English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For  May 04/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.may04.26.htm

News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006 

Click On The Below Link To Join Elias Bejjaninews whatsapp group
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FPF0N7lE5S484LNaSm0MjW
اضغط على الرابط في أعلى للإنضمام لكروب Eliasbejjaninews whatsapp group

Elias Bejjani/Click on the below link to subscribe to my youtube channel
الياس بجاني/اضغط على الرابط في أسفل للإشتراك في موقعي ع اليوتيوب
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOOSioLh1GE3C1hp63Camw

Bible Quotations For today
Peter, you will deny me Three times before the cock crows today
Luke 22/28-34:" You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 03-04 May/2026
Text and Video, Arabic and English/The “Shoes” Culture Used by Hezbollah to Attack Al-Rahi is the Language of All Political “Parties-Corporations,” and the Conflict Between Al-Rahi and Hezbollah is an “Internal Friendly Dispute”/Elias Bejjani/ May 02, 2026
Video, Text, Arabic & English/On Labor Day, we remind the Lebanese that the General Labor Union in Lebanon, in all its branches and leadership, is a product of Syrian and Iranian intelligence incubators and a destructive tool in the hands of Berri and Hezbollah/Elias Bejjani/May 01/2026
US-Lebanon military cooperation seen as key in next phase amid Israel talks — the details
Israel issues new evacuation warnings in south Lebanon beyond occupied area
Israel strikes several parts of south Lebanon, says targeted Hezbollah
Lebanese army arrests suspect after gunfire at funeral in Beirut suburbs
Funeral Gunfire Sparks Tensions Between Army and Hezbollah Supporters
Israeli army says troops damaged 'religious building' in Lebanon
Drone warfare reshapes Israel's priorities on northern front
'Angry Birds'-Style Video Caricaturing Hezbollah Draws Rebuke
Syria Dismantles Lebanon-Linked Captagon Smuggling Network
Lebanon’s information minister calls for curbing hate speech on social media
President Joseph Aoun praises Lebanese youth after Christopher Feghali’s Eurocup-3 win
BDL governor says giving priority to small depositors is a 'rational and necessary' option

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 03-04 May/2026
Rubio to visit Vatican, Rome after Trump row
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Warns U.S., Sets Deadline to Lift Naval Blockade
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “We Are Strangling the Regime”
Netanyahu Warns Israel Can Strike Anywhere in Iranian Airspace
Iran says it has received US response to its latest offer for talks
Iran softens stance, agrees to include nuclear file in US talks, sources say
Trump likely to reject Iran proposal, says Tehran not yet paid ‘big enough price’
US ‘suffocating’ Iran with blockade, Treasury chief says
Palestinians say one killed in Israeli raid in West Bank
Israel approves plan to buy F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from Lockheed, Boeing
Israel court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists
Saudi Arabia backs Bahrain’s security measures, reaffirms support
Two US troops missing during African Lion exercise in Morocco
Two dead, three injured after explosion in southern England, police say
Jerusalem Christians worried but not surprised by attack on nun
Germany's Merz says not 'giving up on working with Donald Trump'

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 03-04 May/2026
Waiting or suicide: Iran’s choices narrow under Trump’s naval blockade/Raghida Dergham/Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
There Are No 'Moderates': Regime Change in Iran Must Again Be a Priority for the Trump Administration/Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/May 3, 2026
Washington locks in Morocco’s sovereignty paradigm/Said Temsamani/The Arab Weekly/May 03/2026
The UAE’s strategic vision behind the exit from OPEC/Badi Younis/The Arab Weekly/May 03/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets for May 03/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 03-04 May/2026
Text and Video, Arabic and English/The “Shoes” Culture Used by Hezbollah to Attack Al-Rahi is the Language of All Political “Parties-Corporations,” and the Conflict Between Al-Rahi and Hezbollah is an “Internal Friendly Dispute”
Elias Bejjani/ May 02, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154129/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRp5lwL9YjQ
There has never been a day when Patriarch Al-Rahi, his entourage,Waled Ghayad and his subordinate Abu Kasm were not aligned with Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah—remaining in a fatal estrangement from Lebanon, the rights of its people, independence, and sovereignty. From his first day as Patriarch, Al-Rahi supported Iran’s terrorist party in Lebanon, Hezbollah, glorified what is falsely and blasphemously called “Resistance,” cheered for the criminal of “human presses” Bashar al-Assad, and participated—via his henchman Father Abu Kasm—in “Quds Day” in Tehran. He also toured the world marketing Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah as the protectors of Christians in the Middle East.
Al-Rahi has always, whether indirectly or directly, been considered an ally of Hezbollah. Therefore, Herzbollah’s attack on him is an “internal friendly dispute” that does not warrant all this performative “Zajal” of condemnation. Let them resolve the dispute among themselves.
As for the language and “culture of shoes” used by Hezbollah—which wretchedly reflects its mindset and caliber—this is the language and culture of all owners of the “political Parties-Corporations” in Lebanon, whether they are foreign proxies or local family-run businesses.
Ultimately, the poetic statements of condemnation are mere words that change nothing; they are devoid of credibility or effectiveness. In conclusion, the best service His Eminence Al-Rahi can provide to the Church, the Maronites, and Lebanon is to resign—to find peace and grant others peace.

Video, Text, Arabic & English/On Labor Day, we remind the Lebanese that the General Labor Union in Lebanon, in all its branches and leadership, is a product of Syrian and Iranian intelligence incubators and a destructive tool in the hands of Berri and Hezbollah
Elias Bejjani/May 01/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154084/
Lebanon marks Labor Day today under the umbrella of a vile Iranian occupation, and in the shadow of a General Labor Union in Lebanon that is a creation of Syrian and Iranian intelligence services. This labor body from top to bottom, is nothing but a tool of destruction, sabotage, and corruption in the hands of the Iranian occupier, represented by its two Lebanon's enemies: Nabih Berri, the king of corruption and the corrupt, and Hezbollah, the Iranian, terrorist, Persian, and jihadist army.
Out of the necessity to raise awareness among the Lebanese people, it is essential to expose the facts, call things by their names, and inform all concerned parties in Lebanon and abroad that all current labor unions—with their leaders, administrations, and officials—are enemies of the workers and their rights. They act under the orders of their handlers, mobilizing workers in the service of Berri and Hezbollah through hypocrisy and deceit, using misleading slogans that present falsehood disguised as truth.
Among the Trojan figures tasked with corrupting and “Iranizing” labor unions are Beshara Al-Asmar and Bassam Tlais. Like the rest of the union leadership, they are merely tools in the hands of Nabih Berri and Hezbollah, operating according to their directives, with little to no concern for workers or their rights.
Since these unions function as tools of destruction in the hands of the occupation and its symbols, they do not truly represent workers nor act in their interest. Therefore, it is imperative that they be dissolved and that fair laws be reestablished to protect the rights and responsibilities of labor unions in Lebanon, in accordance with international legal standards.
In conclusion, the current labor unions in Lebanon do not represent the workers. Rather, those who placed them in their positions did so in service of the occupation project of Berri and Hezbollah.

US-Lebanon military cooperation seen as key in next phase amid Israel talks — the details
LBCI/03 May ,2026
With the start of the Iran war, the head of the mechanism committee, Gen. Joseph Clearfield, moved to Saudi Arabia to take over CENTCOM-related duties there. Since then, the committee tasked with overseeing the 2024 ceasefire agreement has not convened. With the outbreak of war in Lebanon, the ceasefire collapsed, and the committee’s work was effectively paralyzed, now limited mainly to coordinating and facilitating Lebanese army missions in rescue and relief operations. Against these developments, a meeting between Gen. Rodolph Haykal and Clearfield was notable, described in an army statement as exceptional and swiftly arranged. The timing of the meeting carries several implications. First, it underscores U.S. support for the Lebanese army and its leadership amid growing doubts targeting both institutions. Washington is aware that there is no alternative to the army to replace nonstate armed groups.The second implication is that cooperation between the Lebanese and U.S. armies will form a cornerstone of the next phase, which is expected to include negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, both political and military in nature. This was also highlighted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who tasked U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine with working alongside the political side to achieve lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel. However, with a ceasefire still not firmly in place, the roadmap for Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army redeployment remains unclear, and sources expect the process could take months.This ambiguity also extends to the future of the UNIFIL mission after its mandate expires at the end of the year. So far, there is no final plan, only several scenarios under discussion, including a multinational format under European Union auspices, a bilateral arrangement between Lebanon and interested countries, most notably Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, or a new U.N. framework, which would require U.S. approval and remains the main obstacle, as Washington reportedly prefers a force operating under its supervision. The existence of multiple scenarios underscores the uncertainty and sensitivity surrounding Lebanon’s future phase.

Israel issues new evacuation warnings in south Lebanon beyond occupied area
Agence France Presse/03 May ,2026
Israel's military on Sunday issued new evacuation warnings in southern Lebanon for villages beyond the area it occupies, despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah. "For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the villages and towns by at least 1,000 meters into open areas," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X. The warning covers more than 10 villages and towns including several in the district of Nabatieh, which lies north of the Litani River, south of which Israel has stationed troops. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency later reported a series of Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, including on towns not mentioned in the evacuation warning. Since April 17 a fragile ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Lebanon, which was aimed at pausing the violence between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel's military. On Wednesday Israel's military chief of staff Eyal Zamir had threatened to strike Hezbollah "beyond the yellow line", which marks the area of Israeli control.
"Any threat, anywhere, against our communities or our forces -- including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani -- will be eliminated," he said during a visit to Israeli troops. In the past week two soldiers and an army contractor have been killed by drone attacks in the area, with dozens of soldiers wounded. Hezbollah has recently begun using cheap drones controlled by fiber-optic cable, making them largely immune to electronic jamming, to conduct daily attacks. These drones have a range of several dozen kilometers, which puts Israeli troops in Lebanon and settlements in northern Israel under threat. The United States has called for direct peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, but President Joseph Aoun called on Wednesday for Israel to fully implement the ceasefire before the talks can take place.

Israel strikes several parts of south Lebanon, says targeted Hezbollah
Agence France Presse/03 May ,2026
Israel carried out strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, its military saying it hit dozens of Hezbollah targets. The attacks have become a regular occurrence, despite a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war that has seen both sides accuse each other of violations.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah targets, adding that "approximately 70 military structures and approximately 50 Hezbollah infrastructure sites were dismantled across several areas" on Saturday. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) also reported a series of Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon with several killed, including three in the town of Sammaiyeh in the Tyre district. The Israeli army had earlier issued two evacuation warnings for nine southern villages. Hezbollah claimed several attacks targeting Israeli troops, saying they were in response to ceasefire "violations".Israel has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire that sought to halt more than six weeks of war between it and Hezbollah. The ceasefire text grants Israel the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".Lebanese Army chief Rodolphe Haykal on Saturday met with visiting U.S. General Joseph Clearfield, the head of a five-member committee in charge of monitoring a 2024 ceasefire meant to put an end to the last war between Israel and Hezbollah. They discussed "the security situation in Lebanon, regional developments, and ways to maximise the effectiveness of the (committee) and enhance its operations", said a Lebanese Army statement. Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,600 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million since Hezbollah drew the country into the Middle East war on March 2 in support of its backer Iran.

Lebanese army arrests suspect after gunfire at funeral in Beirut suburbs
LBCI/03 May ,2026
The Lebanese army said it carried out a series of security operations in Beirut’s southern suburbs following gunfire during a funeral procession. In a statement, the army said it implemented immediate measures in the Kafaat area, including raids, patrols with armored vehicles, and the establishment of temporary checkpoints. Army units raided the homes of those involved, arresting one suspected shooter and seizing a quantity of weapons and ammunition. The confiscated items were handed over to the relevant authorities, and an investigation has been launched under judicial supervision. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Funeral Gunfire Sparks Tensions Between Army and Hezbollah Supporters
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
Tensions flared in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday as units of the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed during a funeral procession for four individuals killed in recent violence, sparking friction with supporters of Hezbollah and highlighting the limits of state authority in the area.
According to eyewitnesses and local media, the situation escalated when heavy gunfire broke out during the procession. Stray bullets struck nearby buildings and vehicles, causing material damage in the densely populated neighborhood. “Those who didn’t lose their property to shelling are now losing it to stray bullets,” residents told local outlets, voicing frustration after months of conflict. Army and intelligence vehicles were positioned around the Al-Kafaat roundabout, a key junction in the southern suburbs, in what appeared to be an effort to contain the unrest. The deployment drew a swift reaction from Hezbollah supporters, who gathered at the site and protested the military presence. Local reports said supporters formed a human barrier to prevent the army from detaining individuals suspected of firing weapons during the funeral. Several people were reportedly injured, while gunfire caused further damage to civilian property. As tensions rose, some of those involved in the shooting withdrew from the area following the army’s deployment. The incident is being viewed by observers as a message from Hezbollah regarding any attempt to advance disarmament or alter the existing balance of power. The visible standoff comes at a sensitive time, as Lebanese authorities face mounting domestic and international pressure to assert exclusive control over arms. Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, remain a critical test for the state’s ability to extend its authority. Efforts by the army to enforce security in such areas carry political implications that go beyond immediate public safety concerns. The episode underscores the broader challenge confronting Lebanese officials: enforcing sovereignty without triggering internal confrontation, amid ongoing regional tensions and negotiations over the country’s security framework. No official statement has yet clarified the full circumstances surrounding the gunfire or the extent of the damage.

Israeli army says troops damaged 'religious building' in Lebanon
Agence France Presse/03 May ,2026
The Israeli military said Saturday that its forces damaged a "religious building" in south Lebanon, drawing condemnation from a Catholic charity, which identified it as a convent and denounced the "deliberate" targeting of a place of worship. The military said troops operating in the village of Yaroun had damaged a structure inside a religious compound while dismantling what it described as "terrorist infrastructure" in the area. "It was determined that during the forces' operations to destroy terrorist infrastructure, one of the houses located in a religious compound was damaged," the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, said on X. "There were no visible signs indicating this was a religious building," he continued. "Once clear identifying features were observed on another building in the compound, the forces acted to prevent any further damage to the compound." Adraee justified the presence of troops in the area by citing multiple rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah from within the compound toward Israeli territory, as fighting continues in spite of a ceasefire. The French Catholic charity L'Oeuvre d'Orient said the troops had "destroyed" a convent belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters, a Greek-Catholic religious order with which the charity is affiliated. "L'Oeuvre d'Orient strongly condemns this deliberate act of destruction against a place of worship, as well as the systematic demolition of homes in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing the return of civilian populations," it said in a statement. But Israel's foreign ministry denied the site -- which it described as "a monastery" -- had been destroyed, saying on X the site was "intact and safe", posting a photograph of a two-story house. The incident comes days after the military jailed two soldiers for 30 days for desecrating a statue of Jesus Christ in the Christian village of Debl in south Lebanon, near the border with Israel. A photograph that went viral on social media showed a soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the statue's head. Israel has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire that sought to halt more than six weeks of war between it and Hezbollah. The ceasefire text grants Israel the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks". Israeli soldiers are operating inside a "Yellow Line" running some 10 kilometers deep inside Lebanon's border, where they are carrying out wide-scale detonations and demolitions of buildings.

Drone warfare reshapes Israel's priorities on northern front
LBCI/03 May ,2026
Israel's expanded security cabinet had been expected to discuss a potential military operation in Gaza, but escalating developments along the Lebanese front prompted a shift toward an urgent, smaller security meeting focused on the threat posed by Hezbollah drones.
The high-level meeting brought together Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, the army chief of staff, and senior security officials to examine ways to counter increasingly sophisticated drone technology that Israeli forces say has become a major concern.
Speaking earlier at a government session, Netanyahu underscored the priority of the issue, declaring that Israel must remain "far stronger than its enemies." He revealed that he had ordered the launch of a special project weeks ago to address the drone threat and said an initial progress report would be presented, while cautioning that developing effective solutions would take time.According to Israeli media reports, military planners are considering options to escalate responses against Hezbollah in an effort to prevent it from rebuilding its military capabilities. Netanyahu is also reportedly seeking greater operational freedom, aiming to ease what he views as constraints imposed by Donald Trump to secure approval for broader military action deeper inside Lebanon. Israeli military leaders, along with some political figures, have voiced opposition to continued restraint, calling instead for a shift in the rules of engagement to ensure that threats do not reemerge along the border. In a parallel move reflecting long-term military planning, a ministerial committee approved a multi-billion-dollar plan to purchase new squadrons of F-35 and F-15 fighter jets from the United States, alongside efforts to expand domestically produced aerial capabilities. Netanyahu described Israel’s airpower as "immense," highlighting ongoing investments as part of a broader strategy to maintain military superiority amid rising regional tensions.

'Angry Birds'-Style Video Caricaturing Hezbollah Draws Rebuke
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
A video published by a Lebanese TV outlet caricaturing Hezbollah's leaders and fighters as characters from the "Angry Birds" mobile phone games drew a rebuke from the group, which called the clip "offensive" on Saturday. On social media, Hezbollah's supporters condemned what they considered the ridiculing of leader Naim Qassem, who is also a Shia cleric, with some reacting by sharing images insulting Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, the highest Christian authority in Lebanon. The video, shared by the LBCI channel on Friday, depicts Qassem addressing his fighters -- with all of them depicted as birds from the popular videogame -- as they fight the Israeli army, portrayed as the series' green pigs. The channel said it deleted the video later on Saturday, after being summoned by Lebanon's judiciary. Hezbollah said, in a statement, that the video contained "offensive and cheap insults that degrade political discourse to a repulsive level".The group also called on supporters not to be "drawn into" the controversy "orchestrated by the enemies of the resistance". LBCI was founded in the 1980s by the Lebanese Forces, a Christian party opposed to Hezbollah. However, the channel distanced itself from the party years ago and has been trying to present a more independent image. "Before our holy symbols and our sheikh (Qassem), all holy symbols fall," one Hezbollah supporter wrote on X, referring to Maronite Patriarch Rai. After the wave of insults, Rai was contacted by several officials and religious leaders criticising the rhetoric. President Joseph Aoun in a statement on Saturday "condemned and rejected any attacks on the heads of Christian and Muslim religious communities and spiritual figures in Lebanon". He also urged the public "to refrain from personal insults, given the negative repercussions of such practices, especially in the current circumstances the country is going through, which require broad national solidarity". Lebanese Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri condemned "the campaigns of insult and attacks against religious and national symbols, regardless of their source or the means used, whether in the media or online".Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, meanwhile, told citizens "to exercise the utmost awareness and reject hate speech to prevent dragging the country into an atmosphere of disastrous strife".Despite the relative freedom of expression enjoyed in Lebanon in comparison to other Arab countries, the media, artists and comedians have faced harassment over work deemed by some to be offensive to political or religious figures. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East conflict on March 2 when it fired rockets towards Israel in support of its backer Iran. More than 2,600 people have since been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese authorities, with the violence ongoing despite a fragile truce in place since April 17. AFP

Syria Dismantles Lebanon-Linked Captagon Smuggling Network
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
A major shipment of nearly one million Captagon pills originating from Lebanon was intercepted in Syria’s border region of Rankous, where authorities say they dismantled a cross-border smuggling network moving narcotics through Syria toward neighboring countries. According to a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Interior, the Anti-Narcotics Department carried out “complex and qualitative” operations based on precise intelligence and surveillance. The shipment, officials noted, had entered from Lebanon and was intended for transit through Syrian territory to neighboring countries. Three key suspects identified by their initials were arrested in connection with the network. In parallel operations, security units uncovered former sites used to manufacture Captagon, seizing raw materials and advanced production equipment. The alleged main operator of these facilities was also arrested and referred to the judiciary.

Lebanon’s information minister calls for curbing hate speech on social media
LBCI/03 May ,2026
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said social media platforms were created to facilitate communication among people, not to undermine religious beliefs, symbols, references, or personal dignity, nor to engage in personal defamation. In a statement, Morcos said he has been following the spread of hate speech on social media, adding that efforts are underway to curb it through awareness campaigns, meetings, and communications aimed at addressing the issue. He stressed, however, that enforcement and legal action fall under the jurisdiction of the judiciary, not the Ministry of Information. He added that he strongly encourages political expression “to the fullest extent,” but emphasized that it must respect the rights, freedoms, and dignity of others.Morcos also called on media outlets and social media users to adopt a rational, balanced, and non-provocative discourse, noting that “freedom is a responsibility” and that social stability and freedom are inseparable.

President Joseph Aoun praises Lebanese youth after Christopher Feghali’s Eurocup-3 win
LBCI/03 May ,2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun praised the role of Lebanese youth and their sporting achievements, highlighting their ability to create moments of joy despite ongoing hardships and challenges. In a statement, Aoun congratulated 17-year-old Christopher Feghali on winning the Eurocup-3, calling it a significant accomplishment for Lebanese sports.“Despite all the tragedies and suffering, Lebanese youth continue to bring joy and achieve victories,” Aoun said, expressing hope for further success in the future. He added that he looks forward to Feghali’s upcoming achievements, noting: “We dream with you and strive for the future of your generation, for a homeland that deserves your dreams and is worthy of your victories.”

BDL governor says giving priority to small depositors is a 'rational and necessary' option
LBCI/03 May ,2026
The Banque du Liban (BDL) governor Karim Souaid said the country's complex economic crisis is in fact the predictable result of years of fiscal indiscipline, poor monetary management, and the misallocation of private sector savings into the banking system.
The governor pointed to recent government policy adjustments as a step in the right direction, noting improvements in public finances driven by increased tax collection and tighter spending controls. However, Souaid warned that these measures alone are insufficient to overcome the structural obstacles blocking recovery. He emphasized that losses must be distributed among the primary stakeholders—the state, the central bank, and commercial banks—before any credible recovery path can emerge. The governor also emphasized that prioritizing small depositors, who account for nearly 90% of bank accounts, is both an economically rational and socially necessary choice. He added that rebuilding the banking sector will require either fresh capital injections or a significant downsizing to reflect economic realities, warning that any compromise solution risks prolonging stagnation. Talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are ongoing, Souaid said, describing them as intensive and potentially the last credible path to anchoring reforms and achieving sustainable recovery. He cautioned that Lebanon has limited room to impose counter-conditions. Addressing the international community, the governor said the choice is clear: support a reform-oriented government now or delay assistance and risk a more fragile and unstable situation as the impact of the conflict deepens. He warned that without a financial bridge, even well-designed reforms could be exhausted before delivering results.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 03-04 May/2026
Rubio to visit Vatican, Rome after Trump row
AFP/03 May ,2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Rome and the Vatican this week, an Italian government source said Sunday, just weeks after a clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo.Rubio, who is a Catholic, is expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the source told AFP. Italian media reported that he would also meet Defense Minister Guido Crosetto during the Thursday-Friday visit. The meetings come several weeks after US President Trump’s extraordinary criticism of Pope Leo XIV over the Catholic leader’s anti-war rhetoric. Trump also dismissed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni -- one of his closest European allies -- as lacking courage after she defended the US pontiff. Italian media on Sunday presented Rubio’s visit as a meeting to “thaw” relations.
Since taking over as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Leo has criticized the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. But it was his increasing anti-war rhetoric, particularly following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, that triggered Trump’s ire. Leo on April 7 declared Trump’s threat to destroy Iran “unacceptable” and urged Americans to demand that US lawmakers “work for peace.” The US president subsequently slammed the pontiff in a social media post as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” Trump also said he was “not a big fan of Pope Leo” and that he does not “want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”Meloni condemned as “unacceptable” Trump’s criticism -- prompting the president to turn his fire on her.
“I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” the US president said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera. He also accused Meloni -- a far-right leader who has sought to act as a bridge between diverging US and European views -- of failing to help the United States with NATO. Trump has threatened to pull US troops from Italy, saying Rome “has not been of any help to us” in the Iran war. He has made a similar threat towards Spain, while the Pentagon has announced it is withdrawing 5,000 US troops from Germany.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Warns U.S., Sets Deadline to Lift Naval Blockade
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence arm issued a series of new warnings on Sunday, saying Tehran has given Washington a deadline to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, as tensions escalate alongside fragile diplomatic efforts. The IRGC said on Sunday that Iran had granted the Pentagon a “final deadline” to end the blockade imposed on April 13, following the collapse of initial U.S.-Iran talks aimed at ending the war. According to reports by Tasnim news agency, in a sharply worded statement, the IRGC warned that U.S. President Donald Trump now faces a choice “between an impossible military option or a bad agreement” with Iran, adding that Washington’s room for maneuver has narrowed.
Escalation warnings amid stalled diplomacy
The warning comes as the United States prepares to respond to a revised Iranian proposal submitted days earlier via Pakistani mediation, part of ongoing efforts to reach a framework agreement to end the conflict. Iranian officials have maintained a dual-track approach, signaling readiness for both diplomacy and confrontation. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday that Tehran does not trust Washington’s intentions but still considers diplomacy based on “national interests” the preferred path forward. He added that Iran is fully prepared for both scenarios: a negotiated settlement or continued military escalation.
Proposal seeks phased deal, delays nuclear talks
The latest Iranian proposal, a 14-point plan reported by Tasnim, calls for a permanent end to the war, a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, and the lifting of the naval blockade, alongside the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the plan reportedly postpones negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program to a later stage, a sequencing Washington has consistently rejected, insisting that nuclear issues be addressed from the outset. President Trump confirmed he is reviewing the revised proposal but has already hinted at possible rejection, particularly over the absence of immediate commitments on the nuclear file. The exchange of warnings and proposals underscores a widening gap between the two sides, even as mediation efforts continue.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: “We Are Strangling the Regime”
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Sunday that Washington has intensified its crackdown on all entities attempting to financially support Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He stressed that the United States is “strangling the Iranian regime” economically, claiming that Tehran is now struggling to pay its soldiers’ salaries. Speaking on Fox News, Bessent explained that the U.S. strategy relies on unprecedented financial pressure, supported by regional cooperation. He noted that several Gulf countries have provided key intelligence, enabling Washington to freeze assets linked to Iran. The Secretary further added that Iran had “miscalculated” when it escalated militarily against its Gulf neighbors. According to him, this move prompted those countries to align more closely with the United States, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of sanctions and financial enforcement measures. Regarding global energy markets, Bessent said that oil prices—currently rising amid tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran—are expected to decline later this year. “On the other side of this conflict, oil prices are going to be much lower,” he said. He also foreshadowed that Iran may soon be forced to scale back its oil production, possibly as early as next week, due to rapidly filling storage facilities. This situation, he argued, is a direct result of the U.S. naval blockade restricting Iran’s ability to export crude oil.
These remarks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate, with the United States increasingly relying on financial and economic tools to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and internal stability.

Netanyahu Warns Israel Can Strike Anywhere in Iranian Airspace
This is Beirut/03 May ,2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday in a recorded speech that Israel is capable of striking “anywhere in Iranian airspace" in a renewed warning to Tehran as indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States continue through Pakistani mediation.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli pilots are “ready” to carry out such missions if required, projecting confidence in the country’s operational reach and military preparedness. The Israeli Prime Minister also underscored Israel’s growing military strength, stating that the country is “stronger than ever” and must maintain a decisive edge over its adversaries. In parallel, Israeli authorities confirmed a major expansion of the air force’s capabilities, with the acquisition of two additional fighter jet squadrons, including advanced F-35 Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, the multibillion-dollar deal, approved by the ministerial procurement committee, forms part of a long-term strategy to reinforce Israel’s qualitative military edge. The package includes maintenance, logistics, and full integration into the air force, signaling sustained investment in potential future confrontations.
Escalating rhetoric toward Iran’s leadership
Separately, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen issued a direct threat on Sunday to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warning that he could face the same fate as his predecessor if he continues along a similar path. “If he follows in his father’s footsteps, he will end up like him,” Cohen said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, referring to former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the outset of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran on February 28.
Cohen added that Israel had demonstrated its willingness to act decisively against perceived threats, asserting that “those who seek to destroy Israel place themselves in danger.” He also claimed that Israel is currently at its strongest point, while Iran is at its weakest.
Military pressure and diplomatic uncertainty
The statements reflect a sharp escalation in Israeli rhetoric as uncertainty continues to surround diplomatic efforts. Iran recently submitted a revised 14-point proposal via Pakistan, reportedly calling for a phased resolution beginning with maritime and blockade issues, while postponing negotiations over its nuclear program. Israeli officials have expressed concern that a potential U.S.-Iran agreement may fall short of addressing the nuclear file comprehensively, raising fears in Tel Aviv that the current strategic window to weaken Iran could close without achieving long-term objectives. Since the outbreak of the war in late February, Israeli operations have targeted senior Iranian military and political figures, significantly reshaping the regional balance. Against this backdrop, Netanyahu’s latest remarks signal that Israel is not only maintaining military pressure but also preparing for the possibility of further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail.

Iran says it has received US response to its latest offer for talks
Reuters/03 May ,2026
Iran said on Sunday it had received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks, a day after President Donald Trump said he would probably reject the Iranian proposal because “they have not paid a big enough price.” Iranian state media reported that Washington had conveyed its response to Iran’s 14-point proposal via Pakistan, and that Tehran was now reviewing it. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Islamabad of the US response. “At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” state media quoted Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying, an apparent reference to Iran’s proposal to set aside talks on nuclear issues until after the war ends and the foes agree to lift opposing blockades of Gulf shipping. On Saturday, Trump said that he had yet to review the exact wording of the Iranian peace proposal, but that he was likely to reject it. “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on social media.
Strait still shut
The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and US and Iranian officials held one round of talks. But attempts to set up further meetings have so far failed. Iran handed over its latest proposal on Thursday, and a senior Iranian official confirmed on Saturday that Tehran envisions ending the war and resolving the shipping standoff first, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program for later. Though Trump initially said on Friday that he was not satisfied with the Iranian proposal, he said on Saturday he was still looking at it. “They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” he told reporters. Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”
Iran’s proposal vs Washington’s demands
The proposal to delay talks on nuclear issues until a later phase would appear at odds with Washington’s repeated demand that Iran accept stringent restrictions on its nuclear program before the war can end. Washington wants Tehran to give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could be used to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, though it is willing to discuss some curbs in return for the lifting of sanctions, as it had accepted in a 2015 deal that Trump abandoned. While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked off 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices. Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices in midterm congressional elections in November. Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal includes withdrawing US forces from nearby areas, lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, paying compensation, lifting sanctions, ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon and creating a new control mechanism for the strait. Iran has been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement. “Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said.
Israel orders Lebanon evacuations
On Sunday, Israel ordered thousands of Lebanese to leave villages in southern Lebanon, an escalation of a war between Israel and Iran’s Hezbollah allies there that has run in parallel to the Iran war and could further complicate wider peace efforts. Iran has said talks with Washington cannot resume unless a ceasefire also holds in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March to attack Hezbollah after the Iranian-backed Lebanese group fired across the border in support of Tehran.
Lebanon and Israel agreed a separate truce last month, but fighting has continued, though on a smaller scale. The Israeli military issued an urgent warning on Sunday to residents of 11 towns and villages in Lebanon’s south, urging them to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) away to open areas. The military said it was conducting operations against Hezbollah following what it described as a violation of the ceasefire, warning that anyone near Hezbollah fighters or facilities could be at risk.

Iran softens stance, agrees to include nuclear file in US talks, sources say
Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
Iran has dropped some of its previous conditions and agreed to include its nuclear program in talks with the United States, sources told Al Arabiya on Sunday, signaling a shift from its earlier insistence on deferring the issue. A senior Iranian official had told Reuters on Saturday that Tehran’s proposal would first focus on reopening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ending the US naval blockade, leaving nuclear negotiations for a later stage. However, sources told Al Arabiya that Iran has now agreed to discuss its nuclear program, proposing to limit uranium enrichment to 3.5 percent and gradually reduce its existing stockpile of enriched uranium. The revised proposal also includes an offer to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the US blockade, the sources said, adding that Tehran has dropped its demand for a US troop withdrawal from the region. Instead, Iran is now seeking an end to the US military buildup around its borders, according to the sources, as well as international guarantees against future attacks. This comes after US President Donald Trump said he had yet to review the exact wording of the original Iranian proposal but was unlikely to accept it, stating that Tehran had not yet “paid a big enough price.”

Trump likely to reject Iran proposal, says Tehran not yet paid ‘big enough price’
Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
US President Donald Trump said that he had yet to review the exact wording of a new Iranian peace proposal but he was unlikely to accept it, because the Iranians had not yet “paid a big enough price.”Trump’s remarks on social media concluded a day in which he publicly mused about the possibility of restarting airstrikes, the latest mixed signal as he seeks to end the war he launched more than two months ago. On Sunday, Israel ordered thousands of Lebanese to leave villages in southern Lebanon, an escalation of a war between Israel and Iran’s Hezbollah allies that has run in parallel to the Iran war and could further complicate wider peace efforts. Iran has said talks with Washington cannot resume unless a ceasefire also holds in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March to attack Hezbollah after the Iranian-backed Lebanese group fired across the border in support of Tehran. Lebanon and Israel agreed a separate truce last month, but fighting has continued, though on a smaller scale. The Israeli military issued an urgent warning on Sunday to residents of 11 towns and villages in Lebanon’s south, urging them to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) away to open areas. The military said it was conducting operations against Hezbollah following what it described as a violation of the ceasefire, warning that anyone near Hezbollah fighters or facilities could be at risk.
Peace appears no closer
The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, roiled global markets and raised worries about the possibility of a wider global economic downturn. In his post on social media, Trump wrote: “I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.” On Saturday, a senior Iranian official had said Iran’s proposal would first open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end a US blockade of Iran, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program for later. Though Trump had already said on Friday that he was not satisfied with the Iranian proposal, he said on Saturday he had yet to hear all the details. “They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” he said. Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”Iran’s proposal appears to contradict Washington’s demands
Iran’s proposal to delay talks on nuclear issues until later appears to contradict Washington’s repeated demand that Iran give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium as a condition to end the war. Washington says the uranium could be used to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful but it is willing to discuss curbs on it in return for the lifting of sanctions, as it accepted in a 2015 deal that Trump abandoned. According to media reports over the past week, Tehran was proposing to reopen the strait before nuclear issues were resolved. The senior Iranian official confirmed that this new timeline had now been spelled out in a formal proposal conveyed to the United States through mediators. While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the strait, which has choked off 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices. Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices when the country votes in midterm congressional elections in November.
Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal included the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, lifting the blockade, releasing Iran’s frozen assets, payment of compensation, lifting sanctions and ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as a new control mechanism for the strait. Iran has been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said. With Reuters

US ‘suffocating’ Iran with blockade, Treasury chief says
Agencies/03 May ,2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the United States was “suffocating” Iran’s leadership through an “economic blockade” launched alongside the US military offensive. “This began with the order last March from President Trump on max pressure, and three weeks ago the President gave the order to Treasury myself to begin Economic Fury,” Bessent said in a Fox News interview, referring to his department’s initiative to supplement the Pentagon’s “Operation Epic Fury.” “We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers. This is a real economic blockade, and it is in all parts of government – all hands on deck,” he told the “Sunday Morning Futures” program. Bessent also said that energy prices, which are currently surging, should decline later this year. “Oil prices on the other side of this conflict are going to be much lower,” he said. Both Iran and the United States have imposed restrictions on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for the energy industry exporting hydrocarbons from the Gulf. While Iran has blocked most shipping in the passageway, the US Navy says it is blocking all ships heading to or from Iranian ports. Both sides are said to be negotiating as a fragile ceasefire holds. Bessent said his department was imposing economic measures “on anyone trying to remit money into Iran to help the IRGC,” Iran’s main military force. “They are a corrupt institution. They have been stealing from the Iranian people for years. They have money offshore. We have tracked that down. We will continue to track that down, and we are going to preserve those assets for the Iranian people on the other side of this conflict,” he said. On Saturday, describing the Iranian leadership as “rats in a sewer pipe,” Bessent wrote on X that “the BLOCKADE will continue, until there is pre-February 27 Freedom of Navigation,” in the strait. In the same post he said that “food and gasoline rationing are in place” in Iran. Meanwhile on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett echoed Bessent on Sunday, saying that Iran had “an economy that’s really on the precipice of extreme calamity.”“They are having a hyperinflation,” he added. “They’re starting to have hunger.”

Palestinians say one killed in Israeli raid in West Bank
AFP/03 May ,2026
Palestinian health officials on Sunday said a Palestinian man was killed during an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Nablus, while the Israeli military said its troops had fired at “terrorists.”The occupied West Bank has been gripped by almost daily violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, involving both Israeli troops and settlers. The Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry identified the victim as 26-year-old Nayef Firas Ziad Samaro.“He was killed and four others were injured by live ammunition during an incursion by Israeli forces in the city of Nablus,” the ministry said. The Rafidia hospital in Ramallah confirmed Samaro’s death. “He was brought in critical condition, and doctors attempts to save his life failed,” Fouad Nafaa, the director of Rafidia hospital, told AFP. Eyewitnesses said troops entered several neighborhoods in the city center and began searching shops, then left briefly before returning. Clashes broke out when a handful of youngsters started throwing stones at the army vehicles, with the troops responding with tear gas and live bullets, they said. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 40 others were also treated for tear gas inhalation. The military said a violent confrontation erupted during a counter-terrorism operation in Nablus. “Several terrorists hurled rocks toward the soldiers, posing a threat to them,” the military said. “The soldiers responded with riot dispersal means, and subsequently with fire toward the terrorists in order to remove the threat and disperse the gathering. “Several hits were identified,” it said. At least 1,069 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the Gaza war began following Hamas’ October 2023 attack, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Authority figures. Official Israeli figures say at least 46 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the same period.

Israel approves plan to buy F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from Lockheed, Boeing
Reuters/03 May ,2026
Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defense ministry said on Sunday. The deal, approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement, is a first step in a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster Israel’s military and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security,” it said. It added that the new squadrons will serve as a cornerstone of the military’s long-term force development, addressing regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israeli army. The recent war with Iran “reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” he added. Under the deal, Israel would buy a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second squadron of F-15IA fighter jets from Boeing. In December, Boeing was given an $8.6 billion contract for Israel including 25 new F-15IAs and an option for 25 more. Baram said the next step would be to move forward with finalizing the agreements with the US government and military counterparts. The US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, but a ceasefire has been in place since April 8. The US Navy maintains a blockade of Iranian ports. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Iranian conflict demonstrated the air force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said. Israeli aircraft have also attacked Iranian-backed Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Katz said the new aircraft would lead to a significant technological leap in integrating autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defense systems, and establishing Israeli military dominance in space. “Our mission is clear: to ensure the IDF has the tools, capabilities, and strength to operate anywhere, at any time,” Katz said. “We will continue to invest, to grow stronger, and to stay ahead of our enemies - to keep Israel secure today and in the future.”

Israel court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists
AFP/03 May ,2026
An Israeli court Sunday extended by two days the detention of two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla, who were brought to Israel for questioning, a rights group representing them said. The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and bring supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists – two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning. Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared before a court in the southern city of Ashkelon on Sunday. AFP footage showed the two being escorted into the courtroom, with Avila’s hands cuffed behind his back and Abu Keshek’s feet shackled. “The court extended their detention by two days,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah, told AFP. Adalah said the state attorney had presented a list of suspected offences committed by the pair, including “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organization.”But Adalah’s lawyers challenged the state’s jurisdiction, arguing against the “unlawful abduction” of the two activists in international waters. Its lawyers told the court Avila and Abu Keshek had testified to “severe physical abuse amounting to torture, including being beaten and held in isolation and blindfolded for days at sea.”No formal charges were filed against the two, it said. “We argued that ... they were part of a humanitarian mission that aimed to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza, and not to any other organization, whether terrorist or not,” lawyer Hadeel Abu Salih told journalists after the hearing. “We deny all the accusations that were presented... and demand these two men be released immediately,” she said. Spain’s government called for Abu Keshek’s “immediate release,” the foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP, indicating the Spanish consul had accompanied Abu Keshek to the hearing. Adalah’s lawyers had met the two men at Ashkelon’s Shikma Prison on Saturday. They said Avila recounted being “subjected to extreme brutality” by Israeli forces when the vessels were seized, saying he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice.”Abu Keshek was also “hand-tied and blindfolded ... and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel, it said.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the pair were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) – a group accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian militant group Hamas. It said Abu Keshek was a leading PCPA member, and that Avila was also linked to the group and “suspected of illegal activity.”The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first Mediterranean voyage to Gaza last year drew worldwide attention, before being intercepted by Israeli forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza. Avila was one of the organizers of that flotilla, which was also intercepted by Israeli forces, with crew members – including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg – arrested and expelled.Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Throughout the Gaza war, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the Palestinian territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely.

Saudi Arabia backs Bahrain’s security measures, reaffirms support
Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
Saudi Arabia on Sunday expressed support for measures taken by Bahrain to safeguard its security and preserve its sovereignty, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said on Sunday. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s support for the sovereign measures taken by the leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain to safeguard its security and preserve its sovereignty.”Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its “full support” for Bahrain in all steps it takes to address actions that could undermine its security and stability, and to deter attempts to target Bahrain’s sovereignty or interfere in its internal affairs. The Kingdom also underscored that Bahrain’s security is an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s own security, as well as that of the wider Gulf region.

Two US troops missing during African Lion exercise in Morocco
Reuters/03 May ,2026
Two US service members participating in the African Lion joint military exercises were reported missing near the city of Tan Tan in southern Morocco, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said on Sunday. US, Moroccan and other partner forces launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations, including ground, air and maritime assets, to find the service members, who went missing near the training site of Cap Draa, the two militaries said in separate statements. The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff. “Initial reports indicate the two soldiers may have fallen into the ocean,” a US defense official told Reuters by email. “I can confirm this incident is not related to terrorism.”African Lion is the US Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, aimed at improving interoperability among US forces, NATO Allies and African partner nations. This year’s edition runs from April 27 to May 8 across the four nations of Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. The largest part of the drills takes place in Morocco involving approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, according to AFRICOM.

Two dead, three injured after explosion in southern England, police say
Reuters/03 May ,2026
Two people have died and three others, including a child, suffered minor injuries after an explosion at a house in the southern English city of Bristol, with authorities treating the cause of the incident as suspicious, police said on Sunday. Police, who declared it a major incident, said they were not treating it as a suspected terrorist event and Avon and Somerset Police Superintendent Matt Ebbs later described it as a domestic-related incident. Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Bristol linked to the explosion and while they were at an early stage, the authorities at this point were not looking for anyone else in connection with the explosion, the police said in a statement.

Jerusalem Christians worried but not surprised by attack on nun
Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
Footage of an attack on a Catholic nun by an Israeli man in Jerusalem shocked the world when it went viral this week, but for worshippers attending Sunday mass at Saint Stephen’s Basilica, it was just the latest example of mounting religious hostility. The attack on Tuesday was captured by CCTV and shared widely, showing a Jewish extremist shoving the nun to the ground and leaving, before returning to resume his attack on her, at which point bypassers intervened. As the congregation poured out of the Sunday service, the story was still on everyone’s lips, as many offered words and tokens of support for the French nun, who was not in attendance. “She still has pains” but she is “surrounded by support,” said the priest who led the service, Olivier Catel. When Catel arrived in Jerusalem over a decade ago, such incidents were rare. Roughly once a year, he said, “when I went out in my habit, people – usually ultra-orthodox Jews – would spit behind our back.”“We never paid attention because they were isolated incidents,” he said. But for the past three or four years, it has become something of a daily occurrence.
“When we go out, people spit next to us.”The Rossing Center, a Jerusalem-based association for inter-religious dialogue, has documented “growing harassment” of Christians in Israel and east Jerusalem, according to a study released in March. Throughout 2025, it recorded 61 physical attacks, including spitting, the use of pepper spray and blows. It also recorded 28 cases of verbal harassment and 52 cases of defacement of church property. A British priest who preferred to remain anonymous confirmed that such incidents occurred daily. He never went out without his black robes, and was invariably met with spitting or shouts of “go home!” in his direction.
‘He should be killed’
“Everyone said this would happen someday,” said Pierre, a 30-year-old parishioner, who was “not surprised” by the incident and in fact expected things to escalate to a possible death if there was no intervention. The day of the attack on the nun, a priest he knew was in the supermarket when a man stopped before him. “He told his son, in Hebrew, ‘he should be killed’,” said Pierre. “If nothing is done... someone will take that step.”The attack occurred a few steps away from the Old City of Jerusalem, the flashpoint of tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the foot of the Church of the Dormition. A young Israeli who said he witnessed the incident from a distance described the attacker as “a madman.” Israeli media had described the assailant as a far-right activist with a history of mental illness. “It’s very shocking,” said Uriel Levisohn, a 28-year-old rabbi, who expressed disbelief at how commonplace such incidents have become. “With God’s help, this will be the last time something like this happens here.”But worshippers leaving the mass were less hopeful, saying they were waiting for a firm response from the Israeli authorities. They pointed to increasingly “supremacist” rhetoric in the country, including among senior officials. They recalled recent incidents in southern Lebanon, where Israel is fighting militant group Hezbollah, and where an Israeli soldier was filmed destroying a statue of Jesus.Catel nonetheless said he refused to “live in fear.”“I continue to go to the Old City in my robes,” he said, adding that while he avoided certain neighborhoods, “overall, I haven’t changed my habits.”With AFP

Germany's Merz says not 'giving up on working with Donald Trump'
LBCI/03 May ,2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday he would not give up on working with U.S. President Donald Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the war in Iran. "I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship. Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump," Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview set to air Sunday night.AFP

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 03-04 May/2026
Waiting or suicide: Iran’s choices narrow under Trump’s naval blockade
Raghida Dergham/Al Arabiya English/03 May ,2026
There is a fundamental crisis in decision-making in Tehran and in Washington as a result of the shrinking space for saving face for both sides and the widening scope of risk should the decision fall on a decisive military option. President Donald Trump is postponing military resolution in the hope of Iranian rationality through negotiations. But the strategic ingenuity of imposing a naval blockade on Iran’s ports has bought him time and tightened the grip on Iran’s oil sector at a cost lower than that of resuming American military operations. Nevertheless, Trump realizes that he will have to make the decisive decision sooner or later, no matter how much he evades it now.
The leaders of the ruling Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran are behaving in deliberate denial, placing blindfolds over their eyes so as not to acknowledge the economic collapse and the oil implosion caused by the accumulation of oil in wells as a result of the American naval blockade. Tehran’s men bury their heads in the sand in suicidal obstinacy, refusing to acknowledge defeat or surrender, and denying the possibility of an internal popular implosion to change the regime. The ruling men in Iran are torn in oil suffocation and economic strangulation as they flee forward to avoid making a decision. The luxury of time is no longer in Tehran’s hands; it has effectively moved into the hands of Donald Trump, who is managing this phase on the rhythm of waiting rather than the rhythm of war. His insistence on presidential authority for “military operations” keeps the decision inside the White House, away from congressional dictates, in a way that allows him to use time itself as a weapon.
Waiting, in his view, is not hesitation; rather, it is part of the strategy, because the naval blockade is performing the task that war might achieve at a higher cost and with broader risks. The bet is on an internal oil implosion in Iran as a result of the accumulation of oil in wells and storage facilities. Shutting down oil facilities is not an available option, nor is exporting oil from the blockaded ports. The issue is no longer technical; it has become a direct threat to infrastructure, with daily losses estimated at around 500 million dollars. This economic strangulation does not only pressure the economy; it presses on the nerve of the survival of the regime itself and places the leadership before an accountability that cannot be ignored or postponed for long. The ruling circles in Tehran behave as though they are outside this reality. Denial is no longer merely political rhetoric; it has become a method of governance. Their options are narrowing to the point of suffocation: either surrender, which is not part of their lexicon, or suicide through escalation, or deadly waiting for an oil implosion that may turn into a social popular implosion. Denying this possibility does not eliminate it; it postpones it and will make it more costly when it occurs. As to Donald Trump, he has set for himself the trap of insisting on a fundamental resolution of the nuclear issue and believing that it can be dealt with as a normal negotiating matter. Trump erred when he assumed that the Iranian nuclear file is merely a technical program that can be frozen or modified; rather, he discovered that it is deeply rooted in the doctrine of the regime since 1979. The American president found himself constrained by talk of nuclear negotiations that are closer to illusion, especially in light of the firmness of Iranian positions as expressed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
This firmness, indeed rigidity, is directly reflected in the military options put at the president’s table by military leaders when they briefed him recently at the White House. The recent positions of Mojtaba Khamenei do not open the door to diplomacy; rather, they justify for President Trump reconsidering the resumption of the military option. Although Trump prefers to maintain the naval blockade as a primary tool and prefers to avoid war, he expects Iranian military escalation and retaliation to push toward direct military confrontation to prevent him from exiting his war with Iran. The Iranian bet is based on the element of surprise and on readiness to inflict pain on the adversary and its allies, particularly the Arab Gulf states.
The response, in the event of military action, will not be limited or rapid; rather, Tehran’s ruling men pledge that it will be prolonged and painful, with direct focus on the American military presence in the waters of the Gulf. The regime in Tehran will not give up the ambition of controlling the Strait of Hormuz. This is central in Iranian calculations, whether through threats or actions, despite the international repercussions this carries beyond the limits of the bilateral conflict. Economic strangulation to force Iran to retreat will not stop the leadership from presenting a counter-narrative claiming that it has thwarted and defeated the United States. The economy is suffocating, oil is accumulating, time is working against Tehran, and the regime’s men persist in denial, issuing threats and relying on their proxies to divert attention from their deep predicament. Domestically and regionally, the regime of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, coupled with the clerical regime, is in a predicament that intersects with the predicament of its proxies in its spheres of influence, foremost among them Lebanon. Here, the conflict takes on a more dangerous dimension, as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard directly intervenes alongside Hezbollah in confrontation with the state of Lebanon and its institutions, exerting pressures that do not stop at politics. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is pushing Lebanon toward dangerous internal tensions, even inciting civil confrontations aimed at provoking a civil war- if Lebanon does not comply with the Iranian-imposed balance of power. And so Tehran’s regime is now confronting Washington’s determination to separate Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel from Iran’s grip on its proxy, Hezbollah, which continues to obstruct talks and reject calls to disarm.
Israel exploits this reality to reinforce its occupation of Lebanese territory and impose new facts on the ground through the demolition of homes and the “cleansing” of the south of its people through systematic destruction and changing realities on the ground.
Lebanon finds itself besieged between two extremist doctrines, Iranian and Israeli, each waging its battle at the expense of the Lebanese state and its sovereignty. For now, it seems unlikely that the Revolutionary Guards will give up their proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, or Yemen. But if the attempt to revive negotiations with the Trump administration through Islamabad succeeds, those men might find themselves obliged to give up their proxies, rather than give up their missiles and drones. Something is got to give, if the destiny those rulers are facing will bring their regime to its knees through an internal implosion of oil and people. The naval American blockade was indeed the unexpected surprise. The coming phase will be determined by the rhythm of two equations: Waiting and suicide. Waiting, which Donald Trump manages as a tool of pressure and attrition through the blockade, and suicide, which looms in the behavior of the Iranian leadership as an implicit option of fleeing forward. Between these two paths, the contours of the postponed decision are formed, a decision that may not remain postponed for long, because there is no room to remain on the brink of entitlements without resolution while the world is torn apart.

There Are No 'Moderates': Regime Change in Iran Must Again Be a Priority for the Trump Administration
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/May 3, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22490/iran-regime-change-priority
What would be unpardonable is if US President Donald J. Trump simply replaced a brutal Islamic dictatorship with an equally brutal non-Islamic dictatorship -- as seen in other adversaries of the West such as Russia, China, and North Korea.
At the height of the violence in mid-January, Trump memorably told the Iranian protesters that "HELP IS ON ITS WAY", while calling on the anti-regime activists to "seize control of your destiny."
Iran is still drawing out negotiations as it reconstructs its nuclear and missile sites.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Trump is losing interest in the plight of ordinary Iranians. He has recently been stating that he no longer regards regime change in Iran as one of his major objectives. His message has regrettably "gone wobbly"...
Such backtracking on the part of the US president -- the beacon of freedom to the world -- would leave the Iranian people at the mercy of pitiless thugs who would simply replace one form of state-sponsored repression with another, thereby denying the Iranian people their hopes of finally achieving freedom from their oppressors.
The fear now, with the Trump Administration appearing to back away from its original demand of total regime change in Iran, is that... the regime's hardliners will resort to acts of extreme violence to ensure their new dictatorship's survival.
As Trump has assured the hardliners that there will be no regime change, they know their power is secure -- under no threat -- so they are under no pressure to comply with Trump's demands. All they need to do is remove whatever so-called "moderates" might still be around and in their way. There are, in fact, no moderates in the Iranian government, any more than there were in Nazi Germany's government.
The diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran should, at the very least, lead Trump to conclude that, so long as the IRGC and its hardline supporters have a say in the negotiations, the prospect of reaching an acceptable deal remains remote. If the American president is really serious about securing a deal, then he needs to deny the hardliners any say in Iran's destiny and, as he originally promised, to help the Iranian people achieve a true regime change. It is the only way to achieve a peace that will last.
What would be unpardonable is if US President Donald J. Trump simply replaced a brutal Islamic dictatorship with an equally brutal non-Islamic dictatorship -- as seen in other adversaries of the West such as Russia, China, and North Korea. Pictured: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un attend a military parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing on September 3, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Kazakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
As the Trump administration's attempts to agree to a lasting ceasefire with Iran drag on, it is vital that the White House not lose sight of a key objective -- one originally highlighted but then abandoned in the Iran conflict -- namely that the war result in the overthrow of Iran's brutal dictatorship.
What would be unpardonable is if US President Donald J. Trump simply replaced a brutal Islamic dictatorship with an equally brutal non-Islamic dictatorship -- as seen in other adversaries of the West such as Russia, China, and North Korea.
From the start of the year, when Iran's security forces killed more than 36,500 civilians in attempts to crush anti-government protests, Trump had made no secret of his desire to achieve regime change in Tehran.
At the height of the violence in mid-January, Trump memorably told the Iranian protesters that "HELP IS ON ITS WAY", while calling on the anti-regime activists to "seize control of your destiny."
On February 28, the US Department of State posted on Truth Social and X:
"PRESIDENT TRUMP's message to the great people of Iran:
When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. America is backing you with overwhelming strength. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach."
As if to demonstrate his commitment to ending Iran's brutal dictatorship, one of Trump's first acts following the launch of Operation Epic Fury in late February was to authorise a strike on the compound housing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as a number of senior regime security officials who had convened to discuss the deepening crisis with Washington.
At one point, the American president even told Fox News that his administration had attempted to covertly arm Iranian protesters through Kurdish intermediaries based in neighbouring Iraq, claiming, "We sent guns to the protesters -- lots of them."
Trump later said the plan had failed because the Kurds had apparently decided to keep the guns for themselves.
Now, with the Iranian negotiators trying to run out the clock –- presumably until the US midterm elections in November, when Iran's military -- with the recently appointed Ahmad Vahidi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reportedly now in charge -- Iran is still drawing out negotiations as it reconstructs its nuclear and missile sites.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Trump is losing interest in the plight of ordinary Iranians. He has recently been stating that he no longer regards regime change in Iran as one of his major objectives. His message has regrettably "gone wobbly" to ensuring only that Iran must never be able to have a nuclear weapon, that the Strait of Hormuz must remain an independent waterway in accordance with freedom of navigation, and that Iran must no longer support terrorist proxies.
While commendable, such an attitude, if true, would represent an unforgivable betrayal of the Iranian people, the majority of whom are desperate to see an end to the crushing dictatorship that has brutalised their lives for nearly five decades since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Such backtracking on the part of the US president -- the beacon of freedom to the world -- would leave the Iranian people at the mercy of pitiless thugs who would simply replace one form of state-sponsored repression with another, thereby denying the Iranian people their hopes of finally achieving freedom from their oppressors.
Iranian discontent with their corrupt and ruthless rulers is not just confined to the protests that swept the country at the turn of the year, which were primarily prompted by the country's dire economic position.
The country has experienced regular waves of anti-regime demonstrations since the failed Green Movement in 2009, which initially started over the country's rigged presidential elections and quickly developed into a nationwide movement.
Then, as now, the regime crushed the protests by resorting to extreme violence, with tens of thousands of protesters killed and wounded as the IRGC and Basij militia forcefully crushed dissent.
The fear now, with the Trump Administration appearing to back away from its original demand of total regime change in Iran, is that history is likely to repeat itself and that the regime's hardliners will resort to acts of extreme violence to ensure their new dictatorship's survival.
With the Trump administration's focus concentrated on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which sails about 20 percent of the world's seaborne oil and gas trade, and resolving the long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western intelligence believes is again aimed at producing nuclear weapons, little attention is being paid to the type of regime that will govern Iran once the fighting has ended.
Regime loyalists and members of the IRGC, who reportedly control roughly 80 percent of Iran's economy, have certainly lost no time trying to re-establish their iron control of the country. Human rights groups are still reporting an upsurge in secret executions and arrests as the IRGC and Basij seek to reassert their authority after the numerous setbacks they suffered at the hands of the US and Israeli military operations.
At the same time, the regime has imposed a nationwide internet blackout that has been in place since the first protests took place at the start of the year, to prevent anti-government groups from coordinating their activities or communicating with the outside world.
Attempts by regime hardliners to reassert control, moreover, are having a direct impact on negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict. Each Iranian strongman currently seems to be trying to secure his own power. As Trump has assured the hardliners that there will be no regime change, they know their power is secure -- under no threat -- so they are under no pressure to comply with Trump's demands. All they need to do is remove whatever so-called "moderates" might still be around and in their way. There are, in fact, no moderates in the Iranian government, any more than there were in Nazi Germany's government. As Iranian scholar Dr. Majid Rafizedeh points out:
"Softer rhetoric has emerged when the regime needed economic rescue or a diplomatic opening. Once the pressure recedes, the underlying strategic behavior remains unchanged.
"In many ways, so-called 'moderates' have historically served as the most effective guardians of the system: they are able to secure concessions from the outside world while preserving the internal order. They present hope abroad while maintaining continuity and deeper control at home. Trump appears aware of this pattern but, perhaps concerned about the political pressure on him at home, has sometimes, alarmingly, looked tempted to settle for it."
The hardliners' increasing influence in the negotiations was very much in evidence after the first round of talks in Pakistan involving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Vice President JD Vance. The talks ended in confusion after Araghchi initially indicated he was willing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a move that was quickly undermined by the IRGC, which condemned Araghchi's offer as being "bad and incomplete."
The influence of the hardliners in talks to end the conflict explains why the Trump administration was forced to abandon its plans to attend a second round of talks in Pakistan. It became clear that Tehran wanted to conduct separate negotiations with the White House about its nuclear programme only after agreement had been reached on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration, quite rightly, has refused to accept such preconditions, with reports that the president told a meeting of national security officials that Iran was not negotiating in good faith and did not appear willing to meet his key demand: ending nuclear enrichment and vowing never to make a nuclear weapon. The diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran should, at the very least, lead Trump to conclude that, so long as the IRGC and its hardline supporters have a say in the negotiations, the prospect of reaching an acceptable deal remains remote. If the American president is really serious about securing a deal, then he needs to deny the hardliners any say in Iran's destiny and, as he originally promised, to help the Iranian people achieve a true regime change. It is the only way to achieve a peace that will last.
**Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

Washington locks in Morocco’s sovereignty paradigm
Said Temsamani/The Arab Weekly/May 03/2026
American support for investment in the Sahara is not a peripheral detail—it is a strategic lever.
In diplomacy, repetition is rarely redundant—it is deliberate. By once again affirming its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, Washington is not merely restating a position; it is consolidating a geopolitical reality that is steadily reshaping the parameters of this long-standing dispute.
The significance of this reaffirmation lies less in its wording than in its timing and context. Anchored in the latest United Nations framework, particularly Security Council Resolution 2797, the United States is signaling a dual message: continuity in its strategic alignment with Rabat, and impatience with a process that has lingered far beyond the bounds of diplomatic normalcy. The language is telling—this is no longer a conflict to be managed indefinitely, but one that demands resolution within a realistic political horizon.
At the heart of this position is a clear doctrinal shift. By framing Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the “only basis” for a just and lasting solution, Washington is effectively narrowing the spectrum of acceptable outcomes. This is not a neutral endorsement; it is a form of diplomatic structuring that redefines the negotiation space itself. In doing so, the United States joins a growing circle of actors who view autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty not as one option among many, but as the sole viable pathway forward. Equally consequential is the economic subtext embedded in this stance. American support for investment in the Sahara is not a peripheral detail—it is a strategic lever. Economic engagement serves to normalise the territory’s integration into Morocco’s national framework while projecting long-term stability to international markets. In geopolitics, capital often follows clarity; and here, clarity is precisely what Washington is providing. This evolution reflects a broader recalibration of US priorities in North and West Africa. Stability, allied reliability, and economic opportunity are increasingly outweighing the inertia of legacy diplomatic formulas. Morocco, positioned as a key regional partner, benefits from this shift—not only through political backing but through a deeper entrenchment in transatlantic strategic thinking. Ultimately, Washington’s message is both simple and transformative: the time for ambiguity is over. By aligning legal framing, political support, and economic signaling, the United States is helping to move the Sahara issue from an open-ended dispute toward a structured endgame. The question now is not whether the paradigm is changing—but how quickly the rest of the international community will adapt to it.
*Said Temsamani is a Moroccan political analyst focusing on diplomacy, governance and international affairs.

The UAE’s strategic vision behind the exit from OPEC
Badi Younis/The Arab Weekly/May 03/2026
This strategy can be summarised in a few words: “Using oil to build an economy that will not need oil in the future.”
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded on September 14, 1960, during a conference held in Baghdad. Its objective—and it remains so in 2026—is to coordinate and unify the oil policies of its member states, ensure the stability of oil markets, and secure a steady income for producing countries. Herein lies the fundamental issue. Is the world of 2026 the same as the world of 1960? Is the policy of managing scarcity still warranted in this rapidly changing world? Is it fair for the UAE to limit its production below its capacity in an era that will one day transcend oil and shift towards alternative energies?
OPEC was designed for a world that has been overtaken by both the present and the not-too-distant future. The UAE, however, is anticipating a present where it is necessary to monetise its surplus at maximum value before it becomes less relevant. At the heart of this strategy lies the disagreement about OPEC’s policy.The UAE does not treat oil as an eternal commodity, but rather as a transitional asset. It sees the necessity of extracting oil today at its highest value, before its global relevance diminishes, and focuses on transforming this value into more effective “future assets” over time. Its equation is clear: today’s oil generates revenue for infrastructure development and technology investment, ultimately leading to a post-oil economy. Here one can understand the words of UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, as he stressed that the decision to exit OPEC was “sovereign” and “aligns with the UAE’s long-term energy strategy, its actual production capacity, its national interests, and the stability of global energy markets.” The reason is clear: not to destabilise markets, but rather to contribute to a long-term strategy for a post-oil world.
This strategy holds that oil should not remain buried underground under the pretext that the world is moving towards renewable energy. On the contrary: as long as the market needs oil today, it must be sold with the highest level of efficiency, the lowest cost, and lowest possible emissions.
The revenues are destined to be used to build alternative sectors: ports, logistics, aviation, artificial intelligence, data centres, clean energy, investment funds, universities, technology, and advanced industries. Therefore, according to this strategy, the equation shifts from “a country that sells barrels” to “a country that owns networks”.This strategy stems from Abu Dhabi’s conviction that investing in renewable energy, hydrogen, nuclear power, and solar energy—financed with oil revenues—makes its value a bridge to the next era. This strategy can be summarised in a few words: “Using oil to build an economy that will not need oil in the future.”Of course, this departure from classical concepts has drawn a lot of attention. But it must be seen as part of a long-term and deliberate policy that began with severing the psychological, and even economic, dependence on oil.
Based on this shift in mindset, the UAE sees a necessity to increase production, as its price today will be higher than it will be in 15 years (when demand decreases). This is at variance with the strategy of other oil-producing countries that believe they must reduce output and conserve oil. The UAE sees the necessity of transforming every dollar of oil revenue into a “permanent asset” that can last up to 50 years. This asset includes ports, aviation, free zones, sovereign wealth funds like Mubadala, and global investments, such as DP World (global logistics), Emirates Airline (the airline connecting the world), and Masdar (a clean energy company), among others. Simultaneously, the UAE has entered the fields of artificial intelligence, data centres, clean energy, and hydrogen, thus transforming oil into “fuel for finance” rather than “fuel for the economy.”
While some may interpret the UAE’s decision to withdraw from OPEC as a “personal” and “retaliatory” move, the reality is quite different. They may not grasp the “strategic” perspective, as they are either deliberately or unintentionally trying to obscure it.
In short, the UAE wants to leverage oil to build a post-oil economy, refusing to bury it until it loses its value and the country finds itself out of step with the present and has a hard time catching up with the future. By deciding to leave OPEC, the UAE is gaining the freedom to produce and maximise revenue before a decline in global oil demand, and to accelerate the conversion of this resource into future investments, enabling its economic transformation in a strategic, not tactical, move.
Many are asking, why now?
Simply because there is a global energy shift, and oil demand will peak in the coming years, while the UAE has prepared for massive investments (such as ADNOC’s $150 billion plans), in addition to the geopolitical shifts in the region.
*Badi Younis is a Lebanese writer.

Selected Face Book & X tweets for May 03/2026
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
https://x.com/i/status/2050939861507432457
Because Lebanon’s Shia don’t have enough enemies to deal with domestically and around the world. Hezbollah sent its partisans to the street in the southern suburb to call the Lebanese state Zionist. The Lebanese Army and its intelligence units were deployed to control the situation.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
The Lebanese circulate stories about how Arab countries conspired with the Palestinians to dismantle the Lebanese state:
Lest We Forget
A hero from the Land of the Cedars: the brave officer in the Lebanese Army, Samir Al-Ashqar, from the town of Beit Shabab in the Matn region, who stood up to the Palestinian terrorists…On 3 May 1973, a Palestinian force left the Sabra and Shatila camps, stormed out, and occupied the Sports City (Medinat al-Riyadiya) in Beirut.A unit of the Lebanese Army’s commandos, led by Lieutenant Samir Al-Ashqar, retook the Sports City after fierce battles. During these clashes, the Palestinian militants who had seized the city were completely eliminated.In response, Arab countries and some of our Lebanese partners rose up in outrage, accusing the Lebanese Army of trying to crush the Palestinian revolution. Syria then closed its borders with Lebanon.

Dr Walid Phares
To be clear on Washington's Lebanon talks Reaching a permanent ceasefire between the Republic of Lebanon and the State of Israel means literally a cooperation between the US, Lebanon, and Israel to DISARM Hezbollah. Disarm not monitor a ceasefire until the conflict is resolved somewhere sometime. Arab and international actors can definitely assist in this process. Disarming Hezbollah and all other Jihadi militias on Lebanese territories IS NOT negotiable.
As @POTUS@realDonaldTrump told Hamas regarding Gaza, "either you disarm or we will disarm you."

Arab Christians in Israel Invite Lebanese to Holy Sites, Call for Peace
Selena Ryan/This Is Beirut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJpKWvzq-xk&t=3s

Karim Chebaklo
Lebanon’s central bank governor @KarimSouaid wrote in the Financial Times today with rare clarity: Lebanon’s crisis was never complex. It was the predictable result of fiscal indiscipline, monetary mismanagement and the misallocation of private savings.He is right. And he is doing something about it. For the first time in decades, Lebanon has a central bank governor pursuing embezzled funds internationally, prioritising depositor rights and laying out an honest restructuring framework. That is not a small thing. His message to the international community is direct: support a reform-driven government now, or risk a far more destabilised Lebanon after conflict has taken its toll.This is exactly what the sovereignty project looks like from the inside. @LBpresidency
negotiating in Washington. A prime minister ( @nawafsalam )committed to reform. A central bank governor writing in the world’s most influential financial newspaper telling the truth about what Lebanon needs. The institutions are moving. The question is whether the world will meet them halfway.