic avenues' available to stop war in
Lebanon
Agence France Presse/March 14, 2026
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic
channels remained open to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah and urged the
international community to support Lebanon. Lebanon was dragged into the Middle
East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, and the
Tehran-backed group's leader has said the militants were ready for a long
confrontation with Israel. On Saturday, Israel kept up strikes on Lebanon as
Hezbollah claimed attacks against northern Israel and Beirut said the death toll
in the country since March 2 had climbed to 826, including 106 children. U.S.
news site Axios reported on Saturday that Israel was planning a major ground
invasion of Lebanon "aiming to seize the entire area south of the Litani River",
citing US and Israeli officials. The area, covering hundreds of square miles, is
already subject to Israeli evacuation warnings. Guterres, however, insisted
"there is no military solution, only diplomacy" and dialogue. The U.N. chief
arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he called a solidarity visit, and launched
a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the
displacement of hundreds of thousands of people amid sweeping Israeli army
evacuation orders. Guterres urged the international community to "step up your
engagement, empower the Lebanese state" and support the army, which has
committed to disarming Hezbollah.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Ankara feared Israel
could commit "genocide" in Lebanon and called for the international community to
intervene.
Turkey has been fiercely critical of Israel since the start of the Gaza war.
Paramedics
The health ministry said 31 paramedics had been killed this month, after the
bodies of additional health workers were found following an overnight strike
that authorities said hit a healthcare centre in Burj Qalawiya in the country's
south, killing doctors, paramedics and nurses. The Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic
Health Committee said the centre was one of its facilities, pledging such
attacks would not deter it from "performing our humanitarian duty". The Israeli
military accused Hezbollah of using ambulances militarily, and its spokesman
Avichay Adraee warned that Israel would act "in accordance with international
law against any military activity" by any Hezbollah use of medical facilities or
ambulances. Lebanon's health ministry accused Israel of repeatedly "targeting
ambulance crews while they were performing rescue duties". The Israeli army said
that it had struck Hezbollah operatives on Friday "who were bringing rockets
into a weapons depot" in Majedel, near Burj Qalawiya. It also said it had struck
"approximately 110 Hezbollah command centers" since the regional conflict broke
out. Kandice Ardiel, spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon, told AFP on Saturday that one of the peacekeepers' positions near Mais
al-Jabal was hit a day earlier, "likely by heavy machine gun fire", with one
peacekeeper lightly wounded, and said the force had launched an investigation.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the Lebanese government was ready to
engage in "direct talks" with Israel and offered to host negotiations in Paris,
warning that "everything must be done to prevent Lebanon from descending into
chaos".
Report: Meeting held in Baabda to discuss direct
negotiations with Israel
Agence France Presse/March 14, 2026
President Joseph Aoun has presided over a meeting in Baabda with the Lebanese
delegation headed by Simon Karam that will possibly conduct direct,
U.S.-mediated negotiations with Israel, a diplomatic source told the Lebanese
news portal East News. This comes after Beirut was informed of U.S. approval of
Aoun's negotiations initiative, the report said. During the meeting, Aoun noted
that his initiative came after consultations with all political factions in
Lebanon without exception, the report said. He noted that the venue for the
negotiations, either Paris or Cyprus, will be decided on Monday, and that the
decision will be officially announced by the relevant parties. An official later
confirmed to AFP that Lebanon is preparing to form a delegation to negotiate
with Israel, adding that there was still no Israeli commitment to the
initiative. "Negotiations are on the table and preparations are underway to form
a delegation, but... neither the timing nor the location has been determined,
with Paris and Cyprus being considered," the official said, adding: "We also
need an Israeli commitment to a truce."An Axios report on Saturday cited sources
as saying the French government had drafted a plan to end the war in Lebanon
that would require the government in Beirut to officially recognize Israel.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys to reportedly meet abroad in coming days
Naharnet/March 14, 2026
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are expected to meet for talks in the coming days
and U.S. envoy Jared Kushner is leading the effort on Washington's behalf,
Israel's Haaretz daily reported on Friday, quoting two sources familiar with the
matter. One source said former Israeli minister Ron Dermer, whom Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu tasked with handling the "Lebanon portfolio," is expected to
hold direct negotiations with Lebanese representatives. The source added that
the United States is also involved in the initiative, with Jared Kushner,
President Donald Trump's son-in-law, leading the effort on Washington's behalf.
A second source said the talks could take place in Cyprus or Paris, with Cyprus
currently seen as the more likely venue. French President Emmanuel Macron said
on Saturday that he is ready to help facilitate the discussions and host them in
Paris. Responding to a question from Haaretz, the Cypriot presidency said: "If
there are specific developments, we will issue a public and transparent
announcement. At the moment, there is nothing to comment on."
France reportedly proposes plan to end Lebanon war that
includes recognition of Israel
Naharnet/March 14, 2026
The French government has drafted a proposal to end the war in Lebanon that
would require the Lebanese government to take the unprecedented step of
recognizing Israel, three sources familiar with the details told U.S. news
portal Axios.
Israel and the U.S. are reviewing the proposal. The French framework could help
de-escalate the war, prevent a prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon,
increase international pressure to disarm Hezbollah and open the door to a
historic peace deal. "The Lebanese government has accepted the plan as a basis
for peace talks, deeply alarmed that the renewed war — triggered by Hezbollah's
rocket attacks on Israel — could devastate the country," Axios said. Israel is
planning to significantly expand its ground operation in Lebanon, aiming to
seize the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantle Hezbollah's
military infrastructure, Israeli and U.S. officials say. Under the French
proposal, Israel and Lebanon would open negotiations — with support from the
U.S. and France — on a "political declaration" to be agreed within one month,
Axios said. The negotiations would begin at the level of senior diplomats before
moving to senior political leaders. French officials want the talks to take
place in Paris, the sources said. The sources say the proposed declaration would
include Lebanon's initial recognition of Israel and a commitment by the Lebanese
government to respect Israel's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Israel and
Lebanon would also reaffirm their commitment to U.N. Security Council Resolution
1701, which ended the 2006 war, as well as the 2024 ceasefire agreement. The
Lebanese government would commit to preventing attacks against Israel from its
territory and to implementing its own plan to disarm Hezbollah and ban its
military activity. The French proposal calls for the Lebanese Army to redeploy
south of the Litani River. In parallel, Israel would withdraw within a month
from territories it has captured since the start of the current war, the sources
said.
Israel and Lebanon would commit to using the U.S.-led monitoring Mechanism to
address ceasefire violations and imminent threats.
UNIFIL peacekeepers would verify Hezbollah's disarmament south of the Litani
River, while a coalition of countries mandated by the U.N. Security Council
would oversee Hezbollah's disarmament in the rest of Lebanon. The proposal would
have Lebanon declare that it is prepared to open negotiations on a permanent
non-aggression agreement with Israel. Such an agreement would be signed within
two months and would end the formal state of war between the two countries,
which has been ongoing since Israel's founding in 1948, the sources said. The
agreement would commit Israel and Lebanon to resolving disputes peacefully and
to establishing security arrangements. After the non-aggression agreement is
signed, Israel would withdraw from five positions in southern Lebanon that
Israeli forces have controlled since November 2024. The final phase of the
French plan envisions demarcating the border between Israel and Lebanon — and
between Lebanon and Syria — by the end of 2026. President Joseph Aoun has
already appointed a negotiating team for potential talks with Israel. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked former minister Ron Dermer with
managing the Lebanese file during the war, according to U.S. and Israeli
officials. Dermer will handle contacts with the Trump administration and lead
any negotiations with the Lebanese government if direct talks begin in the
coming weeks, the officials said. It remains unclear who inside the Trump
administration is leading the Lebanon portfolio at this moment of acute crisis.
Sources with knowledge of the situation said one of Dermer's first tasks will be
to coordinate with the Trump administration on who will handle the issue and
serve as the U.S. mediator between the parties. While the French proposal could
serve as a basis for negotiations, Lebanese and Israeli officials say an
agreement will be difficult without strong American leadership.
Will there be a Eid al-Fitr truce in Lebanon?
Naharnet/March 14, 2026
President Joseph Aoun has proposed a four-pronged initiative that would begin
with a truce leading to direct negotiations, either in Cyprus or Paris, under
American auspices, Lebanese journalist Salem Zahran said Saturday in a post on
X. According to Zahran, the initiative is being seriously considered by the
American side, with the Lebanese delegation to be headed by Simon Karam and
including technical and legal teams. He indicated that discussions are currently
underway regarding the possibility of declaring a truce during Eid al-Fitr,
coinciding with the start of negotiations. However, a final decision has not yet
been reached, according to sources from multiple parties.
Zamir Orders Intensification of Campaign Against Hezbollah
in Southern Lebanon
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic
by: Elias Bejjani)
The Israeli army announced on Saturday the expansion of its ground operations
against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, coinciding with artillery shelling in the
region, according to Israeli military officials. These developments follow
orders from the IDF Chief of General Staff, General Eyal Zamir, to intensify the
campaign against Hezbollah’s "Radwan Force" after detecting increased militant
movements toward the border over the past week. Military officials explained
that the artillery shelling aims to support expanded ground operations against
Hezbollah units in southern Lebanon, noting the deployment of additional ground
forces to the area as part of this framework. According to the Israeli army, the
"Hunt and Neutralize" strategy targeting Radwan Force elements has been
reinforced following the detection of hundreds of fighters moving toward
southern Lebanon.
New Health Ministry Toll on Victims of Israeli Strikes on Lebanon
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by: Elias
Bejjani)
The Public Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health
announced in its daily report on the developments of the Israeli aggression on
Lebanon that the total number of martyrs from March 2 to March 14 reached 826,
while the number of wounded rose to 2,009. The report indicated that the number
of child martyrs reached 106, with 327 children wounded. Meanwhile, the death
toll in the health sector rose to 31 after missing health workers were found
under the rubble at the primary healthcare center in Borj Qalaouiyeh. The report
also noted that five hospitals have been forced to close due to attacks and
threats.
Israeli Escalation Continues: Targeting of Khardali Bridge
and Hezbollah Elements
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The Israeli Home Front Command announced the sounding of sirens in the Galilee
Panhandle and Upper Galilee in northern Israel following rocket fire from
Lebanon.
Hezbollah Statements:
In response, Hezbollah announced in several statements that it targeted:
A gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Khiam Municipality
with a rocket salvo.
A gathering of soldiers in the border town of Maroun al-Ras with a rocket salvo.
he Stella Maris base (a strategic maritime monitoring and surveillance base on
the northern coast) with a squadron of suicide drones.
The Ein Shemer base (a missile air defense base 75 km from the
Lebanese-Palestinian border, east of Hadera) with a squadron of suicide drones.
A gathering of soldiers at the newly established Blat site in southern Lebanon
with a rocket salvo (targeted twice).
he newly established site in Nimr al-Jamal opposite the border town of Alma al-Shaab.
An Israeli armored vehicle at the Khiam detention center with a guided missile,
scoring a direct hit.
The Ein Zeitim base north of occupied Safed.
The Metula settlement with two rocket salvos.
A gathering of soldiers in Al-Hamousiyah west of Blida with artillery shells.
A gathering of soldiers at Khazan Hill in Odaisseh with rocket salvos (targeted
twice).
The Kiryat Shmona settlement with a rocket salvo.
Two Merkava tanks near the Jal al-Allam site, achieving direct hits.
The 146th Division headquarters in Ga'aton, east of Nahariya.
The settlements of Gronot HaGalil, Goren, and the air defense system in
Ma'alot-Tarshiha.
The settlements of Admit, Hanita, Shlomi, and Liman as part of a warning issued
to northern settlements.
An Israeli force attempting to evacuate a destroyed tank near Taybeh, and the
downing of an armed Israeli drone over Al-Sharqiyah.
Direct clashes with Israeli forces in the city of Khiam using light and medium
weapons and rocket-propelled grenades; clashes are ongoing.
The Air Strikes:
Israeli aircraft raided Taybeh and the Khardali Bridge (linking Nabatieh and
Marjayoun). Raids also targeted Yater, the Sajd Heights in Iqlim al-Tuffah, and
Khiam. Several artillery shells hit the Janaam area on the outskirts of Shebaa,
while intermittent shelling hit Majdal Zoun. A series of raids struck towns in
the Sidon district (Babliyeh, Bissariyeh, Daoudiyeh, Sarafand, and Ghassaniyeh),
as well as Naqoura and the outskirts of Tulin. Four people were martyred in a
raid on Mayfadoun during Iftar time (around 6:00 PM). A family of four (the Al-Saghir
family) was martyred in a house strike in Qantara.
In Nabatieh, the death toll in the Rahbat neighborhood rose to 7 after a young
man died from his injuries. In Borj Qalaouiyeh, 12 were martyred in a strike on
an Islamic Health Organization center.
Hezbollah Elements:
IDF Spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on "X" that the IDF monitored Hezbollah
elements moving rockets into a warehouse in Al-Majdal, which was then struck by
the Air Force. The IDF also announced the killing of a commander in the
"Palestine Corps" of the Iranian Quds Force in Lebanon.
Aboul Gheit: Hezbollah is a Militia Insisting on Exposing
Lebanon to Increasing Risks
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from
Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, launched a sharp
attack on Hezbollah, describing it as a "militia" that insists on exposing
Lebanon, its people, and its capabilities to increasing risks. In an official
statement to "Russia Today," Aboul Gheit condemned in the strongest terms the
consecutive Israeli raids targeting civilian objects and Lebanese state
infrastructure, including bridges and residential areas in Beirut. He expressed
full solidarity with the Lebanese state, which he said is seeking all ways to
avoid involvement in the regional war, while Hezbollah persists in its current
path.
Second Strike on Borj Hammoud and Raid on Haret Saida
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
For the second consecutive day, the Borj Hammoud-Nabaa area was targeted by
Israel. This morning, a raid hit a residential apartment in Nabaa located on the
lower floors of the building targeted yesterday. The target was identified as
Ali Omar, a Syrian national legally residing in Lebanon. The Ministry of Health
reported one dead and four wounded. In Sidon, a raid targeted an apartment in
Haret Saida, killing four members of the Al-Tiryaki family, according to
preliminary reports.
French Foreign Ministry Clarifies Following Talk of
Proposal to End War
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The French Foreign Ministry announced this evening that there is "no French
plan" to stop the war, but rather the initiative of the Lebanese President is on
the table and is welcomed internationally and by Europe. France added that it
supports the Lebanese authorities' openness to direct talks with Israel and has
offered to facilitate them, noting that the agenda is for Lebanon and Israel
alone to decide. Earlier, Axios revealed that the French government had drafted
a proposal requiring Lebanon to take the unprecedented step of recognizing
Israel. According to Axios, the proposal includes UNIFIL verifying the
disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani, while a coalition of nations
mandated by the UN Security Council would oversee disarmament in the rest of
Lebanon. It also suggests Lebanon declare readiness for a permanent
non-aggression pact, after which Israel would withdraw from five sites in
southern Lebanon controlled since November 2024.
Lebanon and Israel Approach Direct Negotiations;
Berri to "Asharq Al-Awsat": My Positivity Depends on a
Ceasefire and the Return of the Displaced
Asharq Al-Awsat | March 15, 2026 (Translated from
Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
Lebanon and Israel moved closer yesterday to holding the first round of direct
negotiations to reach a ceasefire, though arrangements have not yet been
finalized. Lebanese ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that while an
agreement to meet has been reached, the date and location are undecided, with
invitations from both Cyprus and France. Speaker Nabih Berri, in a statement to
the paper, linked any positivity regarding the negotiations and President Joseph
Aoun’s initiative to two conditions: "First, a ceasefire, and second, the return
of the displaced," refusing to discuss details before their time. Meanwhile, UN
Secretary-General António Guterres stated from Beirut that "diplomatic channels"
are available to stop the war, calling on the international community to
redouble efforts to support the Lebanese state.
Israel and Lebanon Prepare for Round of Talks Sponsored by
U.S. and France; Berri: I Agree with Reservations
Al-Markazia/March 14, 2026 (Translated from
Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The newspaper Haaretz reported, citing its sources, that representatives from
Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold a round of talks in the coming days as
part of efforts to discuss security developments between the two sides. The
newspaper quoted a source stating that former Israeli Minister Ron Dermer, whom
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked with the Lebanese file, may conduct
direct negotiations with Lebanese representatives. It also noted that the United
States is participating in this initiative, with Jared Kushner, son-in-law of
U.S. President Donald Trump, leading efforts on behalf of Washington. In the
same context, French President Emmanuel Macron offered to host direct ceasefire
talks between Israel and Lebanon in Paris. Relatedly, Speaker of Parliament
Nabih Berri announced in a televised statement that his position is positive
toward President Joseph Aoun’s initiative and efforts, adding: "As for naming a
Shia representative to the negotiating delegation or not, that remains
contingent upon a ceasefire."
Paris Denies: "No French Plan" to Stop the War in Lebanon
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/ March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by:
Elias Bejjani)
The Foreign Ministry in Paris emphasized on Saturday that there is "no French
plan" to stop the war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. In a statement to
AFP, the ministry said: "France supported the Lebanese authorities' openness to
direct talks with Israel and proposed facilitating them. It is up to the two
parties, and only the two parties, to determine the agenda of these talks." This
stance followed a report by the American news site Axios claiming Paris had
prepared a proposal to end the war that included Lebanon’s recognition of
Israel. Sources revealed to Axios that the proposal included "the Lebanese
government's recognition of Israel and a commitment to respect its sovereignty
and territorial integrity." The sources added that the U.S. and Israel are
studying the proposal, alongside a suggestion regarding the deployment of the
Lebanese Army south of the Litani River. It noted that an Israeli withdrawal
from positions occupied during this war would occur within one month. Earlier
Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel to accept "direct talks"
with the Lebanese government and "various components of society," expressing
readiness to host them in Paris. In an Arabic post on "X," Macron wrote:
"Everything must be done to prevent Lebanon from sliding into chaos," adding:
"Hezbollah must immediately stop its escalatory approach. Israel must abandon
any large-scale attack and halt its intensive raids at a time when hundreds of
thousands have already fled the shelling." It is noted that in response to the
killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah dragged Lebanon
into a new war that began on March 2 with rocket fire into Israel, met by
large-scale Israeli raids, a ground incursion, and evacuation orders.
Lebanon and Israel Approach First Round of Negotiations... Arrangements Not
Finalized
Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Positivity is Contingent on Ceasefire and Return of
Displaced
Beirut: Asharq Al-Awsat/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic
by: Elias Bejjani)
Lebanon and Israel moved a step closer toward holding a first meeting in a round
of negotiations to end the war, but arrangements have not yet been agreed upon,
amid UN Secretary-General António Guterres's confirmation in Beirut on Saturday
that "diplomatic channels" are available.
Lebanese ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that an agreement to hold a
meeting has been reached, but the date and location remain undecided, with
invitations from both Cyprus and France. Sources said it remains unclear if
Speaker Nabih Berri will agree to send a Shia delegate. However, Berri linked
his positivity toward President Joseph Aoun’s initiative to two conditions:
"First, a ceasefire, and second, the return of the displaced," refusing to
discuss details "before their time." Berri rejects direct negotiations while the
war continues, calling for a fixed ceasefire first. He remains committed to the
"Mechanism" and Resolution 1701.
Ceasefire Opportunity
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in Beirut that "diplomatic
channels" are open, asserting: "There is no military solution; the solution lies
only in diplomacy and dialogue." He urged the international community to "double
efforts and empower the Lebanese state." Guterres condemned attacks on UNIFIL
positions as "completely unacceptable," following the wounding of three Ghanaian
peacekeepers last week. He also criticized Israeli evacuation orders for failing
to provide adequate protection for civilians, calling them a "violation of
international humanitarian law."
Israeli Incursion in South Lebanon Shifts Hezbollah’s Combat Priorities
Tel Aviv Expands Target List... Shelling of Israeli Depth
Recedes
Beirut: Asharq Al-Awsat/March 14, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by:
Elias Bejjani)
Hezbollah’s shelling of deep Israel has receded as war efforts shifted toward
confronting increasing Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory. Conversely,
Israel expanded its target list inside Lebanon, including three massacres
targeting paramedics in the south. Tel Aviv also issued a ban on closed trucks
traversing the coastal road to the south. By Saturday afternoon, Hezbollah
issued 22 statements claiming military operations, mostly focused on shelling
military gatherings on the border and air defense systems. It appears that
repelling ground incursions has topped Hezbollah's priorities after the Israeli
army began a broad incursion on at least four axes. Israeli strikes have severed
the region’s "arteries" by bombing bridges and culverts connecting the south of
the Litani to its north to prevent the arrival of fighters.
Targeting Medical Facilities
Israeli raids on medical centers have killed 22 paramedics since the war began.
The most violent occurred Friday at a healthcare center in Borj Qalaouiyeh,
killing 12 doctors and nurses. The Ministry of Health called it a "flagrant
attack on the official healthcare network." The Israeli army claimed Hezbollah
uses ambulances for military purposes and warned that any truck on the coast is
a potential target.
Washington Links Ceasefire to Simultaneous Disarmament of Hezbollah
Mohammed Shuqair, Beirut: Asharq Al-Awsat/ March 14, 2026
(Translated from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
Netanyahu’s appointment of Ron Dermer to handle the Lebanese file does not mean
the political path is clear. Fears are rising that Washington has given Israel a
military green light in Lebanon, leaving Beirut with no choice but to accept
that Hezbollah’s weapons are on the table—not for negotiation, but for
disarmament simultaneous with a ceasefire.
Military Discretion for Israel
A Western diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat that while the U.S. insists on
separating the wars in Lebanon and Iran, it is leaving Netanyahu freedom of
military assessment. The source noted that Netanyahu is fighting this war as if
it were the "last war," while Hezbollah sees it as an existential struggle.
Expelling the Revolutionary Guard
The source expressed satisfaction with the Lebanese government's deportation of
dozens of Revolutionary Guard officials who entered on diplomatic passports as
"experts." He noted that U.S. officials will not pressure Netanyahu to stop the
war, blaming the Lebanese government for its leniency toward Hezbollah. The U.S.
considers the "Mechanism" (Tripartite meetings) retired, insisting instead on
direct negotiations that secure Israeli safety in the north in exchange for
withdrawal from the south. Lebanon faces an "open war" unless Hezbollah
reconsider its calculations and decouples its fate from Iran.
Lebanon at a Moment of Truth
An Open Letter to the President of the Lebanese Republic His Excellency General
Joseph Aoun From Toni Nissi President of the Committee for the Implementation of
United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Lebanon
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152775/
March 13/2026
Your Excellency,
Lebanon today stands at one of the most dangerous moments in its modern history.
The ongoing war between Hezbollah and the State of Israel on Lebanese territory
is no longer merely a limited military confrontation; it has become a clear
manifestation of a deep sovereignty crisis that the Lebanese state has been
experiencing for years.
The question that now imposes itself on both the Lebanese people and the
Lebanese state is simple in its wording but profound in its implications:
Who holds the authority over decisions of war and peace in Lebanon?
The Lebanese Constitution is clear on this matter. The Taif Agreement, which
rebuilt the Lebanese state after the civil war, was equally clear in calling for
the disbanding of all Lebanese and non‑Lebanese militias and the restriction of
arms to the Lebanese state alone.
United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Lebanon also reaffirm
this principle, particularly resolutions:1559 (2004)- 1680 (2006)- 1701 (2006)
These resolutions clearly call for:
– The extension of the authority of the Lebanese state over all its territory.
– The exclusive possession of arms by the legitimate institutions of the
Lebanese Republic.
– The disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non‑Lebanese militias.
However, the reality in Lebanon today clearly demonstrates that these
commitments have not yet been implemented and that the Lebanese state does not
exercise full sovereignty over decisions of war and peace.
Your Excellency,
You have launched a political initiative calling for direct dialogue with the
State of Israel in order to address outstanding issues and promote stability.
This initiative reflects an important recognition of the gravity of the moment
Lebanon is facing.
Yet this initiative has not, so far, translated into concrete progress or
succeeded in breaking the political and military deadlock that places Lebanon at
growing risk.
At the same time, recent deliberations within the United Nations Security
Council regarding Lebanon have once again emphasized the necessity of the full
implementation of the international resolutions related to Lebanese sovereignty
and the extension of state authority over the entire territory of Lebanon.
Your Excellency,
The reality that can no longer be ignored today is that the Lebanese state is
currently unable to enforce its monopoly over arms or exercise full control over
the decision of war and peace.
The continuation of this situation threatens not only Lebanon’s stability but
also the very existence of the Lebanese state as a sovereign state.
Therefore, national and historical responsibility requires an honest
acknowledgment of this reality.
We call upon Your Excellency to take a courageous national step by:
– Immediately convening the Council of Ministers to address the issue of
national sovereignty and the monopoly of arms.
– Adopting an official position acknowledging the current limitations of the
Lebanese state in fully exercising its sovereignty.
– Addressing the United Nations Security Council and the international community
regarding their responsibilities toward Lebanon.
– Requesting international measures to ensure the implementation of Security
Council resolutions concerning Lebanon, including mechanisms under Chapter VII
of the United Nations Charter if necessary to restore the full authority of the
Lebanese state over its territory.
Your Excellency,
Recourse to international legitimacy does not represent a surrender of
sovereignty. In certain historical moments, it may become the only path to
protecting and restoring it.
Lebanon now stands before a historic choice: Either the Lebanese state regains
its full sovereign authority, or the country continues as an open arena for
regional conflicts beyond the control of its own people.
Respectfully,
TONI NISSI
President
Committee for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions
on Lebanon
Beirut: March 13, 2026
The War on Hezbollah-The Iranian Terrorist Proxy Continues/LCCC website
The just war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran and its
proxies—devils, terrorists, drug traffickers, and mafia networks—continues
relentlessly and will not stop before their complete defeat.
To follow the news, below are- links to several
important news websites:
National News Agency (Lebanon)
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar
Nidaa Al Watan
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
MTV Lebanon
https://www.mtv.com.lb/
Voice of Lebanon
https://www.vdl.me/
Asas Media
https://asasmedia.com/
Naharnet
https://www.naharnet.com/
Al Markazia News Agency
https://almarkazia.com/ar
LBCI (English)
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/en
LBCI (Arabic)
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/ar
Janoubia Website
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/ar
Kataeb Party Official Website
https://www.kataeb.org
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published
on March 14-15/2026
Trump says ‘Iran totally defeated,’ ‘wants a deal’ he won’t accept
AFP/14 March/2026
US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has been “totally defeated” in
the US-Israeli military campaign against the country and wanted a deal he would
not accept, despite Iranian officials pledging to continue the fight.“The Fake
News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against
Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal – But not a deal that I would
accept!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating. Trump’s
comments came after he said that Washington had heavily bombed military targets
on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island and the US Navy would soon begin escorting
tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. But as the US strikes on Iran persisted,
Tehran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Israel and its Gulf
neighbors. Meanwhile, several top Iranian officials joined a defiant
pro-government rally in Tehran on Friday, marching alongside demonstrators
waving banners reading “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”Iran’s top
diplomat said this week that talks remain off the table and attacks would
continue for as long as necessary. “I don’t think talking with the Americans
would be on our agenda anymore,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS
News this week, adding Tehran had a “very bitter experience” during previous
negotiations with the US.
US strikes more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg
Island, CENTCOM says
Reuters/14 March/2026
United States forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island in
Iran on Friday night, the US Central Command said on Saturday. “US forces
successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while
preserving the oil infrastructure,” CENTCOM said. The strike destroyed naval
mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military
sites, the US military said in a post on X. President Donald Trump threatened on
Friday to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran’s Kharg Island hub, unless
Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
US attacks Iran’s Kharg Island in one of ‘most powerful bombings raids in
history’: Trump
Al Arabiya English/14 March/2026
President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States had heavily bombed
military targets on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island and the US Navy would soon begin
escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump
said military targets on Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran's crude
exports, had been “totally obliterated” in “one of the most powerful bombing
raids in the History of the Middle East.”He said he had chosen not to target oil
infrastructure on the island for now. “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do
anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait
of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” the US president said.
Iranian media reported on Saturday that no oil infrastructure was damaged in the
strikes. Fars news agency, citing sources on the ground, reported there had been
no damage to oil facilities. With oil prices spiking, Trump was asked when the
US Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Gulf's critical Strait of
Hormuz. “It'll happen soon, very soon,” he said.Iranian strikes have all but
halted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global
crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally pass.
With AFP
Fire in UAE’s Fujairah after debris from drone interception: Media office
Al Arabiya English/14 March/2026
A fire has occurred in the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah emirate, a major
bunkering hub, after debris fell during the interception of a drone, but no
injuries were reported, the emirate’s media office said on Saturday. Civil
defense forces are handling the incident to contain the fire, it added. Gulf
countries are being subject to Iran’s missiles and drones, but most threats are
being intercepted by their air defense systems. Tehran has said its strikes are
aimed at the US presence in the region. The UAE, along with other Gulf
countries, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, hosts US military facilities. Drones or
missiles have been fired at UAE civilian infrastructure including Dubai airport,
landmark hotels and the financial hub. With Agencies
Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane
Agence France Presse/14 March/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump urged other nations to help secure a vital shipping
lane choked off by the war with Iran that showed no signs of slowing on Saturday
as strikes hit the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and a major Emirati energy facility.
Two weeks after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, the entire Gulf
region remained in the grip of a conflict that has sent shockwaves through the
global economy. The war has also spilled into Lebanon, where the health ministry
said Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of people, as Israel fought the
Tehran-backed Hezbollah once again. Oil prices have surged by 40 percent as Iran
has choked off the vital Strait of Hormuz and attacked Gulf energy facilities.
Clouds of black smoke rose on Saturday over Fujairah, home to a major Emirati
oil storage and export terminal, AFP journalists saw, shortly after Iran's
military warned UAE civilians to avoid port areas. Washington's embassy in Iraq
was hit by a drone, security sources told AFP, the second time it has been
targeted in the war, and the Emirati consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan was also
struck for the second time in a week. And in Kuwait, the international airport
was targeted with several drones "which struck its radar system" but caused no
injuries, the Kuwaiti civil aviation authority said. Having earlier vowed that
the U.S. Navy would "very soon" start escorting tankers through the Strait of
Hormuz, Trump appeared to call for reinforcements on Saturday. "Many
countries... will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of
America, to keep the Strait open and safe," he wrote on Truth Social, saying
China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK would "hopefully" be among them. He
later repeated the call on social media, saying that although the U.S. "has
beaten" Iran, countries that received oil via the strait "must take care of that
passage, and we will help".
'As long as necessary' -
U.S. forces struck Kharg Island on Friday, from which nearly all of Iran's oil
is exported, with Trump saying they had "obliterated every MILITARY target",
though sparing its energy facilities. Iran had threatened that U.S.-linked oil
and energy firms would be "turned into a pile of ashes" if they were hit, with
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later repeating the warning and accusing the
U.S. of firing rockets at Kharg from its bases in the UAE. He then called on
Iran's neighbours to expel American forces, saying the U.S. security umbrella
was "inviting rather than deterring trouble". Israel's Defence Minister Israel
Katz said the war was entering a "decisive phase", though he cautioned it would
"continue as long as necessary". Despite facing superior U.S. and Israeli
firepower, Iran appeared determined to fight on. Blasts were heard by AFP
journalists over Jerusalem after the military detected missiles launched from
Iran on Saturday. Iran later said it had launched another missile salvo, with
the Israeli military saying it had detected the launches. Qatar evacuated
downtown areas and intercepted two missiles, with blasts heard by AFP
journalists. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas urged Iran to refrain from
targeting Gulf neighbours, many of which have supported its cause. It was a rare
breach between the allies, though Hamas affirmed Tehran's right to defend
itself. Iran continued to face heavy bombardment with local media reporting
strikes in several provinces through Saturday, including one on an industrial
site in Isfahan that killed 15 people, according to Fars news agency. AFP was
not able to verify the toll. Iran's health ministry says more than 1,200 people
have been killed by U.S. and Israeli attacks, numbers that could not be
independently verified, while up to 3.2 million people have been displaced,
according to the U.N. refugee agency. More than 15,000 targets in Iran have been
hit by the U.S. and Israel, the Pentagon said. A report this week said the first
six days alone cost the US $11.3 billion, while 13 military personnel have died
in the war.
Transition -
U.S. media raised the possibility of American troops on the ground in Iran, with
the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporting the Pentagon had dispatched
the Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the region along with
around 2,500 Marines.
In Iran, the country's rulers appeared intent on showing they would survive the
war and maintain control, despite their supreme leader Ali Khamenei being killed
on the opening day. Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new supreme
leader, but has been absent from public view and is reportedly wounded. Araghchi
insisted on Saturday that "there is no problem with the new supreme leader".
Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of Iran's last shah, said on social media on
Saturday that he was ready to lead a transition "as soon as the Islamic republic
falls". But Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened a heavy crackdown on any
anti-government protests. Thousands were killed during mass demonstrations in
January, and a near-total internet blackout has been imposed since the war
began.
Pentagon approves deployment of amphibious Marine unit to
Middle East
Al Arabiya English/14 March/2026
The Pentagon has approved the deployment of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to
the Middle East, bolstering US troop levels and air power as Washington
intensifies its campaign against Iran alongside Israel. The MEU being deployed
will come from the Indo-Pacific, according to US officials, and will include
amphibious ships and fighter jets. An amphibious Ready Group and Marine
Expeditionary Unit, also known as an ARG/MEU, consists of about 2,500 Marines
and 2,500 sailors. The Wall Street Journal quoted US officials as saying the
Japan-based USS Tripoli and its attached Marines are en route to the region. The
Journal said the request for the additional Marines was made by US Central
Command, which is responsible for US troops in the Middle East, and approved by
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. There are already Marines in the region supporting
operations against Iran, the newspaper added.The United States and Israel
launched a massive air campaign against Iran on February 28, and Tehran has
responded with waves of drones and missiles as well as attacks on ships in the
Strait of Hormuz, which is used for a fifth of global crude trade. With AFP
Iran threatens US-linked oil targets after Trump says Kharg bombed
AFP/14 March/2026
Iran’s armed forces threatened on Saturday to destroy US-linked oil
infrastructure after President Donald Trump said the United States had bombed
Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island. The military’s al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said
in a statement cited by Iranian media that oil and energy infrastructure
belonging to firms that cooperated with the United States would “immediately be
destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes” if Iran’s energy facilities were
attacked. The announcement, reported by Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies,
was in “response to statements” made by the US president who had earlier said in
a social media post that strikes had “obliterated” military targets on Kharg
Island. Trump had also threatened to hit the island’s oil infrastructure if
Tehran did not allow passage for ships via the strategic Strait of Hormuz,
through which a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally
pass. Kharg Island, located around 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the Iranian
mainland, handles roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, according to a
recent JP Morgan note.The war has sparked chaos in global markets and sent oil
prices soaring. Iranian strikes have all but halted maritime traffic in the
Strait of Hormuz, leaving investors and governments globally nervous about the
risk of dwindling energy supply and higher inflation.
Israel says Iran war entering 'decisive phase'
Agence France Presse/14 March/2026
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Saturday the war with Tehran was
entering a "decisive phase", praising U.S. strikes on what Washington called
military targets on Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub. "The global and regional
struggle against Iran, led by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is escalating and entering the decisive phase that
will continue as long as necessary," Katz told military top brass in a televised
statement.
Iran, US threaten attacks on oil facilities
Agence France Presse/14 March/2026
Iran threatened Saturday to reduce U.S.-linked oil facilities to "a pile of
ashes" as the two-week-old Middle East war spilled over into a global oil price
crisis. Iranian armed forces issued the warning after U.S. President Donald
Trump said he may decide to "wipe out" Iran's largest oil export hub on its
Kharg Island. Waves of drone, missile and aerial bombing have displaced millions
in the region and reportedly killed more than 1,200 people in Iran since the
United States and Israel opened hostilities on February 28. Despite facing
superior U.S. and Israeli firepower, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone
attacks against at least 10 countries. Tehran has also squeezed the world
economy by threatening to strike oil tankers on the Strait of Hormuz, bringing
traffic to a virtual halt on a route that normally carries one fifth of global
oil supplies. Crude oil prices have surged more 40 percent since the war began.
Trump said Friday U.S. forces had "totally obliterated" all military targets on
Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub, describing it in a social media post as "one
of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East." The U.S.
leader said he had chosen not to "wipe out" oil infrastructure on the Iranian
island, for now. "However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere
with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will
immediately reconsider this decision," he said. Trump said the U.S. Navy would
start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "very soon" to restore oil
exports. The Iranian military responded that oil and energy infrastructure owned
by U.S.-linked firms would be "immediately be destroyed and turned into a pile
of ashes" if the United States struck its oil facilities, according to Iranian
media.
U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,200 people in Iran, according
to health ministry figures that could not be independently verified. The U.N.
refugee agency has estimated that up to 3.2 million people have been displaced
inside Iran since the war started.
Blasts hit Tehran -
Heavy blasts shook Tehran late Friday after the United States vowed to step up
air strikes.
Trump described Iran as "totally defeated" and in search of a deal he was
unwilling to consider. According to the Pentagon, the U.S. and Israel have
struck more than 15,000 targets in Iran over the past two weeks. Israel's
military said it conducted 7,600 strikes on the country, most of them against
its missile programme. Iran appears intent on showing it will come through the
war intact and in control, despite its supreme leader Ali Khamenei being killed
at the start of the U.S.-Israeli campaign.Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei was
named the new supreme leader, but has been absent from public view and said to
be wounded. Within Iran, the Revolutionary Guards have warned of a strong
response to any anti-government protests, after demonstrations in January in
which several thousand people were killed.Iranian authorities have maintained an
internet blackout since the war started. A drone struck the U.S. embassy in
Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi security official and a security source said. An
AFP journalist saw smoke rising from the complex. The attack took place shortly
after two Iran-backed fighters were killed in strikes on Iraq's capital,
according to several sources. After 14 days of war, the United States is
reportedly sending reinforcements that could open up options beyond the airborne
campaign. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times said Friday the Pentagon
had dispatched the Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the region
along with its complement of some 2,500 Marines. The U.S. military has lost 13
personnel since the war started. They include six who were aboard a refuelling
aircraft that crashed in Iraq, an incident that U.S. officials said was not the
result of hostile fire.
Gulf countries are still being targeted by Iran.
Missiles intercepted -
Qatar said it intercepted two missiles Saturday, after blasts were heard in the
capital Doha and authorities said they had evacuated some key areas.
Interceptors were seen downing two projectiles over the Qatari capital's
downtown area and blasts were heard, according to AFP journalists. Saudi
Arabia's defense ministry said its forces had intercepted dozens of drones on
Friday. Beyond the Gulf, Turkey said NATO forces shot down a ballistic missile
launched from Iran -- the third such interception in the war.
Drone attack takes place on US embassy in Baghdad: Iraqi
security source
AFP/14 March/2026
A drone struck the US embassy in Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi security official
said, as an AFP journalist saw smoke rising from the complex. “A drone hit the
embassy,” the official said, with a second security source confirming that an
attack had targeted the diplomatic mission. The attack took place shortly after
two Iran-backed fighters were killed in strikes on Iraq’s capital, according to
several sources.
US offers up to $10 mln reward for tips on Iran’s supreme
leader, senior officials
Reuters/14 March/2026
The United States is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information
about senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including its new
Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The reward targets 10 officials
associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to
the State Department website. The military force, created after Iran’s 1979
Islamic Revolution, is loyal to the supreme leader and tasked with protecting
the Shia clerical establishment. Mojtaba Khamenei recently succeeded his father,
Ali Khamenei, as Iran's supreme leader after the elder Khamenei was killed along
with several other top Iranian officials in joint US and Israeli strikes that
began on February 28. The younger Khamenei, believed to have been injured in the
strikes, hasn't been seen publicly since, although he released his first
statement on Thursday. In addition to the supreme leader, the US is seeking
information about Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, Intelligence Minister
Esmail Khatib, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and two officials in Khamenei's
office. Larijani appeared Friday in videos verified by Reuters alongside
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi attending a rally
in Tehran, despite an assertion by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran's
leadership was “cowering” underground. The reward website also lists four other
officials, including the IRGC commander and secretary of the defense council,
but doesn't include their names or photos. “These individuals command and direct
various elements of the IRGC, which plans, organizes, and executes terrorism
around the world,” the State Department said. The Revolutionary Guards could not
be immediately reached for comment on Friday — the weekly day of rest in Iran.
Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York didn't immediately respond to a
request for comment. The US has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist
organization, accusing it of being responsible for attacks that have killed US
citizens. Washington has also accused Iran of orchestrating assassination plots
against President Donald Trump and other US officials in retaliation for the
killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Iran denies
being a sponsor of terrorism. Iranian officials routinely dismiss US terrorism
allegations as baseless political attacks, arguing Washington raises such claims
to justify pressure campaigns or sanctions.
Hamas urges Iran to stop 'targeting neighboring countries'
Agence France Presse/14 March/2026
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Saturday called on Iran to refrain from
targeting neighbouring countries, while affirming Tehran's right to defend
itself against Israel and the United States. In a rare appeal, Hamas also urged
the international community to take steps to end the war that has gripped the
Middle East since it began on February 28."While affirming the right of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in
accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on the brothers
in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries," Hamas said in a statement --
its first such public appeal to Tehran. Hamas, which fought a devastating
two-year war with Israel in Gaza, also called on the international community to
"work towards halting" the ongoing war immediately. The group previously
condemned the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on the first day
of the war as a "heinous crime", openly acknowledging his longstanding support
for the Palestinian movement. "He provided all forms of political, diplomatic
and military support to our people, our cause, and our resistance," the movement
said soon after the killing of Khamenei.
A Hamas official told AFP that the movement has been in contact with Iranian
officials over the issue. "The Israeli occupation seeks to sow discord between
Iran and its Arab and Islamic neighbours," the source said, speaking on
condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.
"Hamas's leadership has also reached out to officials in several countries,
including Qatar, Turkey, and Iraq, urging them to work towards halting the
American and Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added.
Despite facing superior U.S. and Israeli firepower, Iran has retaliated with
missile and drone attacks against at least 10 countries. Qatar said it
intercepted two missiles on Saturday, after blasts were heard in the capital
Doha and authorities said they had evacuated some areas. Hamas's appeal to Iran
comes as its ally, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, has once again thrown
itself into the conflict, firing hundreds of rockets at Israel in the immediate
aftermath of the war's outbreak. Hezbollah entered the fighting after Khamenei's
killing, and since then Israeli strikes have killed nearly 800 people in
Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry.
Qatar, Turkey targeted -
Hamas's appeal for Iran to stop targeting regional states is notable, given that
Tehran has long been one of the group's most important backers. Analysts
estimate that Iran provided Hamas with tens of millions of dollars annually.
Under the late Khamenei, Iran viewed support for Palestinian groups such as
Hamas as a central pillar of its regional strategy against Israel and its
allies. Several Sunni-majority states have also maintained ties with Hamas,
especially Qatar and Turkey. Qatar has been a key financial supporter linked to
Gaza during Hamas' rule, with much of its funding described as humanitarian or
reconstruction aid --covering civil servant salaries, fuel, and infrastructure.
Critics argue that because Hamas governed all of Gaza until the war began in the
Palestinian territory after October 7, 2023, some of this assistance indirectly
bolstered the group’s political authority. Qatar has also hosted Hamas’s
political leadership in Doha, which has allowed the group to maintain
international contacts and participate in negotiations and mediation efforts.
Turkey, meanwhile, has provided mainly political and diplomatic backing rather
than large-scale direct funding. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara
has supported Hamas rhetorically and has hosted visits by its leaders. On
Friday, Turkey said a ballistic missile fired from Iran had been shot down in
Turkish airspace by NATO forces.
News of
the ongoing war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other. The
news is abundant, fragmented, and difficult to keep track of as it evolves
constantly. For those wishing to follow the course of the war, the following are
links to several television channels and newspapers:
Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper
https://aawsat.com/
National News Agency
https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar
Al Arabiya/Arabic
https://www.alarabiya.net/
Sky News
https://www.youtube.com/@SkyNewsArabia
Nidaa Al Watan
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
Al Markazia
https://www.nidaalwatan.com/
Al Hadath
https://www.youtube.com/@AlHadath
Independent Arabia
https://www.independentarabia.com/
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on March 14-15/2026
There
is no way around the Strait of Hormuz
Cornelia MeyerAl Arabiya English/14 March/2026
Rarely have oil prices experienced such volatility. Prices rose from around $73
per barrel on February 27, before the war began, to $119 per barrel on Monday.
After President Trump asserted that the war would soon be over, prices fell back
to around $85. Volatility is the constant companion of uncertainty and turmoil
in commodity markets.
What does this mean, and how will the global economy be affected?
On Monday, March 9, the swing in crude prices reached $33.1 per barrel for
Brent, or more than 38 percent, one of the largest moves ever recorded. This is
good for neither oil markets nor the global economy, as even a modest degree of
predictability has now been removed from the equation. So what is behind the
uncertainty: 20 percent of the world’s crude and product flowed through the
Strait of Hormuz, as did 20 percent of global LNG.
In the Gulf, 6.7 million barrels per day out of 20.47 million b/d had to be shut
in as the region ran out of storage capacity. According to Bloomberg, Saudi
Arabia shut in 25 percent of its February production and Iraq a staggering 33
percent. Qatar halted all of its LNG production, which is urgently needed across
Asia. The supply situation for oil and gas is now in one of the most perilous
states it has ever faced. If around 20 percent of crude and products are removed
from the market while sanctions remain in place in some geographies, the impact
on the global economy will be significant.
Oil markets are in upheaval, with everyone scrambling to determine where the
next barrel will come from. Asia is particularly affected, as more than 90
percent of the oil and gas passing through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for
Asian markets.
The IEA, the OECD’s energy watchdog, convened its member states and decided to
release 400 million barrels from their strategic reserves. The impact on prices
was only temporary. As of 2 PM CET, Brent had climbed to $98.58 per barrel.
The 400 million barrels amount to less than four days of global oil consumption
and provide roughly 20 days of relief from the shortfall in supplies from Gulf
oil producers.
It is true that some mechanisms allow Gulf oil to bypass the Strait. Saudi
Arabia has a pipeline with a capacity of around 7 million barrels per day from
the east coast to the west coast. About 2 million barrels are used for domestic
refining purposes, leaving roughly 5 million barrels available for crude
exports. The UAE has a pipeline with a capacity of around 1.5 million b/d to
Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. While this is helpful, it is a drop in the ocean
under the current circumstances. We will not get around the Strait of Hormuz
whatever the circumstances. Amin Nasser, CEO of Aramco was correct when he said
that “there would be catastrophic consequences for the world’s oil markets the
longer the disruption goes on, and the more drastic the consequences for the
global economy.”
As for US insurance and US navy escorts through the Strait, ship owners will not
be willing to take the risk on assets and crews.
This is not just about oil markets, it is also about inflation, which is the
economic transmission mechanism of the current upheaval. Oil is in everything we
do from transportation to plastics to other applications. Gas heats many
households and is an important input for industry and in products such as
fertilizer. (30 percent of nitrogen-based fertilizers must pass through the
Strait of Hormuz.) In other words, we are talking runaway inflation affecting
all sectors: oil and gas, industry, transportation, agriculture etc.
GCC countries have also become major hubs for international air transport.
According to Bloomberg 10 percent of global airline capacity have been taken out
since the beginning of the conflict. GCC boasts some of the major global hubs.
The crisis triggered 46,000 flight cancellations. Ten percent of all Europe to
Asia transport is routed through these airports. Some airfares from Asia to
Europe jumped 40 percent to 80 percent. So far, insurance rates for shipping and
cargo skyrocketed and the runaway inflation will be felt in most consumers’
pockets across the world. Spare a thought for developing economies which will be
hard hit by food inflation at a time when the UN is underfunded and most Western
countries are reallocating funding from development programs to defense. All of
this translates into lower growth projections. Central banks will not be able to
lower interest rates in the face of runaway inflation.
To make matters worse: Problems will not be over once hostilities cease. The oil
and gas production that had to be shut will take time to come back onstream
again because we are dealing with complex industrial processes. In other words:
Fasten your seat belts, we are in some turbulence for considerable time.
The false narratives of war and the strategic patience of
Gulf states
Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad/Arab News/March 14, 2026
The first casualty in war is truth, the Greek dramatist Aeschylus observed more
than two millennia ago. The ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran once again proves
the enduring pertinence of his observation.
As missiles continue to strike across the Gulf and tensions ripple through
global energy markets, another battle has unfolded: in the information sphere.
Selective reporting, speculation, and outright fabrication attempt to frame the
conflict as a widening regional war. Yet despite sustained narrative pressure,
the Gulf — the region most exposed to the war’s consequences — has refused to be
drawn into an escalation.
Propaganda has always accompanied warfare. During the US wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq, “embedded journalism” often ensured the reporting reflected the military’s
preferred framing of events. What distinguishes the current conflict with Iran
is the speed of narrative construction in the digital age, as selective reports
spread instantly online and spill over into television coverage, from Fox News
and CNN to the BBC and Sky News, thereby shaping perceptions in real time. Some
influential US and Israeli media outlets appear to frame developments in ways
that mirror the strategic preferences of actors seeking to widen the conflict.
The pattern began even before hostilities started. Days before the first
strikes, The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, reported that Saudi
leaders had privately urged US President Donald Trump to confront Iran more
aggressively. Riyadh rejected this claim, noting that its diplomacy focused on
negotiations and deescalation. Yet the allegation circulated widely, while the
denial received far less attention.
The narrative resurfaced when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Trump joined forces to initiate the war against Iran. As Iranian drones and
missiles began striking targets all over the Gulf in retaliation, another
Washington Post report suggested that Trump’s decision to launch the attacks
followed lobbying from regional allies such as Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials
once again denied the claim.
Both of the newspaper’s reports tried to create the impression that Gulf states
were aligned with Washington and Israel in launching this unjust and illegal
war, even as Omani-mediated diplomacy had been underway.
As the conflict escalated, the narrative construction intensified. Much of it
was centered around the American news website Axios, where Washington-based
correspondent Barak Ravid produced a stream of exclusive “scoops,” often based
on rare access to senior officials and even telephone interviews with Trump. On
March 6, he reported that Trump wanted to be personally involved in selecting
Iran’s next leader and demanded the “unconditional surrender” of the regime. A
day later, another Axios report by Ravid suggested the US was considering
sending special forces into Iran to seize stockpiles of enriched uranium, a move
that would dramatically widen the war.
Yet the strategic expectations behind the conflict soon began to falter. Iran’s
leadership structure remained intact despite targeted decapitation strikes.
Rather than triggering collapse or “regime change,” the war appeared to
strengthen nationalist sentiment within the country. Meanwhile, Iranian attacks
on Gulf energy facilities and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
rattled global markets, pushing oil prices upward and increasing the pressure on
Western economies.
These developments quickly translated into political tensions in Washington.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the war’s most vocal advocates, took to social media
platform X to put pressure on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to join the
conflict, warning that continued neutrality could carry “consequences” for the
Kingdom, and accusing Gulf leaders of “having their heads in the sand.” Gulf
leaders appear determined not to allow either military provocations or narrative
manipulation to dictate their actions.
His remarks reflected growing frustration within Republican ranks over the
faltering war effort, and drew widespread criticism from across the Gulf.
Commentators noted that the Gulf states were already absorbing Iranian missile
attacks despite having played no part in initiating the conflict. Criticism has
also grown that Washington had failed to protect its regional allies while
appearing to serve Israel’s expansionist agenda.
Meanwhile, critics of the Iran war in the US have advanced their own narratives.
Conservative activist and commentator Tucker Carlson, whose broadcasts reach
millions within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base, argued that Washington
had been dragged into the conflict by Israeli pressure. He and others framed the
war in civilizational and religious terms, claiming Israel ultimately seeks the
destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the construction of a Third Temple in
Jerusalem.
Carlson’s critique resonated with a segment of the American public deeply
skeptical of foreign wars. Another claim of his, that Mossad agents had
orchestrated attacks in Saudi Arabia, was swiftly denied by Saudi media yet it
spread rapidly across social media and Iranian-linked news outlets, reinforcing
conspiratorial narratives already prevalent in extremist circles. Two competing
narrative campaigns have, therefore, unfolded simultaneously. Some reporting
portrays the war as expanding across the region and attempts to justify the
escalation. Other stories frame the conflict as a conspiracy driven by Israeli
ambitions. Despite their differing motivations, both narrative strands seek to
create anxiety among all Gulf citizens and residents. Earlier, Axios had also
amplified speculation about Gulf involvement in the war. On March 2, Ravid
reported that it had expanded to more than a dozen countries, and suggested
several states in the region were considering joining the conflict. The
following day, another Axios report claimed the UAE was weighing the possibility
of military action against Iranian missile bases, while listing Qatar, Kuwait,
Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia among the participants in a widening war.
Such reporting sought to normalize the idea that the entry of Gulf states into
the conflict was inevitable, a narrative echoed by Israeli media. In a March 3
editorial, The Jerusalem Post argued that Iranian attacks were pushing Arab
states into “uncomfortable alignment” with Israel and the US, while citing
unnamed sources as claiming that Qatar had struck targets inside Iran. Doha
immediately denied the report. Days later, the newspaper cited a “senior Israeli
source” as claiming the UAE had struck an Iranian facility, an allegation that
was firmly rejected by Abu Dhabi. Other Western media outlets have reinforced
the narrative of a widening war. The New York Post reported an intelligence leak
that suggested Iraqi Kurdish factions were preparing a ground offensive, a claim
later echoed by Reuters reporting from Jerusalem, even as the Kurdish groups
denied it.
Similar framing has appeared elsewhere, with The Economist pondering whether the
Gulf states should join the war, and a Wall Street Journal editorial warning
that Iran would win if the bombing stopped.
Meanwhile, the Iranian media have advanced their own counternarrative,
portraying the conflict as a coordinated US-Israeli attempt to destabilize the
country, while denying responsibility for missile strikes across the Gulf region
and elsewhere. The contrast between the evidence of attacks on the ground and
the repeated official denials spread by aligned media outlets has only deepened
the information struggle surrounding the war.
Caught between competing narratives, the region finds itself at the center of an
information war that seeks to draw it into the conflict. Yet it continues to
resist the temptation to retaliate against Iranian provocations, ensuring the
war remains confined to the aggressors and the aggressee. Saudi Arabia continues
to emphasize the role of diplomacy, while Qatar and the UAE firmly reject claims
suggesting their involvement in the conflict. Across the region, political and
business leaders are increasingly questioning why Gulf states should bear the
costs of a war they neither initiated nor desired. Public opinion has also
sharpened, with growing awareness of Israeli expansionist ambitions and American
complicity in them.
The Gulf also hosts some of the Arab world’s most vibrant media platforms.
Channels such as Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya reflect regional public sentiment and
offer alternative perspectives on the war, including its legality, morality, and
implications, that contrast sharply with narratives circulating in Western
media.
For Gulf Cooperation Council states, these are difficult times. The war has
imposed reputational costs on nations widely admired for peace, stability, and
progress. It has disrupted shipping routes, unsettled energy markets, and shaken
investor confidence in a region whose future depends on stability and global
integration.At the same time, Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf cities
and infrastructure have eroded what little sympathy once existed for Tehran’s
regional posturing. The prevailing mood reflects both anger at the Iranian
actions, and frustration that Washington’s decisions have left regional partners
exposed to the consequences of this devastating conflict. The Gulf region
therefore finds itself in the paradoxical position of being the principal victim
of a war of choice that they did not start. Yet its response has been marked by
resilience and restraint; rather than reacting to provocations or conforming to
narratives predicting their entry into the conflict, Gulf states have maintained
a posture of strategic patience. This restraint reflects the fact that a clear
calculation has been made. The economic transformation underway across the
region, from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to the UAE’s rise as a global investment
hub, depends fundamentally on stability. A wider regional war will jeopardize
decades of progress and undermine the foundations of the Gulf’s development
strategy. For that reason, Gulf leaders appear determined not to allow either
military provocations or narrative manipulation to dictate their actions. The
information war surrounding this conflict will continue, but the response of the
region suggests that its greatest strategic success might lie not in joining the
war but in refusing to be drawn into it.
If the Gulf region maintains this course — resisting both escalation and the
narratives designed to provoke it — it might yet prevent a war that was imposed
upon it from becoming a catastrophe for the entire region.
• Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad is a Professor Emeritus of International Relations at
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and a former Senior Fellow at Oxford
University.
France chooses the nuclear option
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/March 14, 2026
With the eyes of the world fixed on the Middle East, the recent announcement by
President Emmanuel Macron, made with much pomp and circumstance, of his
government’s decision to strengthen French, and European, deterrence
capabilities by expanding its nuclear posture received far less attention than
it deserved. Macron declared that France would not only modernize but also
increase its nuclear capabilities, and would be willing to deploy nuclear-armed
fighter jets to other parts of the continent. For all intents and purposes,
France is assuming the mantle of providing a nuclear umbrella for Europeans,
taking a calculated risk at one of the most volatile moments since the end of
the Cold War. Since at least the 1980s, the general trajectory among the nuclear
powers has been toward the reduction of nuclear stockpiles and the modernization
of existing arsenals, rather than expansion. The notable exception to this in
recent years has been China, which has been increasing its stockpile of nuclear
warheads by about 100 devices a year, faster than any other country, bringing
its total number of warheads to an estimated 600 or more.
However, Russia and the US still possess the overwhelming majority of the
world’s nuclear weapons. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute, the US has about 5,277 warheads, while Russia possesses approximately
5,459. By comparison, France has a much smaller arsenal of about 290 warheads,
while the UK has about 225 — modest numbers in comparison but still representing
a formidable nuclear capability. The decision by France raises an obvious
question: Is this primarily a symbolic gesture, in particular since no specific
figures were provided regarding the planned increase to its arsenal? Or is it a
clear signal to potential adversaries that nuclear capability is becoming a
central element of Europe’s evolving security paradigm?
The answer is probably a bit of both. Europe increasingly fears that it cannot
rely entirely on its major NATO ally, the US, in the event of a direct,
existential military threat. The French move reflects growing skepticism about
whether NATO, in its current political configuration, can provide the same level
of security guarantees on which Europe has relied since 1949. Macron’s
announcement therefore signals Europe’s entry into what might be described as
the “post-post-Cold War” era.
There is little doubt that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its
fifth year, has been a defining moment in the return of high-intensity warfare
to the European continent. Although Europe, like the rest of the world, had
eight years to prepare after the initial Russian invasion of parts of Ukraine in
2014, many European states, as well as the EU as a whole, failed to act
decisively. Worse still, as Moscow has grown increasingly frustrated with the
present stalemate in Ukraine, it has resorted to implicit and explicit nuclear
threats in an attempt to pressure the West over its military and diplomatic
support for Kyiv. These signals have included placing nuclear forces on
heightened alert, testing and deploying new nuclear systems, and suspending
participation in key arms-control arrangements with the US.
Macron’s initiative is designed to encourage European partners to develop a
coherent strategic posture. This pattern of signaling from Moscow suggests that
if President Vladimir Putin were to find himself strategically cornered, the
nuclear option, however unlikely, could not be entirely dismissed. Is he
bluffing? Probably. Can the rest of the world afford to ignore such threats?
Certainly not. At the same time, pressure from Washington has played a role.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that NATO members increase their
defense spending to better confront future threats. Europe has now internalized
both the threat from Russia and the American demand for greater burden-sharing
by developing a more autonomous military strategy for its own survival.
As Macron put it in his speech: “To be free, one must be feared. To be feared,
one must be powerful.”His initiative is designed not only to position France as
a leader in Europe’s emerging security doctrine, one with a clear nuclear
dimension, but also to encourage European partners to develop a united,
resilient, and coherent strategic posture. At the same time, Macron emphasized
that this shift does not imply the exclusion of the US from its central role in
European security.
Speaking at a naval base in Brittany in front of the nuclear-powered submarine
Le Temeraire, he outlined what he described as a new doctrine of “forward
deterrence.” In essence, the doctrine is both a national initiative and an
attempt to embed France’s nuclear deterrent more deeply within the broader
European security architecture. However, Macron made it clear that France would
retain full sovereign control over its nuclear forces and would not grant
decision-making authority over them to any external body, including European
allies. Only a few years ago, less than two weeks before the war in Ukraine
began, Macron struck a very different tone. In a speech at that time he
emphasized the fact that France had maintained what he described as “a unique
track record in the world,” having irreversibly dismantled its land-based
nuclear component, closed its nuclear test facilities, ended fissile-material
production for weapons, and reduced the size of its arsenal.
These decisions, he argued, demonstrated his country’s commitment to rejection
of any form of an arms race, while maintaining a nuclear deterrent at a level of
“strict sufficiency.” This “exemplary track record,” Macron argued at the time,
gave France the legitimacy to call on other nuclear powers to make tangible
progress toward “comprehensive, progressive, credible, and verifiable
disarmament.” Four years later, however, Russian aggression, extending far
beyond Ukraine, has produced a profound doctrinal shift. The move by France is
bold. If the EU develops a coherent continental security doctrine, ideally in
cooperation with the UK, it could provide at least a short-to-medium-term answer
to external threats. It might also convince Washington that Europeans are taking
greater responsibility for their own defense. Nevertheless, the risks should not
be underestimated. France’s new doctrine could help trigger a renewed wave of
nuclear proliferation. Donald Tusk, the prime minister of Poland, has already
indicated that his country might eventually seek nuclear weapons capability.
Poland may not be the last to consider such a path. Other states, perhaps not
only within Europe, might conclude that the changing strategic environment
justifies entering a new era of nuclear competition.
• Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.
Tunisia and the loss of hope
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/March 14, 2026
An ancient Roman poet wrote that rulers could placate the public by providing
them with “bread and circuses.” Food satisfies material needs while spectacle
diverts political attention. Modern Tunisia, however, presents its people with
the opposite conditions: Economic relief is scarce, public entertainment offers
little in the way of distraction, and the avenues of political life grow
narrower by the month. A republic once celebrated as the sole (relative) success
of the Arab Spring is increasingly drifting toward a place where neither
prosperity nor political participation exists to cushion public frustrations.
Tunisia’s post-2011 experiment with pluralism produced genuine achievements:
competitive elections took place; civil society thrived; a widely praised
constitution emerged in 2014; political compromise between secular and Islamist
movements defied expectations across a region where democratic transitions often
collapsed quickly. Economic grievances, however, never eased. Youth unemployment
has hovered above 30 percent for most of the past decade. Inequality persists
between the coastal north and the neglected interior. Public debt doubled from
about 40 percent of gross domestic product in 2010 to more than 80 percent by
the early 2020s. Many citizens gradually concluded that democracy had delivered
debate but not opportunity. As the level of political fatigue grew, it created
the conditions that ultimately elevated Kais Saied to power as president in
2019. Contrary to much conventional reporting, he did not manufacture Tunisia’s
frustrations; he inherited them. His electoral victory reflected a protest vote
against an entire political class widely viewed as corrupt and ineffective. At
the core of those frustrations was intense parliamentary fragmentation that only
managed to produce short-lived governments and constant policy paralysis. To
some, political parties became the ultimate symbol of stagnation rather than the
vehicles for reform promised by the aspirational fervor in the immediate
aftermath of the toppling in 2011 of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s 24-year rule.
Saied’s promise of institutional reset easily appealed to voters who believed
the system itself had failed. However, the “reset” quickly evolved into a
restructuring of the entire Tunisian political order. The suspension of the
country’s parliament in 2021 marked the beginning of an extended period of rule
by decree. A new constitution, approved in 2022, concentrated authority in the
hands of the presidency and extensively reduced the checks on executive power.
Parliamentary elections held under the revised framework produced a turnout
below 12 percent in the first round, an extraordinary figure that suggested
widespread public disengagement rather than enthusiasm for the new political
arrangement.
Tunisia’s once vibrant, multiparty arena now operates under significant
pressure, with opposition figures, journalists, and civil society activists
constantly facing dubious legal scrutiny and arbitrary detention. Some would
argue that political contraction might have been “tolerable” if economic
recovery had followed. However, the Tunisian economy remains weak and growth
extremely uneven despite positive indicators. Real GDP grew by about 2.4 percent
in the first three quarters of 2025, driven largely by strong agricultural
output and a rebound in tourism. Unfortunately, a “recovery” of that scale
offers little comfort to a population experiencing persistent job insecurity in
an economy buffeted by external shocks. A republic without bread tests economic
endurance. A republic without circuses tests political patience. Tunisia now
lives with the absence of both.
The national unemployment rate still hovers around 15 percent. The participation
rate of women in the workforce remains less than half the rate for men.
Employment opportunities remain concentrated in informal sectors or
low-productivity industries that net little-to-no public revenues that could
help underwrite sustained growth or repair tattered safety nets. Growth
therefore generates statistics but rarely transforms daily life.
In addition, external accounts signal additional structural stress. Tunisia’s
trade deficit persists, while domestic hydrocarbon production continues to
decline. For now, currency reserves remain stable, largely because capital
controls restrict outflows, and foreign investment has increased modestly,
although total inflows still equal only about 1 percent of GDP. In the absence
of a miracle, the broader Tunisian economy will struggle to grow sustainably,
especially given that public finances remain strained. Debt-service costs have
surged in recent years, representing more than three-quarters of total
government obligations. Intense fiscal pressures complicate negotiations with
lenders, while reforms of subsidies risk provoking public anger; bread prices
remain politically sensitive in a country where subsidized food has long
functioned as a social safety valve.
Such fragility intersects with political contraction in ways that amplify
instability. Political systems can survive economic hardships when citizens
retain avenues for expressing dissatisfaction. Economic downturns are also
manageable when governments retain legitimacy through elections or responsive
institutions. Tunisia currently struggles with deficits of both, simultaneously.
As economic frustrations grow while the political outlets for dissent narrow,
public reactions are increasingly taking quieter forms: voter turnout continues
to fall; street protests occur sporadically but rarely reach the scale seen
during the early years following 2011. Emigration provides an alternative
outlet. Thousands of young Tunisians attempt to cross the Mediterranean each
year to Italy or other European states. In a way, the peaks and troughs of
migration flows now form a silent referendum on Tunisia’s national prospects.
It is unsurprising that European governments now view Tunisia primarily through
a lens that focuses on restricting the movement of desperate Tunisians rather
than restoring the fortunes of democracy and fostering its consolidation. A raft
of financial agreements with Brussels aims to support border enforcement and
limit departures from Tunisian shores in an attempt to stabilize migration flows
in the short term. However, the long-term consequences could prove more
complicated if economic stagnation continues to push young people toward leaving
the country. Political life in Tunisia therefore continues to occupy a peculiar
vacuum. Political mobilization remains constrained. Economic recovery appears
modest on paper and highly uneven in reality. Public confidence in state
institutions continues to erode. It shatters the expectations of authoritarian
systems that have historically relied on economic growth or ideological
mobilization to sustain legitimacy; Tunisia currently offers neither engine.
Historical comparisons offer even more sobering lessons. Economic stagnation
paired with political contraction often produces unpredictable outcomes rather
than orderly stability. Social patience can simmer for years before frustrations
erupt unexpectedly; Tunisia’s own revolution in 2011 began with the
self-immolation of a street vendor whose personal despair resonated with
millions. Political analysts frequently search for structural indicators while
overlooking how rapidly public sentiment can shift once a symbolic trigger
appears.
Tunisia was once a symbol of possibility across the Arab world. Political
reform, constitutional compromise, and civil society engagement suggested the
prospect of a different regional path. Fifteen years later, the optimism
surrounding that model has largely evaporated. Economic stagnation eroded public
faith in democratic institutions long before political centralization
accelerated. Roman emperors understood the stabilizing power of “bread and
circuses”: food eased material anxieties while spectacle redirected public
attention. Tunisia now confronts a more precarious equation in which economic
relief remains limited and the avenues for political participation grow ever
narrower. Public patience might endure for a time but history offers few
examples in which societies were prepared to accept both scarcity and silence
indefinitely. A republic without bread tests economic endurance. A republic
without circuses tests political patience. Tunisia now lives with the absence of
both.
• Hafed Al-Ghwell is senior fellow and program director at the Stimson Center in
Washington and senior fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian
Studies.
Middle East shockwaves for Europe and Asia
Andrew Hammond/Arab News/March 14, 2026
The economic and political shock waves from the war on Iran will be felt the
most in the Middle East. Outside that region, however, key parts of Europe and
Asia are also being significantly affected. Both Europe and Asia have high
degrees of vulnerability, and not only because of their geographical proximity
to the Middle East; both regions are also dependent on large amounts of energy
imports. The list of nations with economies in which energy imports help fuel a
large share of gross domestic product includes France, Germany, the UK, South
Korea, India, Taiwan, Japan, and China.
To be sure, there could be some winners, too. They include large net-exporters
of energy outside of the Middle East, including Norway, whose freedom to sell
overseas is largely unaffected by the conflict. However, the overall impact will
be negative in the short-to-medium term, with the shocks in Europe easily the
largest since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a war that has just entered
its fifth year. The shock waves from the conflict with Iran will affect Europe’s
weak economic recovery in 2026, fueling inflation, especially if the US and
Israeli military campaign is prolonged and the Strait of Hormuz continues to be
blocked. Gas prices in Europe have surged since the war began. European
countries are in a tight spot because although summer is approaching, they need
to build up gas reserves for next winter and imports of Russian gas are being
phased out as a result of the war in Ukraine. The region is on track for its
lowest storage levels in years, creating vulnerability.
Geopolitically, too, the war on Iran is diverting significant US attention and
resources from Ukraine. This might leave it to Europe to step up to the plate
and fill the resulting gap. In this context, probably the key question now for
Europe and Asia is how long the Iran war will last. At the start of the US and
Israeli military campaign on Feb. 28, it was widely expected that the bombing
might last only days. Those initial assumptions by many people about duration
have changed to at least several weeks, with all that means for the tragic loss
of life that has ensued for increasing numbers of people.
While many people have been focused on sometimes conflicting public declarations
by US President Donald Trump, the military action is being conducted jointly
with Israel, which is a significant, sometimes in While the military campaign is
relatively unpopular among the US public, many people in Israel regard it as
necessary. There is an outside chance that even if the US decided to pause or
end its bombing operations, Israel might continue for at least a short time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has been rising in the polls,
and the next legislative elections in the country must take place no later than
October.
Gas prices in Europe have surged since the war began. European countries are in
a tight spot. One key recent development that might extend the duration of the
conflict is the decision by Iran’s Assembly of Experts to appoint Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, as the nation’s new supreme leader, after his father
was killed by an airstrike in the early stages of the war. This is a signal that
regime hardliners are probably still firmly in charge in Tehran, at least for
now, with reformists still frozen out. Trump declared he was “not happy” with
the decision. There are wider uncertainties, too. They include whether or not
the military action will continue to be, largely, concentrated in Iran or
potentially extend much more broadly. Certainly, Iran has been launching strikes
against other states in the region since the start of hostilities, and blocking
the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to maximize international pressure on Israel
and the US to stop the bombing. To date, however, the war has been largely
contained, despite the tragic loss of life that continues to increase. Given
this huge degree of uncertainty, an increasing number of organizations in
Europe, Asia, and beyond are employing scenario planning to help them think
through plausible outcomes to the military campaign and the implications. The
goal is to build preparedness and resilience for what might be even more
unpredictable times ahead. At the time of writing, perhaps the most likely
scenario is a “regime in ruins.” This predicts a war that continues to be
largely contained in Iran and ends within weeks, perhaps even before the end of
this month, and a regime in Tehran that remains in place, albeit in a much
weakened form that continues to decay over time. Its grip on power might be
precarious, with limited military capabilities, and without widespread domestic
public legitimacy it might ultimately gradually collapse from the inside. If a
scenario of this kind does prevail, it is likely the shock to Europe would not
be as great as the one it suffered in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
led to an abrupt, dramatic disruption to its energy supplies.
An alternative scenario of “regime change” in Iran, which has been espoused by
Trump and Netanyahu, foresees a longer war lasting several months. Even then,
though, it is unclear whether US and Israeli air power alone would be sufficient
to realize this vision of removing the clerics in Tehran from power. At the time
of writing, the worst-case scenarios for Europe and Asia are still perhaps the
least likely, even if they remain uncomfortably plausible outcomes. These
scenarios would combine a longer war, continuing for at least several months,
with the potential for significantly more military action spreading outside
Iran.
Taking all of this together, the shock waves and wider uncertainty caused by the
conflict are therefore creating a massive headache not only for the Middle East,
but for Europe and Asia as well. While many people in these regions are
understandably hoping for the best, a growing number are also preparing for
less-favorable outcomes through the use of scenario-planning techniques to help
build preparedness and resilience for the further political and economic
unpredictability to come.
• Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.
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