English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For March 20/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Jesus Orders An Unclean Demon to leave a man
in the Synagogue & Demons also came out of many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of
God!’
Luke 4,31-44.He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and
was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because
he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of
an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What have
you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who
you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and
come out of him!’ When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of
him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to
one another, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he
commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’And a report about him began to
reach every place in the region. After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s
house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked
him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.
Immediately she got up and began to serve them.As the sun was setting, all those
who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him;
and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of
many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not
allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak he
departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him;
and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he
said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other
cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.’ So he continued proclaiming the
message in the synagogues of Judea.”.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on March 19-20/2026
Is Berri an Israeli Agent/Elias Bejjani/March 20/2026
St. Joseph’s Day Annual/Elias Bejjani//March 19/2026
DWS NewsVideo-Link to a press release by Israeli PM Netanyahu . He Reveals New
Iran War Plans in Explosive Q&A/ Israel PM Give Urgent Security Update
Link to a video interview with Tony Nissi, including the text of a letter
he addressed to President Aoun
Lebanon says death toll from Israel-Hezbollah war rises to 1,001
Lebanon says over 1,000 killed, Israel says 500 of them Hezbollah fighters
Hezbollah repels incursion attempts, strikes Israel from north to south
Kuwait says arrested 10 Hezbollah members, thwarting 'terrorist' plot
US and Israeli war aims in Iran are not the same, US spy chief says
Report: US believes negotiations with Lebanon serve interest of Washington and
Israel
Israel escalates military strategy in Lebanon as leadership backs wider
offensive
Isolating parts of South Lebanon: Israel cuts key routes with bridge attacks
Report: French FM not carrying an instant initiative for ending war
EU calls on Israel to stop Lebanon operations
Restive calm in Beirut after Israel's 'big surprises' threat
Lebanon must reclaim control over war and peace, says PM Salam in Eid al-Fitr
speech
President Aoun meets French foreign minister, lauds France’s support for Lebanon
Salam says tying Lebanon to regional crises gives Israel pretext for aggression
Salam urges Trump to help end war
Russia accuses Israel of 'deliberate and targeted' strike on TV crew in Lebanon
Under Hezbollah fire, people in north Israel hope for better days
Hezbollah condemns 'cowardly' killing of Iranian security chief Larijani
Hezbollah targets south Israel in deepest strike to date
Lebanese electrical station knocked out by Israeli strike
Isolating parts of South Lebanon: Israel cuts key routes with bridge attacks
Shelters crowded in Sidon after Israeli evacuation warning
119,000 Syrians have returned from Lebanon during Israel-Hezbollah war
Geagea rules out civil war, says only army will clash with Hezbollah
Bassil: Hezbollah must realize that its military situation has ended
The War on Hezbollah-The Iranian Terrorist Proxy Continues/LCCC website
links to several important news websites
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on March 19-20/2026
US says no 'definitive time frame' for
ending Iran war
Netanyahu says Iran no longer has uranium enrichment capacity
Netanyahu denies Israel 'dragged' US into Iran war
Trump threatens to strike world's largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again
Iran to target energy facilities in Gulf after attack on its gas field
Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war
Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some damage reported
Iran FM vows 'zero restraint' if energy infrastructure hit again
Iran demands ‘clarity’ from Germany on US airbase Ramstein: AFP
Russia to step up security for high-ranking military officials, FSB chief says
US F-35 forced to land after possible Iranian strike, IRGC claims hit
Iran intensifies attacks on Gulf energy sites after Israel struck its key gas
field
EU leaders balk at joining Middle East fight, grapple with high energy prices
Saudi Arabia says reserves 'right to take military actions' over Iran attacks
Saudi, Kuwaiti leaders warn of escalation from Iranian attacks on Gulf
Qatar PM says gas hub attack ‘clear proof’ Iran not only targeting US interests
Iran attack wipes out 17 pct of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years:
QatarEnergy
Iraqi Kataeb Hezbollah says to pause US embassy attacks if Israel stops striking
Dahieh
News of the ongoing war between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the
other.
links to several television channels and newspapers
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on March 19-20/2026
The New Counterrorism Terrain …The “War of Ideas” to Come/Alberto M.
Fernandez/State Craft & Strategy/March 19/2026
The Lebanon Sideshow Could Be Worse Than the Iranian Main Event/Alberto M.
Fernandez/National Catholic Registery/March 19/ 2026
Lebanon After Peace: Questions and Concerns from a Christian Perspective/General
Toni Abou Samra/Nedda Al Watan/March 18/2026
US Direct Talks with Hamas: Legitimizing and Empowering Terrorists/Khaled Abu
Toameh/Gatestone Institute/March 19, 2026
The fantasy of ‘strategic martyrdom’ and the industry of apologism/Makram Rabah/Al
Arabiya English/19 March/2026
The fantasy of ‘strategic martyrdom’ and the industry of apologism/Makram Rabah/Al
Arabiya English/19 March/2026
A war without allies in the Strait of Hormuz/Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya
English/19 March/2026
Will Trump abandon the war and drag the Gulf into it?/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Asharq
Al-Awsat/March 19/2026
on March 19-20/2026
Is Berri an Israeli Agent
Elias Bejjani/March 20/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152891/
Berri’s refusal to appoint a Shiite representative to the negotiation committee
with Israel in a bid to put an end to the war and finish his main enemy
Hezbollah, save the shiites community and Lebanon, is a carte blanche for Israel
to kill Shiites, displace them, destroy their areas, and humiliate them. Is he
an agent, Especially since he recognized The State of Israel Israel in the
pro-Israeli maritime agreement.?
St.
Joseph’s Day Annual عيد ما يوسف البتول
Elias Bejjani (From 2011 Archives)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/73094/
The Feast of Saint Joseph the Virgin, celebrated annually on March 19, holds
deep spiritual and familial significance, particularly for our Bejjani family,
Youssef, a name we have proudly carried for generations. On this blessed
anniversary, we implore God and His angels to protect our beloved son Youssef
and our grandson Joseph, both of whom bear this holy name.
This sacred feast is an important occasion in the Maronite-Roman Catholic
tradition, honoring the life of Saint Joseph, the esteemed stepfather of Jesus
and the chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary. Among devout believers, particularly
the Lebanese Maronites, March 19 is not only a day of commemoration but is also
regarded as the birthday of Saint Joseph. His life, characterized by devotion,
obedience, humility, and unwavering faith, serves as a guiding light for
countless families who hold him in deep reverence.
In Lebanon, Saint Joseph is venerated as the patron saint of families, admired
for his exemplary role as a devoted husband and father. His life embodies faith,
honesty, generosity, and tireless dedication—virtues long cherished and
practiced by Lebanese families and deeply rooted within our own family values.
Saint Joseph’s divine mission was of the utmost importance; entrusted by God
with the care of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, he fulfilled his
responsibilities with deep love, dedication, and selflessness. As the earthly
guardian of the Holy Family, he exemplified loyalty and an unshakable commitment
to his divine calling, making him a timeless symbol of fatherhood, protection,
and faith.
As we honor Saint Joseph today, we reflect on the virtues he embodied—his
humility, strength, and steadfast devotion to carrying out God’s will. May his
legacy continue to inspire us to fulfill our paternal and pastoral roles within
our families and communities, striving to emulate his unwavering faith, love,
and selflessness. On this holy and blessed day, we
offer prayers of gratitude and supplication to the Lord for all His gifts and
blessings. We extend our heartfelt blessings to all who bear the name Joseph,
praying that they follow in the footsteps of our beloved saint and uphold his
virtuous example in their lives.
For the Sake of the Church, the Maronites, and Lebanon: Patriarch AlRai
Must Resign... His Presence is an Absence, and His Absence Would Be a Blessing
Elias Bejjan/March 17/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152839/
In its long history, our Maronite Church has never known a Patriarch so detached
and estranged from it, from the Maronites, and from bearing witness to the
truth—nor one so lacking in leadership capabilities as is, unfortunately, the
case with Patriarch Bechara AlRai.
Since his election—which was shrouded in suspicion and sparked hundreds of
questions regarding its motives—he has exhibited a pattern of detachment and
ingratitude. This began with his international tours following his election,
during which he marketed Bashar al-Assad's regime as a "protector" of
Christians. It continued with his disgraceful visit to Syria Al Assad—a move his
distinguished predecessor, Patriarch Sfeir, had steadfastly refused to make—and
extended to the scandal surrounding Walid Ghayad’s palace. This is in addition
to his persistent sycophancy toward Hezbollah, his weak will and leadership, his
unfortunate choice of faithless advisors, and his overall state of confusion and
flimsy, fluctuating stances... the list goes on and on.
For these reasons and many others, His Beatitude is called upon to resign, if
indeed he still adheres to the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. The
truth is that his presence is effectively an absence, and his absence would
undoubtedly be a blessing.
DWS NewsVideo-Link to a press
release by Israeli PM Netanyahu . He Reveals New Iran War Plans in Explosive
Q&A/ Israel PM Give Urgent Security Update
March 19/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152895/
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered urgent remarks during a
high-stakes Q&A in Jerusalem, outlining Israel’s latest strategy in the
escalating Iran conflict. Netanyahu addressed military operations, regional
threats, and potential next steps, signaling intensified efforts to counter
Iran’s capabilities while reinforcing Israel’s security posture. His comments
come amid rising tensions across the Middle East, with global attention focused
on the risk of broader escalation.
Netanyahu press conference, Israel Middle East news, Jerusalem live briefing,
Israel PM Netanyahu live, regional security Israel, Israel diplomatic updates,
Israel military operations, Netanyahu latest news, Middle East tensions 2026,
Netanyahu remarks live
**Elias Bejjani/May Almighty Gos Bless the USA & Israel..They are fighting on
behalf of the Free world to end the evil Iranian Mulolahs' regime..They are
trying to help the Iranian people to take on their country
Link to a video interview with
Tony Nissi, including the text of a letter he addressed to President Aoun
An in-depth analysis of the implications of international resolutions, how to
implement them, the most effective ways to dismantle Hezbollah, and the
possibility of enlisting international forces for this task, along with the most
important demands placed on the Lebanese government. The President's initiative
was not taken into consideration.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152775/
March 19/2026
Lebanon says death toll from
Israel-Hezbollah war rises to 1,001
LBCI/19 March/2026
Lebanon's health ministry said Thursday that Israeli attacks have killed 1,001
people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2,
raising a previous toll of 968 a day earlier.The new ministry statement said the
toll included 79 women, 118 children and 40 health workers, with 2,584 other
people wounded. AFP
Lebanon says over 1,000 killed, Israel says 500 of them
Hezbollah fighters
Associated Press/19 March/2026
Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said Thursday that Israel has killed
500 Hezbollah fighters in its current war against the group, among them 200 from
the elite Radwan unit. He gave no further evidence. The claim came as the death
toll in Lebanon topped 1,000.The Lebanese health ministry said that among 1,001
killed were 118 children and 79 women, and 2,584 people were wounded. More than
one million people in Lebanon have been displaced in the intense fighting, as
Israel continues its daily strikes across large swaths of southern Lebanon and
Beirut’s southern suburbs. Hezbollah has fired rockets and drones into northern
Israel while its militants clashed in southern Lebanon with Israeli ground
troops.
Hezbollah repels incursion attempts, strikes Israel from north to south
Agence France Presse/19 March/2026
Hezbollah said on Thursday its fighters were battling Israeli forces in south
Lebanon, as a military source on the ground said Israeli troops were slowly
advancing while "systematically destroying" border towns. Hezbollah said it
targeted overnight into Thursday Kiryat Shmona, Kfar Yuval, Misgav Am, Dishon,
Manara, Naharaya, Haifa and Kfar Giladi in north Israel and Israeli soldiers and
Merkava tanks near the southern border towns of Houla, Taybeh, Aitaroun,
Odaisseh, Rob Tlatine, Alma al-Shaab and Markaba with rockets, artillery shells
and attack drones. The group said it had repelled an attempt by Israeli soldiers
to advance in Taybeh and Khiam, a town about six kilometers from the border that
has witnessed fierce clashes in recent days. In a statement, Hezbollah said its
fighters had ambushed Israeli troops entering the border town of Taybeh and
destroyed a tank. "The enemy then attempted to continue its advance" from a
nearby area, but fighters "again targeted them with guided missiles, scoring
direct hits and destroying five Merkava tanks", Hezbollah added. "Enemy soldiers
were seen fleeing the area of engagement."The Israeli army announced on Monday
that it had launched "limited" ground operations in Lebanon. Air raid sirens
rang out late Wednesday across Israel from the north to the south following what
Israeli media said was one or more missile launches from Lebanon.The launch
marked the deepest strike by Hezbollah into Israel since the Iran-backed group
joined the Middle East war following Israel's killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
'Violent night' -
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a "violent night" in Khiam and
Taybeh, saying the towns were "targeted by several airstrikes and subjected to
heavy artillery shelling that continued until dawn". On Wednesday, Hezbollah
said it had repelled an attempt by "Israeli enemy soldiers to advance" in Khiam.
In recent days, the group has reported targeting Israeli forces on the border
with Lebanon and inside Lebanese towns such as Khiam. The town overlooks part of
southern Lebanon and northern Israel and was the first point into which Israeli
forces advanced after the start of the war. It was also the site of intense
clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah during their last war in 2024. The
military source on the ground, who requested anonymity, said that Israeli
soldiers "have almost captured the town". "They advance one or two kilometers a
day and take the time to systematically destroy the towns they enter, such as
Kfar Kila or Aitaroun," he added. "They bulldoze what is not destroyed by
airstrikes or artillery" while "they are engaged in ground fighting against
Hezbollah, whose men are fighting in small groups". Israel has issued warnings
to all residents south of the Zahrani River, more than 40 kilometers from the
border, to evacuate, and has said it wants to create a buffer zone in Lebanon to
protect residents of north Israel. On Wednesday, the U.N. peacekeeping force
said it was deeply concerned by a "violent escalation" in Lebanon, citing
"intensified air and ground activity, and increased presence of Israeli forces
inside Lebanese territory".
Kuwait says arrested 10 Hezbollah members, thwarting
'terrorist' plot
Agence France Presse/19 March/2026
Kuwait arrested 10 militants affiliated with the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah
group on Wednesday, who were accused of plotting "terrorist" actions against
vital infrastructure, the interior ministry said. This was the second
Hezbollah-affiliated cell to be arrested in Kuwait this week, as the Gulf faced
daily Iranian attacks during the Middle East war, which has seen Tehran-backed
groups including Hezbollah join the conflict. "The State Security Agency has
successfully thwarted a plot for a terrorist operation targeting vital
installations," the interior ministry said. "Ten citizens, members of a
terrorist group affiliated with the banned Hezbollah terrorist organization were
apprehended," it added. The ministry shared a video of seized items including
Hezbollah flags, small drones and pictures of Iran's slain Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei and Hezbollah's former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an
Israeli attack. On Monday, Kuwait's interior ministry said it arrested 16 people
-- 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese nationals -- affiliated with Hezbollah who had
planned a "sabotage plot". The ministry said the group had sought to recruit
individuals and that it seized a number of weapons, camera drones and morse code
communication devices. Hezbollah denied that any of its members were among the
16 arrested. In previous years, Lebanon has faced tensions with Gulf states
including Kuwait, which have expressed concern about Hezbollah's influence on
the Mediterranean country. About one-third of Kuwait's local population belongs
to the Shia branch of Islam, as do most Iranians. Lebanon was drawn into the
Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the
killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli
strikes.
US and Israeli war aims in Iran are not the same, US spy
chief says
Reuters/19 March/2026
American and Israeli objectives for the war on Iran are not the same, US
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Thursday, with Israel
focused on disabling Iran’s leadership and US President Donald Trump focused on
destroying Iran’s ballistic missile program and navy. “The objectives that have
been laid out by the president are different from the objectives that have been
laid out by the Israeli government,” Gabbard told the House intelligence
committee’s annual hearing on worldwide threats to the United States. “We can
see through the operations that the Israeli government has been focused on
disabling the Iranian leadership. The president has stated that his objectives
are to destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles launching capability, their ballistic
missile production capability, and their navy,” she said. The US and Israel have
repeatedly sought to highlight their close coordination in their joint air
assault on Iran, but officials on both sides have acknowledged that their
objectives were not the same. As the conflict neared the three-week mark, Israel
has led strikes that have killed Iranian clerics and military leaders, while the
US has been focused on striking sites related to the country’s missile program.
The Republican president’s administration has given conflicting messages about
the state of Iran’s nuclear program. In the run-up to the war, some top
administration officials said Iran was weeks away from developing a nuclear
weapon, although others - including the president - claimed that another
US-Israeli campaign last summer had destroyed its weapons program. Iran has
maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes.Gabbard said
during the 2.5-hour hearing on Thursday the US intelligence community had “high
confidence” that it knows where Iran keeps its stockpile of highly enriched
uranium but declined to discuss in a public session whether the US has the means
to destroy it.
Gas field attack
The gap was highlighted on Wednesday night, when Trump said in a social media
post that Washington “knew nothing” about Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars
gas field, which drew an Iranian assault on energy infrastructure in Qatar, and
that Israel would not attack the field further unless Iran again attacked Qatar.
Gabbard said she did not have an answer when asked to what she attributed
Israel’s decision to strike Iranian energy infrastructure despite Trump calling
for those facilities to be off-limits. Gabbard’s appearance in the House was her
second straight day of testimony, after she, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and
other intelligence agency directors also testified to the Senate intelligence
panel on Wednesday. At both hearings, Gabbard was questioned about whether she
felt Iran had posed an “imminent” threat to the United States to justify the air
assault by the US and Israel that began on February 28. Joe Kent, who headed the
National Counterterrorism Center, on Tuesday became the first senior official in
Trump’s administration to resign over the Iran War, saying Iran posed no
imminent threat to the US. Gabbard said in both hearings that it was solely up
to Trump to determine whether the United States faces an imminent threat.
Report: US believes negotiations with Lebanon serve interest of Washington and
Israel
Naharnet/19 March/2026
The U.S. administration believes it is in the interest of both Israel and the
U.S. to begin negotiations with Lebanon, but disagreements persist regarding the
details, with Israel insisting on conducting them "under fire," U.S. sources in
Washington told Al-Jadeed TV. "The Israeli official in charge of the
negotiations with Lebanon, Ron Dermer, conveyed to the U.S. administration that
Israel's only problem is with Hezbollah, and that it has no problem with
Lebanon," the sources said. As for Paris' efforts, sources told Al-Jadeed that
"France has expressed its full support for President Joseph Aoun's initiative
and discussed ways to strengthen it to ensure its success." "France understands
all the steps taken by Lebanon and considers them very courageous, and it does
not wish to disarm illegal groups by force," the sourced said. The sources
revealed that the French foreign minister has contacted his U.S. counterpart and
the Israeli official responsible for the negotiations with Lebanon, Ron Dermer,
who expressed "their readiness to discuss the Lebanese issue but want more
serious steps."The report added: "Despite French support, concerns remain
regarding France's ability to influence the Israeli side. Efforts are underway
at the political and diplomatic levels, but so far there are no signs of any
breakthrough or solution."
Israel escalates military strategy in Lebanon as leadership backs wider
offensive
LBCI/19 March/2026
Israel’s political leadership has given the army the green light to destroy any
area in Lebanon deemed a threat to northern settlements and the military,
particularly those from which Hezbollah launches anti-tank missiles. At the same
time, military units have been sweeping villages in southern Lebanon and
destroying homes, after the army allowed Israeli journalists to accompany troops
during these operations. A security official said controlling these areas would
help expand the security buffer zone and strengthen Israel’s bargaining position
in any future negotiations. A central part of the army’s plan involves
destroying bridges over the Litani River to cut what Tel Aviv described as
Hezbollah’s operational lifeline, as well as its strategic routes for
transferring fighters, weapons, and equipment to the front facing Israel, where
the Radwan Force carries out rocket attacks. Along the border with Israel, these
developments continue. Meanwhile, on the Lebanese-Syrian border, a
political-security meeting concluded that the Syrian army could exploit what
Israeli officials described as Lebanon’s fragile situation to enter its
territory and fight Hezbollah. A security official said Israel’s Northern
Command is preparing for the possibility that Damascus could launch such a
battle without coordinating with Israel, which is closely monitoring
developments along the border. According to Tel Aviv, any potential Syrian
attack would represent another strong bargaining chip in future negotiations.
Isolating parts of South Lebanon: Israel cuts key routes
with bridge attacks
LBCI/19 March/2026
Israeli strikes targeting crossings over the Litani River have intensified, with
attacks on key bridges in South Lebanon disrupting movement and signaling
'escalating warning messages.'The campaign appeared to begin with a strike on a
secondary coastal bridge in Qasmiyeh, which Israeli authorities had warned could
be targeted, alleging Hezbollah was using it to transport military equipment.
LBCI crew was on-site shortly before the strike, which ultimately destroyed the
bridge. Two journalists from RT were reported to have sustained minor injuries.
The message conveyed by the strike appeared clear: access to the secondary
bridge is now effectively prohibited. The Lebanese Army, which maintains a fixed
position near the site, has not withdrawn. Meanwhile, the main Qasmiyeh bridge,
a vital artery connecting Sidon and Tyre, remains open. The strike was not an
isolated incident. The Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr bridge, which connects the Nabatieh
District and Bint Jbeil District, was hit by two missiles on Wednesday and is
now unusable. A subsequent airstrike on a nearby dirt road about 500 meters east
of the bridge reinforced the warning on Thursday and further restricted
movement. As a result, routes between Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil have been cut off
from multiple directions. In addition to the Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr, Israeli forces
had previously destroyed the Tayr Felsay bridge, which connects the same areas
via Tyre and the Zahrani River. Access to the Marjayoun District is also already
blocked due to Israeli presence in Kfarkela and Odaisseh.At this stage, the only
remaining route from Nabatieh to Bint Jbeil requires a detour toward Tyre. The
strikes form part of a broader pattern. Earlier, the Israeli army targeted
roads, including Khardali road, which connects Marjayoun to Nabatieh, and
Dibbine road, linking Hasbaya to Marjayoun, both of which were later reopened.
However, the Qantara bridge, which links Qantara to Taybeh and Rab El Thalathine
to Wadi al-Hujeir, remains closed, while the nearby town of Taybeh has been
facing attempts of ground incursions in recent days. Hezbollah said it destroyed
six Israeli tanks in an ambush early Thursday. Lebanese officials are treating
these developments as serious warning signs, though they acknowledge there is no
guarantee that a broader escalation can be avoided.
Report: French FM not carrying an instant initiative for ending war
Naharnet/19 March/2026
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will not present any French initiative
during his visit to Lebanon on Thursday, a diplomatic source said. Rather, he
will share ideas with the Lebanese leaders, while reaffirming France's
unwavering support for the Lebanese government, the source told Al-Arabiya
television. "In light of the escalating tensions between the two sides, France
is currently only laying the groundwork for any future negotiations," the source
added. "These current moves aim to pave the way for a swift start to
negotiations when the time is right," the source said.
EU calls on Israel to stop Lebanon operations
Agence France Presse/19 March/2026
The European Union has called on Israel to cease its military campaign in
Lebanon, after the latest Israeli strikes on Beirut. "The EU is deeply concerned
about the ongoing Israeli offensive in Lebanon which already has devastating
humanitarian consequences and risks triggering a prolonged conflict," a
spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. "Israel should cease its operations
in Lebanon," she said. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2
when Hezbollah militants launched rockets at Israel after the killing of Iran's
supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli strikes have killed at least 968
people and displaced over a million, according to local authorities. "We condemn
Hezbollah’s decision to plunge Lebanon into this war, its refusal to hand over
arms and its continuation of indiscriminate attacks against Israel," the
spokesperson said. "The attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure,
healthcare personnel and facilities, as well as UNIFIL are unjustified and
unacceptable and should stop immediately."
Restive calm in Beirut after Israel's 'big surprises'
threat
Agence France Presse/19 March/2026
Israeli strikes targeted overnight into Thursday Mayfadoun, al-Naqoura, al-Qantara,
Tyre, al-Hosh, Insariyeh, al-Bazourieh, al-Rihan, Tayr Debba, Debaal, the border
town of al-Khiam and a bridge in Qasmiyeh in south Lebanon. Artillery shelled
Arnoun, al-Ghandourieh, Maroun al-Rass, Bint Jbeil, Ibl al-Seqi and wadi al-Slouqi.
At least four people were killed and ten were wounded in the strikes on the
south, the National News Agency said. In West Bekaa, strikes hit Mashghara and
in north Bekaa, six people including children were killed in a strike on Shaath.
In Beirut's southern suburbs, a restive calm prevailed after Israel repeatedly
struck central Beirut on Wednesday, killing at least 12 including a director for
Hezbollah's Al Manar TV channel, and destroyed two bridges in south Lebanon.
Information Minister Paul Morcos said that targeting "media professionals
constitutes a flagrant violation of international law". Hezbollah condemned what
it said was Israel's "assassination" of journalist Mohamad Sherri, describing it
as a "deliberate attack". Air raid sirens rang out late Wednesday across Israel
from the north to the south following what Israeli media said was one or more
missile launches from Lebanon.
The launch marked the deepest strike by Hezbollah into Israel since the
Iran-backed group joined the Middle East war following Israel's killing of
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Defense minister Israel Katz had said earlier on
Wednesday there will be "big surprises" and escalation in Lebanon and Iran
during the day.
Panic in the south -
Late Wednesday, the Israeli army renewed strikes on several towns and villages
in south Lebanon, according to the NNA, while Hezbollah claimed rocket salvos on
a defense company in Haifa and on Nahariya, both in northern Israel. Israel
attacked two bridges across the Litani River, which splits the south of the
country. AFP photos showed a bridge in an agricultural area north of the
southern city of Tyre partially destroyed, with fires burning in the surrounding
brush. Israel said Wednesday it would target bridges crossing the Litani, "to
prevent the transfer of reinforcements and weapons" to the frontlines,
essentially cutting off a large part of the south from the rest of the country.
In a statement issued after the twin bridge attacks, the Israeli defense
minister said: "This is a direct action against Hezbollah's use of Lebanon's
state infrastructure... and also a clear message to the Lebanese government: the
State of Israel will not allow such a reality." Israel struck at least five gas
stations belonging to the Al-Amana fuel company, which it said finances
Hezbollah. This came as Hezbollah announced it had repelled an attempt by
"Israeli enemy soldiers to advance" in Khiam, a town about six kilometers from
the border that has witnessed fierce clashes in recent days. Late Tuesday, the
Israeli military had issued an evacuation order for most of the city of Tyre as
well as swathes of surrounding areas, sending people fleeing northwards, an AFP
correspondent said. In a statement on Wednesday the U.N. peacekeeping force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) said "last night's violent escalation marks a further worrying
deterioration". "Heavy exchanges of fire, intensified air and ground activity,
and increased presence of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory are deeply
concerning developments," it added.
Lebanon must reclaim control over war and peace, says PM
Salam in Eid al-Fitr speech
LBCI/19 March/2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed that the state should no longer be
blamed for decisions it did not make, noting that earlier military and
operational choices led to further destruction, leaving both the government and
citizens to bear the consequences.
Speaking on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Salam said that forcing Lebanese
citizens into displacement, destruction, fear, and vulnerability cannot be
justified, and questioning responsibility should not be labeled as betrayal,
warning that such rhetoric fuels internal divisions that ultimately benefit
Israel. Salam emphasized that the Lebanese state remains the central authority,
working to provide shelter and aid for displaced citizens while mobilizing all
resources to end the conflict as quickly as possible. The prime minister called
for rejecting hate speech and vindictive rhetoric, describing it as destructive
behavior stemming from unhealthy minds rather than genuine political positions.
He underlined that protecting Lebanon requires restoring the country’s authority
over decisions on war and peace, and breaking free from serving as a theater for
external conflicts. Linking Lebanon to broader regional agendas, he said,
increases the country’s costs and gives Israel a pretext to expand aggression.
Salam said Lebanon’s top priorities are ending the war, halting destruction and
displacement, protecting civilians, enabling the return of displaced citizens,
and launching reconstruction efforts. He added that the government is committed
to reasserting its authority, applying the law equally to all, and restoring the
state as the sole guarantor of security and future stability for all Lebanese.
President Aoun meets French foreign minister, lauds France’s support for Lebanon
LBCI/19 March/2026
President Joseph Aoun received French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot,
praising the role played by France in supporting Lebanon. Aoun said the proposed
negotiation initiative remains on the table, but ongoing military escalation is
hindering its launch.Meanwhile, Barrot expressed France’s readiness to work
toward ending the military escalation, building on what he described as the
“courageous” negotiation initiative announced by Aoun.
Salam says tying Lebanon to regional crises gives Israel pretext for aggression
Agence France Presse/19 March/2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday that tying Lebanon to regional
calculations would give Israel a "pretext to expand its aggression" against the
country, where Israel has been fighting Hezbollah for more than two weeks.
Lebanon was brought into the regional war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired
rockets toward Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran's supreme
leader in Israeli-U.S. attacks. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across
various regions and ground incursions, which combined have left more than a
thousand people dead. In a speech in Beirut Salam said that "linking Lebanon to
regional calculations larger than it is does not protect it. Rather, it doubles
the cost for it and gives Israel a pretext to expand its aggression." "We must
read regional changes through the lens of protecting Lebanon, and we must put
the national interest ahead of any other consideration."
He said "Lebanon's priority today is to stop the war, stop the destruction, stop
the displacement, protect civilians, ensure their return and launch
reconstruction."Ongoing Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon and
on Beirut's southern suburbs have caused the displacement of more than one
million people, according to authorities. Salam said that "restoring the
authority of the state is not against anyone, nor is it a targeting of anyone.
Rather, it is a protection for everyone. Lebanon has no future if it remains
half a state and half a battleground." At the beginning of March, Lebanon banned
Hezbollah's military activities after having decided in August of last year to
disarm the group, following the previous war it waged with Israel that lasted
for more than a year and ended with a ceasefire in November 2024.
Salam urges Trump to help end war
Naharnet/March 19/2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Thursday urged U.S. President Donald Trump in a
CNN interview to help end the Israeli war on Lebanon, reaffirming the country's
readiness to "enter into immediate negotiations with Israel."Trump is best
placed to end the war in the Middle East, Salam said asking for him for “greater
engagement” in helping to end the war. The U.S. leader “more than anyone else”
is capable of bringing an end to this war, which Salam said has been “imposed”
upon the Lebanese people. He urged for an immediate ceasefire, saying people in
Lebanon needed it “yesterday” and “not tomorrow.”
Russia accuses Israel of 'deliberate and targeted' strike
on TV crew in Lebanon
Agence France Presse/March 19/2026
Russia on Thursday blamed Israel for what it called a "targeted" airstrike that
wounded a TV crew from state-run RT in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli strikes and
ground operations in the country's south. The Ruptly video agency, a subsidiary
of RT, posted footage showing an explosion and plumes of smoke rising through
the air meters behind RT's reporter, who was wearing a bulletproof vest with a
"Press" sign on it as he delivered an on-air report.The reporter and a cameraman
"were injured in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, while they were
reporting", Ruptly said on Telegram, adding both were "conscious and receiving
medical attention". "Given the killing of 200 journalists in Gaza, today's
events cannot be called accidental," the Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman
Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. In a statement on Thursday, she added that
"the missile was fired by Israeli forces."
"The crew's clothing clearly read 'press' and they were carrying only cameras
and microphones. The attack struck a site clear of military installations," she
said. "All these circumstances indicate that the attack on the journalists was
deliberate and targeted," she said, accusing Israel of a "a gross violation of
international law". Russia's foreign ministry would soon summon Israel's
ambassador to Moscow over the incident, Zakharova added. The Russian embassy in
Lebanon said that "attacks on media workers on editorial assignments are
unacceptable" and called for an "appropriate investigation" into the incident.
The Israeli military said it had in recent days "targeted Litani River crossings
that Hezbollah used for both terrorist movement and to transfer thousands of
weapons, including rockets and rocket launchers". "In footage released in the
past few hours, a journalist is seen at the 'Qasmiya' crossing. An explicit
warning had been issued regarding this area," the Israeli army said in a
statement. "The crossing was struck after sufficient time had passed since
warnings," the Israeli army added. A record 129 journalists and media workers
were killed worldwide in 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists said last
month, blaming Israel for two-thirds of the deaths.The Israeli military
regularly says it "has never and will never deliberately target journalists".
Under Hezbollah fire, people in north Israel hope for
better days
Agence France Presse/March 19/2026
Israeli dairy and fruit farmer Tommy Kurlender refused to abandon his herd
during the last war with Hezbollah, and vowed he would again stay put this time
around. The Israel-Lebanon border area has once again come under fire since
Hezbollah launched attacks in support of its backers in Tehran, after Israel
killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The massive attack on Iran, which
Israel has conducted alongside its ally the United States, has sparked a war
engulfing the entire region, with both Iran and Hezbollah targeting Israel with
missiles and drones. In the citrus groves around Kurlender's farm in Beit
Hillel, about four kilometers from Israel's northern border, the crack of
artillery fire and the roar of planes reverberated overhead. The Israeli
military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited" ground
operations against Hezbollah. But 78-year-old Kurlender, who owns some 300 cows
and employs more than a dozen workers, said he was determined to stay despite
the threat of rocket fire. "I'm not young. I've been through several wars here
in the country," he told AFP. "A farm is not abandoned. We continue taking care
of everything."
'A lot of worries'
During the last war with Hezbollah, which erupted after Hamas's October 7, 2023
attack on Israel, Beit Hillel was evacuated along with other northern border
communities. The military said that this time there would be no such measures.
At Kurlender's farm, work has continued largely as normal, with dozens of cows
lining up to be milked at midday. Kurlender said his two sons, who normally help
him on the farm, have been called up to fight. "It's not pleasant, it's a lot of
worries, but there's nothing we can do," he told AFP. "If we want to survive, if
we want to exist in this country, the condition is a strong army, a strong army
that carries out orders," he said. "It's very sad, but since we know what's
happening in Lebanon, the government there can't enforce what it wants on
Hezbollah, so we really understand what the army is doing, and we're definitely
encouraged by that."
'Very tense'
Since the start of the war, at least one million Lebanese have fled their homes
and Israel's defense minister has warned that they would not return home until
northern Israel was secure. In the hills above Beit Hillel, military vehicles
rumbled along the winding roads heading towards the border. A flatbed truck
carrying a tank rolled through the highlands, making its way through fields of
blossoming pink almond trees and yellow wildflowers. In a churned-up field,
soldiers milled among dozens of tanks, armored personnel carriers and bulldozers
being readied for deployment. Back down in the valley, in the Israeli city of
Kiryat Shmona, the mood was subdued, with few pedestrians wandering the streets.
"The atmosphere here is very tense," said Haim Ohana, 49, who manages public
shelters for the municipality. "People are currently thinking about leaving the
city, going out, refreshing themselves, but right now they can't afford it," he
told AFP. "Last time there was government assistance for hotels and that, but
right now today there is nothing." Due to their proximity to Lebanon, residents
in these parts of northern Israel only have a matter of seconds to seek shelter
once sirens start wailing, warning of incoming rockets.
'Life will look different' -
In a public bomb shelter underground, one woman lay sleeping on a bunk bed in
the mid-afternoon, while another worked at their laptop. "Some don't leave the
shelters, don't leave their homes, because of the situation, because sometimes
we have interceptions even before there is a siren and it's scary," Ohana
explained. Outside on the street, a young child waved to the sky with his
mother, unfazed by the booms as artillery shots rang out overhead. For Kiryat
Shmona resident Zehava Barak, the constant state of conflict seemed untenable.
"It can't be that every few months there is an operation like this, going in and
out (of Lebanon) and leaving all this mess," the 54-year-old caregiver told AFP.
After a November 2024 ceasefire, Israel had maintained five military positions
in Lebanon, and frequently struck what it said were Hezbollah positions across
the border.Like Kurlender and Ohana, Barak said she supported the current
operation in the hope that this would be the last and that it would win northern
Israel some security. "It's good that they will end it now, end with it and life
will look different."
Hezbollah condemns 'cowardly' killing of Iranian security
chief Larijani
Agence France Presse/March 19/2026
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah condemned Wednesday Israel's killing of
Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani, calling it "cowardly". "We in
Hezbollah, as we condemn this cowardly assassination and the ongoing criminal
American–Israeli aggression, affirm that the assassination of leaders will
neither break the will of the Islamic Republic nor undermine the determination
of its leadership, its people, and its fighters," the Iran-backed group said.
Larijani, one of the most powerful men in Iran, was killed in an Israeli air
strike, Tehran confirmed Tuesday.
Hezbollah targets south Israel in deepest strike to date
Agence France Presse/March 19/2026
Air raid sirens rang out late Wednesday across Israel from the north to the
south following what Israeli media said was one or more missile launches from
Lebanon. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on a report from the
N12 television channel that a missile fired from Lebanon had been intercepted
over the southern coastal city of Ashdod. If confirmed, the launch would mark
the deepest strike by Hezbollah into Israel since the Iran-backed group joined
the Middle East war following Israel's killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Between about 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm, the military's Home Front Command said air
raid sirens were issued for communities in northern Israel, as well as areas
near Gaza, about 160 kilometers from the Lebanon border.
Lebanese electrical station knocked out by Israeli strike
Naharnet/March 19/2026
Lebanon's state electricity company said on Thursday that an Israeli attack
knocked out power to a region of southern Lebanon.
Isolating parts of South Lebanon: Israel cuts key routes with bridge attacks
LBCI/March 19/2026
Israeli strikes targeting crossings over the Litani River have intensified, with
attacks on key bridges in South Lebanon disrupting movement and signaling
'escalating warning messages.' The campaign appeared to begin with a strike on a
secondary coastal bridge in Qasmiyeh, which Israeli authorities had warned could
be targeted, alleging Hezbollah was using it to transport military
equipment.LBCI crew was on-site shortly before the strike, which ultimately
destroyed the bridge. Two journalists from RT were reported to have sustained
minor injuries. The message conveyed by the strike appeared clear: access to the
secondary bridge is now effectively prohibited. The Lebanese Army, which
maintains a fixed position near the site, has not withdrawn. Meanwhile, the main
Qasmiyeh bridge, a vital artery connecting Sidon and Tyre, remains open. The
strike was not an isolated incident. The Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr bridge, which
connects the Nabatieh District and Bint Jbeil District, was hit by two missiles
on Wednesday and is now unusable. A subsequent airstrike on a nearby dirt road
about 500 meters east of the bridge reinforced the warning on Thursday and
further restricted movement.As a result, routes between Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil
have been cut off from multiple directions. In addition to the Qaaqaaiyet El
Jisr, Israeli forces had previously destroyed the Tayr Felsay bridge, which
connects the same areas via Tyre and the Zahrani River. Access to the Marjayoun
District is also already blocked due to Israeli presence in Kfarkela and
Odaisseh. At this stage, the only remaining route from Nabatieh to Bint Jbeil
requires a detour toward Tyre. The strikes form part of a broader pattern.
Earlier, the Israeli army targeted roads, including Khardali road, which
connects Marjayoun to Nabatieh, and Dibbine road, linking Hasbaya to Marjayoun,
both of which were later reopened. However, the Qantara bridge, which links
Qantara to Taybeh and Rab El Thalathine to Wadi al-Hujeir, remains closed, while
the nearby town of Taybeh has been facing attempts of ground incursions in
recent days. Hezbollah said it destroyed six Israeli tanks in an ambush early
Thursday. Lebanese officials are treating these developments as serious warning
signs, though they acknowledge there is no guarantee that a broader escalation
can be avoided.
Shelters crowded in Sidon after Israeli evacuation warning
Associated Press/March 19/2026
The city of Sidon on southern Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast was crowded with
freshly displaced people Thursday after the Israeli military issued an
evacuation warning two days earlier for residents of the city of Tyre, farther
south on the coast, and nearby villages and Palestinian refugee camps.The
Lebanese University campus in Sidon opened its doors to people displaced from
the Tyre district, initially without any supplies. “Unfortunately, we had to
accommodate them without mattresses or blankets” at first, said Saad Ghazzawi, a
shelter organizer. Batoul Shamseddine, who fled the Tyre area, said after
receiving the warning, “we immediately packed whatever we could and ran out to
the street. ... We found people everywhere out in the streets, everything was in
chaos, like the Day of Judgment.”More than 1 million people have been displaced
in Lebanon by the renewed war between Israel and Hezbollah.
119,000 Syrians have returned from Lebanon during Israel-Hezbollah war
Agence France Presse/March 19/2026
Almost 120,000 Syrians have returned to their country from neighboring Lebanon
since the latest war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah, according to
International Organization for Migration figures provided to AFP on Wednesday.
"As of 17 March, 125,784 people have entered Syria from Lebanon" since the
fighting there began, "about 119,000 of whom are Syrians", according to the
figures from the UN agency's Displacement Tracking Matrix. Lebanon -- which
hosts around one million Syrians who fled their country's civil conflict
starting in 2011 -- was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when
Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for
U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader. Israel has responded
with intense strikes on Lebanon and ground operations in the south, where the
health ministry said four Syrians were killed on Tuesday.Syria has so far stayed
out of the regional war. More than half a million Syrians returned from Lebanon
last year, according to the U.N. refugee agency, following the 2024 fall of
longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was supported by Iran and Hezbollah.
Geagea rules out civil war, says only army will clash with Hezbollah
Naharnet/March 19/2026
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Hezbollah on Thursday of trying to
drag its opponents, including the LF, into a civil war. "Noone will clash with
them except the army and the security forces," he told MTV in an interview.
Geagea said Hezbollah's battle is "domestic" and removing Israel is a fake
slogan the group uses. He said Hezbollah's priorities are tied exclusively to
Iran, even if they might occasionally align with Lebanon's interests, and called
for the arrest of Mahmoud Qmati after his recent statements against the satte
and for ending Hezbollah's participation in the government after "its coup
against the government's decisions". Geagea also said he has contacted officials
in the U.S. administration and the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and has received
guarantees that the Christian villages in south Lebanon will be protected.
Bassil: Hezbollah must realize that its military situation
has ended
Naharnet/March 19/2026
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil said Hezbollah "must realize that
its military situation is has ended," but added that it would be "a mistake for
anyone to think they can eliminate Hezbollah's political wing." As for the
threats made by the party's deputy political council head, Mahmoud Qmati, Bassil
said: "He is condemning himself because he is participating in the government
and granted it a vote of confidence. Any threat to the Lebanese people,
especially from someone who bears arms, is unacceptable." "We reject Hezbollah's
threats of civil war or retaliatory action against people who hold political
opinions. At the same time, incitement against Hezbollah's support base is
unacceptable. Lebanon's greatest strength lies in how we deal with each other
during times of crisis," Bassil added. Responding to some MPs' claims that the
cost of disarming Hezbollah domestically would be less than the cost of a war
with Israel, Bassil pointed out that "there's a common saying that
(ex-)President Michel Aoun often repeated: 'One hundred days of fighting against
a foreign enemy are better than one day of fighting within the country.'"
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 19-20/2026
US says no
'definitive time frame' for ending Iran war
Naharnet/March 19/2026
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday there is no "time frame" for
ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which was launched three weeks ago. "We
wouldn't want to set a definitive time frame," Hegseth told a news conference,
adding that "we're very much on track" and that President Donald Trump will be
the one to decide when to stop."It will be at the president's choosing,
ultimately, where we say, 'Hey, we've achieved what we need to.'"Hegseth also
addressed a report that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion in
additional funding from Congress to pay for the conflict. "As far as $200
billion, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad
guys," Hegseth said. "We're going back to Congress and folks there to ensure
that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in
the future," he said. Top US military officer General Dan Caine, who spoke
alongside Hegseth, provided details on weapons being used against Iran and its
allied forces in the region. Caine said A-10 Warthogs -- a type of aircraft
designed for providing close air support -- are "hunting and killing fast-attack
watercraft" in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran effectively closed
to maritime traffic following the start of the war. He also said AH-64 Apaches
are being used in Iraq to target Iran-aligned militia groups there, and that
some US allies have begun using the attack helicopters to counter one-way drones
launched by Tehran's forces.
Netanyahu says Iran no longer has
uranium enrichment capacity
LBCI/March 19/2026
Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles
after 20 days of U.S.-Israeli air attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu told a news conference on Thursday."We are winning, and Iran is being
decimated," Netanyahu said, noting that Iran's missile and drone arsenal is
being massively degraded and will be destroyed. "What we're destroying now are
the factories that produce the components to make these missiles and to make
the nuclear weapons that they're trying to produce," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu
did not provide evidence for his claim that Iran no longer had the capacity to
enrich uranium. Iran's nuclear programme was the focus of mediated talks that
ultimately collapsed with the U.S. and Israel launching an air attack on Iran on
February 28. Iran has fired missiles back at Israel and other Gulf countries
while also limiting tankers from using the Straight of Hormuz. Despite the
nearly three week war, it was still too soon to tell whether Iranians will take
to the streets to try to overthrow their government, Netanyahu said. "It's up to
the Iranian people to show that, to choose the moment and to rise to the
moment," he said. While the war so far has been conducted via air attacks,
Netanyahu said there has to be a ground component as well and "there are many
possibilities for this ground component." He did not elaborate. Netanyahu also
denied he dragged the United States into the conflict. Does anyone really think
that someone can tell President Trump what to do?" he said. Reuters
Netanyahu denies Israel 'dragged' US into Iran war
LBCI/March
19/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday denied what he called
"fake news" that Israel had dragged U.S. President Donald Trump into war with
Iran."Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to
do?" Netanyahu told journalist at a press conference. AFP
Trump threatens to strike world's largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again
Associated Press/March
19/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged the U.S. would "massively blow up the
entirety" of the world's largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again. Trump
made his threat on social media Wednesday night against Iran's South Pars
natural gas field after Iranian missiles hit Qatar. The Iranian attack was in
retaliation for an Israeli attack on the South Pars field earlier Wednesday. The
U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has roiled energy markets as the conflict escalates
pressure on the region's energy sector. The price of oil has surged on
international markets, increasing the cost of gasoline and other goods while
squeezing the global economy. Global oil prices rose on news of the South Pars
attack due to fears of Iranian retaliation on Gulf energy infrastructure. Trump
said in his post that the U.S. "knew nothing" about the attack, but a person
familiar with the matter said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. was informed about
Israel's plans to strike the gas field but did not take part. Hours after the
attack on the field, authorities in Qatar said a ballistic missile hit the
country's key natural gas site, sparking a fire that caused "extensive" damage,
and Qatar ordered some Iranian Embassy officials out of the country. Iran has
been striking its Persian Gulf neighbors' energy facilities since the war
started Feb. 28 and has made the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, through
which one-fifth of the world's oil travels, nearly impassable. Iran and
Hezbollah also have been firing drones and missiles at Israel.
Egypt foreign minister calls for Iran to halt attacks
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for Iran to end attacks in
the region. During a meeting of foreign ministers Thursday, Abdelatty and his
regional and Arab counterparts expressed solidarity with countries impacted by
Iran's "threats."They condemned Iranian attacks on civilian and energy
infrastructure in Gulf nations, calling them "unjustifiable violations" that
immediately need to stop. Austrian chancellor says Europe will not be
'blackmailed' into fight. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said Europe will
not be "blackmailed" into the U.S. and Israeli military campaign in the Middle
East.
"Europe, and Austria as well, will not allow itself to be blackmailed," he said
Thursday in Brussels. "Intervention in the Strait of Hormuz is not an option for
Austria anyway."Stocker called for the stabilization of the supply and prices of
energy following the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
China criticizes Israel over attack authorizations
China says it is shocked at reports that Israel authorized the killing of senior
Iranian and Hezbollah figures without case-by-case approval, a Foreign Ministry
spokesperson said Thursday in Beijing. "We have been opposed to the use of force
in international relations, and the killing of Iran's national leaders and
attacks on civilian targets are even more unacceptable," spokesperson Lin Jian
said. China urges all parties involved to immediately cease military operations
and prevent the regional conflict from spiraling out of control, he said. Cathay
Pacific suspends Dubai and Riyadh flights through April. Cathay Pacific says it
is further suspending its flights to Dubai and the Saudi capital Riyadh until
the end of April. The Hong Kong-based airline attributed the suspensions to "the
developing situation in the Middle East."It is one of several long-haul carriers
outside the Middle East that have temporarily stopped serving the region due to
the conflict. Saudi Arabia says drone hit the country's SAMREF refinery. Saudi
Arabia said a drone hit the country's SAMREF refinery in the port city of Yanbu
on the Red Sea on Thursday. The Saudi Defense Ministry announced the news,
saying without elaborating that "damage assessment in underway."The strike comes
as drones also hit two oil refineries in Kuwait. Overnight, Iranian attacks hit
natural gas sites in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, spiking global prices.
Iran is retaliating over an Israeli strike Wednesday on its South Pars natural
gas field in the Persian Gulf that it shares with Qatar. SAMREF is a joint
venture between the kingdom's oil giant Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil that
processes more than 400,000 barrels per day of Arabian Light crude oil. The
attack on the Red Sea now reaches into Saudi Arabia's assets there, where it has
been trying to lift crude oil out to the global market via pipeline to avoid the
Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, which remains under
Iranian attack.
Global oil and natural gas prices soar
Global oil and natural gas prices soared Wednesday after Iran attacked a key
natural gas facility in Qatar that can supply one-fifth of the world's gas and
two oil refineries in Kuwait. The attacks raised fears that the global energy
crisis trigged by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic would be
longer and more extensive than feared, with lasting damage to oil and gas
productions. International benchmark Brent crude rose to near $114 per barrel,
up from under $73 per barrel on the eve of the war. The European TTF benchmark
for natural gas prices traded 24% higher on Thursday.
Thai worker killed by munitions in Israel
Thailand's Labor Minister Treenuch Thienthong said Thursday that a Thai
agricultural worker was killed by cluster munitions in Israel late Wednesday.
The worker was identified as 30-year-old Chaiwat Waewnil. The minister said
Chaiwat registered his employment last year with a potato farm in Adanim,
central Israel. His body is expected to be returned to his family in Thailand
after authorities complete an autopsy process. Kuwait says a second oil refinery
ablaze after drone attack Kuwait said a drone attack set a second oil refinery
ablaze in the small, oil-rich nation on Thursday.
The blaze hit the Mina Abdullah refinery. The nearby Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery
earlier caught fire after a drone attack.
Saudi air defenses destroy 6 drones
Saudi Arabia says its air defenses have intercepted and downed six drones in
Riyadh and the Eastern Province. Kuwait says drone attack targeting oil refinery
sparked a fire. Kuwait said Thursday a drone attack sparked a fire at an oil
refinery in the small, oil-rich nation.
The state-run KUNA news agency cited the Kuwait Petroleum Corp. for the
announcement. It said the drone attack sparked a fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi
refinery but caused no injuries. The refinery is one of the biggest in the
Middle East, with a petroleum production capacity of 730,000 barrels per day.
Iran announces execution of 3 men detained in January protests Iran's judiciary
announced Thursday the execution of three men detained in January's nationwide
protests, the first such sentences known to have been carried out. Iran's Mizan
news agency reported the executions and identified the men as Mehdi Ghasemi,
Saleh Mohammadi and Saeed Davvodi. Iran typically carries out the death penalty
with hangings. The three men allegedly stabbed two police officers to death in
Qom, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of the capital, Tehran, during the
protests. Iran's judiciary had been threatening to carry out executions of those
arrested in the protests. Iran put down the demonstrations with intense violence
that killed thousands of people and saw tens of thousands others
detained.Activists have warned Iran could carry out a wave of mass executions of
those detained in the protests. Iran long has been accused by rights campaigners
of extracting coerced confessions from detainees and not allowing them to fully
defend themselves in court.
Iran's foreign minister lashes out at Macron
Iran's foreign minister lashed out Thursday at French President Emmanuel Macron
over his comments on Tehran attacking Qatar. Macron early Thursday morning wrote
he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar's emir over Iran's attack.
"It is in our common interest to implement, without delay, a moratorium on
strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply
facilities," Macron wrote on X. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi,
channeling Trump, called Macron's comments "sad!""Macron has not uttered one
word of condemnation of the Israel-US war on Iran," Araghchi wrote on X. "He did
not condemn Israel when it blew up fuel storage in Tehran, exposing millions to
toxins. His current "concern" didn't follow Israel's attack on our gas
facilities."
Satellite images show damage to UAE air base
Satellite images show damage at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates
after repeated Iranian attacks targeting the facility hosting American troops.
The images, taken Sunday by an Airbus Defence and Space's Pléiades Neo satellite
and analyzed by The Associated Press, show damage at one set of hangars to the
northwest of the facility in Abu Dhabi. Another hangar to the southeast of the
facility appears shredded by fire, with an adjacent hangar sustaining roof
damage. It's unclear what had been in the hangars.Al Dhafra had hosted some
2,000 U.S. troops and has served as a major base of operations for everything
from armed drones to F-35 stealth fighters in recent years. The U.S. military
for years only vaguely referred to Al Dhafra as a base in "southwest Asia"
before the UAE became more willing to acknowledge the U.S. presence there.
Ship hit by a projectile off coast of Qatar
A projectile hit a ship off the coast of Qatar on Thursday morning, authorities
said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center
reported the incident off Ras Laffan, an important natural gas supply point
which had been repeatedly hit by Iranian fire overnight.
The UKMTO said the ship's crew was safe. It wasn't immediately clear if the
vessel had been deliberately targeted or potentially struck by falling debris as
Qatar fired off missile interceptors at incoming Iranian barrages.
South Pars gas crucial for Iran
Attacking Iran's South Pars natural gas field, which it shares with Qatar in the
Persian Gulf, threatens electricity supplies in the Islamic Republic. Some 80%
of all power generated in Iran comes from natural gas, according to the
Paris-based International Energy Agency.
It also is used to supply household heating and cooking across the Islamic
Republic.That is why Iran responded with an aggressive series of attacks
targeting gas fields and infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates.
Latest reports of live fire
Mobile phone alerts sounded Thursday morning in Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates, warning of incoming Iranian missile fire. Kuwait said it shot down
Iranian drones incoming to the oil-rich Mideast nation early Thursday morning.
Latest reports of live fire
Israel warned the public of another Iranian missile salvo early Thursday
morning.
Bahrain sounded its missile sirens early Thursday over an incoming Iranian
attack. Trump threatens to blow up South Pars gas field if Iran attacks Qatar
again. U.S. President Donald Trump pledged Israel would make no more attacks on
Iran's major South Pars gas field, but if Iran attacked Qatar again, the U.S.
would retaliate and "massively blow up the entirety" of the field. Trump made
his threat on social media Wednesday night as the war roiled global energy
markets and Iranian missiles hit Qatar. Trump said in his post that the U.S.
"knew nothing" about the attack, but a person familiar with the matter said
earlier Wednesday that the U.S. was informed about Israel's plans to strike the
gas field but did not take part. Trump said Qatar "was in no way, shape, or
form, involved" in Israel's attacks on Iran's gas field, but, "Unfortunately,
Iran did not know this" and "unjustifiably and unfairly" attacked Qatar. "I do
not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long
term implications that it will have on the future of Iran," Trump said in his
threat. He added that he would "not hesitate to do so," if Qatar's liquified
natural gas sites were attacked again. Australia's leader condemns 'reckless'
Iran reprisals. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Iran's
'reckless' reprisal attacks in the Middle East. "I'm deeply concerned by attacks
on civilian and energy infrastructure, including the latest overnight in Qatar,"
Albanese told reporters in Hobart on Thursday. "We do not want to see the
conflicts escalate further."
Qatar says Iran missiles damage more liquefied natural gas sites
Qatar warned Thursday that additional Iranian missile attacks damaged more
liquefied natural gas sites in the energy-rich nation, "causing sizable fires
and extensive further damage." Qatar Energy, the nation's state-owned oil and
gas company, announced the damage. It said firefighters were working to halt the
blazes and no one had been hurt so far. Qatar is a key source of natural gas for
the world's energy markets. It already shut in its production earlier in the
war, but extensive damage could delay Qatar in getting its supplies to the
market after the Iran war ends. Arab summit ends with renewed call for Iran to
end attacks A summit of Gulf Arab countries and others ended a meeting Thursday
with a renewed, unified call for Iran to halt attacks on its neighbors. A
statement by the nations at the summit denounced "these deliberate Iranian
attacks using ballistic missiles and drones, which targeted residential areas
and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants,
airports, residential buildings, and diplomatic missions.""The participants
emphasized that these attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any
way," the statement said. The nations represented at the summit were Azerbaijan,
Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria,
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Analyst group calls gas field attack 'clear expansion' of war
A New York-based think tank, the Soufan Center, described Israel's decision to
attack the Iranian offshore natural gas field as "a clear expansion of the
conflict.""Unlike oil storage depots that can be replenished and rebuilt on a
shorter timeline, liquefied natural gas production facilities cannot be as
easily ... repaired, especially against a backdrop of war," the center said
Thursday. "Extended timelines for repairs are a major blow to Iran's economy,
but above all else, they will be felt by Iranian civilians. The center added,
"Israel's target selection in this war has heavily focused on the institutions,
leaders and infrastructure within Iran that have been used for domestic
repression, aiming to shape the conditions ripe for successful anti-regime
mobilization by Iranians. It now seeks to inflict additional pressure on the
regime by making the living conditions for civilians intolerable."
Ship ablaze after attack off UAE
An attack set a ship ablaze early Thursday off the coast of the United Arab
Emirates, authorities said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade
Operations center said "a vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, which
has resulted in a fire onboard."
It said the vessel was just off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, near the
mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through
which 20% of the world's oil and natural gas typically flows. Over 20 vessels
have been attacked during the Iran war so far as Tehran tries to squeeze
shippers as part of its pressure campaign over the conflict.
US Senate vote on Iran war fails along familiar lines
U.S. Senate Democrats forced another vote on legislation that would have halted
President Donald Trump from continuing the war with Iran without congressional
approval, but the vote failed along familiar lines. The vote breakdown was
unchanged from last week on a similar war powers resolution. Democrats forced
this vote mostly to bring up another debate on the war and force the Senate for
a couple hours officially off the topic of a GOP push to impose strict voter
identification requirements. Democrats are threatening to force more votes on
the war unless Republicans agree to hold Cabinet-level hearings on the conflict.
Latest reports of live fire
Israel's military warned the public early Thursday of an incoming Iranian
missile attack. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister harshly criticizes Iran after
overnight attacks "What little trust there was before has completely been
shattered," Prince Faisal bin Farhan said after a meeting between foreign
ministers of the Gulf Arab states and others over the Iranian attacks tearing at
the wider Middle East. "The attacks on my country and on my neighboring
countries that are not involved in this conflict — that's all I'm interested
in," Prince Faisal said. "We're going to use every lever we have — political,
economic, diplomatic and otherwise — to get these attacks to stop." He
criticized Iran's attacks on Riyadh, the capital hosting the meeting."I cannot
see it as coincidental," he said. "That's the clearest signal of how Iran feels
about diplomacy. … It tries to pressure its neighbors, and that's not going to
work."
UAE says Iran attacks targeting key gas sites are a 'dangerous escalation'
The United Arab Emirates early Thursday denounced Iran's attacks targeting its
Habshan gas facility and Bab field as a "dangerous escalation." Authorities in
Abu Dhabi say the gas operations had been shut down after interceptions over the
sites.
Iran also had attacked gas facilities in Qatar after Israel launched an attack
against Iran's South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf that it
shares with Doha, Qatar's capital.Saudi Arabia also reported downing Iranian
drones targeting its natural gas facilities overnight. No 'robust debate' ahead
of Trump's decision to strike Iran, former counterterrorism official says.
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent says he and other
senior administration officials with doubts about the Iran war were prevented
from sharing them with President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Tucker Carlson's show, Kent, who resigned this week, claimed Israel
forced Trump's hand despite what he said was no evidence that Iran posed an
imminent threat to the U.S. "A good deal of key decision makers were not allowed
to come and express their opinion to the president," Kent told Carlson. "There
wasn't a robust debate." Kent, a former Green Beret, declined to say who blocked
his access to Trump when Carlson asked.
Cargo ship struck by projectile off UAE coast
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said that a vessel about 11
nautical miles east of Khawr Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab
Emirates' eastern coast, was hit by an "unknown projectile," igniting a fire
aboard. UKMTO issued the report early Thursday, saying authorities were still
investigating the cause of the strike and that the ship's crew managed the
blaze. Since the Iran war started, some 20 vessels in the region have come under
attack as the Iranian fire effectively halts traffic through the Strait of
Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil and
natural gas traded passes.
Qatari authorities warn of possible incoming attack
Qatari authorities issued an emergency alert on mobile phones early Thursday,
warning of a possible incoming attack.Kuwait says Grand Mosque to be closed to
worshippers on major Muslim holiday Kuwait's ministry of information said early
Thursday that the largest mosque in Kuwait City, which can accommodate thousands
of worshippers for major prayers, will be closed to worshippers on Eid al‑Fitr
due to the "current circumstances." Eid al‑Fitr, a Muslim holiday that marks the
end of Ramadan and is expected this year on March 19–20 typically draws tens of
thousands of Muslims to pray together across Kuwait, including at the Grand
Mosque. Authorities across Gulf countries have announced that Eid prayers will
be held only inside regular mosques, with no large outdoor gatherings as a
precaution. The ongoing Iran war has prompted Gulf states to curb large public
events and gatherings.
Fatality and injury counts in strike in West Bank are in flux
Medics and doctors were still assessing victims early Thursday morning as the
Palestinian Red Crescent adjusted their toll to at least three killed and at
least 13 injured. It had earlier reported four deaths. Those injured were taken
to hospitals in nearby cities, Dura and Hebron. The group called the count
preliminary and said the deaths resulted from a direct strike and "falling
missile fragments."House Speaker insists US operation in Iran 'all but done'.
Speaker Mike Johnson still declines to call it a war, but he acknowledged the
situation in the Strait of Hormuz "is dragging it out a little bit."The
Republican who is close to Trump told AP and others at the U.S. Capitol that the
president was right to ask countries who have interests in the region to help in
securing the strait. "I think it's pretty absurd that those requests were
rebuffed," he said. "I do think the original mission is virtually accomplished
now: We were trying to take out the ballistic missiles and their means of
production, and neuter the Navy, and those objectives have been met," he said.
"As soon as we bring some calm to the situation, I think it's all but
done."Israel's medical service says man in South Sharon region killed by
shrapnel.
Israel's Magen David Adom said early Thursday that a foreign worker in his 30s
was killed by shrapnel wounds at a scene in the South Sharon region, where its
paramedics responded. Israel had said that it detected a new missile launch from
Iran targeting the country late Wednesday, and that its defense systems were
working to intercept the threat. Paramedics in West Bank say their response to
strike was delayed due to Israeli military gates. Palestinian Red Crescent said
it sent five ambulances to the Hebron-area strike site, where crews treated and
rushed victims to the nearest hospital and clinic. Paramedics said they faced
serious delays getting there, slowed by gates the Israeli military has set up
around Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank and kept largely closed
during the war.
"This forced closure caused significant delays, compelling ambulances to take
long, rugged alternative routes, which critically impacted the 'golden hour'
essential for life-saving interventions," the organization said in a statement.
Israeli military says an Iranian cluster munition escaped Israeli air defense.
The Israeli military told the AP that the hit in the West Bank was from an
Iranian missile impacting — not shrapnel from an interception. The Israeli
military said it had been a cluster munition that was not intercepted by
Israel's air defense system and crashed into a structure. The strike killed at
least four people and injured at least eight more, the Palestinian Red Crescent
said. The tally of those killed or injured has increased as medics continue to
assess the scene. At least 4 killed in West Bank from Iranian missile attack,
Palestinian medics say. The Palestinian Red Crescent says first responders were
treating people for shrapnel wounds in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday night
as Iran fired missiles toward Israel.
It said a strike killed at least four people and injured at least six others in
Beit Awa. At least two wounded survivors were transported to a hospital.
Palestinian Red Crescent medics are continuing to assess the scene, and the
tally of those dead or injured may change.
The fatalities were the first in the occupied West Bank during the Iran war.
Missile debris has damaged homes and businesses during the first two and a half
weeks. Palestinians lack the shelter and siren system that Israelis rely on to
stay safe from incoming missiles or debris from Iran or Hezbollah. It was not
immediately clear if the deaths and injuries were a result of a direct strike or
debris from an interception.USS Ford will head to Mediterranean for repairs
after a fire. The USS Gerald R. Ford is heading back to the Mediterranean for
repairs and resupply following a fire, a person familiar with the matter
confirmed to The Associated Press. The person, who spoke on condition of
anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said the Navy's largest and
newest aircraft carrier will pull into either the Navy's base in Crete or
another port in Europe. The carrier is currently operating in the Red Sea and
its departure will mean U.S. Central Command will only have one aircraft carrier
supporting operations against Iran. Last week's fire in a laundry room rendered
more than 100 beds unusable and led to about 200 sailors being assessed for
smoke inhalation, according to military officials. They also said that while the
fire was extinguished in a few hours, broader damage control efforts took around
30 hours.
Iran to target energy facilities in Gulf after attack on its gas field
Naharnet/March 19/2026
Iran's military said it would target energy infrastructure across the Gulf
following a U.S.-Israeli attack on its facilities at a major gas field, state
television reported on Wednesday. The military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya
said in a statement that it would "severely strike the source of the aggression
and consider targeting the fuel, energy and gas infrastructure" of countries
from which the attacks were launched.Iran accuses Gulf states of allowing U.S.
forces to conduct attacks from their territory, and Iranian state television
published a list of "legitimate targets" including oil and gas facilities in
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, saying they "will be targeted
in the coming hours."
Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war
Associated Press/March
19/2026
The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, a
senior administration official says. The department sent the request to the
White House, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to
discuss the private information. It's an extraordinarily high number and comes
on top of extra funding the Defense Department already received last year in
President Donald Trump's big tax cuts bill. Congress is bracing for a new
spending request but it is not clear the White House has transmitted the request
for consideration. It is unclear the spending request would have support. The
new funding request was first reported by The Washington Post. Asked about the
figure at a press conference Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not
directly confirm the figure, saying it could change. But he said "we're going
back to Congress and our folks there to to ensure that we're properly funded."
"It takes money to kill bad guys," Hegseth said.
Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some damage reported
Reuters/19 March/2026
An Iranian missile attack hit Israel’s Oil Refineries ORL.TA in the northern
port city of Haifa but did not cause “significant damage,” Israel’s energy
ministry said on Thursday. Energy Minister Eli Cohen said power was briefly
disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected. “The
damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant,” Cohen
said. “Also, in the barrage towards the north, there was no significant damage
to Israeli infrastructure sites.”Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
said it had targeted refineries in Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, and in
Ashdod, in the country’s south, “along with a range of security targets and
military support centers of the Zionist regime,” which it said “were hit by
pinpoint missiles”.There was no immediate word on whether the Ashdod refinery
was hit. Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said debris from a
missile that was intercepted fell in Haifa and was being examined as a hazardous
materials incident. Israel Electric Corp ISECO.UL said a power line in the Haifa
area was hit by shrapnel, causing a brief outage, but that electricity was
restored to all customers within about 45 minutes. Israel’s Fire and Rescue
Services said debris fell in two locations at Oil Refineries and caused a fire
that disconnected supply sources but there were no casualties. “Full control has
been achieved over the impact incident at the Haifa refineries,” it said after
examining the site for hazardous materials. “Tests carried out by monitoring
teams found no abnormal air values and there is no danger to the public.”Last
June, Oil Refineries in Haifa was hit by an Iranian missile, which killed three
people and halted operations.
Iran FM vows 'zero restraint' if energy infrastructure hit
again
Agence France Presse/March
19/2026
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran will not
exercise any restraint if energy facilities were attacked in the war with United
States and Israel again.
"Our response to Israel's attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our
power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation,"
said Araghchi in a post on X."ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck
again."
Iran demands ‘clarity’ from Germany on US airbase Ramstein:
AFP
AFP/19 March/2026
Iran has asked Berlin to clarify the role of the Ramstein airbase in the
US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s ambassador to Germany Majid Nili told AFP on
Thursday. “We have asked them to clarify or explain regarding the role of
Ramstein,” Nili said, charging that “the role of Ramstein is not officially
clear for us.”“Till now, we don’t have any answer.”Nili said Iran believes
Washington’s use of the airbase in western Germany may violate UN resolution
3314. The resolution says that territory placed at the disposal of another state
cannot be used by that state for perpetrating an “act of aggression” against a
third state.“We don’t know yet whether Ramstein is in that line or not,” he
said. Germany hosts thousands of US military personnel at the Ramstein airbase,
which serves as a US Air Force headquarters for Europe and Africa. Defence
Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday said he saw “no reason at present to doubt
the legality of the use of Ramstein” in the war against Iran. German officials
in recent weeks have responded to questions about Ramstein’s possible
involvement in the war by saying that the US military’s use of the base is
governed by treaties. Nili urged Germany and Europe to call on the “aggressors
to stop.”An ongoing war “has certain consequences for Europe as well,” he said,
citing “economic consequences, refugee crisis, terrorism, disintegration of the
region.”“We need a long-lasting ceasefire,” he said, adding that “compensation
is another question” regarding alleged attacks on civilian targets. Nili said
the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel effectively blocked by Iran since
the start of the war, was still “open right now” for states that were “not
aggressors or supporting aggressors.”
Russia to step up security for high-ranking military
officials, FSB chief says
Reuters/19 March/2026
Russia intends to step up security for high-ranking military officials, the
state-run TASS news agency reported on Thursday, citing Federal Security Service
(FSB) chief Alexander Bortnikov. A string of Russian military figures and
high-profile supporters of the war in Ukraine have been assassinated during the
nearly four-year-old conflict. Ukrainian military intelligence has said it was
responsible for a number of the attacks.
US F-35 forced to land after possible Iranian strike, IRGC claims hit
Al Arabiya English/19 March/2026
A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing after being struck by what is
believed to be Iranian fire, CNN reported on Thursday, citing two sources
familiar with the matter. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central
Command, said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over
Iran” when it was forced to land. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is
in stable condition,” Hawkins said, adding that the incident is under
investigation. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
claimed its air defense systems had struck a US F-35, saying the aircraft
sustained significant damage. In a statement, the IRGC said the incident
occurred over central Iran at 2:50 a.m. local time on Thursday, adding: “The
fate of the aircraft remains unknown and is under investigation, with the
possibility that it crashed.”If confirmed, the incident would mark the first
time Iran has hit a US aircraft since the war began in late February. Both the
United States and Israel have deployed F-35 jets in the conflict.
Iran intensifies attacks on Gulf energy sites after Israel struck its key gas
field
Associated Press/March
19/2026
Iran intensified its attacks on oil and gas facilities around the Gulf on
Thursday, dramatically raising the stakes in a war that is sending shock waves
through the global economy. The strikes, in retaliation for an Israeli attack on
a key Iranian gas field, sent fuel prices soaring and risked drawing Iran's Arab
neighbors directly into the conflict. Tehran's targeting of energy production
further stressed global supply already under pressure because of Iran's
stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth
of the world's oil is transported. Underscoring the danger to ships in the
region, a vessel was set ablaze off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and
another damaged off Qatar. But efforts to bypass the strait were also under
pressure: An Iranian drone hit a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea, which the
country had been hoping to use as an alternative exit route. Brent crude oil,
the international standard, spiked to as high as $118 a barrel, up more than 60%
since Israel and the United States started the war Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran.
Ahead of a European Union summit overshadowed by the conflict's impact on energy
prices, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he called a "reckless"
escalation and urged a truce and negotiations as the Islamic holy month of
Ramadan comes to an end.
Energy infrastructure is targeted around the Gulf
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE denounced the Iranian attacks. Arab League
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called them a "dangerous escalation."But
Iran showed no signs of backing down. Saudi Arabia intercepted six drones in
Riyadh and its Eastern province before saying that the SAMREF refinery in the
Red Sea port city of Yanbu was hit. Saudi Arabia had begun pumping large volumes
of oil west toward the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi Defense
Ministry and Shell said damage assessment was underway at the facility. Qatar, a
key source of natural gas for world markets, said firefighters put out a blaze
at the Ras Laffan LNG facility after it was hit by Iranian missiles. Production
had already been halted there after earlier attacks. The state-owned QatarEnergy
said the fire had caused "extensive" damage, and energy giant Shell said it was
assessing it.
Ras Laffan is the largest liquefied natural gas export facility in the world,
according to QatarEnergy. Damage to the facility could delay Qatar's ability to
get supplies to the market even after the war ends. A drone attack on Kuwait's
Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery sparked a fire but caused no injuries, the state-run
KUNA news agency reported. The refinery is one of the biggest in the Middle
East. Shortly after, a drone attack set ablaze the nearby Mina Abdullah
refinery, officials said. Authorities in Abu Dhabi said they were forced to shut
down operations at its Habshan gas facility and Bab field, calling Iranian
overnight attacks on the sites a "dangerous escalation." In Israel, more than a
half-dozen waves of Iranian attacks targeting large parts of the country sent
millions of people to shelters. The strikes caused damage to buildings but no
significant casualties were reported.
Iran's strikes were retaliation for Israeli attack on a critical gas field
The Iranian attacks came after Israel hit South Pars, the Iranian part of the
world's largest gas field located offshore in the Persian Gulf and owned jointly
with Qatar. With some 80% of all power generated in Iran coming from natural
gas, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, the attack
directly threatens the country's electricity supplies. Natural gas is also used
to supply household heating and cooking across the Islamic Republic. Hitting the
gas field is a "clear expansion of the conflict," the New York-based Soufan
Center said in a research note. "Israel's target selection in this war has
heavily focused on the institutions, leaders and infrastructure," the think tank
said. "It now seeks to inflict additional pressure on the regime by making the
living conditions for civilians intolerable."Iran condemned the strike on South
Pars, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of "uncontrollable consequences"
that "could engulf the entire world." In Washington, President Donald Trump said
that Israel would not attack South Pars again, but warned on social media that
if Iran continued striking Qatar's energy infrastructure, the U.S. would
retaliate and "massively blow up the entirety" of the field. "I do not want to
authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term
implications that it will have on the future of Iran," Trump said on social
media. Iran executes 3 men detained during January protests. Iran announced the
execution of three men detained in January's nationwide protests, the first such
sentences known to have been carried out, the judiciary's Mizan news agency
reported. The men were accused of stabbing two police officers to death in Qom,
some 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of the capital, Tehran, during the
protests. Iran put down the demonstrations with intense violence that killed
thousands of people and saw tens of thousands others detained, and activists
have warned that authorities might carry out mass executions of those detained.
Iran long has been accused by rights campaigners of extracting coerced
confessions from detainees and not allowing them to fully defend themselves in
court.
Death toll climbs in third week of war
More than 1,300 people in Iran have been killed during the war. Israeli strikes
against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon have displaced
more than 1 million people — roughly 20% of the population — according to the
Lebanese government, which says more than 900 people have been killed. In
Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. Four people were
also killed in the occupied West Bank overnight by an Iranian missile strike,
according to officials. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed.
EU leaders balk at joining Middle East fight, grapple with high energy prices
Associated Press/March
19/2026
European leaders doubled down Thursday on refusing to join the United States and
Israel military campaigns in the Middle East as they met in Brussels to grapple
with rising oil and gas prices caused by the war. European leaders have
deflected entreaties from U.S. President Donald Trump to send military assets to
secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the global flow of oil, gas and
fertilizer. However, rising energy prices because of the war and fears in Europe
of a new refugee crisis have pushed leaders to make the Middle East a priority
at the summit. "We are very worried about the energy crisis," said Belgian Prime
Minister Bart De Wever ahead of the summit. He said that energy prices were too
high before the war, but that the conflict "created another spike.""If that
becomes structural, we're in deep trouble," he said. The summit was initially
expected to center on overcoming Hungary's opposition to a massive loan for
Ukraine, but the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon reset the agenda.European leaders
have no 'appetite' for joining the war. European leaders have been deeply
critical of the Iranian government, but none have offered immediate help to the
U.S. Britain is flat-out refusing to be drawn into the war. France says the
fighting would have to die down first. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker
said that Europe "will not allow itself to be blackmailed" into joining the
United States and Israel military campaign in the Middle East. "Europe — and
Austria as well — will not allow itself to be blackmailed," he said ahead of the
European Council summit of the leaders of the 27 EU nations. "Intervention in
the Strait of Hormuz is not an option for Austria anyway."EU foreign policy
chief Kaja Kallas said there was "no appetite" among leaders to expand a
European naval force in the Red Sea to help secure the Strait of Hormuz or
otherwise join the fray.
Looking ahead to the war's end
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the war must end before his country can help with
matters such as keeping shipping lanes clear."We can and will commit ourselves
only when the weapons fall silent," he said of potential German military support
to secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. "We can then do a great deal,
up to opening sea lanes and keeping them clear, but we're not doing it during
ongoing combat operations."He said that would require an international mandate,
among other complicated steps, "before we can even consider such an issue."While
the EU isn't a party to the conflict, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said he
understood the U.S. and Israeli reasons for launching the campaign against the
"brutal" Iranian government. He called for the EU to increase both sanctions on
Iran and support for Iranian opposition groups. But others blasted the war as
"illegal" and destabilizing. "We are against this war because it is illegal,"
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: "It's causing a lot of damage to
civilians, of course, refugees and the economic consequences that the whole
world, especially the global south, is already suffering." Trump had mentioned
NATO support for clearing the Strait of Hormuz but has not officially requested
it, said Evika Silina, prime minister of Latvia, one of the 23 out of the 27 EU
nations that are NATO members. "When there will be some official requests, I
think we always have to evaluate those requests."
No single fix for the EU's diverse energy markets
The European Commission has told leaders it has a mix of financial instruments
that member nations could deploy to lower energy prices, which will be up for
discussion. No single policy will likely work to blunt the economic shocks from
the war across the bloc's myriad markets from Romania to Ireland. EU leaders are
hoping their experience weaning off of Russian energy in the wake of the 2022
invasion of Ukraine and of building up the bloc's military spending towards
self-sufficiency will enable to them to do the same for energy independence.
While some European capitals have called for the suspension or scrapping of
climate policies to stave off the worst of the recent spike in energy prices
because of the war, others have argued that the EU's long-term energy strategy
should be home-grown sustainable energy decoupled from vulnerable fossil fuel
markets. European Council President Antonio Costa said that "energy means
security" and that the EU should "build our own capacity to produce our own
energy, because it's the only way to be secure."
Saudi Arabia says reserves 'right to take military actions'
over Iran attacks
Agence France Presse/March
19/2026
Saudi Arabia has not ruled out military action in response to repeated missile
and drone attacks from Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on
Thursday. Speaking to reporters following a meeting in Riyadh of foreign
ministers from the region, Prince Faisal said that Iran "tries to pressure its
neighbors" with attacks. "The kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and
on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... and certainly, as we have stated
quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed
necessary," he said. Saudi Arabia reported more Iranian attacks on Wednesday, as
the foreign minister hosted his counterparts from about a dozen Arab and Islamic
countries for talks on the fallout from the Middle East war. Several strong
blasts were heard in the Saudi capital on Wednesday, according to AFP
journalists, while the defense ministry said it had intercepted ballistic
missiles. "The targeting of Riyadh while a number of diplomats are meeting... I
think that's the clearest signal of how Iran feels about diplomacy," Prince
Faisal said. "It doesn't believe in talking to its neighbors." The Saudi foreign
minister condemned the repeated "targeting of civilian sites" across the Gulf,
dismissing Iran's justification that it was targeting US interests in the region
as "weak". "Neither Saudi Arabia nor the Gulf states would accept... blackmail,
and escalation will be met with escalation," he said. A joint statement from the
foreign ministers' meeting in Riyadh condemned "the deliberate use of ballistic
missiles and drones targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure,
including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential facilities
and diplomatic missions". The ministers "affirmed that such attacks cannot be
justified under any circumstances and reiterated the right of states to defend
themselves", the statement added, calling on Iran to "immediately cease its
attacks" and de-escalate tensions.
Saudi, Kuwaiti leaders warn of escalation from Iranian attacks on Gulf
Al Arabiya English/19 March/2026
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call on Thursday with
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
reported. During the call, the two leaders discussed developments in the region
and their impact on regional security and stability, SPA said. They also
emphasized that repeated Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries
and the targeting of their vital infrastructure “constitute a dangerous
escalation that threatens regional security and stability,” according to SPA.The
two leaders affirmed that GCC countries “will continue to exert every effort and
dedicate all resources to defending their territories, supporting their
security, and maintaining their stability,” the agency added.
Saudi, Kuwaiti leaders warn of escalation from Iranian
attacks on Gulf
Al Arabiya English/19 March/2026
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call on Thursday with
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
reported. During the call, the two leaders discussed developments in the region
and their impact on regional security and stability, SPA said. They also
emphasized that repeated Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries
and the targeting of their vital infrastructure “constitute a dangerous
escalation that threatens regional security and stability,” according to SPA.
The two leaders affirmed that GCC countries “will continue to exert every effort
and dedicate all resources to defending their territories, supporting their
security, and maintaining their stability,” the agency added.
Qatar PM says gas hub attack ‘clear proof’ Iran not only
targeting US interests
Agencies/19 March/2026
Qatar’s prime minister said on Thursday Iran’s attack on the world’s largest gas
facility in Qatar was “clear proof” against Tehran’s claims of having targeted
only US interests in the Gulf. There were “persistent Iranian claims that these
attacks are against American interests... and this claim is rejected and cannot
be accepted,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said. “The clear proof of
this is the attack that took place yesterday that targeted a natural gas
facility in the State of Qatar,” he added. “This attack has significant
repercussions for global energy supplies. Such attacks bring no direct benefit
to any country, rather, they harm and directly impact populations,” Sheikh
Mohammed said, following extensive damage to the Ras Laffan facility. Speaking
during a joint press conference with Sheikh Mohammed in Doha, Turkish Foreign
Minister Hakan Fidan said that Turkey was conveying “friendly” advice to Iran to
avoid spreading its war with the United States and Israel to the Middle East,
and added Tehran’s attacks on regional countries were unacceptable. Fidan said
Israel was the main perpetrator of the war but that Iran had a “historic
responsibility” not to attack regional countries.He said Ankara was in contact
with both Washington and Tehran to understand where they stood, and that
Turkey’s efforts to end the conflict would continue.
Iran attack wipes out 17 pct of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up
to five years: QatarEnergy
Reuters/19 March/2026
Iranian attacks have knocked out 17 percent of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas
(LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue
and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy’s CEO told Reuters on
Thursday. Saad al-Kaabi said two of Qatar’s 14 LNG trains and one of its two
gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities were damaged in the unprecedented strikes. The
repairs will sideline 12.8 million tons per year of LNG for three to five years,
he said. “I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be -
Qatar and the region - in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim
country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way,” said Kaabi, who is
also Qatar’s minister of state for energy affairs. Hours earlier Iran had aimed
a series of attacks at Gulf oil and gas facilities after Israeli attacks on its
own gas infrastructure. State-owned QatarEnergy will have to declare force
majeure on long-term contracts for up to five years for LNG supplies bound for
Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China due to the two damaged trains, Kaabi
said. “I mean, these are long-term contracts that we have to declare force
majeure. We already declared, but that was a shorter term. Now it’s whatever the
period is,” he said.
ExxonMobil impact and byproducts
QatarEnergy had declared force majeure on its entire output of LNG, after
earlier attacks on its Ras Laffan production hub, which came under fire again on
Wednesday. “For production to restart, first we need hostilities to cease,” he
said. US oil major ExxonMobil is a partner in the damaged LNG facilities, while
Shell is a partner in the damaged GTL facility, which will take up to a year to
repair. Texas-based ExxonMobil holds a 34 percent stake in LNG train S4 and a 30
percent stake in train S6, Kaabi said. Train S4 impacts supplies to Italy’s
Edison and EDFT in Belgium, while Train S6 impacts South Korea’s KOGAS, EDFT and
Shell in China. The scale of the damage from the attacks has set the region back
10 to 20 years, he said. “And of course, this is a safe haven for a lot of
people, to have a safe place to stay and so on. And that image, I think, has
been shaken.”The fallout extends well beyond LNG. Qatar’s exports of condensate
will drop by around 24 percent, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will fall 13
percent. Helium output will fall 14 percent, and naphtha and sulphur will both
drop by 6 percent. Those losses have implications ranging from LPG used in
restaurants in India to South Korea’s chipmakers which use helium. The damaged
units cost approximately $26 billion to build, Kaabi said.“If Israel attacked
Iran, it’s between Iran and Israel. It has nothing to do with us and the
region,” he said. “And so now, in addition to that, I’m saying that everybody in
the world, whether it’s Israel, whether it’s the US, whether it’s any other
country, everybody should stay away from oil and gas facilities.”
Iraqi Kataeb Hezbollah says to
pause US embassy attacks if Israel stops striking Dahieh
Agence France Presse/March
19/2026
A pro-Iran group in Iraq vowed Thursday to stop attacking the U.S. embassy in
Baghdad for five days, but only under certain conditions, with strikes targeting
other locations in the country. After a wave of strikes on the U.S. embassy in
Iraq's capital Baghdad in recent days, AFP journalists reported no drone or
rocket attacks on Wednesday night. But on Thursday an explosion was heard near
Erbil's international airport in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, said AFP
journalists who also saw smoke rising near the fence. A witness said two similar
explosions were heard in the morning. Erbil is home to a major U.S. consulate
complex, while its airport houses U.S.-led coalition diplomatic advisors. Two
drones also earlier targeted the U.S. logistics center at Baghdad International
Airport, which houses military personnel and has been regularly targeted,
according to a security official. One crashed within the center's compound and
the other fell into a civil aviation academy, the source said, adding that
neither caused any damage.The US embassy and logistics center has been targeted
by drone and rocket attacks several times in recent days, with air defenses
intercepting most of the projectiles. Iraq has been drawn into the Middle East
war triggered by the U.S.-Israel attack on its neighbor Iran on February 28.
Strikes have targeted Iran-backed groups, which in turn have claimed near daily
attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq and across the region. These latest attacks
come just hours after Kataeb Hezbollah said the group's secretary-general had
"issued orders to suspend operations targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad for a
period of five days". The Iran-backed group, designated by Washington as a
"terrorist organization", listed several conditions, including Israel ceasing
its bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut. That area is a bastion of
Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is also Iran-backed and is at war with Israel. Iraq's
Kataeb Hezbollah also demanded "a commitment to refrain from bombing residential
areas in Baghdad and other provinces". Whenever "the enemy violates" the truce
"the response will be immediate", it said, warning of more strikes after the
five-day period. Two Hashed al-Shaabi fighters were killed early Thursday in
strikes in northern Iraq, according to the group, which said positions in the
Nineveh region in Salah al-Din province were targeted. The Popular Mobilisation
Forces (PMF), part of Iraq's regular armed forces, blamed the strikes on the US
and Israel. Pro-Iran factions also have brigades that operate within the
alliance, but have a reputation for acting on their own.
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 19-20/2026
The New
Counterrorism Terrain …The “War of Ideas” to Come
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152880/
Alberto M. Fernandez/State Craft & Strategy/March 19/2026
To a great extent, we rely on learned experience. That can be as true for nation
states as it is for individuals. That is why, when conflict comes, states often
find themselves succumbing to the temptation of “fighting the last war.” The
questions of fighting the last war, and of anticipating the next one, are
salient when it comes to the what was once called the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
– the George W. Bush-era shorthand for the war fought by the United States and
its allies against global Salafi-jihadism, most prominently al-Qaeda and its
offspring, the Islamic State (ISIS).
September 2026 will mark a quarter-century since the terrible attacks of
September 11, 2001, not to mention almost forty years since the founding of
al-Qaeda and nearly a century since the founding of the Muslim Brotherhood. As
such, it is an appropriate time not only to take stock of the past but also to
look ahead, at the “war of ideas” to come in the Middle East.
The Recent State Of Play
In terms of concrete results against Salafi-jihadists in the Middle East, the
overall record is positive. The past two decades have seen the decimation of
most of the leadership of both of the world’s most notorious jihadist actors,
al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. And after a brief, brutal rule, the latter’s
self-declared caliphate in eastern Syria and western Iraq was demolished by the
United States in concert with local allies on the ground. Over the past decades,
jihadists also lost ground in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Political Islam likewise took a beating in several countries in the region, many
of them through a surprising dynamic: victory at the ballot box, but failure in
governance. Indeed, across the region, Islamist political parties faltered after
experiencing difficulties in actually ruling. In places like Egypt, Tunisia and
Morocco, Islamists were in power – and then they were not.
Turkey under the Justice and Development Party (AKP) took a different course.
Under the guidance of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it became a beacon for
Arabic-language Islamist propaganda aimed at overthrowing regimes in Egypt and
elsewhere.[1] But over time, pressure built on it to reverse course. The
propaganda offensive from Istanbul diminished or was shut down, as Islamist
Turkey decided that improving relations with onetime adversaries in Cairo, Abu
Dhabi and Riyadh was more important than being seen as openly promoting Islamist
revolutionary subversion.
Meanwhile, military defeat, technical advances and social media censorship and
policing greatly diminished the presence and scope of jihadist propaganda on
major Western platforms. Jihad as an idea was never defeated, though. It was
merely expunged from social media. The heyday of 2013-2014, when Islamic State
“media knights” had tens of thousands of followers on Twitter and Facebook and
daily posted the group’s latest snuff videos, are long gone. The old incendiary
content still exists, including troves of the group’s “greatest hits” on the
dark web. But it is harder for ordinary people, for casual or curious
bystanders, to access easily. Those that do find it, even in the West, can still
be radicalized by content depicting a ten-year-old reality which no longer
exists.
But while American allies in the region did and still do engage in the
propaganda war against Salafi-jihadism, one cannot say that it was a full-blown
“war of ideas.” It was more tactical, opportunistic immediate propaganda than
strategic messaging – that jihadist terror killed mostly Muslims, that it was
counterproductive, and that it defamed all Muslims in the eyes of the world. It
was more about reacting to the latest event and blunting the immediate appeal of
the adversary than presenting a full-fledged political, ideological or religious
alternative, something the West can’t do and most Muslim states really won’t.
Thus Salafi-jihadism was hurt in the public sphere in the Middle East mostly
because it lost on the battlefield. It is hard to claim the mandate of heaven
when you progressively lose not only Mosul and Raqqa, but the entirety of your
statelet. So, while insurgent action by ISIS in the Middle East continues and
even spikes, including in Syria and Iraq, it has been difficult for the group so
far to match the panoply of spectacular acts from twelve years ago. Yet,
although diminished, the Islamic State still seeks to make the big statement –
and it occasionally succeeds in doing so, as in Iran (Kerman, January 2024),
Russia (Crocus City Hall, March 2024) and Australia (Bondi Beach, December
2025). And globally, we see jihadist terror everywhere, but the most rapid
growth is limited to some specific areas, particularly the African Sahel.
The authoritative IEP Global Terrorism Index for 2025 graphically illustrated
the shift.[2] Of the ten countries most affected by terrorism, six were African
(Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia and Cameroon). Two were the
traditional hotspots of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Only two were in the
traditional Middle East: Syria and Israel. Syria is, of course, undergoing a
major transformation, and the extremist terror against Israel is Palestinian
terror, a brand going back many decades and, while often religiously based, one
that also has deep nationalist “national liberation” roots grounded in the
rhetoric of anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle.
Indeed, despite the ongoing war between Israel and its adversaries, 2024
actually saw a 7% reduction in terrorist attacks in the Middle East.[3] In terms
of sheer carnage, of course, nothing in recent years has matched the terror
campaign carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023. That attack, and the war it
touched off, has certainly caused turmoil in the Middle East. But its more
lasting political impact will probably be in the West, among Americans and
Europeans, rather than among Middle Easterners.
In the Middle East, positions for or against Israel are pretty well set, the
fissures within societies and policy stances of regimes well known. The fact
that the Gaza War was quickly subsumed into a larger conflict between Israel,
Iran and Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere fed into
pre-existing concerns among the region’s majority Sunni Muslim population about
Iranian and Shi’a ambitions in the region. This is an issue of greater concern
among many Arab Muslims than it is to the average American or European rioting
for Gaza on their university campus.
This is not to say that Israel or Palestinian nationalism aren’t issues in the
Middle East – they certainly are. But they are nothing new, and regional
governments have dealt with them for decades. While “Free Palestine”
revolutionary activists in the West, with the zeal of converts, immediately
denounced the October 2025 “Trump Plan” on Gaza, the same proposal was accepted
by the governments in Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan, Indonesia and even Hamas-supporting Turkey and Qatar.
The Shape Of Things To Come
These and other developments (such as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and
the current travails of Iran’s proxy network) have led the United States to
“right-size” the Middle East in its strategic planning. The Trump
administration’s new National Security Strategy, released in December of 2025,
underscores this shift.[4] Its first mention of the Middle East is not in the
context of extremism or terrorism, but with regard to preventing “an adversarial
power from dominating the Middle East, its oil and gas supplies, and the
chokepoints through which they pass while avoiding the ‘forever wars’ that
bogged us down in that region at great cost.”
The Trump NSS does a good job outlining the challenges of a changing world and
how America will address them. The emphasis on hemispheric security (the
so-called “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine) and the Indo-Pacific (in
other words, China) mean that the broader Middle East will necessarily be
downgraded. In American eyes, the region will not be unimportant, of course. But
the document makes clear that it will not be a place where the United States is
prepared to wage a “war of ideas” with a retrograde or reactionary Islam. But if
Washington isn’t, then who is? Despite the perception of perpetual turmoil, the
Middle East – particularly the Arab Middle East – remains the same region with
the same problems that it had when it gave birth to the Muslim Brotherhood, to
the rise of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and to the development of the
Velayat e-Faqih in Iran. The political and socio-economic “building blocks” that
created that extremist world are still in place – authoritarianism, poor
governance, persistent youth unemployment (historically, the highest in the
world as a region), disinformation and incitement (including by regimes), and
the weaponization of Islam as a tool (including by authoritarian regimes
themselves).
But while much in the region remains the same, the world – the global landscape
– is changing in ways that we do not yet fully understand. You might call them
the Four Horsemen of the New Apocalypse, beginning in the West and spreading
uncertainly elsewhere:
The burgeoning technological revolution, from artificial intelligence (AI) to
robotics and beyond, which is accelerating and promises to radically up-end, if
not entirely eliminate, the contemporary workplace within a decade.
The remorseless rise of global public debt, which – while also threatening
developing countries – represents a massive economic threat to the West,
including the United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Runaway
public debt is also a risk factor in regional states like Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon
and Tunisia.
Connected to both tech and economics, an unprecedented social revolution is also
unfolding before us: the so-called “birth dearth” which has hit the West and
East Asia particularly hard, but which represents a global phenomenon.
At the same time, a political revolution is unfolding as well, as the old
Western confidence about the triumph of liberal democracy and free market
capitalism seems increasingly irrelevant in the face of rising populist anger
from both the political right and left.
How and if these trends will affect the Middle East and the region’s ideological
discourse is not yet known. In some of these trends, the region is an outlier –
for instance, the Middle East birth dearth is predicted to come later than it
did in the West, while liberal democracy never really took hold and has long
been discredited (something that both authoritarian regimes and Islamist
revolutionaries can agree upon). Arab populations are still considerably younger
than those in the West. Looming Western problems like “elite overproduction” and
imploding governance leading to extreme inequality hit the Arab Middle East long
ago. They are, in a sense, a political bomb which has already exploded but the
lasting effects of which are still being felt.
Yet despite the uncertainty about the impact of broader global trends, we can
nevertheless trace the future Middle East ideological battlefield with some
clarity, based on certain given realities.
The Middle East’s authoritarian regimes will remain more or less the same. There
is simply no liberal, western-style democratic alternative ready-made and
waiting in the wings. Existing regimes will do all they can to survive and,
depending on changing circumstances, either fight Islamism or use elements of it
to bolster their hold on power. The Egypt of Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, where the
Muslim Brotherhood is demonized and persecuted while Salafism flourishes, is one
model. An older example would be the Jaafar al-Nimeiry regime in Sudan
(1969-1985), which began as a nationalist/leftist regime and ended as an
Islamist one. Indeed, an appeal to Islam, to the legitimizing power of posing as
authentic guardians of the faith, is a tool that almost all Arab Muslim regimes
will utilize if circumstances warrant.
With the exception of non-Muslim Israel, every regime stretching from Morocco to
Pakistan is authoritarian. Some are freer than others; they may have more press
freedom or allow opposition parties, and those parties may sometimes even win
local elections. But at bottom, these regimes are more alike than they are
dissimilar. Most survived intact the upheaval of the Arab Spring, and those that
did not and actually fell (Tunisia, Libya and Egypt among them) were in
relatively short order replaced by other authoritarian regimes. There is no
future guarantee that the current regimes will survive intact, but the idea that
they will radically change into something very different in terms of governance
is unlikely.
That is not to say that the nature or style of the authoritarianism itself won’t
change. It certainly can. One can say that the authoritarianism of dictator Ali
Abdullah Saleh was “less bad” than the Houthi rule we see today in Yemen, or
that the authoritarianism of Ahmed al-Sharaa in Syria today might turn out to be
a considerable improvement over the rule of the Assad regime. We will need to
wait and see.
Political or Salafi-jihadist Islam will remain the default language of
revolution. Islam as the voice of rebellion, as the call of the oppressed and
poor, will remain a powerful weapon. Since existing states also know this, they
will seek to misdirect and appropriate it for the sake of regime survival. This
leads to a kind of political one-upsmanship by both regimes and rebels, where
each seeks to outdo the other and prove the authenticity of their
political-religious bona fides. This is why many ostensibly anti-Islamist
authoritarian regimes, like Egypt, will zealously police public morality; it is
a way to show that they are “enjoining good and forbidding wrong,” as the Qur’an
commands.
Such a reality also means that well-intentioned attempts at “reforming” Islam by
watering down what to Westerners are radical or extreme elements are bound to be
difficult – albeit not impossible. Indeed, there is a long record of attempts at
internal reform by Muslims throughout Islamic history. Islam is no monolith,
although to outsiders it may seem that way. The 20th century saw reformers like
Muhammad Abdu, Rashid Ridah, and Mahmud Muhammad Taha (Taha was killed as an
apostate for his reform efforts).[5] But the concept of Islamic reformers
doesn’t only mean “liberals.” One can make the case that extremists like
Muhammad Abdul Wahhab and Sayyid Qutb also represented a type of reformer,
seeking to reform the status quo and move the religion toward a more rigorous,
militant direction.
Efforts at religious reform often came from above, from authoritarians in power,
such as Ataturk in Turkey, Amanullah II in Afghanistan, or Habib Bourgouiba in
Tunisia. The subsequent Islamic history of all three countries shows that their
reform efforts didn’t stick. In our era, we have seen more recent efforts at
reform from above by the UAE (the “Abrahamic Family House” and the 2019 Abu
Dhabi Declaration) and by Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.
The rise of Islamism and sectarian conflict in the West will be a wild card.
High levels of migration, conversion, economic crisis, and political realignment
in Europe and North America could ignite levels of societal conflict in the West
not seen for more than fifty years. The result could be a violent iteration of
today’s so-called Red-Green Alliance of migrants, Islamists and leftists pitted
against local nativist nationalists. In turn, the rise of Western Islamism could
lead to new levels of cross-fertilization, as these “Westernized” forms of
Islamism head back to the Middle East. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed’s
famous 2017 warning that in the future there would be more radical extremists
and terrorists coming out of Europe than from the Middle East will not only turn
out to be true, but will not even be the whole story.[6] The subversion and
infiltration that authoritarian Middle East regimes won’t allow the Muslim
Brotherhood to do back home, the organization and its proxies and fronts will do
in the West – even if it is banned in Europe and North America.
Westernized Islamism could include new variations repackaged for Middle Eastern
audiences primed for change. In 2025, for example, we have already seen a raft
of so-called “Islamotubers” preaching a Western-oriented type of Salafism in
Western languages to European audiences.[7] Information and ideological flows
will move in both directions. And it won’t be hard to do so, since over 70% of
people in the Arab World are internet users, while in the Gulf that figure is
99%.[8]
As far as the West is concerned, the “Islamic Moment” is only just arriving, and
it will have far-reaching ramifications that we cannot yet foresee. Current
migration patterns alone, particularly in some European countries, will lead to
the growth of Muslim political clout in the West, and become an inevitably
destabilizing feature. Some Christian scholars believe that the West, however
you define it, can only survive if it has a dominant spiritual core moving
forward. And they believe that there are only two real candidates for such an
organizing principle – either the revival of Western Christianity or the rise of
Islam in the West.[9]
The emergence of a somewhat “domesticated” model of Islamist governance seems
likely. This is even more likely if HTS-ruled Syria “succeeds” with the help of
Islamist Turkey and Qatar, while Afghanistan under the Taliban remains more or
less intact. A third example of this model could emerge in the near future in
Africa, where the al-Qaeda aligned JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin)
may succeed in establishing its own state in the Sahel and seems to be willing
to politically distance itself from its extremist connection.
At the same time, ideological regimes have their own set lifespan. They run down
and are discredited over time. If the rise of new-style Sunni Islamist regimes
might attract new followers in the future, others may wane in popularity. For
instance, the Shi’a Islamist regime in Iran, now almost fifty years in power,
looks ideologically spent even if its coercive powers could keep it in place for
years to come.
Western (i.e., American) counterterrorism will focus on kinetic strikes against
jihadists and transactional engagement with willing Islamist interlocutors. The
Trump administration, either by design or by chance, has hit on the minimalist
sweet spot of counterterrorism. There are those in the Islamist constellation
who will have to be killed, and others who will necessitate engagement.
Post-Assad Syria provides one template in this regard. Transactional diplomacy
based on perceptions of national interests, not ideology, will be the order of
the day.
A third pillar, not directed principally at the Middle East but at home, should
be law enforcement and bureaucratic action aimed at dismantling subversive
Muslim Brotherhood-aligned support networks in the West, including
non-governmental organizations, media outlets and businesses. This is an urgent
need, especially in Western Europe. But it is not at all clear, despite recent
encouraging pronouncements by the current Administration,[10] that Western
countries have both the political will and the long-term patience to implement
such measures.
Whose War, And Whose Ideas?
With the United States firmly set on disengagement from the region, Europe
supine and authoritarian Middle Eastern regimes still seemingly firmly in
charge, one might think that a war of ideas will be irrelevant. Not at all. The
intellectual and ideological ferment of a faith held by more than two billion
souls will continue. But the role of Western states, as states or as
propagandists or influencers, will be marginal at best. There are many Islamists
working hard to bring about the fulfillment of their agendas in both east and
west, but they don’t all agree as to the best way to do so.
In Syria, the ruling Islamist government finds itself fighting its one-time
masters turned bitter rivals in the Islamic State. In the African Sahel,
al-Qaeda and the Islamic State fight each other. Sunni Islamists oppose Shi’a
Islamists, except when they don’t, as Iran’s support for al-Qaeda’s leadership
(still based in Iran) and Sunni Islamists in Gaza amply demonstrates. Some
Islamists and jihadists seek to follow or restore the well-worn paths of the
Muslim Brotherhood or al-Qaeda or the Islamic State and some, like the
influential Qatar-backed Libyan radical Ali al-Sallabi, seek to come up with a
powerful new synthesis in order to gain power.
The most effective thing the West can do in this struggle has nothing to do with
Arabs or with Islam. Rather, it is to put its own ideological and intellectual
house in order. Today, it is hard to say what the West actually stands for or
believes in. Liberal internationalism seems ragged and exhausted. America seems
more self-assured than Europe and Canada, but that is only a matter of degree.
Where is the “civilizational self-confidence and Western identity” that the 2025
Trump National Security Strategy refers to?
These are hard questions. In an era of accelerating technological and economic
change, what precisely do we stand for? Public diplomacy tools and strategies
are mostly useless if they are not at least tenuously connected to an attractive
and compelling core narrative nested in reality. The authenticity and
genuineness of the real world will still matter in an age of digital trickery.
Going forward, whoever can convincingly model that sincerity and conviction –
whether jihadist, communist or fascist – will hold a powerful weapon in a world
where the fake seems to dominate. There will be the world of the distracted and
the world of those searching for meaning, and this will be the new war of ideas.
And in this culture clash, all too often we focus on the latest shiny new
propaganda tool while missing that we lack a real message. Quite simply, we have
nothing meaningful to say at the moment.
That is a fatal shortcoming. You can’t fight for something or defend yourself if
you stand for or believe in nothing. Much of the West seems to have lost
confidence in itself, and most of its old symbols have been hollowed out by
those who should have defended them. At the end of the day, a flourishing West
is the most powerful tool we can have at our disposal in the war of ideas to
come.
Ambassador Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice President of the Middle East Media
Research Institute (MEMRI) and a retired career Senior Foreign Service Officer.
He was also President of Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the US
Government-funded Arabic language media corporation, from 2017 to 2020.
Ambassador Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice President of the Middle East Media
Research Institute (MEMRI) and a retired career Senior Foreign Service Officer.
He was also President of Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the U.S.
government-funded Arabic-language media corporation, from 2017 to 2020.
[1] Alberto M. Fernandez, “The Arabic Propaganda War From Istanbul,” MEMRI, July
17, 2020, https://www.memri.org/reports/arabic-propaganda-war-istanbul.
[2] Institute for Economics and Peace, “Global Terrorism Index 2025,” 2025,
https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Global-Terrorism-Index-2025.pdf.
[3] Ibid.
[4] The White House, National Security Strategy of the United States of America,
November 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf.
[5] George Packer, “The Moderate Martyr,” New Yorker, September 4, 2006,
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/09/11/the-moderate-martyr.
[6] Sapir Benjamin and Daniel Edelson, “Arab leader’s prescient warning gains
renewed attention amid US campus turmoil,” Yediot Ahronot, April 29, 2024,
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hy5dtth11r.
[7] Alberto M. Fernandez, “Objective Al-Andalus: The ‘Islamotuber’ Campaign in
Spain,” MEMRI, December 9, 2025, https://www.memri.org/reports/objective-al-andalus-islamotuber-campaign-spain.
[8] Arun Shankar, “Internet penetration reaches 70% in the Arab world finds
Orient Planet Research,” Intelligent CIO, April 19, 2025, https://www.intelligentcio.com/me/2025/04/19/internet-penetration-reaches-70-in-the-arab-world-finds-orient-planet-research/.
[9] “The West’s Ideological Future: Islam, Christianity, and Wokeism,” Jerusalem
and Athens, September 23, 2024, https://jerusalemandathens.com/2024/09/23/the-wests-ideological-future-islam-christianity-and-wokism/.
[10] Jeff Breinholt, “The Muslim Brotherhood and the Limits of Terrorist
Designations,” War on the Rocks, December 23, 2025,
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-muslim-brotherhood-and-the-limits-of-terrorist-designations/.
The
Lebanon Sideshow Could Be Worse Than the Iranian Main Event
Alberto M. Fernandez/National Catholic Registery/March 19/ 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152884/
COMMENTARY: Israel’s vigorous response, with Christians in the crossfire, could
rid the Lebanese host of the Hezbollah parasite, or destroy both.
The Iran War has generated two “sideshows,” additional conflicts in Iraq and
Lebanon. In both cases, it is entirely Iran’s doing, seeking to widen the war.
In Iraq, there is the bizarre situation of Iranian-directed Iraqi militias,
which are funded by the Iraqi government, lobbing missiles and drones at Iraqi
government facilities, including bases and oil installations.
But the situation in Lebanon is the “sideshow” that could turn out to be more
catastrophic than the main event. The terrorist group Hezbollah decided to enter
the war against Israel despite the fact that Lebanon’s population is war-weary,
overwhelmingly opposed to more conflict, and the country was already in deep
economic crisis even before Hezbollah plunged the country into the last war in
October 2023.
Hezbollah’s plan in entering this war was to distract some Israeli fire away
from its masters in Tehran. Israel’s response is to try to destroy Hezbollah
once and for all, by putting unprecedented pressure on the group and on Lebanon.
Israel’s “harsh medicine” could rid the Lebanese host of the Hezbollah parasite,
or destroy both.
Unlike Iraq, Lebanon’s Christians are very much in the crossfire. At least six
Christians were killed in their border villages; many have tried to remain in
their ancestral places while others have been displaced. Hezbollah tries to
attack Israel from Christian areas, firing and fleeing while Israeli return fire
falls on the locals. When Israeli shelling killed a Maronite priest in a border
village, Lebanese Christian leaders blamed Hezbollah for putting the village in
jeopardy.
Archbishop Paolo Borgia, the apostolic nuncio to Beirut, has been active on the
ground in supporting the Christian communities in South Lebanon.
Meanwhile, 1 million people, 20% of the country’s population, are mostly Shiite
Muslims who tend to be Hezbollah’s main supporters. They have been displaced by
the war as Israel has declared large swaths of the country combat zones. Other
non-Shiites in the south, Druze and Sunni Muslims, have tried to remain in their
villages.
Many Lebanese contend that “this is not our war.” Lebanon’s weak government,
which promised but was unable to disarm Hezbollah after the last (December 2024)
ceasefire with Israel, tries to distance itself from Hezbollah and now calls for
its total disarmament.
And yet not only does Hezbollah threaten the government with impunity, but the
group is actually intertwined with the state. The head of the Lebanese
parliament and the sitting ministers of finance, health and labor are all key
Hezbollah collaborators. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), a supposed
counterweight to Hezbollah, is paralyzed and fearful of taking action against
the group, and is actually becoming increasingly Shiite Muslim in its lower
ranks.
The Israeli military operation is ambitious and could be another bold stroke,
but it could also turn into an ineffective quagmire. The plan seems to be to
mostly depopulate (that is why Christians are trying to remain in place) Lebanon
south of the Litani River in order to create a buffer zone so that Hezbollah
cannot rain fire on Israeli civilians in the north of the country.
Creating that buffer zone — assuming that it is successful — also pushes
Hezbollah and the displaced Shiite Muslims north into Druze, Christian and Sunni
Muslim areas, increasing already high political and sectarian tensions within
Lebanon. The Lebanese government would then be faced with terrible choices: Do
nothing (which is what the government usually prefers) or confront Hezbollah.
Israel is hoping that the solution to stopping Hezbollah could be to push the
rest of Lebanon, as reluctant as it is, to finally take punitive action against
Hezbollah, even if this triggers civil war.
From a Christian perspective, there seem to be no good options. Hezbollah has
constantly chosen war and terrorism; it is also hostile to Lebanese Christians.
A recent investigative report from Lebanon detailed how agents connected to the
group are trying to steal Christian land, including Maronite Church property, in
the South. Hezbollah has intentionally involved Lebanon in its war with Israel.
This is obviously unacceptable to Israel, but it has been disastrous for
Lebanon. The group boasted, before 2023, that Israel was ready to fall and
“weaker than a spider’s web.”
For Israel, after the 2023-2025 Hamas War, this seems like a golden opportunity
to finally settle accounts with a wounded but still dangerous adversary.
Eliminating Hezbollah would remove what had become historically the most
accomplished of Iran’s network of proxy militias and terrorist organizations. It
would eliminate a major threat on the northern border — when Hamas attacked
Israel in October 2023, it implemented a strategy that was basically a copy of
Hezbollah’s own plan for the Galilee. But will Israeli strategy actually work or
merely wreck Lebanon more than it is already wrecked? How does this war, apart
from the Iran conflict, end?
Pope Leo XIV has called for “paths of dialogue that can support the country’s
authorities in implementing lasting solutions to the serious crisis underway,”
but the Americans and the Israelis have been talking to the Lebanese government
for more than a year, warning of the danger of another outbreak, even as the
Lebanese failed to implement their own timeline in disarming the group.
The worst-case scenario is that Israel’s operations damage more of Lebanon,
cause great suffering, and in the end still leave Hezbollah intact to slowly
continue to strangle Lebanon — the parasite consuming the host — while steadily
replacing the country’s Christian population until the next round of war.
Pushing, or more diplomatically, “encouraging” the weak Lebanese state and
reluctant Lebanese military to take action against Hezbollah, not just in the
security field but also in dismantling the group’s financial empire, will
require a level of diplomacy, support and finesse by both Americans and
Israelis, that we have not yet seen in this war.
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/fernandez-lebanon-sideshow
**Alberto M. Fernandez Alberto M. Fernandez is a former U.S. diplomat and a
contributor at EWTN News.
Lebanon After Peace: Questions and Concerns from a
Christian Perspective
General Toni Abou Samra/Nedda Al Watan/March 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/03/152864/
Many Lebanese today look with cautious hope at the current diplomatic initiative
aimed at easing tensions and potentially reaching a peace agreement with Israel.
After decades marked by conflict, instability, and economic collapse, the
possibility of peace is understandably welcomed by a population exhausted by
crisis. For many Christians in Lebanon, as for other communities, such talks
represent a potential turning point that could allow the country to begin
rebuilding its institutions, economy, and international standing.
Yet hope is inevitably accompanied by difficult questions. Peace agreements are
not only about ending confrontation with an external state; they also force
societies to confront their internal contradictions. If negotiations succeed,
the most important challenge may not lie in the agreement itself but in what
follows: the political, institutional, and security reality of Lebanon the day
after.
One of the central questions concerns the role and future orientation of
Hezbollah. For many years, Hezbollah has openly declared ideological allegiance
to the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih, the principle underpinning the political
system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a context where Lebanon might enter a
new phase defined by peace and normalization, many citizens, particularly within
Christian communities, wonder whether Hezbollah would reconsider this
ideological alignment and affirm an exclusive political and institutional
loyalty to the Lebanese state.
Closely related to this issue is the question of Hezbollah’s legal and political
status within Lebanon. Would the organization fully transform into a legal
conventional political party operating strictly within Lebanese law and under
the authority of national institutions? Such a transformation would imply that
its strategic decisions and political activities are governed entirely by the
sovereignty of Lebanon rather than by a broader regional ideological project.
Perhaps the most sensitive matter concerns the existence of Hezbollah’s
independent military and intelligence structures. These structures emerged
during decades of confrontation with Israel and in the broader context of
regional conflict. However, they operate outside the authority of the Lebanese
state. If a peace agreement is achieved, many Lebanese would ask whether
Hezbollah would dismantle its military and intelligence apparatus and transfer
its weapons to the authority of the Lebanese state and its armed forces. For a
country seeking to rebuild the credibility of its institutions, the principle
that the state alone holds the monopoly over arms remains a fundamental
condition of sovereignty.
Beyond the military dimension lies the issue of economic networks and external
support systems. Hezbollah and its ally Amal Movement have often been associated
with cross-border financial structures and smuggling activities that operate
outside formal state oversight. In a context where Lebanon urgently needs
economic reform and transparency, a key question is whether such networks would
be dismantled and replaced by full compliance with national financial and
economic regulations.
Another important issue concerns Hezbollah’s regional alliances. Over time, the
movement has developed relationships with a number of actors across the Middle
East, including Shiite militias in Iraq, the movement known as Ansar Allah in
Yemen, and Alawite forces within Syria. These relationships extend beyond
military coordination to ideological and political cooperation. If Lebanon aims
to restore neutrality and sovereignty, many citizens question whether Hezbollah
would disengage from these cross-border networks and focus solely on domestic
political activity within Lebanon.
Within Christian communities, another sensitive topic relates to land ownership
and demographic balance. Over the past years, there have been persistent
allegations that politically affiliated actors have sought to purchase land in
historically Christian regions, sometimes through intermediaries or through
unusually high financial offers. These concerns are not simply legal matters;
they are also tied to deeper fears about demographic change and political
influence. Many Christians therefore question whether such practices–whether
legal, indirect, or illegal–would cease in a future framework based on national
reconciliation and mutual respect among communities.
At the same time, these concerns cannot be directed solely toward Hezbollah or
Shiite political movements. Lebanon’s political system is shaped by multiple
communities and external influences, and the issue of sovereignty must apply
equally to all.
Within the Sunni political sphere, for instance, there are longstanding concerns
about the influence of external sponsors, particularly from Gulf countries.
These states have historically provided financial and political support to Sunni
leaders in Lebanon, sometimes playing a role in determining which figures emerge
as dominant representatives of the Sunni community. This dynamic raises
important questions about political independence and whether Lebanese leadership
can truly emerge from internal democratic processes rather than external
patronage.
Critics argue that such external support can also translate into attempts by
regional powers to shape Lebanon’s internal balance of power through allied
Sunni politicians. In some cases, this influence is also linked to the broader
dynamics surrounding armed Palestinian factions and the large Syrian refugee
population present in Lebanon. These complex realities fuel concerns that
external actors may attempt to leverage the aspirations of the Sunni community
to exert political influence within Lebanon, thereby complicating efforts to
build a sovereign and independent state.
Another sensitive issue concerns the continued presence of armed Palestinian
factions inside Lebanon. For decades, armed groups within Palestinian refugee
camps have operated outside the authority of the Lebanese state, creating a
persistent challenge for national sovereignty and security. In any future
framework of peace and stability, many Lebanese will inevitably ask whether the
status of these groups will be reconsidered and whether all armed actors within
Lebanese territory will ultimately fall under the authority of the state.
An equally critical dimension of sovereignty concerns the long and porous border
between Lebanon and Syria. For decades, this border has been a channel for
smuggling, corruption, and the movement of people and goods outside official
control. Smuggling networks have involved fuel, weapons, drugs, and other
illicit goods, undermining the Lebanese economy and state authority. In
addition, the uncontrolled nature of the border has facilitated the movement of
fighters, militants, and other armed actors, further destabilizing the country.
Many Lebanese therefore argue that any future vision of a stable and sovereign
state must include effective control over the Lebanese-Syrian border. Such
control would be necessary not only to combat corruption and smuggling but also
to prevent the infiltration of terrorists, foreign fighters, and weapons into
Lebanon. It would also serve to protect Lebanon from potential political or
territorial ambitions that have historically been associated with Syrian
influence over Lebanese affairs.
In addition, some observers raise concerns about the risk of extremist Sunni
militant groups exploiting weak border control to enter Lebanon from the Syria.
Preventing such infiltration is widely seen as an essential component of
national security and internal stability.
Ultimately, all these issues converge on a broader question about the nature of
governance in Lebanon. If peace negotiations succeed, the country will face an
unavoidable debate about what kind of political system can genuinely guarantee
sovereignty, security, stability, resilience, and economic prosperity. The
current political order, largely shaped by arrangements that emerged after the
Lebanese War, mainly with the Taef agreement, has often produced paralysis,
corruption, and dependence on external powers.
For Lebanese Christians in particular, the country’s repeated crises have led to
increasingly difficult questions. While many strongly support diplomatic efforts
that could bring peace with Israel, some wonder whether continuing to rely on a
political system widely perceived as dysfunctional truly serves their long-term
interests. In that context, a small but growing number of voices ask whether
Christians should consider engaging in direct dialogue with Israel rather than
relying solely on a Lebanese political framework that has repeatedly struggled
to defend national sovereignty. This question also arises considering an
existing reality: forces such as Hezbollah and the Amal Movement already
maintain channels of communication and participate in broader negotiation
frameworks linked to the talks between Iran and the United States. Meanwhile,
the Gulf states often take on the role of sponsoring or representing the
political interests of the Sunni community in ongoing regional arrangements,
including discussions related to relations between the Gulf countries and
Israel.
Such ideas remain highly controversial and politically sensitive, given
Lebanon’s complex history and the delicate balance among its communities. Yet
the fact that these questions are being raised reflects the depth of frustration
felt by many Lebanese citizens.
If negotiations with Israel succeed, they could mark an important step toward
stability in Lebanon. However, peace with an external state alone will not
resolve the deeper contradictions that have long shaped Lebanese political life.
The real challenge will be whether all political actors and communities are
ready to build a state in which authority, loyalty, and sovereignty belong first
and foremost to Lebanon itself, rather than to external alliances or sectarian
agendas. Only under such conditions could a diplomatic breakthrough develop into
a durable foundation for security, stability, and prosperity.
This perspective raises important questions about the structure and
representation of the Lebanese negotiating team. Reports indicate that the team
could be composed along Lebanon’s traditional communal lines, with
representatives from the Sunni, Shiite, Druze, and Christian communities.
In that context, Christians may legitimately ask the president and the Christian
member who will be appointed to the negotiating delegation whom exactly they
will represent during the talks. Will they speak on behalf of Lebanon as a
whole, reflecting a unified national position, or will they also carry the
responsibility of ensuring that the specific concerns and aspirations of the
Christian community are clearly articulated and protected within the
negotiations?
These questions naturally extend to the broader leadership of the Christian
political parties in Lebanon. For decades, internal competition and political
rivalries have often divided Christian leaders and weakened their collective
voice within the national political system. At such a potentially historic
moment, some believe it may be time to move beyond these internal rivalries. One
constructive step could be for Christian political leaders to jointly present
the president with a common document outlining the hopes, concerns, and
aspirations of the Christian community. Such a message could help ensure that
these perspectives are clearly conveyed during the negotiations and considered
in any arrangements that may shape Lebanon’s political and security landscape
after a potential agreement with Israel.
US
Direct Talks with Hamas: Legitimizing and Empowering Terrorists
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/March 19, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22358/us-talks-with-hamas
Engagement clearly signals to terrorists that violence is an effective path to
power, land, and international recognition. Hamas is a group that is explicitly
and fundamentally committed, in both ideology and practice, to "armed
resistance" (terrorism).
Hamas is not some misunderstood political faction waiting to be coaxed into
moderation. It advocates jihad (holy war) as an "individual duty [of all
Muslims] for the liberation of Palestine."
Article 13 of the Hamas charter says: "There is no solution for the Palestinian
question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international
conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
[T]here is no evidence that the terror group intends to fundamentally alter its
long-term goals.
Talking to Hamas now, without its first adhering to Trump's preconditions, marks
a sharp and potentially confusing policy reversal that weakens US credibility
globally.
Across the region, the Iranian regime and its terror proxies are watching
closely. The lesson for them will unmistakably be: hold out, escalate, and
eventually the world's most powerful democracy will come to deliver victory to
you.
Engaging Hamas as if it were a normal governing authority will only demonstrate
to other terrorist groups that terrorism works.
Launching direct talks with Hamas or other Islamist terror groups absent any
fundamental change in their positions is not diplomacy. It is capitulation and
surrender dressed up as "realism."
Above all, direct engagement of Hamas is a concession to the jihadis, who
believe Muslims are in an eternal confrontation with the enemies of Islam and
must overthrow secular regimes to restore a "pure" Islamic state.
Hamas is not some misunderstood political faction waiting to be coaxed into
moderation. It advocates jihad (holy war) as an "individual duty [of all
Muslims] for the liberation of Palestine."Envoys from U.S. President Donald J.
Trump's "Board of Peace" recently met representatives of Hamas in the Egyptian
capital of Cairo in an effort to safeguard the Gaza ceasefire, Reuters reported
on March 16.
"The weekend meeting is the first publicly reported since the start of the Iran
war between the Palestinian militant group and the board, a new international
body personally headed by Trump, which has been tasked with overseeing post-war
Gaza....
"One of the sources says Trump's board was represented at the talks with Hamas
by Aryeh Lightstone, an American aide to Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff....
Further meetings were expected this week. "
The Trump administration is making a huge mistake by engaging an Islamist terror
group.
Direct talks with Hamas, officially designated by the US government as a Foreign
Terrorist Organization, risk conferring legitimacy on a group that rejects
Israel's right to exist and for decades has carried out attacks against
countless Israeli civilians.
Engagement clearly signals to terrorists that violence is an effective path to
power, land, and international recognition. Hamas is a group that is explicitly
and fundamentally committed, in both ideology and practice, to "armed
resistance" (terrorism).
Hamas's October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel was a large-scale terror operation
that illustrated the group's commitment to terrorism. Senior Hamas officials
have repeatedly vowed that they fully intend to continue such attacks.
Hamas is hardly a controversial political actor. The group, an offshoot of the
Muslim Brotherhood, aims to establish an Islamic state encompassing the entirety
of present-day Israel and the West Bank and Gaza Strip, through armed conflict.
Hamas's 1988 charter as well as repeated statements by its leaders, rejects the
legitimacy of Israel. Its charter quotes Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna
as saying: "Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate
it, just as it obliterated others before it."
Article 11 of the Hamas charter states:
"The Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas] believes that the land of Palestine is
an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day.
It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should
not be given up. Neither a single Arab country nor all Arab countries, neither
any king or president, nor all the kings and presidents, neither any
organization nor all of them, be they Palestinian or Arab, possess the right to
do that." Hamas is not some misunderstood political faction waiting to be coaxed
into moderation. It advocates jihad (holy war) as an "individual duty [of all
Muslims] for the liberation of Palestine."
Article 13 of the Hamas charter says:
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.
Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and
vain endeavors."Since its establishment in 1987, Hamas has remained fully committed to its
"armed resistance" and the elimination of Israel. In Hamas's lexicon, the terms
"compromise" and "concessions" do not exist.
Hamas's ideological framework -- rooted in Islamist "resistance" -- make
compromise and concessions impossible. Needless to say, there is no evidence
that the terror group intends to fundamentally alter its long-term goals.
For Hamas, direct talks with the US provide an opportunity to gain time,
legitimacy, and concessions. As Trump's envoys are talking to Hamas, the terror
group has been continuing by force to reassert its rule in the Gaza Strip.
Unfortunately, negotiating with terrorist groups and the like, instead of
defeating them, tends to end in disaster. The minute it becomes convenient, they
go right back to terrorizing. The Taliban have been expanding their repression
throughout Afghanistan. Russia disregarded the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in
which it guaranteed Ukraine's sovereignty, borders and freedom from aggression
if Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons; and China appears to assume that
agreements exist to be violated (such as here, here and here).
Hamas has consistently refused to disarm, recognize Israel, cease ruling Gaza,
renounce violence, and accept past agreements between Israel and the
Palestinians. Talking to Hamas now, without its first adhering to Trump's
preconditions, marks a sharp and potentially confusing policy reversal that
weakens US credibility globally.
If Hamas is allowed to gain diplomatic access without changing its core
positions, other Islamist terror groups will draw an empowering lesson: violence
pays.
Across the region, the Iranian regime and its terror proxies are watching
closely. The lesson for them will unmistakably be: hold out, escalate, and
eventually the world's most powerful democracy will come to deliver victory to
you.
For Palestinians, direct talks would mean that Hamas's rule in the Gaza Strip --
which began with a violent coup against the Palestinian Authority in 2007 -- has
been marked by nearly twenty years of repression at home. It has consisted of
crackdowns on dissent, summary executions, torture, intimidation and murder of
rivals, stealing humanitarian aid from civilians, shooting at their own people
trying to flee, using their citizens as human shields to escalate the death
count and blame it on Israel; and the imposition of heavy economic burdens.
Engaging Hamas as if it were a normal governing authority will only demonstrate
to other terrorist groups that terrorism works. Negotiating will not moderate
reality. The message it sends to the Palestinians and like-minded groups is: The
international community is willing to overlook internal abuses and human rights
violations so long as the rulers in question enforce obedience. That is the job
for a prison warden, not for a government one hopes will stabilize the
neighborhood.
Direct negotiations with Hamas also sideline other Palestinians who are not
affiliated with the terror group or who are opposed to violence and terrorism.
Direct negotiations just reinforce Hamas's claim that "armed resistance," not
diplomacy, gets results.
The Trump administration, if it believes that talking to Hamas represents a
pragmatic and necessary approach for achieving peace and stability, is
dangerously mistaken. This belief collapses under scrutiny. Talking directly to
Hamas will only reward extremism and terrorism, weaken anti-Hamas individuals
and parties, and erode the very principles Washington claims to defend.
Launching direct talks with Hamas or other Islamist terror groups absent any
fundamental change in their positions is not diplomacy. It is capitulation and
surrender dressed up as "realism."The Trump administration would do well to see that talking to Hamas only
normalizes it as a legitimate regional actor rather than ostracizing it as an
Islamist terror group.
Above all, direct engagement of Hamas is a concession to the jihadis, who
believe Muslims are in an eternal confrontation with the enemies of Islam and
must overthrow secular regimes to restore a "pure" Islamic state.
**Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
**Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
The fantasy of ‘strategic martyrdom’ and the industry of apologism
Makram Rabah/Al Arabiya English/19 March/2026
There is something deeply unsettling – though no longer surprising –about
watching self-described “scholars” recycle the propaganda of armed movements and
pass it off as analytical insight. The attempt to intellectualize the killing of
senior figures within Iranian and Hezbollah circles as “strategic martyrdom” is
not merely flawed – it is emblematic of an entire cottage industry that has, for
decades, laundered the language of militancy into the vocabulary of academia.
Let us be clear from the outset: there is nothing intellectually rigorous about
romanticizing death. There is nothing analytical about repackaging ideological
slogans as strategic theory. And there is certainly nothing scholarly about
presenting a militia’s narrative as though it were an objective reading of
political reality. What is often described as “strategic martyrdom” is, in fact,
a convenient myth – one that serves the interests of the very actors it claims
to explain. It is a narrative designed to obscure failure, justify endless
cycles of violence, and sanctify leadership structures that are otherwise
incapable of delivering tangible political outcomes. It is not strategy. It is
post-facto rationalization.The claim that assassination strengthens such systems
by transforming leaders into symbols is not new. It is one of the oldest tropes
in the ideological playbook of revolutionary movements. But what its proponents
ignore is that symbolism is not a substitute for governance, nor is it a measure
of strategic success. States and societies do not survive on myth alone. They
require institutions, accountability, and, above all, the capacity to improve
the lives of their citizens. Iran and its network of militias – including
Hezbollah – have consistently failed on these fronts. Their reliance on
martyrdom narratives is not evidence of strength; it is evidence of structural
weakness. When a political system must continually resort to death as a source
of legitimacy, it reveals not resilience but bankruptcy. More troubling,
however, is the intellectual sleight of hand embedded in this argument.
Martyrdom is framed as a “value-strategic rationality,” as though it were a
coherent alternative to conventional political logic. In reality, this framing
serves one purpose: to excuse behavior that would otherwise be recognized as
reckless, destructive, and ultimately self-defeating. By this logic, every loss
becomes a victory, every failure a form of success. It is a worldview in which
reality itself is subordinated to narrative. And it is precisely this kind of
thinking that has kept entire societies trapped in cycles of violence, unable to
break free from the illusion that suffering is synonymous with strength.
But this is not merely an abstract academic debate. There are real consequences
to this kind of intellectual cover. For years, a network of commentators and
analysts has acted as intermediaries between militant organizations and broader
audiences, providing the language, the framing, and the selective data that
allow these groups to be rebranded as “resistance movements” rather than what
they are: armed, unaccountable actors operating outside the framework of the
state. This is not scholarship. It is advocacy. And it is part of a broader
ecosystem in which certain voices – often presented as authoritative experts –
have built careers on explaining away the actions of groups like Hezbollah and
the IRGC, while dismissing or ignoring the very real damage they inflict on the
societies they claim to defend.The result is a deeply distorted picture, one in
which militias are romanticized, their critics delegitimized, and their victims
rendered invisible. Take Lebanon as a case in point. Hezbollah’s existence as an
armed entity has not strengthened the Lebanese state; it has hollowed it out. It
has created a parallel system of power that undermines institutions, distorts
the economy, and drags the country into conflicts it cannot afford. Yet in the
narratives promoted by apologists, these realities are either minimized or
reframed as necessary sacrifices in a larger struggle. This is where the concept
of “strategic martyrdom” becomes particularly insidious. It transforms human
loss into political capital, allowing leaderships to externalize the costs of
their decisions onto populations that have little say in the matter. It is a
mechanism of control, not empowerment. And it is sustained, in no small part, by
those who lend it intellectual legitimacy. There is, of course, a certain irony
in all of this. While proponents of such frameworks often criticize the supposed
irrationality of conventional strategies, they simultaneously advance a logic
that rejects empirical evaluation altogether. If every outcome – no matter how
disastrous – can be reinterpreted as a form of victory, then the concept of
strategy itself becomes meaningless. This is not analysis. It is theology
masquerading as political science.
At its core, the problem is not simply that this argument is wrong. It is
dangerous. It perpetuates a worldview in which violence is self-justifying,
accountability is absent, and the line between analysis and propaganda is
deliberately blurred. Lebanon – and the region more broadly – cannot afford this
kind of intellectual indulgence any longer. The stakes are too high, the costs
too real, and the consequences too devastating.What is needed is not another
theory that glorifies death, but a clear-eyed recognition of the political
realities that have brought us to this point. That means calling things by their
name, rejecting the language of romanticized resistance, and challenging those
who continue to provide cover for systems that thrive on perpetual conflict.
Anything less is not scholarship. It is complicity.
A war without allies in the Strait of Hormuz
Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/19 March/2026
The US-Israeli war on Iran continues to escalate, with no clear end in sight.
Israeli and US strikes have degraded Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure,
prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting energy installations and other
critical infrastructure across the Gulf.
The six GCC countries did not ask for this war. On the contrary, they had been
working to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States. That
patience is now wearing thin. Speaking at a consultative meeting of Arab and
Islamic countries in Riyadh on Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan warned that all options remain on the table in responding to Iran during
this crisis. The damage to energy infrastructure will have far-reaching
consequences. More than 9 million barrels per day of Gulf oil production are
currently shut in, largely because storage facilities are full.
At the center of this crisis lies the Strait of Hormuz. Around 20 percent of
global oil and petroleum products pass through this narrow waterway, along with
roughly the same share of global LNG supplies. The disruption extends further:
around 30 percent of nitrogen-based fertilizers and a wide range of industrial
materials critical to the global economy also transit the strait. There is, in
practical terms, no viable alternative route. Against this backdrop, US
President Donald Trump has called on NATO allies, as well as Japan, South Korea
and China, to deploy naval assets to help secure the waterway. The response,
however, has been muted. Few countries are willing to be drawn into a conflict
they did not initiate. For NATO allies, this is not an Article 5 scenario that
compels collective defense, particularly in the absence of a UN mandate. Several
European governments have ruled out placing ships and personnel in harm’s way
while active hostilities continue, though some have signaled openness to
mine-clearing and escort operations once the conflict subsides. EU foreign
policy chief Kaja Kallas has also made clear that Europe’s strategic focus
remains on the war in Ukraine, where there are growing concerns about
insufficient US support. In Asia, both Japan and South Korea are deeply exposed,
with more than 90 percent of their oil and gas imports flowing through Hormuz.
While both maintain substantial crude reserves, LNG presents a more immediate
vulnerability due to limited storage capacity. Japan also faces constitutional
constraints that restrict the deployment of military forces abroad. China’s
position is more complex. Iranian authorities have reportedly allowed
Chinese-flagged tankers to pass through the strait, reflecting the broader
strategic alignment between the two countries, including their shared membership
in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This also helps explain why some
vessels bound for India, another SCO member, have been allowed through. Under
these conditions, it is unrealistic to expect Beijing to deploy naval forces
against Iran. Proposals for alternative frameworks, such as the Black Sea
Initiative that enabled grain exports during the Russia-Ukraine war, face
significant obstacles. That agreement was underpinned by a UN framework and the
consent of both parties to the conflict, conditions that are currently absent in
the Gulf. Similarly, European efforts such as Operation Aspides in the Red Sea
are not seen as easily transferable to Hormuz.Even if the political will
existed, the operational challenges would be formidable. During the Iran-Iraq
war in 1987, it took around 30 warships to escort commercial vessels through the
strait under far less complex conditions. Today’s environment, shaped by drones,
mines and other asymmetric threats, would make such operations significantly
more difficult. For countries not directly involved in the conflict, deploying
naval assets to the region presents both political and military risks that few
appear willing to accept. As Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz approach, the hope is for
de-escalation.
Will Trump abandon the war and drag the Gulf into it?
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/March 19/2026
The premise suggests that in its war against Iran, the United States is trying
to entangle Gulf states alongside it, only to later abandon them. The question
is: Could President Donald Trump walk away from the war with Iran, leave the
region, and abandon Gulf countries to face Tehran on their own?
The short answer: Yes. The longer answer: The possibility exists, but Trump is
not currently under military or public pressure that would force him to consider
withdrawing. Even if he were to pull out, it does not necessarily mean the
fighting would shift to Gulf countries, which have so far avoided entering the
conflict.Trump is in a strong position, with recent polling showing significant
support. Ninety percent of his MAGA base backs the war, and that is all he
needs. He is keen to maintain that support and personally conducts near-daily
press conferences, interviews, and briefings aimed at the American public to
reinforce his stance and respond to critics. However, if the conflict drags on
and the president feels he has achieved part of his objectives, he may choose to
stop and leave. Likewise, if it becomes clear that achieving those goals comes
at too high a cost to his administration, it would not be surprising for him to
pack up and exit.
Trump appears strong and composed despite Iran’s resilience and its continued
missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries, as well as the oil shock caused by
the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has blocked the passage of around 20
million barrels per day.
He is aware of these losses. When asked, he said toppling Iran’s regime is more
important than the price of oil, effectively gambling with his popularity and
his party’s prospects as the US economy feels the impact of soaring prices. So
far, Trump appears ready to continue the war until victory, with his forces
carrying out daily strikes on vital regime targets.
Historically, the United States has withdrawn when the human or material cost
outweighs the expected gains. It pulled out of conflicts such as Vietnam,
Lebanon, and Afghanistan. In others, it completed its mission and prevailed, as
in the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of Serbian forces in the Bosnia war.
Earlier, it emerged victorious in World War II and held firm through the Cold
War until the Soviet Union collapsed. And while it withdrew from Afghanistan and
handed Kabul to the Taliban, its forces still defend Seoul and have been
stationed there for 72 years in the face of North Korea. Every conflict has its
own calculations. Politics is ultimately about weighing interests, gains, and
losses. Trump’s war against Iran is more consequential than George W. Bush’s
invasion of Iraq and the toppling of Saddam Hussein. This war could settle a
long-standing conflict between the two countries, making the likelihood of Trump
withdrawing less probable, as he seeks a victory that will secure his place in
history. Not all war objectives may be achieved, and the conflict could stretch
on for months in the worst-case scenario. In that case, US fleets might leave
the region while the regime in Tehran remains in power.
Eighteen days into the war, Washington has already achieved a significant part
of one of its goals: Weakening Iran’s military capabilities. The same question
can be directed at Iran’s leadership: Will its losses force it to abandon its
aggressive regional policies and raise the white flag?
Iran sees itself in a war for survival, and its strategy is effectively
suicidal. Its only bet is to prolong the conflict, hoping for external support,
while recognizing that surrender at this stage could lead to the regime’s
collapse from within.
What, then, is the position of Gulf states under a withdrawal scenario?
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have refrained from entering the war
because they were not parties to the conflict from the outset. They did not
participate in the recent rounds of negotiations and were not consulted on the
previous comprehensive nuclear deal. In addition, Riyadh had already signed the
Beijing agreement, which reduced tensions between the two sides, even though
Tehran violated it with its recent attacks inside Saudi territory.Gulf states
are not eager to engage in wars unless absolutely necessary, even under pressure
such as the calls from Senator Lindsey Graham urging them to join the fight.
As for Iran, despite launching thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf
countries, it has maintained a deliberately ambiguous diplomatic tone through
its president and foreign minister, claiming it is targeting what it considers
American facilities. This is false, as airports, civilian neighborhoods, and
economic infrastructure have been struck. Still, Tehran appears to be laying the
groundwork to recalibrate relations for the post-war phase.
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